Nerd At Heart

There are "Little Miss" and "Mr." books written by Roger Hargreaver that's at the reading level of a 4th grader but meant for adults. They are so cute and funny especially when you give them as a gift to your "Little Miss" someone or "Mr." someone. For example, someone gave me Little Miss Scatterbrain a while back because if I'm not thinking about work, I'm thinking about Alex, or family, or work again, then family, then finances, then grad school, then traveling, then Alex, then I cry...see where I'm getting at I think this leads to my insomnia. Anyhow, the stories relate around the main character (Little Miss Scatterbrain, in this case) and tells a tale about her but is really supposed to be about the person you gave the book to. It's so cute and funny (wait til Jessica sees hers).

Besides those books, I actually enjoy reading and take the time to read because 1. Alex sees me read which then might make him think it's cool to read and 2. It gives me a mental time out. When I read I get into the book and I love that. Some of these writers are so detailed that it takes me into the book as if I were the character I know that's the point. I don't really have a type of book I like to read, but chic books are really entertaining. How I stole Her Husband by Liz Ireland was incredibly funny and I had a hard time putting the book down. Right now I'm reading an addition to He's Just Not That Into You.

Don't get it twisted people. I don't browse the Self-Help section of Barnes and Noble lonely with a Debbie Downer face. I am not dying to know what's wrong with me that makes me not date-able to men and I'm not crying myself to sleep because I am single waiting for Prince Charming to wife me up and support me financially, emotionally, and sexually(nothing wrong with that though). Those who know me KNOW I don't give a crap about finding the man of my dreams. The freakin book was 45 cents at the thrift store. Can't beat that!
I read autobiographies also. Hulk Hogan's first book was hilarious. This was of course before "Hogan Knows Best" and before they went to D-List status

SMH-Linda is engaged to her 21 year old golddigger, I mean boyfriend. Jenna Jameson wrote How To Make Love Like A Porn Star years ago and it was how she made it in the porn industry. Now she's stripped her implants, gets beat up by Tito Ortiz, and has twin boys. Oh, how times have changed.
I even read Diary of A Wimpy Kid about 3 years ago. I had to see what the fuss was about.That ish is hilarious! Greg is so cute, even though he is a stick figure, and his struggle in middle school is one that I see almost on a daily basis with these crazy kids I work with. Kudos to Jeff Kinney for making reading for young boys fun!

GTL..and I didn't even mean to.

G-I got my gym on today. Well, I didn't really go to the gym, but I got my exercise on but walking all around the mall today. And I snacked on a yogurt and sipped on a cool refreshing bottle of water.

T-Of course I got tan but I didn't even mean to. 4 hours of the beach will do that to ya.

L-Clean clothes=peace of mind. Nothing better to kick start your weekend then only seeing your son's dirty underwear the only article of clothing in your laundry basket.

Baseball

I love baseball too-actually, the New York Yankees. They have been my boo's for years and hopefully I have instilled in my son that it's Yankees or nothing. Alex Rodriguez just turned 35, Candy is sweet but Jeter is sweeter, CC Sabathia just turned 30, Mariano Rivera doesn't age, Mark Texiera is young and hot (a hot baseball player, not so much on the eyes ya know what I mean), Jorge Posada still has a great booty.

OK besides all those things I love the Yankees for real. They are 64-36, which currently makes them the best team in MLB. They whooped on some Cleveland ass yesterday winning 8-0. And who is 7 games behind them? Yup. Those DREADFUL Boston Red Sox. HA! Take that Red Sox fans!

Football

Most NFL teams have already reported to training camp and it's an awesome feeling! Sunday funday will consist of beer, wings, HDTV, fries, ranch, high blood pressure, throwing items against walls, screaming at the TV, all day drinking, ahhhhhhhhh. I CANNOT WAIT! Pre-season starts in less than a month! Are you ready for some football??!?!?!??!

Tweet Tweet!

Follow me at

@itsmindybitch

I don't tweet a lot. I stalk a lot.

HOLLA!

Good Journalism

Good journalism consists of facts, truth, a wealth of knowledge and sometimes entertainment. In my Intro to Journalism class, I had to read the New York Times religiously as my teacher would quiz us on the articles that were covered at the time. Because of that class, I still read it. Don't get me wrong, I also read US Magazine, People, and Star. Pena.

I also read the Miami New Times. It's a local newspaper that not only informs us of local news, but it also informs the public of an array of activities going on in the Miami Metropolitan Area. Broward & Palm Beach too!

www.miaminewtimes.com www.browardpalmbeach.com

Click on the Restaurants Tab, then scroll down to happy hours and it will show good happy hours in the area!

You're Welcome!

Insomnia? Jet Lag? Time Adjust? AAHHHHH!

