I started this blog with one daughter, kept it up with the other, to spend time together doing something we enjoyed.
However, things change and people evolve. My daughters are older, busier, and not as interested in writing.
From now on this blog will be mostly mom with occasional contributions from my daughters and maybe even my husband.
Nothing else will change. We'll still focus on sharing fun places to go, fun things to do, and more, and we would  still love to hear your views too

Friday, June 28, 2013

Funny Friday - Angry Cats

Me -

Our cat Pippi was playing with something she found on the floor. Our other cat, Callie didn't like that because  Callie stood straight  up on her hind legs like she was a person and not a cat and jumped on Pippi.

Mom -

When my cat Gigi was a kitten, she was playing with a piece of her food on the kitchen floor. I was sitting on the floor watching her. Apparently, she took offense to that because she stopped what she was doing, came over to me, got on the chair next to me so she would  be able to reach my face level,  and smacked me in the nose with her paw.

We welcome you to share your funny stories with us. Tune in Monday for another Talking Topic.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Fairs and Carnivals

Me -  Fairs and carnivals, wow!  I went to one carnival and one fair last summer. The fair was better. My Dad got mad at me at the carnival. At the fair, I went on the Gravitron. It was the worst ride in the history of fairs. I went on the Tilt-A-Whirl which was really fun. I love the Tilt-A-Whirl. I went on a spinning dragon ride. The floor spins and you can use the steering wheel to spin even more. I went on a ride where there were two rows of seats and you go all the way up really high, and it spins. Then, you spin around in a circle. I went for  a pony ride. My Dad asked if we wanted to get cowgirl hats by the pony ride. We didn't hear so we didn't get them. I would have liked to have gotten one. I have never been on a pony ride where someone wasn't pulling the pony around on a rope. I have ridden a pony before. When I was little we went to a dude ranch on vacation.  I was too little to ride. I did take horseback riding lessons at camp one summer though. I did not go on the Ferris Wheel at the fair. I do not like the Ferris Wheel. They are boring. I did go on one at the carnival. That was kind of fun because it kept shaking. Aurella was scared but I thought it made the ride more fun. I love carnivals and fairs.


Mom - Last summer, we went to the County Fair. My mother told me that we used to go to them when I was younger, but truthfully, I don't remember that at all. All in all, I think County Fairs are somewhat of a rip-off. First you have to pay just to get in. Then, you first have to buy tickets if you want to go on rides. Each ride is at least several tickets so the tickets get used up quickly especially if you have a lot of people with you. You are better off going to an Amusement park where the admission price might be a little higher but once you pay to get in you can go on whatever rides you want as much as you want without having to pay any more money. Games at the fair are a total rip-off too. Even if you eventually win something there is a good chance that you spent more money winning it than you would have if you just bought it at the store. I think some of those games are not even made so that people can win them. I did like looking at the cute little animals at the fair. They had a really cute baby pig and some other animals. I also like looking at the crafts people are selling especially the pocketbooks, dresses and earrings. However, I didn't get to do much of that because my kids wanted to go on rides. Besides, if I actually bought anything that would just be spending more money and making the total cost of the fair even more expensive. So all in all, the fair was alright, but there are other things I would rather do, and I wouldn't rush to go back there.

And that's our view. What do you like to do at the County Fair?

Tune in tomorrow for Funny Friday.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Where-To-Go Wednesday - The Land of Make Believe & Pirates Cove

What:  The Land of Make Believe and Pirates Cove

Where: 354 Great Meadows Road
            Hope, NJ

Who: All Ages

Our view: Like many places these days, the Land of Make Believe and Pirates Cove  is an amusement park attached to a water park. While in some places, admittance to each park requires a separate admission, here it does not. The amusement park, the Land of Make Believe is kind of small, and it is mostly geared toward children ages 3 to 11. There are basically two kinds of rides. There are rides for young children and there are rides for young children accompanied by adults. There are not really any rides geared for older children and/or adults. For instance, there is a roller coaster, but it is very small and older children and adults who are used to much more thrilling roller coasters would probably not find it very exciting. Pirates Cove, the water park, on the other hand, is the opposite. While there is a wading pool area with small slides, it is much more geared to adults and on many of the rides children under specific, heights depending on the requirements of the specific ride, must be accompanied by an adult. However, even without being accompanied by a young child, older children and adults will still find these water rides exciting. There is even one water ride, the Black Hole which is restricted to ages 8 and up.  Unique aspects of the Land of Make Believe include an old fashioned hayride, Old McDonald's farm which includes live farm animals, and a world war II airplane cockpit. The park is open on weekends from Memorial Day to the third week in June. It is open daily from June 22 through Labor Day. It is also open the weekend after Labor Day. Operating hours are always 10 to 6. Tickets are $24.00 for adults, $26.00 for 2-18, $22.00 for seniors, and free for under 2. For more information go to lomb.com.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for another Talking Topic.


Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Tips for Tuesday Apps. and Web-Sites: Doodle Jump and Click IQ Surveys

Me - Today I am recommending Doodle Jump. It is a game where the doodler jumps from spot to spot to see how far you can get. There's also Doodle Jump lite, Doodle Jump Christmas, Doodle Jump Easter, and Doodle Jump Hop. It is a very fun game.

Mom - Today I am recommending Click IQ surveys. The nice thing about Click IQ surveys is that they are usually relatively short. They also have a very short turn around time so if you wish to participate in them, it would be best to do so as soon as you receive them. When your account gets to 2,500, you can cash out for either a $25.00 check or $25.00 in your paypal account. For more information or to sign up for Click IQ go to clickiq.com.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

Monday, June 24, 2013

Wedding Dresses

Me - Wedding dresses, wow! Although I have never been married myself, we watch a lot of wedding shows so I have gotten to see a lot of wedding dresses. I like wedding dresses. They are mostly very pretty. I don't like wedding dresses with trains. I don't like wedding dresses with a lot of ruffles. I don't like dresses that have too much of anything. I don't like really plain wedding dresses either. They look like nightgowns or dresses that can be worn for anything. I don't like different colored wedding dresses.  My favorite kind is the kind of dress that can be worn on or off the shoulder. I don't like one shoulder dresses. Sometimes, I like strapless. Sometimes, I don't. It depends on the dress. It seems like on wedding shows they always wear strapless dresses. I like looking at other people's wedding dresses and rating them. I usually like wedding veils, but I don't like really short ones that don't even go past your head. I like long flowy pretty ones. I don't like when a person gets married and does not wear a veil at all. My favorite wedding dress is my Mom's wedding dress and that is what I am wearing for my wedding. I am hoping to make it a tradition by passing it on to my own daughter some day for her to wear and then give to her daughter.

Mom - Lately,  my girls and I have been watching a lot of wedding shows and seeing a lot of wedding dresses. Some of them are really beautiful. Some not so much. These days most wedding dresses seem to be strapless. I am not really a fan of strapless wedding dresses nor am I really a fan of strapless dresses in general. I do not like long sleeved wedding dresses either. I prefer dresses that have a little bit of sleeve or are off the shoulder. My own wedding dress was off the shoulder. I like a little bit of bling or pearls or lace or whatever, but too much makes the dress look too busy. I especially don't like a dress that has so much lace on the bottom that it ends up reminding me of tablecloth. I don't like dresses that are really poufy or feathery or that have lots and lots of layers.I also do not like dresses that are too plain and look like they could be worn for any special occasion.  I am not a fan of trains and did not have one on my own wedding dress. I like a long veil but not too long and definitely not one of those tiny ones. Of course, there is a difference between wedding dresses that look pretty and ones that I would actually wear myself. I have seen many dresses that look beautiful on another bride, but I wouldn't wear myself. The most important thing is that the bride picks the dress is that she feels is the right dress for her. After all, it is her day to shine and the right wedding dress is a big part of that. It is such a great feeling when a bride finds exactly the right wedding dress for herself. I know it was for me. The minute I saw my dress I knew it was the one, and I was right.

And that's our view. What kind of wedding dress do you prefer?

Friday, June 21, 2013

Funny Friday - Jolly Good Show

Me -

When I was 2, my parents took me to see Monsters, Inc. On Ice. After the show, I said "That was a good Boo show."

Mom -

When Aurella was 2, we went to see the movie Mamma Mia. She fell asleep during the opening credits and woke up during the closing credits. As we were leaving the theater, she said. "Goodbye Mamma Mia." When we got outside, she said, "That was a good movie."

