tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34083336666501797912024-02-18T20:55:18.679-08:00Daytripping with Miss OMGMiss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-17057910936554691412019-11-15T12:24:00.004-08:002019-11-15T12:24:59.794-08:00CATCH ME AT MY NEW AUTHOR SITE!!!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hey all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope everyone is surviving their own crazy chaos called "life!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have some great news on one of my most recent releases, so catch me at my new website:</span><br />
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<span data-hook="address-link-text" style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #32536a; display: inline-block; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1.25; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; overflow: hidden; text-decoration-line: none; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap; word-break: break-all;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">https://missomg17.wixsite.com/missomg</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks everybody!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~Miss OMG</span>Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-64503875263821103422016-07-14T14:44:00.002-07:002016-07-14T14:44:58.798-07:00MOVING DAY is JULY 18th!!!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey everyone!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, thank you to everyone who has been so supportive and been loyal readers to my Miss OMG blog. It has been a blast writing for it. But now it's time to move on!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a good thing. My blog, thanks to all of you, has been so successful, that it is transitioning into an on-line Lifestyles Magazine, (and I couldn't be more thrilled to be going back to being a magazine editor, like the good ole days)!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beginning Monday, we are "soft launching" our new publication: DayTripper Magazine</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This magazine will include all the great stuff we love to read about: wine, food, travel, family and active stuff! Yes, we will still have the spotlight interviews under FEATURES too! So get ready to enjoy the new publication.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know some people wondered what would happen to all the great articles and interview from this blog...well, no worries, they are all packed up and moving with us!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To reach DayTripper Magazine, click here: </span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="mailto:DayTripperMag@gmail.com">DayTripperMag@gmail.com</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy exploring,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">O. Michele Giacomini</span>Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-64310745459352964632016-07-12T09:28:00.000-07:002016-07-12T10:26:54.445-07:00Holding All the Aces<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIsZJpX0i41_aPcdd9OON5XUGHCSS2odajnP1tKTPovQJ43MPsvaAWfE9-jY5Hmns0TPKWDKokM_RQe8Bqs7v7JDHi40H_MgBzQfLBG12_acAAgcfMKX3H2qS1lZEZofvFOwq-m2Xte8/s1600/drew+headshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIsZJpX0i41_aPcdd9OON5XUGHCSS2odajnP1tKTPovQJ43MPsvaAWfE9-jY5Hmns0TPKWDKokM_RQe8Bqs7v7JDHi40H_MgBzQfLBG12_acAAgcfMKX3H2qS1lZEZofvFOwq-m2Xte8/s320/drew+headshot.jpg" width="184" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">July 12, 2016~It’s summer time and with that comes both an increase in travel and the boys of summer playing our favorite national pastime: baseball. When you grow up loving the sport of baseball, the dream of working in that sports field can be very appealing. Drew Pomeroy has been able to live out that dream. He started playing baseball at a very young age and his love for the sport, even back then, was more than apparent. Now he’s all grown up and building a career involving sports management.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What’s even better, Drew works for the Reno Aces. Reno is one of Nevada’s best kept little secrets. Many people only think of Reno as the “Biggest Little City in the World,” and immediately glitzy lights and casinos come to mind. But what they may not know is that Reno is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, home of the phenomenal University of Nevada Wolfpack, and of course, the place where all go to enjoy great Triple A baseball with the Reno Aces.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This week Drew is our guest and has much to share about his experience in Reno and why you should plan a visit soon!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Thanks for joining us this week Drew! So, tell us what brought you to the Reno Aces? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">DP: “Three years ago I decided that I wanted to get into graduate school for a Sports MBA. So, I got in touch with someone in that program who happened to be a Nevada Alumni who had worked for the Aces. I met up with him to get advice on what I should be doing to achieve my goal, and he was able to get me a job with the Aces working security.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reno Aces Stadium</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: That sounds like a lucky break and good start, but I know that’s not what you do for them now, right?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">DP: “Moving into 2016, I applied for a Marketing Internship with the Aces and got the position. For the next two months I was in this role until I reached out to our Director of Marketing about a new role. (Since) I was going to graduate from the University of Nevada in the next couple weeks, and had the ability to work full-time, I was offered the newly created role of our Baseball Operations Coordinator.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now I am the primary team travel liaison and responsible for the building and dissemination of homestand travel itineraries as well as a contributor to our baseball and soccer blog.” (</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A homestand itinerary is all of the travel and lodging plans for both the Aces and the visiting team(s). Including flight/bus departures and arrivals, as well as equipment shipping options).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This role was created because we have a newly announced soccer franchise playing at our field starting in March of 2017 and taking me on for this position frees up more time for our Communications Manager to focus on both baseball and soccer while I take care of travel.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: WOW!!! I didn’t know there was going to be a Reno soccer team too! That’s even more exciting since soccer is growing in popularity here in the States. I know you love sports more than just about anything, (except your family, of course!), so do you remember your first experience with baseball or even soccer, as a child? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">DP: “I’ve been playing baseball since I could walk so I couldn’t really pinpoint my first experience with baseball as a child. I do remember the post-tournament pizza parties during farm-ball and putting down as much pizza as we could.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: *laughing hard* Leave it to you to only remember the pizza! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">DP: “For soccer I distinctly remember the moms cheering way too hard for us kids who really had no idea what we were doing on the field as we all just chased a ball around.” (He laughs). </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Drew with mom, Nancy Pomeroy (who pretty much never missed a chance to cheer for her son and his teams)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Hey Drew, cut us Soccer Moms some slack, we have to cheer hard just to keep ourselves awake sometimes!!! *chuckling* I think we used to call it “Bunch Ball” when you kids would move around the field in one big herd, just chasing the ball, like you said, with no strategy except to not fall down...too much. I think all the kids lived for the break times because they all wanted snacks!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Speaking of kids, what can families expect from a day at the Reno Aces ballpark? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">DP: “Families can expect some good baseball and an awesome game-day atmosphere. Our team that works in the control room provides the sound bites and on board videos/visuals during the game that aim to poke fun at the opposing team as much possible and creates a fun, family friendly game-day experience.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Reno Aces Stadium after Sunset</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: I bet you have all sorts of people coming to the games, so how do you differentiate the experience that spans from families, to college kids, to couples, to those vacationing from out-of-town? Also, how does the new soccer team play into this mix?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">DP: “Families have the opportunity for both baseball and soccer to get their kids or youth teams involved in the pre-game events such as running out with the team, national anthem performances, and bench warmers. College kids are abundant on Thursday nights for our Thirsty Thursday promotion. And those traveling from out-of-town that want to see a top-notch ballpark and some quality baseball have found the right spot.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySHnst3euQ9RvCfB_B0VM4t0i74fY1_QSDDATVt20uCre94V53axu49Amq4gzuL2i60YH8QQHnDYHNwxkykwESDR3uYs253KMtklKLvkmotB82R26ITj04aOFNC4DXRIvJMQawQfGAUc/s1600/group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySHnst3euQ9RvCfB_B0VM4t0i74fY1_QSDDATVt20uCre94V53axu49Amq4gzuL2i60YH8QQHnDYHNwxkykwESDR3uYs253KMtklKLvkmotB82R26ITj04aOFNC4DXRIvJMQawQfGAUc/s1600/group.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Drew with buddies Gareth, Spencer, Rex, (himself), Tucker and Danny</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: I know you’ve also shared with me that the Aces are super involved with the community and make appearances at the local grade schools and fundraisers around town. They really are a top-notch organization!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Okay Drew, I’m going to put you on the spot: Who are your top 5 players on the team? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="drew and somebody.jpe" height="363" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/RKMld443NIcmJdqNhHv3ckJ5hSJTmkATAa_XpABh7XTkWwGAAd86cYLfrAXIghhkYvvy3SWZB-y67NX49Wg_8rOZ436oIkiIJDo4P0EBKjSSdRHhKpD67Yazld5ZeoQQwdgqFFgO" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: 4px solid #000000; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="363" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Drew with former Giants player, Tim Lincecum (who now plays for the Angels)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">DP: “I’m not sure I could pick out my top five players from the Aces but two that are definitely a fan-favorite here in Reno are Braden Shipley and Peter O’Brien. Shipley is a starting pitcher and Nevada Alumni, so he gets a good home-crowd turnout. O’Brien recently got called up to the Diamondbacks and has been playing every day. It is awesome to see one of our own guys get the call and watch them play in the MLB.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: That is exciting! So, what do you have coming up next? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">DP: “Next, I plan on applying to graduate school so hopefully I will be spending the next year furthering my education and creating more connections within the sports industry. Not sure exactly what my future will hold, but I am excited to see where I end up.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Well, I’m sure your parents hope it leads you back close to home! No matter what, I know you will be a hit wherever you are, whatever you’re doing.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, the Reno Aces are in Charlotte, NC this week, but what’s coming up next? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">DP: “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Aces will play a home game the 14</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 9.6px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Every Thursday is our Thirsty Thursday deal, Friday’s we have fireworks post-game as well as our “bad songs for a good cause” where fans pick awful walk up songs for every batter. This benefits the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northern Nevada by purchasing these bad songs. Saturday is also a fireworks night, and Sunday is a Reno Aces Hat Giveaway.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Never a dull moment!!! Thanks so much for joining us Drew. I know a lot of our readers are going to want to get more information on events at the ballpark to attend, so they can click here: </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.renoaces.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">RenoAces.com</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And to check out the latest on both the ACES and RENO 1868FC go here:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Aceball Blog: </span><a href="http://reno.mlblogs.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://reno.mlblogs.com/</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reno 1868 FC Blog: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://reno1868fc.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration: none;">https://reno1868fc.wordpress.com/</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks everybody for visiting. Join me next week when Chef Joe Thompson from Crisp Catering joins us. I’m sure he’ll definitely have a cooking tip or two to share that will make our dishes extra scrumptious!</span></div>
Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-89000025905524115312016-07-09T09:02:00.001-07:002016-07-09T09:02:56.783-07:00WANNA GET AWAY? Ten Tips on Visiting Canada's Wonderland with a Toddler<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our favorite parent guru is back! Melanie Braga is joining us today to share some great information on how you too can enjoy your “get away day” with your tiny tykes at the super huge theme park, Canada’s Wonderland. (My own son returned from there about a month ago and though he’s no longer a toddler, he said it was a blast, and recommends that you visit next time you are in the Toronto area). I bet a lot of you out there are going to take close notes on her tips to apply to any theme park you visit this summer...I know I learned a thing or two, too!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YFX1bFlIFoRhqAWNMC7al3eIrhRy-pbEDAAjZNC9Ci-n8IB0Ty_H7QLP2C9PlySSWXoCz92oaq8l3XMyGH6yvloliPHerwQMZDtvfFBAi5fK1AAoErN9RBDQozLX-ghEDZY0rVF3_UU/s1600/melanie+and+kiki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_YFX1bFlIFoRhqAWNMC7al3eIrhRy-pbEDAAjZNC9Ci-n8IB0Ty_H7QLP2C9PlySSWXoCz92oaq8l3XMyGH6yvloliPHerwQMZDtvfFBAi5fK1AAoErN9RBDQozLX-ghEDZY0rVF3_UU/s200/melanie+and+kiki.jpg" width="140" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ten Tips on Visiting Canada's Wonderland with a Toddler</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">By Melanie Braga</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Canada's Wonderland is a 330-acre theme park located in Vaughan, Ontario, which is north of the popular city of Toronto, Ontario. The park first opened in 1981 as the first major theme park in Canada and remains as the country's largest.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img alt="13509380_970650729699389_206775549_o" height="181" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/GP2q91E1vf0mUuFDsKI9lKMO6AXV_ASbqhYIFY3DdEQgUKa5L-0BRs88VravlWxTzdRciOn7j5GtXMPQ2aKn-AI8lTGGnBligxJyMuE2XOXT9R2JhyRKpK2NwEjsXS0DOC8lx5d1e7DJOvLsLw" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="400" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Living in Ontario, it is always a perk to have this amusement park near by as new attractions are added every year. This year we took our daughter, Nikki and it sparked the idea that I should put some tips together to help other families who are planning their first trip with their toddlers or even older children.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are my top ten tips to make your trip more enjoyable and possibly save you some money: </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. Purchase Tickets in Advance</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By purchasing tickets in advance will save you time and money at the front gate. There are many ticket options available such as </span><a href="https://www.canadaswonderland.com/ticket-category/Daily-Tickets" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Daily Pass, 3 Day Advance, Good Any Day, 2-Day Ticket, Admission & Fast Lane </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and of course there is the </span><a href="https://www.canadaswonderland.com/ticket-category/Season-Passes" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Season Pass </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">which is usually recommended if you are planning to go more than twice in the </span><a href="https://www.canadaswonderland.com/hours-directions/canada-s-wonderland" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">season</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. With the online ticket purchasing you can add other additions such as parking, meals, fast lane (gives you the ability to speed pass the lines on some rides), Dinos and FunPix. Please keep in mind that when a purchase is made online there is a processing fee added to the end.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Momma Braga Tip: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you have a Costco membership then I would recommend to purchase an </span><a href="http://www.costco.ca/Canada%E2%80%99s-Wonderland.product.100179946.html?catalogId=11201&keyword=canada%27s+wonderland&langId=-24&storeId=10302" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Admission Pass </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">from them as it is $38.49 CDN + tax which saves you some money. This admission works for ages 3 to 59. According to Canada's Wonderland's website a Junior ticket is $36.99 + a processing fee + tax. It appears that Costco could be the best method for the whole family if you have a membership. Children under the age of 3 do not have to pay.