Over a year ago, I found this bag that was just so cute, I had to own it.  It was perfect for me.  Little did I know that it was the same design as the $3,180 Fendi Peekaboo. 

My co-worker saw the bag and fell in love with the style…and ordered 2!  Afterwards, we found out our bag (which is legal, btw) is a cheaper version of the Fendi Peekaboo.

I noticed that there were a few hits to my site of people looking for a cheaper version of the Fendi Peekaboo…which is being carried around by celebrities…and most recently seen on Gossip Girl (a few times). 

So I’ll tell you where I got mine!

You can buy this one (which comes in Blue, Black, Red and Brown) from Handbag Heaven for $43.31.  I plan on picking up the blue one (I have the black already, but the one I have is no longer on the site).

I also plan on picking up 1…maybe all 3 of these from Handbag Heaven (comes in pewter, bronze and camel/tan:

All three are also $43.31.

As for quality…my co-worker had a problem with hers and returned it (she said it was excellent customer service), but had no problems with the other one.  I’ve had mine for over a year and it’s still in great condition.  The only thing I don’t like about it is that the bag keeps opening up…which is the same way the Fendi Peekaboo was designed.  So if you don’t mind this design ‘flaw’ (if you want to call it that), then go for it.  The price is a great price and from what I heard…the girls at Marie Claire were asking my co-worker if she bought it off the street because it looked like the real deal (and they know my co-worker would never spring $3,000 for a bag). 

Alas, it’s not made of goatskin…so consider this the vegetarian friendly version of the Peekaboo.

I’m a little behind in posting up a few things…like sponsorship ads, fashion points, product reviews and scenes from a few places I’ve headed off to this past month.  Not to mention all of the hockey stories I have to get out for Inside Hockey.  I admit, I probably could have done most of this stuff over the weekend, but instead I decided to make it a Gossip Girl Season 4 weekend. 

So now after my Gossip Girl marathon I have visions of Louis Vuitton bags and dreamy camel wool coats dancing in my mind.  What does that mean?  Well, I’ll definitely be shopping for my new coat.  It’s the middle of winter and the new spring/summer collection is already on the racks.  That means, that winter coats are on sale now.  I have my eye on an Armani Collezioni coat recently marked down from $2,095 to $837.99.  I’m hoping it will go down just a little bit more.

As for the office makeover…it’s finally coming together.  I discovered a few new ways to redo the desk I was going to give away.  Instead, I’m just going to use it as a projects desk.  All I’m going to say is that mod podge is on its way and a visit to Sherwin Williams to find a roll of the perfect wallpaper is on my list of things to do.  Thank goodness this coming weekend is a 3-day weekend for me! 

Beyond the 8 games and an All-Star weekend in Ottawa, there’s not much else I can fit into my schedule.  At least February I can book myself at Bliss Spa for Valentine’s Day (like I do every year).  I’ll need it after this first month of 2012.

 On my to do list: 1.  Find some new pillows for the office and a rug.  2. Take advantage of Snapfish’s 500 prints for a penny each.  3. Find wallpaper to modpodge on furniture. 4. Build bookcase #2.  5. Find a new coat.

Now, I do have a new coat that I picked up from Anthropologie’s Take an Extra 50% off sale.  I tried it on and my brother exclaimed that it was too big for me.  Funny, because it was a size smaller than what I would normally buy.  But either way, the coat is cute as a button.  I always love old style coats.  Old, as in 1940s-1960s classic styles.  They’re so Jackie O and classic.  That’s what I love about it. 

Right now, I’m just in the market for a Camel coat (or cape) from Saks because I’m looking for a certain ‘couture’ look.  What I mean by that is that the stitching and grade of fabric is of higher quality that will last my entire lifetime.  That’s what I’m looking for and I’m hoping to get a great deal on it now that Saks is pushing their winter products out and their spring/summer lines in (which I might add is so gorgeous…I almost did sommersaults in their Alice+Olivia department over Christmas). 

So there are major winter deals to be had.  My friends and I are waiting for the extra 60-75% off their already discounted prices at Lord & Taylor.  I’ve walked away with an entire Calvin Klein outfit for $13 before.  My kind of sale.  🙂  That sale should be coming up in the next week or two. 

 A little money saver idea: The best time to shop for next Christmas is the winter sale in January.  You’ll net some great discounts on winter clothing to wear now and some to give away next Christmas.  Great time to pick up some sweaters to wear now and give away later.

I’ll have more photos to share in the coming weeks.  So stay tuned…

 

I’d like to introduce you guys to my friend, Mike Martin.  He has a blog called DREAMER.  Isn’t he a cutie?  {You should hear him talk…one of the sexiest voices to ever grace a microphone.}

I’ve known Mike for…I guess this year it would be a decade.  Back then, he was a struggling musician just trying to get up on stage and play his heart out.  Well, that big guy ended up becoming a good friend over the years.  He was one of the founders of the not-for-profit Olive Branch Society (along with me and a few others).  We were just a group of musicians who got together and wanted to do something about creating peace in our world. 

Since I headed to the bigger lights, bigger city, OBS basically dissolved.  We took our projects elsewhere.  I became a writer…and well, Mike continued doing what he’s so passionate about doing…being that rocker, who’s a little bit country…and being that guy that is constantly trying to make a difference in this world…all the way in Muncie, Indiana (home of Ball State University).

Change always begins with yourself.  His blog aims to change people from the get go.  With that good change inside, you start to generate good works that you share with the world.  It’s basically the correct way in generating good karmic stability in the universe where everyone can prosper from its good tidings.

While reading Mike’s blog, I noticed he put up a picture of his bedroom.  Now, before I describe HIS bedroom…let me describe mine.  It’s got so much stuff in it that I am actually ordering new closets to be installed along the walls so that I can house my designer wardrobe, purses, accessories and jewelry without feeling so cluttered in (keep in mind that my closet is super tiny, so my wardrobe has kind of fallen out).  I’m making sure it’s nice enough to take with me when I move.

As for Mike’s room…his entire being is: a bed, a desk, 2 chairs and a coffee maker. 

I think I should send Mike an invitation to visit me in NYC and help me sort out my stuff before I ship it all to Morocco.  Just this last week, I acquired 5 new handbags.  Thank goodness they were all gifts…but you see where my clutter is going. 

And yes, I NEED every single one of those bags.  I might as well start renting out the ones I’m not using while I’m carrying around a different bag.

At any rate, Mike’s minimalist approach is something to think about as we go into this new year.  Practicing being frugal and not over-commercializing our homes with clutter that we just had to have…actually leads to a happier life, believe it or not.

In Morocco, I was astounded at how people needed nothing but food and water.  Like Mike says, they don’t even need shelter.  Nomads are happy just sleeping on the sand dunes, under the stars.  Some live in Berber tents or houses, but most are okay with not having a roof over their head.  They like having the stars as their ceiling.  They also need only 3-5 hours of sleep.  As Hamid told me, there’s something about the Sahara where you don’t need a lot of sleep.

They don’t need much in life.  Their focus is more on peace, happiness and soulful spirituality.  Mike may be a minimalist in Indiana, but the nomads definitely have him beat.  No bed, no chairs, no desks, and definitely no coffee maker.  Some of them have cell phones (which shocked me that the phone reception in the desert was superb).  But most…they’ve never even watched TV.

I’m not saying we, as Americans, should start a new minimalist movement, but we should start de-cluttering our worlds and filling our lives with things that are more important.  We also need to look for ways to save more, and spend less.

I just finished flipping through a book recently about how to be even more frugal than we are already.  Now, I’m a big supporter of thrift stores and libraries, especially since I love my flat screen TV (which my brother remarked last week that he was shocked that I bought a TV on my own without a man’s help…yes, I am that dumb when it comes to technology).  I love that I can check out free DVDs for a week from the library.  They always have the latest titles. 

While the author suggested various ways of saving more money, I also noticed that his way of being frugal was aimed more towards how to acquire more while saving money.  Really?  I’m a great shopper too…but let’s save more by spending less and acquiring less. 

Let’s try to bare down and get what we need out of the way first.  So my new resolution after New Year’s is to scale back, save more, de-clutter and start minimalizing my life.  After all, I’m already freaking out about how much stuff I have to pack up.

Here are a few tips to start you off this week.

1.  I’m a big fan of NO CABLE.  I haven’t had cable in years, because I prefer to watch movies and can get DVDs from the library for free.  There’s also a store in Manhattan called Book Off.  They sell used DVDs, CDs and books for next to nothing.  I picked up an armful of books and DVDs last night for only $33.  AN ARMFUL!

I also frequent the library’s seasonal book sale where members of the community donate their books/DVDs/CDs they no longer want or use (and can’t sell online).  Last time I was there, they had 2 bags of books for $1.  You can’t beat that price, especially if you bring in your own tote bag.

While GREEN websites suggest people buy the Nook or some sort of e-reader to cut back on the purchase of books, that doesn’t work for me.  I really won’t be able to use the product in Morocco.  I’d rather have the books in my hands…and what better way than to pick up castoffs from people in your community?  In a way, this is also a green initiative.  It’s recycling and reusing at its best.

As for Mike…his no cable/no TV approach was interesting.  He actually factored in how many hours you have to work just to have cable!  For some people, they have to work between 30-60 hours a year just to have cable at home.  It makes you question why you’re working to pay the cable company when you could be using that money for something else…as well as your time for something more productive and meaningful in life.

2.  FOOD.  If you’ve been to the grocery store lately, you’re probably suffering from the same sticker shock that I’ve been experiencing at the cheapest place around to buy groceries.

