How Do you Say Good Bye?

Have you ever felt like you had had the life sucked out of you? Have you ever felt like you're best friend in the entire world left you just when you need them most? Losing someone close to you changes your entire world. The pain you feel will often times be different, depending on the type of loss you have suffered. There is no easy way to move on. I know, it feels like your legs are stuck in quick sand and you can't move. The pain in your heart is so intense that your whole body aches. You cry a million tears, and then cry some more. Time to heal is what you need. Time to remember the good times that you had with this person(s) you loved, Time to say goodbye. I don't like to say goodbye, in fact when I lost my grandmother I refused to say goodbye....so I said, until we meet again.
 

The death of a parent:
 
This is one of the hardest deaths because it creates a sense of being "˜abandoned'. Our parents seem omniscient to us, and their death can leave you feeling vulnerable to death yourself.

The death of a spouse or partner:
Depending on the amount of time spent with the partner, feelings can vary, however, over all, the feeling is one of insecurity, of no longer "˜belonging"˜. Where you were once a couple, or partnership, you are now alone.

The death of a child:
We, as parents, are here to protect and guide our children. Therefore, when one of our children dies, it can be an overwhelming sense of failure, or blame on yourself because you were unable to protect or "˜save' your child.
 

The death of a companions:
Our life is spent in a warm, comforting, circle of brothers and sisters, friends and co-workers, as well as family pets. The loss of a close companion can be very painful, creating a desire or need to reminisce so as not to forget about someone who was very important in your life.

These are all very different emotions and reactions, however they are all normal, healthy emotions.

There are 7 stages of grief, and it no set time period or order in which to pass through these stages. You may find that you go from one to seven and then back to two. Or, you may experience them in reverse order, or exactly in order. Any way you experience these stages is normal, for you. Do not rush yourself, or expect too much. You will work through these stages, on your own time, in your own way. One day at a time, life will get better, and their memories you will have to treasure forever.
 

DISBELIEF
 
Immediately after a death it can be hard to accept that the death has occurred. You may try to deny it, or feel numb with shock. You may expect to continue seeing your loved one, even though you know they are dead.
 

ANGER
 
Some people feel angry at their loved ones for leaving, or angry at God for taking their loved one away. They may even feel anger at themselves or at life in general for the unfairness of having lost the one they love. Others may feel a need to blame another "˜actual' person.

Laughter is the Best Medicine!

Sometimes the smallest things make you laugh. Generally, I have found that most often, when life gets you down, and there doesn't seem to be an "up" in sight, someone reminds you of something from your past that left an impression on you and at that moment, as you smirk to yourself and chuckle out loud, you realize, that out of sight doesn't always mean out of mind. In fact, this particular story I am about to share with you has left forever an impact on me, my children and friends and family.

I want to tell you about a good friend of my sons. Her name is Sarah. Sarah and Brian met in their freshman year of high school and because they we're old enough to drive yet, Sarah's mother and I were their taxis. We hauled those kids anywhere and everywhere. We took them to concerts, shopping for weekends in Chicago and away from their birthdays to their favorite places. We were the cool hip moms! Although Jan and I were not as good of friends as our kids were, we often laughed about goofy things the kids did, and they'd share stories of goofy things that we did as parents with one another. Over the years we did develop a wonderful friendship, no thanks to our children. My grandmother used to always tell me that God puts certain people in our lives for a reason. I never understood that, but I always knew that he did and he had a purpose for it.

I remember a time after my divorce when money was extremely tight. There were days after payday where I didn't have what seemed to be two nickles to rub together. I clipped coupons, and we never went out to eat. I was always looking through magazines and on the Internet for recipes to make for myself and my children that were inexpensive, recipes that we could stretch into two meals. Brian always came home from Sarah's house with stories about all of these great dishes that Jan made. Jan had a husband and two incomes, I did not. What I didn't know what Jan was cheap, just like me.

I said to Brian one day,..."Wow, Jan must spend a lot of money on Campbell's Soup products and other store brands? She's always making dishes that require these. ( some soups were over $1.00 a can, and for a woman on my budget, I didn't have a dollar to throw away from a few cans to make one dish that we weren't even sure if we'd like?)...Brian laughed and said "Oh Mom, Jan doesn't spend a lot of money at the grocery store!"

 I pondered that statement to myself for a minute and thought to myself...,"then how in the world does she do it?" A few seconds later, and as if my son just read my mind looked at me and said "Mom, Jan doesn't pay full price for her canned goods" ...Hmmmm, I thought to myself again for another minute and finally said to Brian,...."Then how in the hell does she do it?" He said "Mom, Jan drops her cans in the isles (when I say 'drop' I mean throw them to the ground.) He said, "Yup, that's what she does, she throws them in isles and then takes them to the customer service desk to complain about the can being dented and they'd mark them down for her." She made it look like they fell out of her cart, but it was planned. Classic, isn't it? As smart as I am, I would have NEVER thought to do something like this.