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. Plan Ahead</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Canada's Wonderland has a lot to do and see, it could become overwhelming for a family with young children. By planning ahead of time, you can ease this feeling and help your family enjoy everything that you want to do. Visit the </span><a href="https://www.canadaswonderland.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">website</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to see what </span><a href="https://www.canadaswonderland.com/things-to-do/special-events" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">special events </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">they may have and </span><a href="https://www.canadaswonderland.com/plan-a-visit/park-map" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">view the map </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">to see what areas you want to visit. By having a ride map or plan can really help your family enjoy the day to the fullest. Also saves time on wondering where or what to do next.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Momma Braga Tip: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The park has Baby Care Centres, Diaper changing areas and/or family restrooms, these can be located on their park map. See where they are as it can help you locate them quickly when you need them. Most of the restaurants inside of the park are also able to warm up baby bottles.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img alt="13555694_970650536366075_1764443329_o" height="225" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/e5wBFJEAQjnTvaEXxUwiqt1H0-XRrqUBy1M3kAeqV4I0iVV-vYmy-nAiEk0InX7btRwtjm-U4QLxUx7_1XmSXDDwFsBoxJFr8moRcTZ7FT3mWYqNoZc32TvdPDcHyce-prI_vDxx47gB-3ARhQ" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="400" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. Arrive Early</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.canadaswonderland.com/hours-directions/canada-s-wonderland" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The amusement park opens at 10 AM </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and if you would like a close parking to the front gate without paying extra for premium parking, I would recommend to arrive before 10 AM. The later you arrive, the further you need to park and with little ones we all know how tough the walk can be.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. Visit the Height Check Station</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For the safety of all park guests, all rides have rider height requirements based on the manufacturer’s recommendations. To view the height requirements, you can </span><a href="https://www.canadaswonderland.com/plan-a-visit/rider-height-assistance-guide" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">click here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. This is why I recommend to visit the Height Check Stations to have your children measured to know which rides they can go on and it will save you time on getting them checked at each ride. The Height Check Stations are located on either side of International Street. Colour-coded wristbands are provided at these locations and they correspond to the colour found on the Rules and Regulations signs located at the entrance of each ride.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. Picnic Outside or Splurge on Delicious Meals</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This one truly depends on your own family's preference and budget. The park does not allow outside food or drinks but food is allowed to stay in your cars and eaten outside of the park. However, baby food and formula are permitted as is plastic bottled water. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are grass areas outside of the park that you can have a picnic on. To leave the park to eat, just make sure to get your hands stamped in order to get back in. Parking closer to the gates will help greatly if you decided to picnic outside. There is also the option to eat inside the park as they have many delicious meal choices. Of course it can add up but if you have budgeted to splurge then this is a great option. To learn more about the dining experience at Canada's Wonderland, </span><a href="https://www.canadaswonderland.com/things-to-do/dining" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">click here</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Momma Braga Tip: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A must try at Canada's Wonderland is the famous Funnel Cake.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6. Prepare to Walk</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The park is on 330-acres so you can say that there is a lot of walking to do to get around. Make sure that you all have comfy shoes and a stroller will be great for young children. The park does offer single and double strollers for a one day rental. Rentals are on a first come basis and may not be reserved in advance. The rental fee for a single stroller is $15 CDN (+ $5 deposit) and for a double stroller is $25 CDN (+ $5 deposit). The deposit is refunded upon the satisfactory return of the stroller. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mommy Braga Tip: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bring only necessities with you inside the park such as extra clothing for your toddler as we know back up clothes are always needed. My recommendation is to travel light. You may bring in a bag and there is a search of bags before entering the park. There is the option of putting your stuff in a locker for a rental fee (from $15 CDN to $30 CDN) but I do think it is a bit pricey for families. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7. Download the Free Canada's Wonderland Mobile App</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I thought this was neat and really wished I used it while I was there. There is a free mobile app that is available for your Apple or Android. The App can be used with the parks free Wi-Fi and there are some neat features on it such as: get wait times on your favourite rides; enjoy special offers and discounts inside the park; easy-to-use interactive map; carry your season pass on your mobile phone; updates on special events and promotions; find your favourite rides, shows, and restaurants; buy tickets and season passes quickly and easily; and use car finder to mark your parking spot and let the app remember for you. Seems like they thought of it all with this app! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">8. Sing Songs or Play I Spy to Entertain the Little Ones in the Ride Line Ups</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some ride lines can be long and of course for our little ones it feels even longer. I recommend to make standing in line fun by singing your favourite songs and even playing a fun game of "I Spy with my little eye." It makes the time go by faster and keeps your little ones entertained. It worked for us! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">9. Plant Snoopy, Kidzville, Splash Works, and Dinosaurs Alive....Oh My! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is just so much to do! </span><a href="https://www.canadaswonderland.com/things-to-do/for-the-kids" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Planet Snoopy and Kidzville </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">are areas that I recommend for families as there are a lot for our little ones to do there such as rides, daily character meet-and-greets and live entertainment. Planet Snoopy features Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy and Linus. Kidzville is filled with brightly coloured buildings, rides and restaurants. If it is a hot summer day then take advantage of </span><a href="https://www.canadaswonderland.com/things-to-do/splash-works" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Splash Works </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">which is Canada Wonderland's Premier Water Park and something to check out if you have time. There is an area that is great for toddlers to splash around. Then there is </span><a href="https://www.canadaswonderland.com/things-to-do/dinosaurs-alive" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dinosaurs Alive </span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">where you can find more than 40 moving and practically breathing life-sized dinosaurs, including several you can control. This experience is designed to thrill guests for all ages but it is not included in your admission ticket. To try this it costs $5 CDN (+processing fee+tax) for each person</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #444444; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Momma Braga Tip: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The restaurant line-ups appeared to be a lot shorter than in other areas in the park. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img alt="13522453_970650533032742_630734839_n" height="300" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/RsLiLaa6U7S6Ft5klxn1LVdrb459Mj-XgXfwTSVySJEffCgLpgcOKBWEE9EXFPH-Xfvr80EPysLY59B22lstk4-sDqsoRiaM6gMzePPe1QiPrHHCPaTuFCWO7qq3VZgfOd0y_Ii6qHRbSyW0mg" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="242" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">10. Take Lots of Pictures and Have Fun</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course take lots of photos and remember to have family fun! I think this is the most important tip of all! I know we had a great time and my daughter had the time of her life!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img alt="13551177_970650713032724_19212219_n" height="720" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Egd4v5Fe0WNu1M_0n7NJXhAWuzNYn2xk4SUxhkgx3_Qy9pmoCHjyOA9fEIHNIJZrr2xMcwPWDtJJVfQIACjOLSr6-TLfcQRCL3ZF3VsU-dqPZQ-Q3saMz_6cawjp_qYXeZE2WXtcBaivT2IARg" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="405" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Until next time.....Happy Parenting!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- Momma Braga</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For more great parenting tips, and all sorts of good stuff, visit Melanie here:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 19.2px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://mommabraga.wordpress.com/">https://mommabraga.wordpress.com/</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 19.2px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She's got a Cake article that has some inpressive pieces of art, ya just gotta check out!!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 19.2px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://mommabraga.wordpress.com/"><img alt="12112171_523943694435543_4230639913870521565_n" src="https://mommabraga.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/12112171_523943694435543_4230639913870521565_n.jpg?w=199&h=300" /></a></span></div>
<br />Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-36631902711252119622016-07-05T09:51:00.000-07:002016-07-05T09:52:20.897-07:00In Hysterics with Ted Pillow<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Hysterics with Ted Pillow</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Ted Headshot.jpe" height="286" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/zX8Ln5UkrWJRW6TOIPJvrZeCeNxhRI3vl4bY57NrHBFfrbGWdnHxSN8Vjg9PMxZs3wk8sEwgZ681TIJW8RLymGjB_4ZDSrkpYCKqs5xH66k2Tud9oQ2ySIAyWUsPhP6XNB3aiCDV" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="253" /></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">July 5, 2016</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ever stumble across a writer that makes you laugh...OUT LOUD? I know, I know, of course you have! I mean what can I say, I’m sure I immediately came to mind when you read that question, (HA!), but believe it or not, I’m really not here to chat about myself. No, really...I’m not. Instead I want to introduce you to someone I recently discovered. I have to warn you, when I did, he took me aback with his hysterical writing! OMGawd! Talk about talent. Ted Pillow is our spotlight guest this week, and let me tell you, when you get a chance to read his material, you will then understand why he is such a treat! (PS: If you are one of my former students reading this, well, let it serve as an “I told you so” that there is hope in learning to write)! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Welcome to our site Ted. So let’s get started. Tell us when you first discovered you were a writer? Did you think this was something you would pursue as a professional?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TP: “I've liked writing since I learned how to do it, but lost touch with it at some point in my teen years. I think I began to see it as more of a chore and less of a fun creative outlet. I picked it up again about five years ago, with the the intention of pursuing it as a hobby that could pay for beer. And that's pretty much how it's worked out.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Now THAT is a good reason to write...maybe I should add that to my resume: “Will write for beer.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you remember the first writing piece you wrote? What was is about?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TP: “The first piece I had run on a website was a very dark one about the plots of late 90s sitcoms reimagined by someone in the throes of an existential crisis. Doesn't exactly make my writing sound like a ‘fun creative outlet,’ I know.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="ted graph 3.jpe" height="310" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/hGlW6rWBNoVmr0J7fDAAcT906sva9lCKro1kp6XMC8UCTYe58KlQrUlCGLdbx_I4hCErCxl-av6DF0R4DxO2oeV7feuP3tJEzvx3Xmpy3Z-SSDJRTtRPDfR4xRFK9mtSOKZl5ana" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="397" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An example of Ted’s thought process</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Holy crap! That isn’t EVEN close to what I thought you’d say...and so opposite of the material I’ve read of yours! I mean you're an extremely funny writer, and from one humorist to another, I believe we can agree that is the most difficult genre of writing out there. Why do you write humor? </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TP: “Thanks! I just love humor writing. I try and write with humor because I basically can't imagine why someone would want to read what I have to say unless it was funny. I'm not exactly James Joyce, you know. Any time you ask someone to read something, you're making a request on their time and attention. If I can give them a few laughs in return, hopefully that justifies it.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: WOW! It’s like you got into my head and spewed my thoughts. I completely agree…(besides I’d rather read something funny than...well, er...anything else). </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, what is your most favorite piece you've written?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TP: “That's a good question. My favorite humor piece I've ever written is probably </span><a href="http://thoughtcatalog.com/ted-pillow/2013/06/if-you-arent-sure-if-theyre-flirting-with-you-theyre-flirting-with-you-unless-they-arent/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If You Aren’t Sure If They’re Flirting With You, They’re Flirting With You (Unless They Aren’t)</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and my favorite non-humor piece is </span><a href="http://www.themorningnews.org/article/the-roger-ebert-reader-on-addiction" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Unofficial Roger Ebert Reader on Addiction.</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Ted graph1.jpe" height="315" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Pj765e2I8szWtt__eqTN4KHdIHjL2v-S0pDQU1iHERTfIzoC3KuC2JBnGdxqIcnPqcYR_edhwQmXPCtSDrMEOGj7MGU-ozfT95SHAt5XH7d7ynNbNpZiHyB3dAfi4gX0e6BL6-jU" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="347" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Graph from </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you aren’t Sure they’re Flirting with you, they’re Flirting with you (Unless they aren’t)</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Oh my gawd, I absolutely love that article (the flirting one). Your pace is perfect and it’s just filled with humor from start to finish. I don’t know, maybe it’s because I’ve raised two sons to adulthood, and survived their boy humor, but I love it...and your graphs!!! I’m trying to remember which article of your I stumbled across first...I don’t think it was </span><a href="http://thoughtcatalog.com/ted-pillow/2014/09/how-to-get-a-girlfriend-in-26-easy-steps/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“How to get a Girlfriend in 26 easy Steps</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> but I read that one too, and I laughed so hard! So have you tried out those steps and do they work?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="ted graph 4.jpe" height="264" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/xyS-pN0sPXLZyzo9moPG-82ZhVRrxGadOI99X5Tf8Vfo3mBif9aWP-kbNKtCH61W5t29CcDHbIZwcwWa6WU1NRRnEbvVOw2JIpIZNbNowOZW1ZMU28BXtVgLC-wijBNnEIAeO3ZH" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="353" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ted’s chart for Sexy Halloween Costumes</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TP: “No, those are definitely not intended for real-life use. (He laughs) Basically I really don't like self-help/advice writing, so I just enjoy giving really awful advice to people.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Oh that explains how you DO have girlfriend. Thank gawd you didn’t follow your advice! *winks*</span></div>
