SOLD! The House in Sedona AZ

We closed just before Christmas, and how sweet it is!  In remembrance and with celebration, I put this short slide show together.  Take a peek at what the new owners are getting.  It is truly a magical place!

Christmas Caroling at Longwood Gardens & Beyond

One of the things we were looking forward to this holiday season was visiting Longwood Gardens.  Darrin remembers their Christmas exhibits fondly, but since I have never seen them I was equally as excited to go this year.  We invited three of our dearest friends to join us:  Priscilla, Peggy and Jerry.  So off we went on Sunday, December 19 to venture in the gardens and sing Christmas carols along with other visitors, the organist and the Longwood Gardens 10,010 pipe organ.

Below is a slide show set to music of some of the photos we took that magical day.  Blessings to you and yours in the New Year! 

GoD and DoG Video + Photo of Darrin & The Girls

This YouTube video was passed along to me by my dear friend, Priscilla.  For all of us who are blessed to have dog(s) in our family, this video will touch your heart.  


Plus here is a photo of Darrin and "The Girls."  Snuggles is near is face, and Kisses is in his lap.

Happy Holidays!

Free calling in Gmail extended through 2011

In August, Google launched free calling in Gmail to U.S. and Canada through 2010.  In the spirit of holiday giving and to help people keep in touch in the new year, Google has extended free calling for all of 2011.

What you need to have to take advantage of this FREE calling is Gmail email address (account) and computer access.  That's it.  In case you haven’t tried it yet, dialing a phone number works just like a regular phone. Look for “Call phone” at the top of your Gmail chat list and dial a number or enter a contact’s name.




To learn more, visit gmail.com/call. Calling in Gmail is currently only available to U.S. based Gmail users.

Happy New Year and happy calling!

Free Metered Parking In Philly on Saturdays Thru 1/1/11

At coffee with my gal pals this morning there was some discussion about something someone had heard about free parking over the holidays.  I promised to get to the bottom of it and blog about it.  So as promised here goes girls!

Mayor Nutter announced that metered on-street parking will be

  free every Saturday after 11:00 a.m.

  

This is effective from November 29 to January 1, 2011.  The Philadelphia Parking Authority has the current total meter count in the city at more than 14,500. So enjoy.  Click here to read all about it www.uwishunu.com.

If you are not sure if your neighborhood meters are covered in the free Saturday program, visit the PPA website listed above.  It's better to feed the meter than to pay the piper.  Have a great holiday season!

Bringing Up Baby Elephants

This from last night's "Making a Difference" segment on 
NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams . . . 

Sometimes the smallest things will warm our heart the most.  Please take the time to watch this heartwarming segment about Dame Daphne Sheldrick, of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi, Kenya, and the work she is doing to help save baby African elephants.  It is truly extraordinary.  


It is a wonderful message of hope and unconditional love during the holidays.  My favorite quote comes at the end of the segment, "You have to love them, because an elephant can read your heart."


Jill, this one is for you!

To learn more about the extraordinary organization click here to visit their website.

Hoover Dam Bridge is America's Newest Wonder

The Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tilman is now open!

The Hoover Dam may be the greatest engineering accomplishment in our nation's history,  but the new bridge may be as great for our generation.  After 9 years of construction, the bridge honors two people from the states that the bridge connects:  Mike O'Callaghan from NV and Pat Tilman from AZ.  Here are a few highlights:

• The highest and longest arched concrete bridge in the Western Hemisphere.
• The second-highest bridge of any kind in the United States and 14th in the world.
• The world's tallest concrete columns of their kind.
• It is perched 890 feet above the Colorado River. 
• The four-lane bridge opened  just two weeks after the 75th anniversary of the Hoover Dam’s opening ceremony. 
• The bridge honors Pat Tilman the Arizona Cardinals linebacker who joined the U.S. Army after the 9/11/01 attacks and was killed by friendly fire during combat in Afghanistan, and Mike O'Callaghan was a two-term Nevada governor and decorated Korean War veteran.
• Studies indicate that motorists will save an average of 17 minutes when crossing from one side of the canyon to the other. On busy holiday weekends, the time savings could be more because the bridge eliminates tourist travel congestion and security checkpoints that have caused two-hour delays at the dam.
• As the bridge rose 1,200 workers and 300 engineers worked on the project.

PHOTO BY: DAVID WALLACE/THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC 

People walk across the Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge during the bridge dedication ceremony.

Watch time lapsed photography of the bridge being built (it's worth watching the 10 second commercial that precedes it).

Trader Joe's Holiday Treat Extraordinaire!

You might thank me, or you might hate me for telling you about Trader Joe's fabulous treat just for the holiday season.  BTW - I'm not kidding with this tip below as I've just enjoyed one of these, and I'm doing my best to try and not have another one right now.

1. Go to Trader Joe's now!
2. Purchase their Gingerbread Chai Whoopee Pies (pack of 6). 
3. Brew a pot off coffee.
4. Invite 5 friends over immediately, or you WILL eat more than you had expected.

Everyone is talking about these holiday treats, so get them before they are gone.

Trader Joe's Gingerbread Chai Whoopee Pies

RCCL Oasis of the Seas

Okay, so we've returned from our 7 day cruise aboard the biggest cruise ship on the planet.  Tired, but determined to share a bit of our trip, here are four photos to start the conversation.  

• Stay tuned details and a slide show will follow soon.

Parasailing in Labadee, Haiti

Mustering the courage, we took flight and enjoyed the 30 seconds at 50 mph!

Formal Night Dinner

Casual Night Dinner