For me, that cheap place is Target.  They are actually cheaper than Aldi.  How?  Because Target makes it their mission to make sure they are cheaper than any other food seller in the area.  If you find the product cheaper at another store, bring in the flyer or receipt to show them…they’ll not only match the price, but they’ll lower the price too.  That’s what I call a store I’ll keep coming back to.

My original go-to stores like the dollar stores…are not dollar stores anymore.  They’ve had to jack up their prices because of this economy.  Sometimes, Target is cheaper than the dollar stores. 

So for the staple items, I go to Target.  For the fresh meats and produce, I go to organic stores and markets. 

I’ve also tried the coupon route.  It’s best to use coupons at places that double or triple…or they have the product on sale.  I’ve netted a lot of stuff couponing…but I actually end up donating it to the local food pantry.

When you shop for food, try to pick up at least one extra bag of groceries to donate to your local food pantry.  Even if it’s just personal items from the drugstore…people need these items. 

I always end up with a closet full of bath soap from Christmas.  I donate this stuff because I probably go through 2-3 bottles a year.  Why keep 15 bottles?  Learn to share. 

For those asking how in the hell are they going to be able to afford buying a bag of groceries for someone else…it’s easier than you think.  You buy it when prices hit rock bottom.  When they discount canned veggies for 39 cents a can or Stove Top for 79 cents…why not just pick up an extra one for the bag.  I’m sure you have some sort of coupon, right?  If not, you could probably find one.

The rule of thumb is that when you give from your heart…that good karma that you give will also be returned to you.  Do it unselfishly as if you’re getting nothing in return…then one day it will come back to you in the most incredible ways.

3. There are also other ways to get free products, like using RecycleBank.com.  I actually earn points with them just to get coupons for cat food.  Surita likes that Fancy Feast…and that stuff is expensive.  The various offers they’ve had has allowed me to get a lot of free cans for her…all by clicking on various ads to learn more about how you can go green.

You can also earn more points with loyalty programs.  Since I buy a lot of Stonyfield products, you can enter in codes on their site to get free stuff, and print out coupons.

Loyalty programs are one of the best ways to earn free stuff.  BaubleBar, Disney Movie Rewards, and WB Insider Rewards are just a few places where you can earn free stuff just by buying their products…and in some instances, referring other people to buy.  They reward their customers by giving back to them and giving them a chance to earn rewards and free stuff as they go.  Trust me, it will always have you coming back.

4. Social Media.  Probably one of the smartest things I’ve ever done was follow Orbitz, the Travelocity Gnome and various airlines on Twitter and Facebook.  Why?  Well, last year, Orbitz paid for my airfare to Las Vegas, thanks to a promotion they had on Facebook and Twitter. 

I also scored a $100 travel certificate with Travelocity thanks to Twitter.  For this jetsetter, every single savings counts. 

I even scored tickets to Rebecca Minkoff’s fashion show during fashion week a few years back too…all thanks to social media.  And yeah…Minkoff gives away her most coveted purses all of the time through many of her social media contests. 

For those who weren’t using social media to their benefit…START.  You can score big by following various companies.  Like I said, I’ve won plenty thanks to Twitter and Facebook.

5. If you shop online, you better be using EBATES.  The biggest mistake any person shopping online can make is to not check on Ebates to see if you can earn cash back on your purchase.  It’s also a great spot to find additional coupon codes for the site you’re shopping.

Thanks to using Ebates in the last 6 months, I’ve netted a $10 Target gift card and $25 in cash back.  It’s not much, but I’m happy that I get a check in the mail when I’m not expecting it! 

The easiest way to do Ebates is to put everything in your cart and then head over to Ebates, log in, and find the referral link to the site you’re shopping.  After you connect back to the site where you were shopping, just checkout.  That way, you get through the shopping process faster and you know that you’re going to get cash back for your purchase. 

****

As for me, I’m making a 2012 resolution I did not make on New Year’s Eve.  I’m taking Mike up on his minimalist challenge.  I’m going to start scaling back and go even more frugal than I have been.  I don’t know…I love clothes and purses and Bauble Bar…so those are 3 habits that are going to be very difficult to break.  But considering I have a bigger dream that has to be fulfilled a few months before 2013 shows up, I have to start saving every which direction I can. 

This year, I’ll be showing you how I’m going to do that. 

A lot of you that come here know that I travel a lot, so I’ll share some of my tricks of the trade with you on how I get to live that dream of traveling all of the time.  It’s a matter of learning when to splurge and when to go on the cheap…and when, how and where to get the best deals.

I leave you with this article from Real Simple: 7 Steps to De-Cluttering Your Home.

Ok…so blog challenges are always fun.  I’m borrowing this week’s challenge from Sometimes Blonde who borrowed it from Run With Me who borrowed it from Life and Times of Alison & Justin.

Current Book:  I’m kind of reading 3 books right now. 

The Rushdie book I bought last night and decided to carry it around with me to read on the commute.  It’s a paperback…and oddly enough, Rushdie reminds me of how I wrote stories in the 6th grade.  No wonder why my teacher was praising my writing back then and foresaw I’d end up being a writer.  This book is filled with adventure…and I’m just getting started on it.  I think it’s good to read Rushdie every now and again.  It reminds me what kind of writer I was and can be…the stuff that makes my professors and teachers exclaim to the class that there is a genuine writer in their midst…but it’s only when I write those kinds of stories…you know, the ones like Rushdie.  He reminds me that I need to get back to my roots.

The Son of Neptune is Riordan’s latest in the Percy Jackson stories from the Heroes of Olympus series.  I didn’t know this book was out until I saw it on the shelf at Target on Saturday.  Since it’s a little bulky and tough to carry around, it’s my bedside table book for now.

I started The Tiger’s Wife a couple of weeks ago, but had to go out and buy it after another patron put a hold on it from the library.  I wasn’t able to finish it in 2 weeks, so it’s another book I’ve been carrying around and reading when I can.

Current Playlist:  Adele.  She’s on repeat, especially “Someone Like You.”  I listen to it several times a day.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/hLQl3WQQoQ0]

Current Color:  Gray, white, purple and pink.  Those are the colors I’ve been focusing on as of late because that’s the color palette for my office I’m re-doing.

Current Drink:  I’m obsessed with water.  My obsession with water went into overdrive in Morocco.  I drank two liters of water every single day I was there.  I became even more obsessed with water when I didn’t have access to it.  That’s one major obsession issue I’ll have to deal with when I get to the desert!  Trust me, I may have to move next to the ocean if I can’t get over that obsession.

Current Food:  Pad Kee Mao.  It’s my favorite Thai dish.  If I could, I’d eat it probably every single day. 

Current Favorite Show: I don’t watch TV because I don’t have cable.  I’m reduced to watching the TV series when it hits DVD.  There are the obsessions: Supernatural, The Simpsons, Weeds, The Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, Californication, Glee, Dexter and Desperate Housewives.  One show I’ve truly come to love lately is Pretty Little Liars.

Current Needs: I currently need to detox my body from it’s sugar high.  I am currently on a NO SUGAR diet right now because my body seriously crashed yesterday from the sugar infused holidays.  My body needs just the basics right now.  I have so many liquids around me…it’s not funny.

Current Triumph: Realizing I’m good at what I do.  Someone I had just met told me that I was an excellent writer…that was why the Devils let me cover their team.  For years, I didn’t think anything of it, but to have a guy that had been in the business for 20 years tell me that I had achieved something he never could…that speaks highly of what I do.  I’m the type of person that just continues to do what they’re doing because they enjoy it, not because they’re looking for self gratification or acknowledgement.

But the true moment of realization that I was good at something didn’t settle in until I was looking at the photos that came in from Snapfish that I had developed from my trip to Morocco.  I kept looking at them thinking they were fake somehow…like I was taking credit for doing something that someone else had done.  I actually sat there looking at the photos and saying…wow…these are really good…like professional quality good…like stuff that makes me say, “Wow…I actually did this.”  That’s what a personal triumph is about…having that “Wow…I actually did this” moment.

It makes me realize that what I look for in a moment can be captured behind the lens…and a lot of times, I’m looking for a beauty in a moment.  If I can find it and capture it, that is my “Wow” moment…to me, that’s a personal triumph (especially if I can for once pat myself on the back at a job well done).

It still amazes me that I’ve become good at something, just because my editor told me back in 2007 to start taking photos and don’t stop.  I’ve now gotten good at it, because I fell in love with taking photos.  Trust me, in 2007…I was a horrible photographer.  It’s 4 years later, and I’m crying over a bunch of photos because they are just so beautiful…and I’m trying to tell myself that I took those photos…not someone else.

Current Bane of My Existence:  Tourists.  Live in NYC…you’ll understand.  The tour guides in Morocco thought it was hilarious how I reacted towards tourists.  If I saw a tourist group…I’d wait until they were gone or I wouldn’t go over to where they were.  My brother even remarked that there were no tourists in my photos.  I exclaimed, “That’s because I wait until they’re friggin gone before I take the photo!” 

Yeah…the guys in Morocco thought it was hilarious that I would wait until the tourists were gone…yet, I’m a tourist in Morocco.  They just found the irony to be hilarious.

Current Celebrity Crush:

Jang Dong-gun (from Warrior’s Way)

Wonder what my man looks like?  Why, he looks a lot like Oded Fehr.  Something about those desert nomads…even if it is one that looks like the one from the Mummy. 🙂

Ben Barnes…that’s all I’m going to say. 

Current #1 Blessing:  Finding Love.  You know how you go so long waiting for the love of your life…the one you’re going to spend the rest of your life with?  Then when you find that person (for me, I had to go to the most remote part of the world to find the perfect guy for me), it’s like you’ve known them all along.  I found love in the most random places in the world with the most random person I could find that is so different than me, but our souls are so alike.  That kind of happiness is a true blessing.

