Surviving NJ

Vera Bradley’s Blue Rhapsody and I are having a love affair. Okay, maybe it’s one sided, but I am just loving this pattern. I’ve picked up a few smaller pieces, and finally snagged this last night. Vera seems to be my latest addiction…

At those prices though, I’m always thrilled when I can snag a bargain on eBay! Last night was one of those times. All the cards lined up right, and now it’s on the way. Happy day!

I got an ultrasound today for my breast. I’m happy to report there’s no change, and I got an all’s good. That means I’m good for another 6 months. What amused me is that they gave me a small set of pearl earrings for coming in – I’m guessing because it’s Breast Cancer Awareness month. I don’t know if they’re using it to encourage people to come in…but it was a nice treat.

On the other hand, the money used to buy all those earrings, I think I’d rather know it was going to help women who can’t afford to get their breasts checked, due to a lack of insurance.

Either way, happy for the all clear.

Optimistic isn’t usually a word I use when it comes to weight. Usually it’s dread, frustration and many other along the lines of that. This time…I feel optimistic.

I went and started a medically supervised diet program. I have no where else to turn at this point. I’ve worked out, I’ve changed my eating, I’ve done the programs like Nutrisystem, Weight Watchers, Atkins…and for whatever reasons…they just haven’t helped me shed my weight.

Anyway, I’m not going into all the details at this moment, but I wanted to put this out there that I am feeling happy and hopeful, and that’s a big step for me. Hope can do many beautiful things, and in this case – it can help me feel motivated.

I’ll fill in more details and pluses and minuses as I go along. It’s day 2, and I’m feeling fine. I’m not hungry, which I was concerned I might be….and I’m totally satisfied and content. I’m taking extra vitamins my doctor recommended, on top of a B12 shot — and the goals are simple:

Get me off some meds…shed some weight…become healthier.

Here we go.

There’s something comforting about seeing an old friend. You can start stories mid-stream. You can catch up in the blink of an eye. You can laugh about old days, and not have to explain past scenarios…

I had the opportunity today to visit with an old friend…we’ve known each other since my children were small. We’ve shared hours of laughter, heart to hearts and more…our kids knew each other and played together.

We ate dinners together….planned outings together, and knew each other well.

Life tosses a few balls along the way and takes people in different directions. Today, I got the chance to revisit someone I hadn’t seen in a long time – and it was fabulous. Wonderful day….wonderful day!

(Katherine Betsy)

Ooh…Vera Bradley bags…they have hooked me in with the great combination of colors, styles, and I love how pattern presentation is different on many bags. Lately, I’ve been liking them too much! I’ve been watching eBay and grabbed a few bargains, which I love, but it’s feeding a growing obsession!

(Capri Blue Mini Hipster)

I’m digging some of the blues and browns: Java Blue, Caffe Latte, Windsor Nnavy , Kensington, Blue Rhapsody

And loving me some yellow Katherine — and so many other patterns.

(Java Blue Hipster -older version of Hipster)

Everyone has their favorites, but I guess for me it’s a combination of how the pattern looks on a certain piece.

Anyway, how did this obsession start? I was always into a buttery, soft leather bag….how, oh how could a quilted bag woo me?

I was surfing on a message board one day and someone posted some pics…and they hooked me in. The funny thing is – I all ready had two Vera accessories, as they sell them at a few of the Hallmarks around here. Little did I know this would start a crazy search for the perfect color combination and pattern placement quest on the perfect piece for me!

(Raspberry Fiz – PURE Cosmetics Bag)

I think I’m good for now, but my mind is all ready thinking…hmmm, this would look great in this color too!

It’s time to jump off this Vera merry-go-round, and know that there are only so many days in a year! A girl can only have so many bags…ah…Yeah right! I didn’t believe myself either.

(Villa Red – Libby)

Here are a few of the fun patterns. There are so many more to choose from. There’s a message board that started up recently with photos and reviews – so if you’re looking for pictures of certain patterns or colors…or trying to decide if a hipster or mini hipster is for you, you may want to check it out. It’s just starting, so as more people add things it will grow. Right now – the owner of the board all ready has quite a few things up, and a few others have added in pics and reviews. Hopefully this will become a great source of information. I love how there are not only pics of outside, but INSIDE the bags so you can see how many pockets the bags have, the inside designs, and the size comparison…pics of things in the bag and out, so you can figure it out. The pics shown above are mine, but the board is not…though I’m adding a couple reviews as I get new things to help out too.

It’s here: Vera Bradley Pictures and Reviews (board is called: Vera Bradley Resources)

If you’re a Vera fan, maybe you can check out some pics and add some reviews of your own. I know it would be welcomed with excitement, and hopefully the community will continue to grow.

What do you say when you see your first love?

When I was a little girl, about 6 years old, I remember going to Sears and picking out a stuffed Pooh Bear. It played music…you wound the key in the back, and it played “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”. I slept with that silly bear for a long time. He was my buddy…

As I got older, and he was put on a shelf- something happened through the years….Pooh got heavier! He grew a rounder belly. The new Pooh Bears they were selling have tummy’s twice the size as the original one I had gotten!

In looking back, my Pooh Bear was quite thin! It’s funny how his belly size changes in shape based on the latest version they are selling of him. His color has changed as well. My pooh bear was almost more yellow then orange…a honey colored yellow, but in later years he took on more of an orange hue.

Anyway – I saw him hanging out up there and knew I had to snap a picture. I’ve seen him there many times, but this time I guess it caught my attention more.

I just wanted to share my view. It’s lovely, and is just a standard view here, but how is this even standard when you’re from Jersey? LOL

Lovely, lovely, lovely.

A spontaneous trip came up, and here I am. I’ll be home shortly, and back to life, but sometimes those unexpected and unplanned moments offer you some wonderful treasures.

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.

Watch the tram car please….please watch the tram….We spend the weekend down in Wildwood, and were heading to Curly’s for a quick bite to eat. We hopped onto the tram, and rode the path – picking up and dropping off other passengers along the way. Right at about 26th St, the front car goes hard to the right!

Oh my gosh? What just happened? We weren’t sure — did it hit someone? Was the driver trying to avoid hitting someone who didn’t move in time?

Nope– looks like the front end blew out! Whether the axel broke, the tire fell off, or whatever — as you see here, the front end just toppled over, and it veered! Thankfully not one single person was hurt, and that’s pretty amazing as crowded as the boardwalk was!

Ironically? It has this mishap right in front of where we wanted to get off! Talk about timing….the funny part to me was seeing how many cellphones came out…people were snapping pics left and right, so I thought I’d grab one to share too.

Maintenance came out and had it up and running in about 20 minutes tops. Pretty impressive – quick repair…full boardwalk, full tram – no one got hurt. Now that’s something to be thankful for!

The weather was fabulous….and I’m sad to see summer coming to a close….but I guess it’s that time of year.

You pay 2x as much for the large print version of a book…and you still use reading glasses to magnify thinking…ooh, this is nice – I can see and not get eye strain!