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• As the World Turns

  09Mar
  Categories: Blonde Things Comments: 0

  A vacant store front is never good news and when stores go out of business it really makes me upset – usually because the aisles that were once filled with people will be left empty, collecting dust bunnies. Last month the Hollywood Video store on Western Ave announced it was closing due to the fact that the corporation filled for bankruptcy.

  Now I will proclaim to be a hypocrite and say that Sam and I joined the Netflix bandwagon, (which is obviously what put Hollywood Video out of business).

  I’m not sure why we didn’t order Netflix before because apparently you can watch as many movies as you want for around $18 (3 movies out at a time), and you never have to leave the house in your pajamas to get a movie because you’re bored on a Saturday night.

  A Few in Our Movie Queue (I think we have 34 total so far):

  Funny Face starring Audrey Hepburn
  White Squall starring Jeff Bridges
  Iron Man starring Robert Down Junior
  The Last King of Scotland starring Forest Whitaker
  New York, I love you starring Bradley Cooper & Natalie Portman
  Atonement starring Keira Knightly & James McAvoy
  Eastern Promises starring Viggo Mortensen
  The Jane Austen Book Club starring Amy Brennanman
  Dean Man Walking starring Sean Penn
  The Children’s Hour starring Audrey Hepburn

  We’re on a two week trial run. Our first movies arrive tomorrow, and we will most likely keep this service. Netflix recommennds movies to you based on ratings that you give other movies, and some of their recommendations we probably would never have found buried in the aisles at Hollywood Video.

  I think I will cancel my Cable and still never leave my couch.

• Pick it up

  04Mar
  Categories: Blonde Things Comments: 0

  Our front stoop has two flower boxes on either side, and underneath the stoop we have our recycling and garbage cans – I’m sure this can be said for the majority of Center Square row houses in Albany, NY, right?

  Let me back up for a second and say I am a neat freak – dust bunnies give me anxiety (Sam can attest to this, as I always have a Swiffer in my hand). Littering also makes my blood boil and my blood pressure rise – garbage just makes the earth look messy and cluttered. The pictures from last year’s Tulip fest may have given me a small heart attack (how one can go from beautifully displayed tulips to that mess is insane). We should all want our planet to be clean and beautiful, and I don’t think the rules are that hard to follow.

  Well, the other day someone decided to discard their half eaten Friday’s dinner and a plastic Vitamin Water bottle in my flower box. I get that it’s winter and the boxes aren’t overflowing with pretty flowers, but if you had just walked your lazy tush to the other side of my stoop you would see that there was an empty garbage can and a beaten up, blue recycling bin under there for your convenience.

  Honestly people – let’s get it together.

• Nutty Pot

  01Mar
  Categories: Blonde Things Comments: 2

  No matter what time of year it is Sam is a sniffer and a sneezer, and he recently purchased a Neti Pot, which is designed for “nasal irrigation.” (Ironically I was going to buy him one for Christmas, but didn’t think he would like it). I saw the product on Oprah and Dr. Oz – so they must work, right? Sam seems to think so. I’m not convinced.

  Directions: Mix salt solution into pot and pour into nostril, then watch it magically come out other nostril.

  

• New York in Bloom

  28Feb
  Categories: Blonde Things Comments: 0

  Every winter the New York State Museum has a fundraiser that benefits after school programs for Albany’s urban areas. A ton of different floral arrangements are created by various local florists and other groups and spread throughout the museum – each design reflects the exhibit that it is displayed in. Some designs are intricate and extravagant while others are simple, yet still involve a lot of creativity.

  Holding the event at the museum is great idea, not only because money is raised and put to good use, but also because a lot of people come to explore the museum when they otherwise would never get to experience something that is in the heart of Albany. Click yellow button to see some of my favorite displays. Read more »

• The Break Up

  27Feb
  Categories: Blonde Things Comments: 0

  Dogs they’re such interesting creatures.

  Last weekend we were suppose to dog sit for a pug named Motley (yes, Motley). Being a huge animal lover I thought this would be a fun idea and so did Sam, but there was one problem – Miss Molly.

  My pooch is a priss and is well known on our block for being one. She has claimed the whole neighborhood and then some. So before a two night slumber party, I decided it would be a good idea for the two pups to meet. Their first date was at our apartment – and Molly claimed her turf by barking incessantly for nearly thirty minutes, and it was decided Mr. Motley would have to stay somewhere else for the weekend.

  Then there was a second date at Motley’s house – there was hiding (by Molly) but not as much barking. They ended up playing a bit in the end. So, we thought maybe we could give the dog sitting a try.

  Read more »

• I wish I could do this…

  23Feb
  Categories: Blonde Things, Giggles for the day Comments: 0

  

• Ice Skating

  21Feb
  Categories: Blonde Things Comments: 0

  This week at the Times Union Center there was public ice skating on the hockey rink, and for some reason my friends thought it would be a fun idea.

  I was skeptical from the beginning, but I thought I would give it a try. I hadn’t skated in a long time, and the fact that the skate rentals were a blast from the past didn’t help much either. They looked like something you should wear on the moon – definitely space age material. I wear a size 6 1/2, and they didn’t carry half sizes. So, I tried on size seven – way too big. I went back and the guy handed me a pair of sixes (and at first he gave me two left feet) – I asked the guy if they were kids skates, and he said, “No, they are adults – they are just hard to find now-a-days” – well hello they are from the 80’s.

  There was a three year old who was skating better than me (of course she was pushing around buckets twice her size for balance, but they didn’t have any tall enough for me). Anyway I’m blaming my poor skating on the inefficient equipment.

• Coo-coo for Coccadotts

  19Feb
  Categories: Blonde Things Comments: 0

  Tonight my friend Vicki and I stopped at 677 Prime in downtown Albany for Happy Hour, and what do you know – they were having a special promotion for Coccadotts Cake Shop! My dad is crazy about their black and white cookies, and these cakes are big around our office for birthdays, holidays and any other excuse we can muster to eat cake. (We didn’t know about the special promotion – I swear)! I honestly don’t think I can use enough exclamation points in this blog post)!!!

  We each bought the special cupcake martini (absolute vanilla vodka with pink cupcake batter garnished with frosting and cotton candy – yum), and we received a coupon for five free Coccadotts cupcakes – plus we were allowed to snack on as many of these little tasty cupcakes as we wanted!!! My camera pictures don’t do the site, taste or smell of these delicous treats justice, but take my word for it – they were a tiny slice of heaven. The counter was littered with mini cupcakes, probably fifteen or more trays – peanut butter cupcakes; carrot cake cupcakes; orange cream cupcakes; red velvet cupcakes; chocolate and mint cupcakes; vanilla with chocolate frosting; chocolate with vanilla frosting – you name it and there was a cupcake – all so beautiful and hand made.

  I’m high on sugar now.