What was it I mentioned last week about a lack of 80s hair boy bands? I do feel a bit guilty about leaving all of you with lyrics that seem to reflect the time I've diverted from blogging to Twitter and Facebook, where I have enjoyed catching up with friends from high school and my first job, but where you won't find beautiful long, flowing sentences, but you'll love the 80s video....Uh!
Come on, baby Ow..
Wha-oh-a-wha-oh-wha-oh Uh!
Oh, if you wanna see other guys Baby, I could let it slide You wanna lover, you want a friend Mama I can be both of them I got the tools, to satisfy-uh Just walk away If I fall shy at all Uh!
Come on baby, finish what ya started I'm incomplete, huh! That ain't no way to treat the broken-hearted I need some sympathy!
I like to look at the long run I like to take each step, one by one Right on time, you will arrive By keepin' the dream alive
It's alive And it's kickin' Inside of me So come on baby, please
Come on baby finish what ya started Oh! I'm incomplete uh! That ain't no way to treat the broken-hearted Ow! Come on and finish me!
(Guitar Solo)
(Baby come on) (Come on baby, you say yeah) (Baby come on) (Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, bay-yeah!)
Uh! Now come on baby Please Oh baby, come on
(Come on baby finish what ya started) Ahh (That ain't no way to treat the broken-hearted) Oh, oo-ow-oo-ow-oo-ow! (Come on baby finish what ya started) Whoo! Gimmee. Ah!
(That ain't no way to treat the broken-hearted) Mmm, mmm-hmm (Baby come on) Ah. Take each step baby, one by one (Baby come on) Yeah. Come on (Baby come on) I got the tools. I'll satisfy ya Come on baby (Baby come on) Wow-oo-ow-oo-ow! Yeah (Baby come on) (Baby come on) (Baby come on) So come on baby (Baby come on) So come on baby (Baby come on) Yeah! Uh, come on! (Baby come on) Now, come on! Baby come on) Uh, come on!
Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.
This post brought to you by Pier 1 Imports. All opinions are 100% mine.
Rex and I never get why people start decorating for Christmas before Halloween, but as Thanksgiving and Black Friday approach, we're ready to start our holiday shopping and decorating. We'll kick off our holiday entertaining with a children's holiday open house for a big bunch of our best friends in a couple of weeks. The most important planning for that party probably involves building an indoor arcade basketball competition setup in our basement. Once the kids are taken care of, I can turn my attention to impressing the grown-ups with stylish and affordable items from Pier 1.
I think my most important “must have” purchase will be a Starburst table runner for the dining room, where Rex will serve his signature choice of vegetarian or meat chili, and I'll be pouring from two different pitchers (one for each recipe) of Sex on the Beach. I also spotted some Blue Spiral Hiball glasses at Pier 1 that just may do the trick.
For those of you who are getting ready to mail out invitations for your own holiday parties here in the Roxiticus Valley, you should know that I'll be the perfect guest with a list of 10 great hostess gifts that aren't wine. Or if you'd like to make this hostess happy, consider one of Pier 1's many jeweled desk frames... you know I've just printed 4,297 photos and would like to put my girls on display.
During the months of November and December, you can support Toys for Tots by dropping off an unwrapped toy at Pier 1 and/or making a cash donation at the register. For Facebook friends, if you “Like” Pier 1 Imports on Facebook during the month of November, Pier 1 will donate $1 to Toys for Tots.
For those about to rock, I salute you... and apologize for all the recent Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and the lack of 80s hair boy bands. Lucky for you, this week my iPod workout playlist knocked the sense back into me by offering up "Still Got This Thing for You" by Alannah Myles. It took me back to the days of my on-again, off-again long distance romance with Johnny Moneybags (think Wall Street's Gordon Gekko with all the greed and without the hair), when I would work out until I stopped thinking about him...sometimes it took hours, and what can I tell you, lust builds legendary abs.
