tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85427160193815427382024-03-27T19:53:23.919-04:00Random Handprints - A NYC Mom Blog... live from New JerseyA humor parenting blog with a focus on family travel and great things to do with kids in New York and New Jersey.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07427772370703531241noreply@blogger.comBlogger844125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-48983076137231719212016-08-24T23:32:00.002-04:002016-08-24T23:32:32.924-04:00My kids on the fairy trail<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Fairy trail explorers/Jersey natives.<br />
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Anna Sanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05042609281838023071noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-4737213502068955312016-08-24T23:27:00.004-04:002016-08-24T23:27:47.241-04:00Fairy Trail in New Jersey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Despite a reputation for having a rough - perhaps even gruff - exterior, New Jersey has an impish side.<br />
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Just check out these photos from our very own Garden State Fairy Trail.<br />
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Anna Sanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05042609281838023071noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-87455484201178448782016-05-16T13:31:00.000-04:002016-05-16T13:35:09.528-04:00What We've Been Doing Lately: The Spring Edition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What have we been doing lately? A little of that, a little of this. But you know what we haven't been doing? Enjoying the weather. This has been one coooold spring.<br />
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Going to the eye doctor. From an injury gotten while blowing up a balloon. Heard (barely audible) while the pediatric eye doctor was examining Kay, "I hate balloons. I really, really hate them." Me too, doc. Me too.<br />
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Making stupid images on SnapChat. Oh to have the time management skills of a tween.<br />
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Baking Princess Leia cookies. Obviously. Because it was May 4th.<br />
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Spring cleaning. Did I enjoy finding this random pack of cards with my beloved home state of Virginia on them? Yes, yes I did. Did I keep them, since there were only 43 of them? No, no I did not.<br />
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Downsizing. This is Sharpie the pig's house. In the recent clean-up mentioned above Sharpie the pig got to stay. His home, however, was recycled.<br />
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All of this activity took place under the ever vigilant eye of the resident policeman.<br />
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I've never felt more safe. Except for when balloons are around.<br />
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Happy Spring!</div>
Anna Sanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05042609281838023071noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-32443655986444440502016-02-23T14:14:00.000-05:002016-02-23T22:59:39.948-05:00Fun for Everyone at the Liberty Science Center and an Awesome Giveaway<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A huge thank you to Andrea McDonald for this guest post about her family's visit to the Liberty Science Center, and also a huge thank you to Liberty Science Center for providing admission tickets, as well as tickets to giveaway.</span></i><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This past President’s Day weekend, looking for something fun to do in the subzero temperatures, my family and my sister’s family decided to go to the Liberty Science Center with our four kids ranging in age from 4 to 9. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We were excited for the </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Science, Sabers and Star Wars: The Force Awakens</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> event that was taking place just for the weekend. However, we arrived to find that what seemed like literally thousands of others were just as excited about that, and the Star Wars event was incredibly crowded with long lines. So we quickly decided instead to check out some of the many other exhibits currently at the Science Center. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLZE71y-ThrObc6qpRWvabxuPRc-_qnKx7BVCMZ9SnXKyo4jjVdAmTTZ4mSyUxCKksuGJhjMHT1D5PrXiS6S64WYxKdFD5ss6S6kxDGlQHV4dNdK6cpulWvhgoKEZRh7uZXtoHs85CSno/s1600/sid+science+kid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiLZE71y-ThrObc6qpRWvabxuPRc-_qnKx7BVCMZ9SnXKyo4jjVdAmTTZ4mSyUxCKksuGJhjMHT1D5PrXiS6S64WYxKdFD5ss6S6kxDGlQHV4dNdK6cpulWvhgoKEZRh7uZXtoHs85CSno/s320/sid+science+kid.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We first found our way to the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sid the Science Kid: The Super-Duper Exhibit</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> which runs through May 15, 2016 and is included with general admission tickets. This exhibit allows young learners to explore STEM activities through a variety of activities like: Catapulting Sid’s toys into his toy box using a lever, testing inertia using toys on a skateboard, experimenting with friction and testing different surfaces and designing their own “Super-Duper-Ooper Big Idea. We knew our 4 year old would have fun, as he really likes Sid the Science Kid, but weren’t sure our 7 year olds or 9 year old would be engaged by it. We didn’t need to worry. All the kids loved it. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYUb5IdIZMEmq0j68W3Lhmh2oE5-1yp4QLgUXCye9D_5RT27fDg7u95a6DOr-e4IUV4w79weIWn1-OkzNpD3O_lIBc2Udxj9jAiElQGhh19_oCHrESp8OHL-ZJwrfYPDbybr-B5Lngl7l/s1600/LSC+2.jpe" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYUb5IdIZMEmq0j68W3Lhmh2oE5-1yp4QLgUXCye9D_5RT27fDg7u95a6DOr-e4IUV4w79weIWn1-OkzNpD3O_lIBc2Udxj9jAiElQGhh19_oCHrESp8OHL-ZJwrfYPDbybr-B5Lngl7l/s320/LSC+2.jpe" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our 4 year old son could have spent all day playing with the ball machine (for lack of the technical term), using the pulleys to bring the balls up to his 9 year old cousin waiting on the top part of the structure and then catching them when they fell and trying to determine which ball would land first if two were thrown down at the same time. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i> </i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My daughter really enjoyed using the microscope to look at objects focused in different ways and at varying sizes. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After we managed to drag the kids out of the Side the Science Kid Exhibit, we went to </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> around the corner. Tickets are required for this exhibition - $27.75 for adults, $22.75 for children 2-12 and $24.75 for seniors. The additional cost is well worth it for the history buffs among us. In it, more than 130 legendary artifacts conserved from the ships debris field are showcased. As we entered, we each received a replica boarding pass of an actual passenger aboard the Titanic. And we moved through the life of the ship, from its construction, to life on board, to the ill-fated sinking and amazing artifact rescue efforts. The adults really enjoyed seeing the many artifacts, while the kids especially liked seeing the re-created first and third class cabins and touching the iceberg. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtaQk-T4cR6zds94ADRosbiYvJ5w4tQytDkZlBgc7cQcy39NlbbdBZ7wW_v9-r1Gc9_r8jpgfG1g7ms5J1TrprzAvxthpxKmA1X-sfC9sFozQ28B6BwTrUYlriC-gA4Q4GtyPNbUhr_Gc/s1600/icebergs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtaQk-T4cR6zds94ADRosbiYvJ5w4tQytDkZlBgc7cQcy39NlbbdBZ7wW_v9-r1Gc9_r8jpgfG1g7ms5J1TrprzAvxthpxKmA1X-sfC9sFozQ28B6BwTrUYlriC-gA4Q4GtyPNbUhr_Gc/s320/icebergs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The “Memorial Gallery” where we could take our boarding passes to learn whether our passenger and traveling companions survived or died was interesting to adults and children alike.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In addition to the special exhibitions, we also visited more permanent exhibits such as </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our Hudson Home</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, which explores our complex relationship with the distinct and special Hudson River ecosystem. Our girls had a great time donning lab coats and conducting an experiment in ecology.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: red; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">And now for the giveaway...</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"> WIN A FAMILY FOUR-PACK OF TICKETS TO THE LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER!</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Liberty Science Center is offering a family prize pack of four tickets to visit the museum!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="1c359e0f10" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1c359e0f10/" id="rcwidget_p7utjntc" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Anna Sanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05042609281838023071noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-57171990269773705612016-01-26T21:31:00.001-05:002016-01-26T21:31:13.370-05:00Blizzard of 2016There was a big snow storm this weekend in New Jersey, with record snowfall recorded at Newark Airport, as well as in Baltimore, and I think, Washington, DC, too.<br /><br />