We welcome you to share your funny stories with us. Tune in Monday for another Talking Topic.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Xanadu

Me - Xanadu, wow! When I was younger, I saw Xanadu with my Mom. She took me on the bus to New York because my Mom does not like to drive to New York. She also does not like to park in New York. My Mom and Dad had already seen the show. We listened to the music all the time, and I loved it. It is one of those shows that seems as much fun to be in as it is to watch. All the songs are really catchy. When I was little I especially liked the song Xanadu. When we went to see the show, this lady sitting near us watched me mouthing the words to every song. She couldn't get over that I knew all the songs even though I was just a kid. I loved to go around imitating Kyra's Australian accent. My Dad thought I did it so well. Usually, I am not good at accents. At the show, my Mom got me a light-up roller skate. It eventually broke and stopped lighting up. She got my sister a Dora pocketbook at the bus station to make up for the fact that my sister didn't get to go to the show. My sister was obssessed with Dora at the time. She has only recently given up Dora for other things. I really love going to see Broadway shows especially with my Mom.

Mom - When the movie Xanadu was originally out, I loved the music but hated the movie. When Xanadu the show came out and I read I review of it that said that it was a good show out of terrible movie with great songs, I knew I had to see the show. I was not disappointed. It was one of the funniest shows I have ever seen. Even though I already  had the soundtrack from the movie and most of the songs were the same, I still had to go out and get the soundtrack from the show too. I like them both so much I even have both versions of most of the songs on my mp3. I originally saw the show with my husband. He enjoyed it as well. I later went back with Melia. She loved it too. After we saw the show we got the original movie on DVD. My husband wanted to see it because he had never seen it before. I liked it much better than when I originally saw it, but I still liked the show better. Olivia Newton John looked really pretty the movie. I have always liked her anyway especially in the movie Grease. Xanadu is such a fun show, it would seem to be a show that would do really well in community theater except for one thing. The main character of Kyra spends most of the show on rollerskates, and there is a big rollerskating finale too. I am sure this aspect is what scares off most community theaters and keeps them from doing the show. This is unfortunate because it is a really great show.

And that's our view. What not so great movie do you think would make a good show?

Tune in tomorrow for Funny Friday.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Where-To-Go Wednesday - Holmdel Park and Longstreet Farm

What: Holmdel Park and Long Street Farm

Where:44 Longstreet Road
            Holmdel, NJ

Who: Everyone

Our view:  Long Street farm is a 1890s farm recreated in Holmdel, New Jersey. It is a working farm with  horses, cows, chicken, pigs and sheep. It is nice for small children because it is not very big, and you can see the entire thing in not more than a few minutes. It is also nice for older children because they can learn about how life was lived on a farm back in the 1890s. Children that are not afraid of animals will also enjoy the ability to get as close as you possible can to the animals without actually being able to touch them. Parents don't have to worry either, however because there are fences between the animals and the visitors. Long Street Farm is open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and from Memorial Day to Labor Day from 9:00 am to 5:00. pm. Admission is free. There are, however, frequent special events and programs offered some of which require a fee and/or reservations and some of which don't. Special events offered, include an 1890s Independence Day Celebration, music, and various demonstrations including a blacksmith demonstration or a woodwork demonstration. A highlight of the year is the Harvest Home Celebration a recreation of an 1890s country fair. The Harvest Home festival includes the exhibition of products, wagon rides,games and live music. This year the Harvest Home Festival will be held on September 29 from 11:00 to 5:00. There is also a parent/child chores program offered at the farm on the first Saturday of each month available to ages 4 and up. The program includes milking a cow, collecting eggs and feeding livestocks. The fee for this program is $15.00 per each parents and child pair and $5.00 for each additional participant.  I would recommend checking in advance to see what park programs are available on what days and times and if they require a fee and/or advance registration. Just up the hill from Long Street Farm is Holmdel Park with play areas for kids of all ages so even if you do not spend a long time at the farm, there is still plenty to do in the immediate vicinity.

And that's our view. For more information, on Long Street Farm go to monmouthcountyparks.com. For more information on Holmdel Park go to http://www.holmdel-park-nj.medgrip.com/.

Tune in tomorrow for another Talking Topic.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Tips for Tuesday - Misc.: Xanadu The Musical

Me - Today I am recommending the show Xanadu. It was good. I saw the movie, but the show was better. The music was good.  The story  was good. It was funny. So if you ever have the chance to see it, go!

