Amy's Travel Tips!

Recently I was told I should write a book. Frankly, as flattering a comment as this is, I wouldn't have the foggiest idea what to write about. As I was leaving for a trip the next day, a friend offered a suggestion. "You should write a 'What NOT to Do Travel Book'," she said. Humph, I thought. Actually, it is a funny idea because I have had some doozy travel stories, though certainly not enough to fill a book. Yet.

With this in mind, I'll share some of my top tips (A.K.A. reasons to be grateful) when traveling:

1. Packing in advance does not necessarily mean you will remember to bring everything you need. My son packed his suitcase a good 24 hours before me and we forgot his swim trunks. I packed my items 45 minutes before we put the key in the ignition and I forgot nothing! Or, if I did, I haven't discovered it yet!

2. Should you arrive at your destination without something you need, you can almost always purchase it when you arrive. Thanks to Old Navy for our most recent quick, one-stop shopping jaunt for new UV shirts and swim trunks!

3. Should you discover the morning you are leaving for Paris that your passport expired several months prior, fear not. It IS possible to get a same-day passport AND make your evening flight. Even if it means driving to Philadelphia; talking your husband through your closet because, big shocker, you haven't packed yet; and leaving two cars in long-term parking to make it happen!

4. Should you ever arrive at Westchester Airport and realize your driver's license, and any other legitimate form of ID, is resting back at home, don't reach for the panic button. Be polite to the TSA agents because they are about to be your new BFFs. They will issue an immediate background check over the phone and ask you some basic questions (note to self, you can't ask your husband for help). If you pass the check you will feel like the luckiest person alive. Hell, maybe you are! You will be allowed to board the plane with your family and have a really great story to share with the relatives awaiting your arrival! And yes, this happened to me post 9/11!

5. FedEx is great for express shipping a driver's license, custom swimming ear plugs, or whatever else that's needed prior to the return trip home. It's quite possible that my parents now avoid my calls when I'm away in case it means they need to be put on another pronto postal mission!

Late Night Thanks

Today was bill day. Or rather, today was "holy shit, that's quite a stack, I better pay these bills" day, which leads me into the first item on my list of that for which to be grateful:

1. I am grateful I can pay my bills online, thus avoiding the pesky 44-cent stamps and a trip to the mailbox in my pajamas.

2. I am grateful if I find a bill is due on today's very date I can (and did!) go right to the credit card website with bank account and routing number in hand and get it there fast and free, despite there being a phone number to call with the same info and be slapped with a $15 fee...WTH?

3. I am grateful for 800#s and customer service reps armed with the power to erase late fees from my bills. Yes, I said bills plural. I admit it; there were two. It was a bad month. When CS rep #2 informed me I'd already used my special one-time-exception 11 months ago, I asked for a manager and lo and behold, the power was granted and the fee waived.

4. I am grateful for having the patience to make said phone calls. Having worked in customer service right out of college, not only was I lucky enough to meet my future husband but, it was there I learned that people with headsets can RULE THE WORLD! Okay, maybe that's getting a little carried away....

5. Lastly, at least on this subject, I'm grateful that I am free from my bill paying duties for another few weeks.

6. I'm grateful for my scrapbook pals because after five years since taking an anniversary trip to Paris, I am NEARLY ready to order my book. Just a few more journaling additions and tweaks from the writer....

7. I am thankful I'm not Cinderalla because the clock is striking twelve and I am not dashing down some stairs in only one shoe!

8. Ahhh, fleece sheets. Okay, seriously. How many times do I need to be thankful for the puppies before you realize their greatness and go out and buy yourself a set?!?

9. I'm thankful I can hit the send button and know I am out for the count. Now if I can just keep my eyes open long enough....

10. I'm grateful for my friends who read my blog! Thank YOU and good night!!

Merci Beaucoup!

1. I am thankful for realizing I am stronger than I give myself credit. Whether it's inadvertently taking a spring trip alone to Jamaica (long story, ask me about it some day), having to put our family cat to sleep, or most recently dealing with lice while my husband's out of town, I know I can get through life's challenges even if I question it at the time. Then again, maybe it's true that God only gives you as much as you can handle because these examples seem pretty weak now that they're jotted down! LOL

2. I am thankful for sunny days.

3. I am thankful for sleeping in on the weekends. I am basically an early bird and once I'm up, I'm up. However, this weekend I took TWO opportunities to catch a few more morning ZzzzS...and it was awesome!