There is a moral to this story. You see, a year later, Jan was diagnosed with leukemia and died a short while later after such a strong fight. She was 43 a few years older than me and I was so sad. Although she and I were friends only to a certain degree, we shared a lot of common goals and no matter what happened with the kids, they were always making us laugh. We saw a little bit of our humor shining through in our children, and at that point, we laughed and said that we knew now that we had done something right!

To this day, when I hear a canned good hit the floor in a grocery store, I stop, laugh and pay tribute to a wonder woman who I never really got to thank for enlightening my heart and my home with her love and her personality. Her memory will always live on each time a can hits the floor. Sometimes when I am having a bad day or something isn't going wrong, a can will fall from my lazy Susan for no reason, or off a shelf at the supermarket, and I just women if that isn't Jan's way of telling me to hang in there?

Laughter, you see is the souls food. I need it, you need. Without it, life would not exist in the presence of how to share our thoughts, words and actions. I love laughter. Sometimes I crack myself up, and my kids and I laugh about everything. Take the time to reminisce about someone who made you laugh, or who still makes you laugh, and remember to smile and say thanks for making your day a better day!


Humor is infectious. The sound of roaring laughter is far more contagious than any cough, sniffle, or sneeze. When laughter is shared, it binds people together and increases happiness and intimacy. In addition to the domino effect of joy and amusement, laughter also triggers healthy physical changes in the body, changes that are good changes....changes that we all need from time to time. Humor and laughter strengthen your immune system, boost your energy, diminish pain, and protect you from the damaging effects of stress. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.

Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress, pain, and conflict. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hopes, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert.

• Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.
• Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
• Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
• Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

© This article is a copyright of Simply Delicious Lingerie.

Youngstown, Ohio....It's where I call HOME!

Where do you call home? Like many kids, I grew up in a small town where life was good, but by the time I was 16, I was ready to get out of dodge! My grandmother always told me to have a family and see the world. She taught me that if you were going to dream,..."Dream BIG!" So I did! I married at 19 and moved out of the little city that I called home, Youngstown Ohio. Growing up we took things for granted,..who doesn't? We knew all of our neighbors, you could stay out late at night, there were no curfews. We left home in the morning with a few dollars in our pockets and mom and dad didn't see us until dinner time. Did they worry, hell no! You didn't have to worry about sickos kidnapping kids. We didn't even know what a pedifile was.

We were safe and the world was a better place. We had NO idea what life had in store for us...our biggest wish was for a bicycle with a banana seat for Christmas! If you had more than one television in your house your family was rich, and you had one telephone that hung on the wall with a 5 foot cord, so you didn't get much done while you were on it. There were no two lines, three way calling, call forwarding, voice mail,...in fact, we didn't even have an answering machine until I was in the 9th grade and you would have thought it was something from a sci-fi! Ahhh and it was a town in which I grew up where you could go to bed and leave your doors unlocked. In fact, you could leave the house and leave your doors unlocked for a period of time...there was no trouble or violence, and if there was it was tragic and brought the whole town together.

Lets take a step back....When I was 17 I realized that there was not going to be anything for me here and if I wanted to follow my heart and make my dreams happen I wouldn't be doing it here. After the steel mills closed I watched family members struggle and lose their jobs. If you had a job you kept it, not like today where if we get sick of it or hate our boss we say F-U and find another one! My dad worked at the same place for 42 years until he retired, and my mother a bank manager for 25 years. I realized years after I left and had a family of my own in Grand Rapids, Michigan that there were more things to life than staying in one place. Now, some of you may like that....but I wanted more. After my marriage fizzled and the divorce was inevitable, I decided to work hard, to save a lot of cash, and to show my kids what life was all about.

 As a child my parents took us on vacations every year. I've seen all but 5 of the states in the USA and looking back now, I wished that I would have paid more attention to where we visited and why. At 13 you ask yourself...who cares about the Luray Caverns in Virginia, we didn't want to go underground to see the stalactites and the stalagmites! My aunt and uncle lived in Washington DC after having lived in foreign countries they traveled the globe working for the government. We visited them once a month. As kids we loved the visits because we got to see the the White House and all of the Museums. I would give anything to relive those childhood days where mom and dad opened our eyes to society. My kids have only been there a few times and it is not the same...now there are metal detectors, and security checks. It is quite sad. What happened to that state of mine that we used to live in where no bad happened and you felt safe everywhere?

 No one stepped out of the country....but we did! We used to get awaken by dad in the morning on a Saturday with  the smell of Maxwell House coffee brewing and our hearing...."Kids, get your ass out of bed, we;re leaving the country!" This meant we're going to Canada crossing the NY border to the Niagara Falls for the weekend! We loved it! We were fierce and like the Swiss Family Robinsons. Our family loved to be spontanous and adventerous! I guess that is a trait that I have since passed on to my children. They go go go.

It's funny, you know...my mom makes a statement every time one of the kids say, "Hey Mom, we're going to Italy, or Prague, or to Argentina, etc." She'll say....boy they sure love to travel, I don't know where they get that from?" Whatttt? Where do they get it from? Hellllloooo? We went everywhere as kids and saw everything! Oh but back then you didn't fly anywhere. 1) it was far too expensive, and 2) dad used to say all the time "Those people that fly have their heads stuck in the clouds and they miss everything on the ground!" ...meaning how can you see how beautiful this country is at 30,000 feet? My dad said that every famiy should eat dinner together and vacation. He said it is a privelage to do so, and something that he worked all year to save for to make us happy and to show us a little more about the society in which we lived.

