Jun 26, 2011

The Mafia Hairdresser




"Mafia Hairdresser" by Jon-David is 1980's personified. Hugely fascinated by all things mob related, I thoroughly enjoyed this read.


Having survived the 80's, I was delighted by Mafia Hairdresser's tales of L.A., jeopardy and fast living!


A few months back I was able to attend a book-signing and mingle with Jon-David and our friends.






I was happy I purchased this book and am sure you will be too!


                                               me and The Mafia Hairdresser ~ Jon-David

Jun 22, 2011

Ten Time-Saving Tips To Make Your Life As A Busy Mom Easier!



Motherhood is consuming. Single motherhood is all-consuming. I've raised my children and attempted to be their Wonder Woman since birth. My divorce was not until the boys were about 5 and 7, but I was quickly learning that being proficient at timing and utilizing skills to make short-cuts without letting anything at all suffer was key to our survival. There is SO much to the idea of having things in place, so, needless to say, in order for your family unit to survive and PROSPER, one must become proficient in wizardry.

Casting time-spells is by no stretch of the imagination easy.

My boys are now 15 and 18, so technology was NOT on my side!

I have noticed, however, that while technology has stretched to zones I never thought possible, the older your children are, the more time you need! WHY?! Well because you have AGED!

Any possible techniques I have learned to be in bed sleeping by 11:30 I will now share with you:

1 - when the week begins, make sure you have started a huge hearty meal that will serve a few lunch and dinner slots and last a few days. Continue adding new side dishes to that one meal, and by day 3 be able to morph said meal into something new (i.e. soup, tuna or chicken salad, sandwich fare, or something that will be great on a salad)

2 - when tackling laundry, never stop, keep going until you run out of detergent.

3 - don't assign chores. Make it a necessary part of their living and breathing to assure it gets done. (i.e. if you don't take out the garbage you don't eat)

4 - ONLY grocery shop with FULL meal making in mind. No - " We need this or we need that" Think menu. Think in group categorically.

5 - if possible, buy toiletries in bulk via the internet or huge warehouse. its cheaper and most convenient.

6 - opening one those multiple online bill paying accounts was one of my best ideas. using your bank's online service also is a huge time-saver.

7 - scheduling your doctor's and kid's doctor's appointments in the same vicinity or physician's group is a time-saver - also going on the same day to avoid taking mass time off for not fun things is a plus.

8 - don't read email everyday. if you receive email via your smartphone delete unwanted crap, pick one day of the month where you go through unnecessary email while flagging important email - address those right away.

9 - drink PLENTY of water. being dehydrated slows you physically and mentally

10 - take time to watch the sun rise and set, it reminds you of why you are doing all of this in the first place!!!



I may be busy, but I thoroughly LOVE my life and everyone in it!!

Making sure you are in love with your life is what it is all about ~ CHEERS!


I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Starbucks blogging program, for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Jun 21, 2011

The Art of Crunching with Kellogg’s



Kellogg’s FiberPlus Cereals are YUM! That is important when you are trying to stay fit and still have FUN!

Healthy, after-all, is also a state of mind. It’s action and reaction. It’s eating right AND exercise.

Taking charge of your life and physical presence can be fun and delicious with the variety of tastiness Kellogg’s has presented us with!

Rich in flavor, these cereals are full of more good stuff than I expected: whole grain wheat, sugar, rice, chickory root and being certified Kosher Dairy in the Berry Yogurt Crunch made me smile! (The Cinnamon Crunch is Kosher/Parve too!)

My teen son and I begin our days just before sunrise. We have full schedules and often breakfast is a glass of pomegranate juice. I have begun to tire from all my attempts to find healthy that tastes good.

Having choices like Kellogg’s Cinnamon Oat Crunch  and Kellogg’s Berry Yogurt Crunch really helps the battle.



These two cereals are excellent ideas when getting to the start of a wild and crazy day!

The tiny round O’s of oat crunch are so cinnemony! They actually make the perfect treat in a bowl with Almond or Coconut milk ~ or on the go in a baggy!

The flakes and yogurt pearls in the Berry Yogurt Crunch are surprisingly sweet while providing the need I have for a lot going on in my palate. I seem to enjoy different amazing textures while eating, and this provides a zest in my mouth that wakes me up and gets me going.



I try to do at least twenty minutes of yoga in the morning before eating. I stretch until the kinks are out. This, I find, helps me to handle the day’s stressors. Knowing that I had a choice of these cereals waiting for me encourages me to be thorough and quick so that I can treat myself!

Only one gram of fat, with 1.5 in the Cinnamon Crunch,  is a huge plus as well. There is more sodium than I’d like, and 12g of sugar (7 in the Crunch) but eating this in a small proportion at the start of your day - after a good, solid workout makes this a replenishing meal that I say thumbs up to.

My son and my father also found themselves smitten.



The 6 hour football workouts my teen is enduring this summer call for such fortified, fiber filled yumms. My 80 year old father picks him up and takes him everyday and he swears these two new boxes in the house made him feel perky while satisfying his belly. He snacks voraciously for a Granpa.

If you run and out and try these, let us know what you think!



Disclosure: This is a paid post sponsored by Kellogg’s. I received one box of Berry Yogurt
Crunch and one box of Cinnamon Oat Crunch to review. My opinions are, as always, my own.

Jun 8, 2011

Chicagonista & Chickens




MJ's Nikon is the STUFF!!! This video really captures how much fun we had and the awe of our great city Chicago, even though it was about 45 degrees!


Melissa's book can be found here! CHICKEN IN THE CAR and the car won't go: Nearly 200 ways to enjoy Chicagoland with tweens and teens 

Jun 2, 2011

Cadillac & Me ~ Sublime!


So my Cadillac excursions were phenomenal! Really enjoyed pretending I was a high roller driving my Escalade down RUSH STREET CHICAGO on a Saturday night!

The 2011 Escalade with ONSTAR and the stitching and leather and entertainment and ..........

Can't say enough about it which I now know why it is the car choice for so many celebrities!

Now the CTS is a sedan. Four door with an engine that HUMS! I SO felt like Don Johnson from Miami Vice driving that remade Chevy Corvette! (It was made to look like a Ferrari).

The horsepower is 556 @ 6100 Torque 551 @ 3800. This is a WHOLE lotta car.

Sleek, sexy, clean and sharp. Driving this was an experience. Bose surround ... oh wow!







These images are my own and are of the 2011 Cadillac CTS-V. Luxury at its finest!



Jun 1, 2011

Cadillac & Me ~ Divine!



Just a brief look at the GM Cadillac Escalade and CTS ~


I enjoyed my time with the Cadillacs!!! WOOT!!!