4. I am thankful I finally got to sit down to enjoy my Russell Stover's caramel and chocolate heart. A few days late, but worth the wait nonetheless.

5. I'm thankful for a great night out with friends over the weekend at La Zingara in Bethel, CT. If you haven't yet dined at this hidden gem of a Northern Italian restaurant, find an excuse (i.e. "It's Wednesday!") and go!

6. I'm thankful for movies on demand. "Midnight in Paris" is a delightful stroll through the City of Love and Lights. This quiet, yet wonderful film reminded me of another lesser-known Woody Allen favorite of mine called, "The Purple Rose of Cairo". There's something so intriguing about blending one's present day life into the past!

7. I am oh-so-thankful for chocolate. Should there ever be a call for participants in a study to weigh the benefits of chocolate and our mental health, sign me up!

8. I am thankful for the few nights we sit together as a family for a meal and look forward to more.

9. I am thankful for the second zone of heat we now have in our kitchen which keeps me from layering on the fleece.

10. I am happy whenever I get to share my love of the iPad with a friend. Hmmm, tough question as the iPad3 is about to be released: to buy or not to buy? Okay, maybe not so tough! Ha ha!

Happy Valentine's Day to Me!

It's been a few days since I've shared my thoughts of thanks, but I've been a little busy. You see, I woke up on Valentine's Day morning expecting it to be like any other day.

I gave the kids their Valentine's Day treats, rushed them off to school, did my P90X, and before I knew it, it was time to head to school for my daughter's class party. I entered the school as my daughter was walking down the hall on her way to the nurses's office for an itchy head. This would have caused me some alarm but she'd been in there rather frequently for cough drops, bandaids, and the like, so what's a little itch? She said she wanted to go alone so I went to the class to meet up with the other parents. Yada, yada, yada the nurse calls the teacher, who waves me over and right then I knew. I silently screamed, "Noooooooooooo!" Yup, my daughter had lice.

I could just feel the parental eyes on me as I gathered my daughter's belongings and willed myself to remain calm. I passed a friend who asked what was wrong and I told her. Hell, this was breaking news for our itty bitty school so I may as well face the music up front. I pulled both kids out of school and headed to CVS for the dreaded box of Rid at the nurse's suggestion. My son calmly read the instructions on the drive home while tears poured down my daughters face. While the chemical laden treatment shampoo did its thing, I raced around bagging pillows, comforters, stuffed animals, etc. to toss in the garage. I then ripped the beds apart and threw everything I could into the washing machine. Load after load I washed away any hidden signs of the creepy little buggers but I still had to tackle the hair. Ugh. I called a friend, cried a little, and settled in for the job ahead. After two hours I'd only gotten through halfway through her head, the kids hadn't eaten dinner, and I was beside myself. Did I mention my husband was away on a business trip? Happy Valentine's Day to me!

At this point I would have paid $1000 to make this problem go away so I texted a couple friends to get the numbers of people they'd used, actual professionals, who knew what the hell they were doing. One of these friends even came to my house armed with some of her supplies. Now THAT'S a friend! It meant the world to me. In the meantime I made an appointment with "The Lice Lady of Westchester" for the following morning. She told me over the phone exactly what I needed to do at home and talked me down from the ledge. I went to bed, feeling icky still, but hopeful for the first time in hours.

I won't bore you with all the nitty (pun intended) gritty details but I will tell you that since seeing the "Lice Lady" I am now quite knowledgeable in the field. She checked the three of us and treated Sophia completely so when we walked out of the salon there wasn't a single visible egg upon her head. She charges $100 an hour. It took us an hour and a half. The kids watched Toy Story on DVD while she went to work. It was stress free and WORTH EVERY PENNY, including the hour long drive it took us to get to the salon in Elmsford, NY.

Before concluding with this week's examples of gratitude, I want to tell you if this should happen to you in the future, be sure to call Anna Krosche, The Lice Lady of Westchester. Her products are nontoxic and her services are 100% guaranteed. Then call me because I now know, a friendly, understanding, experienced voice can make all the difference.

1. I am thankful for my dear friends who offered up their sympathies, suggestions, and shoulders to help me through a very rough day.