Current Indulgence:  Well, if you asked me over the weekend what that was…it was Oreos, cookies, chocolates, Twinkies, Cheetos, cupcakes, vodka infused gummies…yeah…this is why I’m detoxing right now. 

Current Outfit: Today, I’m wearing my brand new Josie Natori cashmere/silk top that was a gift from my boss.  Underneath, I have a black Banana Republic long-sleeeved tee and Gap black pants.  Accessories: Bauble Bar cuff and necklace.  Shoes: Gold Glitter Ballet Flats. 🙂 Bag of choice today: Marc by Marc Jacobs tote that was also a gift from my boss. 

Current Excitement: The Winter Classic begins this weekend. 🙂

Current Mood: Thinking about all of the things I have to do and get done in this very moment.

Current Favorite Holiday Decoration: This time of year…I love the smell of cinnamon.  Cinnamon pine cones and cinnamon candles. 

Current #1 Item on My Wish List: Well, it was a Marc Jacobs bag…until yesterday.  I think on my bucket list…it’s to go to Turkey!  Moving to Morocco will make it a little bit easier (and cheaper) to travel around Africa and Europe.  After all, tix from Paris to Casablanca were only 32 Euros each way.

Current New Year’s Resolution: Well, I have 10 of them up on Losing 100 Pounds of Unhappiness.  But for this site, I wanted to add:

• Smile More.
• Greet people first with a smile or a hello.
• Make effort to make others happy before you make yourself happy.
• Recycle/reuse more.
• Stop using plastic bags, etc.
• Be more green (greener than I am already).
• Finish everything that you start.  In other words, stop sabotaging yourself.  Finish what you started…and then start on something new.

And from Oprah.com…35 Little Acts of Kindness that are also part of my New Year’s Resolution…

 

Since I can’t sing for you…I’ll share some of my favorite Christmas melodies.

This first one is my ultimate favorite.  “White Christmas” sung by Bing Crosby.  Growing up, I was a huge fan of Bing Crosby, especially his Road to (fill in the blank) with Bob Hope.  I loved those two characters.  I remember watching “White Christmas” and just being so entranced with Bing Crosby’s voice.  He just melts me. 

[youtube=http://youtu.be/dXcNfA4qebQ]

This carol always made me laugh growing up.  I’m sad they don’t still play it on the radio all of the time.  It’s the “12 Pains of Christmas.” 

[youtube=http://youtu.be/YSy68QlTOZo]

Speaking of childhood Christmas songs…here’s Alvin, Simon and Theodore.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/6hAUWyp0qzs]

In recent years, this has become one of my favorites.  I think after spending so many Christmases alone, realizing the Christmases you can’t spend with the people that meant the world to you because they’ve passed on, Christmas just isn’t the same anymore…(Sorry…you have to go to Youtube for this video (just click on link in video). Apparently WB doesn’t like sharing this song…)

[youtube=http://youtu.be/nmGSHZYZ74c]

This last one is the song that gets me in the holiday spirit. [Love this church in Anaheim’s rendition.] [youtube=http://youtu.be/3sKmHiGOv70]

Happy Holidays, everyone!  I hope you all have a safe and wonderful holiday!

Happy Merry Peace Love.

🙂

[youtube=http://youtu.be/269stS01ZRI]

1. 10 Pinterest Accounts You Should Be Following.  I’m still new to this whole Pinterest phenomenon, but the site is addictive.  I’ve found so many DIY projects, recipes, and things I just have to buy.  I’ve discovered new blogs, new artists, and interesting articles (like this one). 

If anything, the main thing you can take from this article is how to become a more influential pinner. 

2. 50 Under $50 For The Ladies.  Looking for the right gift for a lady in your life (wife, girlfriend, fiancee, sister, mom, aunt, grandma…)?  Well, SheFinds has come out with the best list I’ve seen so far.  Why do I think that?  Because I want practically everything they list! 

It’s hard to narrow down what I want…but if my Santa’s really nice to me (hint, hint)…he can get me all 50 and I’ll be better than good to him next year (is that possible?). 

Here’s the Gift Guide For The Man In Your Life.

Oh, and btw, that 50 Under $50 for HER…has been retweeted and favorited so many times by people on my Twitter account that my entire timeline reads FAVORITED/RETWEETED for just that one post alone. 

3. Top 50 Under $50 Gifts For HOME.  Why I liked this guide…it gave me some new ideas for the home and introduced me to new sites where I can shop for home items.  I’m already an avid home shopper at Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie (I love Anthropologie’s sales), but I didn’t know that ModCloth had home stuff (Paris prints…they are so what I have been looking for to go in the kitchen!).

A lot of the products listed actually gave me a lot of ideas for presents for my brother. 

4.  Peppermint Hot Fudge Sauce.  Leave it to Rebecca Minkoff to have my mouth watering (and we’re not talking about a Rebecca Minkoff purse here).  The Minkette has a little blog entry containing details for a peppermint hot fudge sauce recipe from The Smitten Kitchen. 

I so can’t wait to try this at home after Christmas Dinner.  Mmmmm…

5.  World’s Prettiest Christmas Lights.  I loved the pictures from this article!  Direct from Australia, you’ll find pictures of Christmas lights from all over the world.  If anything, it will really get you into the holiday spirit!

{From Kuala Lumpur}

{From the Influenster Holiday Vox Box}

I’m not one to get my nails done every single week or get acrylics, so I didn’t know how to react to trying the imPress Press-On Manicure.  The last time I put on press on nails was in 1993 for my senior year Halloween costume.  Those Lee Press On Nails all managed to stick to my catwoman costume rather than my nails!

Thinking that maybe technology had advanced and these babies just might stick…I put them on right before I went to bed.  The true test would be to see if they would last through the night.  If they did, then we had a bona fide amazing product on my hands.

{Nail style is LOVE BITES}

When I woke up the next morning, every nail was still in tact…and they still looked absolutely perfect.

So the next question is how long did they last?  I put them on Wednesday night and took them off on Saturday when I got to Montreal.  I think they could have stayed on longer, but the reason why I took them off had more to do with travel reasons.

I wore these babies to a casino night holiday party on Thursday and on through to the Scott Niedermayer night at Prudential Center on Friday.  They held up really well. 

When I got to Montreal on Saturday, I had to take them off…but not for reasons you would think.  If I had stayed home and not hit the road, I think they probably would have lasted an entire week.

I took them off in Montreal because I got a lot of soot and dirt on the nail ends that just wouldn’t come off.  I find this only happens when I travel.  It’s not easy getting soot off of my own nails…even worse to get them off these press-on nails.

During the main two days that I was wearing the nails, I went around and asked regular acrylic wearers what they thought.  They all said that they looked fabulous.  The only way they knew they were fake…the designs on the nails were perfect. 

I was very imPressed with how well the nails held up.  I actually like them A LOT.  It’s an easier way to get my nails done, and it hides the flaws in my nails.  I think the next time I put them on, I’ll make sure that I’m not traveling so they’ll last longer. 

Then again…maybe imPress can come out with a set of nails for those jetsetters that have the soot and dirt problems when they travel.

So for those ladies that are lazy and don’t like spending forever at the nail salon getting their nails done (and waiting an eternity for them to dry, and then end up smudging them ALL OF THE TIME)…this is the product for you.  Also, for those ladies that just need something quick and very fashion forward, put these on and you’re ready to go.  I really liked this product.  I plan on using them more often.  {That’s the polite way of saying…I’m officially an ADDICT now.}

For more information on imPress, head on over to their webiste: www.impressmanicure.com.  While you’re there, check out their app to see how all 36 styles will look on you.  You can even get a coupon for $1 off on their site. {You can also like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter @BwayNails.}

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{This product was received complimentary to test through Influenster’s Vox Box program.}

Are you an Influenster?  Do you influence others or their shopping habits?  Well, if you do, you should be an Influenster.

Just recently Influenster sent me the Holiday Vox Box to try out and review some new products getting ready to hit the market.  But before I get to the reviews of the products, my dear little Surita decided that she wanted in on the action, so she gets her very own storyboard.

Love Actually does it best…

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1. 100 Exceptional Examples of Portrait Photography.  If only I was this good.  Take a look at some of the most beautiful portraits…all 100 of them…and be prepared to be amazed.  It’s just one element that makes each photo so striking that you can’t help but think…WOW.

Talk about very beautiful!

This makes me want to take photography classes…and get a more expensive camera.  {Putting that on my list of things to buy before leaving for Morocco.}

2.  Nicolette Mason.  What a small world we live in.  Not so long ago I was reading Marie Claire and thinking, “Oh, there’s a new girl doing the Plus Size feature.”  That means, of course, that I’m reading her column all of the time now in one of my favorite magazines.

How odd that I’m at the Bauble Bar Holiday Pop-Up Shop and that striking red-head with a presence is none other than Nicolette Mason…writer and fashionista with a love for her Miu Miu gold glitter heels (there’s just something about gold glitter…).  Well, it took me all of yesterday to put two and two together to realize…I read this lady’s column.  And I love her already.

Thanks to Bauble Bar, I stumbled upon Nicolette’s blog and it has now become my new blog I love to stalk.  It’s so New York.  That’s what I love about it.  But most of all…who says that plus-sized women can’t be fashionable? 

Once upon a time anything over a size 8 was shunned…then it became a size 4 then a size 0.  Now, fashion comes in all sizes.  Nicolette is showing the world how fashion can truly be a fun and amazing thing…no matter what your size.  Did I mention that she has a presence?  As in, she walks in the room and all you can notice is this woman.  You can’t help but think how cool this chick is. 

