Roxiticus Desperate Housewives

Christmas Present Crisis...John's Painting and Basking Ridge Electric to the Rescue!!

2011-12-22T10:15:00.000-05:00

This year, the big item on London and Maddie’s Christmas wish list was “new bedrooms”…and we’ve been working on making it happen this week. Yesterday, John’s Painting (908-604-8759) from Basking Ridge did an awesome job. Maddie asked for Benjamin Moore’s Aquarius (788) blue walls and Bainbridge Blue (749) trim; London also chose Aquarius but with Meridian Blue (761) trim. Manny and his crew also saved the day by hanging 3X3 Style Tile Bulletin Boards from PB Teen in each of their rooms…a task Rex and I would never have had the handyman skills to accomplish on our own. Just looking at the instructions made me a little queasy, but the guys from John’s Painting are much more than painters. After they installed London and Maddie’s beautiful bulletin boards, we locked the girls out of their rooms until Christmas morning. They’re complaining a bit about sleeping together in the guest room for the next few days, but you know how sisters can be. They can’t get into too much trouble with Santa and his elf scout, Smootie Jr., keeping an eye on them.

There’s still an incredible amount of work to be done, and this morning I discovered that two different sets of outlets in London’s room aren’t working…no blown fuses, not even the weird reset buttons you find popped out in the bathrooms…Basking Ridge Electric to the rescue! I didn’t have a lot of hope that we could get an electrician out today or tomorrow, but when I called Basking Ridge Electric (908-766-1846) I was thrilled to hear that someone should be here within the hour. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!!

I Can't Say My Friends Didn't Warn Me...

2011-08-21T10:01:00.001-04:00

This post brought to you by TracFone. All opinions are 100% mine.

My husband got an email from our wireless service provider, letting him know that since someone in our family had been enjoying their data plan soooo much during the month of July, perhaps it was time to upgrade to a plan that included more data for that special someone. I grabbed my daughters' phone, and saw that they'd taken 28 photos and videos of their bedrooms here in the Roxiticus Valley and sent them from their phone to their Bay Head beach buddies...and it's gonna cost them.

If we were real TracFone customers, London and Maddie might not be in trouble. It costs very little to get both of the girls their own Tracfone so we can stay in touch. TracFone offers the least expensive way to own and use a cell phone in America.... no contracts, no credit checks, no activation charges or cancelation fees. Best of all, no surprises!

London and Maddie can choose from brand name simple "Candy Bar" phones for under $10, or "Smart" phones with so many features from leading manufacturers like Motorola, LG, Kyocera, Samsung, and Nokia. We can pay as we go, online or with cards we can pick up at thousands of retail stores around the country. With a 1 year service card, the girls get so much more...double minutes for the life of their TracFone, and 800 minutes for only $119.00. Other monthly plans include 200 minutes for under $30.00, or pay as little as $9.99 for 50 minutes.

Check out the video about some of the cool phone features:

With terrific nationwide coverage and excellent reception/connectivity, London and Maddie are going to be real TracFone customers real soon!

New Neighbors!!

2011-08-18T11:00:00.011-04:00

Rex, London, Maddie & I have been spending a lot of August at our beach house in Bay Head, NJ, but we drove back this morning for a bunch of errands...we're waiting for a delivery from Wine Library, Maddie has a pitching lesson with Kristyn at RBIs in Randolph, NJ, we need to pick up our Summer Stars DVD at Annie's Playhouse in Far Hills, NJ, London has a munchkin rehearsal tonight for Hexagon Players' Wizard of Oz, and we're hoping to have a swim in the pool and dinner with our NEW NEIGHBORS!! They moved in across the street last month and have THREE GIRLS...yippee!

Meeting our new neighbors got me thinking that I really, really need to update this blog and all of my Roxy's Best Of... local sites so that our new friends will have the latest information on all the cool things to do in the Greater Roxiticus Valley (Morris County and Somerset County, NJ). As London and Maddie have grown up and their interests have changed, I realize I should be posting a whole new set of recommendations....and reminding everyone about some of our old favorites with staying power.

Maddie's Found a Home at RBIs Baseball (and Softball) Academy in Randolph, NJ

2011-08-09T20:05:00.002-04:00

While it has taken my tomboy, Maddie, a little longer than her older sister, London (the dancer), to find her passion, she's found it in softball and just can't get enough. This spring, Maddie pitched for our 3rd and 4th grade rec league team, the Mendham Minors Mets, who went 13-0 in the regular season only to lose a heartbreaker to the A's in the championship game, 12-11 in the 9th inning...she used a highly accurate slingshot delivery, earning the nickname Maddie "K" for all of her strikeouts. After seeing the 10-year-old all-stars and some of the local travel teams play ball, however, we quickly realized that Maddie would need to learn how to throw windmill to speed things up enough to be competitive. Through a friend, we found pitching coach Kristyn Depasquale at RBIs Baseball Academy in Randolph, NJ...and along with Kristyn came so much more...we signed up for a family membership at RBIs and have year-round access (one hour per day) to air conditioned, indoor batting cages (with a softball pitching machine) so that I don't have to try to throw 60mph to give the girls batting practice. So let it rain, let the temperatures heat up over 100 degrees, Maddie won't stop pitching...batting....fielding....and when it comes time for Fall Ball with the Branchburg Blaze, she'll be ready.

You can join Maddie for RBI's Fall Ball Baseball and Softball Workouts coming up on August 23rd, 24th and 25th. Continue reading...

Music Monday: Any Woman's Blues by Bessie Smith

2011-08-09T18:01:00.017-04:00

This weekend at the beach, I started reading an old favorite from 1991, Any Woman's Blues: A Novel of Obsession by Erica Jong, which fits in nicely with last week's Billy Falcon "Power Windows" post on Roxy's Bay Head Blog. The first page takes me back in time:
"I listen for the sound of his motorcycle spraying pebbles on the curving driveway path. I imagine his body, his mocking mouth on mine, his curving cock, and I am a ruin of desire and the fight against desire. I don't know which is worse -- the desire or the anti-desire. Both undo me; both burn me and reduce me to ash."

Today, I smile because the heroine of the novel is 44 and I've now reached the age of 44, having long ago outgrown my obsession and moved on. Though the novel came out 20 years ago when I was in the midst of my own obsession, until today I had never listened to any of the compelling Bessie Smith music whose lyrics introduce most of the chapters, and from whom the novel draws its name. I'll apologize in advance that YouTube didn't really offer up a video, but you'll get the sound of it.

My man ain't acting right, he stays out late at night
And still he says he loves no one but me
But if I find that gal, that tries to steal my pal
I'll get her told, just you wait and see
I feel blue, I don't know what to do
Every woman in my fix
is bound to feel blue too, 'cause
I love my man better than I love myself
Lord, I love my man better than I love myself
And if he don't have me, he won't have nobody else
My man's got teeth like a lighthouse on the sea
My man's got teeth like a lighthouse on the sea
And ev'rytime he smiles he throws them lights on me
His voice sounds like chimes, I mean the organ kind
His voice sounds like chimes, I mean the organ kind
And ev'rytime he speaks his music ease my troubling mind

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST 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.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

London and Maddie Celebrate 10th Anniversary of Upromise: London's Dream

2011-08-04T17:01:00.001-04:00

This post brought to you by UPromise. All opinions are 100% mine.

If my baby girl London can really be ten years old, then Upromise must be celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year, too. We had a spa resort themed slumber party and a birthday cake for London back in January, but www.upromisetodream.com is going all out, giving away $20,000 to members who share a story describing how a parent has supported a child's dream.

We joined Upromise right after London was born in 2001, and our family has saved over $10,000 for Maddie and London's education through the Upromise program. In total, Upromise members have received more than $600 million in college savings through their rewards program, and it doesn't cost anything. We just take advantage of Upromise savings everywhere we can, from a few pennies every time we go to Shop Rite in Chester, or going through the Upromise site when we shop online... we even refinanced our mortgages in the Roxiticus Valley and our beach house in Bay Head through Upromise and Washington Mutual. As one of my cheapskate ex-boyfriends used to say, a dollar here, a dollar there, it all adds up.

Now Upromise is celebrating all of the ways the program has helped to fuel those sparks that made children into the people they are today and the adults they will become tomorrow. Upromise users can participate in the sweepstakes by submitting their stories online, and can vote on their favorite stories by “liking” them. Upromise will give away $1,000 to ten winners and a $10,000 grand prize winner will be selected from the participants. Click on the link to the dream wall official rules, join the Upromise movement, share your experiences and give a spark to help fuel the flame of your own child's dreams for the future.

I'm going to submit one dream for Maddie, and one dream for London. I'll talk about Maddie's dream over on Roxy's Bay Head Blog, but here on Roxiticus Desperate Housewives we'll feature her older sister, London. I don't know where London got the graceful, leotard and tutu genes, but London is my dancer, my ballerina. She's been taking ballet lessons since she was three years old, and in September she'll join Ballet Forte in Chester, NJ, for Division II ballet, pointe and modern dance classes four or five days a week. When Rex and I see London perform, it moves us to tears...when she's on stage or at the barre, she's found her home. At 10, she already dreams of Juilliard, and I'll hope she continues to work hard to make her dream come true.

Click on the link to the Upromise dream wall, and leave a comment here on my blog post to share your dreams.

London Ready for Fall Dance Classes at Ballet Forte in Chester, NJ

2011-08-03T17:17:00.022-04:00

Through dance and softball, my two daughters, London and Maddie, have found their respective passions. I've always believed that having that kind of passion is a positive for everything in life. For me, it was radio stations. I dreamed of becoming a disc jockey and owning radio stations, and always found a way to write about radio for my school assignments...from high school through graduate school...and it truly shaped my life to where I am/who I am today. As their dance rehearsals and softball practice involve a greater commitment (four or five days a week), I hope that London and Maddie's non-academic pursuits will enhance, rather than hinder, their success at school. So far, so good...our family just doesn't have time to watch much television, which none of us really miss.

I don't know where London got her graceful genes, but as she's grown up she's only become a more beautiful, confident dancer. The closest I get to dance is the audience when London is performing, or reading about it, most recently revisiting Martha Graham's Autobiography, Blood Memory:

"I believe that we learn by practice. Whether it means to learn to dance by practicing dancing or to learn to live by practicing living, the principles are the same. In each it is the performance of a dedicated precise set of acts, physical or intellectual, from which comes shape of achievement, a sense of one's being, a satisfaction of spirit. One becomes in some area an athlete of God."

"To practice means to perform, in the face of all obstacles, some act of vision, of faith, of desire. Practice is a means of inviting the perfection desired."

So in September, London moves on to begin Division II classes with Ballet Forte in Chester, NJ... a pre-professional dance conservatory dedicated to the development of each dancer as an individual. For the past seven years, Ballet Forte has offered dancers ages 5 to 18 a place to grow, focusing on personalized attention....they look at the whole dancer as an artist whose instrument is her body. When London joined Ballet Forte for a trial lesson this spring, I saw her at the barre and knew that she was home.

Ballet Forte at Wings Conservatory, 338 Main Street, Suite 2, Chester, NJ. Phone: (908) 879-8717.

Straight Up

2011-08-02T20:01:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Straight Talk for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

From time to time, my friends and loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers know that I can't help but draw comparisons between my professional (investment banking) life and my personal (family) life, and there are some things that shouldn't cross over from one to the other. For example, I expect to be tough in negotiations to sell a client's company, but I feel like I shouldn't have to be ready for a fight with other parents when it comes to our children's sports. As another example, I deal with contracts all the time for work, but I'd have to be crazy to sign a cell phone contract for London and Maddie when you can get everything you need without one by going with Straight Talk. No contracts, no surprise bills and no credit checks.

Once I cut my cell phone bill in half with Straight Talk, I'll feel so much richer I can treat my family to dinner out more often at some of our favorite restaurants...soft shell crabs and ribeye steak at Sammy's, here we come!

With great nationwide coverage and excellent reception/connectivity, Straight Talk only uses trusted phone manufacturers like Motorola, LG, Nokia, Kyocera, and Samsung, all free from activation, reactivation, or termination fees. Reconditioned phones start at $10...great choice for kids who are tough on their toys. Or reward responsibility with a wide selection of amazing smart phones. There are several monthly plans to choose from...tthe “All You Need Plan” with 1000 minutes, 1000 texts, and 30MB of web data, meets even the needs of heavy phone users. Unlimited Monthly service is only $45, and includes calls, text, picture messaging, and web. Imagine unlimited calls, text, picture messaging and web for a whole year, for only $499.00!

Straight Talk International Long Distance Service is a flexible prepaid calling service that enables you to call a friend in another country from your home, cell or office phone at low rates.

Check out the funny Straight Talk commercial in the video below:

Straight Talk had me -- hook, line and sinker -- at hello.

Music Monday: "Heaven's Highest Hill" by Billy Falcon

2011-08-01T18:30:00.004-04:00

This weekend, we were down at our beach house in Bay Head, NJ (Billy Falcon theme week at Roxy's Bay Head Blog, too), and while the rain came down on Friday night I was listening to some 80s/early 90s classics on the iPod and looking back... for a bunch of different reasons: Saturday would have been my mom's 86th birthday, and I've been cleaning out the garage here in Mendham, digging through my family's old paperwork...I found the $35 receipt from 1972 for the beloved beagle-terrier mutt I grew up with, and the program from my college graduation. So when Billy Falcon's "Heaven's Highest Hill" came on, I knew that would be my theme for this week's Music Monday. In 1987, Billy Falcon's wife passed away at the age of 29 (breast cancer). He wrote this song in her honor.

How do I tell my baby, "Mama's not coming home"?
How do I tell myself I'll be staying alone? Oh, I...I can't stop crying.
She'll say,"Daddy, I wanna hold her...wanna see her again.
I wanna kiss her..wanna touch her." Oooo, what can I say? So do I.

Oh Mama, I'm missing you real bad.
But, it don't do me no good sittin' thinking 'bout what we had...

Love don't stop...it goes on forever.
Love don't stop...and it never will.
Love don't stop...one day we'll be together.
Love don't stop...and I'll sing this song to you someday from heaven's highest hill.

How 'm I gonna look into those big brown eyes
when she wakes up crying out in the middle of the night for the Mama?
How will I make it better?
The house is full of people but nobody's home.
Everybody's here and I'm all alone calling out your name
but, there's no answer.
Oh Mama, last night she told me not to cry.
I swear I see you every time she smiles.

Love don't stop...it goes on forever.
Love don't stop...and it never will.
Love don't stop...one day we'll be together.
Love don't stop...and I'll sing this song to you someday from heaven's highest hill.

I don't know if you hear me. Sometimes I'd like to think you do.
All the things we been fightin' for, I'm gonna make them all come true.
And these arms, they ache to hold you-and I know one day I will.
I'll meet you in the tall grass up on heaven's highest...

Love don't stop...it goes on forever.
Love don't stop...and it never will.
Love don't stop...one day we'll be together.
Love don't stop...and I'll sing this song to you someday on heaven's highest hill.
(love don't stop)
(love don't stop) one day we'll be together
(love don't stop) on heaven's highest hill
(love don't stop) our love goes on forever
(love don't stop) and it always will
(love don't stop)

London and Maddie Growing Up Too Fast

2011-07-27T00:01:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TracFone for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Over the past year or so, I haven't been spending as much time in the blogosphere as I used to and some of my loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers may be wondering why...I've been busy with my "day job" in investment banking, but more importantly, my little girls are growing up and, particularly since my mom passed away last year and a number of young mothers I know have been diagnosed with cancer, I've realized how precious my time with London and Maddie is...so their spending time with my family, getting to the girls important events, hanging out at the beach and the pool -- all come before blogging.

That said, I can't stop London and Maddie from growing up, but I can take steps to make it easier on me. Like getting the girls their own cell phone so they can keep in touch with me from wherever they may be -- slumber parties, softball practice, Annie's Playhouse Summer Stars camp, ballet and Wizard of Oz rehearsals, or out at Centennial Park in Bay Head walking the dogs. As plenty of real TracFone customers know, Tracfone is a low cost option that makes a lot of sense this summer. It costs very little to get London and Maddie a Tracfone so we can stay in touch. There are no contracts, no credit checks, no activation charges or cancelation fees. No stress and no surprises.

Tracfone offers great nationwide coverage and excellent reception/connectivity, a choice of brand name phones from leading manufacturers like Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, LG and Kyocera. Monthly plans include the option to pay as you go online or with cards available at thousands of retail stores across the country. With 1 year service cards, real TracFone customers receive double minutes for the life of their TracFone and 800 minutes for only $119. Or choose monthly plans with 200 minutes for under $30.00, and as low as $9.99 for 50 minutes. Tracfone is the only wireless service where you can call internationally to over 60 international destiinations for the same price as any other call, so I could even borrow London and Maddie's Tracfone to call up my blogosphere buddies LadyJava and Mariuca across the globe!