In 1998, and after my divorce I began showing my kids the world. We decided to get our passports and booked trips to anywhere and everywhere. I worked two jobs while they attended college so that I could  send them to study abroad because I wanted them to really experience life, cultures, society as a whole, economics, politics and learn about the people of these countries. I'm so glad looking back now that I did this for them, because now, even though we continue to jet set to new places, we never forget how great the good old USA is.

Now it's 2011. My kids are out of college, have jobs in BIG cities,...2 of the largest cities in the US as a matter of fact. My son in Manhattan NY where 8 million people live on an island 8 miles long, and in Houston Texas where the population is now pushing 4.3 million. We've gone from Subways and not needing a car to 12-20 lane highways and fast paced living where if you slow down, you get run over. Life has been exciting for my kids and myself and I am grateful for so many things.

 I attribute all of my wonderful childhood memories to how well I was raised, not only by two wonderful parents but four really terrific grandparents and a great grandmother named Ada Belle. I contribute who I am and how I turned out to not just two people but to several. I am the woman I am today that stands before you, kind hearted, loving and passionate because of how I was raised. After living in Houston for a few years, and having relocated there after residing in Michigan for 24 years, it was time to go. I said good bye to the cold winters and snow and hello to heat and palm trees. My daughter is on her way to success in a marketing job and my son a in sales and working as a visual merchandiser for a high end retail store. Both are grown and living their lives now.

Knowing that although I loved the 100 degree temps and high humidity, it was time for me to go and I couldn't think of any other place I wanted to be but home. When I say home, I mean Youngstown. I own a few businesses and my stores are online so I can literally live or go anywhere anytime. Not many people can do that. I decided to come back to a small town of some 65,000 if that after living with millions...why? I missed my small town, my folks and the place I called home, where life was good, where I felt safe, and where you mattered,....My home town, where people here care!

Guess what? Nothings changed really. It's like that movie Pleasantville, the black and white turned into color and we've barely grown, not really changed....I remember Gray Drugs, Mr. Wiggs (our local department store), The Wedgewood Bowling Alley, and Wedgewood Pizza....some of those are now gone....BUT, now there is a Walmart, a Panera Bread and a Ruby Tuesday right down the street. Do you really need more? Some people that I went to school with never left this town we call home. I must admit, it's taking me a lot of time and a lot of biting my tongue not to scream with these 2-4 lane highways. Pot holes I've not seen for years. The same Hostess Thrift Store is on Mahoning Ave where I go for my favorite Hostess Cupcakes! Now they have a Twinkie Tuesday special! My mom and my sister still shop for shrubs and holiday pieces at Mashorda's Country Garden. My father has been going to the same barber since I was in junior high. It's amazing how while life moves on, Youngstown stood still in a many ways, but it sure didn't change the quality of people here, just the quantity,

I think that's good and bad.... "good" because obviously people like it here and although through the tough times and our bad economy they are still hanging on....but it's "bad" because this is all they know. Some won't even vacation far away if they've ever even done that? Folks I have news for you...Pennsylvania isn't another country, it's the next exit on the Ohio Turnpike! Plan a road trip! See how beautiful this country really is..and know that no matter where you go....that home will always be home. My advice folks,....let you kids live. Push them to see the world or another state for that matter.

People would be shocked if they saw the same world that I experienced. Politics, Race, and Religion do matter and they are something every kid should experience. Don't shelter you kids, and don't preach to them about how bad this country is if you've never left it. Sure we were sheltered, and my kids actually tell me that I am still niave. Wake up! Yes, I love where I grew up but there is a whole other world out there. So goooo! Can't afford it? Here's a thought....JOB! I worked two of them as a single mother. My kids and I are quite close and they thank me each and every day for all that I did to show them this country. As for me, I'll stay here for now to spend time with my retired parents after having been gone for 28 years. Most say... "Welcome Home Michele"...I say "Here's to new beginnings!" It's good to be home!

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http://www.savintravel.com/

 
Thank You Youngstown,...It is good to be home...for now anyway. Who knows where life will take me? I believe we all have a plan in life,... a path to take if you will. As for me? I make my own destiny!

© This article is a copyright of Simply Delicious Lingerie.

Caribbean-Western 4 Day Cruise $169 Per Person!!

Need a vacation? Don't we all! What are you waiting for? Where else can you go and eat the finest of foods all day and all night without getting a bill at the end of each meal, sleep in comfort, and relax on sandy beaches or at the ships pool for $169?

Caribbean-Western 4 Days • Carnival Cruise Lines • Carnival Imagination

Inside cabins start at $169. Outside cabins start at $189. Oveanview staterooms at $199. Suites $419
These prices are for the month of January and can go up at anytime without notice.

