Ladies: Need I Remind You that Valentine's Day is Less than a Week Away

Even though my husband does not believe in Valentine's Day, I still end up buying him something little just to say that I love you and always thinking of you. Sometimes it's hard to find something small that doesn't cost a fortune, something that he will actually like or even use.

I would like to provide my fellow ladies with some easy gift ideas that every man will like. These gifts will work for boyfriends (new or old), fiances, husbands (again, new or old) or even your dad or best guy friend.

• Brownie Heart: Go to the dollar store and buy a giant heart cookie cutter. If you can find 3 that are different sizes, go for that one. If not, one is fine. Pick up some red, white or pink icing and some sprinkles. Don't forget the brownie mix and ingredients! Now you can make a huge brownie heart and decorate it for your loved one. Guys ALWAYS like brownies...even the picky ones who don't like chocolate.
• Fun Dip: Yup...I said it. Fun Dip. It isn't something that you can't always find, but I found it in a 24 pack that was actually meant for kids Valentine cards. He'll love it!
• Cigars: Not my favorite gift, but he likes them. It is like a hall pass to doing something that I really don't like.
• Special beer: This gift is now off the books for me, but for those of you who don't own a bar or distributor, get him a special case of beer that he may not choose himself. He will appreciate you buying him alcohol...I promise.
• Finally, you can just go simple and buy a card. And yes a 99 cent card, or even the 2 for $1 cards from the Dollar Store are perfectly fine because all that matters is that you show you care. If he cares, he may even keep it forever!

Good luck on your Valentine's shopping! And don't wait until the last minute - just like Christmas, everything will be gone!

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Tis' the Season

Wedding season is quickly approaching. As you know one of my dear friends and co-WW&B bloggers will soon be hitched. A best friend of mine is also getting married in June, I was asked to be a bridesmaid :-) . I am sure most of you have either been a bridesmaid or a bride so you are well aware of all the planning and fine-tuned details which must take place.

As a bridesmaid you have duties you are expected to perform to help things go more smoothly in the planning and on the actual day of the big event. I have never been great at making decisions, I am usually indecisive by fault and I wish I wasn’t. For the shower, each bridesmaid must make a gift basket which will be given out while the soon-to-be bride is opening her presents. We will have a timer and when it goes off, whoever’s gift she is opening at the time will get the basket.

My dilemma is what sort of themed basket should I make? That is where you all come into play. Please, I beg you, give me some ideas. Here are the already-claimed basket themes: wine basket, lottery basket, nail polish basket, spa basket. I looked to Google for some inspirations and here are a few ideas I like:

1. Grilling/BBQ Basket
Content Ideas - grilling tools, grilling mitt/pad, grilling spices, marinades,grilling vegetable basket, apron, skewers, BBQ Sauce

2. Ice Cream Basket
Content Ideas -Toppings, sundae dishes, waffle bowls and cones, sprinkles, ice cream scoop, cherries, grocery store gift certificate

3. Beach Bag
Content Ideas - Sun screen, blanket, beach towel, sand pail/shovels, beach ball, etc.

4. Steeler’s/Tailgating Basket
Content Ideas - Steeler’s shirts, etc., BBQ sauce, apron, grill brush, oven mitt, plastic dishes or tray, snacks, condiments.

5. Cleaning Products
Content Ideas - Bucket, glass cleaner, furniture polish, kitchen cleaner, cleanser, dusting mitt, tile/bath cleaner, rubber gloves, sponge, toilet bowl cleaner, disinfecting wipes, floor cleaner

I know you are all creative, have any other ideas? Or, which of the ones listed would you be excited to get if you were a guest at the shower? All help is appreciated :-)

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I'm OBSESSED!

I’m not that person that goes home after work and jumps on the computer to surf the net.  I use a computer so much for work that the last thing I want to do is strain my pretty, blue eyes after I get home.  With that being said, I’m very out of touch with all the “cool” websites out there.  However, all that has recently changed as my dear friend and fellow blogger, Katie, introduced me to Pintrest.  Have you been to this site yet?!  Most of you reading this are probably shaking your heads yes and thinking to yourself “jeez, this girl isn’t kidding…she really is out of touch with the Internet” but, I don’t mind, I know I’m behind the times. Needless to say, I’ve become OBSESSED with Pintrest.  I’m on it all the time and it’s really sparked my creative juices and I’m finally getting some things accomplished around my house.