I guess that’s why Marie Claire dubbed her as their new plus-size feature columnist.

3.  Valentino Scarf.  Oh, Valentino…how I adore thee. 

I got a little package in the mail last night.  I was so excited, I decided that it would be an early Christmas present, because I didn’t think I could wait another week to open it up. 

I opened up the package to reveal a Valentino scarf.  Luckily, this scarf…you won’t find anywhere else.  The link above will take you to a similar scarf…but not the same one I received last night. 

I have been building up my Valentino collection over the last few years.  It started with a pair of sunglasses from Ideeli.com and then grew into a pair of shoes, two dresses and now a scarf.  My next purchase will definitely be a bag. 

Just recently, Valentino launched a new site called the Valentino Garavani Virtual Museum.  You want to see Valentino’s archives of complete and utter beauty?  This is the place to find his designs.

But for those who have held a Valentino in their own hands…seeing the beauty of Valentino is one thing…touching it, holding it, and wearing it is a different thing altogether.  Why?  Because you can’t experience the true meaning of the statement: Valentino puts the essence of the beauty of a woman into each and every aspect of his clothing.  You see it in every single stitch and in every single detail.

If you haven’t seen the movie “Valentino: The Last Emperor” you definitely should.  It is one of my all-time favorite documentaries.  Truthfully, the man, the legend and his creations have enchanted me.

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If you see me wearing my scarf a lot now…it’s because Valentino just knows how to make a woman feel beautiful.  It’s one thing to look beautiful.  It’s another to feel like you are a beautiful woman.  It’s what’s on the inside that matters more…and by putting something beautiful on the outside, Valentino knows how to make a woman feel beautiful inside as well.

4. Pretty Little Liars.  I just recently discovered this little show.  I didn’t think I would like it at all…but the whole “Who Done It?” has been driving me to complete and utter confusion and intrigue.  By the end of season one, I could have told you that everybody did it…or at least every single person played a part into the untimely demise of little miss popular.  OR maybe she’s still alive…or maybe…

You get my point on why they’ve roped me in? 

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5.  Adele.  I’m a little late to the party when it comes to discovering Adele’s album.  I downloaded it a little over a month ago and I haven’t stopped listening to it…as in…I listen to the album four times a day. 

For anyone who has ever lost someone they loved or broke up with someone they loved, this is the album for you. 

I’m a big fan of “Lovesong” and “Someone Like You.”  “Lovesong” reminds me of Hamid and how much I miss him.  “Someone Like You” reminds me of how I broke someone’s heart and how someone broke my heart (not the same person, fyi).  For all the people out there that loved someone and watched them find someone else…that song is our heart’s cry. 

The album itself…is superior.  It’s the most amazing album from the first song to the last…Adele will wrap her voice and her words around your heart.  Your heart will be beating in tune with the sounds of Adele’s soul.

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I just came across this photographer on Pinterest…and I’m in love with her work!  The photographer’s name is Lalla Essaydi.  (Lalla means “beautiful” in Arabic).

When I first saw it (before reading the background), I thought…this reminds me of me and Hamid.  Literally, behind closed doors…this is us…talking and enjoying each other’s company. 

Intrigued at how much this reminded me of Morocco…ends up this is all done by a Moroccan photographer (now based in NYC).

Check out more of her work at Howard Yezerski’s Gallery in Boston and on this post from Photography Blog.

1. PUNK IS OUT.  Wow.  That’s all I’m going to say.  This is where I say someone has a stick up their ass.  This is someone who is abusing their power.  This is where someone is completely WRONG.

As much as I am an adamant supporter of the freedom of religion and expression…peaceful loving Muslim PUNKS…there’s nothing wrong with that.  They didn’t break any law.  They were raising money for orphans.  This is all in line with sharia…aka the pathway to God.  God doesn’t care what we wear or how we style our hair…just so long as we are practicing modesty.  A bunch of modest punks…come on…this person gives Islam a bad name.  It deviates from the way it is supposed to be practiced.  I’m not talking about the punks…I’m talking about the person in power arresting all of the punks who did not commit any form of criminal act.

I was told while I was in Morocco that imams frown upon people in politics.  Politicians always seem to misconstrue the true meaning of Islam and change it to protect them and the things they want to do that deviate from the teachings.  Remember “The Kite Runner?”  I was so mad when I saw what that jerk did to that little boy…and how he was able to listen to music and cater to the luxuries taken away from the people.  The Taliban took happiness away from the people as if it was God’s way. 

That is not God’s way…it’s a mad man’s way to manipulate, imprison, and control an entire country by putting fear into the hearts of humanity. 

A bunch of Muslim punks raising money for orphans?  Tell me…what was so wrong about that?  Apparently the accusations of drugs would have warranted a REAL ARREST and prison time.  Guess what?  Every Muslim punk there is being held without real reason.  Ergo…they didn’t have drugs on them. 

What we see here is propaganda being thrown around to say that punks equal drugs, not punks equal charitable people raising money for orphans.  This is politics, not religion.  They distort the truth for their own gains.  That is in itself what we call A LIE…and then trying to use the Qur’an and Islam to back them up.  It’s still a lie before God’s eyes.  You see this in every religion…every single time someone sins, they try to change God’s law to make their sin okay.  It’s still a sin.  There’s no gray area.  It’s only black and white.  Right and Wrong.

This is the reason why I keep pointing out political propaganda to you.  Know the difference!

As for the punks…God bless you for doing something amazing and raising money for orphans.  Your voice speaks so much louder as REASON, while the other speaks of idiocy and disobedience.

2. Kimora Lee Simmons Takes a Stand.  Speaking of Muslims…Kimora decided to speak out against Lowe’s.  I read one of the comments at the end and realized that the person must not know all of the facts surrounding this situation.  There really are Christians speaking out against the show “All American Muslim.”  They are stating that the reason why they don’t want the show to air…it’s for all of the reasons WHY the show should air. 

This show is designed to dispel the myths and lies about Muslims, especially Muslims in America.  It’s supposed to educate America on what it truly means to be a Muslim.  Right now, America only knows what it’s like to be a Muslim from Christians and propaganda.  {And Christians know all about Islam…how?} 

The reason why Lowe’s has come under fire is solely because they withdrew their advertising after receiving pressure from a Christian group: Florida Family Association.  Just take a look around at their website (which I will not link on moral grounds because of the hate spewed on their site).  Kimora was correct in calling them a hate group. 

I actually feel bad for all of the people that this group has decided to target…for ‘moral’ reasons. 

Once again, if God is LOVE and not hate…then why are you practicing hate, unless you really are following the evil one?  If you’re on God’s path, you’d practice love towards everyone at all times.  Practice hate and get others to hate, and I’m sorry…the ticket office in heaven says you have a one way ticket to hell.  Good luck with that. 

I have nothing against Christianity…unless they deviate from the religion…like when they practice hate.  That’s when I have a problem with it.  The entire Bible is about LOVE…not sure why they decide to practice the antithesis of it.  The antithesis of God is the Devil…I hope you get my point there.

3. These Boys Sure Did Want Their Very Own Hockey Rink.  Well, give these teens credit for being innovative…and give the town credit for teaching them a lesson.  These boys wanted an ice hockey rink so bad…this is what they did to make their own.

4. Rock of Ages. Well, the movie is finally coming out…Constantine Maroulis has a very small part in it, and Tom Cruise frightens the hell out of me (I blame his jumping on Oprah’s couch to be the cause of it), so I have a hard time ‘liking’ him in this film. 

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But then again…that makes him perfect for the role.  He still gives me that same feeling I had for the character during the musical on Broadway.

I will see the movie  because I want to see if the movie will make me feel the same way I did about the musical.  I really don’t think they can top Constantine’s performance…but I guess we’ll see if they can at least capture the essence.

5.  What I Did Last Night.  As a little teaser to tonight’s posts…Artspace did a little blog post on the festivities last night.  I’ll have pictures and a little writeup (as well as a recipe for the holidays) later on tonight.  It’s amazing to learn what a little peacock can do…

{P.S. Surita got her very own storyboard last night…it will also be posted up later.  I think she likes the new direction our lives are taking us.  She’s really into all of this new stuff showing up at our doorstep!}

The holidays are upon us.  Are you almost ready? 

Christmas cards are all out.  The stockings are all hanging.  Presents are all wrapped.  Packages are still coming in.  And a little more shopping left to do.

Here are a few things I’ll be picking up…

1.  BirchBox.  I’ve been hearing all of the fashionistas talking about BirchBox for the last few months.  I didn’t know what it was about.  I asked around…is it worth it?  Every lady I’ve spoken to says…YES, IT IS WORTH THE $10 SUBSCRIPTION.

For as little as $10/month you can give the gift of a BirchBox to one of your fashion/cosmetics loving friend, sister or mother.  Or better yet, why not order a subscription for yourself?  I plan on ordering one for myself.

What do you get?  Deluxe Samples to try every single month.  You can go back to the site to buy any full sized products you like.  For me, I know that I’ll be hitting up the TOCCA laundry products because they come in very handy while traveling.

What’s also nice is that for every friend that you refer, you get $10 towards future purchases at BirchBox.  That, to me, is probably worth the subscription.

For Brides-To-Be and Bridesmaids…this is also a great gift to give and get.

2.  For the Gamer in Your Life.  This is probably the hardest person to shop for…especially if he’s the kind of guy that stands in line for the midnight sale of a game.  Yes, that is my brother. 