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<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On a serious note, I did just recently read your piece on Roger Ebert. Holy cow, I had zero idea about the demons he was battling. He just always seemed like the “together” guy on the show giving us his thumbs up or down on movies we might see. It’s interesting, we may both consider ourselves humorists, but a lot of time we get commissioned to do the straight reporting pieces. How did this article come about for you?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TP: “I'm a huge movie fan and I love reading film criticism. I used to read the Ebert review for every movie I watched, to the point where I could usually predict his rating beforehand. After reading him for years, I started to pick up on the fact that he wrote very eloquently about addiction, specifically alcoholism. It's in the background of a lot of his reviews, but it's amazing how he was able to write so insightfully about human struggle within the context of a film review. Then I looked into it a little and found out that he was a recovering alcoholic and had also done some writing specifically around his experiences with that. So I decided to pick out some of his best excerpts, which were basically spread throughout thousands of reviews, and turned them into a kind of tapestry. It was a lot of work, but also really fun.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Putting you on the spot Ted: Who are your top 5 writers ever, and why? </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TP: “My favorite humor writers are Daniel Pinkwater (writer of bizarre young adult fiction that really blew my mind as a kid), George Saunders, Woody Allen, and Tom Oatmeal. I love everything at McSweeney's Internet Tendency. I also read a lot of Dave Barry as a kid. But my favorite all-time writer is David Foster Wallace. I could go on, but I'm embarrassed at how many white guys I've already named.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Ummm...I noticed you forgot a certain up and coming female humorist, uh hem...I’m sure you just figured that goes without saying, right? *laughing* </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What do you have coming up next? </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">TP: “I'm not sure! (But people can) follow me @TedPillow. I usually post one stupid Tweet a day, retweet people far wittier than me, and link to new writing when it comes out.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="ted graph 2.jpe" height="311" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/4e1q31D3TYr_LWfuXIRkZ6qZXhyXBIsBabe6ewuo6lNHP0iAU0NJpVtCDqX3m05-YG_Bk9ZoGVyJMwe9fWVxRB41aHjU0JLg4ZMvoeEjakvOERKycEsJQfsnrQHqn2N62ZI7a0Nk" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="348" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ted’s thoughts on writers’ thoughts</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m sure all our readers and followers will want to keep close tabs on your work. So be sure to catch Ted on Twitter </span><a href="https://twitter.com/TedPillow" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">@tedpillow</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> or here: </span><a href="http://thoughtcatalog.com/ted-pillow/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: #f5f8fa; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thoughtcatalog.com/ted-pillow/</span></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you have any questions for Ted, please leave them below in the comments.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Join me next Tuesday when baseball’s Andrew Pomeroy from the Reno Aces is our guest!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="8" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/PL0HjPhyh9XqXxclyBGu0ro3Q6m-RwLyzJ3NWfW0Tqa_wRoVdj9ARbLwz5QofPxPCEZTjHplzNm7mnQaYJ5T_HvlJh3D9MEdnEkW3r1HPz57-Q6FLOxSp_hT8C9mPvMTdpvHvbXK" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="20" /></span></div>
<br />Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-80857811947780070602016-07-01T09:26:00.001-07:002016-07-01T09:26:38.691-07:00Gettin’ Crafty with Randi Dukes, Part 5<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gettin’ Crafty with Randi Dukes, Part 5</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By O. Michele Giacomini</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="125" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/JFOJwCtjjO_Du696wm8a3OAZbukk4v2k1EDIV7_f_cnpWEsg4xAXG0uKBFE9aI5IoYAP42nOyhlecuG4NOCyeJSKS5sBpeDqe5udrMapXOT308wxjFtVD8Irp7VVlCPP3sYXvlG2" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="125" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">July 1, 2016</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fourth of July is just a few days away, so this week we’ve been working with </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DukesandDuchesses/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Randi Dukes</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from </span><a href="http://dukesandduchesses.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dukes and Duchesses</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for tips and hint s on incredible DIY projects you can do to be sure your Fourth of July party is a big hit!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With her projects being incredible and easy this week, we’ve been clamoring for more, so Randi is leaving is with 10 more quick and easy DIY project ideas, showing us that sometimes it’s just the small things that make an event extra special, (and you might be able to use this weekend for throwing them together)!!! Check them out!!</span></div>
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<a href="http://dukesandduchesses.com/10-creative-ideas-for-the-4th-of-july/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="creative-ideas-for-the-fourth-of-July.jpg" height="470" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/8cB9S3LpDj7yEWyvxOnFu_n7-hi-215wqwpJBS8VI_UfGYFY-zTdSpP6z-Vj7l--BSpAHT6MzmQMPZK_oYVK2b9saDk4mW5BXowVTuJt_tlBB91E83Fh-Vzc43R_WGR5OmQQOEWQ" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="329" /></span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.3478260869565215; margin-bottom: 20pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(Click here to check out these last second DIY projects): </span><a href="http://dukesandduchesses.com/10-creative-ideas-for-the-4th-of-july/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://dukesandduchesses.com/10-creative-ideas-for-the-4th-of-july/</span></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.3478260869565215; margin-bottom: 20pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you Randi for joining us this week. It has been a treat to feature you and your DIY projects. We hope you will join us again in the very near future!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Happy Fourth of July all!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you have any questions for Randi, please leave in the comments section below. Check out these projects by clicking on the photos above. </span></div>
Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-66751930302663183032016-06-30T08:45:00.001-07:002016-06-30T08:45:53.849-07:00Gettin’ Crafty with Randi Dukes, Part 4<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gettin’ Crafty with Randi Dukes, Part 4</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By O. Michele Giacomini</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="125" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/JxylHO3ewn7PGDxyAD-44vwCLXmhWdcOGLgkre4Gnr9E-0Ro3x3jVw_lnrchEx6rdkartTy-v43BrtBwrrSMr9Qd-TvFHSi_Uvfgw1x1S4W-htUR0cWyeHRK4_IN9L8g1zOuzg5M" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="125" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">June 30, 2016</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fourth of July will be here before you know it and we want to help you create an event that everyone will remember! This week the amazing </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DukesandDuchesses/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Randi Dukes</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from </span><a href="http://dukesandduchesses.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dukes and Duchesses</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> here with tips and hints to help you through the party of the century!!! </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, Randi is showing us how to make terrific tablescapes with some tiny touches that will have your guests, “ooohing and ahhhhing” all over the place!</span></div>
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<a href="http://dukesandduchesses.com/fourth-of-july-tablescape/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="tablescapes.jpg" height="472" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/WD39AfOobFXWV7_CPwlub5GgX9QjHPrPG3jSH3wubEyoaEqf9WRrHCHzb6ZSccR1BIblsOEDct0jrRAY3mYLFC2DEWY-OFyw5qH3OiWle1mNumS9aeUkb-yGVkMj7v3s5cnWE1AD" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="329" /></span></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.3478260869565215; margin-bottom: 20pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Happy Fourth of July! Will you be celebrating with friends and family? If so, I have a few fun last minute ideas to make your fourth of July tablescape sparkle with supplies you probably have in your craft cabinet! Rethink your scrapbook drawer and glitter up that table!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” (Click here for instructions): </span><a href="http://dukesandduchesses.com/fourth-of-july-tablescape/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://dukesandduchesses.com/fourth-of-july-tablescape/</span></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you have any questions for Randi, please leave in the comments section below. Check out these projects by clicking on the photos above. Join us tomorrow when Randi shows us a few more Fourth of July tips that will elevate your party to the next level! </span></div>
Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-50520452996263290522016-06-29T14:25:00.000-07:002016-06-30T13:25:37.099-07:00BOOK TOUR BEGINS TOMORROW!!!!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">HOORAY!!! My Summer Book Tour Begins tomorrow for my new release:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking for B.O.B. (BrightSides of Bull$#!+) </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every Day</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TqTZq-vhXU7StmmmVPG07trXW_KSz5Fdq2V7FJRwNUmm4Ct-snpANEMONdRaxcHaFzxnYBboK38EnwmxlCas7HtazLByDKolPF3SiSzLwI1IsvmFd7mStN2FTzt2SlUOtllGMuZSyyE/s1600/MissOMG+BOB+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9TqTZq-vhXU7StmmmVPG07trXW_KSz5Fdq2V7FJRwNUmm4Ct-snpANEMONdRaxcHaFzxnYBboK38EnwmxlCas7HtazLByDKolPF3SiSzLwI1IsvmFd7mStN2FTzt2SlUOtllGMuZSyyE/s1600/MissOMG+BOB+Cover.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Please join me at one of these locations:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">June 30th 5-7pm Truckee, CA </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Meet me in Old Town Truckee at the Street Faire. (Red tent, near the Squeeze Inn)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bookshelf Stores, Inc. Booth</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(For more info: <a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/6-30-Truckee-Thursday-Olivia-Michele-Giacomini.html?soid=1102329573843&aid=wnj5NJiNOPY">http://myemail.constantcontact.com/6-30-Truckee-Thursday-Olivia-Michele-Giacomini.html?soid=1102329573843&aid=wnj5NJiNOPY</a>)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">July 9th 2-4pm, Newcastle, CA</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Meet my for some wine tasting, and listen to a great band at:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dono dal Cielo</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">6100 Wise Road</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">July 10th 1-3pm, Auburn, CA</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Meet me for some more wine tasting at:</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">SIP</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">337 Commerical Street (Near the old Fire Station)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">(Quantities of books will be limited, so I suggest buying ahead of time, if possible. You can follow the link in the upper right hand corner of my blog site to purchase, or go to Amazon.com and type in: "Miss OMG")</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking forward to seeing you at one of these events!!!</span></span><br />
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Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-11413557609252003752016-06-29T08:27:00.000-07:002016-06-29T08:27:03.272-07:00Gettin’ Crafty with Randi Dukes, Part 3<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gettin’ Crafty with Randi Dukes, Part 3</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By O. Michele Giacomini</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="125" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/OHbRIFxZMF0qOT3OR8GZhW2KCbIz7VnDLkTixNrHIsiuSF3yLEyg8-zaZlwgGHY4qltQrqhbsb7okVM_1WTpP_Fmgp7NKur2YgZfyv7V0N89Mvt-zA7gYyiMScwPLogJgkFMAycw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="125" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">June 29, 2016</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fourth of July is less than a week away and we want to help you create an event that everyone will remember! So this week we have the incredible </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DukesandDuchesses/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Randi Dukes</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from </span><a href="http://dukesandduchesses.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dukes and Duchesses</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> here to help!!! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, Randi is showing us how to make Pop Rocks Lollipops that are sure to spark delight in kid of all ages!</span></div>
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<a href="http://dukesandduchesses.com/pop-rocks-lollipops/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="poprock.jpg" height="374" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/V04GapTsTqAoTLxTzl96ywPKSEN3zsgNZlZHNKU2wcWtSGCtK5re0ar5Q5HT7biGH_ouSn9u7Kb_K8e_DKsdS1_x_wuU-NFICi_MT0hAtOEWetuE0swnRcyhxLGX2UT-pF96H8kg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="248" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These pop rocks lollipops might be one of my favorite ideas ever for the Fourth of July. I first saw them on a website that no longer exists and knew they’d be a big hit with my kids!</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” (Click here for instructions): </span><a href="http://dukesandduchesses.com/pop-rocks-lollipops/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://dukesandduchesses.com/pop-rocks-lollipops/</span></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you have any questions for Randi, please leave in the comments section below. Check out these projects by clicking on the photos above. Join us tomorrow when Randi shows us how that it’s the tiny touches that make terrific tablescapes for your tremendous 4th of July party!</span></div>
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Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-12702759616546159352016-06-28T11:25:00.000-07:002016-06-28T11:31:10.133-07:00MOM MODE: Your Babies are ALWAYS your Babies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMfh3lwbQkvCGsv2FJBYYCBvQTKMmOoQXhHHBkxON0Dv4n5XPKIUWZ6D01vSTvMlUJz976678BymLUSYlubCTHpN5OtGtidI7euCfGjG3-n_OAZVcpaxdOp_JKwgDkCSJeoepbJpaHm8/s1600/Mom+Mode.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMfh3lwbQkvCGsv2FJBYYCBvQTKMmOoQXhHHBkxON0Dv4n5XPKIUWZ6D01vSTvMlUJz976678BymLUSYlubCTHpN5OtGtidI7euCfGjG3-n_OAZVcpaxdOp_JKwgDkCSJeoepbJpaHm8/s1600/Mom+Mode.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My heart weighs heavy today. I'm in "Mom Mode" yet neither of my kiddos are even under my roof right now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our oldest, Eric, is scouring the great Pacific Northwest in hopes of settling there. UGH!!! This kid is causing me to be sleepless while he's in Seattle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our youngest, Ryan, is off "living in the moment" in Europe. Now this would not bother me so much, but he's now sick. There is NOTHING more helpless feeling than knowing your child is sick and you canNOT get to him to help take care of him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes, I've video chatted with him and I even looked at his tonsils through our phones (thank goodness for modern technology). WHAT? I'm a mom, of course I did that...you would too, so don't judge me! He looks like hell and I know he feels like it too. Nothing worse than being in one of the most amazing places on earth (VENICE, my favorite) and stuck in bed...(alone). ;) AYE!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While I've showered him thoroughly with what I call "motherly advice" (and what he references as "nagging"), I'm now worried sick, because he refuses to get off his butt and go to the doctor. I mean, he's in a country, where he can be seen for FREE, and he definitely needs to be, but he won't.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know, as a mom, we need to let our children fail on their own, so that they can live and learn, but this is NOT one of those moments I feel okay with letting slide under the radar. HE'S MY BABY! Albeit, he's my 21 year old baby, but I want my baby to be healthy. Can you blame me?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, just a word to all you parents of young children out there...you know how you worry about them day in and day out? Well, get used to it, because it never stops. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now on that note, anyone know where I can get a cheap flight to Venice so I can go take care of my son?</span><br />