Date (2012) Port Arrive Depart

1

Mon, Jan 2

Miami 4:00 P

2

Tue, Jan 3

Key West 7:30 A 2:00 P

3

Wed, Jan 4

Cozumel 1:00 P 10:00 P

4

Thu, Jan 5

At Sea

5

Fri, Jan 6

Miami 8:00 A

http://www.simplydelicioustravel.com/

The Imagination Ship, Carnival Cruise Ship

All prices are per person, in US Dollars, based on double occupancy. Government taxes are additional. Prices change frequently, to get current pricing you must make a selection.

ONLY MAJOR GATEWAY CITIES ARE AVAILABLE VIA THE CRUISE ENGINE. If a smaller airport gateway is selected the cruise lines system will automatically default to the nearest major airport and an air deviation request will need to be submitted which may result in additional fees to the cruise customer. Please contact your YTB travel site owner for assistance if needed.
For bookings made within 14 days of sailing and during peak holiday periods, the air portion of your trip is NOT guaranteed. Please read the following important information.

http://www.simplydelicioustravel.com/

http://www.savintravel.com/ 

***Click on "Cruises" all ports, 3-5 day western caribbean cruise January 2012.

Copyright ©2011SavinTravel.com All Rights Reserved.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Ohio

If you are looking for something really exciting to do where there is not only education, rather music whose lyrics told a story...and whose artists becasue pop idols in our culture...then take a trip to Cleveland, Ohio to visit the Rock & Roll Music Hall of Fame! I can't say enough about it, so just go! I'm listing some of the general views below for you so that you can see what it's going to cost you to attend. Sure you may not think that it sounds entertaining.....ahhhh but it is! Go on a date here, it's a great way to really get to know what kind of music you each like and it also allows you to learn more about this person.

How you act, appear and the type of music you listen to says a lot about "YOU!" As for me, I enjoy a mix of music. I like rock, but I loves the 70s music. There are two Radio Stations that I listen to most often in Cleveland,....100.7 Clevelands Rock Station and 106.5 The Lake! Thank you both of you for making my memories of this city inspiring! It's so good to be home, and so nice to know that Simply Delicious Lingerie can and will grow in a community where I was raised with good morals and values to respect and treat others the way you'e like to be treated. I've missed Ohio! Might I really suggest going here if you've not already?

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To purchase tickets in person, visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum box office.
To purchase ADULT GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS ONLINE CLICK HERE.
(Senior, Military and Youth Tickets can only be purchased at the Museum Box Office with proper ID).

Admission Prices

Adults:                                                   $22
Greater Cleveland Residents:             $18 (440-443 zip codes with ID)
Seniors (65+)/Military:                         $17 (with ID)
Children ages 9-12:                               $13
Children ages 8 and under:                  FREE (with purchase of adult admission)
Museum Members:                             Always FREE 

Become a member -  Get free admission, special discounts, advance notification, and attend members-only events.  Headliner memberships and higher receive special tours - more info below!

Group Tours - Special packages and rates are available to groups of 20 or more including school groups.

No, this band has not made it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but honestly....who doesn't love the Bay City Rollers?

We used to sing S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night all week looking forward to taking our parents car and cruising the streets with friends after high school football games. Ok, so maybe that just really dated me....but so what. I have wonderful memories of my youth and I share them with my two kids all the time. This type of music takes me back to the 70s when life was easy and we had no cares or worries...we were young and just learning what it was like to go out and have fun...Let the "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame" take you back to that well beaten path of great music history!

Facts About Wines..Something You'll Want to Read

I found this information to be quite informational to say the least. I love to share, so here is a crash course in wines and what to serve them with, as well as a great explanation as to what color wines to choose and why? What purpose do they serve? What do they taste like? What do they do to your palate? I've put some suggestions together that I'm adding now for you from our Simply Delicious Lingerie Cooking and Wine Guru. I found it to be quite helpful and in fact, I still use it from time to time as my cheat sheet. With all of the different types of wines, and all there is to learn about them, taking small steps and storing the knowledge is much easier I have found. I hope that this will help you as well!

1. Wine is a natural product: Fermentation is a somewhat poetic and magical process. The natural sugar in the grape turns into alcohol to become wine.
2. There are many different types of wine: Any palate can find remarkable differences among different wine styles. Grape variety, weather conditions, the soil or the producer’s know-how, can make the difference.
3. Pairing wine and food. : Marrying wine and food is a kind of art, but that should not prevent everyone from having a go! The best thing you can do is to practice as often as possible. The basic idea is that food should help reveal the wine’s aromas and vice-versa. Wine and food should not compete with one another but be complementary. You can find more information in our section pairing wine and food.
4. Wine tasting: You do not need to be a wine buff to taste wine. Just prepare your senses to make full use of them and describe what you feel. Do not worry if at the beginning most wines seem alike, time and practice will help you to distinguish the wines’ characteristics. For more information, visit the Wine Tasting Guide section.
5. How to choose the best wine: Buying expensive wines guarantees a certain quality. However, the quality of a wine is not proportional to its price. We suggest you choose your wines according to your taste and to the occasion. It may sound obvious but many people simply take the bottle on offer and do not think much further.
6. Types of wine:
   • Still wine: Red, White, Rosé. No bubbles and less than 15º alcohol.
   • Sparkling wine: : Cava, Champagne and others. The second fermentation gives wines their glamorous bubbles.
   • Fizzy wine: Bubbles are not naturally produced. Gas is added as in fizzy drinks.
   • Fortified wines: They all have alcohol added at some point ranging 16º-24 º.
   • Dessert Wines: At the best when the balance between natural sugar and acidity allows them to age well.
7. Serving temperature:
   • Red Wine: Between 16º and 18º C. If it is warm you will need to cool it down in an ice-bucket.
   • White wine and rosé: Between 12º and 16º C. Keep it in the fridge and take it out just before serving it.
   • Sparkling wines: At around 8º. Serve chilled and keep in an ice-bucket..
   • Fortified wines (such as Port): 16º -18º
   • Dry Sherry: 12º - 13º
   • Fine Dessert Wine: 11º
8. Elements impacting wine quality:
   • Soil: It gives the wine part of its character.
   • The climate: The warmer the weather the more body and alcohol content the wine is likely to have. The cooler the weather, the more refreshing and acid the wine will be.
   • The grape variety: Grape variety greatly determines the wine. Along with the grape variety itself, we need to consider other things such as the age of the vine.
   • o Wine making: Once the grape has been harvested, the oenologist’s savoir-faire is vital to produce a quality wine. He needs to master the fermentation temperature, the filtering and clarification processes, or the type of oak selected for aging.
9. Wine aging: The wine obtains tannins and complexity from the oak barrel. The wood has tiny pores that let the oxygen in and allow the wine age. Only full-bodied wines can bear long aging periods.
   In the bottle, wines can evolve for a long time (always depending on the structure of the wine, as not all wines can age)
10. Remember that good company is the key to enjoying a fine wine. It's a time to relax and enjoy it. Savor the taste, and appreciate why it is that people drink it. Once you learn and understand actually "why" you drink certain colors with particular dishes, you'll understand more about the type itself.

Now you can wear sexy intimate apparel and understand wines. We love our Cooking & Wine Guru at Simply Delicious Lingerie! send is recipes and your favorite wines or cocktail recipes.

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Yelp...My Greatest Recent Internet Discovery

AWhy did no one ever tell me about Yelp? When Yelp began in early 2005, where was I? This is a site that sounds wonderful, but until this past weekend while in NYC with my two kids, I had NO CLUE what it was? How can this be? I know...most people ask..."Who needs another site where people review restaurants and other local businesses?" My kids swear by this site. Now, after this past weekend, so do I.

http://www.yelp.com/faq (everything you need to know about Yelp!)

After doing some digging into it's hostory...I actually learned that it is one of the oldest ideas on the Internet. Citysearch, the leader, continues to struggle to find a sustainable business model more than a decade after its founding. Start-ups like Insider Pages come and go. Big companies, from search engines to yellow-pages publishers, have long added user reviews to their local listings. Yelp however, has thrived. In March, it had 3.3 million users, according to Comscore, up 87 percent from a year ago. Citysearch still towers above it with 16.2 million users.

Yelp was to spend most of its energy attracting a small group of fanatic reviewers. It didn’t subordinate the users’ contributions to professional reviews, as on Citysearch, or to directory information, as on yellow-pages sites. Instead, it structured the site to motivate people through the praise and attention that their reviews receive from others. Yelp is about the reviewing experience...it has been said recently that it is like a blog with a little bit of structure. It is my understanding that most people aren’t drawn to write a witty review of the scrambled eggs at the local diner simply to get their ego stroked. But enough people find it rewarding to turn Yelp into one of the richest repositories of local reviews on the Web. I did not know this..,shame on me. Simply Delicious Lingerie has a wine and cooking guru page and I love knowing that this is around!

Where have I been? Thank you to my kids for pointing this great site out. Soooo, here's what I got out of Yelp! While visiting my son this past Labor Day weekend my daughter and I were out and about roaming the streets of NYC. Listen folks...if you go to the city...don't bitch about the high prices...this only means that you got stuck in a "tourist trap" area. Instead of walking down the busy streets, go the the street behind it where traffic is less, and there are bars and restaurants for half the price with great staff just waiting for your patronage where you won't pay an arm and a leg to feed your family!

We ended up at the Irish Pub in Manhattan on Saturday evening to watch the football game, MSU vs YSU. I was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio and followed Jim Tressel for years while he coached Youngstown State University before going on to take the head coach position at Ohio State. (OSU.) My family are all buckeye fans. We love Sparty. My daughter a graduate of Michigan State University became a family rival now. I follow the team that I will forever be in debt for giving my children such wonderful educations. So, this pub...We were recommended to this quaint little pub from Yelp. I must say, the staff was great to us and I highly recommend this restaurant. The food is good and the atmosphere is even better!