Holy mother of insomnia. It's 4:35 in the AM and I am wide awake as if it were 4:35 in the PM. I cannot sleep at a decent hour lately. I know there are a number of things running through my mind but man oh man, all I want to do is sleep at a decent hour so I can wake up at a decent hour.

I was in Las Vegas for a minute so I know that's not helping but instead of popping pills let's try to take the natural route.

1. Watching Nick at Nite. The shows are funny but damn it helps me fall asleep.

2. Drinking Tilo Tea (Linden Leaves Tea). It's meant to relax your body so you can ease your body into sleep.

3. Take a melatonin. These are over the counter don't think they are FDA approved. ZOIKS! pills you can take. But hey it's better than Ambien or Xanax.

4. Generic brand sleeping pills. Don't pop 3 at a time every night or anything, but damn they help!

Good night to all! Well good morning!

Sunday Coupon Clipping

Back in the dizzle, I used to help my Abuelita and Ma cut coupons in the Sunday paper. I must admit, I don't read the actual newspaper in Miami. I use the online version. Nowadays, I just turn on my computers and voila! The shopping world is at my fingertips!

On Groupon.com, the savings on there is bomb.com because it gives you discounts on activities you may have thought about doing but can't. But with the savings you think to yourself "How could I pass this up?" and of course, you get it! Just sign up with them and enter the city you live in. Most major cities will have savings for you!

On restaurant.com, you do have to pay, BUT, you pay $10 for a $25 gift certificate (on average). Again, you plug in your city or zip code and a variety of participating restaurants will show up! Can't beat that!

I also go to Macys.com religiously and Target.com on Sundays to see their new sales!

Club Space is Closing?

Here in Miami lots of us locals know where Club Space is. It's a late night, early morning, drug infested, house music galore club that even promotes drugs, I think. It will be closing after Labor Day Weekend for "renovations" to the club and will be having 2 closing parties leading up to its closing. Notice the quotations around renovations. I am not savvy on the club scene but maybe its not re-opening and the renovations really means new management, new club. They are renovating the club and its employees also. Another one bites the dust? We'll see what happens with this one....

Jersey Shore 2 and Teen Mom 2

Upon my return from Sin City, I remembered about 2 shows that make me laugh. Teen Mom 2 started this week but I didn't catch the first episode. I hope Amber beats some fatty ass again. That's always funny to watch reason 349284209834124143 why I'm not having any more kids.

Jersey Shore 2 premieres this Thursday July 29th and they will fist pump their way all over Miami Beach. The trailer seems pretty good as the guidos and guidettes from the Northeast engage in more physical fights with each other yes! more alcohol induced crazy nights snooki and sammi fighting some hoes at da club and of course other situations. I think everyone hates Angelina, not just the men. I think JWOWW even beats some Angelina ass. Angelina sucks anyways. She hates on guys, girls, everyone and everything. She needs to stay in Staten Island and be pathetic all by her damn self.

Lots of great summer TV! LOVES IT!

George Steinbrenner

On July 13, 2010, the New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner passed away in Tampa, Florida at the age of 80. He made an impact to millions of people(negative and positive) but I even got teary eyed as I watched Regis Philbin announce it at the end of his show. I love the Yankees and anyone that knows me knows that. They were as crappy as the dirt on the bottom of my shoe when I was child but I didn't care. I would watch them on the then MSG network and hate the Boston Red Sox, of course.

George Steinbrenner bought the Yankees for about $10 million back in the 70s. Can you believe that? $8 milli? That is the estimate on a player's salary nowadays. The Yankees are not only a nationally recognized team, but a worldwide brand. Steinbrenner ultimately made the team who they are today. Say what you will but it's true. Say whatever you want about the Yankees(they shouldn't always win, they're salary is too much, blah, blah, blah) because whether you love them or hate them, you are giving them more publicity,therefore, giving them more money in the bank. During interleague play, the Yankees may play the Pirates in Pittsburgh and believe me, that would be the most ticketed game purchased all season.

George Steinbrenner was born in Ohio and went to Williams College to study English Literature (whowouldathunkit) and run track like his father. His joined his family's shipping business but he never lost his interest in sports. With that shipping business, he definitely banked. How else do you think he bought the Yankees? So now he is trying to reform the Yankees to the dynasty they once were. The Bronx Bombers won 2 early championships then didn't see the playoffs for 13 years. In 1990, he paid an admitted gambler 40 G's for damaging info on Dave Winfield. SMH. He was then banned from MLB but later reinstated him in 1993. Fast forward to 1996, rookie Derek Jeter and then unknown closer Mariano Rivera were 2 of the dynamic team to win the championship. Since then they clinch the playoffs every season and always strive to win. "I keep telling my guys, 'