We're a happily married couple living and working in the NYC area. Check out our blog to hear about what life is like at our home -- including favorite recipes, vacation travels, home projects, holiday traditions and more!
Disclaimer: I have not tested or verified this offer myself, nor am I receiving any financial or other award for sharing this offer. I'm merely passing on a tip I just saw at one of my favorite blogs, 20somethingfinance.
American Express is currently running a promotion whereby if you order and load at least $200 onto a new American Express pre-paid card before this Friday 8/31, you will receive a bonus $25 gift card. For more details, click here.
I have received AmEx prepaid cards in the past as gifts or as the form of payment for various product rebate offers, and I can tell you they are as easy to use as a regular credit/debit card. If you don't mind going through the steps of loading up an AmEx prepaid card with $200 from your bank account, then this sounds like a pretty simple way to score a free $25 AmEx gift card. But remember, as always, to read the fine print when signing up to ensure there are no sneaky fees involved! It doesn't appear as if there are any tricks behind this offer, but you can never be too careful!
Today was a pretty ordinary day. I went to work. I got a hair cut. Actually, (as my grandpa used to say) I got them all cut. ;) It was a an uneventful salon visit, which is good when you're just looking for a trim. My experience today was nothing like this hair cut experience: http://www.prx.org/pieces/73865-two-little-girls-explain-the-worst-haircut-ever
If you haven't already listened to this interview, it's a real gem. I listened to it three times last night... and laughed harder each time! Happy hair cut Friday!
Hydrangeas are my favorite flowers, but blue hydrangeas? Irresistible! Walking home from work I saw these beautiful blooms at a flower stand and couldn't resist, so I brought them home with me...
Aren't they simply blue-tiful? :)
What's YOUR favorite flower? Are you a fan of traditional red roses, colorful carnations, delicate daisies or maybe something more exotic?
The NYC real estate market is all abuzz about this penthouse that just hit the market. It's a 6 bedroom, 9 bathroom, 8,000 sq ft triplex penthouse with 3,000 sq ft of terrace space that affords 360 degree views, located only 3 blocks from Central Park. Oh, did I mention it's listed for ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS? Wow. Let's take a look at it!
Granted, the style is not quite what you'd find in a modern issue of a home decor magazine...
Even though a bit dated, the kitchen is nice -- an open layout with beautiful wood and lots of storage space:
I wish there were more photos contained of the other rooms! I just love snooping through viewing real estate listings! :) How's this for a shameful admission: even though we already own one more condo than we need, I still receive (and actively look through!) the real estate updates we signed up for when we were in the market a year ago! I can't help myself -- I'm just always so curious as to what's out there and I love seeing how people decorate and stage their homes. It's a hobby. :)
Aside from the price tag, what do YOU think of this place? Way too 90s grandiose or not so bad? Let's play the "if I had one hundred million dollars" game.... would you buy it or pass in favor of something more modernly styled?
Consider this a public service announcement brought to you by an ice cream lover. I take no credit for this offer and am receiving no perks from passing it on, except for the satisfaction of knowing I am spreading the joy that is ice cream. ;) Enjoy...
The Olympics are coming, the Olympics are coming!!! Unless you're living under a rock, you know the opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games is taking place tomorrow in London.
The International Olympic Committee has been planning for the event for nearly a decade. The athletes competing have been training for these games for years. The Brits performed an impressive count down to the opening ceremony earlier this week...
But I am gearing up to cheer my head off in another uniform. Thanks to my hubby, my game-watching outfit has already been planned for 4 years...
How's that for preparation?? Clothing aside, I'm really looking forward to the games this year. I'm not exactly a sports fanatic, but there is something about the Olympics that excites me, and it's not only watching this guy swim up a storm...
But seriously, the Olympics remind us all who we share the world with. During the games, every country has the same goal -- to win. Although we're competing against one another, our teams' dreams are aligned. For once, we're all fighting for the same outcome. And while the races get intense as viewers watch their favorite athletes, for just a moment, it's almost possible to forget about all the violence, conflict and tragedy the world is facing. Because for the few minutes we get lost in watching an event, we're all just humans, cheering our teams to what we hope is victory.
The Olympic Games represent a reward for all of the dedication, focus, hard work and skill the world's athletes possess. Regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, political affiliation or socioeconomic status, the event competitors all begin at the same starting point and compete on a level playing field. And as a viewer it's so gratifying to witness the most qualified person getting the gold at the end of the competition.
Despite the many terrible and horrific things we read about in the news every day, it's comforting to know that at least once every few years we can set our differences aside and join together simply to showcase the world's best athletic competitors. The Olympic Games are an age old tradition, and it's a testament to the effort of a great many people that we continue the tradition today. It's a chance to see glimpses of and learn about a foreign country you've never visited, and it's a chance to hear personal stories about fellow citizens of the world. The pride the athletes, their families and fans display is very moving. I can't wait to see who takes the golds and earns a place in history this year.
Forecasters upgraded the entire tri-state to a “moderate risk” of severe weather Thursday, specifically noting that the New York City area will also have an unusually high chance of tornadoes as well. At the moment, the city itself has about a 45% chance of experiencing winds stronger than hurricane force in the evening.
Moderate risk forecasts are extremely rare in Greater New York, occurring only once on average every six years. They are even less likely to be issued more than 24 hours in advance, as happened on Wednesday.
Although I currently see nothing but sunny skies through my office window, I have a feeling the rain boots and umbrella I brought to work today are not going to cut it if in fact hurricane winds and torrential downpours. I'll just keep my fingers crossed and hope for continued sunny skies. The thing about the weather is that it's so unpredictable, it can change for better or for worse with the change of the wind! Hopefully the weather reporters are wrong (I know, that never happens) and the derecho won't hit us after all.
Am I the only one who has never heard of a derecho before?