Such friendly people too I might add. I met a gentleman there named Gareth Campion who was in town from England with his entire football (we in the states call it soccer) team to play in a tournament on Roosevelt Island. Such a really nice guy! Cute too! It's really ideal going to a city, any city actually and meeting new people. I have a personality that draws people in like a magnet...it's who I am. Friendly, witty, and quite out going.  I was raised to be kind, and sociable. It was a pleasure meeting this nice young man and his teammates. I'll always remember this nice guy because I have a photo of myself with him dressed in his Captain America Suit! That folks in another story, for another blog...

This Irish Pub was the perfect setting to do just that. http://www.theirishpubnyc.com/ is their link. Check them out, and if you visit to NYC in Manhattan and are looking for a great bar that will play any of the Big 10 games...now you've found it! 839 7th Ave, New York, NY

Thank You Yelp!

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Like Big Cities? How About Living in NYC

Who doesn't love the big city life? It certainly is not dull and gloomy. If you're just visiting, enjoy the hustle and bustle,..I'm a small town girl who married, divorced, raised two kids on my own for the most part, and sent them off to college and to study abroad in Europe during the summer months. I worked two jobs to give them a better perspective on life. I wanted them to experience the social economy so that they would appreciate living in the good ole' USA, and I wanted them to view how others live politically, socially and partake in their cultures. They backpacked all over Europe and came home 9 weeks later at the end of the summers with such wonderful photos and stories that will be memories for their children some day. I grew up in a small town, just outside of Cleveland Ohio and relocated to a larger city...or so I thought? Not! Perhaps by population, but nothing like my children were about to embark on. My children taught me to get my feet wet and travel the globe, experience life and big city living, and never to be afraid to take chances...so I did! Why then did it not surprise me that the two of them now live in cities ranked amongst the top 5 largest cities in the USA?

NYC It is alive and bright and people fill the streets shopping and site seeing area landmarks. Sure New York is legendary for high prices, but it’s not an unlivable city. On the contrary to things that you hear, it is one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen. I've heard that people are rude in NY but having visited there a few times and now spending time there visiting my son who works in Manhattan and lives in one of the Burroughs, Brooklyn, I can't wait to visit time and time again! We go to work and some of us commute via transit stations. My son sold his car when he left Houston, Texas and loves the subway! He tells me that he does not miss driving and dealing with the nut jobs on the roads that are accidents waiting to happen. Anyone that has ever driven day in and day out the Houston I-10 commute with connection to 610 Loop knows that it is chaos and a nightmare. Your 20-25 mile drive (if you live in the burbs like I did) to work now becomes an almost 2 hour commute each way... and that's on a 14-20+ lane highway. You want to talk about wanting to pull your hair out...try it sometime! It is STRESS x 100...and here I thought my sister living right outside of Washington, DC in Maryland and driving 18 miles with about the same commute time was awful, until I found myself in the same boat as her. I relocated to Houston to be near my kids for a few years and to get out of Michigan's ice cold tundra winters. 200+ inches of snowfall each winter was more than I cared to experience again, and when my daughter suggested sunny high temps and palm trees, I jumped on that idea. Big cities are only as scary as you allow them to be. Do not let them intimidate YOU!

NYC scares a lot of people because they hear that it is expensive to live there...It is, but no more expensive to live in any other large cities such as Miami, FL, Chicago Ill or San Fran, CA. There are thousands of students who manage to get by every day on limited funds. Here are some suggestions for living in the city that may make your experience a bit easier, more fun— and cheaper.

 

Getting Around NYC:

One of the best things about New York is that it’s got the oldest and most elaborate subway system in the country.  Get yourself a subway map and use it!  You can also find subway and bus maps online at the MTA website. If you know where you want to go, but don’t know how to get there, you can visit hopstop.com just type in an address and a map of the location pops up with nearby subway lines highlighted.  Pay close attention to what I am about to say because it is crucial if you don't want to get lost...keep in mind, you will. They say most often that sometimes we find the best places when we fall off our sense of direction and go the wrong way, take the wrong exit, or get off a station of the subway too early, or too late.

When riding the train, take the time to make sure you are getting on the right train in the right direction, otherwise you can end up somewhere that you really don;t want to be. That said, at some point during your stay, you will inevitably end up on the wrong train. Don’t feel bad, it happens to everyone. Look for signs in the station and listen for announcements about track changes due to construction. Some trains don’t run at all (or run on a different track) late nights or on the weekends, so be sure to read the signs carefully. There is an "AP" button that you can upload on your iPhone or Android of NYC and the Subway routes that you can upload before your trip. For my son who moved to NYC in June this is his bible. Without it he would be lost. Remember, that some subways shut down early so if you are out bar hopping, make sure that you know when the last train out is, otherwise you may be in for a real treat or a very expensive taxi ride!

Manhattan, for the most part, is a nice, neat grid. The avenues run north/south. Most of the avenues (11 of them) are numbered, beginning in the east and getting higher as they go west. Streets run east/west and the numbers get higher as they go north. In order to figure out where to go using a map, you’ll need to know which way is north. If the street numbers are getting higher, you’re heading north. Also, on one-way, even-numbered streets, the traffic runs east and on odd-numbered streets, traffic runs west.