In the early '90s, if I needed to go another mile on the treadmill, all I had to do was conjure up Johnny as my date for the Firm's holiday party, propositioning one of the Partners' wives, "Charlotte, you know you want me, you want to jump my bones." What can I say, he sure made for great drama. Fifteen years later, the friends who suffered through the Johnny Moneybags years will be glad to know I no longer have a thing for him, but the song (and my new Tuff-Stuff home gym from Gym Source) may help to bring back those legendary abs....and damn, Alannah Myles is hot. Check it out:
Why is it so hard To say what's on my mind And why am I so proud Still got this thing for you
I know you understand But you still need a sign Real love should shout out loud Still got this thing for you
Hey baby can I carry your flame? I wanna take you somewhere untamed Don't you know you're driving me insane Still got this thing for you
When you walk that way I can feel the heat Just below the surface I'd do anything for you
When you're out all alone I hear things from the street And I get kinda nervous Still got this thing for you
Hey baby, can I carry your flame? I wanna take you somewhere untamed Don't you know you're driving me insane Still got this thing for you
Let me see you smile come on look me in the eye Too many times I let the chances go by Pull down the shade turn out the light Help me make up for all those nights tonight
(Will I know it's true, still got this thing for you Will I know it's true, still got this thing for you)
Hey baby, can I carry your flame? I wanna take you somewhere untamed Don't you know you're driving me insane If we can't connect, oh that would be a shame
Well... Hey baby can I carry your flame? I wanna take you somewhere untamed Don't you know you're driving me insane Still got this thing for you
(Still got this thing for you still got this thing for you) Still got this thing for you (still got this thing for you) I do
(still got this thing for you) I know (still got this thing for you), you know I do, knock knock (Still got this thing for you)
I get a thrill and I still got this thing for you (Still got this thing for you still got this thing for you) Oohoo (still got this thing for you still got this thing for you) Still got this thing for you (still got this thing for you) Hah (still got this thing for you) You know I do, still got this thing for you
Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.
This post brought to you by PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.
A news flash popped up in my Google sidebar the other day, letting me know that a recent study shows that fewer New Jersey moms are breast feeding these days. Since my infant feeding days are long over, my only conversations around this area involve the October "I like it on" Facebook status campaign ("I like it on the bleachers in the middle school gym"), which was apparently designed to make men more aware of our breasts...er, I mean breast cancer. So I didn't click on the link to read the details of the study, but I did wonder if the NJ moms who are using infant formula instead of breast feeding are aware of potential cost savings available to them. Even though store brand formula provides the nutritional equivalent to well known name brands like Similac and Enfamil, store brand formula costs less because it is not heavily marketed or advertised and free samples are not given away to new moms through hospitals. That cost savings is passed along to the consumer, so new parents who buy store brand formula might save as much as $600 per year.
All formula marketed in the United States. must meet the same nutrient specifications, which were set by the FDA in 1980 at levels to fulfill the needs of growing infants, and the FDA stays on top of any issues associated with the infant formula on the supermarket shelves. For example, Abbott recently voluntarily recalled certain Similac powder infant formulas because of the possibility of the presence of a small common beetle (eeew) in the product last month. The FDA determined the formula poses no immediate health risk, but some infants could experience symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort and refusal to eat as a result of irritated GI tracts. I'd refuse to eat if there were beetles in my juice, too!
I had a hard time making a decision this week on a pick for Music Monday... Daughtry's "No Surprise" has been running through my head since last weekend in South Beach, along with James Blunt's wistful "You're Beautiful"...the girls' basketball evaluations on Saturday took me back to my high school years and I thought about kickin' it old school with the Sugarhill Gang's "8th Wonder" (Go dang diddy dang di-dang di-dang diggy diggy)... but this week's episode of Glee combined with an article in the latest Cosmo led me to Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" as performed by the Glee cast.
Fellow blogger Berryvox tweeted the other day about how we all hated our parents' music and vice versa. Growing up, that was definitely the case for me, but now that I have two girls of my own I find that we like each other's music, maybe a bit too much....since there are moms out there who might not flinch when the girls borrow my Southside Johnny and Bon Jovi vinyl but would find it a bit disturbing to hear the words "let you put your hands on me in my skin tight jeans" coming from the elementary school children in the back of my Acadia. They will be the same ones who will get pissed off when I let London read Judy Blume's "Forever" before she's in high school... but there's a much longer post about Judy Blume to come...just not today.