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Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-42860331655528867752016-06-28T09:47:00.001-07:002016-06-28T09:47:19.918-07:00Gettin’ Crafty with Randi Dukes, Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gettin’ Crafty with Randi Dukes, Part 2</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By O. Michele Giacomini</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="125" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-em55093a69bKPyfWhP1T4iGOXFgNx8ki3IaHEDgkMwOh1moyJh9MyOgDhN7QZMrz0GgsVkF90gvi4KFBJlGMAIsBJcr9yUx_bqRzxVAPtdLDZPqI962cBXRS5KJUDsvOyNnR5SU" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="125" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">June 28, 2016</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fourth of July is coming up and we know you want to make it extra special. So this week we have the one and only </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DukesandDuchesses/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Randi Dukes</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from </span><a href="http://dukesandduchesses.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dukes and Duchesses</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> here to help!!! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, Randi is showing us how to make Glow in the Dark shirts that everyone will love wearing.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="glow in the dark shirts.jpg" height="405" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/IBRPa396SUGMtrGxLh9F8KwtenDyU-2IuO6ZfO2N_ha_msU4lK654n2DoU1uSPwZ3o4CUzZuN79QrCupPRyibCFHJuXTuosTJc_GAVYKyfq2P9gJrSuzI-pll40Ux2FkK-INYLKp" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="283" /></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 2.3478260869565215; margin-bottom: 20pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #777777; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I love to dress my kids in coordinating holiday shirts for the 4th of July. This year I made glow in the dark shirts for them to wear. Their stars will be glowing away while we’re watching fireworks! That sure trumps a glow stick, doesn’t it? Let me show you how easy it is to make glow in the dark shirts for your kids … or for the whole family!” (Click here for instructions): </span><a href="http://dukesandduchesses.com/glow-in-the-dark-shirts-for-the-4th/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://dukesandduchesses.com/glow-in-the-dark-shirts-for-the-4th/</span></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you have any questions for Randi, please leave in the comments section below. Check out these projects by clicking on the photos above. Join us tomorrow when Randi shows us how to make your Fourth of July party a huge hit with Pop Rock Lollipops!</span></div>
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Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-80713610937857247262016-06-27T08:06:00.000-07:002016-06-27T14:57:56.070-07:00Gettin’ Crafty with Randi Dukes<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gettin’ Crafty with Randi Dukes</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By O. Michele Giacomini</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="125" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/F-MDZAL3wHE3dIZvS5NOqwMjCXh_BW8tdoa-s6rg0LeIxHRcx4ymR3xc8lZFHhMUH4OW4GVoTe3465G1HQtksi5UZczeFaAUvUdUxkxOdMBvuyhTc6tT5vUOQVzaTREbYY_I6qOL" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="125" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">June 27, 2016</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are you a crafty kind of person, or someone who would like to be? I know that the holidays can often inspire us to make things we’d never sit around and do for an average Wednesday. But sometimes we feel that urge to make...but we have no idea what to create. Well, our guest this week does...and boy are you in for a treat, because we have the one and only </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/DukesandDuchesses/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Randi Dukes</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> from </span><a href="http://dukesandduchesses.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dukes and Duchesses</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">!!! (If you know her DIY site, you know what an honor this is)!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was able to connect with Randi recently to get a head start on Fourth of July projects, and I’m so excited to share them with you this week!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before we get started, let’s check in with Randi:</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Thank you for being here with us this week Randi. As you know, I LOVE your DIY projects and your site is tremendous! Tell us about how your website was born? </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">RD: “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I created Dukes and Duchesses as an online scrapbook of sorts and then realized that people, besides my family, were reading about the crafts and projects I was creating. That inspired me to continue on the craft/DIY path. I’ve always loved creative projects and writing has been a really fun outlet.”</span></div>
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<a href="http://dukesandduchesses.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="cover shot.png" height="145" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/fOmxRrS3SUMi2UQHqwG8lftoJBbanPUIBBJo3NtGGLbgEZ9fr7WE5ZtpIVdj2_P08TZOdqw1VP5zN53R4I--578ZpdxoJ1GdQ7DWWH9YClTxpjRumcEZvQX_VGVLWFJOd-zxoc1U" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="387" /></span></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: You mentioned that you’ve always loved creative projects, so how long have you been crafty/DIYer?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">RD: “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve loved crafts and DIY projects since I was a child and during my teen years I was greatly inspired by Martha Stewart.”</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Who wasn’t inspired by her, right? She is amazing, and you have obviously been a very good “student” of hers! Do you remember the first thing ever making? </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">RD: “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first thing I remember making were PILES of potholders made on a loom. I spent a summer creating hundreds of them. As an adult, I realized that I could think outside the box and create my own projects rather than just copy others.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="loom potholders.jpg" height="276" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/b8dyYW0eYbE4i4G6MDXX07ONShoTWAv6vwpGhLITvAcF3-xkozwziGbtPb-GIqSQhoK8WdeyOZ_EBqzdFcY5raQEOYzFCoyKR-oizwKTMGlqwyprutbUCI0Y9peiCCvadJvW4yz-" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="356" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Example of the late great loom potholders!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: *laughing* Oh my gosh, you are giving me flashbacks of sitting at my grandma’s house doing the same thing! So glad you discovered that you were so talented and creative, because you have a lot to offer you readers/followers. Speaking of which, what do you really hope that your readers are "taking away" from your site?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">RD: “I love having the chance to pop briefly into the lives of others to inspire people to live creatively. I hope my readers see that creative doesn’t have to be complex.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Just one of the many things to love about you! I like that you try to make projects “do-able” for people at all skill levels.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tell us what your all-time favorite TOP 5 DIY projects have been?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #500050; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">RD: “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The top five projects I’ve done – that’s tough. I love the repurposed terracotta pot table, the small space wall desk, my DIY console {that was my first major build}, my painted fabric chair, and the bench I made from a headboard. But I have years and years of projects on my site and lots more that hold a top spot for me.”</span></div>
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<a href="http://dukesandduchesses.com/how-to-make-a-terracotta-pot-table/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Terracotta pot table.jpg" height="640" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/rh15VqwrsmIubFY6R0J6Aarxq-QA-6gtBPmcp3fftixpPEdcnBaZ9-aiEueepZv9Ridv7Zf9dDV1OvM-uCng8V1m8V-fTrUfd8qFyCDZPg-5gVVa2XVr3WBy3fLE2lf0TrWTwDfy" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="426" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of Randi’s very favorite DIY projects</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: I know we are going to focus on some Fourth of July projects this week, but do you have some other summer DIY projects that people should also be checking out?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">RD: “Some of my (favorite) summer projects would be the terracotta pot table, DIY charcoal grill, & jeans pocket utensil holder.”</span></div>
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<a href="http://dukesandduchesses.com/diy-charcoal-grill/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="charcoal grill.jpg" height="424" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/VU32IPngoBd3a_RpCcpO9Nwc1nXDCm8hEJbgXf2Qa3N7WrJ0_SLCfFAmjqnGoHGOVvf4ky3wPjso7I6bHtHuyH1cbAnS8RRq_B4y1Y-suXNEtE9df4DlM5OmXorE5OlL5aAkWWFv" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="282" /></span></a><a href="http://dukesandduchesses.com/no-sew-jeans-pocket-garland/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="denim.jpg" height="424" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ESIcKq1XmcU52URwEPdWITwnYVZrgzq1wl5EuhB22PmBuHURMXDMbHbx_g-wzuKntvZKCLDhaLy9k_Gnxt9cAWo2Ym8vw39-IPBVQ0LwhW0xL9ezaYOasw8m6mGhS-FjWcv5gjGw" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="284" /></span></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">DIY Charcoal Grill & Jeans Pocket Utensil Holders</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Those are some great projects too Randi! And we could even use those for Fourth of July! Thank you for sharing those with us!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you have any questions for Randi, please leave in the comments section below. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><u>Check out these projects by clicking on the photos above</u></b></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Join us tomorrow when Randi shows us how to make really spectacular Fourth of July Glow in the Dark shirts!</span></div>
<br />Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-20038352787395157712016-06-22T15:09:00.000-07:002016-06-22T15:23:51.419-07:008 Travel Tips for Tots (and the Parents who Drag them Places)<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Checkout my International Debut as a published writer on <a href="http://thebabyspot.ca/">TheBabySpot.ca</a>:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was such an honor to write for this phenomenal Canadian parenting magazine! Please check them out and follow us both!</span><br />
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<h2 class="et_pt_title" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Raleway, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em; margin: 18px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px 2px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="http://thebabyspot.ca/eight-travel-tips-for-tots-and-the-parents-that-drag-them-places/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #111111; font-size: 24px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Eight Travel Tips for Tots (and the Parents who Drag them Places)</a></h2>
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<img alt="Eight Travel Tips for Tots (and the Parents that Drag them Places)" src="http://babyspot.thebabyspot.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/IMG_08681-184x184.jpg" height="184" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="184" /><a href="http://thebabyspot.ca/eight-travel-tips-for-tots-and-the-parents-that-drag-them-places/" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #4bb6f5; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="overlay" style="background: url("images/blog-image-overlay.png") 0px 0px no-repeat scroll transparent; border: 0px; display: block; height: 199px; left: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 199px;"></span></a></div>
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By. O. Michele Giacomini-It’s that time of year when parents stress out over planning and packing for a vacation, for which they will attempt to bundle up the entire house, including their kiddos, to take on their awesome adventure. Much of that stress comes from worrying about what to do with the kids WHILE travelling. But there’s no need to worry. Follow my tips and you can be sure to have a pleasant and memorable journey of joy! Before we begin with fun tips, let me share a little logistics tip that has served me very well over the many,...(Read more: <a href="http://thebabyspot.ca/eight-travel-tips-for-tots-and-the-parents-that-drag-them-places/">http://thebabyspot.ca/eight-travel-tips-for-tots-and-the-parents-that-drag-them-places/</a>)</div>
<br />Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-68177588530459496432016-06-21T08:47:00.000-07:002016-06-21T08:49:13.917-07:00Got Wine? with Jeff Burrows<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">Got Wine? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;">with Jeff Burrows</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Jeff WINEGURU2.jpe" height="220" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/SinPi-BzpsbNaIU7XbAVNnstDcLKS8sRRDp-0ICpuLPBGXI5yyv03eDf2peMHaQpKiWK56H1NjlGzbXFlERYEc1Nj2spe7tdpIgS3g0Xzlraq8fWjHpRanK8CHDcDz7vkb3JnZvv" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="152" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ever walk the wine aisles of the store and wonder, “Which wine do I pick? Do I choose the more expensive one? Do I choose the one with the most points? Or do just select the one with the most interesting label and hope for the best?” Well, if you have, then maybe you need a Wine Guru to help you along the way! And you are in luck, because our guest this week is just that. Jeff Burrows and his site </span><a href="https://foodwineclick.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FoodWineClick.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> are here to help you make the best choice next time you are grabbing a bottle of vino...no matter what the occasion.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Welcome to our site Jeff. Tell us, how did you become interested in wine?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">JB: “I came to wine late. Until 2009, we were a 4-bottles-a-year wine family, I could never understand what all the fuss was about. Our old next door neighbors and good friends started a winery in the Willamette Valley in Oregon and released their first commercial vintage in 2009. Of course we bought some, but whew, $35 a bottle! I had never spent more than $20 on a bottle of wine. I decided I should learn to actually understand a little more about this whole wine appreciation thing. That was the day I fell down the rabbit hole into Wine Wonderland. Now we have wine at the dinner table every day and our recycling is filled with empty wine bottles. It's never too late to start!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Nothing wrong with being a late-bloomer! So falling down the rabbit hole must’ve been an incredible journey, because it lead you to creating FoodWineClick.com, right?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">JB:</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> “Wine encouraged a rekindled interest in food and cooking, and I started taking photos of our creations. I took a food photography class, and students in the class challenged each other to have their blogs operational by the last class. There's nothing like a deadline to encourage action! </span><a href="https://foodwineclick.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FoodWineClick.com</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> became my platform to share a combined love of food, wine and beautiful photography with other enthusiasts. The blog has brought me new blogging friends and winegrower contacts all around the world.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Jeff WINEGURU3.jpe" height="260" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/nmr8fuWwOikecP-UyuWeqjog-VHq_rrLexFOxm1HPIug4JbbQ1NLginMaFSrt4CcXtDO6JsRIMp4AfNv59QRzJPmnVer2ssI73xBI0BM9k9ssFVLyy1LSzDB17ULNfwjmycwZT4R" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="302" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Peter and Casey (Jeff’s kids) shucking their way to oysters and Champagne</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: That’s amazing, and you’ve had such great success in such a short amount of time! What does the future hold for the site?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">JB: “My goal over the next year is to work on increasing my readership. I've always tried to focus on content, and I receive consistently good feedback, but I'm hoping I can find more people interested in following along.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: What do you hope your readers are gleaning from your site?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">JB: “On a daily basis, I'd love for my readers to incorporate wine at the dinner table, enjoying a glass with nice meals, take-out, and even leftovers. I'd also love for my readers to become curious about new wine regions and especially about small wineries, especially those that are still family run.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Well that is certainly what led our paths to cross! I’m all about the small wineries. I used to be a wine consultant and we specialized in boutique wineries, (besides, living in Northern California I’m surrounded by them), so I totally get what you mean. Plus, a glass of wine makes just about any meal feel more special...even those left-overs you mentioned!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Okay, this is the time when I put you on the spot. If you could pick anywhere in the world, where would it be and which wine would you be tasting?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Jeff WINEGURU.jpe" height="211" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/AGt3G3E4PwIWW-rI0B8lF4-lcZUvBVtR5OlZq72144Exh8F0jcDUfdxsCgCp4rao-hQfNmHzWin1sHfIf54YIdLlDJFxp6DoihCjC4Zh8pgZYKBAOfCFGt1vpRr1T0xEVTmfKGga" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="242" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jeff with the red hose - Pumpovers at iOTA Cellars</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">JB: “Would you allow me two stops on my trip?” