Peter Piper Picked . . .

390 Peppers (Free) (13 strings X 30 peppers)
$20.00 of Postage - Ronnie’s dad sent them, plus detailed instructions, which I found (if you know me the simplier the better) a better way to string the peppers.
$11.63 - One hour and 45 minutes at $7.75 per hour, putting peppers on the string to dry out.
$15.50 –  After they dry, bake in oven two hours and put through food processor.
TOTAL = 1 jar of pepper flakes = $47.13

For $47.13 Sam's would have sold me enough pepper flakes to last a life-time!

Reasons Why You Rock

I was fortunate to attend a 2.5 hour seminar by Kathy Light, author of “Reasons Why You Rock”, this past Saturday.   As she begins, she reflects –
"One Saturday, when my daughter was just seven years old, she came bounding down the stairs with her usual cherry smile proclaiming, ‘Mommy, you have to come see the Power Point I made on the computer! It’s called, “Reasons Why I Rock” and it’s about all the reasons why I rock. If I ever get sad, I’ll just read it and it will make me feel happy!’ "

WOW! What a statement!
WOW! What a wonderful way to make us all be better – focus on our positive selves! WOW! What a great way to spend a Saturday morning with good friends and a great teacher!

Kathy Light’s book  is all about what it says – Realize Your Greatness and Amplify Your Personal Power. With chapters devoted to How YOU Rock, with worksheets to complete; you actually take the time to reflect on aspects of your life where you ROCK. As you write down your thoughts, you get more and more introspective and realize that you do ROCK!
I would recommend this to all my girlfriends (and guyfriends) . . . go to her website to learn more! http://kathylight.com/

See Anything Out of Place?

I always put ice cream in the Microwave for about 20 seconds to get it soft – well, it works too well, if you get your 2 scoops out and then put the ice cream, not in the freezer, but back into the microwave.  The bright side - it gives me an excuse to try Blue Bell's "Cotton Candy" and "Blackberry Cobbler" flavors!

The Yearly Breast Exam Unplugged

Picture this: Annual physical at the Doctor Gorgeous's office. Blood pressure check, draw some blood, pee in a cup (messy), EKG. Next comes the breast exam. Even though I passed through menopause 10 years ago when I was 30 (wink, wink), I am still hot as a firecracker most of the time. And no it is not the extra 30 lbs of fluff covering the slim body I see in the mirror! I have been hot since I was born! I digress...

Now to the breast exam . . . Did I mention that my doctor looks like he stepped out of a GQ magazine! Well, now I am laying down on the table with my right arm above my head and he starts the exam. Now to The Good Part, I say outloud, "Wow, your hands feel good!" If you know me at all, you know that this is not unusual for me to speak without thinking! (Remember I am hot as a firecracker all the time, well, I forgot to finish the statement... "because your hands are cold" . . . NO, I just say, "Wow, your hands feel good!"

Before I could explain myself, Doctor Gorgeous says, "Everyone likes to be felt up every once in a while."

I almost fell off the table and peed my pants at the same time! So here I am, breasts and all, and Dr. Gorgeous and I are laughing like teenagers on their first date!

If all yearly physicals were this much fun, I would petition the AMA for semi annual visits!

Housewives of NYC and JCPenney Manhattan

To cap off Earth Week, JCPenney Manhattan hosted a Denim Drive , benefitting Goodwill, at our Manhattan store with our Green Living partner Danny Seo. Excited customers started lining up at 6:00 AM to donate their denim and receive a JCPenney gift card and reusable tote bag as a thank you from us!

Within the first hour, we had accepted more than 100 donations, and by the end of the day, we were able to collect nearly 500 pairs of jeans for donation.

Special guests, Jill Zarin, Kelly Bensimon and Countess LuAnn De Lesseps of the Real Housewives of New York City,

joined the excitement, donated their jeans and autographed our reusable tote bags. Inside the store, one lucky customer was shocked to find Jill, LuAnn and Kelly behind the cash wrap ready to ring up merchandise! The Housewives made the unsuspecting and very happy shopper's day by also paying for her purchase and taking some photos with her.

While walking through the store, Jill picked up an Olsenboye tee, requested especially by her teenage daughter. Media was buzzing about the Denim Drive and Danny Seo as well as the Housewives' appearance. US Weekly interviewed Danny, Jill, Kelly and LuAnn. Of course, our Manhattan associates make it all happen! Special thanks to Assistant Store Manager David Garkawe and SET Execution Manager Lisa Wicka for helping pull together a great end to Earth Week!

Make Your Opinion Count!

Last month I was emailed an available study from Schlesinger Associates and was selected to participate in an hour long study in Dallas. So I took a couple of hours of Paid time off from my regular job and participated. I Made $100 and didn’t lose any of my regular pay from my job! Easy Money. :)

Many of you are already members of Schlesinger Associates or have participated in Market Research studies from them in the past. And if you haven't heard yet, they are making some changes.

Just this month, I was invited to join their new site Inspired Opinions. This is a site dedicated to providing a central spot for people all over the U.S to receive updates on studies. These paid studies can either be in person, online or via telephone.

Previously, Schlesinger Associates had locations in many areas but you need to apply for that specific location’s studies. Now with their new site Inspired Opinions I don’t even have to take Paid Time Off ! I can do it from the comfort of my own living room and so can you!

To get started with Inspired Opinions and Schlesinger Associates just enter your email address below and see how much you can add to your pocket book.

No Rest for the Wicked?

Weekends are wonderful times in the spring. The windows are open and the cool breeze makes for wonderful sleeping weather . . .NOT!

Saturday morning, Ronnie slips out of bed grabs Nitro and his bed and closes the bedroom door - Ahhh . . . I can sleep all morning if I want . . .NOT! Tweet-Tweet-Tweet...... Tweet-Tweet-Tweet.... Tweet-Tweet-Tweet.... Tweet-Tweet-Tweet. Oh, yea, the birds are waking up to this glorious Saturday morning. Where's the shotgun!

Sunday morning, 3:15 am, whiskers tickle my face. Nitro needs to go out. Ok, I'll be back in bed asleep in about 5 minutes, no problem.

Sunday 4:40 am repeat above. But this time I let the Elvis out with Nitro and went back to bed without letting them in. Ahhh, back to sleep with no other interruptions . . .NOT!

Sunday 7:49 am . . . RING, RING, RING! Text message. Jaclyn is texting, "R u up?" Guess what, I am now!

No Rest for the Wicked!