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An enterprising neighbor made this awesome time lapse video.<br /><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mD4vBrJ5rBE" width="480"></iframe>Anna Sanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05042609281838023071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-3936496835379257442016-01-24T23:43:00.004-05:002016-01-24T23:43:37.770-05:00The photo you get... <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
... when you ask the kids to pose so you will have a keepsake of the super gigantic snowstorm, which was probably - but not definitely because we're still waiting for the official totals from the NWS - the biggest snowfall ever in your town in the history of ever, and while you are taking the photo one of the three kids gets bored and walks off so they aren't even in the photo, and the other two are actually posing with their arms around each other and smiling right when your husband decides to use his brand-new snowblower for the very first time which you probably don't need me to tell you this last part, but he does not even one little bit know how to use.<br />
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CLICK.</div>
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Anna Sanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05042609281838023071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-8782854778018841732016-01-19T10:00:00.000-05:002016-01-19T14:22:56.568-05:00This post brought to you by dumb stuff my kids ask me to do<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I used to make my kids a nice, hot breakfast every morning. Eggs, pancakes, waffles. They woke me up at 6 a.m. every single day, so what else was I going to do between then and when we left for school at 7:45?<br />
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Now, they sleep until about 7. And they eat cold cereal for breakfast. While I'm not entirely happy about this change of breakfast menu (the artificial ingredients! the sugar), I am entirely happy about sleeping an extra hour.<br />
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At breakfast today the first-grader was enamored by this extra-large flake in his bowl of frosted flakes.<br />
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I argued I wasn't even sure if this flake was particularly an outlier.</div>
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He begged me to take a photo.</div>
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So I did, because if there's one lesson parenthood has taught me it's to pick your battles.</div>
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And if there's a second lesson of parenthood, it certainly would be that what delights my child pretty much always delights me as well.</div>
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And if there's a third lesson, it would be that I won't feel guilty about the sugary cereal for breakfast when they're all grown-up.</div>
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I hope.</div>
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Anna Sanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05042609281838023071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-12911686970653775862016-01-10T19:23:00.006-05:002016-01-10T19:23:59.069-05:00Magic Marbles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I've been on a bit of a cleaning and organizing kick lately. The youngest is six now, which means whole categories of baby, toddler and little kid stuff can be taken to the curb one and for all.<br />
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The amount of space this is clearing for giant Lego structures and lacrosse sticks is welcome, as older kids have as much crap as younger ones, it's just different crap.<br />
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Among the many things I found when cleaning up the kids' rooms, were these three marbles. If you're seeing this photo and asking, are those ordinary marbles? The answer is yes, yes they are.<br />
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But once upon a time, they were magic marbles. I forget the exact circumstances, but as soon as I saw them I remembered how these were the most prized possession in all the land. Now, I ask the kids, "anybody want these?"<br />
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And they answer, "Nah, We don't need any marbles."<br />
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And here I am again, providing one of my many mom services, to save and cherish the memories that even the kids have forgotten.<br />
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But don't get me wrong - I cherish the memories. The marbles are happily nestled in the giveaway box.</div>
Anna Sanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05042609281838023071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-36770340958678669402016-01-01T15:30:00.000-05:002016-01-01T15:30:28.563-05:00Kids and Cats<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of my kids favorite things to do is visit Green Meadow Farms in New Jersey. It's a petting zoo and a guide takes a group around to visit the animals one by one. It's only around for a month in the fall and a month in the spring. We are twice-a-year regulars.<br />
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At the end of the tour, there are kittens and puppies, always different breeds, and these are for sale. The kids of course really beg us to buy one, like there's a chance we might, which there is not.<br />
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But their look of pure delight with the kitties makes me wish there was a chance they might get to have one as a pet.<br />
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But my real reason for posting these is that when I was looking back at our Green Meadows pics, I saw this hilarious one.<br />
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I am not quite sure what's going on with the cat, but I am sure I love it.</div>
Anna Sanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05042609281838023071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-11359816433651545602015-12-30T23:07:00.001-05:002015-12-30T23:07:11.114-05:00More Christmas Lights and If that Dog Could Talk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A few towns over is an amazing Christmas light display that was donated by the Camuso family after the patriarch of the group passed away, who had decorated his house for many years.<br />
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We didn't leave in New Jersey to get to see the original Camuso family home in all it's splendiferous Christmas glory, but we've been regulars every year to the display in Livingston.<br />
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In part we go every year to visit him:<br />
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His story is a good one, and one definitely worth telling, but as the saying goes, it is a story for a other time. Also, despite the antlers, that is so a dog's face.</div>
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The Camuso decorations are incredibly intricate and handmade, and most of them are animontronic, the dog/reindeer above plays his violin; in another display there are skaters skating.</div>
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Several displays show Santa's Workshop, where toys are built and wrapped for delivery.</div>
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Not sure if this is an addition from the town of Livingston or part of the original display, but there's a nice spinning dreidel and a large menorah, right next to the Grinch peeking out of a chimney.<br />
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There's also a tall Christmas tree with a train running around the base. The tree spins making it by far and most definitely my favorite of all the trees I've seen this season.<br />
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The story of the dog reindeer coming soon, or at least, soon-ish.</div>
Anna Sanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05042609281838023071noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-57282639702736879442015-12-28T22:24:00.000-05:002015-12-28T22:32:50.944-05:00On the first day of winter break...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