2. I am thankful for The Lice Lady, Anna Krosche and her associate Emily who were not only kind, but efficient and reassuring beyond words. I would not have been able to get through this so quickly or easily without them!

3. I am thankful for my daughter who endured this trying time without a single complaint, even offering her apologies. which I could only reply, "Oh sweetie, it's not your fault!"

4. I am thankful for one special friend of my daughter's who sent a note to cheer her up and see when she'd be back in school. When girls can be so cruel, it's refreshing to see someone speak with her heart. Kudos to her mom for a job very well done!

5. I am thankful for this lesson which, until it happened in my home, would make my skin crawl with the mere mention of it. It's no mistake lice is a four-letter word, but when you have the right tools (Terminator Nit Free comb and Happyheads nontoxic shampoo, Pantene Classic Conditioner, and baking soda) you quickly realize it's an inconvenience, for sure, but extremely small potatoes compared with what others have faced in my town alone.

Bedtime thanks

Let's see if I can get this posted before midnight, shall we?

1. Today I'm thankful for completing another day of Tony Horton's torture. Actually, it was yoga so it wasn't as hard as it was long. (Oh my, there's an inappropriate joke there for the taking! And to think my mother reads this!! LOL)

2. I'm thankful I was able to help out not one but two friends today! Just no-big-deal things, but it's nice to be needed...by someone over the age of 11!

3. I'm thankful I will be waking up to a chocolate Russell Stover's treat at my bedside, a tradition carried out first by my parents which I now pass on to my kids -- and myself when my hubby is traveling!

4. I continue to be thankful for my rearranged family room. It makes me smile every day. What can I say? It's the little things....

5. I am thankful for my family's health as well as happy to hear my friend's awesome health news. Is there anything better??

Ooh, I did it! With two minutes to spare! :-)

Two days worth of thanks

1. I'm thankful for NOT sliding down any hills in my car or having to cancel any weekend plans since the snow we were supposed to receive never quite materialized.

2. I'm thankful I was able to get together for a fun night out with the ladies.  As the saying goes, "When the cat's away, the mouse drinks bellinis with friends." Well, that's my version any way!

3. I'm thankful for Facebook which offered speedy confirmation that I was indeed one of the, hopefully, few saps to hand over money today to a complete stranger. Yes, that's right, I fell for it. After all, it was only $3 so I truly thought I was helping out a fellow female. In the brief moment before suspicion set in, I imagined her buying her child a coveted Big Mac, or whatever $3 can get you at Mickey D's. I've been called naive (tonight, in fact, by my oh-so-sympathetic-and-supportive husband) but I'm embarrassed to admit I'm still quite shocked I hadn't heard of this before since, come to find out, it's apparently quite common in this particular Home Goods parking lot in Danbury, CT. I'd like to believe by posting my experience here on my blog that I might prevent another trusting, non-suspecting person from doing the same.

4. I'm thankful I only gave away $3 and look forward to being "tested" in a similar manner again so I can look them in the face and say, "fool me once...." Then again, maybe I'll just leave my window rolled up and drive on by waving a twenty at them through the window!

5.  I'm thankful for a great afternoon spent with my dear friend, Tracey, who I will forever remember as the caring 10-year-old girl who refused to take part in "Let's Be Mean to Amy Day" on the school bus. Sadly the meanness of girls remains throughout our lives but if you're lucky, like me, you'll be surrounded with a few true friends to get you through the BS.

6. I'm thankful to be spending Valentine's Day with my two greatest loves: my children.

7. I'm thankful the holiday is approaching when it's socially acceptable to sit around popping one chocolate after another!

8. I'm thankful I found my favorite pair of gloves which I misplaced for a long, and cold, 24 hours.

9. I'm thankful for Overstock.com where you can buy ANYTHING and pay only $2.95 shipping! I can't wait for my new chair to arrive!

10. It's been a tough few weeks in our town. First we lost 13-year-old Julia Malsin, and this weekend we learned a beloved teacher, Pat Warde, had an unexpected heart attack and passed away as well. In these days of sadness I'm thankful for the sweetness of my daughter who asked me today, "Mommy, why are so many people dying in the month of joy?" Good question, sweetheart.

Go ahead, be grateful!

When bad things happen to good people, why do we automatically feel guilty for being grateful for what we have? It's human nature since it may seem like we're 'boasting' while others are in pain. But in times of trouble, whether the causes are economical, global, or personal, it's not just okay but crucial that we pause to take inventory of what's important in our lives.

