Stuck in a rut? Me too. We’re creatures of habit many times – going to the same places, doing the same things over and over again. It works well for the most part. We like places we return to, like to do the things we do but sometimes you’re just looking for something different.

That’s where I’m at.

We eat at the same places, shop at the same places, explore the same places – and I’ve decided I need to find some of those little places that we’ve passed or overlooked time and time again.

Do you have small local places that you never visit? Museums, trails, restaurants, small town events? We’re always looking “other places” for things to do, and never really take the time to do all those little local things that people traveling through find here.

I think I’m going to start exploring some more local stuff…those buildings I pass, those parks I don’t turn into, those restaurants I’ve seen – but never tried….I’m going to break out of my rut by trying to notice things – and try places I’ve not yet gone.

How will you be breaking out of your rut?

We’re about to be buried under another foot of snow – yet again. Oh joy! Anyway, we did our classic go out to dinner and hit the store like most of those around us. First off – we needed to go out since we knew we’d be in the house for the next day or two…hence dinner out.

It was at the grocery store that I saw the reality. While people grab bread off the shelves – it was all about the snacks. People don’t want to be trapped indoors without their sweet or savory snacks. It wasn’t chicken and vegetables that people were stocking up on, but chips and cookies.

You could hear crickets in the produce aisle, but it was a battle to make it down the soda and pretzel lane.

Let’s be honest – who wants to be stuck without their favorites….why is it our minds go right to snacks when we know snow is coming? Think about it…when the weather calls for bright and sunny skies, 70 degrees- we aren’t rushing to the store for goodies – we’re itching to be outside – but tell someone there may be a few inches of snow and we’ll face crazy crowds to get those cookies we don’t want to be stuck without.

Don’t worry about me, I have plenty of Diet Coke – life is good for myself and anyone stuck around me!

Filippa Hamiliton — the model who claims she was fired from Ralph Lauren for “being too fat” — During an appearance on “Today” yesterday, Hamilton said that though she is 5′ 10″ and 120 lbs, she was fired because she “was overweight” and “couldn’t fit in their clothes anymore.”

Seriously, do we want people emaciated in magazines? Are you telling me women with curves can’t sell clothing? I’d prefer to see more realistic sizes – sizes of people that I see at the market, on the street, at the mall…then models who are told then are not thin enough to fit in their samples….

In this case it was a model named Flippa, and she worked with Ralph L. Seriously…isn’t it enough?

Isn’t it time to give young girls and women realistic images – images they can relate to? Not pushing to strive for something that isn’t going to happen?

It frustrates me so much. This woman Flippa is a beautiful woman…and yet, sorry – you’re out of a job. Samples don’t fit…

Why do they make samples so damn tiny? What’s wrong that designers aren’t making samples for healthy women to fit into? I’m not talking that someone has to be plus sized – I’m talking about normal sizes – 2,4,6,8,10,12….

Look, I know my own large rear is not what people want to see in magazines, but you know what – women are open to seeing realistic images. Clothes will still sell…empires will not crumple to the ground because you’ve got a model who wears a size 6 or 8 in your magazine. Don’t let our women waste away just to sell an item….

I’m just appalled that a beautiful woman – who is all ready very slender at 120 pounds and 5′10″ tall – is told she isn’t thin enough…just frustrating.

Full Story here

I jumped onto the online bandwagon more than 12 years ago. I held fast, and have been loving my internet for years. A strange thing happened a long the way.

- I started booking vacations online, no more travel agent
- I started researching and looking for reviews before buying things
- I started buying more items online

So today, I’m in the shower and got to thinking…yeah, I know – dangerous, eh?

I thought about how many books I’ve bought over the last year – and how many times I bought them in a bookstore versus buying them online.

Sure, I’m looking for the best deal – trying to snag a bargain, but in the process, my local book store is seeing less and less of my money.

Think about how many OTHER people are doing the same thing.

How much of your business that used to be local- are you now putting into online businesses?

I started to look at how much money was being diverted to other business, instead of the small local businesses near my home. How much money was I giving to someone else…

…I hate when I think too much.

Anyway, do I think it will change my habits? Will I buy more local and try to help my local businesses, or will I be looking at my family’s bottom line and keep trying to save US money along the way? I honestly couldn’t tell you that, but right now it’s really on my mind.

A pork chop, pierogies and asparagus

…of course I had to get it – OH MY GOSH, it was so good! YUM-YUM

I was just tickled to see that combination on the menu, since it’s not one I’ve ever noticed before. We eat out a lot too, but whoever put this together tonight in the kitchen at the local place we went to – KUDOS…man, it was awesome.

We’re down the shore for a few days, and today is one of thoes windy, choppy ocean days. Rain and showers will be passing through on and off today. We’ve had great weather all week, so i really can’t complain.

 We were sitting at the table doing some work, and we saw the coolest thing. I wasn’t exactly sure what it was at first. It was a combination of surfing and parasailing– really the only way I can explain it.

There were 3 people out on the waves cruising along, jumping, catching air, just gliding…it was so cool to watch! I finally had to look it up because it really held our attention. This was one of the coolest things I’d ever seen…and they looked like they were having a blast! They were going so fast riding the ways up, down, sideways, backwards…just anyway they wanted, then they’d stop and turn on a dime, and start going the other direction.

The use a parasailing type kite and catch the wind, and between the two elements of wind and water, it was an amazing site to see.

My husband and I sat there with our jaws dropping, just amazed at this fun experience we were watching. Today is the perfect day for it with the choppy waves and wind going in all different directions. It was grea tsince they were the only ones in the water, they had tons of space to themselves.

If you haven’t seen kite surfing before, check out wikpedia or something, maybe there are youtube clips of it…all i know is it was awesome!

What the hell is wrong with people?

I don’t get crap like this…seriously.

Knowing people could get sick, they still go for the big bucks….what happened to integrity in business?

 You can get your free Fondue Fun ebook here. Hurry though, I’m only leaving it up for a couple of weeks!