... a policeman paid a visit:<br />
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... Sharpie the Pig's sty finally got evicted, ironically, when we finally got around to cleaning the owner's pig sty room:<br />
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... we found three marbles deeply hidden in the aforementioned sty, leftover from the days when these were the most prized possession in all the realm. Today? The tween declared with a sigh, "get rid of them."<br />
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... and last, a night time visit with friends to Zoo Lights, to see sea lions, sparkly creations, roast marshmallows and eat s'mores, before making a quick exit when an unexpected, and heavy, freezing rain began to fall. Pictured here, cute gibbons:<br />
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All in all, not a bad first day, especially for a Monday.<br />
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Anna Sanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05042609281838023071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-6343715756386887722015-12-23T20:15:00.002-05:002015-12-28T22:16:47.107-05:00The Lights Shine Bright... Deep in the Heart of Jersey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There's nothing like enjoying some good, old-fashioned, over-the-top, Christmas lights. These shown here are in the great state of New Jersey.</div>
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Even better: the owner and creator of this glorious scene came out to say hi while we walked around and admired it all. He had three braids, two old-school on either side of his head, and one on his beard. </div>
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My son Ziggy is still talking about how great it all was and which was his favorite parts, and do you remember how the deer's paw moved? And the Santa in the hot air balloon, and Snoopy! And if all that joy from a kid who doesn't even celebrate Christmas isn't still not the most perfect example of the magic of the season, then what is?<br />
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Happy Holidays everyone!</div>
Anna Sanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05042609281838023071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-44791075574431238392015-12-21T16:38:00.002-05:002015-12-21T16:48:27.415-05:00The Best Christmas Cookies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We are a family that is always on the search for the best of... just about anything. Best socks. Best burger. Best pillows. You get the idea.<br />
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Last year at the holidays, it was a quest for the best stollen. We tried many - award-winning, classic, new-styled, fusion. The verdict was unanimous: we don't really care for stollen, no matter how good a version of it we get.<br />
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Two years ago, we vetted all the Italian Christmas cookies we could find.<br />
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A clear winning bakery emerged from all the ones we tried, but no consensus on which of these amazing cookies was the absolute best. If you're local in Jersey, the winner was Conca D'Oro Italian Pastry Shop in Union. Totes worth the trip.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh36r6fA0q7NBEzs5Ar__4SgccV8ixP8tpSQajbqXrEhVBYhtBJPPKMfMpbfzTnxc1qFQ1PzCrZWB8Nk021cnNEjNCNj3AGrjrVxmttW8RpwC9efcv7tEOA_n00O9ZCrW9lyIH8Jgp1GYZ/s1600/cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh36r6fA0q7NBEzs5Ar__4SgccV8ixP8tpSQajbqXrEhVBYhtBJPPKMfMpbfzTnxc1qFQ1PzCrZWB8Nk021cnNEjNCNj3AGrjrVxmttW8RpwC9efcv7tEOA_n00O9ZCrW9lyIH8Jgp1GYZ/s320/cookies.jpg" width="158" /></a></div>
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Personally, I'm partial to the rainbow cookies. (Not pictured because I ate them all.)<br />
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This year, we're having an egg nog-off.<br />
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I'll be back with the winner after all the votes are in!<br />
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Anna Sanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05042609281838023071noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-9869939177284371512015-12-20T20:19:00.001-05:002015-12-20T20:19:12.749-05:00AC Lens Has Great Ski Googles for Teens and Tweens<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My oldest, Magpie, started skiing last winter, and loves it. This year she plans to ski a lot -- that is if it ever becomes winter weather here on the East Coast.<br />
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One piece of equipment I wanted to make sure she had was a good pair of ski goggles. We were able to review a pair of s<a href="http://www.aclens.com/eye-care/Ski-Goggles" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ki goggles from AC Lens</a>, which Magpie says are really comfortable, and we both agree look great. These goggles are designed for smaller faces, so they are a great choice for tweens and teens.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqsPwQnbkDT_0mVPbL6NMSn4SFalH208GAQctVB9LvDCA6c1wgFEd2COU2KqVyfaDrhupfzxDktyPWmL44JHIdqimJcNUfyipsIdLN4uLgtybE-wrPGrku317T8bfub6_ftcTjBmui7Wod/s1600/aqua+goggles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqsPwQnbkDT_0mVPbL6NMSn4SFalH208GAQctVB9LvDCA6c1wgFEd2COU2KqVyfaDrhupfzxDktyPWmL44JHIdqimJcNUfyipsIdLN4uLgtybE-wrPGrku317T8bfub6_ftcTjBmui7Wod/s320/aqua+goggles.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The <a href="http://www.aclens.com/eye-care/protective-eyewear/20578/smith-optics-cadence-eye-care.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Smith Optics Cadence Ski Goggles</a> retail for $79.99 at AC Lens, and come with free shipping.<br />
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To see the goggles in action, check out this great video Mapgie made.<br />
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In addition to a wide variety of ski goggles, AC Lens also has eyeglasses, sunglasses, swimming goggles and a lot more. Check them out at <a href="http://aclens.com/">ACLens.com</a>.</div>
Anna Sanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05042609281838023071noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-53683964866306900922015-12-17T13:53:00.002-05:002015-12-17T13:53:25.546-05:00Big G Cereal Celebrates 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' with Limited Edition Cereal Boxes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPK82Y1yMKPGPSr-6Ud2aA6L7kpxo1qxEQmCs7DkiBU3NOrbk0dRw3m924Dpf5_-NkTvAL5S-n1idG-y5aAFjffUXsA-bjk0MJVW-hsjSFqhQ6NP1Q7he0r_ceUPFJb09m-w1heJ2-Yi5L/s1600/star+wars+cereal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPK82Y1yMKPGPSr-6Ud2aA6L7kpxo1qxEQmCs7DkiBU3NOrbk0dRw3m924Dpf5_-NkTvAL5S-n1idG-y5aAFjffUXsA-bjk0MJVW-hsjSFqhQ6NP1Q7he0r_ceUPFJb09m-w1heJ2-Yi5L/s400/star+wars+cereal.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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The <i>Star Wars </i>movies have a special meaning to just about everyone my age, I think because we remember seeing the originals in the movie theater when they first came out. And of course, back in those olden days movies meant something they just don't mean today in our world of media everything, everywhere all the time.</div>
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I personally have vivid memories of going to see the first <i>Star Wars</i> film. (Full disclosure: it is of being totally bored. In my defense, I was only five.) I also remember seeing the second and third films, in 1980 and 1983, when my older self had a greater appreciate for them.</div>
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And, I have a particularly happy memory of going with my mom to see <i>The Phantom Menace</i>, the fourth movie (really the first) on opening day when it was released in 1999. We didn't even go to see it in our local theater in suburban Virginia. Instead, I had us go see it on the giant screen at The Uptown Theater in Washington, DC.</div>
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There was a huge line to get in and I recall my mom chiding me "This is crazy! We can just go tomorrow!" And I remember saying back, "No, it's not the same, it has to be today! We'll always be able to say we saw it opening day!"</div>
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Sadly, I haven't been able to work this nugget of information into too many conversations over these years, but still, I believe I was on to something. The <i>Star Wars </i>movies are a thing, and it's great to be a part of the phenomenon.</div>
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Small children and other excuses meant I didn't see the <i>Star Wars</i> films that were released in 2002 and 2005 until recently when I watched them with my kids (ages 6, 10 and 12) in preparation for seeing the latest film, which we will go to see (symbolically, and memorably, of course) on Christmas Day.</div>