You can also bike in New York City, either for recreation or to get to work. There rre several greenways in the city, including the West Side Greenway, which runs along the west side of Manhattan along the Hudson. You can also bike in Central and Prospect Parks. Jay-Z and Alicia Keys sing the song that bests describes New York City; "Empire State if Mind"







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Mr. Right, Right Now?

Just a small town girl, living in a lonely world.......Took the midnight train, boat, ferry, plane, or rental car..... going anywhere, because she wanted to see the world.....So where does one begin?.....

Every now and then, we are fortunate enough to have someone come into our lives when we least expect them to and set us back, I mean they really knock our socks off, and....they throw a monkey wrench right into our perfect plans that we had mapped out for months, if not longer and within a matter of months, we find ourselves looking at our life/lifestyles in an entirely new perspective.

I consider myself a very friendly, outgoing and most content woman.....but a woman who was on a designated mission to move closer to home to a city where she was born because it wasn't at all a big city and she wouldn't get lost in the hustle and bustle there, rather, she'd run her businesses, look after her family and enjoy life building her small empire with no distractions. Time on her hands to visit shipping companies and warehouses, meet with new and some current manufactures, line up new partnerships with boutiques and small businesses, and hire staff that would allow her company to expand at a rate that she had planned almost to the "T" ........Well,  that was the plan a few months ago......but always on the "back burner".....somehow, she never stopped believing.....that one day when she wasn't looking, something grander would happen to her that would be so unforgettable.....so change of life factor....but what?

Last fall, while visiting with her parents and discussing old times on an old street, the neighborhood she grew up in, she started bringing up friends and old neighbors from her past and wondering "where are they now?" She quickly got onto Face Book and began typing in names and sure enough she found so many old friends that she attended school with, friends that lived there and moved away, and even a few people that she babysat for long, long ago......

How great could the odds be to meet a man who was searching for everything that you were? Perhaps this someone was divorced for the past several years and had never really experienced the kind of true love from fairy tales, those same fairy tales that this particular Cinderella believed in and had also hoped for as long as she could remember?

My grandmother always used to say "Things happen when you least expect them to" and ......."Don't look a gift horse in the mouth!".....so we won't. Two paths are about to meet head on shortly and although this woman bubbling with such anticipation and happiness, who is so "not" used to having her world jolted and her bubble burst, is terrified that once again, that this too shall pass and an opportunity will be lost.......what? She wants to feel weak in the knees! That guard wall  that she build so high around her was beginning to crumble down, all because of one man. Those barriers that were formed to protect her heart were now nothing more than jello walls waiting to endure this next chapter in her life where she comes home to not only her prince, but to her far away castle in a kingdom of hope,.... where dreams and fairy tales really do come true!

Did this gal wait most all of her life to find that one man who could make her dreams come true, who could care for her and respect her, could make her laugh and cry (good tears) do silly things, allow her to be herself, moonwalk in public (well maybe not really in public,) march to the beat of her own drum, and eventually  if all circumstances fell into place maybe, just maybe...... find love?

You bet she could, because that stubborn, sassy, sensual, soft spoken lady always held out hoping that somewhere out there he would be.....Well stranger things have happened. Some will say that you have better chances of being struck by lightening vs find true love? If there is a risk to take, finding love or getting struck by lightening, I'll hold out a metal rod to hoping to attract my Mr Right. Yes, life is all about taking chances! If you don't try or you don't seek from time to time, someone else might find the man of "your" dreams. Although I still believe in paths crossing for reasons, at this stage of my life, I wouldn't think twice about tripping him and bringing him to his knees to make him see what a catch I am! A girls got to do what a girls got to do!

Journey said it best....."Don't stop... believin' hold on to that feeling...."

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**If you're looking for a great book to read regarding life and relationship, and since mine is still in the works, and not close to being finished, pick this book up when you have a chance. If you are anything like myself, I like to chuckle from time to time and this had some great pointers and advice in it! If you want to feel sexy and be confident, shop http://www.simplydeliciouslingerie.com/ for great sales and  that are quality high end products at affordable lingerie prices!

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Great Store....The Bath Bakery Shop!

This site is a MUST SEE! Body Sundae? Sound naughty? Would you expect anything "less" from me? I didn't think so. Here's how I ran across this site... I was searching for "body sundae" information for my customers at Simply Delicious Lingerie. I was about to blog to you and still will about how to create a romantic evening while turning it into an exotic, erotic night to remember. When was the last time you and your partner made a body sundae? Ok, so this was supposed to be the blog topic...but things have changed, so lets switch gears for a moment, shall we? How about a Spa Party? How about delicous bath treats?

I am here to share with you a website that I found while surfing on "Bing"  my new favorite search engine. I own Simply Delicious Lingerie and am always looking for companies to link with and network with. Take a look at this....You will really love what you see...I sure did! How about a bath shop with sweet treats .... as in soaps to indulge in? It's time to pamper yourself ladies...you deserve it!