Mom - Today I am recommending the show Xanadu. If you saw and loved the movie, you will love this show. If you saw and hated the movie, you will love this show. If you didn't see the movie at all, you will love this show. It has a really unique storyline about a greek goddess coming to life to inspire a mortal man to open a roller diso, and of course, falling in love with him in the process. It is really funny we saw it a few years ago, and we are still quoting funny lines from it. It has great songs, mostly the original songs from the movie Xanadu with a few added ELO and Olivia Newton John songs. The songs were the best part of the original movie anyway. If you ever have the opportunity to see this show, I would highly recommend it.

And that's our view. For more about Xanadu see Thursday's Talking Topics .

Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Monsters, Inc.

Me - Monsters, Inc., wow! Monsters, Inc. used to be my favorite movie. I already had a Boo doll before I saw the movie. It was my favorite doll. I was so excited to be seeing her on the TV. The first time I watched it, I was sitting there going "Boo! Boo! Boo!" the whole time. When Boo cried, I cried. When Boo slept, I cried. When Boo laughed, I laughed. I used to have a Boo and Sully bubble blower. The movie was my favorite movie too. I used to watch it every day. I took my Boo doll with me everywhere and did everything with her. Later, I had a couple of other Boo dolls. One was real soft and one talked. However, my original Boo was always my favorite. Nothing could every replace her. I never actually saw the movie in the movie theater until I was older, and they rereleased it. I can't wait to see Monsters University!

Mom - When the movie, Monsters, Inc.  was first in movie theaters, it looked kind of stupid to me so I didn't bother going to see it. When Melia was about 1 and 1/2, my husband and I watched it on cable. We loved it. Boo reminded us so much of Melia. If we had seen it earlier before Melia was born, we definitely would not have loved it as much as we did. After we saw the movie, we got Melia a toy Boo doll at the Disney store. Up to that time, Melia was not that attached to any of her toys. That all changed with Boo. The moment she got Boo, she ran around the store hugging her and would not put her down. For many years, Boo was a member of our family, she ate with us and went everywhere with us. We even had to get an extra Boo to keep at Grandma's just in case. One of my favorite memories is of the first time, Melia saw the movie Monsters, Inc. She just could not get over the fact that Boo was in a movie. She kept laughing and smiling and pointing at the screen. When Boo laughed, she laughed. When Boo cried, she cried. When Boo slept, she also cried. I'm not sure why maybe she thought Boo was not going to wake up again. For a while, Melia used to watch Monsters, Inc. every single day. Now, that she is older, she hasn't watch the movie in many year nor have we. However, it is one of the few movies, we would actually considered paying money to see it in 3D even though we had already seen the movie because both Boo and Monsters, Inc. will always hold a special place in our hearts. We ended up not seeing it in 3D, however. We look forward to seeing Monsters University but cannot imagine that it will be as special as Monsters, Inc. if there is no Boo in it.

And that is our view. What movie is special to your family?

Tune in Friday for Funny Friday.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Funny Friday - How Old Are You Now?

Me -

When I was 2 and people asked me hold old I was I would say "2." When they asked me how old I was going to be on my next birthday I would say "13."

Mom

I had this little cousin who had an older sister who was 8. When I asked my little cousin how old she was, she said sadly  "I'm not 8."


We welcome you to share your funny stories with us. Tune in Monday for another Talking Topic.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Somerset Patriots

Me -Somerset Patriots, wow! It is fun to go to a Somerset Patriots game. Baseball is cool. Once when we went to the Patriots, we got to sit in these special seats. We got free food. We got our faces on the big screen, and we got to meet the mascots. We found a game used ball under our seats. I gave that to my sister, since one of the players had given me a ball when they were warming up. The Patriots unlike other teams usually win when we see them. We went to see them last weekend, and they won. We also had free food at that game. My Mom and I had burgers. They were disgusting. The rest of the food was good though. We got free hats. Another time, we also got free hats. There were fireworks after the game this time. They were awesome! I videotaped them on my I-pod. Aurellla was afraid of the fireworks. She likes them on my I-pod. They are not as loud. She doesn't like loud noises. Also, at that game a foul ball came right at us. It almost hit Aurella. It knocked her fruit punch all over shirt. She was sad because she loved that shirt. Luckily, Mom was able to get the stain out. If you have a chance you should go to a Patriots game. It is a lot of fun.