Phone's ringing... must be time to pick the girls so they can enjoy some quality time with their mother. While I'm gone, check out this YouTube video about Tracfone:

Music Monday: "Girlfriend" by Matthew Sweet

2011-07-25T00:01:00.001-04:00

I'm too sleepy at the moment to explain the connection, but Rex and I watched Black Swan last night, and seeing Winona Ryder made me think of Matthew Sweet and his song, "Girlfriend." Over the rest of the summer, particularly when we're down at our beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey, I'm going to try harder to get back into the blogosphere, including visiting some of my long neglected blogosphere buddies around the globe. In the meantime, enjoy the video...sing along if you remember it.

I wanna love somebody
I hear you need somebody to love
Oh, I wanna love somebody
I hear you're looking for someone to love

'Cause you need to be back
In the arms of a good friend
And I need to be back
In the arms of a girlfriend

I didn't know nobody
And then I saw you coming my way
Oh, I didn't know nobody
And then I saw you coming my way

Don't you need to be back
In the arms of a good friend?
Oh, 'cause, honey, believe me
I'd sure love to call you my girlfriend

Alright

Don't you need to be back
In the arms of a good friend?
Oh, 'cause, honey, believe me
I'd sure love to call you my girlfriend

'Cause you got a good thing going, baby
You only need somebody to love
Oh, you got a good thing going
You're only looking for someone to love

'Cause you need to get back
In the arms of a good friend

And I'm never gonna set you free
No, I'm never gonna set you free

I wanna love somebody
I hear you need somebody to love
Oh, I wanna love somebody
I hear you're looking for someone to love

'Cause you need to be back
In the arms of a good friend
And I need to be back
In the arms of a girlfriend

I didn't know nobody
And then I saw you coming my way
Oh, I didn't know nobody
And then I saw you coming my way

Don't you need to be back
In the arms of a good friend?
Oh, 'cause, honey, believe me
I'd sure love to call you my girlfriend

Alright

Don't you need to be back
In the arms of a good friend?
Oh, 'cause, honey, believe me
I'd sure love to call you my girlfriend

'Cause you got a good thing going, baby
You only need somebody to love
Oh, you got a good thing going
You're only looking for someone to love

'Cause you need to get back
In the arms of a good friend

And I'm never gonna set you free
No, I'm never gonna set you free

My First Year with Wii Fit

2011-07-18T12:29:00.010-04:00

Yeah, I know it's been a long time since I've posted here, but I'm not even going to bother with excuses. This past weekend, I hosted a long overdue mini-reunion with a bunch of the gurlz from high school, and I told them where to find my blog...so I oughtta at least have something more current at the top of the page.

Anyway, my Wii Fit announced this morning that I'm up to my 364th day, so tomorrow we will celebrate our one year anniversary. Even though Santa delivered my Wii Fit the same time he brought London and Maddie the Wii, I never hooked it up until late last June, when my sister Aunt Veg was in town for the memorial service when my mom passed away. Aunt Veg and the girls set it up and tried it out, but I apparently didn't get motivated to start until three weeks later on July 20, 2010. Since then, I've spent 63.5 hours (more than an hour per week!) working out on the Wii Fit, I've lost 10 pounds, been handed a range from a low of 20 years old and a high of 68 as my Wii Fit age, and I've been better about making exercise a regular part of my life....which is not to say I like it. Lately I've been bored with my workout, whether it includes stepping and balance games on the Wii Fit, a mile or two on the elliptical trainer with a mix playlist on the iPod, or making the circuit on my weight machine.

Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off

2011-05-05T15:19:00.004-04:00

Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone...Roxy and family are headed to Sol Mexican Cantina in Branchburg, NJ to celebrate tonight with margaritas...and I'm sure you all know what tequila does to me.

Music Monday: Go All the Way by Eric Carmen and the Raspberries

2011-05-02T14:33:00.014-04:00

Due to stress at my real job as well as my awesome new responsibilities as the manager of London and Maddie's softball team, I've been neglecting my blog lately, but wanted to make it back with a bang for this week's Music Monday. I've told the girls we need a theme song for the Mendham Minors Mets, and thought briefly about "Who Let the Dogs Out?" like the New York Mets played at Shea Stadium for a while (still?) during the 7th inning stretch. Then we were driving home from practice one night and "Go All the Way" by Eric Carmen and the Raspberries came on the Blend (Sirius XM)...the girls loved it and with our team 5-0, it feels like a great team song to inspire the girls to go all the way to the league championship. Perhaps the other team parents will question the lyrics, but it's probably a step up from the usual "let you put your hands on me in my skin tight jeans, be your teenage dream tonight" coming from the girls in the back seat of our car or "I'm not here for your entertainment...it's just you and your hand tonight" that we sing while baking cookies here at Roxy's house.

Lucky for all of my loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers, I tracked down not one but two great versions of Eric Carmen and the Raspberries singing "Go All the Way." Here they are lip-syncing on the Mike Douglas show in 1974, when I was younger than London and Maddie are today:

And, more than 30 years later, here they are live in 2005 with Eric Carmen looking hotter at 50 or so than he did when he was first starting out.

I never knew how complete love could be
'Til she kissed me and said, baby

CHORUS
Please, go all the way
It feels so right
Being with you here, tonight
Please, go all the way
Just hold me close
Don't ever let me go

I coudn't say what I wanted to say
'Til she whispered I love you, so

Please, go all the way
It feels so right
Being with you here, tonight
Please, go all the way
Just hold me close
Don't ever let me go

Before her alone, I was cruel and mean
There was a hole in the place where my heart should have been

But now I'm changed, and I feel so strange
I come alive when she says all those things to me

And she says (come on)
Come on (come on)
(come on)
Come on (come on)
I need you (come on)
I love you (come on)
I need you (come on)
(come on)

CHORUS
Please, go all the way
It feels so right
Being with you here, tonight
Please, go all the way
Just hold me close
Don't ever let me go

March Madness Bracket Contests 2011

2011-03-13T19:23:00.010-04:00

Just like last year, the team here at Roxiticus Desperate Housewives has done all the research for you to make the most of your March Madness 2011 experience. Hint to our readers: the contests get better as you scroll down.

First, ESPN has posted their 2011 March Madness Tournament Challenge, and I'm afraid $10,000 is not nearly as interesting as a million bucks. You'd think with sponsors like State Farm and Sprint, ESPN could pony up the money to make it a little more interesting for us.

The CBS Sports Bracket Challenge is offering a chance to win four tickets to the 2012 Final Four.
The good news: this year, BracketContest.com is again offering to pay one million dollars for the perfect bracket. The bad news: two years ago, all I had to give up to register was my e-mail address, snail mail address, and phone number, and they kept my mailbox full of scantily clad women and swimsuit calendars all year long. Last year, prizes would only be paid to participants that have an active account at Jazz Sportsbook or ABC Islands. An active account is defined as having funds and having played at least $50 during four out of the past seven days. Last year I passed on giving up my bank account and stuck with the free stuff....this year, I can't tell if they're going to require more information from me before I can submit my million-dollar-bracket...will let you know. I'm sending the swimsuit calendars to my office this year to keep the boys guessing.

WRALSportsFan.com has a $1,000,000 Bracket Challenge. Getting 1 or 2 wrong gets you $10,000. Miss 3 games and you can still win $1,000.

So here's the best perfect bracket contest I've found: Yahoo is offering a shot at $1 million in the Yahoo Sports Tourney Pick 'Em 2011!! Each person/household/Yahoo ID can fill out five (5) different brackets for five shots at the million bucks.

Having found our readers all of the March Madness Perfect Bracket Challenges you need AND cheered the local Mendham Patriots 5th grade girls to a 15-14 buzzer beater victory over Chester. Roxiticus Desperate Housewives must rest. Stay tuned for more March Madness and if you're the one with the perfect bracket, please thank us with an appropriate share of your winnings.

Local March Madness on Selection Sunday 3/13: Mendham vs. Chester Girls Basketball

2011-03-11T14:16:00.005-05:00

The Mendham Patriots 5th grade girls’ travel basketball team finished their inaugural season in the Garden State League with 11 wins and 3 losses. After receiving a first round bye Mendham now opens the playoffs at home against arch rival Chester. Chester is fresh off a stunning victory at Hanover and is looking to avenge a February defeat at home at the hands of the Patriots. This one has all the makings of a nip and tuck battle that will go down to the final buzzer. Chester will bring a large contingent of friends and family with them so Mendham girls really need your help to maintain the home court advantage.

Game time is Sunday, March 13th, 3:30 PM at Mendham Township Middle School.

We hope to see you all there… Go Patriots!

Music Monday: Breathless by the Corrs

2011-02-21T19:46:00.002-05:00

I'll be the first to admit, I have no excuses and can't explain what has kept me so busy that I haven't been blogging lately...I even missed Music Monday on Valentine's Day. I have been working on a couple of key transactions at my real job, London and Maddie and the Fighting Irish have kept me busy with rec league basketball and auditions for the Wizard of Oz, and I've been working out as much as I can in the hope of fitting into my circa 1995 Daisy Dukes for spring break in Southern California, but still...

Over on Roxy's Bay Head Blog, I'm hoping to post a Music Monday tribute to DJ Trish for sending me a workout mix that has enabled me to get up to 1.5 miles and 11 minutes without taking a break and lying down on the gym floor...but here on Roxiticus Desperate Housewives, I must own up to the realistic effect my workout has on me...go on, go on, leave me breathless.

Go on, go on, leave me breathless
Come on...

The daylight's fading slowly
but time with you is standing still
I'm waiting for you only
The slightest touch and I'll feel weak

I cannot lie
From you I cannot hide
I'm losing the will to try
Can't hide it (can't hide it)
Can't fight it (can't fight it)
So...

Go on, go on, come on leave me breathless
Tempt me, tease me until I can't deny this
loving feeling, make me long for your kiss
Go on, go on
Yeah, come on...

And if there's no tomorrow
And all we have is here and now
I'm happy just to have you
You're all the love I need somehow

It's like a dream
Although I'm not asleep
I never want to wake up
Don't lose it (don't lose it)
Don't leave me (don't leave me)

Go on, go on, come on leave me breathless
Tempt me, tease me until I can't deny this
loving feeling, make me long for your kiss
Go on, go on
Yeah, come on...

And I can't lie
From you I cannot hide
I've lost my will to try
Can't hide it (can't hide it)
Can't fight it (can't fight it)
So...

Go on, go on, come on leave me breathless
Tempt me, tease me until I can't deny this
loving feeling, make me long for your kiss
Go on, go on
Yeah, come on...

Go on, go on, come on leave me breathless (leave me breathless)
Go on, go on, come on leave me breathless (leave me breathless)
Go on, go on, come on leave me breathless (leave me breathless)
Go on, go on

Baby, Baby, Baby Ooh

2011-02-09T10:00:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

London and Maddie tell me Justin Bieber is out these days (Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Jason Derulo are still in), but Justin's "baby, baby, baby ooh" is about as close as our family is likely to get to diapers and baby formula these days. But for those of my friends in the Roxiticus Valley who are going around again with a new baby, I'm here to let you know you can get a good deal on Bright Beginnings infant formula on diapers.com. If you use code GET30BACK to buy diapers or GET10PCT for Bright Beginnings formula or anything else you buy on diapers.com, you'll get 30% cash back on diapers or save 10% on everything else.

The girls have also been kidding me about the time I spend on Facebook, but I enjoy catching up with my old high school friends online. So far I haven't been caught up in the drama of un-friending, though I have seen my friends change their Facebook status from married to separated, and wonder if I should be organizing my Facebook friends into groups like "Awesome Single Dads" and "Hot Girlfriends Who Deserve Better" and let them sort themselves out. Meanwhile, I'll go on enjoying the daily Facebook updates on my beloved New York Yankees and Syracuse Orange, and find out who the Knicks will have to give up to get Carmelo Anthony before the trade deadline. And my knocked-up Facebook friend P!nk can "like" the Bright Beginnings on Facebook Fan Page to get updates on the best deals on infant formula for her baby on the way.

Music Monday: U + Ur Hand by Pink

2011-02-07T15:20:00.011-05:00

Well I know LadyJava did a P!nk Music Monday theme a couple weeks back, but I was baking cupcakes with London over the weekend and listening closely to the lyrics of "U + Ur Hand" and couldn't resist sharing it with all of you as a kiss-off line I sure could have used back in the day. Thankfully my newly minted 10-year-old didn't ask me for a "birds and the bees" explanation.

Uh uh uh uh uh uh uh oh
Uh uh uh uh uh uh uh oh
Check it out
Going out
On the late night
Looking tight
Feeling nice
It's a **** fight
I can tell
I just know
That it's going down
Tonight
At the door we don't wait cause we know them
At the bar six shots just beginning
That's when dick head put his hands on me
But you see

I'm not here for your entertainment
You don't really want to mess with me tonight
Just stop and take a second
I was fine before you walked into my life
Cause you know it's over
Before it began
Keep your drink just give me the money
It's just you and your hand tonight

Uh uh uh uh uh uh uh oh
Uh uh uh uh uh uh uh oh

Midnight
I'm drunk
I don't give a ***k
Wanna dance
By myself
Guess you're outta luck
Don't touch
Back up
I'm not the one
Buh bye
Listen up it's just not happening
You can say what you want to your boyfriends
Just let me have my fun tonight
Aiight

I'm not here for your entertainment
You don't really want to mess with me tonight
Just stop and take a second
I was fine before you walked into my life
Cause you know it's over
Before it began
Keep your drink just give me the money
It's just you and your hand tonight

Uh uh uh uh uh uh uh oh
Break break
Break it down

In the corner with your boys you bet 'em five bucks
You'd get the girl that just walked in but she thinks you suck
We didn't get all dressed up just for you to see
So quit spilling your drinks on me yeah

You know who you are
High fivin, talking ****, but you're going home alone arentcha?

Cause I'm not here for your entertainment
No
You don't really want to mess with me tonight
Just stop and take a second
Just stop and take a second
I was fine before you walked into my life
Cause you know it's over
Know it's over
Before it began
Keep your drink just give me the money
It's just you and your hand tonight
It's just you and your hand

I'm not here for your entertainment
No no no
You don't really want to mess with me tonight
Just stop and take a second
Just take a second
I was fine before you walked into my life
Cause you know it's over
Before it began
Keep your drink just give me the money
It's just you and your hand tonight

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the ACTUAL LINK POST 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.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Music Monday for London's 10th Birthday: I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing by Aerosmith

2011-01-31T00:01:00.001-05:00

Happy birthday to my beautiful 10-year-old. From the Bernards Inn to the batting cage to the birthday resort spa, I don't wanna miss a thing...

I could stay awake just to hear you breathing
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
Far away and dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever
Well, every moment spent with you
Is a moment I treasure

I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing

Lying close to you
Feeling your heart beating
And I'm wondering what you're dreaming
Wondering if it's me you're seeing
Then I kiss your eyes and thank God we're together
And I just wanna stay with you
In this moment forever, forever and ever

I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing

I don't wanna miss one smile
I don't wanna miss one kiss
Well, I just wanna be with you
Right here with you, just like this
I just wanna hold you close
Feel your heart so close to mine
And stay here in this moment
For all the rest of time

Don't wanna close my eyes
Don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
'Cause I'd still miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing

I don't wanna close my eyes
I don't wanna fall asleep
'Cause I'd miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing
'Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you, babe
And I don't wanna miss a thing

Music Monday: Don't Wanna Fall in Love by Jane Child

2011-01-24T13:37:00.001-05:00

Way before there was Gaga, there was Jane Child...a skinny white girl with spiked hair with long braids and a chain linking her nose ring to her earrings who brought us "Don't Wanna Fall in Love" in 1990.

As with many of my recent Music Monday posts, I've been working out with this tune on my iPod trying to get back my legendary abs from the 90s and hope it will get you up and moving, too. Apologies in advance if you have to watch a commercial to get to the video, but I couldn't find an embeddable video without the ad, but trust me it is worth the wait...you make that knife feel good...enjoy!

Jane Child - Don't Wanna Fall In Love
Uploaded by Warner-Music. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

Ain't no personal thing, boy
but you have got to stay away
far, far away from my heart, my heart
Don't you know what your kiss is doing?
Let me tell it to you from the start, boy

I don't wanna fall in love, no no
Love cuts just like a knife, woo woo
You make the knife feel good baby
I'll fight you to the end

You've been hanging around, boy
And you have started sinking in
Whoa baby you're way out of line now
unaware how this all got started
Let me tell it to you one more time boy

I don't wanna fall in love no no
love cuts just like a knife woo woo
you make the knife feel good baby
I'll fight you to the end
repeat

I learned something about myself
last night with you I knew
I didn't want nobody else
And you're scaring me to death now baby

I don't wanna fall in love no no
Love cuts just like a knife woo woo
You make the knife feel good baby
I'll fight you to the end

I don't wanna fall in love no no
Love cuts just like a knife woo woo
You make the knife feel good baby
I'll fight you to the end

Music Monday for London and Maddie: Sisters by the Cheetah Girls

2011-01-19T09:01:00.035-05:00

This week's Music Monday post is a tribute to sisters, specifically my two girls, London and Maddie. I know I haven't been good about updating my blog over the past six months or so, but that doesn't mean I don't have stories to tell.