Speaking of shows my daughters shouldn't be watching, thoughts they probably shouldn't be thinking... Cosmo reports a trend among women who like to see a little man-on-man action (Brokeback Mountain, True Blood on HBO)...guess I'm cutting edge, but going back to college I had a girlfriend who said "there's a little bit of lesbian in each and every one of us"... not me. If there's going to be a threesome, it's going to involve the men's basketball team (oops, math whiz, that would be sixsome not including the guys on the bench). Fair's fair, guys, and if I had a nickel for each one of you guys whose fantasy involves two girls, well I could quit investment banking tomorrow.
Anyway, these prettyboys from Glee don't do it for me, but I love the song.
[The Glee boys don't sing this part, but it's one of my favorite lines from the original by Katy Perry You think I'm pretty Without any make-up on You think I'm funny When I tell the punch line wrong I know you get me So I'll let my walls come down, down]
Before you met me I was a wreck But things were kinda heavy You brought me to life Now every February You'll be my valentine, valentine
Let's go all the way tonight No regrets, just love We can dance until we die You and I We'll be young forever
You make me Feel like I'm living a teenage dream The way you turn me on I can't sleep Let's runaway And don't ever look back Don't ever look back
My heart stops When you look at me Just one touch Now baby I believe This is real So take a chance And don't ever look back Don't ever look back
We drove to Cali And got drunk on the beach Got a motel and Built a fort out of sheets I finally found you My missing puzzle piece I'm complete
Let's go all the way tonight No regrets, just love We can dance until we die You and I We'll be young forever
You make me Feel like I'm living a teenage dream The way you turn me on I can't sleep Let's runaway And don't ever look back Don't ever look back
My heart stops When you look at me Just one touch Now baby I believe This is real So take a chance And don't ever look back Don't ever look back
I might get your heart racing In my skin-tight jeans Be your teenage dream tonight
Let you put your hands on me In my skin-tight jeans Be your teenage dream tonight
You make me Feel like I'm living a teenage dream The way you turn me on I can't sleep Let's runaway And don't ever look back Don't ever look back
My heart stops When you look at me Just one touch Now baby I believe This is real So take a chance And don't ever look back Don't ever look back
Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.
This post brought to you by 2tor. All opinions are 100% mine.
With Monday's tip off of the NCAA men's basketball season and London and Maddie's basketball evaluations for the Mendham recreational league coming up on Saturday, Roxy's thoughts have officially turned from beach to basketball. With an undergrad degree from Syracuse, my college background was never short on hoops, but next time around I'm going to get my fair share of sunshine by attending school somewhere warmer...say, sunny southern California?
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Although Roxy is ready to move to sunny California, London and Maddie sure do like their friends here in the Roxiticus Valley even if they have to put up with a little bit of snow. The good news is that I can become a part of the elite USC Trojan Family through an accelerated program I can complete in as little as 12 months, without ever leaving my chair (and computer) by the fire. When it warms up in the spring, I can take part in field-based experiences right here in my local area. I bet London and Maddie can't wait to see their mom student-teaching at Mendham Township Elementary School!
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Today is Veteran's Day, and I would like to extend a thank you to all of the veterans out there, and remember two in particular. My dad, who passed away almost nine years ago at the age of 87, was a World War II veteran. His younger brother, my Uncle Joe, also served in World War II, but until he died this year in January at the age of 90, was a living reminder that our freedom isn't free. He was shot in the head and spent the past 60+ years in the care of the U.S. Veteran's Administration, primarily at the VA hospital in Lyons, New Jersey. Despite the fact that Uncle Joe enlisted in the army to serve his country instead of going to the University of Alabama on a baseball scholarship, he never seemed bitter about his incredible sacrifice.
My sister made arrangements for a true veteran's burial at Arlington National Cemetery, so Rex, London, Maddie and I made our first family trip to Washington, DC for the 4th of July weekend. We watched the fireworks from our room at the J.W. Marriott and spent a couple of days with London and Maddie discovering the nation's capitol in 100-degree heat...the monuments, the museums, a little bit of art and history. The most memorable part of our trip was the incredible memorial service at Arlington National Cemetery when we said goodbye to Uncle Joe one last time. I'm grateful that we had the chance to pay loving tribute to a great man with a ceremony with full military honors, complete with a horse-drawn caisson, marching band, bugler and gun salute he deserved.