The best gift for him is always a Best Buy gift card to stuff into his stocking.  But I’m going to try and grab Assassin’s Creed: Revelations and pray that he doesn’t own this game yet. 

Another great gift idea…NINTENDO.  Once upon a time, that’s what started the whole gaming experience for my brother.  So picking up a few childhood games like Mario or Pokemon could do the trick.  After all, there’s a Nintendo store half a block from the office.

3.  To Kindle or Not To Kindle.  I have been trying to decide whether to pick up the iPad2 for my brother for Christmas or something else.  He’s a gamer and a tech person.  Yes, he owns it all…but not the iPad2.  I contemplated whether to pick up the iPad2 for Christmas this year for myself, but then realized it would be pointless because it’s not like I could use it in Morocco.  But as far as the brother is concerned…maybe the Kindle Fire (retails at $199) would be a good gift for him.  Considering the Kindle is more compatible with other devices (including iPhones and iPods, unlike the iPad, which is only compatible with Apple devices), this device seems more up his alley for the compatibility reasons alone.

I may have to get him that Amazon.com gift card while I’m at it.

4.  For the Frequent Traveler.  This is the number 1 item on my list.  The DVF (Diane von Furstenberg) Travel Adapter. 

I also like the Henri Bendel adapter.  And then there’s the uber chic Mulberry adapter with a pretty little pricetag attached to it.

I like this little adapter because it’s ONE ADAPTER versus the 5 that I usually take with me when I country hop.  It’s also less clutter in my suitcase.

This DVF adapter was also listed in Oprah’s Favorite Things!

I also plan on purchasing this little duffle bag that was featured in O Magazine’s June issue.  Makes for a nice carry-on bag when I’m off to a short weekend away burning the hockey trails.

5.  For the Girls.  Yes, the girls know that I’m obsessed with Bauble Bar.  So why not give the girls that constantly talk about how they love my Bauble Bar jewelry, their very own baubles?  No one chica is getting the same thing.  But each one is getting something very beautiful. 

For the friends who enjoy books, I plan on gifting either “The Tiger’s Wife” or a teen fantasy book I’ve come to enjoy like Percy Jackson or the Kane Chronicles.  Yes, we love our books just as much as we love our baubles.

[Bracelet: $28 at Bauble Bar.]

Ooh…Santa came by early to drop off a little gift for us…

We’ll be sharing more details in days to come…

It’s kind of funny…I was going through my emails at 6:30AM and saw my Daily Astrology email.  What was today’s horoscope?  It was about ‘cleaning’ house, as in de-cluttering things out of my life.  How funny that I was up early this morning so I could take out the trash AND all of my items to be donated to the Vietnam Veterans of America.

There is always a sense of happiness that one gets from seeing a clutter free home.  There’s a sense of renewal when that once cluttered up floor behind your dining room table all of a sudden becomes an actual floor.  Wow…there’s actually room behind the dining room table!  Who would have thought?   

We never realize just how much junk we have in our lives until we start to make life changes. 

Life changes can happen at any time.  Whether it’s just looking at your life and saying “I can’t live this way anymore!” or in my case…moving to a new country.  You start to re-evaluate all of the junk you keep in your life.  This doesn’t just include the overconsumerism in our homes.  It can also be the junk we keep inside of ourselves.

Here are a few things I’ve done in re-evaluating the junk in my life.

1.  When was the last time you used it?  This is probably the easiest question to ask while sorting through your closets.  When was the last time you wore that item? 

I still have a gown I wore in 2000 that had me named as best dressed at one of the biggest society parties in Washington, DC.  The men were still talking about that dress 6 months later.  It was a long formal gown with black and white diagonal stripes, with an asymetrical cut (i.e. one shoulder).  The gown was literally a replica of Ralph Lauren’s gown that was featured on the spring runways.  Literally…it wasn’t on the market yet. 

I happened upon this gown at JC Penneys while shopping for a formal gown.  I didn’t think I would like it, but I tried it on and it ended up looking amazing on me.  A $149 charge later and I was labeled as best dressed…and it still hangs in my closet waiting for that moment that I need another formal gown to wear to some function.

Oh wait…I don’t live in Washington, DC anymore where wearing a formal gown was a necessity.  So why am I holding onto that gown from a decade ago?  It’s the same reason why women hold onto their wedding dresses.  We hold onto that special day when all eyes were on us as being the most beautiful woman in the room.  Will we ever wear the dress again?  Not likely. 

So we’re keeping it for the memory?  To pass it on to our child?  How many of us actually wore our mother’s gown on our big day?

That gown isn’t going to Morocco with me, so it goes up on consignment.  I haven’t worn it in a decade and my body is different now than it was when I was 24 years old.  If worse comes to worse…I could just recycle it and turn it into pillows or give it a new life by making it into two pieces.

Whatever memory you may have of an item, either give it a new life if you haven’t used it in years or throw it up on Ebay or Bonanza or donate it to charity.  Give it a new life and stop letting it clutter up your closet. 

This rule could apply to anything in your home.  Walk around and ask yourself, “When was the last time I used this?”  Look at your movie collection…when was the last time you watched that movie?  Do you foresee yourself watching it again?  If not, either sell it on Amazon.com or donate it to your local library. 

What about your special dinnerware and flatware?  Would you believe I own 3 box sets of a special Siam flatware from the early 20th century (in different patterns) that I hunted down through antique stores?  Have I used it once?  No.  Will I use it in the future?  Maybe not all three sets, which means that I could possibly part with one or two sets…no matter how difficult it was to find them! 

There are things that you can easily let go of…and there are things you should revisit…or at least remind yourself that you own them and bring it out to use them if you really want to keep them.  Even placing these items where you would see them every single day would help in using them more often. 

My friend gave me a set of 6 sake cups.  It stayed in the box for three years before I pulled it out and realized that I could use them every single day.  I put them up in the cabinet with the rest of the dishes I use every day.  I now use those cups for dipping sauces or when I want to eat a cup of soup, rather than a bowl.  It makes for a great serving size for me.

There’s that $70 cup and saucer from London I just had to have…why not actually have a cup of tea in it rather than let it sit there on the shelf for decoration? 

See where I’m going with this?  A lot of times we buy things, put them away and never use them.  If you can’t see yourself using them in the future, it’s time to let go of it.  You don’t need it. 

2. Remodeling = Getting rid of the old stuff.  I have a hard time letting go of the old furniture that I replaced.  That dining room table that my aunt and uncle gave to me with those crappy chairs and folding chairs when I first moved into my apartment…they were still sitting in my kitchen 2 years after I replaced them with my new table and stools that I absolutely loved.  The old stuff just sat there until TODAY when I took them out to be donated.  I still kept the table top, but threw out the legs, because I plan on recycling that table top into a back for my makeshift seating area in my office.  I’ll either paint or upholster it to match the room.  Either way, I’m giving it a new life.

If you’ve remodeled, get rid of the old stuff.  You remodeled for a reason.  No need to keep the old stuff and let it clutter up in a corner in a different room in the house!  Just let it go.  Give it away.  PURGE!

And for those who have that DIY project that is STILL SITTING THERE years later…if you still haven’t gotten to it now, what makes you think you’re going to get to it later?  Donate it.  Let someone else have their own go at it.  Trust me, you won’t even think of that DIY project again.

[A tip on the DIY clutter people…put your DIY projects in one place with the current date on it.  If it’s still sitting there 6 months later, chances are you’re not going to get to it.  DONATE THE PROJECT.  If you’re a photo person, like myself, store the photos away…better yet, upload the photos onto Snapfish, Kodak Gallery or whatever program you like…and spend a few minutes deciding what you’re going to do with the photos…put them in an album or hang them.  If you’re hanging them, either buy the frames and then order the pictures OR buy the frames/photos online all at the same time.  When it’s delivered, hang them up IMMEDIATELY.]

3.  Give Your Bathroom a Once Over.  The easiest room in my home to declutter is the bathroom.  I’m talking about the makeup, medicine, toiletries we have piled up.  Most of these things have an expiration date on them.  Grab a trash can and start throwing away all items that have expired. 

As for makeup, I throw away all cosmetics that are not mineral makeup.  Why?  Because mineral makeup lasts for years.  Non-mineral makeup has a shorter lifespan.

• Concealer: 12 months
• Mascara: 4 months
• Eyeshadow: 3 years
• Lipstick: 1-4 years
• Powder: 2 years
• Eye/Lip Liners: 3 years
• Nail polish: 1 year (Chanel lasts longer…shelf life is 8-10 years)
• Anti-aging/Acne Products: 3 months to 1 year
• Body Lotion: 2-3 years
• Shampoo/Conditioner/Shower Gel: 3 years
• Bath oil: 1 year
• Sunscreen: There’s an Expiration Date on the Container!
• Perfume: 2 years (longer if stored in a dark, cool place)
• Hair products: 3-5 years
• Bar soap: 3 years
• Shaving Cream: 2 years
• Deodorant: 2 years

Tip: When you open up a new beauty product, put a piece of masking tape on it with the date so that you know when it needs to be thrown out.  I don’t recommend using makeup beyond its expiration date…rashes and infections will abound.

Also, for those who stock up on too much makeup…like it’s going out of style…generally makeup will go out of style.  That blue eyeshadow…came and went.  Last time I saw blue eyeshadow was in the 80s.  They brought it back over 25 years later.  Don’t keep fad makeup unless you really love it and wear it on a daily basis.  It’s best to keep to the neutrals and the colors you wear all of the time. 

I’ll confess that I have 20 different eyeshadows from Bare Minerals.  I use one container until its gone…then I move on to the next color.  Sure, us gals love makeup, but really…we end up throwing it away because we can’t use it enough times or before it expires.  This is where I’d like to point out to ladies…it’s not good to stock up for a rainy day on cosmetics.  Just buy what you need, use it until you’re through with it and then toss it and buy something new. 