Back in mid-December, I posted the following update to my Facebook page: "I was driving back from Christmas shopping in Flemington, through hometown Branchburg, when it hit me pretty hard that this would be my first Christmas without my mom, who passed away in June just shy of her 85th birthday. It's also likely to be the last year when my girls (now 8 and 9) still share that innocent wonder about the magic of Santa Claus. Time to create some new traditions that bring joy to Who-ville." I was overwhelmed by the response from friends, many of whom I haven't seen in more than 20 years. We planned a Boxing Day reunion at my house for a bunch of my high school girlfriends who have moved away to California and Virginia and Pennsylvania, and even though the event itself was snowed out, we've kept in touch and will likely get together over the summer.

Another one of my high school friends proposed that I play off our family's Pop-Tart Fridays to create a new family tradition: go to Pop-Tart World in Times Square for breakfast, then ice skating at the Pond in Bryant Park. We didn't have time to do it over the holidays, but decided it was the perfect plan for Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. Unfortunately, Pop-Tart World closed down a few days before our event, but we ended up at Crumbs Bakery with four cupcakes (480 - 550 calories each!!) for breakfast: dulce de leche, smores, peanut butter cup, and baba booey. Then on to the Pond!

It turned out to be the perfect personal tribute to my mom...although I didn't mention anything to Rex or the girls, my mom was on my mind...in a good "watching over you" kind of way. I was also tearful behind my sunglasses, again in a good way, because of the way my girls stuck together while skating around the rink. While Rex and I couldn't keep up with the girls, they were just so good about looking out for each other on the ice. As I chased them around the Pond, I reflected on how perfectly the two of them play together -- softball last spring and now Fighting Irish twins on the same basketball team -- and I realized that no matter how often they may fight at home, they've always got each other's back.

Cause we are sisters
We stand together
We make up one big family though we don't look the same
Our spots are different
Different colors
We make each other stronger
That ain't ever gonna change

London and Maddie, this one's for you:

There's a time when we all choose
To either quit or follow through
To just lose faith
Or trust your heart
To somehow lead you through the dark
You're not the only one who's dreamin'
And who needs help to carry on
We might get lonely but we're not alone

Chorus:
Cause we are sisters
We stand together
We make up one big family though we don't look the same
Our spots are different
Different colors
We make each other stronger
That ain't ever gonna change
We're cheetah girls cheetah sisters

Gotta do what we gotta do
Got the brains, got the power and we speak the truth
We're from everywhere all around the world
So ya best respect the cheetah girls
Dancing, singing from our birth
Working hard for what we deserve
Trying not to break the rules
'Cause mama didn't raise no fools
It may seem we're only dreaming
And we need help to carry on
It's good to know we're not alone

Chorus:
Cause we are sisters
We stand together
We make up one big family though we don't look the same
Our spots are different
Different colors
We make each other stronger
That ain't ever gonna change
Believe it mister
We're cheetah girls cheetah sisters

Bridge:
Someone's always there behind
To catch us if we fall

Chorus:
Cause we are sisters
We stand together
We make up one big family though we don't look the same
Our spots are different
Different colors
We make each other stronger
That ain't ever gonna change

Believe it mister
We're cheetah girls cheetah sisters

Music Monday: Cosmo Gettin' Busy Theme Criminal Fiona Apple

2011-01-12T10:46:00.008-05:00

Last week, Cosmo put together a "Gettin' Busy" playlist. I was pleased to see that Fiona Apple's "Criminal" made the list, I'd need to rough it up a bit with some AC/DC ("You Shook Me All Night Long")...but I have a question for my loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers: am I the only one who likes to work out to gettin' busy music? It takes my mind off my suffering when I'm trying to finish 3 miles on the elliptical trainer or do five more crunches...

I've been a bad, bad girl
I've been careless with a delicate man
And it's a sad, sad world
When a girl will break a boy just because she can

Don't you tell me to deny it
I've done wrong and I want to suffer for my sins
I've come to you 'cause I need guidance to be true
And I just don't know where I can begin

What I need is a good defense
'Cause I'm feeling like a criminal
And I need to be redeemed
To the one I've sinned against
Because he's all I ever knew of love

Heaven help me for the way I am
Save me from these evil deeds before I get them done
I know tomorrow brings the consequence at hand
But I keep living this day like the next will never come

Oh help me but don't tell me to deny it
I've got to cleanse myself of all these lies 'till I'm good enough for him
I've got a lot to lose and I'm bettin' high so I'm begging you
Before it ends just tell me where to begin

What I need is a good defense
'Cause I'm feeling like a criminal
And I need to be redeemed
To the one I've sinned against
Because he's all I ever knew of love

Let me know the way
Before there's hell to pay
Give me room to lay the law and let me go
I've got to make a play
To make my lover stay
So what would an angel say, the devil wants to know

What I need is a good defense
Cause I'm feelin' like a criminal
And I need to be redeemed
To the one I've sinned against
Because he's all I ever knew of love

What I need is a good defense
'Cause I'm feeling like a criminal
And I need to be redeemed
To the one I've sinned against
Because he's all I ever knew of looooooooooooooooooooooooooove
Yeah yeah yeah uhh uhh uhhhhhh...

Hey hey hey haaayyyyyyyyyyyyy yeahhhhhhh yeahhhhhhhhhh hiyee ehhh...

Day Late Music Monday: Baker Street RIP Gerry Rafferty

2011-01-04T19:56:00.007-05:00

I was just trying to decide on a song for this week's Music Monday when I learned that Gerry Rafferty had passed away. What better tribute than his classic "Baker Street"...RIP Gerry...you're goin', you're going home.

Windin' your way down on Baker Street
Light in your head and dead on your feet
Well another crazy day
You'll drink the night away
And forget about everything
This city desert makes you feel so cold.
It's got so many people but it's got no soul
And it's taking you so long
To find out you were wrong
When you thought it had everything

You used to think that it was so easy
You used to say that it was so easy
But you're tryin'
You're tryin' now
Another year and then you'll be happy
Just one more year and then you'll be happy
But you're cryin'
You're cryin' now

Way down the street there's a lad in his place
He opens the door he's got that look on his face
And he asks you where you've been
You tell him who you've seen
And you talk about anything

He's got this dream about buyin' some land
He's gonna give up the booze and the one night stands
And then he'll settle down there's a quiet little town
And forget about everything

But you know he'll always keep movin'
You know he's never gonna stop movin
Cus he's rollin'
He's the rollin' stone

And when you wake up it's a new mornin'
The sun is shinin' it's a new morning
You're goin'
You're goin' home.

Music Monday: Hey Nineteen by Steely Dan

2010-12-27T17:44:00.016-05:00

My loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers know I haven't been nineteen in quite some time, but I've been able to relate to Steely Dan's "Hey Nineteen" since he first sang the song in 1980....though at the time I was a freshman in high school with a 19-year-0ld boyfriend (mmm, on a motorcycle), not a 19-year-old girl with a much older man. And even at 15, I remembered the Queen of Soul. Tonight I'm hiding out by the fireplace and in the blogosphere, trying not to panic at the prospect of eight (8??!!) overnight guests for our dysfunctional family Christmas Monday, and for some reason the song's been running through my head.

Way back when in '67
I was the dandy
Of Gamma Chi
Sweet things from Boston
So young and willing
Moved down to Scarsdale
And where the hell am I

Hey Nineteen
No we can't dance together
No we can't talk at all
Please take me along
When you slide on down

Hey Nineteen
That's 'Retha Franklin
She don't remember the Queen of Soul
It's hard times befallen
The sole survivors
She thinks I'm crazy
But I'm just growing old

Hey Nineteen
No we got nothing in common
No we can't talk at all
Please take me along
When you slide on down

The Cuervo Gold
The fine Colombian
Make tonight a wonderful thing
We can't dance together
No we can't talk at all

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Music Monday: (How Do I Get You) Alone by Heart

2010-12-19T19:49:00.000-05:00

Spend enough time in the car with London and Maddie and they'll get through all four Glee CDs (plus the Glee Christmas album). While the show is completely plot-free this season, the soundtrack continues to be fun, reminding me of a whole bunch of great Gleeriginals (the originals that the Glee cast has covered) that I've been compiling as a playlist on my iPod. Others may recognize "Alone" from the covers performed by Celine Dion (Taking Chances album) or Carrie Underwood (on American Idol), but I want to make sure my girls identify with the 1987 power ballad from Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart on their Bad Animals album.

Since I've started working out on our new Tuff Stuff home gym (weight machine), I've developed two different workout playlists...an aerobic workout requires 22.5 minutes of randy Katy Perry and Lady Gaga to take my mind off gasping for air for three miles on the eliptical trainer, but my weight training days require hard rock...Van Halen's "Finish What You Started," Led Zeppelin's "Dyermaker," Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name, "Still Got This Thing for You" by Alannah Miles, and this one by Heart...the kind of soundtrack that takes me back to the high school weight room and, like the football coach, screams "gimme one more rep."

I hear the ticking of the clock
I'm lying here the room's pitch dark
I wonder where you are tonight
No answer on the telephone
And the night goes by so very slow
Oh I hope that it won't end though
Alone

Till now I always got by on my own
I never really cared until I met you
And now it chills me to the bone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone

You don't know how long I have wanted
to touch your lips and hold you tight, oh
You don't know how long I have waited
and I was going to tell you tonight

But the secret is still my own
and my love for you is still unknown
Alone

Till now I always got by on my own
I never really cared until I met you
And now it chills me to the bone
How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone

How do I get you alone
How do I get you alone

Alone, alone

Aunt Veg's Trip to the Grand Canyon

2010-12-15T17:00:00.001-05:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of SPOT. All opinions are 100% mine.

Back in late May/early June, my older sister, the one affectionately known as Aunt Veg, and her husband, Uncle Quiet, went on a rafting and camping trip to explore the Grand Canyon. They had a great time, but warned me ahead of time that we'd be unable to reach her on her cell phone. Of course, our mom had a terrible fall and I was unable to keep my sister informed. If only Aunt Veg and Uncle Quiet had known about the SPOT Satellite GPS messenger. It's a great tool for campers, hikers, rafters and outdoor adventurers who are off the cell grid and want to be able to call for help if they get into trouble. The SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger provides emergency assistance when you need it, as well as a vital line of communication with family and friends whenever you want it. SPOT uses 100% satellite technology and works virtually anywhere in the world, even where cell phones don’t – all with the push of a button.

Uncle Quiet, are you listening? SPOT Satellite GPS messenger would be a great surprise for Aunt Veg to find under the Christmas tree this year. Right now, for the holiday season, if you buy her the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger you will receive a bonus adventure kit worth $50, including a coupon for 15% off Basic Service, a micro LED flashlight, flotation case for SPOT in case of a rafting mishap, safety tips bandana, lanyard, a safety whistle and carabineer keychain.

Music Monday Tribute to Annie's Playhouse: Holding Out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler

2010-12-15T09:13:00.015-05:00

This past weekend, London and Maddie rocked the house with their performances in the big Annie's Playhouse show at Bernards High School. Maddie sang "If Mama Was Married" from Gypsy with one other girl, and London was part of a trio performing "Holding Out for a Hero" from Footloose. Roxy was one proud mama.

Time flies...I can't believe it's been almost 27 years since Footloose, which came out in the winter of 1984, the year I graduated from high school, when we were all "Holding Out for a Hero." To use another cliche, I guess times have changed, too... these days, I know a small handful of everyday heroes and hope both of my girls have some strong role models, both male and female, in their lives. I still like the song's message of never settling for less than the best.

I don't have the DVD of London's performance, so we'll have to settle for Bonnie Tyler. Enjoy!

Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where's the street-wise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?
Isn't there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and turn and dream
of what I need

[Chorus]

I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong
And he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the morning light
He's gotta be sure
And it's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life

Somewhere after midnight
In my wildest fantasy
Somewhere just beyond my reach
There's someone reaching back for me
Racing on the thunder end rising with the heat
It's gonna take a superman to sweep me off my feet

[Chorus]

Up where the mountains meet the heavens above
Out where the lightning splits the sea
I would swear that there's someone somewhere
Watching me

Through the wind end the chill and the rain
And the storm and the flood
I can feel his approach
Like the fire in my blood

Music Monday: Whip My Hair by Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen

2010-12-06T00:01:00.001-05:00

Maybe it's a Jersey girl thing, but I haven't been able to get this song out of my head since "Neil Young" and Bruce Springsteen covered Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)

Hop up out the bed turn my swag on
Pay no attention to them haters cuz we whip em off
and we ain't doing nothing wrong
so don't tell me nothing, i'm just tryna have fun
so keep the party jumping

so whats up (yea)
And I'll be doing what to do
we turn our back
and whip our hair and just shake them off
shake them off, shake them off,shake them off

Don't let haters keep me off my grind
Keep my head up i know I'll be fine
Keep fighting until i get there
When i'm down and i feel like giving up i think again

I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth

I'ma get more shine than a little bit
Soon as i hit the stage applause im hearing it
whether its black stars black hearts im feeling it
but can't none of them whip it like i do
I, i gets it in mmmm yea i go hard
when they see me pull up i whip it real hard
i whip it real hard,real hard,i whip it real hard

Don't let haters keep me off my grind
Keep my head up i know I'll be fine
Keep fighting until i get there
When i'm down and i feel like giving up i think again

I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth

I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)

I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)

I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (ok, ok just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)
I whip my hair back and forth

All my Ladies if you feel me
do it do it whip your hair (whip your hair)
Don't matter if its long, short (long,short)
do it do it whip your hair (whip your hair)

All my Ladies if you feel me
come on do it do it whip your hair (whip your hair)
Don't matter if its long, short (long short)
do it do it whip your hair (your hair, your hair)

I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip my hair)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip my hair)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip my hair)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)

I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)

I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth

Music Monday: Finish What Ya Started by Van Halen

2010-11-29T00:01:00.001-05:00

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!

No Place Like Home for the Holidays

2010-11-25T06:00:00.001-05:00

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.

Music Monday: Still Got This Thing for You by Alannah Myles

2010-11-22T00:01:00.001-05:00

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

I Like It On...

2010-11-20T02:00:00.003-05:00

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!

Music Monday: Teenage Dream (Glee Cast Version)

2010-11-15T00:01:00.007-05:00

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

November Madness: Roxy to Join the USC Trojans in the PAC 10?

2010-11-12T17:00:00.001-05:00

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?

The USC Rossier School of Education’s MAT@USC offers aspiring teachers as well as current educators the prestige of earning a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from an elite research university with the convenience and flexibility of a highly interactive online learning experience.

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!

If getting your MAT degree online from a School of Education which has been ranked #22 in the United States and ninth among all private universities by US News and World Report appeals to you, click here for program information, including tuition reimbursement and scholarship opportunities. The online program offers full USC student status and benefits, participation in commencement ceremonies and free lifetime Alumni Association memberships....and a whole new team for Roxy to root for during March Madness.

Veteran's Day: A Hero's Farewell

2010-11-11T09:19:00.017-05:00

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.

Music Monday: What Happens in South Beach Stays in South Beach (Just Dance by Lady Gaga)

2010-11-10T10:21:00.011-05:00

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

Blogging Out Hunger Returns

2010-11-01T13:05:00.008-04:00

My friend Deb over on Jersey Bites invited me to join the 2nd Blogging out Hunger campaign to help raise awareness and donations for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey -- the largest food bank in the state. Two years ago, when Roxiticus Desperate Housewives, Roxy's Best Of... New Jersey, and Roxy's Bay Head Blog participated in the first ever “blog burst" to fight hunger in New Jersey, over 122 bloggers posted about the Community FoodBank’s desperate need for donations.

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.

We're hoping our efforts will compel everyone to do something, anything, to help. Visit the Community FoodBank of New Jersey at www.njfoodbank.org or call 908-355-FOOD (3663) to learn more. What can you do?

Make a monetary contribution: Visit http://www.njfoodbank.org/.

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.

JerseyBites

Roxy's Best Of...New Jersey

JerseySmarts

Random Cravings

GServo

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.

Music Monday: Think About Sports (Shoulda Said No by Taylor Swift)

2010-11-01T10:00:00.008-04:00

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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PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

I Could Go for a Latte Right About Now

2010-10-27T21:00:00.001-04:00

This post brought to you by Nestle Dolce Gusto. All opinions are 100% mine.