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: What the heck, you only live once! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">JB: “I'm a big fan of Italian wines, so I'd go to the Piedmont and then jump down to Sicily. We've visited the Piedmont several times and we have lots of friends now that we miss and would love to visit again and enjoy eating and drinking with them. Of course, this would include Barolo and Barbaresco, but there are so many delicious wines from the region, we would want to enjoy them all! Sicily is on my short list for a new region to visit, and I can hardly wait until we get the chance to go. My first stop would be the region around Mt. Etna. The volcanic soils and high altitude combine to produce wines that I find simply irresistible. Plus, there's the whole active volcano thing!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Jeff WINEGURU5.jpe" height="199" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/L4vslWV25hln0NOR4ZsC5qck0k4v3S0AIBCkfBPI2gGovT9cOrsBV4tI0Qy-7Kk_4RP5hrztzuV4K_YrYdj6hwEpqopeYLNgrKda87jslb8hutGcIiRTUlActLU62C8v2e6F6Qlz" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="289" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nicola Oberto of Trediberri showing me the finer points of brix assessment by reflectometer in La Morra, Italy.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Yep, Italian wines are my very favorite too, and we love them from all different regions of Italy. We also love that we can purchase some incredible wines for next to nothing when we are there. In fact, I shouldn’t admit this, but I think we drink more wine than water when we are in Italy!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So tell us this Jeff, what are your FIVE current favorite picks under $25 & your current 5 favorites if price is no object?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">JB:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Under $25 (Summer Edition)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Two Shepherds Grenache Blanc - William Allen is crafting excellent Rhone inspired wines in California. Every time I open one of his Grenache Blancs, I'm always struck how pretty it is.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Calera Central Coast Chardonnay - My favorite under $25 American Chardonnay. Elegant, lean but pretty Chardonnay.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Any Provençal rosé! - Perfect for warm summertime lunches, crisp, fruity, so refreshing</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso - Lighter body red wine, takes a bit of a chill nicely. Not that well known, but in my experience, a crowd-pleaser.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trediberri Langhe Nebbiolo or Barbera d'Alba - Nicola is a friend of ours and we love his wines, these are two excellent wines, very reasonably priced.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sky's the Limit</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Domaine Morey-Coffinet Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru (5-10 years old) - I visited Thibault Morey last fall, totally in love with their wines. A bit out of my usual price range, but memorable.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">J.L.Chave Hermitage (at least 15 years old) - somehow, we lucked into a tour at Domaine J.L. Chave a couple of years ago. They were so nice and we love their wines. Their Hermitage is legendary, again out of our normal price range and an old one would be a treasure.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bartolo Mascarello Barolo (at least 25 years old) - Classic old school Barolo maker, I'd love to enjoy a properly aged bottle.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva DOC - legendary Veneto winegrower, at $600 a bottle for current vintage, I'll never be able to afford one, but I sure would love to taste it!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paolo Bea Montefalco Sagrantino Passito - I love all the Paolo Bea wines I've tasted. This one would be a great dessert wine to finish the evening after all those amazing wines above!</span></div>
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<tr style="height: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 0px; border-left: solid #000000 0px; border-right: solid #000000 0px; border-top: solid #000000 0px; padding: 0px 8px 7px 7px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Now THOSE sound like some great picks that should be on our vino radars for sure!!! Do you have anything on the radar for you right now?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">JB: “Our French Winophiles blogging group will be sharing and chatting about Loire Valley Wines around Sancerre, Pouilly-Fume and Menetou-Salon. Look for #winophiles on twitter this week!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Ooh la la, that sounds like a FUN discussion that all our wine loving friends and followers should catch! They should also check out your site: </span><a href="https://foodwineclick.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">FoodWineClick.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to get your latest information and recommendations for everyone’s next bottle of vino! Thanks so much for joining us this week Jeff.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Jeff WINEGURU4.jpe" height="202" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/IdNZSKx7NU_Of5IeJjxOoq4H69BjacV4YMdziJEpQP9yk3I7t2ni4RL7OtvsPw8wTnGfiNOHo4JYA5dkW9KCYiYDobkS1BS0KwQuC-spnKaCiw9-nApDOO5q4nQ0LqBb0950Xen1" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="202" /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 13.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sciabola (saber) at work at Enoteca Al Nido della Cinciallegra in Neive, Italy</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you have any questions for our Wine Guru friend, Jeff Burrows, leave them below. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Join us next week when Randi Duke from Dukes and Duchess joins us with some great DIY July 4th projects that are sure to spark your DIY senses!!!</span></div>
<br />Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-32689285301711251932016-06-14T09:15:00.001-07:002016-06-14T09:15:51.513-07:00Love and Life on the Road as a NASCAR Newlywed <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 33pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Love and Life on the Road as a NASCAR Newlywed </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpN4GhvjSYcLUqUvv2N2yphxBD_NYnE8gF8_-zFe-QyDZolY8Y586PfaM0xHxJbJ6m0GPAOg7uzeJm-eDaegk5b2KudMBxNKCo5tleqxtLomwzEiMpsjGvcAgw5Q3gEUw9PSBT9z1weZM/s1600/jessica+coverjpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpN4GhvjSYcLUqUvv2N2yphxBD_NYnE8gF8_-zFe-QyDZolY8Y586PfaM0xHxJbJ6m0GPAOg7uzeJm-eDaegk5b2KudMBxNKCo5tleqxtLomwzEiMpsjGvcAgw5Q3gEUw9PSBT9z1weZM/s320/jessica+coverjpeg.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">June 14, 2017</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Jessica Barile married her husband, Tim, last December, she also married the sport of NASCAR. So now, for better or worse, in sickness and health, till death do them part, Jessica is joined to raceway’s hip, and she wouldn’t have it any other way! While car racing is an exciting sport, Jessica has come find that sometimes the life as a NASCAR Newlywed, isn’t so glamorous. But she isn’t letting little bumps in the road force her to the proverbial Pit Stop, instead she is working through life’s complications as a young married lady, living in a new town, building a foundation for a new marriage, and a new life for herself, and she’s putting it in writing!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I got a chance to catch up with Jessica recently as she told me all about her new project, which is her blog: Love & Life on the Road. She felt this was a place that she could share life’s trials and tribulations and hopefully help other newlyweds going through similar situations. Of course, I began to grill her on all of this, and this is what she shared:</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Jessica, we know you’ve been married to your husband, Tim Barile, for just a short time, but what is life like, so far as a NASCAR newlywed?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">JB: “Life is crazy for us NASCAR newlyweds. We got married in the off season so we did get a month or so together before the season started. Our life (consists of) long hours, late nights, early mornings, and a quick kiss in between. With my job and hours that switch every week, and Tim only home Sunday night through Thursday morning it makes some weeks harder than others.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="jt.jpg" height="258" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Ls2mR0yRkY_gQssYNoYetP_5P7qAyk7HO2aL3ItB_j11XW0ctK6qHekfQ0N0NqPLZtlLR-M-vDZU9iwByZJnmat3hx7hpuXqsQGUfWVbaU9H78V6mORtQ-3svcRerj6SUvakjEC9" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="258" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jessica and Tim Barile at the speedway</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: So an average week is crazy and chaotic, but tell us what goes on when you do get to travel with Tim?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">JB: “I only travel to local races within driving distance but those are fairly often. The most recent race I went to was Bristol, Tennesse. Tim and I left the house at 3:00am and drove 3 hours to get to Bristol, he worked hard all day and then drove home. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the track I love watching what the team is doing to get the car ready, and I tend to harass the pit crew while they are setting up. At Bristol I got to go to an appearance with Tim for his driver, Jeffrey Earnhardt, and I got to go to the drivers meeting.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Vvd91gkbhfoz-iMEN1MKipqA83wwp2eSHMzrT51Yx04HhU7KSQ4xumxnb0TZo2McMRjrrsrXP82JdDg6VxgTg4eW3dzI9xMzCtrHsOj7mKdv5vpMPZCe7JNTp0kKu2S9G1pcjx73" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="240" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jeffrey Earnhardt & Jessica Barile at Bristol Motor Speedway April 17, 2015</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: That sounds interesting and fun! There’s obviously a little payoff in there for all the hectic times you go through. So, when you do have time together, what does a Hot Date Night look like for NASCAR Newlyweds?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">JB: “We have just recently implemented date night or date morning depending on our schedules. Most recently it was breakfast at a little place nearby before I had to go to work. Before that we went out to eat at the Texas Longhorn, and the date before that was Chinese food, Barnes & Noble, and Ben & Jerry’s. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We don't do anything extravagant, but when we decide to go out of our comfort zone, it’s worth it. We went to Myrtle Beach about 2 months ago and trust me it was needed and much (appreciated).”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 33pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="jt1.jpg" height="105" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/F5MNIjxhb6Z0Q-t7cDxsrAeO1v5tpfkNFUsxEnDjPgP9FjHIyzFdozF56PmLoYX5vYcQeHC2DWW1qC458HMTSn851RFTAsaAZMg3betyNNIwGEA4brvJY-wO-RDx1OWOsNLkEeLr" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="140" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 33pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tim and Jessica enjoying time on the water</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: What is the biggest obstacle you are experiencing as a NASCAR Newlywed that you didn't expect?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">JB: “The biggest obstacle being a newlywed is that I wasn't expecting was being lonely. We did a long distance relationship for a year and a half, but I was with my family and his family during that time. When I moved here to Cornelius, North Carolina, I left our families and my friends. As a newlywed with a husband who travels, I find that I am lonely on my days off. But I am getting out there and meeting people.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: I can imagine the loneliness can be difficult to deal with at times? What do you do to combat those feelings?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">JB: “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The loneliness is hard. I tend to self wallow when I am feeling really emotional. I will text my best friends Julie and Jessica or I will talk to my mom and sister. I will go for a walk around the lake if it’s nice, because it reminds me of Tahoe a bit. The loneliness is going away more and more that he is gone and I am working. Work has been a great distraction since on the weekends I am working and I am working long hard days.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="334" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_BSI1-QJi5H8zcIGk3MjGYQA3uQvZfEQRJOg1K1KSXrzGyVspAY784-xI5-yO4kp_9ytIG0kZo54VsWwjfNkn2E-c_e8FCCBF8K9TCfiV-7noAbRkE5psTAnV82miN7SZFw-J1A8" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="334" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jessica finds time in her hectic schedule to relax and reflect whenever possible</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Well, that’s good that you aren’t sitting at home doing nothing and that you are able to get out and meet people. What are you finding is the key to your marriage, so far?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">JB: “The key to our marriage foundation so far is definitely communication, love and trust. Those have been the main key of our relationship from day one. I have always trusted Tim, (it’s everyone else I don't trust, *she laughs*) and our communication has had to be on point with doing a long distance relationship. Love should come naturally. I have never </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">NOT </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">loved him, even when he makes me irritated—I still love him.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: RIGHT??? *laughing* I mean, what’s NOT to love about Tim? I’ve known him for years and he’s a genuine, stand-up guy. He’s got a good heart, and he’s a kind soul—and I totally see why you two are together. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What tips would you give others in a similar situation?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">JB: “I would tell other couples that they are normal. They aren't different, there are so many other couples like us. Some days are hard, some days are great, some perks are wonderful, and some aspects suck. Remember that your marriage is based on love and friendship and with those you can get through the hardest of times and the greatest of times. If you remember that being there for one another is essential you will be fine. You can’t be in a one-sided marriage and having a significant other who isn't home a lot, it can seem one-sided so it’s a matter of making the two of you important.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="jt2.jpg" height="200" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/8SPFGbx3eWqPpLtravt8koxinbQAMr8Jo9D-Zve41mrLaCpdnB1bM_tyHk5uwlDpeLVyKFpBpvPAqU5aZNLN17ZeA5tJoU0KUPgNEf0v1229Wksi1PhUnOMNiXC52bxlo2hKqclV" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="200" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jessica and Tim on their Wedding Day</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Okay Jessica, you know I have to put you on the spot. We just want to know, were you a NASCAR fan before you met Tim?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 4pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">JB: “</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was not a NASCAR fan at all before Tim introduced me to it. I thought it was stupid that cars went around in circles numerous times. *she laughs out loud* But I gradually learned a lot, and watched races every weekend and before too long I was actually really well versed and I have been able to teach others about it and I even listen to the races on an app on my way to work if I can’t watch.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Sounds like you are now addicted to life in the fast lane! Thanks so much Jessica for your candidness. I know a lot of readers out there will want to read more about your Newlywed NASCAR adventures, and they can check out more here: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Live and Life on the Road: </span><a href="http://lovelifeandtheroad.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://lovelifeandtheroad.blogspot.com/</span></a></div>