Mom - I have to love the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic Independent baseball league. We have been to about ten or so of there games, and we only had to pay for tickets once or twice. The first game we went  to there was supposed to be fireworks. It was too windy so we all got a voucher for a future game. The second game we went to we won free tickets spinning the wheel. Several times, we got tickets through their summer reading program. Their summer reading program is a program through which any child that reads 10 books over the summer and fills out their summer reading form is entitled to two free tickets to one of a select number of games that season. We have always had good luck at the Patriots. We have been priviledged to see them win at many of the games we have been to. We have also been lucky enough to win special seat upgrades at one game where we got to sit on lounge chairs on the grass in front of the stands. That time we also got our faces on the scoreboard and got to meet the mascots. We have also won t-shirts from a radio station contest prior to entering the ballpark. The Patriots themselves have won five league championships in 15 years as well as 8 division titles. I hope the Patriots continue their winning ways under new manager, former Major Leaguer, Brett Jodie, and I hope we continue our good luck when it comes to the Patriots.

And that's our view. Where have always had good luck?

Tune in tomorrow for Funny Friday.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Where-To-Go Wednesday - Somerset Patriots

What: Somerset Patriots

Where: TD Bank Ballpark
             1 Cole Drive
             Bridgewater, NJ

Who: Everyone

Our view: Another alternative to minor league baseball is independent league baseball. Independent leagues are leagues of teams that are not affiliated with any major league teams. This does not mean, however, that the team does not consist of major league caliber players. Many of the players on independent league teams come from the major leagues. Some even get drafted into or redrafted into the major leagues from the independent league.  Former Patriot players include former Major Leaguers, such as, Pat Kelly, Tim Raines and Jerome Walton as well as sons of former Major Leaguers, such as, Tim Raines Jr. and Jeff Nettles.  Former Yankee, Sparky Lyle, the Patriots manager througout  their first 15 seasons led them to five championships. The Patriots play in the Atlantic Baseball league at TD Bank Ballpark. Tickets range from $9.50 to $13.50 each. Even suite tickets are only $25.00 to $35.00 a piece. The season goes from May through mid September. For more information or to order tickets go to somersetpatriots.com.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for more about the Somerset Patriots.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Tips for Tuesday - TV shows: Dog With a Blog and Elementary

Me -Today I am recommending Dog With a Blog. It is about a dog who can blog. There is a girl named Avery who is in middle school. She has a brother named Tyler who is in High School., and a little sister named Chloe who is in elementary school. They all know their dog can talk but their parents don't. Nobody knows the dog has a blog, however.  It is a really funny show. Also, I can relate to it because my Mom and I have a blog.

Mom - Today I am recommending Elementary. It is a unique modernized take on the Sherlock Holmes story. Jonny Lee Miller is immensely likeable as Sherlock Holmes despite the character's tendency to be a bit arrogant. I also like that in this version Holmes sidekick, Watson, is a woman. Lucy Liu is very  likeable as well in the role of Joan Watson. I have always liked her ever since she was Ling in Ally McBeal  back in the 90s and 00s. It is also nice to see Aidan Quinn back in his role of Captain Gregson. For a while, it seemed like Aidan Quinn was in almost every TV show, TV movie or movie in the movie theater. However, lately, I haven't seen him around as much.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Fun at School

Me - Fun at school, wow! We do fun science experiments at school. For instance, we did an an experiment to see which of 3 substances was more dense.In first grade, we went to a farm.  In second grade, we had immigration day where we pretended to be immigrants first coming to this country. We also had Dinosaur Day. We had an assembly called The Bee Man. We also had a wax museum where we all got to be famous people. I was Miley Cyrus. In third grade, we had an assembly called Grandfather Turtle.  We also had Wild West Day. In 4th grade, we went to Six Flags Great Adventure and got to see a cool Dolphin show. Every year we do Haunted Gym for Halloween. Every spring we do Scooterville in gym. We ride around on these little scooters. The scooters are supposed to be cars and the whole gym is set up like a town. You get tickets if you don't follow the rules of the road. Sometimes, we have dances or movies or bingo and other kinds of activities after school, but I don't always go. We have lots of parties for holidays and stuff. Recess and lunch are always fun. So even though most people hate school and think it's the worst place you could possibly go, I love school. You have to think of the good things with the bad or you'll never know what you are missing.