Go ahead. Give yourself permission to be grateful. Somedays it's harder than others, particularly if the kids are sick, the car won't start, or you've missed an appointment. But I firmly believe being grateful helps us get through the tough days a little easier. I look forward to reviewing these posts a while from now and, with any luck, it will remind me what a full life I have, making any difficult days just a tad better.

1. I'm thankful for achy muscles which remind me that my return to working out is not only work, but working. I wonder, as a P90X grad, when I complete round two, will I earn a masters?
2. I'm thankful for my children's excited faces when I suggested fireplace s'mores for dessert!
3. I'm thankful the marshmallows stayed on the sticks!
4. I'm thankful for my Bamboo stylus which makes editing on my iPad easier than ever!
5. I'm thankful for snow...but hope it doesn't mess up plans for GNO tomorrow!

(P.S. I had trouble posting this last night so it is actually yesterday's list)

Oh happy day!

I've been wanting to remove the kids' train table from our family room for a little while now. My husband, on the other hand, has been wanting to remove it practically since we first got the thing. Today my friend Maryanne came over and helped me rearrange the room completely, keeping in mind we wanted to focus on two areas: our new fireplace and the TV. With that said, here's today's list:

1. I am thankful for Maryanne who shared her hidden interior design talent with me!
2. I am thankful for our new, improved, and grown-up family room! The end result exceeded my expectations!
3. I am thankful for my moving partner because I don't know how I would have gotten that big chair downstairs solo!
4. I am thankful my husband loves the room as much as I do!
5. I'm thankful my kids like having their train-long-since-converted-to-Lego-and-Polly-Pockets table in the playroom way more than I could have imagined! Yippee all around!

Twice the thanks.

1. Today I'm thankful for catching up with my friend, Suzanne, after far, far too long of going without chatting. I love true friendships like ours that simply pick up where we left off and voila! We're back on track, back in each other's lives, as if no time had passed at all.

2. I'm thankful for my afternoon trip to Costco which, despite spending more money than I planned because they have the CUTEST girls spring dresses right now, caused me to bump into two friends unexpectedly.

3. I'm once more thankful for Starbuck's Caramel Apple Spice...a heavenly beverage which lifts my spirits and warms my soul. Now that's a grand(e) order -- one, remarkably, which works every time.

4. I'm thankful for a mostly clean house. If only it would last....

5. I'm thankful my kids go to a school where parents can be pretty involved if they want to be.

6. I'm thankful to have friends who inspire me creatively in so many varied and wonderful ways.

7. I'm thankful for a mild winter but am hopeful we get some snow. My skis are getting d-u-s-t-y!

8. I'm thankful caffeine comes in other forms besides coffee. My most favorite is, of course, chocolate!

9. I'm thankful I can open the fridge tonight and have options. You'd think, being in the grocery business, we'd have a packed fridge every single day. But often, and this comes from a) me not doing the food shopping myself and b) having a husband who works way too hard, I find myself without the basics: milk, bread, eggs. Tonight we're fairly stocked though and, even so, I still ask myself the dreaded daily question, 'What to make for dinner?' Decisions, decisions.

10. I'm thankful for the 'Save' button on my blog which allows me to make a meal, attend a CCD meeting, and return home to finish my list here for anyone who feels like reading it. If you've read this far, I'm thankful for YOU too!

Have a great night!

Oops, I did it again.

Another day has come and gone. Before dawn approaches (and I fall asleep holding my iPad) I'll share my list:

1. I'm thankful for hammocks and the feeling of peace and relaxation I get from lying in one.

2. I'm thankful for lunch with a friend today.

3. I'm thankful a new novel is replacing time normally spent on the computer.

4. I'm thankful for television that showcases musical talent, like The Voice, American Idol, and Smash.

5. I'm thankful to be looking forward to lunch with the ladies tomorrow.

I'm Thankful

Being a fan of Madonna's since we used to sing Holiday on the school bus traveling to various high school tennis matches, I loved the super Bowl halftime show. It's amazing to me to hear how many people actually hated it! Bah humbug. I L-U-V Madonna! On that note...