These past few days, the weather in the Roxiticus Valley has been sunny with temperatures around 70 degrees, but as a spooky and cold Halloween night approaches, I can feel the chill of Fall on its way. I dread the short days and cold nights that come with basketball season and I've start counting the days until NCAA March Madness and Yankees spring training. In in the meantime, how about a nice hot latte to warm me up? Trouble is, I live 20 minutes from the nearest Starbucks. Apparently, our good friends up north in Canada have found the solution. divine.ca recruited 50 of their luckiest readers to receive and test the NESCAFE Dolce Gusto machine along with a few of their delicious coffee flavors. The reviews are in and just reading them makes me want to try it. I can customize eight (8) different varieties to Roxy's individual taste...though I think my family's favorites will be latte macchiato, mocha, and cappuccino.

Now here's the bad news... this fabulous NESCAFE Dolce Gusto coffee machine by KRUPS is considered a must for the Canadian lifestyle. It comes in three cool colours with chrome detailing -- candy-apple red, dreamy white and sophisticated black -- and would be sleek, funky, and easy-to-use, but right now it may require a trip to visit my Canadian friends to bring the goodness home to the Roxiticus Valley. Think I'll take off to the Great White North...good day, eh?

I Don't Wanna Be Friends...Music Monday: Bad Romance by Lady Gaga

2010-10-25T11:05:00.056-04:00

(Subtitle: Or, what the Chilean miners really need)

I know this post isn't so timely, as the Chilean miners have been rescued for more than a week (except the guy who had both a wife and a mistress waiting for him and decided it would be safer to stay underground, although both apparently were prepared to give him what the Chilean miners really need as opposed to starting with a broken nose and working their way down). However, as I tweeted late last week, I've decided I have been doing too much brooding here at Roxiticus Desperate Housewives as well as in real life. It is time to lighten things up with a little of the naughtiness that earned this blog a PG-13 rating not sooo long ago.

I was out for lunch with a friend at the newly reopened (and fabulous) Bistro 73 (908-766-7400)in Bernardsville, NJ and we got into a little wicked girl talk about what the Chilean miners really need, and I blurted out: "$%!# &!$s" and we decided that would be a fun topic for my blog. Back to the original concept of Cosmo meets Parenting magazine. Then, some of my followers on Twitter told me they were frightened, and I start to think... but Rex's mom reads this blog... London and Maddie's friends' parents read this blog...people come here to find out the best restaurants and kid stuff in the Roxiticus Valley... and my inner CosmoGirl (the one who thanks John Mayer for that geometry tip) gets shy.

So for now I'll just say that what the Chilean miners really need requires privacy and does not involve a media deal or $450 sunglasses, keep my thoughts to myself and leave it to Lady Gaga to show you what "I don't wanna be friends" really means...

TUESDAY UPDATE: Did I say this post was not timely? Little did I know, today Lady Gaga celebrates one year of Bad Romance... go Gaga! Funny how times have changed, when Roxy was a single girl, no one celebrated one year (or five) of bad romance.

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah!
Roma-Roma-ma-ah!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la!
Want your bad romance

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah!
Roma-Roma-ma-ah!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la!
Want your bad romance

I want your ugly
I want your disease
I want your everything
As long as it’s free
I want your love
Love-love-love
I want your love

I want your drama
The touch of your hand
I want your leather studded kiss in the sand
And I want your love
Love-love-love
I want your love
Love-love-love
I want your love

You know that I want you
And you know that I need you
I want it bad, your bad romance

I want your loving
And I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
I want your loving
All your love is revenge
You and me could write a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah!
Roma-Roma-ma-ah!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la!
Want your bad romance

I want your horror
I want your design
‘Cause you’re a criminal
As long as your mine
I want your love
Love-love-love
I want your love

I want your psycho
Your vertical stick
Want you in my rear window
Baby, you're sick
I want your love
Love-love-love
I want your love
Love-love-love
I want your love

You know that I want you
And you know that I need you
I want a bad, your bad romance

I want your loving
And I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
I want your loving
All your love is revenge
You and me could write a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah!
Roma-Roma-ma-ah!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la!
Want your bad romance

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah!
Roma-Roma-ma-ah!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la!
Want your bad romance

Walk walk fashion baby
Work it
Move that bitch crazy
Walk walk fashion baby
Work it
Move that bitch crazy
Walk walk fashion baby
Work it
Move that bitch crazy
Walk walk fashion baby
Work it
I'm a freak bitch baby

I want your love
And I want your revenge
I want your love
I don’t wanna be friends

J'veux ton amour
Et je veux ton revenge
J'veux ton amour
I don't wanna be friends

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

I want your loving
And I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
I want your loving
and all your love is revenge
You and me could write a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oooh!
Oh-oh-oooh-oh-oh!
Caught in a bad romance

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah!
Roma-Roma-ma-ah!
Ga-ga-ooh-la-la!
Want your bad romance

Valerie Center Youth Cancer Patients

2010-10-22T10:28:00.003-04:00

This just in from Hilltop Church:

Quick! Rally! Valerie Center Youth Cancer Patients

Doyle, our 11 yr. old friend from Mendham battling leukemia, had several relapses in the last 2 months. After spending several weeks in the Valerie Center at the Goryeb Children's Hospital staying with her son, Sara brought a very sad situation to our attention. A series of robberies has severely depleted their recreational supplies that help these children make it through the long days of intense treatment. Please help the Deacons quickly collect items to replenish the little things that help keep their minds off their daily fight for their lives.

UPDATE October 26th: Misinformation was disseminated about robberies at the Valerie Center. Kelly, the coordinator for some of these patient services, reported this to be unfounded, but reiterated that the pressing need for the replenishment of their DVD, toy, and game supplies still exists. They experience constant disappointment due to breakage, wear/tear, and losses. She assures us that our outpourring of giving and sharing will put smiles on many, many troubled faces. So far, Hilltop Church thanks you so much for the four (4) huge bags of requested items and donations already received which will be delivered this week.

To have a clearer idea of the types of toys/games they would like, please visit the Toys R Us website, click on "wish lists" in the row at the top above the blue boxes, and search by wish list #30056291. All of these and the following items, are perfectly wonderful whether they are new or gently used: (Ages 2 - 18)

DVD's (largest demand item--PG 13 or less only)
Toys/Games ( mostly for 2 or 3 people i.e. card games, checkers, SORRY, Candyland, Chutes & Ladders, Scrabble, XBox, Wi)
Puzzles( age appropriate: i.e. wooden pieces, mini puzzles, large pieces, etc.)
$10 gift cards are super gifts!! This allows them to go to Walmart, Game Stop or the in
house store for something they like. (Cash donation checks made out to Deacons Fund)

Please prayerfully consider even the smallest donation or toy from your stash!! New items and gift cards will also be used to celebrate treatment milestones, birthdays and Christmas. Please donate quickly by dropping items off in the Hilltop House Library marked "Valerie Center." Hilltop Church deacons will deliver to the hospital.

Carmex Arrives Just in Time

2010-10-22T04:01:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Carmex®. All opinions are 100% mine.

Every now and then, because I'm Roxy the world famous blogger, our family receives a product sample to try out and review here at Roxiticus Desperate Housewives. On Monday afternoon, there was a nice big box waiting in Roxy's mailbox, with three different samples of new Carmex® Healing Lotion and Carmex® Healing Cream: a 5.5 ounce tube of new Carmex® Healing Lotion, a 4 ounce tube of new Carmex® Healing Cream, and a travel-size sample of new Carmex® Healing Lotion that would have fit nicely in my purse.

A few minutes later, London and Maddie hopped off the school bus, with London complaining about chapped lips and face and rough hands. "What's in the box, Mom??!!" she demanded to know, groping through it, rubbing the Carmex® Healing Cream on her hands and face and snatching up my travel-size sample and popping it into her backpack for use during the rest of the week at school.

For years, our family has relied on the cute little tubs of Carmex Original Formula that's marketed for cold sores but we use for the raw, chapped lips that plague us through the Fall and Winter months. The new Carmex® Healing Lotion and Carmex® Healing Cream are different... non-greasy and for use anywhere your skin feels dry. I've been pleased so far with the results. Because my girls and I have very sensitive skin, there are not a lot of lotions we want anywhere near our faces, particularly when the skin is dry and chapped. Unlike our experience with other lotions (which frequently contain too much perfume), London and I have both applied the Carmex® Healing Lotion and Carmex® Healing Cream to our face and hands with no irritation...it absorbs quickly (Maddie hates it when creams leave her skin looking white or shiny) and has already started to repair our dry, sometimes cracked, skin.

The retail price for each of the full-size products is $5.99 and they can be found at Walgreens stores, Walgreens.com and Drugstore.com. I'm also going to pick up several of the 99-cent sample sizes for my purse and the girls' backpacks.

Visiting Nurses Association Brings Us A Taste of the Hills

2010-10-22T03:30:00.002-04:00

Enjoy a unique and entertaining dining experience at A Taste of the Hills on Sunday, November 7th, 2010 from 6:00-9:00pm at Fair Winds at Basking Ridge Country Club. Hosted by the Friends of the Adult Day Center of the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills, this year’s benefit honors the Rotary Club of Bernardsville for their years of support and commitment to the organization.

Over 35 restaurants, caterers and bakeries will offer a delicious array of soup, hors d’oeuvre, salad, entree, dessert, coffee and wine tastings from a variety of local and global cuisines. For reservations, please RSVP the event chair at 908-236-6632. Tickets are $75 per person in advance and $85 at the door. Reservations are on a first come, first serve basis.

“Now our 13th ‘Taste,’ this event is a much anticipated and major annual fundraiser for the VNA Adult Day Center. Many vendors, such as The Growth Catering Family, The Bernards and Old Mill Inns and Gary’s Wine and Marketplace have supported us for years. Others like Aoyama in Mendham and Martinsville, Wegmans in Bridgewater and Sublime in Gladstone join for the first time,” said Susan Lichtenberger of Mendham, event co-chair and VNA of Somerset Hills Board of Trustees member.

Restaurant owners, including Francois Rousseau of Due Terre Enoteca in Bernardsville, also find the evening rewarding. “We love to be able to give back to local nonprofit organizations. It’s nice to see people relaxing, enjoying themselves and having a good time at this lovely event. “

Recent exhibitors include Alba Vineyard, A la Carte, Bamboo Grill, Black Horse Tavern & Pub, Cafe India, China Palace, CocoLuxe, Country Picnic, Due Terre Enoteca, Edible Arrangements, Equus Tavern, Fair Winds Catering, Gary’s Wine & Marketplace, Gourmet Touch Bakery, Green Mountain Coffee, Illy Caffe, KC’s, Le Petit Chateau, Maggiano’s Little Italy, Meadow Wood Manor, Nagano, New Gladstone Market, Oayama, Olde Mill Inn/Grain House, Ome Catering, Ross & Owren, Sublime, Taste of Crete, The Bernards Inn, The Famished Frog, The Pluckemin Inn, The Store, Tsuru, Vine and Willie’s Tavern.

The Adult Day Center of the VNA of Somerset Hills in Basking Ridge provides a caring and welcoming environment of customized supervision and socialization for the frail elderly or chronically disabled adult who would otherwise have to stay unsafely home alone or be prematurely placed in a long term care facility.

The Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills and its subsidiaries provide individuals and families with comprehensive, high quality, cost-effective home and community healthcare services, regardless of ability to pay, using partnerships where appropriate. It is a charitable, tax-exempt home health agency and hospice certified by Medicare, accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program and licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services. For more information, visit our website at www.visitingnurse.org

Oh, Baby!

2010-10-22T03:00:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

Strange population shifts going on in Mendham Township, New Jersey...people seem to have stopped making babies about five years ago. In September of every new school year, Mendham Township Elementary School has welcomed about 80 new kindergartners and sends about 80 fifth graders and their huge backpacks off to the Middle School. This year, only 45 kindergartners showed up! It has really wreaked havoc on the systems in place...there are now only three sections of kindergarten instead of the usual four, and with five sections of fourth grade, London's class was forced to choose their Book Buddies from a first grade class. So this morning, London headed off to school to read Strega Nona's Harvest (with expression!) to a little first grader named Libby.

So I ask you, where have all the babies gone? Will they return next year, or is it a trend in Mendham that started before the depression recession and will continue to deplete our supply of kindergartners?

Maybe one way to get back to the business of baby-making despite the economy is to save money, starting with infant formula. All infant formulas sold in the United States are subject to the same regulations of the Infant Formula Act which governs manufacturing and ingredients. So store brand formula, while value priced, must meet the same exacting FDA nutritional requirements as all the major advertised brands. That's nutritional equivalence for babies and substantial savings for moms....private label formula typically costs up to 50 percent less compared with brand names. That could save a family $600/year per baby.

So what are you waiting for, Mendham? Let's get back to babies!

Roxy's Reflections: Eat Less. Pray More. Love Lots.

2010-10-21T17:08:00.004-04:00

We closed on the sale of my mom's house yesterday, an incredible relief that brings our family that much closer to settling her estate. My big sister has been amazing in her efforts as executrix, and in cleaning out the house I grew up in, sorting and donating anything valuable, and tossing out trash can after trash can of almost 40 years worth of accumulated paperwork and possessions.

Over the past few weeks since my 44th birthday, I have been reading Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat Pray Love," and just finished yesterday. While I have no plans to take a year off to travel to Italy, India, and Indonesia, I found her story interesting.

Tonight, our family is off to Art and Poetry Night at Mendham Township Elementary School...I will be back to write more later...unless I fall asleep early, or find another good book to read all night long.

(quick update the next morning)
Ah, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Maddie, London, Rex and I had such a good time at MTES Art and Poetry Night that I didn't get a chance to write about it...or about anything else last night. The girls made several art projects that are drying at the school, but by this afternoon I may have ink blot cinquains to share with all of you. Roxy even got into the mix and created a little art and poetry. Our favorite projects are, of course, the ones that involve getting messy, so it was bath night as soon as we came home.

Shopping for Fall Fashions

2010-10-21T12:58:00.013-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Liz Claiborne New York Outlets. All opinions are 100% mine.

This weekend, London, Maddie, Rex and Roxy will don our Halloween costumes and head down to our beach house for the annual Bay Head Halloween Parade. The big event is always the Sunday before Halloween, and, since our family takes Halloween very seriously, we look forward to the parade all year, and start to prepare at the end of every summer....last year, we even had our own float! I'll keep you in suspense to make sure you come back to Roxiticus Desperate Housewives and Roxy's Bay Head Blog to find out about our family costumes. Today's post is really about the other change that comes right after the Halloween parade...we close up our beach house, pack up our Chevy Suburban, and head back to the Roxiticus Valley for the next five or six months.

Fall is the time of year when designers unveil their new collections and the fashion world follows. While we're away at the beach this weekend, every fashionista, young and old, will dress to the nines and head for the Far Hills Race Meeting to strut their stuff among the horses and tailgate parties. While back to school may signal Fall fashion shopping for the rest of the Roxiticus Desperate Housewives, Roxy doesn't head out to the outlet stores in Flemington, NJ, until November 1st. And let me tell you, I'm glad I've waited because Liz Claiborne New York Outlets are selling their entire inventory at a discount! Everything must go, with prices 50-80% off, and even the newest Fall fashions are available for a steal!

While I've been known to shed a tear or two on Labor Day, once we get to my birthday in October, I'm happy to change over my closets and shop for the latest fall fashions....the boots, the sweaters. the leather jackets...it's all good. So Rex will be a good sport and take London, Maddie and me to the Liz Claiborne New York Outlet store in Flemington, New Jersey, and we'll come home with a car load of goodies for all three of his girls.

If you're not lucky enough to live in the Roxiticus Valley, click on one of the links in this post and find your nearest Liz Claiborne New York Outlet store. Happy shopping!

Hexagon Players of Mendham Presents Annie: November 12, 13, 14, 19, and 20

2010-10-21T08:50:00.009-04:00

My loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers may remember that, back in September, London auditioned for the Hexagon Players of Mendham production of "Annie." She practiced for weeks, singing out wherever we drove in the car. London bravely sang "Rain On My Parade" at the auditions, but the piano accompanist couldn't keep up with her. Rex, Maddie and I cheered London on and had a great time checking out all the amazing local talent as they sang and danced all night. Given the intense competition, London didn't get a part in the show, but we'll be in the audience when Hexagon Players presents Annie in mid-November.

Hexagon Players of Mendham presents "Annie" coming to Bernards High Auditorium in Bernardsville, New Jersey. Performance dates include Friday, November 12th at 7:30 pm; Saturday, November 13th and Sunday, November 14th at 2:00 pm; Friday, November 19th at 7:30 pm; and Saturday, November 20th at 2:00 and 7:30 pm. Cast members include children and adults from several New Jersey towns. Tickets now on sale online or call 973-543-8770.

That's Entertainment!

2010-10-14T16:04:00.026-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Dual Electronics. All opinions are 100% mine.