Mom - When I was in elementary school, every year we had a Haunted House in the gym for Halloween. Every spring we had a spring carnival. We also had afterschool  movies sometimes and afterschool classes you could take. Unlike now, we got to go on lots of school trips when I was in school. Some of my favorites were a trip to the Turtleback Zoo in first grade and a trip to the United Nations in 4th grade. In second grade, we went on a lot of trips because we used to take walking trips. In 8th grade, we went to Six Flags Great Adventure.We also had an art show in second grade. In kindergarten we had a circus where the kids pretended to be all the animals and performers in the circus. I was really shy though so I wasn't in it. We also had school plays in third, fourth, and fifth grade. In third grade the show was put on by the entire third grade. It was about the early settlers in American and had lot of different segments. I played a settler in a skit about Jamestown and Pocahontas. In 4th grade, our class and another class put on a play about the different systems of the body. I played a lung in a skit about the respiratory system. In fifth grade our class and another class put on a play about the events leading up to the American Revolution. I was a townsperson. Nowadays, my daughters' schools sometimes do have a spring carnival and sometimes they have activities afterschool like a movie or bingo, but they don't have them that often and they don't have afterschool classes. They rarely go on a class trips and don't even go on one every year. Neither of my daughter's ever had a school play in elementary school. I don't even remember anything about any of the classes in the elementary school ever putting on a school play. Even though there are times when my girls have fun in school in a lot of ways and for a lot of reasons, I think school was a lot more fun when I was a kid.

And that's our view. What did you do when you were in school that was fun?

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.

Friday, June 7, 2013

Funny Friday - Just Like Real

Me -

One day, we were taking a walk. Aurella took her toy dog with her and was walking it. Every few feet she kept making us stop so her dog could go to the bathroom.

Mom -

On Thanksgiving when Melia was 2, a house full of adults became hysterical when Melia took out a changing mat and a diaper and started diapering her baby doll.

We welcome your to share your funny stories with us.

Tune in Monday for another Talking Topic.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Dancing With the Stars Season 16

Me- Dancing With the Stars season 16, eh, wow! Why does whoever I want to win Dancing With the Stars lose? Next time, I am going to root for who I don't want to win so who I do want to win wins. Only two seasons in all the seasons I have watched has the person I wanted to win won. The first was Kristi Yamaguchi  and the second was Jennifer Grey. I wanted Evan Lysacek to win. He lost to Nicole Sherzinger. I wanted Roshon Fagen to win. He lost to Donald Driver. . Those are just a few examples. This season,  I really wanted Zendaya to win. I also liked Aly Raisman, and I wouldn't mind as much if she won. I liked Jacoby and Karina too, but I knew they weren't going to win. I really didn't like Kelly. I didn't like her because she was good and too much competition for Zendaya. It was a really good season though. There was a lot of really good dancing. Now that Zendaya lost,  I am never going to watch Dancing With the Stars again - until next season.

Mom - I really liked this past season of Dancing With the Stars. There were so many dancers who were so good. I liked Kelly and Derek the eventual winners. I liked Zendaya and Val. I liked Aly and Mark. I liked Jacoby and Karina. Football players always seem to do so well on the show. I never expect them to be as light on their feet as they usually turn out to be. Of course, athletes in general tend to do well on the show. They have had champions that were gymnasts, skaters and even a race car driver as well as at least three football players. I didn't think Jacoby and Karina were good enough to win though. I thought the other three were though and I was happy with the outcome of the season. The only season that I have watched that I can say I was totally surprised by the final results was when Donald Driver won. I mean he was not a bad dancer, but he just did not seem to be a front runner even at the tail end of the season. Often, it seems that who is crowned champions comes down to who has the better freestyle dance, and that particular season more so than any other season. It was really good to see Kristi Yamaguchi dancing again at this year's finals. She was unanimously the favorite champion ever at our house. Anyway, I can't wait to see who turns up on dancing with the stars next.

And that's our view.  Who is your favorite champion of Dancing With the Stars?

Tune in tomorrow for Funny Friday.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Where-To-Go Wednesday -Englishtown Auction