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Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-80016384808173617832016-06-13T14:13:00.000-07:002016-06-28T12:08:51.932-07:00Where in the World is Jocko???<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jocko's Journey</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, a lot of time has gone by sine the last update. Ryan is still in Italy, and nearly escaped being the second "Wanted Man" from our family in Bologna. (He was a hair away from having to dine and dash on a restaurant when he was completely out of Euros...not our recommendation on eating cheap, that's for sure). Though the food was terrible, Ryan is a man of integrity and gave the waitress the keys to his hotel room. Now at first that may seem "forward" but really he was just giving them to her as collateral so he could run out to find the nearest ATM without the big, burly guy behind the counter putting the hurt on him! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He did get a chance to go meet up with his cousin, Amber, in Montepulciano for a couple of days, after a brief stay at a hostel in Florence. Now let me tell you, we all need him to give up the name for this hostel, because evidently is was actually nice, and they fed him the best breakfast he's had this entire trip! He said all the other places have pretty much just throw a piece of toast at him and pointed him to some water. (I started to get worried that he may be in jail, for a moment)! But this place had an amazing spread...he mentioned it was the most full he's been this entire trip. (Not what a Mama Bear wants to hear, that's for sure)!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So now he's made his way to Venice...which as many know, is MY most favorite place in the whole world. But he's sicker than a dog and refuses to go get medical attention. DAMN STUBBORN KID! UGH! And though he's doing a lot of resting, he is trying to make the best of it. So he's laying low for the next few days before he treks off to London. $$$</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">June 22, 2016</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">CUTENESS WILL ONLY GET YOU SO FAR-Ryan says he's adding just one more night to Rome, but that's it, cuz he's ready to move on. (LUCKY BRAT)! He said he was on his way to Naples, and he just couldn't bring himself to sit on a train for 3.5 hours. So, he plans to pay homage one more night to his favorite cheap eats pizzeria and gelatoria, and then be on his way...but new plans (at the moment) are to head east to Rimini and get his butt to the beach! This means he's zeroing in on the Giacomini homeland..getting closer and closer to where his roots are from! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stay tuned, for all we know he could end up in Istanbul tomorrow if he meets another cute girl along the way! ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">June 21, 2016</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ROMANCING THE ROME-So Ryan called to tell me that he isn't going to Naples today. WHY?, you ask. Because he met a cute girl, of course!!! And the way I "heard it in my mind" is that she batted her beautiful Austrian eyelashes at him and pleaded for him to stay on a longer Roman Holiday with him. So he is. Awww, so romantic! (Probably not the reality of how it really went down, but I like to think so). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">June 20, 2016</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">LIVIN' ON A PRAYER...AND GELATO, LOTS AND LOTS OF GELATO-Ryan is of course loving Rome and says he thinks he can find himself living on gelato as a great cheap eat while there. (Must be nice to have a 21 year old metabolism)! LOL!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He checked in yesterday and says, "</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.32px;">I absolutely love the rain, but when you step outside and it's hot and sunny outside, you don't typically expect a huge thunderstorm. Even the weather app didn't expect it. Luckily, this thunderstorm allows me to post up on my Rome adventure so far! All I have left is to see the Vatican, head back to the hostel for some cheap pizza and some gelato, and plan my day tomorrow to Napoli!"</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.32px;">That rainstorm he was referring to did come down in buckets! So much so that a friend of mine was sharing that she has friends in Rome and they reported the same thing at the same time as Ryan...Ryan said he just "put a hop in his step" and got moving to the nearest gelato shop! LOL!!!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 18.2px; text-align: center;">Buon giorno, Ryan!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">June 19, 2016</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TO ROME OR NOT TO ROAM, THAT IS THE QUESTION...and the answer! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ryan called at 2:30am PST this morning to say he not only decided to make his way to Italy, but had just landed in Rome. Ya just gotta love the cheap European airfare! He shared that he had learned that hard way that you don't always luck out wen staying in hostels...that some have been a little less desirable, and his roommates from the night before were a nightmare! On on hour of sleep, draggin' his butt through Roma and devouring gelato like there's no tomorrow! (My favorite cheap eat there too)!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One week in, and he has decided to spend a good chunk of it in Italy...he says he just feels more at home, and after spending lots of time in a nearby gelatoria, his Italian is coming back a bit. YAY!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">June 18, 2016</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MOVING ON TO PLAN B, OR SHOULD WE SAY BACK TO THE REAL PLAN A?-Ryan ditched the cheap route, and is headed to his favorite, Munich. He explains, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.32px;">Well, my plans to go to Slovakia fell through, with that Budapest, Hungary is out of he question. I think I need to take a break to let this one sink in. I'm thinking the Hoffbrauhaus in Munich will suffice. I shall be taking a two hour train to Munich and drinking a cold one in Americas honor! (Or just because I can while I'm there)." </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.32px;">Basically, he told me the thought of being on a train for 7+ hours again today was just not setting well with him. Great choice Ry! PROST!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">June 17, 2016</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">STEPPIN' IT UP IN STUTTGART</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ryan says the jet lag is still trying to get the best of him, but he's rallying in Germany now! Ryan share that he is basically living on pretzels...food is really expensive for this young solo traveler...good thing he loves pretzels! Ryan explained that his goal is to stay at or under his $50 Euro per day budget, so with that in mind, he thinks he's heading to less expensive countries, and skipping his favorite, Munich. Plan now is to head off to Bratislava. Slovakia and then to Hungary. (Probably because he's hungry)! ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">June 16, 2016</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">NOTHIN' ROTTEN ABOUT ROTTERDAM-(Except it was boring, according to Ryan). Ryan reported that he spent the day exploring the Hague in the the Netherlands today with travel buddies Ahmet and Eric. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.32px;">He says, "We saw the international peace palace and ate a good meal at a place in china town, topped off with a quest for Ice cream, which ended in a dinner at Burger King. 'Twas a good day with some good people!" B</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ut now he's already ready to move on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span>June 14, 2016-</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">DOIN' IT UP IN DUBLIN-Ryan said good-bye to two new friends today, Jasmine and Jack. He's been staying at the Barnacle Hostel and says it's pretty good, and extremely close to EVERYTHING! From what he's told me about the place, my guess is he'll be back!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Peace out, Boy Scout! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If only Ryan wasn't so serious all the time!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today the three set out to explore the the city. He says, "<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 19.32px;">Dublin was fun as we were Shamrockin in the music stores and we definitely didn't hear any crickets, although we did stumble across a game being played!" He added that it was great to just sit at a pub and watch the game. I asked him if he figured out how to play and he pretty much said no, that it just looked like a ball being throw at some sticks. Sounds like he had the best idea by just kickin', tippin' & watchin'!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is that a cricket near your beer?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ryan had a great tip that the country has "state museums" and they are all free to visit. So the trio checked out the WWI Museum, and in his words, "Yeah, it was pretty cool." They also checked out a cafe and enjoy incredible Cappuccinos...so jealous!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Music and cappuccinos, can life get any better than this?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tomorrow spurs Ryan's life without an agenda...something he's always wanted to do in Europe. He shared with me recently, "I just wanna go and see where the trains take me." So he's doing just that...of course after a quick 40 minutes hop over to Brussels on RyanAir. (We always recommend RyanAir or EasyJet for really inexpensive flights in Europe).</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.32px;">Ryan's explored Brussels before, so he says he think he may head to Rotterdam and check out the sights and scene there. Stay tuned...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I guess the Irish are very competitive? Oh my!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">June 13, 2016-</span></span></div>
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A week ago Ryan came to me with angst in his eyes. He had found incredible airfare to Dublin, from San Francisco, but he'd have to leave in a week, and he'd be going by himself. Coming from a family of travel bugs, of course I encouraged him to go (as long as his boss was cool with it, of course)!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So he did. We dropped him off at the airport curb at noon yesterday, while we were whisked quickly through (we think it was due to heightened security...and our prayers are with all those affect in Orlando this weekend). And off he went. Through a series of layovers, I finally heard from him at 5am this morning. The poor guy was grumpy, tired and fighting a migraine (probably due to lack of sleep...which was resulting in his grumpiness). The worst part, he was only in Amsterdam at that point...aye!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Several hours later he touched down in Dublin. He arrived at his hostel where he said, "<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 19.32px;">Irish I was sleeping right now but I'm LUCKY I'm in Dublin grabbing a Guinness with my new friend Jasmine."</span> He said he enjoyed his Guinness and is now going for some grub then a good night's rest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hopefully we'll get to follow more of Ryan's adventures more as he checks in! I've asked him to give us some tips on cheap eats, cool sights and anything funky he comes across!! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ryan and new friend, Jasmine in Dublin</span></div>
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Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-49077941794634934152016-06-10T10:01:00.002-07:002016-06-10T10:01:33.907-07:00Five Ways to Market your First Book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey everyone!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was thrilled to see that Women Writers, Women's Books Magazine is featuring an article I wrote today!!! YAY!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Click here to check it out:</span><br />
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<a href="http://booksbywomen.org/five-unique-ways-to-market-your-first-book/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://booksbywomen.org/five-unique-ways-to-market-your-first-book/</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As always, if you have any questions or comments, leave them below!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Friday all!!!</span><br />
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<br />Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-19371323263363518682016-06-09T08:49:00.001-07:002016-06-09T08:51:04.926-07:00Losing while Cruising<br />
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Losing while Cruising: A Carnival Cruise Director Dishes out the Secrets of Staying Fit on the High Seas</h1>
<a href="http://foodiedaily.com/losing-while-cruising-a-carnival-cruise-director-dishes-out-the-secrets-of-staying-fit-on-the-high-seas/#comments" style="border: 0px; color: #010101; font-family: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;"></a></header><br />
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<span class="posted-by" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By <span class="reviewer" itemprop="author" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 2px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://foodiedaily.com/author/michele-giacomini/" rel="author" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Posts by Michele Giacomini">Michele Giacomini</a></span> </span><span class="posted-on" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">on <span class="dtreviewed" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><time class="value-datetime" datetime="2016-01-20T15:23:55+00:00" itemprop="datePublished" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">January 20, 2016</time></span></span><span class="cats" style="border: 0px; color: #b0b0b0; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="cat cat-color-549" href="http://foodiedaily.com/topics/home-slider/" style="border: 0px; color: #010101; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 21px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;">Featured Product/Artisan</a> <a class="cat cat-color-28" href="http://foodiedaily.com/topics/the-daily-tout/" style="border: 0px; color: #010101; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 21px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.4s ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;">The Daily Tout</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The moment passengers step on the ship for their cruise vacation getaway, they tend to head straight for lunch. If you are one of them, you will most likely find yourself migrating toward the buffet restaurant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Instantaneously, you have become ravenous. It all looks so good, from the savory pizzas, to the scrumptious sandwiches, juicy burgers and that buffet of endless delights — and that’s not even taking into account the desserts. You want it all, and you want it now.</span></div>
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<figure class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_3694" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #2e2e2e; float: right; line-height: 25.7143px; margin: 7px 0px 14px 22px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px;"><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="border: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: 0.923em; font-style: italic; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">Cruise Director, Jaime Dee energizes passengers on the Carnival Sunshine with Deck Party dancing.</figcaption></figure><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jamie Dee, Carnival Cruise Director says there are many things passengers can do to avoid this scenario.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“My two biggest tips would be one, stay active,” Dee said. “Two? Portion control.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dee doesn’t just talk the talk, she walks it, jogs, and dances it as well as anything else that can keep her moving.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“There are LOTS of opportunities to exercise while on board,” Dee said. “Take the stairs, join in the deck parties, and do active shore excursions. Keep up with your normal level of activity and the weight will stay off.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dee also recommends that guests drink lots of water and refrain from ordering a second entree at dinner.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“There are so many tempting foods on board the ship, but if you just try small amounts you will be grateful when your clothes still fit at the end of the cruise,” Dee said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another way to help with this is ordering the healthy choice meals—usually denoted with a heart symbol on menus—when dining.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">According to Dee, keeping active helps a great deal with maintaining weight under control, and is definitely how the crew stays in great shape. All Carnival Cruise ships have onboard fitness centers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“We have amazing fitness trainers in the Cloud 9 Spa area and they do personalized sessions,” Dee raved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Carnival also promotes detox plans that will help you continue to lose weight once the cruise is over. In addition to that, passengers may sign up to take group fitness classes for a small cost, such as Yoga, Pilates, and Spinning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For guests traveling on a budget, Dee encourages taking advantage of another onboard benefit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“The fitness instructors on board do complimentary consultations and also goal setting with any guests that request an appointment,” Dee said.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next time you are sailing the seas, follow these tips and you too can stay shipshape by not going overboard.</span></div>