Gone are Roxy's days of being cool, at least according to my daughters, London and Maddie, who think their mom is soooo 1985 (and that's way older than yesterday's news). Therefore, I jumped at the opportunity to increase my "cool factor" by purchasing the new Dual Electronics XPE Series for the ultimate car audio experience. Dual’s new mobile receiver features iPod and iPhone accessibility... although until the moisture indicator on my Save A Phone Bag turns from blue to pink and back to blue again (if ever), I'm afraid no one will be accessing my old iPhone that London and Maddie dropped into Scow Ditch in Bay Head NJ on my birthday.

Dual Electronics has announced that its new line of mobile amplifiers, the XPE series, is now shipping to retailers nationwide. Three new amps -- the XPE1700, the XPE2700 and the XPE4700 -- all feature MOSFET power supplies, variable crossovers, and 2 ohm stability. With their low-profile chassis, installation will be a breeze, even in small spaces....like Roxy's little red Celica convertible (which is soooo 1996).

All three models include performance-matched output transistors for maximum power transfer and feature black anodized extruded aluminum heatsinks for dissipating the heat. Whew! Is it getting hot in here or what? Dual XPE's direct-wire inputs eliminate the need for extra terminals and ensure a more positive connection via increased wire contact. What's more, thermal overload and low-impedance circuits provide protection for even the most demanding applications...and in my car, London and Maddie singing "Don 't Rain on My Parade" or "Sweet Caroline" along with their Glee CD's at the top of their lungs tend to be our family's most demanding applications. Now that's entertainment!

Music Monday for Roxy's Birthday: Tramps Like Us, Baby We Were Born to Run

2010-10-11T00:23:00.000-04:00

I've been away from the blogosphere for about a month, busy closing transactions at my real job, helping my big sister to sell the house I grew up in and settle my mother's estate, and getting London and Maddie back to school. It's been a tough year, and I still miss my mom every day, but it finally feels like things are turning around for me.

I have missed all of you, and as my birthday approaches, I'm hoping to get back to writing both publicly (here at Roxiticus Desperate Housewives and on Roxy's Best Of...) and privately in my sky dragon journal.

In celebration of my 44th birthday, I've chosen one of my all-time faves from Jersey boy Bruce Springsteen for this week's Music Monday post...tramps like us, baby we were born to run!!

In the day we sweat it out in the streets of a runaway American dream
At night we ride through mansions of glory in suicide machines
Sprung from cages out on highway 9,
Chrome wheeled, fuel injected and steppin out over the line
Baby this town rips the bones from your back
Its a death trap, it's a suicide rap
We gotta get out while were young
`cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run

Wendy let me in I wanna be your friend
I want to guard your dreams and visions
Just wrap your legs round these velvet rims
And strap your hands across my engines
Together we could break this trap
Well run till we drop, baby well never go back
Will you walk with me out on the wire
`cause baby Im just a scared and lonely rider
But I gotta find out how it feels
I want to know if love is wild, girl I want to know if love is real

Beyond the palace hemi-powered drones scream down the boulevard
The girls comb their hair in rearview mirrors
And the boys try to look so hard
The amusement park rises bold and stark
Kids are huddled on the beach in a mist
I wanna die with you wendy on the streets tonight
In an everlasting kiss

The highways jammed with broken heroes on a last chance power drive
Everybodys out on the run tonight but there's no place left to hide
Together wendy well live with the sadness
Ill love you with all the madness in my soul
Someday girl I don't know when were gonna get to that place
Where we really want to go and well walk in the sun
But till then tramps like us baby we were born to run

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Bust A Move!

2010-10-05T18:18:00.023-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PlayStation MOVE. All opinions are 100% mine.

Roxy's birthday is coming up, and you know I never miss an opportunity to start (over) on a new life improvement plan, including healthier eating habits and a physical fitness plan. So, since hips don't lie, it's time for Roxy to figure out new and exciting ways to Bust a Move. Of course, I don't mean to hit on some hot guy at a party like a Young MC lyric... thankfully haven't needed to bust that kind of move since I met Rex.

Nope. It's just time for Roxy to find a fun alternative to the exercise bike, elliptical trainer, and the Wii Fit (the one that calls me Fatty Fatty Bo Batty before offering up its own perception of my Age). London and Maddie, my sweet young gaming experts, tell me that PlayStation®Move redefines motion gaming with the most realistic and immersive gaming experience. Actually, I think they said "it's a really cool new way to play, Mom, and it's only possible on the PlayStation®3 system." The simple, easy-to-use and ergonomically designed controller captures a full range of motion that gives the gamer ultimate control over how you play each game. There's already an impressive selection of family games and new ones launching all the time....including sports, action, and party games.

PlayStation®Move has something for everyone in our family and yours, whether you’re experienced like London and Maddie, or casual like Roxy.

If only a little genie would appear on my birthday next week and give Roxy the PlayStation® Move. We'd make October the Month of Family Game Nights, with competitive exercise for the whole Roxy clan. I'm ready to Get Fit with Mel B the minute the girls get on the school bus, and after they come home I will be Mommy...the Sports Champion.

And Rex, just in case that genie doesn't show up next week? We can bring motion gaming exclusively to our existing PlayStation®3 for only $99 with the MOVE bundle package!

Celebrate Roxy's Birthday and Columbus Day with an Open Gym at Randolph Gymnastics

2010-10-04T12:33:00.005-04:00

October is shaping up to be a terrific month for our family...business is going well for Rex and me, and London and Maddie are settled into their school routine as well as a full slate of after school activities. One of London's favorites is gymnastics class... she's just started her sixth year at Randolph Gymnastics, and has stepped it up from Novice 3 to Intermediate lessons. We're in the midst of "Bring a Friend Week" which runs October 4th through 9th, when London loves to show off and share the fun with her Mendham Elementary School buddies.

Her sister Maddie dropped gymnastics in favor of more musical activities (including Girls Rock! at Mendham Township Elementary School and a Musical Theatre Masters Class at Annie's Playhouse in Far Hills), but she is hoping to get back to Randolph Gymnastics to visit her favorite instructors, bounce on the trampoline, and do a little rock climbing at one of the following Open Gym events:

Monday, October 11th for Columbus Day: 1:00-3:00pm

Thursday, November 4th and Friday, November 5th for the NJEA Teacher's Convention: 1:00-3:00pm

Every other Friday night (October 8th and 22nd, November 5th and 19th, and December 3rd and 17th) from 7:30pm-10:00pm

For $12 per per child, you'll get access to all gymnastics equipment, all inflatables (air track, castle and slide), rock wall climbing, and unlimited fun. Open workout at Randolph Gymnastics is a great way to check out the gymnastics and rock climbing facilities before you sign up for classes or schedule a birthday party.

**All children must be at least 5 years of age and 36" tall to participate**

Open to all Randolph and Rockaway Gymnastics members and the public. Bring your brother, sister, mom, dad, cousin or friend. Call or stop by to reserve your spot, as space is limited and you wouldn't want to miss out. As always, be sure to let Shannon know that Roxy sent you!

If you find out at an Open Gymn that your kids love Randolph Gymanstics the way mine do, you can choose a class that's right for your child's age and skills, sign up on the spot and have your tuition pro-rated through November 13th. Or wait for the new Fall 2 session which runs November 15th through February 5th, with in-house registration from October 18th through 30th and open registration from November 1st-11th.

Randolph Gymnastics
3 Middlebury Boulevard
Randolph, NJ 07869
(973) 584-4111

Not a serious gymnast like her sister, Maddie's other favorite activity at Randolph Gymnastics is Halloween Week from October 25th through 30th, when kids can wear their Halloween costumes to class and they hand out candy. You can bet my little Devil in Da Hood is going to show up for her sister's class that week...Trick or Treat!

Glee Premiere on Tuesday Night!

2010-09-20T15:14:00.029-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of TiVo. All opinions are 100% mine.

My loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers know that London, Maddie and I became huge fans of Glee over the summer. We hadn't watched a single episode all year, but when we learned that Glee was going to be the theme for the girls' Annie's Playhouse Summer Stars camp this year, we caught up on the entire season very quickly.

Now that London and Maddie are back to school, we were glad to see that the season premiere is on at eight o'clock EST tomorrow night (Tuesday, September 21st). After the girls come home from their ballet and modern dance lessons at Garden State Ballet in Randolph, New Jersey, we'll eat a quick dinner (sorry, Rex, for rushing through one of your delicious meals) so we can watch Glee before bedtime...

Wait just one hot moment... we don't have to rush through Rex's pistachio crusted rack of lamb... we've got TiVo! The TiVo Premiere, along with the new TiVo Slide remote, makes discovering this Fall TV season’s best entertainment (including network and cable TV, YouTube and other web videos, and movies) easier than ever. We won't miss a single quote from our favorite gym teacher, Sue Sylvester.

If you were left behind on last year's hot shows, the exclusive TiVo Search and TiVo Collections features can catch you up in a matter of clicks. Find your favorite upcoming shows or entire previous seasons on Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand or Blockbuster On Demand. This time, we won't be the ones who miss this season's break-out hit... our family is going to subscribe to TiVo's Fall TV Guru Guide to discover all of the new shows premiering over the next few weeks. Then we'll know which shows we need to TiVo while we're out for Back to School Night at Mendham Township Elementary School.

If you want in on the Fall premiere action, become a fan of TiVo on Facebook Fan Page and be sure to Enter to Win a new TiVo Slide in the "30 Slides in 30 Days" Sweepstakes. Sweepstakes ends this Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010.

Green Eyeshade's Wedding

2010-09-19T11:00:00.010-04:00

My niece, Green Eyeshade, got married yesterday, the day before her 30th birthday, at the Lyndhurst castle in Tarrytown, New York. Rex, London, Maddie and I left Peanut Butter with the girls' nanny as a puppy sitter and drove up from the Roxiticus Valley in the early afternoon. We stayed at Tarrytown House and took a shuttle bus to the nearby ceremony and reception. It was great to be together with my sisters and nieces for a happy occasion instead of a sad one, though we all wished my mom could have lived a few more months to attend her granddaughter's wedding.

Everything about the day was perfect... the weather, their vows, the adorable flower girl and ring bearer, the celebration, and the way the two of them look at each other. I am so happy for Green Eyeshade and her new husband. They're off to Bora Bora on Monday morning for their honeymoon. Congratulations!

September 11th: Never Forget

2010-09-11T20:40:00.011-04:00

One day maybe I
Won't have tears behind my shades
Walking home from work

My souvenir t-shirt from today's Brookside Engine Company Clam Bake in Mendham Township, NJ, says "Never Forget," but September 11th has not truly been top of mind for me today. In a way, 9/11 will always be a part of me, but my thoughts these days are more of gratitude than of grief. Grateful that Rex and I survived, grateful to have our family safe here in Mendham, grateful to live in the United States, grateful to be able to eat clams and drink beer in a field while our kids play nearby... safely.

September 11th continues to render me speechless, but last year I read an essay by Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal entitled "The Children of 9/11 Grow Up" that really hit home. Noonan begins:

It is eight years since 9/11, and here is an unexpected stage of
grief: fear that the ache will go away. I don’t suppose it ever will, but grieving has gradations, and “horror” becomes “absorbed sadness.” Life moves on, and wants to move on, which is painful for those who will not forget and cannot be comforted. Part of the spookiness of life, part of its power to disorient us, is not only that people die, that they slip below the waves, but that the waves close above them so quickly, the sea so quickly looks the same.

Not for me. Now nine years later, though we've moved out of Manhattan, my babies are growing up and our lives have changed so much, it feels like it was yesterday I took the photo at right from our old neighborhood in the West Village on Bleecker and 12th Street. Noonan continues:

"9/11 was for America’s kids exactly what Nov. 22, 1963, was for their parents and uncles and aunts. They were at school. Suddenly there were rumors in the hall and teachers speaking in hushed tones. You passed an open classroom and saw a teacher sobbing. Then the principal came on the public-address system and said something very bad had happened. Shocked parents began to pick kids up. Everyone went home and watched TV all day, and the next."

That's Rex holding seven-month-old London along the Hudson River after both towers had fallen; I was pregnant with her sister, Maddie. I wonder how much, if anything, they remember or understand about that day.

See You at the Clam Bake in Mendham Township, NJ, this Saturday, September 11, 2010

2010-09-08T19:28:00.005-04:00

Every June, since we moved to the Roxiticus Valley at the end of 2003, our family hosts an annual Roxiticus Sunset Party that parents and kids look forward to all year. So much so, that when we ran into friends at the Labor Day Parade and Carnival, several of our friends asked why we didn't have a back to school party. So (adopting Pathological Liar voice)... we decided to have a big party this Saturday....and you're all invited! Bring your friends! Bring the kids! Our backyard isn't big enough, so we've changed the venue to the Brookside Community Club Grounds. And instead of that hostess gift, why not slip the fireman at the door a few (well, quite a few) bucks?

Continue reading...

Back to School Anthem for Music Monday: I Don't Wanna Go Home by Southside Johnny

2010-09-06T08:41:00.004-04:00

Labor Day Weekend... the end of summer. It's always been a bittersweet time for me... a new school year and a fresh start, but time to pack up and head home from the beach. Who better than Southside Johnny and his Jersey Shore bar band the Jukes to capture that feeling with his anthem, "I Don't Want To Go Home"??

Sing along with Roxy, Southside and special guest Bruce Springsteen:

Oh, I know that it’s getting late
But I don’t want to go home
I’m in no hurry baby time can wait
‘Cause I don’t want to go home

Listen to the man sing his song
I don’t want to go home
I don’t mind if it takes all night long
‘Cause I don’t want to go home

Listen, baby, I know we had to try
To reach up and touch the sky, baby
Whatever happened to you and I
That I don’t want to go home?

Lord, look at how all the people stare
Said I don’t want to go home
In their minds I know they’ve all been there
I don’t want to go home

I know the words to this song are real
But, oh, I don’t want to go home
I know he’s talking ‘bout the way I feel
And I don’t want to go home

Listen, baby, I know we had to try
To reach up and touch the sky, baby
Whatever happened to you and I
That I don’t want to go home?

I want to hear people laughing and having a good time
I want to know why she told me she had to go
Why did she leave me lonely?

I know that it’s time to go
But I don’t want to go home
You can play play your blues, play ‘em soft and low
‘Cause I don’t want to go home

I know the words to this song are real
But, oh, I don’t want to go home
I know he’s talking ‘bout the way I feel
And I don’t want to go home

I don’t want to go, believe me, darling
I don’t want to go home
Don’t wanna be all alone
I don’t want to go home, baby

Ain’t nobody waitin’ at home
Baby, won’t you please come home
Baby, baby, baby
Baby, baby, baby
Baby, baby, baby
Baby, won’t you please come home?

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.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Music Monday: Faith by George Michael

2010-08-30T00:01:00.000-04:00

If everything went wrong in the beginning of August, the last week of August was when things started to turn around for me. I've been re-reading Napoleon Hill's Think and Grow Rich
on the beach, reminding myself to think positive thoughts and let go of any negativity...to have faith in myself, faith in the Infinite.

As a result, we turned around the situation with Tio of last week's "Hate on Me" post and I feel like we have positive momentum going into September for a fresh start in the new school year.

Napoleon Hill shares a story of Edwin C. Barnes, who "succeeded because he chose a definite goal, placed all his energy, all his will power, all his effort, everything, back of that goal." I want each one of our clients to believe that we are that committed to their transaction.

Now, I'm not sure George Michael had the same kind of faith in mind, but he sure is fun to watch...

Well I guess it would be nice
If I could touch your body
I know not everybody
Has got a body like you

But I've got to think twice
Before I give my heart away
And I know all the games you play
Because I play them too

Oh but I
Need some time off from that emotion
Time to pick my heart up off the floor
And when that love comes down
Without devotion
Well it takes a strong man baby
But I'm showing you the door

'Cause I gotta have faith...

Baby
I know you're asking me to stay
Say please, please, please, don't go away
You say I'm giving you the blues
Maybe
You mean every word you say
Can't help but think of yesterday
And another who tied me down to loverboy rules

Before this river
Becomes an ocean
Before you throw my heart back on the floor
Oh baby I reconsider
My foolish notion
Well I need someone to hold me
But I'll wait for something more
Yes I've gotta have faith...

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.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Music Monday: Hate On Me by Jill Scott

2010-08-23T16:00:00.000-04:00

It's an exciting milestone this week for Lady Java: the 100th round of her Music Monday meme, so I'll be submitting my best selections here and over on Roxy's Bay Head Blog.

This week's Music Monday post at Roxiticus Desperate Housewives was prompted by a couple of things... seeing and hearing the Glee cast version of "Hate on Me" as London and Maddie and I watched the entire first season together, and an unpleasant incident last week with a client of Rex's (we'll call him Tio) who can't get past his hatred to happiness. No matter how the episode with Tio turns out, it is a lesson to me in the importance of letting go of my anger, hatred, all negative emotions. Here is Tio, on the verge of a $70 million score for the sale of his company, and he can't let go of his negativity long enough to accept and enjoy it. And although I've never hated anyone the way Tio does, I do have a tendency not to accept people (even children) for who they are, letting my negative emotions (annoyance, fear, grudges) get in the way of happiness.