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Lots of people, us included, are celebrating the latest film's release with parties and treats and my friend's kids even celebrated Star Wars Day today at their school.</div>
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As for my kids, they got to enjoy Star Wars cereal, which was a huge, gigantic mega hit. But don't take my word for it, watch this amazing video by my daughter, Magpie that shows us unboxing the huge care package from General Mills Big G cereals. All of these cereals are special edition, and come with very cool droid viewers, so be sure to try them before it's too late.</div>
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Now tell me, are you going to see <i>The Force Awakens?</i></div>
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<i>I rarely review products these days here at Random Handprints, so a special shout-out to the Public Relations people on this campaign who made it incredibly awesome to be a part of this, from the initial email addressed to "Jedi Anna" to the box filled with surprised that arrived at our doorstep. As Yoda would say, "Impressed am I. Well-done this is."</i></div>
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Anna Sanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05042609281838023071noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-5408840367350778522015-12-16T22:04:00.002-05:002015-12-16T22:04:27.437-05:00Sunday Mornings: Teaching to the Test<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_fimem651Mi13hPB7J1qOTp4NMRK7dR8zg2vUiT2-SPPgI7EMGKTImpcXdCP35OGKOMWf0FgCtWAINmhVxE_upC2JJ0mUuxWoAUNWdElpk_Y_NfDwT_oT99MYjxnVtysl0a_RkivcTY5/s1600/aaron+at+swim+class.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_fimem651Mi13hPB7J1qOTp4NMRK7dR8zg2vUiT2-SPPgI7EMGKTImpcXdCP35OGKOMWf0FgCtWAINmhVxE_upC2JJ0mUuxWoAUNWdElpk_Y_NfDwT_oT99MYjxnVtysl0a_RkivcTY5/s320/aaron+at+swim+class.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
On Sunday mornings, the kids take swim lessons.<br />
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First, it was just the youngest, Ziggy, learning to swim. He was beginning at the beginning, so it was slow going for awhile but he is now a pretty good swimmer.<br />
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Now, the older two, Magpie and Kay take swimming lessons, too. They took lessons a few years ago, a splendidly splendiferous experience which is mainly now just remembered as the reason we now still call Kay "baby fish," because instead of trying to learn to swim she would pretend to be a baby fish. Ah, good times.<br />
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But last summer, at sleepaway camp, indignities of indignities, Kay was forced to take "instructional swim" while her friends splashed about carefree as well, baby fish, in "free swim."<br />
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Making the goal between now, and the time the camp bus pulls out of Times Square at the end of June, for the girls to swim just well enough to pass their test.<br />
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The instructor is aware, as the girls have told them in no uncertain tween speak, "we don't care AT ALL about swimming. Like, AT ALL. We just need to pass the camp swim test, so we need to make sure our breast stroke in in synch, that was what they said I failed for last time." "Yeah, and I have to learn something called... the sideways stroke."<br />
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So, Sunday mornings we swim. Not for safety. Not for exercise. Not for the joy of the moment.<br />
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That's right, it is entirely for the camp swim test.<br />
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I just hope they pass.<br />
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Anna Sanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05042609281838023071noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-13221745095645764872015-12-15T22:25:00.002-05:002015-12-15T22:25:11.658-05:00Back to Blogging: Holiday Edition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I've decided to start writing on my blog again. I know, it's like with these words your life has gone from black and white to color.</div>
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You're welcome.</div>
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This photo is from this time last year at Rockerfeller Center. I want to say we stopped here first and then went to see the world-famous tree, but it was so crowded this is as close to the festivities as we got.</div>
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Also, we were mostly sorta-kinda-totally only in the city in the first place because the kids had to go to the dentist.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixp5RKWiiSmMQIVJUle5M4ciVjoJsUMzX0SHBcoAy-L4v9Sac981ahvOKt7QHFdOxbGpuU1kFwt_jN0xFc-Ov7ay4UirLSRFD20SI3jU0NwsVAIenD7HeJTpmcmfh6fKGscXMbrDzcp85V/s1600/1+NYC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixp5RKWiiSmMQIVJUle5M4ciVjoJsUMzX0SHBcoAy-L4v9Sac981ahvOKt7QHFdOxbGpuU1kFwt_jN0xFc-Ov7ay4UirLSRFD20SI3jU0NwsVAIenD7HeJTpmcmfh6fKGscXMbrDzcp85V/s320/1+NYC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This year I went to SantaCon. It's my favorite. This photo is from a few years ago when I first learned of SantaCon and said, this - this, I gotta be a part of.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi896mqSZxdfDCHDkdK7c-9C3vsTUZeorRcWsvfFWTt5MlqMfvziNynpQQDkm09rWMYt3J6yOoPI8QIeEQ4njSwMN-7_g7tA9KnxaLpWm0B6hrfCyzyXQjs4gwpNatBWdqxCR8rl2ZU4rqa/s1600/SantaCon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi896mqSZxdfDCHDkdK7c-9C3vsTUZeorRcWsvfFWTt5MlqMfvziNynpQQDkm09rWMYt3J6yOoPI8QIeEQ4njSwMN-7_g7tA9KnxaLpWm0B6hrfCyzyXQjs4gwpNatBWdqxCR8rl2ZU4rqa/s320/SantaCon.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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SantaCon is, I will admit, better viewed in the big picture.<br />
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Tonight my husband Mike and I were at the mall and oh-my-gawd the line to see Santa was soooo long.<br />
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As we passed by the line we looked at each other and said, "I'm so glad we're Jewish."<br />
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And that my friends is how you celebrate the holiday season: almost seeing the tree in Rockerfeller Center, dental appointments, Santa Con, and Santa-line skipping.<br />
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Happy Holidays however and whatever you celebrate!</div>
Anna Sanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05042609281838023071noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-61414127755006351362015-10-07T18:12:00.001-04:002015-10-07T18:13:36.843-04:00Looking to Get Organized? Ridgewood Closets is Giving Away a Custom Closet!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIBIqN1P39b08dDY9NbpKaXg5YOFvNyYbkT_CjmvrQXct7YxY9RPfothsiK43ayJ-4XlwqzHLm6E9qJ4Uhcj6aBN7kgu7vPi8YjsYTXiNPPSOm5nPT8m2QEZsEZF50cupCZop0dV_Lvc/s1600/custom+closet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghIBIqN1P39b08dDY9NbpKaXg5YOFvNyYbkT_CjmvrQXct7YxY9RPfothsiK43ayJ-4XlwqzHLm6E9qJ4Uhcj6aBN7kgu7vPi8YjsYTXiNPPSOm5nPT8m2QEZsEZF50cupCZop0dV_Lvc/s320/custom+closet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="-webkit-hyphenate-character: "‐"; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #372e2e; font-family: Muli, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; orphans: 3; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 3;">
<div style="-webkit-hyphenate-character: "‐"; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #372e2e; font-family: Muli, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; orphans: 3; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 3;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Enter for a chance to win a closet worth $5,000!</strong></div>
<div style="-webkit-hyphenate-character: "‐"; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #372e2e; font-family: Muli, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; orphans: 3; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 3;">
Are you looking to get organized? Then go visit the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ridgewoodclosetsnj" style="border: 0px; color: #497885; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Ridgewood Closets Facebook page</a> for ideas and inspiration, AND they're giving away a custom designed closet worth $5,000! Storage, organization, hectic morning issues solved!</div>