And for those ladies who always end up buying 50 different bottles of lotion because you need it for whatever reason it says on the bottle…and then it sits on the shelf (you know who you are…I’m one of them).  Consider donating a few bottles to your local food pantry.  They not only need food, but they also need toiletries.  Check your local food pantry list before donating.

Since I’ve decluttered the bathroom, I have a better idea of what products I love and what I absolutely need.  It also gives me a better idea of what products I do need to purchase before heading overseas.

Also, for those frequent travelers…if you’re like me and also have a stash of travel products for when you’re on the go, make sure to check those items as well.  Yes, that toothbrush will need to be replaced…as well as the toothpaste.  Yes, that sunscreen will go bad.  What year did you pull those product samples from the magazine?  Things do go bad, so it’s always best to remind yourself to put dates on these items and replenish the stock when you’re getting ready to travel again.

4. The office.  Since I’ve been remodeling my office, I’ve found a few bad trends I need to get rid of.  The main one being PAPER. 

You should only keep certain financial records for a certain amount of time.  There are others you keep permanenlty.  BankRate goes through the list of what paperwork you need to keep and for how long.  It’s a good idea to print out a copy as you go through your stack of papers to figure out what to keep and what to shred.  That’s right, SHRED! 

For those wanting to get their financial house in order, I highly recommend an accordion file and David Bach’s “Smart Couples Finish Rich.”  Luckily for you, the file folders to use are listed HERE. 

If you’re like me, you probably also keep old letters, Christmas cards, etc. from years gone past.  Would you believe that I purged a lot of those things?  Special letters from loved ones, those are priceless…don’t ever get rid of them…I’ll get back to those in a minute.  As for Christmas cards, etc. toss them (unless you have some DIY project for them).  I found that I had boxes upon boxes of Christmas cards that were sent to me over the years.  Would you believe that I had to rehash, “Who was this person again?”  There are also those birthday cards from a decade ago…do you really need it? 

If you haven’t scrapbooked them away, I recommend tossing them.  I do keep a few items (like the cards/letters from my grandfather) and put them away in a special keepsake box.  When I miss him, I can open it up and all of those cards and letters are there.  My grandfather did the same thing with his letters to his mother.  She was very important to him, so he kept all of those letters in an old tin box…a box I now keep for historical reasons. 

There are also those letters from over 200 years ago that my family kept…I keep those too.  Those are heirloom items. 

Keeping that in mind, if there are letters you want to pass on from one generation to the next…KEEP THOSE LETTERS.  They are more precious than anything you will ever pass on to the next generation.  Keep them in a keepsake box that will keep the letters dry and free from air.  It will also help the next generation identify the box quickly and keep it as a memento for the next generation.

If it’s not something you plan on passing on to the next generation…TOSS THEM. 

As for your library, do a once over.  Since I hit up a lot of library book sales, I tend to buy the same classic TWICE.  I do this all of the time.  Go through your library and pull books that you can donate to your local library.  They can also use your DVDs and CDs too. 

Download all of your music to your computer and back it up.  I don’t normally keep CDs after I’ve put it on my laptop and backed up the file on a ClickFree device.  Buying a ClickFree was one of the smartest things I’ve ever bought.  It now houses my entire CD collection.  Those tens of thousands of photos I’ve taken over the years are all on that ClickFree device.  It’s one of the best investments I’ve ever made to declutter my office. 

For those who bulk up on gift wrapping items…I used to do this until I started the remodel.  I forced myself to wrap every single item that was in that ‘just in case I need a present’ closet.  I put a name on each of those items and I plan on giving away every single present THIS CHRISTMAS.  Not next Christmas…THIS CHRISTMAS.

I used almost all of the giftwrap.  I recycled all of those boxes I was keeping to put presents in.  I used all of those gift bags and tissue paper.  Why?  Because you know that we always buy new rolls of giftwrap and tissue paper after Christmas.  Instead of buying new stuff, why don’t you recycle the same tissue paper, ribbons, boxes and most of the gift wrap from this year and use it again the following year?

My point is use what you have, recycle what you can, use that extra money for something else.  Most of all…get it out of your home and into someone else’s hands.  You did buy that stuff to give away, right?

5.  Bags.  I used to be one of those people that had a huge slew of plastic bags under my sink.  It was always for that ‘just in case.’  A few years ago, I decided to limit taking home a bag with every purchase and I started bringing my own reusable totes to the grocery store or wherever I may shop.  I usually carry a reusable tote in my purse for those just in case moments now.

It took me about a year and a half to get through 2 overflowing large shopping bags filled with plastic bags.  I forced myself to use them as trash liners and no matter what, I had to throw out whatever was in those plastic bags at the end of every week.  Now, I limit myself to just a few plastic bags every month…as in…enough to use as trash bags and not any more than that. 

These days, I’m not a big fan of plastic bags, even to use as trash liners.  Why?  Because I saw the impact plastic bags have on the environment.  While I was traveling along the roads in the Sahara Desert I saw plastic bags everywhere…as in, all along the side of the road.  They started to place a ban on plastic bags in the country because certain plastic bags DO NOT BREAK DOWN.  Instead, you find them strewn across the desert. 

I wish I could take a photo of the issue, but it stretches for so many miles, it is hard to take an accurate photo of it.  That’s just a reality check on how bad plastic bags are for the environment.  Consider using something else for those who are moving in an eco-friendly direction…paper bags do break down, so start using those…or environmentally friendly plastic bags.

6. De-Cluttering Your Mind.  This one is my personal favorite.  I realize that when things get bad in my life, it’s because I’ve lost focus on the important things…like staying positive and pushing good into the world.  Like…maybe I need to refill my karma basket after spending it all on finding the love of my life. 

The only way you can start to declutter your mind is by meditating and working to mentally clear your mind of the things that don’t matter, the things that will hurt you, and the things you really don’t need anymore.  That also means finding happiness within. 

One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned recently is that the past is what it is…the past.  You cannot change it.  It’s best to let go of the past, especially if it’s hurt you.  Holding onto hurt does not help you.  It inhibits you.  It makes you feel like crap.  Let it go. 

You can rehash it left and right, but nevertheless, you’re still in pain.  Let it go.  Let go of the could haves, would haves and should have beens.  Let go of the things that poison you and your soul.  Let go of all of the people that hurt you and harm you.  Instead, focus on being free of hurt.  Let go of everything that really does not matter.  Focus only on the things that matter in life and the things that bring you and everyone around you happiness.

Aim to be free of those nasty radicals that cloud your mind and stress you out.  Focus on your soul.  Focus on that moment of peace…and then let it radiate through your every being. 

While you’re at it, start filling up your karmic basket with good things.  You’ll find that the more good you put into the world…the more you get coming back to you. 

****

So kids, remember, decluttering is the best thing you can do for yourself.  It kind of surprised me how much STUFF I had until I started going through it to donate it.  Just the little dent I made in my home is not even 10% of what I have to pack to go to Morocco.  That adventure into the severe cuts will be forthcoming in the next year so stay tuned.

There are a lot of interesting and amazing things going on in the world right now.  There are also the not so amazing things going on that I can’t help but feel ashamed of humanity.  Just horrible what these people come up with!  Here are a few items I’ve been reading today…

1.  Could This Be the End of Cancer?  If you want to know what stock I’m going to buy next…I’m waiting to see if Antigen Express, Inc., will be hitting the stock market soon.  All I can say is that I’ll be investing to no end.  Looks like a lot of people are waiting on the news of the fundraising efforts to put Antigen on the stock market.  If these guys have the cure for cancer…you would be an idiot for missing out on buying this stock and netting a huge profit.  I have my eyes on this company right now.

2.  Sweat the Small Stuff.  Since my life has been moving in a new direction, I am constantly thinking about how to make my new business a successful one.  Back in the day, when I was first starting up a not-for-profit, I was constantly concerned about the little stuff…the small stuff that leads up to the big production.  If I didn’t, the charity would have failed, because it’s hard to get others to focus on the small stuff too.  When you don’t focus on all of the small stuff…the bigger picture fails.  What I like about this article is that it discusses the importance of all of the small stuff and putting qualitative work out there.  You have to aim for perfection.

This has become my motto: “If you don’t seem paranoid about perfection, you’re probably not aiming high enough.”

3. Former NHL Player to Testify Before Congress.  What’s he testifying about before a Senate Congressional Committee?  SEXUAL ABUSE IN SPORTS.  In the wake of the Penn State allegations, Sheldon Kennedy is speaking before Congress about sexual abuse while he was in junior hockey.  Like Theoren Fleury, Kennedy was sexually abused by his coach (Graham James) while he was playing in junior hockey.

James spent three years in prison for abusing young players.  He was pardoned in 2007.

“Kennedy is expected to discuss the effects of abuse and what it’s like to be in an organization that didn’t do enough to protect teens.” – Washington Post

4. The Buddha in the Attic.  I haven’t been posting my latest book reads in the last six months, but I thought I would mention this book.  It was recently nominated for the 2011 National Book Award.  Unfortunately, it didn’t win, but Salvage The Bones did.  That’s going to be one of my next reads along with The Tiger’s Wife.

Buddha in the Attic is the tale of numerous Japanese Immigrants as told by the women during the earlier half of the 20th century.  In a way, the book made me think of the problems that Muslims have had in America since 9/11…and how in comparison…it was dumb to throw Japanese Immigrants into camps.  They were just normal people working the farms and fields, working in wealthy homes as servants, and knew very little of the war…until ‘the list.’ 