Just last weekend, we invited all of the neighbors to a huge 40th birthday party for Rex's son Trader at our beach house in Bay Head, NJ, featuring the awesome Springsteen cover band Tramps Like Us. The very next night, I found myself holding a grudge against the family across the street, who attended our party but the very next night (for the second year in a row) invited all of the other kids in the neighborhood EXCEPT London and Maddie to their twins' 11th birthday party. I should just put it behind me and be the better person, ask myself, "What would Jesus do?" But I'm more likely ask, "What would Glee's Sue Sylvester do?" (and that's how Sue sees it!)

If I could give you the world
On a silver platter
Would it even matter?
You’d still be mad at me

If I could find in all this
A dozen roses
Which I would give to you
You’d still be miserable

In reality, I’m gonna be who I be
And I don’t feel no faults
For all the lies that you bought
You can try as you may
Break me down but I say
That it ain’t up to you
Gone and do what you do

CHORUS
Hate on me, hater
Now or later
‘Coz I’m gonna do me
You’ll be mad, baby
Go ‘head and hate
Go ‘head and hate on me, hate on
‘Coz I’m not afraid of it
What I got I paid for
You can hate on me

Ooh, if I gave you peaches
Out of my own garden
And I made you a peach pie
Would you slap me high

What if I gave you diamonds
Out of my own womb
Would you feel the love in that,
Or ask “why not the moon”?

If I gave you sanity
For the whole of humanity,
Had all the solutions
For the pain and pollution

No matter where I live,
Despite the things I give,
You’ll always be this way
So go ‘head and….

You cannot hate on me
‘Cuz my mind is free
Feel my destiny
So shall it be

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.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Career Change for Roxy?

2010-08-23T13:19:00.024-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Woodrow Wilson. All opinions are 100% mine.

All kidding and stress of the past week or two aside, I'm really hoping not to have to make a career change at this point in my life. However, for those of you who are career changers or recent college graduates in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, or math), you could qualify for a $30,000 stipend from the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship to complete an intensive master’s degree program at one of fourteen participating universities. Competitive candidates for this unique opportunity will:

Have completed your undergraduate degree in a STEM field by June 2011
Have graduated with a 3.0 GPA or higher; and
Demonstrate a commitment to the program and its goals.

The Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowships seek to recruit, prepare and retain effective teachers for the schools and students who need them the most. Woodrow Wilson Fellows will complete a field-based master’s degree in teacher education, commit to teach for at least three years in a high-need school, and receive intensive support and mentoring in the classroom.

For more information or to fill out an application, please check out the video below or visit: http://socialspark.com/metrics/click/post?slot_id=429212&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wwteachingfellowship.org%2F%3Futm_source%3Dizea%26utm_medium%3Dizea%26utm_campaign%3Dizeablogs.

If you're a new college graduate or considering a career change in the STEM fields, why not become a Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellow? Who knows? You could change the world by changing theirs. Apply now for the September 1 deadline.

Music Monday: Rex and Roxy's Wedding Song, Prove It All Night by Bruce Springsteen

2010-08-16T23:00:00.000-04:00

On Saturday night we had a great party in our back yard in Bay Head, NJ, in honor of Rex's son Trader's 40th birthday. The Springsteen cover band Tramps Like Us rocked the neighborhood for four hours with all of our favorites, including our wedding song, Prove It All Night. For those of you who couldn't make it to the party, I tracked down a YouTube video of the Boss live in 1978 at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, NJ as this week's Music Monday post. Enjoy!

I've been working real hard, trying to get my hands clean,
Tonight we'll drive that dusty road from Monroe to Angeline,
To buy you a gold ring and pretty dress of blue,
Baby just one kiss will get these things for you,
A kiss to seal our fate tonight,
A kiss to prove it all night.

Prove it all night,
Girl there's nothing else that we can do,
So prove it all night, prove it all night,
And girl I'll prove it all night for you.

Everybody's got a hunger, a hunger they can't resist,
There's so much that you want, you deserve much more than this,
But if dreams came true, oh, wouldn't that be nice,
But this ain't no dream we're living through tonight,
Girl, you want it, you take it, you pay the price.

Prove it all night,
Girl there's nothing else that we can do,
So prove it all night, prove it all night,
And girl I'll prove it all night for you.
Prove it all night, prove it all night girl and call the bluff,
Prove it all night, prove it all night and girl,
I prove it all night for your love.

Baby, tie your hair back in a long white bow,
Meet me in the fields out behind the dynamo,
You hear the voices telling you not to go,
They made their choices and they'll never know,
What it means to steal, to cheat, to lie,
What it's like to live and die.

Prove it all night,
Girl there's nothing else that we can do,
So prove it all night, prove it all night,
And girl I'll prove it all night for you.
To prove it all night...

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.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Roxiticus Memoir: Weekend at the Beach

2010-08-11T12:45:00.008-04:00

Sunday, August 8, 2010
Around 11:30am

At the beach early, and feeling good. Maybe it's because I got my beach office set up this morning, or the way the ocean air smells so sweet, but I'm much less tense than I was yesterday.

I was more than a bit sick to my stomach yesterday afternoon at the beach, typical of how my gut seizes up during tax time.

Today I'm feeling as if I could spend the rest of the summer right here in my beach chair. As much as our girls enjoy their early summer weeks at Annie's Playhouse camp in Far Hills, NJ, I love the unscheduled play time we have at the beach and can feel our whole family settling in to that relaxed routine.

Plenty of time to get aggressively back to school and back to work in September.

Maybe 1pm

Yellow flag today (tropical storm Colin stirring things up), but it hasn't stopped the girls from enjoying the aftermath of the waves. For me, this may be the nicest beach day of the summer so far.

Coming up on two months since my mom died, I'm still struggling with not having a mother to talk to anymore. I dream about her, nothing bad or particularly deep, but I wake up forgetting that she's gone and then missing her all over again.

From Solitude: A Return to the Self by Anthony Storr:

"The burden of value with which we are at present loading interpersonal relationships is too heavy for those fragile craft to carry. Our expectation that satisfying intimate relationships should, ideally, provide happiness and that, if they do not, there must be something wrong with those relationships, seems to be exaggerated."

There's a world of difference between reading those words today, when I have a satisfying relationship with Rex, as well as the "extended" relationships created through that bond by having our children, London and Maddie vs. 1988 when it came out and I was in college and in an unsatisfying relationship with MoneyPenny vs. returning to it in 1991 when I was alone, actually experiencing solitude for four years (though not knowing when, or if, my solitude would end).

1:30ish

London just had her life saved by the lifeguard. While I was sitting in my beach chair with Maddie, London was in the ocean with Rex. She had started out only in up to her knees, but a big wave knocked her down, she got caught in a riptide and had to be pulled. So we're all a bit shaken, and thankful, but otherwise OK.

I saw the lifeguard jump down from his chair and start running, and I just had a feeling. When I stood up I saw Rex swimming out and I knew.

Thank you, God, and thank you, Bay Head lifeguard, for saving my daughter's life.

My Blackberry Could Use A Boost

2010-08-11T12:06:00.018-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boost Mobile. All opinions are 100% mine.

I'm not one of those people who can't live without my Blackberry...I won't take it out of my purse at dinner, I leave it back at the house when we go to the beach, and I continue to believe that whoever I'm with in person deserves my attention rather than some random evening emailer. However, when I'm working in the home office and need it the most, I find that my Blackberry reception here in the Roxiticus Valley could use a few more bars... so I'm considering switching to a brand with a little Re-Boost. With the flexible payment options offered by Boost Mobile, not only can I pay online, in person, or using my phone, a family member, friend, or blogosphere buddy can make a payment for me...as a little pick-me-up anytime gift!

In addition to Blackberry, Boost Mobile offers a wide range of fun phones like the Motorola i1, Sanyo Juno and Samsung Rant. These phones are social in nature, and make it easy to do things like updating Twitter and Facebook on the go. I've noticed that some of my favorite bloggers have upgraded their phones just to make mobile social networking easier.

With easy activation and replenishment options, you can get started with Boost Mobile in no time...look for the $20 credit at the bottom of the Reboost screen when you sign up for auto reboost and make your monthly payment.

Gotta run... I'll keep you posted on my whereabouts when I get my new phone!

Maddie's Major: Veterinarian, Minor: Singing

2010-08-10T19:53:00.043-04:00

Dreams are important... when we're kids, and when we grow up. When I was 8 years old, I wanted to be a disc jockey and own radio stations. Today, as an investment banker who once put together a small-market radio group for a private equity fund, I've never regretted pursuing my childhood radio dreams.

My youngest daughter, Maddie, aspires to be a singing veterinarian. Because our twin babysitters are going off to college in a couple of weeks, eight-year-old Maddie is already talking about what she's going to study when it's her turn to go away to college (making her mom and dad officially empty nesters in ten years). Maddie would like to find a college where she can major in veterinary science (is there such a thing as pre-vet?) and minor in singing.

In the mean time, we're trying to decide whether to make the commitment to a Master's class at Annie's Playhouse in Far Hills, NJ, in the Fall. For the past four years, London and Maddie have spent their summers at Annie's Playhouse Summer Stars, but this year, for the first time, both of my girls have expressed an interest in "going pro" in the Fall, focusing on a career in musical theatre through the amazingly serious classes in acting, singing and dancing at Annie's Playhouse. It's clearly impressive to see what Annie's Playhouse has accomplished for its most serious students... a couple of 10-year-olds from the Summer Stars camp already have their own agents and could turn out to be the next Jonas Brothers.

But talk about over-programmed. There is such a wealth of opportunities for children to choose from here in the Roxiticus Valley, including the local Hexagon Players performances. As much as London and Maddie LOVED softball in the Spring, we've rejected the Mendham Little League Fall softball program, and decided to wait until next year to join a 4-H dog club. London is a very talented dancer and already takes three hours of ballet on Monday and Tuesdays, as well as an hour of modern dance for both girls at Garden State Ballet in Randolph, NJ, but we've put off the third day of dance and participation in the Nutcracker until she's old enough to be en pointe next year. London also wants to continue with intermediate gymnastics at Randolph Gymnastics.

So we'll take the next few weeks of relaxation at our beach house in Bay Head, NJ, sleeping as late as we want with no commitments, to decide whether the girls want to get serious about a career in musical theatre, or stick to the lazy fun of song and dance of summer camp.

Green Eyeshade's Bridal Shower

2010-08-10T13:17:00.021-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of LinensNThings. All opinions are 100% mine.

When you make stuff up, it's hard to keep track, and I'm embarrassed to say that I thought I had given my niece (Candy's younger sister) a better code name than Green Eyeshade, but darned if I can find any reference to it. So until further notice, Green Eyeshade it is. In any event, Green Eyeshade is getting married in September, the day before her 30th birthday, and her mom is throwing her a bridal shower this weekend in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I won't be able to attend, since Rex and I are hosting his son, Trader's 40th birthday party at our beach house in Bay Head, New Jersey.

My Big Sister (does she have a code name? Executrix? Esquire?) and I have grown much closer since my mom passed away, and she called me for advice this morning: "Where do you get those bamboo plateholders that go under paper plates??!! I need them for Green Eyeshade's bridal shower... on Saturday!!" I immediately answered, "Linens 'N Things!" They've always been my go to source for kitchen and home décor, organization, gifts, not to mention bedding, window treatments, bath, and even outdoor items for summer entertaining.

Unfortunately, there's no Linens 'N Things retail store near my sister's house in Harrisburg, but I impressed my Big Sister with an exclusive coupon code Linens 'N Things is providing to SocialSpark bloggers: LNTFREE, which is good for FREE SHIPPING when shopping online at LNT.com, and valid through September 15th, 2010, for last minute purchases right up to Green Eyeshade's wedding. So share the code with everyone you know!

Music Monday: Stealing Cinderella by Chuck Wicks

2010-08-09T21:00:00.007-04:00

It's been a while since Roxy posted a (sappy) country song for Music Monday, but having spent the weekend watching my little girls at the beach, "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks was just tugging at my heart strings. As I tweeted from the beach in Bay Head, NJ, on Sunday, London was playing in the waves and got caught in a riptide. If it weren't for the Bay Head lifeguard who swam out to rescue her, the ocean would have stolen my Cinderella.

I came to see her daddy
For a sit down man to man
It wasn't any secret
I'd be asking for her hand

I guess that's why he left me waiting
In the living room by myself
With at least a dozen pictures of her
Sitting on a shelf

Playing cinderella
She was riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed
And looking for a pillow fight

Running through the sprinkler
With a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad
Looking up at him

In her eyes i'm prince charming
But to him i'm just some fella
Riding in and stealing cinderella

I leaned in towards those pictures
To get a better look at one
When i heard a voice behind me say
"now ain't she something son?"

I said "yes she quite a woman"
And he just stared at me
Then i realized that in his eyes
She would always be

Playing cinderella
Riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed
And looking for a pillow fight

Running through the sprinkler
With a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad
Looking up at him

In her eyes i'm prince charming
But to him i'm just some fella
Riding in and stealing cinderella

Oh he slapped me on the shoulder
Then he called her in the room
When she threw her arms around him
That's when i could see it too

She was playing cinderella
Riding her first bike
Bouncing on the bed
And looking for a pillow fight

Running through the sprinklers
With a big popsicle grin
Dancing with her dad
Looking up at him

If he gives me a hard time
I can't blame the fella
I'm the one who's stealing cinderella

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.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!
Cheerio…

Music Monday Celebrates Solos for London and Maddie at Annie's Playhouse: You Keep Me Hangin' On

2010-08-02T11:52:00.001-04:00

Time flies in the summer, and I can't believe London and Maddie's big show at Annie's Playhouse Summer Stars is coming up this Friday, August 6th. This year's theme is glee, and the kids, ranging in age from about 3 to 16, will be performing lots of your favorite songs from the first season of Glee. London and Maddie were lucky enough to score solos in "You Keep Me Hangin' On." Last week I posted the Glee version on Roxy's Bay Head Blog, and this week I'd like to share the original by Diana Ross and the Supremes.

Set me free, why don't cha babe
Get out my life, why don't cha babe
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
You don't really need me
But you keep me hangin' on

Why do you keep a coming around
Playing with my heart?
Why don't you get out of my life
And let me make a new start?
Let me get over you
The way you've gotten over me

Set me free, why don't cha babe
Let me be, why don't cha babe
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' on
Now you don't really want me
You just keep me hangin' on

You say although we broke up
You still wanna be just friends
But how can we still be friends
When seeing you only breaks my heart again
And there ain't nothing I can do about it

Woo, set me free, why don't cha babe
Woo, get out my life, why don't cha babe
Set me free, why don't cha babe
Get out my life, why don't cha babe

You claim you still care for me
But your heart and soul needs to be free
Now that you've got your freedom
You wanna still hold on to me
You don't want me for yourself
So let me find somebody else Hey!

Why don't you be a man about it
And set me free
Now you don't care a thing about me
You're just using me
Go on, get out, get out of my life
And let me sleep at night
'Cause you don't really love me
You just keep me hangin' 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.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Kiss Me in Kissimmee

2010-08-02T10:26:00.037-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Kissimmee Tourism. All opinions are 100% mine.

As my loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers know, I think New Jersey is a terrific place to live...except maybe in February. Rex, London, Maddie and I like to get away to someplace warm and sunny during the worst of the snow and cold; in the past, we've taken 10 days and travelled to the West Coast. However, as the girls begin third and fourth grade, taking a week off from school is not as sensible as it used to be, so we're thinking about sticking to the East Coast and taking off only the MTES-authorized Presidents' Day long weekend this year.

As much as London and Maddie love Disneyland in Anaheim, California, our family has never been to DisneyWorld in Florida (I went with my parents when I was a kid), and from what our friends tell us, Kissimmee is theme park heaven. On top of the DisneyWorld Magic Kingdom, there's Epcot (pictured above), as well as Disney's Animal Kingdom, and Disney's Hollywood Studios.

If we didn't use up our entire long weekend there, check out the image on the right of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Islands of Adventure. London and Maddie would just love it!

Later in the day, we've heard that Old Town, a shopping, dining, and entertainment complex, is the place to be. After all the day's excitement, we can relax over dinner before heading back to our room at Disney's All Star Music Resort.

Click one of the Kissimmee links in this post to plan yoru dream vacation... maybe we'll see you there in February 2011!