<div style="-webkit-hyphenate-character: "‐"; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #372e2e; font-family: Muli, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; orphans: 3; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 3;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Entering is easy. Leave a comment on </strong><strong style="border: 0px; line-height: 20.8px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://on.fb.me/1O673Cb" style="border: 0px; color: #497885; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">this Facebook post</a> telling why you need</strong><strong style="border: 0px; line-height: 20.8px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> extra storage or a new closet.</strong></div>
<div style="-webkit-hyphenate-character: "‐"; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #372e2e; font-family: Muli, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; orphans: 3; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 3;">
On October 31, 2015, Ridgewood Closets will pick one lucky winner at random from all closet give-away comments.</div>
<div style="-webkit-hyphenate-character: "‐"; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #372e2e; font-family: Muli, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; orphans: 3; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 3;">
For design inspiration, visit <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/ridgewoodcl0542/" style="border: 0px; color: #497885; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Ridgewood Closets on PINTEREST</a>.</div>
<div style="-webkit-hyphenate-character: "‐"; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #372e2e; font-family: Muli, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; orphans: 3; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 3;">
<strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Conditions</strong>: The winning entrant <strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">must</strong> be based in the following New Jersey counties: Bergen, Essex, Union, Passaic and Morris or in New York City or Brooklyn.</div>
<div style="-webkit-hyphenate-character: "‐"; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #372e2e; font-family: Muli, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.8px; margin-bottom: 1.2em; orphans: 3; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; widows: 3;">
<span style="line-height: 20.8px;">For full promotional details plus terms and conditions, see </span><a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ridgewoodclosets.com%2Ffbpromo&h=nAQGe0VBoAQEJd1QYzK-nHY2mtfW4foGA6BdM0HeviuG7gQ&enc=AZPdl_0MptnScEEUOa40cOroM5EVTc6_Xk_Il4wFS14GWuY4790JbOY_yqSQF8CCIIt-By5ye_U4P_cQhLqNpa6TIdVY2l8vcPi8eXxcsp1ZzJOiA3VHLpXeglCPY_BLf7H51sqCU5cEPm_8rxZmIzTI8ITL2PvI9vLVvQnCwx1BVOpn3F8glJg8JDJdeTS-GDJMv4NwCZfAmttBk_WhnHdO&s=1" style="border: 0px; color: #497885; line-height: 20.8px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">www.ridgewoodclosets.com/fbpromo</a>.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07427772370703531241noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-27066174619983887852015-06-11T12:48:00.005-04:002015-06-11T13:04:43.117-04:00Six Essential Strategies for Gaining Clarity in Your Career from Certified Life Coach, Nadine Bernard<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.4; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 36pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 17.6000003814697px; text-indent: 48px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you to Nadine Bernard for this guest post! Nadine is a Board Certified Life Coach, a published playwright and an acting teacher located in Montclair, NJ. You can learn more at her website,</span><span style="line-height: 17.6000003814697px; text-indent: 48px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="http://www.personalplays.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Personal Plays Life Coaching</span></a><span style="color: #222222; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></i></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; text-indent: 36pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>How is your job satisfaction? Are you frustrated, down in the dumps, or feeling stuck? You're not alone.</i></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="text-indent: 48px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17.6000003814697px; white-space: pre-wrap;">As time goes by, sometimes roles morph into something we didn't sign up for. For others, responsibilities don’t keep up with skill sets. When complacency, annoyance, or anger sets in, not only does it make the days drag on, but sometimes we change into a person we never wanted to be. If you’re feeling this way, you’re not alone. Women of all ages face situations like these throughout their careers.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">Career or job confusion can be draining. It can distract you from other areas of your life. Women often talk to their friends about it and then they find they stop for fear of sounding like a broken record and pushing away their social support. With the ever-changing responsibilities and priorities in their lives, women are especially susceptible to becoming confused about their careers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some common causes of career confusion are:</span><br />
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You choose a career path based on what your parents or people in your life thought you “should” do or what gave you security, but you find that you aren’t really being true to the purpose or passion within you.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The career you have has been fulfilling, but you find yourself in your 30s questioning whether your situation will be fulfilling for the years to come. You may actually hear your “biological clock” ticking and wonder if your male colleagues are feeling the confusion and pressure you are experiencing. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You like what you do, but you find the politics of your work environment draining, and you’re not sure it makes your job worthwhile. Also, you might not be compensated fairly or given the job title you deserve, and this is making you doubt your line of work. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">You are returning to work after time home with a baby or young children, and you don’t think your previous career will offer enough work/life balance for you to attend to your new priorities at home. </span></div>
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When discussing these issues with clients, here are some things I urge them to consider:</span><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Become very clear about what your mission is, what type of work gives you a sense of purpose. Write about it, talk to friends, or work with a coach or counselor. Don’t jump to a new path without first making sure that it fits you well. Once you become clear, it will help you evaluate your current job so you can see if it actually does fall under these parameters, or it will help direct you in a new way.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Look at your life holistically. It is okay to admit that what served you in the past no longer serves your needs. You may be called upon to take care of people in your life, so try to find work that energizes rather than exhausts you.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before deciding on a new career, do your research and test the waters! This will reduce some of the fear associated with the new areas and possible dream jobs. </span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t let the need for training scare you away. There are often ways to get the skills or training you need without going back to school full time.</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: decimal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Assert yourself! If it turns out you are in the right setting, but your needs just aren’t being met by your boss or colleagues, make sure your voice is heard. You won’t know if this is the right job for you until your needs or demands are clearly articulated.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If your current job isn’t offering the flexibility you need for the best work/life balance, consider looking for a new company with more flexibility or opportunities to work from home. Or consider working for yourself.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The most important thing I can emphasize to clients is to value yourself and the gifts you have to offer. If you find yourself confused about your career and you feel stuck or discouraged, this is an ideal time to work with a coach who can support you in defining and addressing the underlying issues.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nadine Bernard is a Board Certified Life Coach, a published playwright, and acting teacher located in Montclair, NJ. She holds a BA in English and Psychology and an MA in Clinical Psychology. She meets with clients over the phone, on Skype, or in the Montclair area. You can reach her at </span><a href="mailto:Nadine@personalplays.com" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nadine@personalplays.com</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or visit her website, </span><a href="http://www.personalplays.