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Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-27159821982676939372016-06-08T15:18:00.000-07:002016-06-08T15:18:29.525-07:00Freaking Out over my Frickin' Fitness<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="270" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/bgAaV_6CLp8dAKiqCnrI5UCMPyc_ScSUBvdEnHGZD6atzNMuPUx-Qd_u8jdesLXJ0Awvn1VkfLszKnvwSWLFNJtNvjoosDQ8knPnjf6kSQqlJoH57NePR2ZsqJmBYeniirPUfrEv" style="border: 3px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 12.6667px; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="330" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I realized today that I may be a fitness freak. I know, I know, you wouldn’t know that by just looking at me, but it is true. This hardcore reality slapped me in the face today. You see, during my morning workout (today was intervals on my cycle), I found myself huffing and puffing, and finding it hard to breathe. But it wasn’t due to the workout. It WAS due to the fact that my beloved Fitbit was not calculating my steps. WTF????? </span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-48bffd6f-3211-fb8e-d91e-0ec303f18283" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was hyperventilating with anger and anxiety! You see, even if I get up in the middle of the night to pee, I will still grab my Fitbit and take it with me, (just to be sure, because every step counts)! In fact, I actually started sleeping with it, just in case I begin to take up sleepwalking. What? Don’t judge me, I just wanna be prepared. Last week I was underwater cave exploring in the Riviera Maya. Well, we all know that Fitbits are not waterproof, but I waterproofed mine anyway by securing it in three enclosed plastic baggies with the zipper locks. And it worked! Got those “steps” counted too. HA!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So imagine how enraged I was, when I was 20 minutes into my workout today, just to find not a step was calculated? *insert favorite curse word here* Not a happy camper. So I sought out solace amongst some of my favorite FB friends.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In attempt to comfort me in my angst, my friend E.W. admitted, “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I drink my beer exclusively left-handed now. Fitbit thinks I'm walking! It's a win-win!” That made me smile a bit, then my friend Debbie claimed, “ I'm wondering if mine went so high it started over? I just finished my workout and it's @ 241. WTH!!!!” </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whew! I wasn’t alone. There were actually people out there who had been through this same agony, this same torture, and they understood the grief I felt at the loss of those precious steps not counted. *heavy sigh*</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then Jarrod pops in with a comment that I just could NOT believe, “If you are tired and your legs hurt you walked a lot and it is healthy if your legs don't hurt get off your butt and walk more. Boom! And that method is free.” Poor, poor soul—he just doesn’t get it.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So I’ve moped around all day, saddened by the incident. But then I got an idea—so I’m back on the Happy Train again, and you could say I think I’ll be back on track with my Fitbit Steps before dusk. You see, I have this Golden Retriever who likes to run, a lot! So my thought is, I’ll tie my Fitbit around her collar and throw a ball or a stick or whatever for her to go chase, while I kick back, sip a glass of wine and call it a day.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who says you can’t get fit while sitting on your butt? My Fitbit says I am! ;)</span></div>
Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-73207342524288556592016-06-07T09:10:00.000-07:002016-06-07T10:19:03.590-07:00Miss OMG PRESENTS: Momma Knows Best with Melanie Braga<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Momma Knows Best</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">with</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Melanie Braga</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By O. Michele Giacomini</span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-54c88eff-2b98-6a1c-7c9f-7f8e615d917c"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="melanie and kiki.jpg" height="238" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/jCxqnEg38qlqCKrwfT2t6ZfnmoOODB3ieIh3PeilNu5zVR_w2_MqqWjAIAPDRSiEdCdYefT5_ate3uRCS2m_Bzs6S7kqeKJaTTAJ6s3s9S_GDQcetqXm4t4HynWJtOM92lZfMDb-" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: 3px solid #000000; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="167" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">June 7, 2016</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Melanie Braga decided to start her own blog last year, little did she know the success when would achieve of reaching parents worldwide! Her blog, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Momma Braga</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> (www.mommabraga.wordpress.com), was created as a place to share her personal life and parenting stories. In one short year, the blog as taken off and so has her writing career as a parent extraordinaire!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recently, I had a chance to interview Melanie and get the inside scoop on </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Momma Braga</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and this is what she revealed:</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Hey Melanie, I know you have this great blog going. First of all, what’s the backstory on it?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MB: “The main reason I created the blog was to help others through my experiences and </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">journey. Since I was a young girl, I have always sincerely wanted to help people and this is why I originally went into social services. But with my lay off in that field and now (working) as a stay-at- home mom, I feel that this was the next best way to help others.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Lay-offs stink, there’s no sugar-coating it. It sounds like for you, however, you were able to take that door closing and finding your blog as another door opening.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MB: Absolutely, “Motherhood is a hard job to begin with, so I am hoping through my stories I can help myself and others learn from it.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: I know your blog is doing well, would you be willing to divulge how well?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MB: “My blog has been (averaging) about 245 visits a day and I have written on a variety of different topics such as: miscarriage, marriage, pets, health (as my husband has a liver disease) and of course on parenting which has good, bad, ugly and funny moments.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="210" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/CBJsGpSDhh_2rAVF8fiUpQEpiDOl2XiBdRd6uQaNlWHrJIutbamzCgVHQlHp4n4axEry1KQvPWtu02svZzfCnPQda2lnfHRFPpbbJSyr9nsI9B3W8sNh1MDVNBCX-MVyxSnPepnj" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: 3px solid #000000; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="157" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 33pt; margin-right: 11pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Family Dinner is never complete without a photobomb moment by Nikki </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.6667px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.2; white-space: pre-wrap;">in between her parents Melanie & Mike.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: What do you hope to achieve with your blog—what’s the ultimate goal?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MB: “My readers are from all over the world and have commented that my blogs are raw, honest and emotional stories. A few of the posts have helped and touched others in an inspiring way. This is what I want to achieve and this is the ultimate goal. I want my posts to inspire, comfort, and encourage people to be the best that they can be without any judging.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: I understand your blog is being recognized by some “heavy hitter” publications! Tell us about that:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MB: “I am very excited to have my blog picked up by The Baby Spot (www.thebabyspot.ca) which is an online global baby magazine that reaches thousands throughout the world. Many of my articles are featured here and I am extremely grateful to be a contributor to this growing magazine, </span><a href="http://thebabyspot.ca/tag/melanie-braga/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thebabyspot.ca/tag/melanie-braga/</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I have also been extremely grateful to have a few of my articles published in The Huffington Post. My bio and a link to these articles can be found here, </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/melanie-braga/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/melanie-braga/</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I provide the honest truth about my parenting and life experiences. Readers can expect that and just a </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">real </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">me. I really put my feelings out there and you really get to know me as a person through my experiences. I feel that we all learn from each other’s experiences and this is why I started to share others’ stories as well. I have also started featuring a “Mom of the Month” and “Dad of the Month”. The purpose of these are to promote businesses by mom and dad’s and also recognizing how great they are.”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: We love that about you too!!! Okay Melanie, so now that you’re an acclaimed parenting expert, give us five quick, UNIQUE parenting tips that everyone should know whether they are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, friend or stranger!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MB:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Never judge a parent.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. All kids are different, so embrace each child for the unique person they are.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Laugh often—as it will keep you sane.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Ask for help when needed.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Watch out for small toys and Mega Blocks, they do hurt your feet when stepped on!!! *she laughs*</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Thank you so much for joining us today Melanie. Before you go, what can we expect to see on your blog in the very near future?</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">MB: “Every month there will be a new ‘mom of the month’ and ‘dad of the month’ </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">which will be exciting and different each month. I am also doing (an article) on what an average day looks like in my life but this is in three parts as my day changes with the three shift rotation that my husband is on. This post is actually one that my fans have been requested, (can’t let my fans down), so that is in the works. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Summer is coming up so we will be doing a variety of different activities for the very first time with our daughter who will be two so that will be fun to share. The exciting part of having a toddler is the stories that it can inspire. (*she smiles broadly*) For example, my daughter just saw her shadow for the very first time this month and was very concerned with it. She kept calling it “ba” (which means bad). After a lengthy discussion and explanation that it was her shadow, she then said “Nice Kiki” and offered her shadow a hug and her doll. By the way my daughter’s name is Nikki so she calls herself Kiki!” </span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-54c88eff-2b99-d3af-f7a7-d05655d051fe"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="mel and kiki 2.jpg" height="197" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/UmnD69567vviRQRPv3wbjnFcJWDWt929icqwHLTAmJvKhdxjY6uRcC_xMl5REmcmEnxb_X6krCoG9OlAp-FqzbmpU2HMYqiMjo8b2nWJ92QSsZ0OgOJrbDeqJXESoWoRmSB14G0F" style="border: 3px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); transform: rotate(0rad);" width="200" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 12.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Melanie taking a selfie on her 35th birthday while kicking back with daughter, Nikki</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I know many of our readers are excited to read Melanie’s blog, so link here to check it out: </span><a href="https://mommabraga.wordpress.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://mommabraga.wordpress.com/</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Be sure to check out </span><a href="http://thebabyspot.ca/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Baby Spot</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, where Melanie is being featured in a 3-part Series on an Average Day as Momma Braga: </span><a href="http://thebabyspot.ca/an-average-day-as-momma-braga-part-i/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://thebabyspot.ca/an-average-day-as-momma-braga-part-i/</span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Also, check out Melanie’s blog to see my upcoming article on: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Travel Tips for Tots (and the Parents who Drag them Places)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you have any questions for Melanie Braga, please leave in the comments below!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Join us next week when we explore Newlyweds and NASCAR </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">with Jessica Barile!!!</span></div>
Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-37596537865036892942016-05-24T08:57:00.005-07:002016-05-24T09:40:16.142-07:00MISS OMG PRESENTS: A Little Wine Time with Raquel Johnson<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Little Wine Time </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">with Raquel Johnson</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By O. Michele Giacomini</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">May 24, 2016</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Nestled in the Gold Country foothills is one of Northern California's best kept "secrets." I mention "secrets" because this entire region of California has been keeping one for a long time! </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But the secret's out now:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It's their wine! While many flock to visit the Napa Valley a couple of hours away, those who know about the Gold Country Wine Trail are not only treated to a another beautiful area of NorCal, they're also saving money, and enjoying some of the best vino on earth--and you should too!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This lifestyles writer likes to travel and explore the Gold Country Wine Trail as often as possible, usually with my husband, or friends, or both. When we do, there's a special vineyard we like to visit every time. It's the Dono dal Cielo Winery. So why do we like this place so much? Quite frankly, what's NOT to like about this place? First of all, when you walk in the door you're treated like family. It's lively, it's casual and the people running the place are so down to earth, like Raquel Johnson.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Recently, I had an opportunity to interview Raquel and get the behind the scenes scoop on Dono dal Cielo. Let's check out what she had to say:</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OMG: Raquel, I need to know the backstory, how did you get involved with wine industry?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">RJ: "</span><span style="color: #222222; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To be honest, I call it a lovely kind of fate... that just kind of crossed my path. I wasn't really looking for it. I spent my entire career as a wedding planner in Southern California and then moved to Roseville and started working at La Provence (restaurant) as their wedding planner. The restaurant carried Dono dal Cielo's zinfandel. I had met the owner's son, Hunter McGillivray, a few times for tasting events and then after meeting the rest of his amazing family, they had asked if I would be the Estate Concierge and manage the Tasting Room. It's one of my favorite spontaneous decisions I've made."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OMG: I'm sure Dono dal Cielo appreciates that quick decision! So now that you've been working there for about four years, what have you found to be special or unique about the winery?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">RJ: "</span><span style="color: #222222; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I feel like when you are at Dono, it's a home away from home and I really mean that. You can come in and relax and feel like you are part of something. We have an amazing outside space. Plenty of tables inside and also outside under our covered patio. Adjacent to the tasting room lays a beautiful and expansive grassy area with a small family gazebo. It's perfect for picnic blankets and lawn games. Set on our Zinfandel Hill above the winery is a breathtaking view of our two lush Zinfandel vineyards with an incredible pergola for families and friends to spend the day."</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OMG: Well I think you forgot something: Pearl! To me Pearl makes Dono feel super special too...of course she should, since that sweet, friendly Great Pyrenees is the official winery greeter! You know Raquel, no one in Napa has a "Pearl" at their wineries! So besides being a very dog-friendly winery, why else should people ditch Napa and head over here to the Gold Country for wine?</span></b></span></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-10900988-e391-6a70-2279-7f3461fbe266"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Pearl~Official Winery Personal Greeter</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">RJ: "I can speak from experience as I have been to Napa recently. Coming from the Placer Wine Trail and then spending the day in Napa, I really missed the small 'mom & pop' feel of our wineries back home. Although Napa is absolutely stunning, I didn't enjoy how extremely busy they all were and having to fight the crowds just to get to the tasting bar (*she laughs*)...and it's so expensive to taste. I guess I've just been spoiled with our little boutique wineries on the Placer Trail."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: I love our boutiques wineries too, and that everyone seems to promote each other. There seems to be mentality for everyone to help each other be successful here in the Gold Country, and I guess when you know that the neighboring vineyards are also putting out quality wines it's easy to say, "Hey, check out my friend's winery too." Also, there's always something going on at the wineries. It seems like yours is always hopping! What do you have coming up?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">RJ: "We always have live music every Saturday and it has become a very popular day for us. We have planned a few exciting quaint parties for our wine club members. And so far this year have released 7 new wines of which we are really proud of."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Ok, I'm gonna put you on the spot Raquel. Tell us what your top 3 favorite Dono wines are, and why?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">RJ: "This is a tough one because I love them all for different reasons, (kinda like your kids). I adore every vintage of our Sauvignon Blanc and it has ruined me in the Sauv. world as nothing compares to our crisp refreshing pineapple grapefruity glass of love!!! I also like our current 2014 Zinfandel as it's more jammy and fruit forward this year than ever which I really appreciate. I also love our Davenport 6100. It's such a unique late harvest in that it is much lighter than a normal port style wine and with chocolate, VOILA! It's dessert for sure, with less calories."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">OMG: Oohh! I love those too, (and I love that diet tip with the port). I don't think there's ever been a Dono wine I didn't like, and I hope there never is! Thanks so much for sharing with us today Raquel.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To go check out</span><a href="http://www.donodalcielo.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dono dal Cielo</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, here's their link for more information:</span><a href="http://www.donodalcielo.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.donodalcielo.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></div>