People were wrongfully accused because of a political war they had nothing to do with…all because they were JAPANESE. 

5.  As I read the latest posts on Lowe’s Facebook page (yes, I’m talking about the hardware retailer), I can’t help but see how stupid people are.  Why do they blame Muslims for 9/11?  Terrorists are not Muslims.  They don’t even represent what the religion is about.  If you practice EVIL (as terrorists do), you’re not a Muslim as clearly defined in the Qur’an.  Of course, you would know that if you actually took the time to read the Qur’an so you could figure it out for yourselves what the religion is all about.

Let me put it simply…if you practice HATE, you are practicing the EVIL ONE’S ways (aka the Devil’s ways), and not God’s ways…ergo, you are not practicing the ways of Islam.  Islam is about God and LOVE.  It has nothing to do with hate.

9/11 was about POLITICS, NOT RELIGION!  Need I point out to you that if you were to find out 50 years from now that 9/11 was indeed an inside job…would you have felt stupid/bad for blaming an entire ethnic/religious group that had ZERO to do with 9/11?  Muslim Americans were just as heartbroken, scared and hurt as any American in this country.  They mourned with us, because they are Americans.

I’m tired of seeing the hate coming from Americans and Christians towards Muslims.  It needs to stop.  I can’t help but think how wrong America is about Muslims.  Their religion is not founded on hate, neither is Christianity.  Muslims are Jews and Christians, just like Christians are also Jews.  Why do I say that?  Because Christians needed Judaism in order to have their religion.  Muslims needed Christianity and Judaism in order to have their religion…Islam is based on those two religions.  Or did people conveniently forget that?  Did they forget that Islam has another book so that they could be stronger (and stricter) in their faith with God?  You know…the same God that the Jews and Christians worship. 

Really, if you are that stupid to condemn Muslims for what terrorists do…need I remind you that the terrorist Timothy McVeigh was Christian?  Terrorists are about politics…NOT RELIGION.

You really need to step outside of America and start asking the rest of the world what is going on…they have a better idea of what’s going on than America does (after all, I see propaganda being spouted left and right all over Lowe’s Facebook page). 

As for Lowe’s…I will never be stepping foot into their establishment now that I know what kind of customers they cater to….bigots, racists, and assholes.

The days are going by so quickly…Christmas is almost here.  Who is ready?  I’m sure not.

I’ve been getting the new office ready (I know, it doesn’t make sense to redecorate an office when I’m actually packing up most of my stuff in a year to move to Morocco).  The Veterans of America are coming by on Friday to pick up all of my donations so I can finally clear out that Ikea desk, an old dining table, a bunch of chairs, and countless bags of clothes.

I noticed that I had a huge bag with Christmas presents in it.  You know…those presents you buy for the ‘just in case’ you need a gift?  Yeah…I have to give all of those gifts out this year.  The cat’s Christmas stocking from years gone past…that was in there too.  That’s about the only thing that has gone up besides the Christmas cards that have arrived in the mail.  Oops…guess I need to send out Christmas cards too! 

Right now, I keep looking at the calendar thinking…I have to be in Montreal next weekend.  My brother is in town the weekend after that (crap, that’s Christmas).  I have to be in Philadelphia the following weekend for the Winter Classic…oh wait, there are Devils games I have to go to as well before that and a Rangers game.

Oh…I was supposed to book plane tickets for my brother?  Did I book everything I needed for Montreal?  Did I remember to pay the rent? 

Don’t tell me I need to buy Christmas presents yet…

It’s funny how the most wonderful time of the year can also be the most stressful time of the year.  I think my paychecks from now until April have already been claimed by everyone but me! 

You know that feeling when your balls are nailed against the wall…actually, I don’t…but that feeling when they’ve nailed your ears to the wall (that’s better for us ladies)…well, that’s how I feel right now.  One HUGE expense after the other.  You should have seen my cell phone bill when I got back from vacation.  All I’m going to say is that it hit the $1,000 threshold.  I liked it better when it used to be only $60/month. 

So as the harsh reality is sitting in that my life just got uber expensive for the next six months (when I’m really supposed to be scaling back), here’s a few things I’ve been doing to cut back (which I know will help those looking to save a few pennies…and those who are also thinking about making the big move across the pond).

1. Cut Back on Your Cell Phone Bill.  Ok, so I love watching Phineas & Ferb.  Because I’ve already scaled back by not having cable, I got an App on my BlackBerry where I can watch Phineas & Ferb whenever I want.  Well, that was costing me $9.99 a month…and I didn’t watch $9.99 worth of Phineas & Ferb every month.  Are 3-4 episodes a month really worth $9.99 a month?  No, it’s not.  Getting rid of the subscription to the app and other apps on my phone saved me $15 (plus taxes) on my monthly bill.  You have to be honest with yourself…do you want the dream more or do you want your Phineas & Ferb? 
2. Cut Back on Entertainment Costs.  See a trend here?  For those who use subscription services to sites like Netflix, cancel them.  Stop buying books, CDs and DVDs/Blu-ray.  In this digital age, downloading is a huge enterprise…but it costs money to have those downloads.  Consider this…THE LIBRARY.  My local library has a huge section for DVDs, CDs and of course, BOOKS.  All new stuff arrives before Netflix even has them available to the public.  A lot of libraries now allow you to use your Kindle, Nook, etc. devices to download books there FOR FREE.  Did I mention that checking stuff out from libraries are FREE?  Granted, you can’t get stuff when you want it if another patron has it checked out, but patience can be virtuous.  The Interlibrary Loan also comes in handy if your library doesn’t have the book you’re looking for.

   This week, I’ve been able to check out the book “The Buddha in the Attic,” the DVDS: The Vampire Diaries: Season 2, Desperate Housewives: Season 7, Unknown and Hall Pass.  For most of us, we just need to see something once or read it once.  After we’re done with it, it just wastes space either in our devices or in our homes.  Why not just borrow it from the library and return it when you’re done?  FREE versus NOT FREE.  Another thing to pack or give away?  Save money versus Waste money?  You are trying to save some dough, right?

3. Start Cooking.  Oh, I love to cook.  But sometimes, I can get lazy and just want to order out.  Thai restaurants are always on speed dial.  BUT that kind of expense can really add up.  I once calculated that I was spending $2,000 a month dining out all of the time.  Sure, I cooked at home, but I also met up with friends all of the time, ate breakfast, lunch and dinner out.  I ordered in on the weekends.  Oh, let’s not forget the countless Starbucks runs.  By lunch, I would have already spent between $20-30 just on two meals alone.  By dinner…the bill could be between $40-80.  That’s an expensive habit that had to be broken.

   So what do I do now?  Well, sadly…I said goodbye to Starbucks runs and started drinking the free coffee at the office.  I eat out only one day a week (you do have to splurge every now and again).  I cook all of my meals over the weekend and take them with me to the office during the week.

   I do simple things like roast a whole chicken or a turkey.  After it’s done, I’ll tear up the pieces and put it in the refrigerator.  During the week, I can throw the pieces into various dishes like soups or salads or make tacos or pasta.  I use them as base ingredients for other dishes.  I also make a pot of rice for the week.  There’s always frozen fruits and veggies within reach for smoothies or a quick toss with some olive oil and sea salt to take in for lunch or have for dinner.

   You’re more likely to stick to a good diet when you plan ahead.  Cost savings are up there…like $1700+ in savings.  This coming from someone who has a very strict ‘clean’ eating diet filled with organic foods.  I find that when you’re eating healthy things, you also eat less because your body is satisfied. 

4. Start Selling.  The joke at my office is, “I wonder what Michelle’s purse closet looks like.”  They have this crazy idea that I have purses all over the place and that my closet is overflowing with bags (I mean, I do carry a new purse every week).  But the truth is, my purse closet is pretty organized with a lot more room for more bags.  😉

   BUT even though I’ll splurge when I see a good deal, I also have to PURGE when a new bag comes in.  That’s where I go to the designer closet and really think to myself, “Am I ever going to carry that bag again?”  When you’re honest with yourself, you’ll find that Ebay and Bonanza.com (like Ebay without the auction) can help you ring in some extra cash on those designer duds…or even non-designer duds. 

   I went Kate Spade crazy one season…so I told myself that I could only own one tote bag and one handbag.  That netted me a few items that I could resell. 

   Of course, I keep reminding myself…your husband is going to go nutso when he sees how many purses you own…and then laugh at you and ask, “Where are you going to carry these purses?”  Yeah, the desert life means I can’t show off a new bag every week.  I mean…really…who needs 100 purses in the Sahara Desert? 

   Best to sell what you don’t need anymore.  {Truth be known, I’ve gotten down to 50 bags I can’t part from yet.  The way I pack, they will probably all end up in Morocco…that is, if I can stop buying more bags.  Oooh…Louis Vuitton bag on sale…}

   I also have an extensive DVD library…Amazon.com comes in handy for selling DVDs/CDs and books you don’t want anymore.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Pass that Invite Code Along.  So I’m a Bauble Bar ADDICT.  I buy a new item from them every week (I actually put weekly Bauble Bar purchases into my budget).  But you want to know what I’ve done that fuels that passion even more?  I passed my invite code along to anyone and everyone.  Why?  So I can get free baubles. 

   This week alone, I’ve scored 4 free necklaces from their vault.  Yes, I still had some budget money leftover, so I bought 2 Buried Bauble cuffs today for $10/each.  Sending on invite codes to your favorite places you love to shop can be very rewarding for you and your debit card. 

   If you have a favorite shop that you can get rewarded from by sending on other customers…SEND THEM THAT LINK.  No shame in getting free stuff (or credits) from a company you love.  Who doesn’t like getting boxes in the mail filled with free goodies?