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-style: italic; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Personal Plays Life Coaching</span></a><span style="color: #222222; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07427772370703531241noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-30911921984380907442015-04-21T10:01:00.001-04:002015-04-21T10:03:58.365-04:00I love the Earth but I Don't Love Earth Day<i style="background-color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This originally ran on In the Powder Room in 2013. I'm re-running it here because two years later and I'm still in favor of more tree-hugging, less green-washing.</span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">While the </span><a href="http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/atlarge/2013/04/15/130415crat_atlarge_lemann?currentPage=all" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">origins of <span class="il">Earth</span> Day</span></a><span style="color: black;"> are admirable and pure – a day dedicated to environmental awareness and education </span> – <span class="il" style="color: black;">Earth</span><span style="color: black;"> Day in 2015 is no longer really about those founding values. I suggest we all do Mother Nature a favor and </span><i style="color: black;">not</i><span style="color: black;"> celebrate </span><span class="il" style="color: black;">Earth</span><span style="color: black;"> Day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While hippies and wannabe hippies everywhere have been busy adjusting their solar panels and building rain barrels in an ongoing pursuit of an eco-fabulous lifestyle, it seems just about every big company has re-branded <span class="il">Earth</span> Day as its own totally amazing marketing opportunity.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">There are tons of <span class="il">Earth</span> Day-themed children’s shows, because if encouraging kids to sit on the couch and waste electricity watching TV doesn’t honor the <span class="il">earth</span>, I don’t know what does. Disney gives us a new episode of <i>Handy Manny</i>, </span><a href="http://video.disney.com/watch/the-earth-day-challenge-dario-dance-4cea10bca431bb69f171fa42" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: blue;">The <span class="il">Earth</span> Day Challenge</span></i></a><span style="color: black;">, and PBS and Scholastic present the video </span><a href="http://store.scholastic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay_WordGirl%3A+Earth+Day+Girl_47792_-1_10052_10051" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: blue;">WordGirl: <span class="il">Earth</span> Day Girl</span></i></a><span style="color: black;"> ($14.99). Yay for sedentary indoor lifestyles! Totes eco-friendly!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scholastic further earns my ire by having its <span class="il">Earth</span> Day school unit sponsored by <i>Keep America Beautiful</i>, an organization that can appear as eco-friendly on the outside as it wants, but can’t change the fact that it’s funded largely by Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and Nestle Waters. Oh, and by Altria – which despite the benign sounding name owns Philip Morris, and even the most skilled advertiser can't convince me cigarettes keep America even a little bit beautiful. <i>These corporations are Mother Nature’s frenemies at best, and yet somehow they’re the ones throwing her party.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My <span class="il">earth</span>-<span class="il">loving</span> heart also holds a special place of scorn for Oriental Trading Company. While I do not begrudge their right to sell mass-produced items of questionable quality that have a pretty straight trajectory from birthday party goodie bag to landfill, I do condemn them for selling that same crap in the name of <span class="il">Earth</span> Day.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few items from Oriental Trading’s <span class="il">Earth</span> Day offerings include “I <span class="il">love</span> the <span class="il">earth</span>” stickers ($2.50 per 100 sticker roll) and latex balloons ($4.50 per dozen), which are described as “a fun way to start your <span class="il">Earth</span> Day activities.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t usually start save-the-<span class="il">earth </span>activities by destroying the planet. But maybe that’s just me. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Corporations aren’t the only ones dissing Mama <span class="il">Earth</span> on her big day. Government agencies are getting in on the <span class="il">Earth</span> Day “celebrating” too. In fact, the State of Utah’s Oil, Gas & Mining Agency is hosting an </span><a href="http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/blog/utah-earth-day-poster-contest-exploits-and-misinforms-children" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><span class="il">Earth</span> Day poster contest</span></a><span style="color: black;"> that asks kids to answer this environmental conundrum: “Where would WE be without oil, gas & mining?” That’s right, an ode to the destruction of the planet was created not just for any holiday, but specifically in honor of <span class="il">Earth</span>Day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year, let's celebrate <span class="il">Earth</span> Day on Wednesday, April 22, the way the original <span class="il">Earth</span> Day organizers intended -- by encouraging conservation through awareness and education, not consumption. <i>Let’s tell the companies we’re literally not buying any of their <span class="il">Earth</span> Day crap.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">You won't find me in line at the Disney store’s <span class="il">Earth</span> Day celebration waiting for a cast member to give me my 327th </span><a href="http://blog.disneystore.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">“eco-friendly” tote bag</span></a><span style="color: black;">, but I will take a hike with my kids. And while we’re in the woods, we just might hug a tree and whisper, “Happy <span class="il">Earth</span> Day.”</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07427772370703531241noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-50542645753024389682015-04-01T22:17:00.001-04:002015-04-02T22:29:31.585-04:00Passover: The Endurance Event of the Jewish Holidays<i><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Ytxj5kMLQ4XI3yE-5_U_wIRwVUEb0IGb0yko9B6itfnMABbIFV4cz44OTugk8D9dgdfAHtZbzsO5sRoPurCy7fh3hdognGYSECFW0FkYApgaJUWPCp_seXivy5OwIyUvm_-GuWt5_wU/s1600/Kelly+with+matzoh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Ytxj5kMLQ4XI3yE-5_U_wIRwVUEb0IGb0yko9B6itfnMABbIFV4cz44OTugk8D9dgdfAHtZbzsO5sRoPurCy7fh3hdognGYSECFW0FkYApgaJUWPCp_seXivy5OwIyUvm_-GuWt5_wU/s1600/Kelly+with+matzoh.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
<i><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This post originally ran last year on <a href="http://inthepowderroom.com/" target="_blank">In the Powder Room</a>.</span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember Jon Stewart joking back in the late 1990s (does that make me old?) that Judaism was the best religion because you could wipe out all of your sins in just one day:</span></div>
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<em><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yom Kippur. Greatest Jewish holiday ever. The Jewish day of atonement. You don’t eat for one day, all your sins for the year are wiped clean. Beat that with your little “Lent.” What is Lent? Forty days of absolution. Forty days to one day. Even in sin you’re paying retail.</span></em></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This one magical day of <em>Yom Kippur</em> occurs in the fall, and with my clean slate firmly intact, I was able to waltz through the tinsel-garlanded end of December without self-pity, knowing that my religion was pretty great, too. What it might lack in jolly ho-ho-hos it certainly made up for in quick-n-easy absolution of sin.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But when springtime comes, my Jewish pride sometimes has a momentary pause. Whereas Hanukkah can literally hold a candle to Christmas, Passover offers cardboard-like food and a story of despair in the desert while Easter happily flaunts pastel baskets filled with jelly beans and chocolate bunnies.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not only that, but Passover is the marathon of Jewish holidays, with eight days and eight nights of observance - carb-free, beer-free observance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But first, let me begin at the beginning.