Roxiticus Memoir: Saturday, July 31, 2010

2010-07-31T19:42:00.013-04:00

10:30am

Just gave Peanut Butter a little haircut around her eyes and nose, and the girls helped me to apply her monthly flea and tick protection. Poor Peanut Butter found out from the vet last week that she has lyme disease... not nearly as serious for dogs as it is for humans, but we have to hide an antibiotic in her breakfast and dinner every day for a month.

Now I'm on the porch, enjoying a cool breeze, thinking about a second cup of coffee and heading up to the beach.

I'm still feeling a bit down, though at the beach it is easier to forget. I drank too much last night, though, and paid for it with strange dreams and a bit of a hangover.

I'll probably finish up Peter Straub's "A Dark Matter" today... I haven't found it very gripping or compelling.

Maybe 2pm

I finished my Peter Straub novel and remain unimpressed. I do feel like a trip to Barnes & Noble to stock up, but will probably change my mind once I am comfotably ensconced on our porch with my 4 o'clock (or 6 o'clock) beer.

So instead of criticizing Peter Straub's most recent effort, I turn to my own writing and wrestle with what type of writing I should focus on, and how best to focus my efforts and be more consistent.

Back in early July, with three months to go until my 44th birthday and fifteen months until I turn 45, I started to set some goals for myself that included fitness, organization, and writing, but the overwhelming feeling has taken over on many days and nights and prevented me from doing much more than staying on top of the bills, pushing paper around, and watching several episodes of Glee in bed with London and Maddie every night when Rex has been away in Washington DC working on an important transaction.

So I'll start with a way of writing that is most familiar and comfortable to me. I pick a quote or two from something I'm reading -- in this case, Solitude: A Return to the Self by Anthony Storr -- and launch in with my own stream-of-consciousness thoughts.

"Conversation enriches the understanding, but solitude is the school of genius; and the uniformity of a work denotes the hand of a single artist." -- Edward Gibbon

No argument there. Particularly in the days I spent avoiding group projects in college and business school, I've always been a solitary creature who'd rather write a 100-page paper on my own than try to pull together 20 pages each from five members of an alleged team. At the same time, high school and college presented the opportunity to discuss "deep thoughts" -- philosophy, politics, psychology, sociology/culture -- that so rarely occur in my life today. When Rex and I get together with other couples, we tend to talk about kids and school and their activities... I'd feel a little out of place to bring up the question of whether we exist.

"Many of the world's greatest thinkers have not reared families or formed close personal ties." -- Anthony Storr

What I do know is that I'd never trade my life with Rex and London and Maddie and our friends for my lonely single life of solitude and creativity. I occasionally think there will be plenty of time for that life when the girls have gone away to college.

Instead, right now I focus on the joy of a perfect day at the beach, the feeling of a brand new bicycle, the bond between a girl and her dog.

Happy Birthday, Mom

2010-07-30T19:00:00.000-04:00

Today would have been my mom's 85th birthday.

As my loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers know, my mom passed away on June 16th. It has been a tough couple of months (in fact, Rex found me crumbled in a state of despair this morning), but our family continues to celebrate her life instead of mourning her death. In years past, we'd celebrate Grandmom's birthday by picking up lobsters for all five of us. Rex would cook them at Grandmom's house while London and Maddie entertained her with the songs they were learning at Annie's Playhouse Summer Stars camp.

Those who knew my mom knew how much she appreciated a bargain...watching for sales, clipping coupons. I noticed that lobsters are on sale at Shop Rite this week, $5.99/pound. So in honor of my mom's 85th birthday, we'll pick them up on our way to Bay Head and celebrate with lobsters and corn on the porch at our beach house tonight.

Happy Birthday, Mom... we miss you but know you're watching over us.

Somerville, New Jersey: Main Street USA

2010-07-30T18:56:00.055-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Ramblers Way. All opinions are 100% mine.

I was born in a small town (Plainfield, New Jersey), I grew up in a small town (Branchburg, New Jersey), went to high school in a small town (Somerville, New Jersey), just a small town girl, that's me.

I guess every small town in America has seen their Main Street shops suffer from the effects of urban sprawl. Our favorite quaint little mom and pop shops (Gorny's Music Shop), restaurants (Alfonso's and Central Pizzeria), supermarkets (Pathmark) and downtown department stores (Woolworths!) used to anchor the business districts of downtown areas like my hometown of Somerville, NJ. Just before the economy completely tanked, the powers that govern Somerville used eminent domain to shut down the small shopping center where I hung out with my high school friends before there was a local mall (Bridgewater Commons). A local developer had convinced the community that the best use of the land would be upscale condos. Hey, I went to Somerville High School and didn't become upscale until long after I graduated from college and business school. Meanwhile, my 80-year-old mother and all of her friends had to find a new supermarket, traveling much farther to shop. The sad ending to the story, of course, is that there's a huge hole in the ground in Somerville, New Jersey, with chain link fences covered in signs announcing that the upscale community is coming soon. Um, right. So much for Made in America.

Thankfully, Alfonso's found a new location right on Main Street at the edge of the giant fenced-in pit, so Rex and I can still take our daughters out to enjoy a family dinner in Somerville, NJ, before their 4-H Prep meetings every couple of weeks. Other local businesses have sprouted up on Main Street in Somerville, bringing back a sense of community to a town that's been ripped up by "eminent domain."

Ramblers Way Farm is another local American business, headquartered in downtown Kennebunk, Maine, in a fully refurbished building that was originally build in 1792, is working hard to change the way American business is done. The same family founded Tom's of Maine in 1970 as one of the first makers of natural personal care products. After nearly 40 years of experience in building Tom's into a leading eco-friendly company, they have learned a lot about how a business can be a positive force for its consumers, workers, communities, and the planet.

On those principles, they started Ramblers Way with a desire to re-imagine wool as a supefine, next-to-skin fabric, to warm and comfort people of all ages and walks of life and to build a company and products upon their long-held values and beliefs. The Company sources, grows, and produces fine woolen apparel using 100% domestic resources, while maintaining high standards of ecological responsibility, community involvement, and customer satisfaction. Ramblers Way pays homage to Main Street America's rich history as a textile producer, while breathing new life into the domestic wool industry, through collaboration with farmers and producers around the United States. Ramblers Way Farm brought manufacturing facilities into distressed small towns, helping to revitalize the communities.

Let's hope Somerville, New Jersey, is able to turn Main Street into a viable business district once more.

Blast from the Past, 15 Years Back, Part III

2010-07-28T16:49:00.005-04:00

The other night, I was flipping through an old (15 years old) journal, and posted pieces of an entry from July 20, 1995. Since I was a great deal more prolific when I was (lonely and) single, without a family to distract me, one 1995 journal entry equals three 2010 blog posts. Here's the gripping conclusion:

I like to underline things I read in books. From 'The Fatigue Artist:' "the Tai Chi teacher says the universe is a great system of vibrations we dras to us by our feelings: fear draws fear, love draws love." Sounds a little like Napoleon Hill. Think and grow rich. I always like new or consistent interpretations of how thing work... just as Nietzsche convinces me there is no god, I say a silent prayer for my plane to stay in the air. In the morning, as I walk to work, Penn Station up Seventh Avenue to 34th, east past Macy's, always past the Empire State Building, then I zigzag around to Park and 51st depending upon red lights, I use this time to think positive thoughts and get the positive energy to start the day right. Sometimes the vibe doesn't last very long... it's hard to work in an office on a sunny summer day. At The Firm I could lose track of the time of the day, day of the week, the seasons... but in the morning, I weave my fantasies about my career. On the way home, I dream about finding a husband to go home to.

"Because of what he showed me, he is mine forever. I can forgive him almost anything."

I can say that about a lot of men, most significantly Johnny Moneybags. Johnny helped me to believe in myself when I needed to most. The night he propositioned my boss' wife pales in comparison.

Also the Spud Stud. The Simple Life. He did a lot of things that hurt me, but he didn't mean to.

Mickey, my Vancouver Sex Slave. The Edge. He showed me how to give in to pleasures that wouldn't last, possibly because he believes that nothing lasts.

Even Curtis the Scuba Dude showed me things that I am grateful for...that I could forget Johnny Moneybags, at least for the moment. That I shouldn't take everything so seriously.

I guess that ties in to Mickey's theory that people who are not as driven and ambitious and intense as we are appear more youthful. But would I call it youthful (desirable) or immature (undesirable)?

On SUnday, thanks to Mickey's inspiration and Ellyn's reminders, I am taking a sailing lesson with Melissa in Atlantic Highlands. I look forward to the adventure, to discovering a new activity that I enjoy for itself, and to the opportunity to meet new people.

"I have no design; I make opportunity my design...I have no friends; I make my mind my friend."

I used to be that kind of a loner, but now I do need friends, I do need love. Someone to confirm that our existence means something. That the path I choose makes a difference (the road not taken would have led to a different, not necessarily better or worse, result, and the sum of these choices matters!)

"This was a juncture when life begged to be lived as art. That way, it could be tolerated." Almost midnight. Time for bed. I will continue tomorrow, in my beautiful new notebook. I have a lot to say.

Maddie's Tacos

2010-07-28T14:06:00.026-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Mission Foods. All opinions are 100% mine.

It is, of course, a well-known fact that my kids are picky eaters. Lobsters, yes. Broccoli, no. Chicken fingers, yes. Grilled chicken, no. Tacos with ground beef, spices, lettuce, tomato, cheese and salsa -- NO. Mission Flour Tortillas with shredded cheese and absolutely nothing else -- YES!!

So when I heard that Mission Foods is kicking off the summer with the Mission Menus Challenge, I thought my daughter, Maddie, might be interested in submitting her recipe for Maddie's Tacos. The contest started on June 28, 2010, when Chef Sara Moulton began to encourage consumers to submit their budget-friendly recipes to Mission for the chance to compete in a cook-off in Los Angeles and win a $10,000 dream kitchen makeover. The grand prize winner gets round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations for two to the Mission Menus Challenge Cook-off on September 10, 2010 at the Hard Rock Café in Los Angeles.

All recipes must:
• Include Mission Flour Tortillas
• Be original
• Feed a family of five for $10 or less

Maddie and the rest of you have the chance to submit your recipe online until Monday, August 9th. Even if Maddie doesn't win the grand prize, there's a bunch of weekly prizes.

Kid-friendly and convenient, Mission Flour Tortillas contain 0 grams trans fat per serving and are cholesterol free. They are available in small (6"), medium (8") and large (10”) sizes in major grocery stores nationwide. I just picked up two packages of the large ones and five bags of shredded cheese (big sale, big appetite) at Shop Rite in Bernardsville, NJ, so that Maddie can try out her recipes on our family.

Mission Foods is proud to support Share Our Strength, the leading national organization committed to ending childhood hunger in America. You can help by visiting Mission Menus Challenge and learning more about Mission Foods commitment to Share Our Strength in supporting this life-changing cause.

Music Monday Glee Cast Singing Don't Stop Believing

2010-07-26T23:11:00.000-04:00

London and Maddie are in the midst of their fourth summer at Annie's Playhouse Summer Stars camp, and this year, the theme for the Big Show is Glee. I guess I'm turning into an old sap, but whenever I get to camp early and catch the girls practicing, tears of pride well up in my eyes. In honor of my Broadway babies, here's my first Music Monday post in a long time: "Don't Stop Believing" by the Glee Cast.

Just a small town girl
Livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train
Goin' anywhere
Just a city boy
Born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train
Goin' anywhere

A singer in a smokey room
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on

Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching
In the night
Streetlights, people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hidin', somewhere in the night

Workin' hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin' anything to roll the dice
Just one more time
Some will win
Some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on

Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching
In the night
Streetlights, people
Livin' just to find emotion
Hidin', somewhere in the night

[Instrumental Interlude]

Don't stop believin'
Hold on to the feelin'
Streetlights, people
Don't stop believin'
Hold on
Streetlights, people

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.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

I Love Secrets!

2010-07-26T23:00:00.024-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of ampm. All opinions are 100% mine.

While it can't compete with last month on stress and anguish, last week went really really badly for me, and everything broke:

Our shower...dripping dripping dripping all night long like Chinese water torture.
Our dishwasher. I used to think of myself as an investment banker. Now I'm just a housewife, scrubbing pots and pans all afternoon.
Rex's Blackberry. Actually had a nice, positive experience getting a new one at AT&T Wireless in the Bridgewater Commons shopping mall.
Our most important deal for our favorite client. Rex and I spent today trying to get it back on track. Fingers and toes crossed. Makes walking in flip flops on the beach a real challenge.

Every now and then, when I don't really have the time to spare but I feel like cheering myself up, I end up looking up old friends on Facebook. Last week was one of those times, and I reconnected with a girl I knew from my neighborhood when we were both in first grade. We kind of drifted apart, and even though we went to high school together, we hadn't kept in touch until I saw her on Facebook on another friend's list of friends from Somerville High School.

Anyway, it turns out we share a love of secrets, and my old friend Dottie pointed me towards the secret menu tab on the ampm Facebook page, with New Yums coming out every Monday starting today (July 26th), and running August 2nd, 9th, 16th and 30th. And next Monday, August 2nd, real people just like you and me can create our own ampm secret menu concoctions and post them right on Facebook. Check out the New Yums and leave a comment on this post with their favorite items and why you like them.

Blast from the Past, 15 Years Back, Part II

2010-07-26T22:59:00.010-04:00

Earlier this evening I was looking through one of my old journals, and happened upon an entry from almost exactly 15 years ago -- July 20, 1995 -- when I was a much different person... single and searching, having just purchased my first home in Somerset, New Jersey, and done some renovations including a deck and a hot tub.

Continued:

So tonight I am out on my deck, hot tub burbling in the background, a single candle burning on my table while I write. Drank an Anchor Steam beer in memory of another time, another love, the Spud Stud. Wonder how he's doing, moved to Fresno now. We've tried to keep in touch, but he doesn't have much use for the telephone.

If I could have anything, what would it be? Love. A soulmate. But wuold i be willing to give up what I have? My career? My home? My intelligence? Not that one is always required to give up one thing to have another, but determining what I'd do for love is one way to place a value on it.

Everything else I have or truly seems within my reach.

When I wonder where people find love, I can only seem to come up with where I won't find it. Not at a bar. Not in a personal ad. Not through my current set of friends, but perhaps through the people I work with. Maybe at the beach. But that TV writer I met on the beach in Pt. Pleasant Beach last Saturday never called.

The bugs are making a lot of noise flying into the floodlights on my deck. At least they seem to be leaving me alone for the most part.

Of course, so do my friends. It often occurs to me that if I stop calling most of my friends, it is entirely possible that I would never hear from them again.

Ellyn, for example. Not that I want to talk to her now that I know how freely she talks behind my back. But I hold onto these high school friendships that I have outgrown... because sometimes they feel like the only ones I have. The ones I must turn to when I need someone to go out with on a weekend, or talk to in any depth about girl stuff. For the most part, they're willing to let me drone on with my mini-dramas. One time Melissa said, correctly I think, that I need to turn every situation into a drama.

Amazing what a new notebook can do for the writer in me. Four pages have been covered in words. "Is there a wordsmith in the house?" That line goes back to my days of wondering about the Slaughtered Lamb, caring about him and drawing intricate parallels between our lives and careers (Eddie Murphy in Trading Places, anyone?) Now he doesn't even bother to return my calls. That would hurt if I let it.

Buying Generic?

2010-07-26T21:44:00.017-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine.

Do you buy generic products? Sometimes our family is extremely brand loyal, sometimes we'll buy whatever is on sale and/or with a (double) coupon, and occasionally we'll find that the generic or store brand is as good or better than the highly advertised and more expensive brand name.

Since my mom passed away last month, I find myself thinking about her in odd (well, not so odd if you knew her) situations... my mom always found a way to save money, and yesterday I stumbled across an article that was just the type of thing she would have clipped for me: 10 Products to Always Buy Generic. At the top of the list I found over-the-counter medications. While my doctors often recommend the generic prescription medication, I honestly hadn't given much thought to replacing Benadryl or Aleve with the store brand, but I guess the basic ingredients are the same and are produced by the brand name OTC drug companies anyway. Same goes for store brand formula. In the U.S., as stipulated by the Infant Formula Act, all infant formulas, whether brand name or generic, are subject to the same regulations which govern manufacturing and ingredients. So the store brand infant formulas sold at major retailers provide the same level of nutrition at a value price and must meet the same exacting FDA nutritional requirements, quality and safety standards as all the major brands.

I don't agree with #2 (cereal) on the list, though... when Roxy gets a hankering for Frosted Flakes, I need my Tony the Tiger telling me they're grrrrrreat and no generic store brand will do.

Blast from the Past, 15 Years Back

2010-07-26T21:00:00.001-04:00

I happened upon an old journal entry from July 20, 1995, 9:15pm and thought I would share it with all of you:

Sucked in by another clever marketing scheme, I have a new notebook. Not that the old one was full, but, like Nietzsche, I feel compelled to start and stop, not necessarily chronologically, but wherever the mood strikes me. Today I bought three tiny notebooks, probably manufactured by the same people who brought me this one. I bought them... because they were small, with tiny pictures on them... a coffee cup, a butt-naked cupid, and the moon hugging/engulfing the sun. I'd burn incense tonight if I remembered where I keep it.