6. Go VINTAGE.  So every girl wants a new outfit every now and again.  Would you believe that my favorite finds right now are all thanks to Housing Works (a NYC not-for-profit that benefits people with AIDS)?  Housing Works has thrift stores all over the place. 

   This past summer, they opened up their Warehouse.  Winter Adams came down from Boston to sift through numerous bins with me and find bags worth of merch for $25 per brown bag.  We came out with so many great finds, even my dry cleaner commented on all of the nice stuff I picked up.  Each time, I have to tell her that Nicole Miller gown or that Burberry coat was a find at that Warehouse sale.

   I’ve scored lots of cute fashionable bags that all of the fashion blogs are blogging about.  Want a fashionista look for $25 or less…try several outfits for $25 from thrift shops.  Every single day this week I’ve worn something from that $25 bag sale at the Housing Works Warehouse.  I’ve loved every single find…so did Winter!  We had so much fun digging for stuff…we’re now wearing it like we spent hundreds on it…it’s our little fashion secret.  We go vintage and wear it with pride.

7. If You Really Want to Cut Back.  So I don’t have cable at home.  I actually don’t need it.  I haven’t really missed cable that much over the last few years because a lot of the shows that I love…they’re released out on DVD and I can watch all of the episode in one swoop rather than wait week after week after week for the next show.  I actually prefer to watch them all back-to-back that way.  {I also miss out on the latest junk shows like Jersey Shore.}

   Getting rid of cable has helped me focus on other things…like reading books and magazines…and actually cleaning the apartment, rather than letting it gather dust week after week.  I’m also a workaholic, so I’m rarely home.  When I did watch cable, I usually watched movies.  So the Library helped with making the switch.

   Getting rid of cable was the biggest expense I’ve ever cut…and it’s an expense I don’t miss at all.  Try cutting cable out of your budget if you’re looking to save.  It will be the smartest decision you’ve ever made.  Now, I only have my air card for internet…which I rarely use when I’m at home.  Why?  Because when I’m home…I focus on the things that matter to me: my home, cooking, reading, watching movies, photography, writing and relaxing.

   Now…if I could only switch the BlackBerry to a regular phone…I have to weed myself off of the BlackBerry over the next year.  It doesn’t work in Morocco.  Only regular cell phone service works. 

8. Making Money Every Which Way You Can.  Want to know why this blog changed?  There’s no money in hockey writing.  Really, no one ever makes it big financially writing about hockey.  You do it for the love of the game.  So what’s a writer to do?  Start writing professionally…as in…it’s time for payday.

   Because everyone’s concern has been what I am going to do for work when I move to Morocco, I’ve been busting ass to get the novels out.  Whether it makes money or not, it doesn’t matter.  Just so long as some income is trickling in.  Photos are being reviewed and prepared for sale.  Contracts are being drawn up with various places to get my work out there with a price tag attached.  All of those years before…that was just the foundation.  You have to do what you love for free until you can get paid to do what you love.  With me, I had to change what I was doing in order to get paid to do what I love.  I love to write and take photos more than I do anything else.  Yes, I love those things more than hockey.

   Sure, I’m saving a lot of money so I don’t have to work for the next few years…and hubby will be working so he can bring in whatever he brings in…but trust me, I’ll still be the breadwinner in that household.  Why?  Because his job is taking care of tourists.  Me, my job is actually in entertainment…to entertain the minds of others through pictures and words.  Entertainment makes slightly more money…when done right.

   In other words, I’m taking the hobby and going full-time before I go to Morocco.  Now, when I say I’ve built a foundation to do this, that means I’ve written over 1,000 articles, taken over 10,000 photos, and have written over 500 pages to go into 2 different books.  I’ve researched different ways of selling my product and how to create a new and better product that no one else has. 

   That’s how you push your product into the market.  Lots of work.  Lots of background.  Lots of back product that can be released at different times while you concentrate on creating new products for the future.

   Why wait to release it all?  Because when the product is a hobby and not a job…the quality is a million times better. 

9. That Part-Time Job.  I wish I could get a part-time job now during the holidays to help make a little extra cash, but I know I’d end up spending it at whatever store I was working in.  For those who need to make Christmas money, getting a part-time job can help.  It also helps for those trying to save up to make a huge life change.

   I used to work in Macy’s when I was saving up to move to New York.  Every penny helped.  But what I loved about it more…I got to dress men.  It was my favorite thing in the world.  Always get a part-time job in a place that you’re going to enjoy doing what you’re doing.  It will help the clock tick by faster.  Then again, I’m not a fan of doing a job you hate just for a paycheck.  I like doing what I love and getting paid for it.  Don’t you? 

10. Shop at Target/WalMart.  Penny pinching means doing your research on where to get the best deals for every single penny.  You’re looking at a bona fide believer in buying groceries at Target.  Yes, TARGET.  The Target by me always boasts the lowest prices around.  If Aldi’s is selling Stove Top for 99 cents, Target will sell it for 89 cents.  If Shoprite is selling turkeys for $1.19 per pound, Target will sell it for 99 cents per pound. 

    Luckily, I’ve found that Target is also selling organic products as well.  They beat even Jack’s 99 cents store prices (because Jack’s isn’t 99 cents anymore thanks to our lovely economy). 

    If you use their debit card, you get an extra 5% off your order every single time. 

    They take coupons, you can drop off plastic bags in their recycle bins, you can bring your own grocery bags and get a few pennies knocked off for every bag you brought.

    I loved Target before they started selling groceries.  I love them even more now because they offer the lowest prices around in their grocery aisle.  Use your coupons when they’re doubled at the grocery store.  For everything else you don’t have coupons for…I highly recommend Target.  They’ve saved me so much dough.  My $200-300 monthly food bill is now officially down to $110 (without coupons).  Not too shabby, right?  I also have to be more inventive in the kitchen with the deals I do find…but then again…who wants just boring food to eat day in and day out?  I think I’ll be making Indian food tonight with that turkey (99 cents per pound) and Indian sauces ($2.99) I picked up with some veggies ($1 per pound of SteamFresh frozen vegetables).  It will make for a tasty lunch tomorrow too!

So kids, I hope some of these tips help.  The economy is not so great right now.  I make a lot of money, but inflation finally hit my lifestyle pretty hard so I now have to readjust everything to make it all fit again.  If I thought I was frugal before…trust me, I have to become even more frugal than I was before.

I know I said I wouldn’t discuss hockey anymore, but an attorney from one of the biggest law firms in the country came up to me this morning to talk about the New York Times spread on Derek Boogaard.  He was talking about the three-day article series that was a result of 6 months of research by the New York Times to not only investigate Boogaard’s death, but to do something that has the world talking…end fighting in the NHL once and for all. 

The three-day series has now led to the revelation that Boogaard had CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy…a degenerative brain disease very similar to Alzheimer’s Disease) that came as a result of blows to the head.

It’s rather sad.  I think we all knew it wasn’t just the drugs/alcohol in his system that killed him.  I think we all knew how those results would come back after his brain was examined.  The shocking reality though was that he was only 28 years old. 

When I saw Boogaard for the first time in the Rangers locker room, I had to cover my mouth.  It’s been kind of hard rehashing to the Rangers (or anyone for that matter) why I had to.  My body reacts to toxic chemicals very violently…as in, I start vomiting.  When I had gone up to Boogey to interview him with the others, he was emitting toxic chemicals that were so bad…I almost started vomiting.  That should tell you just how toxic his body was. 

When I described that to them, they just nodded in understanding.  It was just sad to know that back then, something could have been done…instead of talking about it months after his death.

If there’s anything you should read, whether you are a hockey enthusiast or not, you should read this tale of Derek Boogaard.  The NHL can no longer turn a blind eye to this or doping or drugs anymore. 

Part 1: Learning to Brawl

Part 2: Blood on the Ice

Part 3: A Brain ‘Going Bad’

They’ve got one guy out there that has been in the news this past week that is screaming for help…his name is Matthew Barnaby…a hockey player best known for being a pest and an agitator (not too different of a job from Boogaard’s job in the NHL).  After Barnaby’s altercation with his wife (where he was charged with domestic violence) back in May, he was caught on Sunday driving his Porsche down the highway with only three wheels.  He was charged with DWI and was subsequently fired from ESPN. 

Should we turn a blind eye to Barnaby and let him become another statistic or is someone going to step forward and help him?  His actions go to show that he is crying out for HELP!

You have to question just how much the NHL is protecting their players.  Why turn a blind eye to doping and drug use?  I know of one player that overdosed, but it was spun in the media as being a hockey related injury.  For the one reporter that said it was an overdose, he ended up having to change jobs…but it doesn’t stop the fact that he was right.

We can’t keep acting like fighting and headshots are not killing our players.  Dementia is not a health risk that players should take on just to have a job in the NHL.  It’s time for the NHL to evolve. 

That NY attorney mentioned to me that fighting in the NHL is a lot like Gladiator.  He was talking about that one scene, “Are you not entertained?”  While the crowds wanted the Gladiators fighting and killing each other…it didn’t make it right.  It was grotesque and barbaric…and eventually outlawed.  Caesar gave the crowd what they wanted…it still didn’t make it right.

It’s funny, because I compared hockey players to Gladiators last season after watching Spartacus: Blood & Sand.  There was something about the whole Gladiator dynamic that reminded me of a hockey team.  Oddly enough, it seems as if they really are our present day Gladiators.  Still…it doesn’t make it right.

I may have been on the fence about fighting over these past few years, but after this series from the NY Times, I’m now against it. 

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