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before the Passover holiday even starts the entire house needs to be cleaned from top to bottom. If you are more pious, this cleaning must be done by feather and candlelight. And if you're lucky like me, with three small children helpfully screaming, "MOM!!!!! YOU MISSED A SPOT!!!!!"</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once the deep clean is over, all food with leavening of any kind must be located and thrown away. Sure, you might be able to live without bagels and pasta for a week, but this isn't just a holiday about eight days of carb-free living, this holiday encompasses so many more things on its list of Do Not Eat. So goodbye yummy processed foods laden with corn syrup. Goodbye Cheetos and Doritos. Goodbye mommy's hidden stash of gummy bears, see ya next week!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first two nights of Passover are <em>seders</em>, which include the re-telling of the holiday story and a large festive meal. The <em>seder</em> can't even begin until sundown, which this year was around 7:00 pm. Then the kids have to listen semi-quietly to a very loooong story that includes boils, locusts, pestilence, and even the slaying of children. It's a lot, even for the most well-behaved kids.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a treat for the children, and our only way of keeping them going through each and every story and song, is the promise that a special piece of matzoh, called the <i>Afikoman</i>, has been hidden, and that once they find the <i>Afikoman </i>and return it to the table, they'll receive money or a small gift.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then - I kid you not - that matzoh is served for dessert. Afikoman literally means "that which comes after," aka <em>dessert</em>. Okay, I kid a little, there are other desserts, but not the kind that scream special occasion. There are fruit compotes and sponge cakes made from potato starch. There are cookies that aren't quite right which have been fashioned from chopped nuts and shredded coconut. And don't even get me started on the attempts to liven up matzoh with various coatings from carob to caramel.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even after forty-eight hours of late nights and mornings that greet you with Kosher-for-Passover cereal and boiled eggs instead of bagels and muffins, the fun is just beginning. There are still six more days of the Passover holiday. And this is where the real <span class="il">endurance </span>test kicks in big time. Here you are living carb-free and junk food-free, still tired from your pre-holiday cleaning, when the final <span class="il">endurance</span> test is upon you: the kids are home from school. And not just for a few days, but for the entirety of the holiday.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just you and the kids, and the joy of reminding them 683 times an hour that no, there's no cake, no cookies, not even a graham cracker in the house. But look kids, there's matzoh pizza! Matzoh mac 'n cheese! Matzoh chicken nuggets!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And did I mention that there is also no beer in the house? Or doughnuts. Or cookie dough ice cream. Nor will there be anytime soon.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But thank G-d, there's wine. It may be Kosher-for-Passover wine, but at least it pairs well with matzoh.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07427772370703531241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-49473537743803887682015-03-31T10:02:00.000-04:002015-03-31T10:21:18.298-04:00A Nutty Night in NYC with #PeanutPower and the National Peanut Board!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrI-Vd16COKiSgp_JTrsC2gzk9_c4kb7bnU9to9M-ENNG3nIrT0Ot0YUn7IICNwn8-X6nKqOMx1f-T5AsH6v21rjEBnbKGFBpy5MUQMAY5QaZopbaA5UgMeUSOKgfAmzgrgPYfyvyCxw/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrI-Vd16COKiSgp_JTrsC2gzk9_c4kb7bnU9to9M-ENNG3nIrT0Ot0YUn7IICNwn8-X6nKqOMx1f-T5AsH6v21rjEBnbKGFBpy5MUQMAY5QaZopbaA5UgMeUSOKgfAmzgrgPYfyvyCxw/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last night I was lucky enough to be invited to a sneak preview of the <b><a href="http://perfectlypowerfulpeanut.com/event.html#target-event-popup" target="_blank">Perfectly Powerful Peanut Pop-Up</a></b> space, which is open today (Tuesday, March 31) and tomorrow (Wednesday, April 1) at the corner of 47th Street and Lexington Ave. from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm, and then from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;">If you're in the area, definitely stop by for some free, delicious (and healthy!) peanut samples and to meet the peanut farmers who are up visiting and happy to talk with you about life on a peanut farm. It is truly a great experience.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span><span style="color: #222222;">I honestly had no idea that the story behind peanut farming was so fascinating, or that the people telling it would be so absolutely charming. If I wasn't so thoroughly </span><span style="color: #222222;">incapable of growing even a single Jersey tomato in my suburban garden</span><span style="color: #222222;"> I would seriously consider moving down south and starting a second career as a peanut farmer.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;">Even though I spent my childhood in a peanut growing state, Virginia, I realized I had never even seen a peanut plant, and really didn't know anything about how peanuts are grown and harvested. For example, peanuts need to be planted every single year, and they need a very specific and warm growing season, which is why almost all U.S. peanuts are grown in just ten states, with fifteen states in all growing peanuts. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;">The peanut farmers were very clear when they explained to me there was no way I could grow a peanut plant like this one in New Jersey.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYOn76EF6EZAYCbHeJJeKFJEdcaCD69RozwhV9Zf8kWCUg-j9ll4tBbdla1SSBOYUiIC5wU4cjLLlVydozIXF2DOnq2ZlARhKfMVEKxsci9qC-JQ4fDeUdG7COtse2-PLGO7InSEfchg/s1600/peanut+plant+nyc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYOn76EF6EZAYCbHeJJeKFJEdcaCD69RozwhV9Zf8kWCUg-j9ll4tBbdla1SSBOYUiIC5wU4cjLLlVydozIXF2DOnq2ZlARhKfMVEKxsci9qC-JQ4fDeUdG7COtse2-PLGO7InSEfchg/s1600/peanut+plant+nyc.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">In addition to seeing a peanut plant for the first time, I learned a little about how peanuts are farmed (they must always be harvested on a sunny day) and how a hurricane or other natural disaster can wipe out a whole season's crop. One farmer was nice enough to show me photos of his farm, and when I admired the neatly planted rows he explained it's done by GPS now, which makes planting more efficient and environmentally friendly. The GPS comes in handy again when it's time to harvest the peanuts, as the GPS makes it easier to "find" the plants and take the peanuts out of the ground.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;">I also got to meet Carla Hall of <a href="http://abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/cast/carla-hall" target="_blank">The Chew</a> along with other bloggers:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another huge treat was trying peanut inspired recipes from <a href="https://twitter.com/chefjoejohnson" target="_blank">Chef Joe "JJ" Johnson</a>, like delicious <a href="http://nationalpeanutboard.org/recipe/world-flavors/peanut-butter-gazpacho/" target="_blank">peanut butter gazpacho</a> and an amazing <a href="http://nationalpeanutboard.org/recipe/desserts/chocolate-peanut-tart/" target="_blank">chocolate peanut tart</a>. You can find all the recipes <a href="http://perfectlypowerfulpeanut.com/event.html#target-event-recipe" target="_blank">here</a>, as well as learn more about why peanuts are a healthy and nutritious choice.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;">The Peanut Board was also there to talk about #PeanutEnvy, an important initiative to help feed those in need. Make a donation of $20 or more to <b><a href="https://squareup.com/market/nationalpeanutboard" target="_blank">Peanut Butter for the Hungry</a></b> and receive a limited edition Peanut Envy t-shirt.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you're in NYC today or tomorrow definitely stop by <b><a href="http://perfectlypowerfulpeanut.com/event.html" target="_blank">The National Peanut Board's Perfectly Powerful Peanut Pop-Up</a></b> on the corner of 47th Street and Lexington Ave. to see the exhibits, try free peanut samples, and to meet the peanut farmers and their families, who are honestly the friendliest people you will find in NYC. Once you do, you're going to want to be a peanut farmer, too.</span><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you to the National Peanut Board for including me in this wonderful special event. I received an event gift bag, which included my all-time favorite peanut butter, <a href="http://ilovepeanutbutter.com/index.php/peanut-butter-1/whitechocolatewonderful.html" target="_blank">White Chocolate Wonderful</a> from <a href="http://ilovepeanutbutter.com/" target="_blank">Peanut Butter & Co</a>. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.</span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07427772370703531241noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-74876156576460151002015-03-30T12:23:00.000-04:002015-03-30T12:30:13.394-04:00NYC Gets Nutty with the Perfectly Powerful Peanut Pop-Up! #PeanutPower <br />