What: Englishtown Auction
      

Where:  90 Wilson Avenue
             Englishtown, NJ

Who: Everyone

Our view: Englishtown Auction, flea market established in 1929 is one of oldest and largest open air markets in the world. Although it is not as popular as it once was, you can still find a lot of bargains here. Apparel, books, CDs,  and DVDs, are just a few of the products you can find here. In fact, you can find a whole alphabet's  worth of products. The flea market is open Saturday and Sunday 8-4 and Memorial and Labor Day 9 -4. Admission and parking are free. The downside of Englishtown is that since the majority of fleamarket is outside when is it is hot, it is really hot here, when it is cold it is really cold here etc. The best time to go is when the weather is just perfect not too hot or too cold, but of course, that rarely ever happens. Also, while there are plenty of vendors outside, there are a lot of empty booths inside the buildings. However the upside to the market's decline in popularity is that it is easier to get to the market and is easier to find a parking space there now that it is not as popular as it once was. When it was at the height of its popularity , it could literally take hours  to get  into the market and park even if you were only blocks away . Though not as crowded as it once was, the crowds can still get quite large, so you will definitely need to keep an eye on your children here. Also, don't over dress as you can get quite dirty walking around the dirt roads of the market, and you will be doing a lot of walking so wear comfortable shoes.  For more about Englishtown Auction go to englishtownauction.com.

And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for another Talking Topic.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Tips for Tuesday Apps and Web-sites: Subway Surfers and Book Collections for Kindle Fire

Me - Today I am recommending Subway Surfers. Subway Surfers is a really fun game. In the game, you are putting graffiti on a wall, you have to run from a security guard. You jump over trains. You jump from train to train. Some are moving. Some are not. You collect boosts on the way. It is really a lot of fun.

Mom - Today I am recommending Book Collections for Kindle Fire. If you have a Kindle Fire, and you have a lot of books like I do, this is a really quick and easy way to organize your books other than by title, author and how recently you acquired each book. It is really easy to create folders and organize your books into whatever folders you want with this app. It is also very easy to move them from one folder to another and to organize new books into folders as you acquire them. The only bad thing about this app. is that if you go into your book through this app., it does not remember where you were in the book. However, this problem is easily solved by bookmarking your place every time you finish reading. Then, you can just go back to your bookmark. I would also recommend getting rid of your previous bookmark when you start reading again so you don't confuse yourself by having too many bookmarks. This app is available from Amazon for $2.99 or for free if you subscribe to Book Blast. a free daily e-mail newsletter.


And that's our view. Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

Monday, June 3, 2013

Buying Books

Me - Buying books, wow! I love to buy books. I like Kindle books and books off the Kindle. However, I like books that are not on the Kindle a  little better. However, if you are my Grandma then thanks for the Kindle, and I am just joking. I love Barnes and Noble and Amazon. They have tons of great books. I wish Amazon had more free Kindle books for my age though. I used to like Borders too. I am sorry they went out of business. I also get books from scholastic books and book fairs at school. I miss when there were more book stores. There are just not enough anymore. Our mall doesn't even have one. I miss it. In fact, there seem to be hardly any book stores at all although they do sell books at stores like Target. I like getting books from the library, but I love owning books. That's why I like buying books.

Mom - Even though I have a Kindle Fire and I read books on it. I still like physical books too. I have had not had to buy as many books as I used to though. I get my Kindle books from Amazon, and I hardly ever pay for them. They are always having different books that are free. I get books for my younger daughter that way too. Melia also has a Kindle, but she is not able to get books for free as easily because most of the free books we can usually find for her age except for some of the classic books do not interest her. As for physical books, sometimes, my Mom gives me or lends me books although not as much as she used to because she has a Kindle also. I get a lot of books from the on-line book club Paperbackswap which is an exchange book club for more about that see our Tips for Tuesday post dated August 7, 2012. I also win a lot of books from blogs and blog hops. I still like to buy books from bookstores. However, I don't do it as much. For one thing, between free books for Kindle,Paperbackswap, and books that I win, I cannot justify spending a lot of money on books. Also, there are not so many book stores around anymore especially now that Borders is out of business. From the time, I was little until just recently, there was always at least one bookstore if not more in the mall. Now, our mall does not have a book store at all. I miss it because even when I did not want to buy a book, it was always fun to browse. We still have Barnes and Noble, but it is not in the mall. It is by itself. I like to go there, and we get discounts there because we have a membership and we buy books for our kids there, However, I cannot justify buying things for myself unless they are on sale or clearance or if  I have a coupon for an additional discount or a gift card. The problem is I can almost alway find books that I like that are on sale or clearance. Also, every once in a while I splurge and get a book when it is not on sale or clearance and I do not have a coupon or gift card. Like last year when I got the book Defending Jacob. I only splurge on a book when it is something I really really want, but I still feel guilty about it.

And that's our view. Where do you like to get books?

Tune in tomorrow for Tips for Tuesday.
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