<br /><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Their wines really are WONDERFUL, and I gotta say, when we have out-of-town guests, we always bring them there. Our friends are never disappointed with the experience. (By-the-way, when you go, be sure to say hello to Pearl for me)!</span><br />
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Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-2896351026751394522016-05-18T14:25:00.003-07:002016-05-18T14:25:41.528-07:00Sleep is for the Birds<span id="docs-internal-guid-6b77ae6c-c5bc-0bf5-95f6-42ef0884c3bb"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An excerpt from <u>Looking for B.O.B. (BrightSides of Bull$#!+) Every Day.</u> (You can buy <u>Looking for B.O.B.</u> on Amazon. Order soon to get your limited first release of this book!</span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Looking-B-B-BrightSides-Bull-ebook/dp/B01EIVWNV0?ie=UTF8&keywords=olivia%20michele%20kindle&qid=1461186865&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #141823; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.amazon.com/Looking-B-B-BrightSides-Bull-ebook/dp/B01EIVWNV0?ie=UTF8&keywords=olivia%20michele%20kindle&qid=1461186865&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1</span></a></i></span></span><div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Sleep is for the Birds</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Mr. Early Bird, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I guess you don't value your life much</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3:30 in the morning, really, two nights in a row? Screw being an Early Bird, cuz you're going to be a dead bird if I don't get some sleep! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sincerely, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #222222; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miss Sleep D. Prived</span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-436232f4-c5b4-b21b-fb7e-654773c284b9" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I shared with some neighbor friends that a damn bird had been waking us up in the middle of the night, and I found that this feathered-foe has been making his rounds. One neighbor said they had him in their backyard till they threatened him with their shotgun. Another neighbor tried to cheer me up and said I should make friends with it and enjoy it’s songs from nature. I shared with that same neighbor that I </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">had a better remedy—it's called borrowing our other neighbor’s said shotgun!!! We are no longer friends—something about irreconcilable differences?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I like birds and all, I LOVE animals, hell, I even own a flock of chickens—but this frickin' bird was on my last nerve. As someone I knew described, “He was like the loud guy at a party who just wouldn’t shut his beak,”—and he was starting to bring in his loud-mouthed friends. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of my buddies quipped that we were lucky they weren’t Angry Birds. Well they may not be angry, but I sure was!!! </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For the love of my family and my co-workers, that bird and his buddies needed to get the flock outta here! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So then the next night, it happened again. I found myself waking up screaming, “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">HELP!!! I'm trapped in the frickin' Tiki Room!!!”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> DAMN BIRDS!!! It was so bad, I was forced to send out an apology letter to my neighbors:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Neighbors, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We apologize for the loud, impromptu pool party at 3 o’clock this morning. Please know it was being organized by a rude, uninvited mallard who decided to call over all his friends from the Duck Club to go skinny dipping in our pool. We informed him of the noise ordinance from 10pm to 6am</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">but he quacked back that we should go “flock ourselves.” Damn trespassers!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nothing like dragging yourself out of bed and into work after continuous nights like that! I remember pulling up to work and immediately spewing explanations:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Geez-o</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">—</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">let me spare you all the trouble. Yes, I know I look tired. Yes, I know I look like hell. Yes, I know I'm a little grouchy today and should go back to bed. I am keenly aware of all this, SOME PEOPLE have made dang sure I'm not in denial about my sleep deprivation issue. On that note, I’m fixin’ to get through this day and then it's nippy-nap time for this girl!” </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I then began to storm off, and I swear I overheard people whispering, “What are you nipping on before your nap???”</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, people, for the record, I had that nap—and it must have been magical, because after I awoke, things had changed—drastically! I remember dreaming about pleading with my Knight in Shining Armor to forget riding in on his big, black stallion. I begged that he just rescue me from that stinkin’ bird that’s kept me up the past three nights in a row (before I pull out my shotgun and start calling it “dinner.”) And before it ended, I remember one simple request—if he could please, please, please bring me a small Skinny Mocha, STAT, it would be greatly appreciated.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I awoke, and it was quiet. YAY!!! SILENCE IS GOLDEN, (and a little CREEPY)!!! But, buh-bye, birdies. The boisterous bird and his buddies finally flew the coop, which was a great thing. They’d overstayed their welcome, and I could care less if the door slammed them on their tail feathers on their way out—cuz this girl finally got some sleep! Good-bye Cranky Girl—I WAS A NEW WOMAN!!!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh....</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I discovered the very next morning, a Saturday of all days, why the birds had left. Good gawd!!! When will the madness end? NOW I was being awakened by builders deciding to build a house on the property right behind me!!! UGH! OMG, those SOBs! 7am on the dot. (Yes, I was technically already awake, but I didn't want to be FULLY awake. How RUDE of them—and on a weekend, *&^%$#@)!!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the next week went on, it got worse, and it continued through the following weekend too. OH MY-LANTA!!! Are they FRICKIN' kidding? The pounding hadn't stopped and I found myself screaming at them to, “Shut the hell up!!!” (Of course they couldn't hear me over the ridiculous deafening chaos they were creating). OMGosh—I was losing my flippin' mind!!! Of course, in my state, at this point, friends were pointing out that it was a short trip. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I suddenly became desperate for relief—because by the end of that week, I was waking up to JACKHAMMERS!!! UGH! So I sought out the best expert advice I could. (In other words, I summoned all my social media friends). With their help, I finally discovered a solution that worked. You see, I had to look at this as a life lesson. It was then that I discovered what I was supposed to learn through all of this commotion and stressful beginnings to my day—and it was so simple. I really wish I had reached out earlier for this advice—because it was so pure, and easy, and gave me such tranquility.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I simply learned: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Earplugs and tequila shots can cure just about anything!"</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #141823; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Please feel free to share any sleeping tricks, tips or advice with us that you have in the comments section! Now I'm off to take another nap, zzzzzzz....</span></span></div>
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Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-74585604317588489182016-05-18T09:43:00.000-07:002016-05-18T09:44:28.905-07:00How to Raise a Book<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hey there! Check out my latest article for Chicklit On-line Magazine. this story tells the tale of what I have discovered about writing a book. (AND THE FACT I THINK WRITING IT IS THE EASIEST PART)!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Check it out! <a href="http://connect.chicklitclub.com/wp/2016/05/18/how-to-raise-a-book/">http://connect.chicklitclub.com/wp/2016/05/18/how-to-raise-a-book/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img alt="Chicklit Club Connect" src="http://connect.chicklitclub.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/headerlong.jpg" height="80" width="400" /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Please, please, please...if you have any questions, add to the comment section below! I'll answer them...at least a much as I can! </span><br />
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<br />Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-65429580999159874852016-05-15T21:22:00.000-07:002016-05-15T21:22:01.033-07:00EMIGH HARDWARE — A SACRAMENTO LEGACY FOR OVER 100 YEARS Hey there! Check out my latest article for Sacramento Lifestyle Magazine. I never realized how much history there was behind this establishment that I had been driving by for decades! <br />
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Nice to know that some things never change! :)<br />
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<a href="http://www.sacramentolifestylepubs.com/2016/04/25/emigh-hardware-a-sacramento-legacy-for-over-100-years/">http://www.sacramentolifestylepubs.com/2016/04/25/emigh-hardware-a-sacramento-legacy-for-over-100-years/</a><br />
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<br />Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3408333666650179791.post-64605632412421349272016-05-10T06:00:00.000-07:002016-08-09T18:19:50.598-07:00Fear of Flying for Good Reason<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Hey everyone!!! We have a May Contest starting immediately. A lucky winner will get a copy of my new book, <u>Looking for B.O.B. Every Day,</u> just for simply following me on my blog. PLUS, be one of the first 50 to follow me and your name will be entered twice!!!</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Fear of Flying for Good Reason</b></span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-5e750c16-984f-b6a0-b611-f60f5f0ad753" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Anyone who knows me well, knows these four main things about me:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">#1) I love chocolate</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">#2) I love wine</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">#3) I love travelling</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">#4) I HATE FLYING</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It’s true, every single one of those things are absolutely, to a fault, true about me. People have even tried to help me combine #1-3 in order to negate #4, with no success.</span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And I’m not one of those “keep quiet about my fears” kinda gals either. Surprise, surprise...right? I really hate to fly and I don’t mind telling the entire world about it in great detail. I hate, hate, hate everything about it. I hate being claustrophobically cramped up in seats for hours on end with strangers hacking all over me. I hate that I cannot afford first class, I hate take-off, I hate landing, I hate turbulence, I hate airplane food, I hate having NO control...okay, HOLD UP THERE, wait minute...I did sort of think of a couple of things I do like about flying. I like the free alcoholic drinks you get on international flights and I LOVE getting off the plane. Okay, whew! I was worried about spiraling into an abyss of negativity there for a moment....glad I found a silver lining just in time!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So anyway...I am thinking of this today, because I’m planning our next trip. And since I kinda specialize in travel writing, I kinda have to travel, in order to write about it, right? So as I was scouring airfare today, my mind travelled back in time to moment when we (my husband, my two young, teenage boys, and I) were travelling back from one of our many trips to Mexico. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Picture this, (knowing my feelings on flying): </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m in my seat on the airplane, strapped in tight, listening to my ZEN GARDEN music trying to chill, right? Oh, you should also know, we aren’t all seated together, because we got bumped from our flight back to Sacramento and the closest the airline could get us was a flight into Oakland (2 hour drive away), or we could get a flight out in a couple of days. UGH!!!. My husband was seated a couple rows back, and my children were in the same row as me, but on the other side, window & aisle seats, while I am also in a window seat--so not easy to see them. This, mind you, ONLY happened as a result of some </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">very kind</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> passengers that agreed to jockey their seating to get my kids closer to us. Bless their hearts. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">So we’re flying along, when suddenly we hit turbulence like I’ve never experienced before. Our huge ole plane turned into a fighter jet...it was frickin’ rocking all over the place. Heads were popping up all over and we all just kept looking at each other like, “This is it...we’re going down!” I started praying and tearing that Zen S#!+ off my head!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I looked over and could see one of my sons was also scared. Talk about helpless, there was no way for me to get to him to console him...absolutely NOTHING I could do, and the terror in his eyes still haunts me today. To make matters worse, of course, he was seated right next to his brother, who, instead of showing great compassion, had the biggest smile on his face! He was laughing intermittently, while humming the theme song to the movie </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Top Gun</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and bouncing up & down with the plane, (pretending to be a fighter jet pilot). He was loving every second of it! (The child is a bit twisted, to say the least).</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Then the captain came on the loudspeaker and told us not to worry. Of course not! Why should we worry? I mean only 18 people had heart attacks by this time. Then the captain proceeds to move us to another air lane and narrate the activity in play by play mode.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">That’s when I looked out the window and, lo and behold, there was another flippin’ plane FLYING RIGHT TOWARD US, not even a football field away. SERIOUSLY!!! OMG! That was a close one!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When we survived that “mishap,” I started to relax a little, but then five minutes later, it happened again. OH HELL NO! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I figured at this point that was 3 strikes. So in true “Miss OMG Fashion” I put my iPod back on my head and cranked up </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thunderstruck</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. I figured at that point, if we were going down, AC/DC was going to do a much better job of soothing my soul!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When we touched down, and I stopped cheering aloud, I disembarked that plane in record time. And the second my foot hit the pavement, I dropped and kissed that filthy-ass ground I stepped out onto. I remember thinking, (after I had a very stiff drink and could focus my thoughts again), that I loved my family and friends so much before that terrifying trip home. But after that night, I felt I loved them a million times more! Even more than that, I remember not being able to believe we survived that flight...and more importantly, that I didn’t have to change my underwear...Praise God!!! :)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The funny thing is I wasn’t home 24 hours before I was checking airfare again for our next trip. (I decided I’d just take three Darvisats before taking off….which goes to show you how much I take meds, cuz I guess you can’t even get those anymore)! LOL!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">If you have an exciting "flying" story, please feel free to share in the comments!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Miss OMGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12893060448461440523noreply@blogger.com0