Here’s a brief description about some of my fun Pintrest projects that I have going on.

·         I’ve have had two old windows sitting in my dining room for the last four years.  I really like them but I just haven’t been able to figure out what the heck to do with them.  So there they sit.  They have no purpose and no home.  I literally look at them every day and I question whether or not I should keep them because they are just taking up space but, thanks to Pintrest, I now have the perfect idea for them.  I’m using them to create a family photo wall.  I’ve already selected the photos and I’m waiting for just a couple more from my mother-in-law and up they will go.  FINALLY, these fabulous old windows have a purpose!  Can I just tell you how excited I am?!

·         The next project that I’m working on is an arts and crafts project for above my bed.  My husband and I have been living in our house for seven years and for seven years; we’ve looked for something to hang above our bed.  It’s a giant wall and things that we’ve found that we have liked are either the wrong colors or too small.  Now, thanks to ideas on Pintrest, I’m creating my own art piece with canvas boards from Michael's, scrapbook paper, paint and glue.  What’s so great about this is it is allowing me to pick the exact size that we want and the exact colors and honestly, the project couldn’t be easier!  These should be finished up this week and after seven years; we’ll finally have something hanging above our bed! 

·         The last Pintrest project that I’m working on is actually out in my garden.  It seems weird to be talking about gardening when it’s February in Pittsburgh but, with all of the unseasonably warm weather we’ve been having, I’ve been able to get outside and do some serious clean-up in the yard.  I’m currently collecting empty liquor bottles from our bar and I’m using them to line the edge of my flower beds.  This is not only a great way to recycle the bottles but it looks neat and the bottles really catch the sunlight.

So what I’m trying to say is that if you haven’t been to this incredibly amazing site called Pintrest, you are missing out!  It really will give you amazing ideas for your home and garden.  It will give you great recipe ideas and places to travel too.  It will even give you fashion ideas, book ideas and paint colors.  It’s just an amazing site and I’ll be anxious to finish up my projects and show you pictures of them.  Hopefully they will inspire you to get creative! 

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Brand Loyalty

Today at lunch the WWB gals and I were discussing the Super Bowl ads from last night.  While I usually watch the Super Bowl strictly for the ads--even if the local team is in the game--I feel like I missed a lot of them last night. I did catch a few and they were decent. But would they make me buy? The answer is a resounding NO!

Super Bowl ads are not made to switch a loyal customer from Company A into a loyal customer of Company B. It is production value. It is memorability. Will it be talked about at work on Monday?

It got us to thinking, what brands are you loyal to? It's as old as the Coke vs. Pepsi debate!

There are plenty of products that I am very loyal to! I have used the same face soap for the last 20 years! I don't use it everyday, but I still love it! I have grown in my product spectrum, but this one is always a staple.

My oldest son will only eat Reduced Fat Cheez It crackers. I've even tried saving the box and putting regular ones in it. Nope, he knows.  It has to be a certain brand of bread, peanut butter, etc. I swear he would starve before ingesting something that isn't one of his "brands."

My youngest son tells me things are wrong if a company changes their packaging. Giant Eagle recently changed their shredded cheese packaging and while making pizzas one night, he told me it was the wrong cheese. First lesson for my six year old in marketing--the product didn't change, just the packaging.

I can remember in college it was my turn to buy ketchup for the house--at this time I didn't eat ketchup much, if at all. Not originally being from western PA, I bought the store brand. When I brought said ketchup home, my roommates were appalled at my choice. How dare I buy something other than Heinz. "Really," I thought. "It matters?" Yes, yes it does! Fast foward 15 years and I can only buy Heinz. Everthing else just isn't, well Heinz.

We are like this with clothes, shoes, household items. While I may pick something up here or there, there are a few stores that I go to religiously when I'm in need or want of something new. Honestly, if I can't find it there, I usually just stop looking!

We all have products and services that we bow to in loyalty. I'm totally screwed if Sunshine stops making Cheez Its or Giant Eagle changes their packaging again!

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One Foot In Front of the Other

Last April, I participated in a 5k that was associated with the Glass City Marathon in Toledo, OH. This year, I am going to do the same. But hopefully there will be a difference between this year and last. Last year, I walked almost the whole way. I had no intention of running it, so I wasn't disappointed with the end result. This year, I would like to run it or at least attempt to run it.