Rex, London, Maddie and I took advantage of the school break for the New Jersey teachers' convention to get away for a long weekend of sun and fun in South Beach. Lazy, relaxing days by the pool and strolling (yes, 8-year-old Maddie used this word!!) on the beach, peoplewatching over lunch, and some fabulous dinners. And did I mention non-stop Sex on the Beach and Miami Vice?
They say what happens in South Beach stays in South Beach, but as I struggle to get back into my workout routine, I'm wishing some of the calories I packed on had stayed behind. Here's Lady Gaga to get me moving...
Oh...almost forgot...part of the reason for this pick is I'm considering Just Dance and Just Dance 2 for my Wii...has anybody tried them? If so, please leave a comment and let me know what you think, remembering that you're talking to the notoriously clumsy Roxy.
I've had a little bit too much, much All of the people start to rush, start to rush by How does he twist the dance? Can't find a drink, oh man Where are my keys? I lost my phone, phone
What's going on out on the floor? I love this record baby but I can't see straight anymore Keep it cool, what's the name of this club? I can't remember but it's alright, a-alright
Just dance, gonna be okay, da da doo-doo-mmm Just dance, spin that record babe, da da doo-doo-mmm Just dance, gonna be okay, d-d-d-dance Dance, dance, just, j-j-just dance
Wish I could shut my playboy mouth, oh oh oh-oh How'd I turn my shirt inside out? Inside outright Control your poison babe, roses have thorns they say And we're all getting hosed tonight, oh oh oh-oh
What's going on out on the floor? I love this record baby but I can't see straight anymore Keep it cool, what's the name of this club? I can't remember but it's alright, a-alright
Just dance, gonna be okay, da da doo-doo-mmm Just dance, spin that record babe, da da doo-doo-mmm Just dance, gonna be okay, d-d-d-dance Dance, dance, just, j-j-just
When I come through on the dance floor checkin' out that catalog Can't believe my eyes, so many women without a flaw And I ain't gon' give it up, steady tryin' to pick it up like a car I'ma hit it, I'ma hit it and flex and do it until tomorr' yeah
Shawty I can see that you got so much energy The way you're twirlin' up them hips 'round and 'round And now there's no reason at all why you can't leave here with me In the meantime stay and let me watch you break it down
And dance, gonna be okay, da da doo-doo-mmm Just dance, spin that record babe, da da doo-doo-mmm
Just dance, gonna be okay, da da doo-doo-mmm Just dance, spin that record babe, da da doo-doo-mmm Just dance, gonna be okay, d-d-d-dance Dance, dance, just, j-j-just dance
Woo! Let's go!
Half psychotic, sick, hypnotic Got my blueprint, it's symphonic Half psychotic, sick, hypnotic Got my blueprint electronic
Half psychotic, sick, hypnotic Got my blueprint, it's symphonic Half psychotic, sick, hypnotic Got my blueprint electronic
Go! Use your muscle, carve it out, work it, hustle I got it, just stay close enough to get it Don't slow! Drive it, clean it, lights out, bleed it Spend the lasto (I got it) In your pocko (I got it)
Just dance, gonna be okay, da da doo-doo-mmm Just dance, spin that record babe, da da doo-doo-mmm
Just dance, gonna be okay, da da doo-doo-mmm Just dance, spin that record babe, da da doo-doo-mmm Just dance, gonna be okay, d-d-d-dance Dance, dance, just, j-j-just dance
Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.
As the 2010 holiday season approaches, we are hoping for even more bloggers to jump on board and help us spread the news about the 20th Anniversary of the FoodBank’s “Check out Hunger” campaign which is going on now through December. Check-Out Hunger is an annual awareness campaign and fund raiser for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey which actually began in New Jersey and is now run at supermarket chains across the northeast. I know you have seen those tickets at the check out counters of your local grocery stores, including Kings, Shop Rite, Wegmans, A&P, Food Basics, Foodtown, Pathmark, Super Fresh and Wawa. Please don’t ignore them. The Community FoodBank of New Jersey reports that need for nutritious food is up 30-40 percent at its partner agencies (soup kitchens, pantries, shelters, etc) this year.
Donate food: Drop off a bag of food at your local food pantry.