1. I'm thankful Madonna rocked the Lucas Oil stadium while my husband excitedly watched from his seat only 20 rows up from the Giants end zone. It was comical getting his pictures and texts...I'm not sure he's ever used so many exclamation points in one night. Clearly this man is thrilled to have friends in high places! And it doesn't hurt that his team ended up winning the game!!

2. Not being a big fan of football, I am thankful for the advertising gurus who create the commercials to keep me entertained and tuned in for more. M&Ms, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle!

3. I am thankful my son who, after vehemently voicing his opposition this morning to seeing the movie Hugo, told me," that was a GREAT movie!" Maybe next time I'll get a little more credit, huh buddy? I highly recommend this movie for kids and family members of all ages.

4. I am thankful to be at home with my roaring fire and hope everyone traveling back from their parties arrives home safely.

5. I'm thankful tomorrow is another day!

In loving memory

1. Yesterday our town joined together to celebrate the life of Julia Malsin.  Friends, neighbors, and loved ones gathered in a packed room to share stories, write a note, and let Julia's family know how much this special young lady will be missed.  I am thankful to Julia for personally sharing her journey with us all this past year with such honesty, strength, and bravery.  Julia, I for one will never forget you and, judging from everyone I saw at your gathering, no one else will either.

2. So many times during Julia's memorial I was at a loss for words.  The grief was as palpable as the love.  Not speaking helped me remain composed so I am thankful for each wordless exchange, whether it was a touch on the arm, a comforting hug, or a simple smile.

3. I am thankful Heather, Mike, and Alyssa have huge support system that will help them face the days ahead.

4. Once more I find myself thankful for living in this tiny town.

On a far less serious note I will catch up with the remainder of my gratitudes from the last two days:

5. I am grateful for my first "date night" in I can't remember how long!

6. I am grateful for Stanziato's pizza and seasonal chopped salad. YUM!

7. I am grateful yet again for movies and their one-hour and fifty-minute much needed distraction from reality.

8. I am thankful for Empire Cinemas in Brewster which knows previews shouldn't add another 20 minutes to a movie!

9. I am grateful my hubby is on his way to the Super Bowl to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  Let's hope he remembers to take lots of pictures for us little people!

10. I am thankful I will be spending a fun day with my parents and children!

Have a wonderful day everyone...thanks for reading!

T.G.I.(nearly)F.

1. Another unseasonably warm day makes me thankful no one puts much stock in Punxsutawney Phil anyway!  Seriously, a groundhog?  Don't get me started on the men in top hats either.

2. After week #3 of ski lessons and a missing ski instructor, I was informed both my kids went down two black diamond trails (granted this is only Thunder Ridge, but still,) and "learned to ski backwards!"  I felt bad when Sophia told me she cried on the lift because she was scared, but thankful she held it together and made it through the lesson without falling having my name called over the intercom.  I had to promise Sophia she wouldn't be put back in that group next week however. 

3. Always thankful to learn about new must-have apps for my iPad, like DropBox, Bamboo, and GoodNotes! 

4. Thankful plans are underway for the upcoming 4th Annual SPTO Dinner Dance on March 24th at River Oaks Club.  Sherman parents, mark your calendars. It's sure to be the best one yet!

5. T.G.I.(nearly)F.  It's been a long ass week.  What's that?  Shhh.  Did you hear it too?  Ahhhh, just as I thought.  A key lime pie martini is calling my name!

Fast Five Part II

It's getting late and I'm tired so I'll save the chit chat for another day. Until then, here's my latest list of gratitudes:

1. I am thankful today I finally sat down and created the annual Caraluzzi calendars. This gift, once given in person on Christmas Day, now arrives several weeks after. Because of this, I'm thankful I can customize each calendar to begin in February since January has now come and gone. While on the subject I'm thankful for express delivery!

2. I'm thankful my daughter seemed to reach a major turning point tonight in her reading and has decided she might enjoy it after all!

3. I'm thankful for a ridiculously warm, albeit damp, February 1st. Could this be Mother Nature's of way of asking for forgiveness for socking us with a blizzard in October? Come on, Punxsutawney Phil, don't let me down again!

4. I'm thankful for my kidsitters so we can enjoy time out with friends knowing our children are in great hands and having fun too.

5. I'm thankful my husband, working as hard as he does, can be treated to (get this) a private plane ride to...wait for it...the SUPER BOWL! I don't even like football and I'm jealous!