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I'm checking out a special preview of the <b><a href="http://perfectlypowerfulpeanut.com/event.html#target-event-popup" target="_blank">Perfectly Powerful Peanut Pop-Up</a></b> space tonight in New York City, which will be open (and free!) on Tuesday, March 31, and Wednesday, April 1, from 7:30 am to 1:30 pm and then from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm both days at The Corner at the Roger Smith Hotel (47th and Lexington).<br />
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Stop by to enjoy free peanut powered breakfast and snack samples as well as to visit exhibits and learn about how America's peanuts grow and are feeding the world. You can even get your photo taken with a peanut farmer!<br />
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I'll be back tomorrow sharing photos of the Pop Up space as well as recipes from Chef JJ Johnson of <b><a href="http://thececilharlem.com/" target="_blank">The Cecil</a></b> restaurant in Harlem.<br />
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<i>To learn more, visit the <b><a href="http://perfectlypowerfulpeanut.com/" target="_blank">Perfectly Powerful Peanut website</a>.</b></i><br />
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<i>The Perfectly Powerful Peanut Pop-Up is sponsored by The National Peanut Board, which represents America's more than 7,000 peanut farming families.</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07427772370703531241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-73006964277660328222015-03-26T17:41:00.001-04:002015-03-26T17:50:21.328-04:00Have a Great Family Day at the Liberty Science Center! {Ticket Giveaway} #SpringBreakLSC<div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My family recently spent a fun-filled day at the <a href="http://lsc.org/" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Liberty Science Center</a> as part of #SpringBreakLSC with <a href="http://jerseymomsblog.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jersey Moms Media</a>. The Liberty Science Center is one of our favorite places in New Jersey to spend a day. It's a great place for a family outing because there are exhibits and activities for kids of all ages, not to mention plenty of interest for adults, too. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There were several new exhibits to check out at the Liberty Science Center since our last visit:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://lsc.org/see-whats-happening/current-exhibitions-and-experiences/sesame-street-presents-the-body-exhibit/" target="_blank">Sesame Street Presents: The Body</a> --</b> open now through May 3, 2015, this is a wonderful exhibit for kids ages 2-8, filled and lots of Sesame Street fun and lots of hands-on opportunities for learning, with 17 different activities throughout the exhibit that has three areas that cover <i>Your Outsides</i>, <i>Your Insides</i> and <i>Staying Healthy</i>. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Highlights for my kids included Oscar's Sneeze Machine (pull the lever to make a giant sneeze) a</span><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nd meeting the furry red monster:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can find a full list of dates when you can Meet Elmo <a href="http://lsc.org/blog/lsc_events/meet-elmo-live/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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</span> <b style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><a href="http://brc.lsc.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Beyond Rubik's Cube</a> </b><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">- open just until Sunday, April 19, 2015, so catch it while you can! This exhibit is the first museum exhibition about the Rubik's Cube, and is 7,000 square feet of games, puzzles and more devoted solely to the history, art and engineering of this amazing cube.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">From the LSC.org site - I have no idea how they did the animation.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://lsc.org/see-whats-happening/current-exhibitions-and-experiences/infinity-climber/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Infinity Climber</a></b> - this relatively new addition to the museum described as "one structure, infinite possibilities" is an incredible play space high above the atrium floor. Made from curved steel pipes and individual platforms to step on, it is the first suspended climbing play space of its kind. Don't worry - the whole area is coverd with protective mesh wire so there's no fear of falling climbers. Please note if you are going with younger kids there is a 42 inch height requirement.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other favorites from our day at the Liberty Science Center included the <b><a href="http://lsc.org/see-whats-happening/current-exhibitions-and-experiences/touch-tunnel/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Touch Tunnel</a> </b>(the most popular exhibit there) and <b><a href="http://lsc.org/see-whats-happening/current-exhibitions-and-experiences/our-hudson-home/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Our Hudson Home </a></b>(don't miss seeing the Harbor Tank with live fish!).</span><br />
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<b><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">** Experience a family day of fun and learning at the Liberty Science Center **</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enter to win a Family Four Pack of tickets to the Liberty Science Center!</span><br />
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</span><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks to the generosity of Liberty Science Center, one lucky winner will win four passes to visit the Liberty Science Center. Enter here. Entries close Monday, March 30, 2015.</span><br />
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="1c359e0f8" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/1c359e0f8/" id="rcwidget_7194cj58" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a><br />
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script></span><i style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I received admission for my family and me as well as promotional items and a travel stipend. All opinions are my own.</span></i><br />
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</span></i><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>For more photos and coverage, look for #SpringBreakLSC on Twitter and Instagram!</i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07427772370703531241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8542716019381542738.post-28145011842708243192015-03-19T12:46:00.000-04:002015-03-19T12:46:08.994-04:00Happy St. Patrick's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love St. Patrick's Day in all its drunken revelry as much as I love the hoards of inebriated Santas roaming the streets during the annual delightful day drinking event, SantaCon.<br />
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I know now based on the Facebook updates of my peers, my opinion is not the one that is widely held.<br />
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Apparently most if not all of my middle aged friends want to avoid the trains, the streets and everywhere else that the youth of America might be puking while celebrating. I get it. I hear you. But still. There's something to me completely endearing about young people who might otherwise have nothing in common finding just that in these celebrations of questionable merit.<br />
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And for that reason, I'll always love St. Patrick's Day and SantaCon. Even if no one else does.<br />
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As for me, I was home making <b><a href="http://craftfail.com/2015/03/leprechaun-pudding-potatoes/" target="_blank">Leprechaun pudding</a> </b>for my children, because that's how I roll these days. As may or may not come as a surprise, it did not turn out as planned.<br />
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You can find out all about <a href="http://craftfail.com/2015/03/leprechaun-pudding-potatoes/" target="_blank">how (not) to make Leprechaun pudding</a> at my home-away-from-home, <a href="http://craftfail.com/2015/03/leprechaun-pudding-potatoes/" target="_blank">CraftFail</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07427772370703531241noreply@blogger.com1