I am not a runner and I have no deep-seeded ambition to become a runner. So why am I participating in this 5k? Well, besides the full marathon and the 5k, there is also a half marathon. My brother and several of his friends came into town to run the half. With my brother's encouragement, I signed up for the 5k. My mom and a friend of mine from Baltimore also ran the 5k. It was a family event! It was fun to be a part of the action - running onto the field at the University of Toledo Glass Bowl, crossing the finish line (right behind an 80-something year old man), seeing my friends and family cross the finish line! It will be another family event. My mom is running the 5k again and my brother is running the half marathon.

To get ready for this 5k, I am using the Couch to 5k method. I am not very good with sticking to any kind of workout plan. I usually quit because I come up with excuses not to work out, like being too busy, not feeling well, etc. It is always something. I am crossing my fingers that I can stick to this one. Tonight I will complete the third installment of this journey. My mom and brother have been encouraging and motivate me to continue.

I still have a little more than 11 weeks to prepare, but I will probably need all the time I can get. So I am off on a journey to build up some running stamina and hopefully a little extra health benefit, too.

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A Second Chance Through Last Chance Corral

A little less than a year ago, a friend of mine went above and beyond and adopted two orphan foals from Last Chance Corral – an organization out of Ohio that is dedicated to rescuing and rehoming unwanted horses and foals.

These foals were just days old when she brought them home, and dedicated herself to becoming their “mothers.” My friend is a horse trainer, a breeder and professional horsewoman, but taking on two young, VERY needy orphaned babies was something she had never tackled before.

For nights, she slept in the barn, kept them wrapped in blankets, and woke at the wee hours of the morning to feed them. They depended on her.

Each year hundreds of orphaned foals come through the doors at Last Chance Corral, looking for homes and families to dedicate themselves to them. I know a number of people who have taken on this challenge, and given these by-products of the racing industry new homes and new beginnings. They are awesome!

The team at Last Chance Corral works solely off of donations and volunteers, but makes it work. They are able to save hundreds of foals each year.

This organization is something I believe it. It is a cause I support.

January started foaling season in the racing industry, and Last Chance Corral just received their first group of rescue babies looking for new homes. I know many of our readers

probably aren’t horse people, and could care less about this organization. However, I encourage you all to find a cause you support and spread the word and awareness on this cause.That is all I want to do.

I want to raise awareness for a cause I support. Read more about Last Chance Corral, their purpose, nurse mare foals and adoption.

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Movie Review: Real Steel

I am not an avid movie watcher, but when I have the time, or a movie catches my attention and I end up staying up past my bedtime to finish it, I like to tell people about it.

My most recent viewing experience was Real Steel. Adam was super excited when it came in that red envelope that everyone knows as Netflix! He ran around the house like a little kid saying, "Real Steel James Neal" Yes- the Penguin player who he is obsessed with (I like to call him Adam's boyfriend). But anyways, so he was really excited to watch it. So to begin, here is a preview of one of my favorite parts.

The movie is based in the not so distant future and features a younger kid, Max (played by Dakota Goyo) who I believe was 11, and Charlie Kenton (Hugh Jackman) who you find out is his dad (but trust me, I didn't ruin it...you find that out in the first 5 minutes).

So Charlie fights these robots. I have to admit, they were really cool to watch. It was almost like they had to really build these robots to have them do the things they do, but we all know its CGI.

Well the story is about how Max's mom passes away and his deadbeat dad, Charlie, pays off Max's aunt and uncle to take custody of the kid. Except, the aunt and uncle are going on vacation and didn't plan for Max to go. So Charlie agrees that he will take him for a couple weeks or so but then he'll go live with them afterwards.

It is the typical movie from here. Kid hates dad. Dad doesn't like kid. Kid finds interest in robots. Dad starts to like kid. Kid almost falls off cliff. Dad starts to like kid more. Kid grows even more interest in robots and makes his own. Dad is proud. Kid wins battle. Dad wants to keep him.

I know it doesn't sound great from there, but I don't want to ruin it for you. It really is a good family movie and boys and girls will like it.

And trust me, there HAS to be a sequel coming out because there has to be more to it. You'll understand when you watch. Let me know what you think of the movie in the comments below!

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