Organize a food drive: We can help explain the logistics of starting a food drive. Just call 908-355-FOOD.
Help "Check Out Hunger:" Look for the "Check Out Hunger" coupons at your local supermarket and donate. No donation is too small! In 2009 Check-Out Hunger crossed the $2 Million plateau for the first time. The campaign raised $2,093, 086 for food banks across the state. Since 1992, millions of people have supported the program at food markets and online at http://www.checkouthungernj.org/. Please make it a point to donate during the holiday season to the Check Out Hunger campaign.
Also, please visit the blogs below to check out their “Check out Hunger” posts.
This list will continue to grow as the day goes on. If you are a blogger in New Jersey, please join in our efforts and feel free to jump on board even if you didn’t commit to participate. Just send a link to your post to info (at) jersey bites.com and Deb will get you listed. If you know of a blog in New Jersey that you think should be involved, please email them a link to this post.
Unlike the committed athletes I see running around the Roxiticus Valley who wake up early and work out every day, perfecting their chiseled abs, Roxy needs a little distraction to get me through my work-out on the elliptical trainer, and the Wii Fit personal training automaton just doesn't do the trick. However, after last week's Music Monday from Lady Gaga launching Roxy's new more playful theme, my idle fantasy has started to talk back to me, telling me the things I want him to do would be wrong. Well, yeah, bad boy, that's why you're an idle fantasy. Maybe we should think about sports instead? What's next, you'll tell me I've put on a few pounds and you don't find me attractive anymore? Now do as you're told: take your shirt off and get back to three-on-three hoops with the rest of the boys.
So I've created a "Think About Sports" playlist to work out to this week, leading off with Lady Gaga's Bad Romance (I want your love and I want your revenge, think about sports, I don't wanna be friends) and the Glee cast versions of "Burning Up" (unlike the others I'd do anything, I'm not the same, I have no shame, think about sports) and "Like a Prayer"(down on my knees, let me take you there, think about sports), and wrapping up with this week's Music Monday back from Taylor Swift's better days... "Should've Said No."
You should've said no, (think about sports) You should've gone home, (think about sports) You should have thought twice (about sports) before you let it all go.
It's strange to think the songs we used to sing, The smiles, the flowers, everything, Is gone. Yesterday I found out about you, Even now just looking at you, Feels wrong. You say, that you'd take it all back, Given one chance, it was a moment of weakness, And you said yes
You should've said no, You should've gone home, You should have thought twice before you let it all go. You should've known that word about what you did with her would get back to me. And I should've been there, in the back of your mind, Shouldn't be asking myself why, You shouldn't be begging for forgivness at my feet, You should've said no, Baby and you might still have me.
You can see that I've been cryin', Baby you know all the right things, To say. But do you, honestly, Expect me, to believe, We could ever be the same. You say, that the past is the past, You need one chance, it was a moment of weakness, And you said yes.
You should've said no, You should've gone home, You should have thought twice before you let it all go. You should've known that word about what you did with her would get back to me. And I should've been there, in the back of your mind, Shouldn't be asking myself why, You shouldn't be begging for forgiveness at my feet, You should've said no Baby and you might still have me..
I can't resist, Before you go tell me this, Was it worth it, Was she worth this.
No, no, no, no.
You should've said no, You should've gone home, You should have thought twice before you let it all go. You should've known that word about what you did with her would get back to me. And I should've been there, in the back of your mind, Shouldn't be asking myself why, You shouldn't be begging for forgiveness at my feet, You should've said no, Baby and you might still have me...
Speaking of Taylor Swift, we downloaded her new album, Speak Now, on iTunes last Monday when it came out, and Rex and I have been really disappointed. Though I've never paid close attention to which songs she wrote (vs. those that were written for her), when we took London and Maddie to see Taylor Swift at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ she really impressed me when she walked right through the crowd to sing a set that included "Tim McGraw"and "Fifteen," which are two of my absolute favorites. This time out, the songs, particularly the title track, are cliched and whiney. I'll hope she hasn't outgrown the talent and innocence that made her teenage efforts so attractive.
Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.
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and 
for my Wii...has anybody tried them? If so, please leave a comment and let me know what you think, remembering that you're talking to the notoriously clumsy Roxy.