My initial thought..."Wow, it's so cute and artsy!" So many cool things to buy! I talked to a friend recently at lunch about her wanting to open a cupcake/bakery type of shop. I would love to have a Simply Delicious Sweet Treat for my customers, as well as my clients! What if I could offer them both? Desserts and Sweet Treats (sweets and bath products?) What woman doesn't love sweets, and bubble baths? I loved the website "The Bath Bakery Shop"and enjoyed reviewing their products. Check out their Margarita Scrub!

I'm making my list now! http://www.thebathbakeryshop.com/index.html

I highly recommend trying the product out here at this store. Their location is in DC, Maryland and Virginia.  Please....browse through the pages of their beautiful website and enjoy the products like I did. We're always looking for something new to try out and a new company to network with...lets send some business their way?!

I'm going to visit my sister in Frederick, MD in a few months and I am already planning to go to The Bath Bakery Shop! Yes...it is going to be my first stop when we shop! Simply Delicious Lingerie is now one of their new follows on Twitter!! Become a follower too! What a beautiful site! Great job!



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Dear Mr. Sugar Daddy

Simply Delicious Lingerie has everything you need to make your sugar baby look her finest. From our variety of lingerie, swimwear, footwear, and adult novelties you have a wide assortment to products to choose from. Looking for a romantic getaway? Look no further, we have teamed up with Expedia and Travelocity and we're working together to give and our best rates. Check us our travel site @ http://www.simplydelicioustravel.com/  and   https://www.simplydeliciouslingerie.com/

Thank You! We certainly do appreciate your business. We're discreet and your confidentiality are respected with us!  Whether you live in Las Vegas NV, Miami FL, Chciago IL, Detroit MI, Youngstown Ohio or London England, treat your baby well, and respect her.



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The 2 in 1 Shop!

No time to mess with the Queen of Hearts....We're here to offer you a unique package. A combination of beautiful womens intimate apparel and your favorite travel destinations,...where else?

Simply Delicious Lingerie and Simply Delicious Travel. We know how busy your lifestyle can be, so we're here to make life a little bit easier. One click and you're on your way! Whether you live in Youngstown Ohio or London England, we've got trips for you!

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Do We Have to do it Again?

Lets assume that you’ve just had a long, hectic day. You have that look on your face and everyone can read you like a book......You’ve had a full day at work, and when you come home, you’re immediately greeted by household chores, clingy kids, and a stack of bills. There’s dinner to prepare and a report that’s due tomorrow morning. Then, when you lie down in bed—eager to get much-needed sleep—your partner/lover/husband gives you that look. Oh, no! Something tells you that he’s about to ask for sex, but you’re just not in the mood, and you haven’t been in a long time.... “I’m tired, honey,” you say, but he gets upset. “You’re always tired!” he complains., and you hear the blah, blah, blah....So what do you do? You are not a sex machine, although you sure wish you were.....and you cannot do it 2-3 times a day...you are exhausted just thinking about it!

Talk about both of your Needs;
All marriage/relationship experts agree that communication is the heart and soul of a happy relationship. Here I go again...foundation is everything,....be open and honest, always communicate. You may be physically exhausted right now, but it’s important to maintain at least that emotional connection. Try to explain your feelings (it’s better than rolling over and making him feel ignored and unwanted) and then listen to his.
Talking to each other can also help you find a happy compromise and look for practical and realistic ways to solve the problem. For example, you can set a special day each week when you and your husband can go on a date and set the mood for a midnight rendezvous where anytime is bedtime.

Boost your Body;
Regular physical activity and exercise can help boost your libido and strengthen your body so you aren’t completely wiped out from work by the end of the day. Exercise also releases endorphins, do some yoga booty ballet, or something that wakes your blood up. It will get your body’s happy hormones, and losing those excess pounds can also make you feel better about yourself and the way you look. Then you can focus on Simply Delicious Lingerie and something sexy, hot and oh so sassy for your special night.....

Keep an eye on what you Eat;
You don’t need to go on a diet. Just eat a light dinner. Heavy meals can make you feel sluggish, and high-sugar desserts will lead to an energy crash just when you hit the sack. Certain food have been known to increase libido.....I say, "break me off a piece of that....:" Find out what they are, and head to the grocery store pronto!! Why not include these ingredients in your meal plan? You can end the meal with a glass of wine. It’ll help you relax, and put you in the mellow mood that’s always good for sex.
“But I’m too tired and busy to exercise!” you sigh.

Take time to celebrate even the smallest of occasions;
Don’t wait for Birthdays, Valentine’s Day or your wedding anniversary to do something special together. Where is your sense of romance and adventure? Come on get with the program here! Make little romantic gestures “just because.” Send her flowers just to thank her for being so important in your life. Leave naughty love notes in their daily planner. These can put the spark back into your relationship or your marriage (especially your sex life), and also is a way to tell him again and again how much you love him. Sex isn’t the only way to show affection and appreciation—and sometimes that’s all a couple needs to get through a normal “dry spell.” If you don't follow these suggestions, you will exhaust yourself from too much thinking and you'll be wasting valuable time doing what you don't want to do, verse what you could be doing. Turn the frown upside down and shake it off! Lose this face guys.....otherwise you'll be sleeping n the dog house tonight!

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