Finished 'The Fatigue Artist' by Lynne Sharon Schwartz tonight. Knowing it would run out soon, I bought another new hardcover, 'The Romantic Movement' by Alain de Botton, along with my bounty of notebooks, at the Barnes & Noble on 53rd and Third. I love bookstores, have high hopes of meeting my future husband in a bookstore. Hey... you never know. But today, no husband.

Speaking of husbands...

Larry is having lunch with Bachelor #1 next Wednesday. Bachelor #1... tall, blonde, 37ish, VP/Development at Client K. Probably gay. I had my hopes up when he agreed to September 9th as our wedding day, but I haven't heard from him since.
Bob has stepped into the husband search, possibly to offer up Bachelor #2, net worth $15-$25 million, a partner with financial player Client C.
(dare I say it under "speaking of husbands?") I spoke with Johnny Moneybags yesterday. He's free again, must have recently kicked Stewardess out of his townhouse (or moved out just to get away from her?) We're both going to the NAB Radio Show in New Orleans. I still miss the days when we could talk forever about anything. I guess every woman has someone like Johnny Moneybags... in her life, in her past, in her heart. Certainly Erica Jong. In 'Fatigue Artist,' Laura had Q. Ayn Rand would write about men like Francisco & John Galt & Howard Roark... but were her words inspired by a muse she could not tame?

Hey All You Single Ladies

2010-07-25T10:57:00.024-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of MeetLocals.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

As my loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers know, it has been a long time since Roxy's been on the dating scene. In fact, Rex and I have been together fifteen years and will celebrate our twelfth wedding anniversary this year in September. Thankfully, I don't have to worry about nine-year-old London and eight-year-old Maddie dating just yet... my daughters' first dates will probably change my Wii Fit Age to at least eighty-two.

For now, though, I've been reconnecting with a bunch of friends from high school, and several of them are recently divorced and trying to find someone new. We're all at the age when it would feel silly, particularly given the ages of our children, to try to meet someone in a bar, and you can't count on finding Mister Right through mutual friends either. So for all you single ladies out there, including my recently divorced high school buddies, why not check out Shop4Guys.com (you've gotta love the name) and Meetlocals.com, two new adult dating services just recently launched. Both of the newly launched web sites offer silver and gold levels of paid membership upgrades, plus cool features that set them apart...including some newly single celebrities who are looking for love. It sure beats going out on a series of bad blind dates!

If you give one of these online dating sites a try and have a story to tell, please tell Roxy all the naughty details by leaving a comment on this post.

Turning Over Another New Leaf

2010-07-25T10:37:00.000-04:00

As my loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers know, the last two months have been very stressful for me, and I've gotten out of shape and out of the habit of a healthy diet and exercise program. This morning my Wii told me that my Wii Fit Age is 60, so I'm afraid it's time to get back on track with an exercise, diet and overall fitness program. Today it was too hot to do much of anything... Rex, London, Maddie and I went out to see Toy Story 3 in Rockaway, NJ, and picked up a few things at the mall.

Tomorrow, however, I intend to start the process of hydrating and detoxifying my body, with a renewed commitment to working out on the Wii fit (I'm surprisingly good at hula hooping!) and the elliptical trainer. If I stick to my program for three months and my Wii Fit Age gets closer to my real age, I'll treat the family to a weight machine for my birthday.

A Stern Reprimand Coming from the King

2010-07-09T17:00:00.006-04:00

Today Rex got a call from the client I refer to as The King, saying that he was writing us a memo about everything we've done wrong over the past few months. I've been reflecting upon the relative importance/priorities of different areas in my life since my mom passed away last month, and the pending reprimand caused me to harken back to this post from late April of this year...

Today's pet peeve: people who need to be treated like royalty.

In my investment banking work, all of my clients tend to be multi-millionaires. I enjoy working with clients who are down to earth despite the companies they have built and fortunes they have amassed. It frequently plays out that the greater the fortune/enterprise (billionnaire instead of millionnaire), the humbler the entrepreneur. And then there are those who carry themselves like the royalty they imagine they are, and come off like cheesy plastic kings. This pet peeve extends to those who are sooooo important that they can't possibly fit a meeting into their busy schedules and have their big-haired assistants cancel and make up an excuse at the last minute.

Years ago, when London was two, she used to sing, "[Client Name] is in the counting house, counting out his money..." and I'm afraid I've continued to teach my daughters to disrespect people who flaunt their wealth. But I do love these pictures of the King...

Our Next Washington DC Trip

2010-07-09T16:24:00.024-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hampton Hotels. All opinions are 100% mine.

I know I haven't (yet) written a nice long post about our long Fourth of July Weekend in Washington, DC, and my Uncle Joe's memorial service at Arlington National Cemetery....but we're already thinking about our next trip to our nation's capitol. One of my friends, who has high school aged children, suggested that we wait a couple of years, since she took her kids on "the Washington DC trip" when they were 9 and 8 (London and Maddie's current ages) and now her teenagers don't remember a thing. We really enjoyed the fireworks on the mall, and visitied the Air & Space Museum and a couple of the other Smithsonian branches, but it was too hot to take it all in. Our family has entered the Hampton Chain of Friends Sweepstakes where every day Hampton Hotels is giving away a free weekend stay at any Hampton Hotel. If we're really lucky, we could actually win an entire hotel for a weekend (100 rooms for two nights) to share with all of our friends!

Now, if I won a free weekend stay for my family, we'd stay at the Hampton Inn Washington DC Convention Center conveniently located at 901 6th Street, NW... but if I won an entire hotel for a weekend, maybe I'd choose a Hampton Hotel near the Roxiticus Valley -- say Denville, New Jersey -- and invite 100 of my closest friends to come and party with me. Or add a little adventure to Rex's next family reunion by hosting Rex's whole family at a Hampton Hotel in North Carolina or New Mexico.

Click any of the links in this post to enter for your very own chance to win...and if any of my loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers win the whole hotel for a weekend, I'm expecting an invitation!

Congratulations Mendham Little League 12-Year-Old Girls Softball All-Stars!

2010-07-09T15:30:00.003-04:00

You go girls! Mendham defeated Morristown National 5-1 at Veterans' field in Morristown to capture the District 1 championship.

"We lost our first game in pool play, but since then we won every game," head coach Lori Margiotta said. "I'm so proud of them. They've just improved from when the tournament started two weeks ago to now. They didn't let that first loss get them down and they kept playing."

Mendham struck early with a run in the bottom of the first. First baseman Emma Corbett reached first with a single to center field. After she stole second, she attempted to take third, forced a throwing error from Morristown National, and came around to score.

Morristown National tied the ball game at 1-1 when Alexa Grniet hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Morgan Katona from third base.

Mendham responded in the bottom of the fourth inning when Corbett reached on a walk, proceeded to swipe second and third base before being driven in by a ground out from Irene Margiotta, giving Mendham a 2-1 lead.

Mendham capitalized on a few Morristown-National miscues in the bottom of the fifth inning to give Margiotta, Mendham's starter, some insurance runs. Erin Lanahan and Jamie Shirt both reached base on back-to-back bunt singles. Lanahan scored on an error, giving Mendham a 3-1 lead.

Three batters later, Margiotta stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and ripped a double to center field, plating Sammie DiMaio and Nikki Skuraton, giving Mendham a 5-1 lead.

"It was a 2-0 count and from pitching I know a lot about counts and when pitchers need to throw a strike," Irene Margiotta said. "So I just wanted to make contact with it and it just felt really great hitting it to center field." Margiotta allowed only two hits while striking out six batters over six innings of work. "She came through with a big hit," Lori Margiotta. "We needed it, I tell you,. With this team, they're such good hitters. They hit up and down the lineup. The one run was just not enough. Those couple runs relaxed them in the sixth inning. It was really important."

Mendham will now prepare for the Section 1 Tournament, which begins next week. Good luck, Mendham!!

Paint the Town Pink

2010-07-08T15:31:00.001-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Glidden. All opinions are 100% mine.

On June 1st, 2010, Glidden Paint launched a “Get Color, Give Color Giveaway” of its Ready-to-Go Paint Testers. If you are not one of Glidden's lucky winners, you can always test drive your favorite color with Glidden’s inexpensive paint testers available in any Home Depot location. Glidden’s paint testers are unique because they include a handy brush in the lid. The testers save money and time by allowing would-be decorators to try out the actual paint color before making a commitment to buy all of the paint necessary for your project. For those of you with naughty little children, Glidden's paint testers are the perfect way to quickly touch up scrapes, stains, and incidents involving mom's permanent magic markers. Glidden testers are much easier to store than big old messy, half-used cans of paint.

If you'd like to practice online before going out to the store to start your project, just visit the Glidden site to try out the Glidden Room Painter options. I've already shared a few of my styles with friends on Twitter...you can also use Facebook and other social media sites. Then get out to Home Depot and find ideas quickly with Glidden's Top 10 Color Palettes (assembled by color experts to express your personality) and XL paint chips (with two coordinating color options right on the back). Now that I've tried the great Glidden colors and quality paint online, I'm inspired to paint Roxy's town PINK and get out to Home Depot to get started on my next painting project using Glidden paint.

Follow me (@RoxiticusDH) on Twitter to hear more about the latest Glidden #GetColor promotions.

Go Mendham Little League 12-Year-Old Girls Softball All Stars!!

2010-07-08T09:34:00.015-04:00

Mendham's 12 year old girls softball all star team is playing in the
District 1 championship against Morristown National (AGAIN) tonight (Thursday, July 8th). The game is at 6:00 PM in Morristown at Veteran's Field (Hanover Road and Jane's Way). Please come out and support the team!

Saturday, July 3rd was a day to remember for the Mendham Little League 12-Year-Old Girls Softball All Stars, when they advanced to the District 1 championship with a 3-1 victory against rival Morristown National in the opening round of the double-elimination District 1 tournament.

Nikkey Skuraton, who celebrated her 13th birthday on Saturday, had two hits and scored two runs. Her second hit was an RBI single that snapped a 1-1 tie in the eighth inning, leading to the game-winning, two-run rally. In the field, Skuraton saved the day with a diving snare of a groundball that was headed up the middle for a certain two-run single that would have tied the game. All told, Skuraton made the plays that gave Mendham the triumph over Morristown National, allowing Mendham to move on in the winner's bracket and sending the defending District 1 champs to the loser's bracket.

Skuraton's first run came in the top of the sixth inning, giving the Mendham girls a brief 1-0 lead in what was a consummate pitching duel between Mendham's Irene Margiotta and Morristown National's Morgan Katona, who matched goose eggs for most of the afternoon. With two outs, Skuraton singled, stole second and raced all the way around to score on a throwing error. With the way the two pitchers were posting zeroes, it appeared to be enough to give Mendham the victory over the same team that defeated them three times a year ago, including one epic 16-inning game. However, Morristown National was undaunted and tied the game in the bottom of the sixth, sending the contest into extra innings.

Morristown catcher Lauren Champi -- who stopped two runs from scoring with sensational blocks of the plate, nailing two Mendham runners trying to score in the process -- led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk and moved to second on a grounder. She got to third on a wild pitch and scored on Meg Donlin's sacrifice fly, tying the game at 1-1 and extending the game for a few more innings.

Mendham hurler Margiotta, a lanky right-hander was superb all day, limiting the defending district champs to just three singles over the eight innings, walking two and striking out 13. "I watch a lot of Major League games and I want to model myself after some of the (players) who remain calm under pressure," Margiotta said. She mentioned Yankee closer Mariano Rivera as a role model, as well as Team USA softball standout Monica Abbott.

The Mendham All-Stars mounted the game-winning rally in the eighth, again doing so with two outs. Sammie DiMaio, the smallest player on the field, laid down a perfect bunt for a hit and then quickly stole second. Up stepped the birthday girl. "I was thinking that I couldn't strike out there," Skuraton said. "I was trying to drive the ball. I put my bat on the ball and it just went." It sure did, sailing to right-center field, scoring DiMaio with the go-ahead run. Skuraton then scored on Emma Corbett's RBI single and Mendham had a 3-1 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth, Morristown National made one last attempt of a comeback, getting the tying run to second base with two outs. But Donlin's drive up the middle was snared by a Skuraton dive, who got up, made the throw to first in time and ended the contest. "It was a big-league play," head coach Lori Margiotta said. "She saved the game."

"Nikkey's a great player and I knew she was going to handle it," Irene Margiotta said. "We've been playing together and we've always been close. I knew that she was going to make that play. It's always a challenge with Morristown. By showing we could pull this off showed great determination."

I'm new to Little League and don't have the best understanding of how these things work, but apparently Morristown National would have to beat Mendham twice, while Mendham only needs to beat Morristown once more (tonight) to advance to the state tournament.

Go Mendham All-Stars!!

The Good Old Days??

2010-07-07T15:03:00.022-04:00

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Smingle.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

In September, Rex and I will celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary. That's twelve years of not having to date... the old fashioned way that we did things before there was such a thing as virtual dating. I remember going out on blind dates, feeling like I was doing it just to entertain my girlfriends. The one thing all of them (until Rex) had in common was that the boys found ways to avoid feeding me. Endless drinks, yes... but no more than a basket of chips or a cup of peanuts at the bar. Now, all of this can be prevented... there's a new social dating site called Smingle that offers cool interactive elements, cutting edge features and communication tools. Smingle.com invests in the member experience and therefore offers a variety of creative and refreshing ways to date...

I checked it out as a favor to all of my single readers, and found that without leaving the comfort of your own home (and your own refrigerator and microwave oven), you can:

Play “get to know me” games like Love Match to see if you match
Create a fun 3D avatar that looks just like you...you can customize by changing your clothes, your hair, etc... and no one would ever lie about their looks online
Even better, your lifelike 3D avatar can do the flirting for you and respond naturally to typed text (if you're single, you’ve just got to try this and let me know how it works)

I can see why virtual dating can be addictive, it seems like an intuitive way to chat and get to know each other better before you rush off to meet, saving everyone time and money and avoiding some of the disappointment.

According to THS Investigates, virtual dating helps curb the dangers of online dating by allowing people to get to know each other better before meeting in person. Virtual dating technology is extremely women-friendly, especially when compared with webcams and other technologies that may pose a danger. Or when compared to REAL DATING, which surely poses a danger!

So give Smingle a try and get 3 months FREE when you upload a picture to your profile. Happy Virtual Dating Everyone!

Happy Independence Day -- 4th of July in Washington, DC

2010-07-04T23:40:00.000-04:00

Happy Independence Day!

An apology to all of my readers who have come here seeking locations and times for local fireworks displays in and around the Roxiticus Valley (Somerset and Morris Counties, NJ). While I've kept track of the parades and fireworks in years past, this year we headed to the beach right after my mom's memorial service and then down to Washington, DC for the fireworks. As you can see from the photo on the left, we had a spectacular view of the fireworks on the mall from our room on the 10th floor of the JW Marriott on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC.

We're in DC until Tuesday for a memorial service in honor of my Uncle Joe, a World War II veteran who passed away back in January at the age of 90.

Goodbye, Mom... I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack

2010-06-21T00:01:00.001-04:00

My mom passed away on Wednesday, and I'd like to take this Music Monday post to say goodbye. She would have been 85 years old next month, and had a very full life... most importantly including love and involvement with our family and her wonderful neighbors. I admire those who are able to speak at their loved ones' memorial services and suspect I will not be one of them. I break down every time someone says something kind to me about my mom, and I won't be able to speak the words that I would say. We're having my mom's memorial service next Sunday, and in the meantime, we've been doing what I know my mom would want us to do: celebrating her life instead of mourning her death. We had our seventh annual Roxiticus Sunset party on Friday night, and while it may have seemed a bit unconventional, it felt so right to be surrounded by our closest friends. On Saturday, London and Maddie had their dance recital at Garden State Ballet, and I knew my mom was watching over them and would have been so proud to see them dance.

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
I hope you dance
(Where those years have gone)

(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

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.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!

Music Monday for My Mom: Amazing Grace by Leann Rimes

2010-06-15T08:33:00.009-04:00

My mom has been moved from intensive care to the hospice floor of Somerset Medical Center and seems to be nearing the end of her almost 85-year-old life (though apparently this morning she has rallied and was up eating breakfast?!). I spent the day with her in the ICU yesterday, holding her hand while she talked to Jesus and the angels. Just before I headed home, my mom suddenly launched into song... even in her confusion, she remembers her scriptures and she knew all the words to Amazing Grace. So this one's for you, Mom... I love you.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

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.

PS: Because of spamming purposes, the linky will be closed on Thursday of each week at midnight, Malaysian Time. Thank you!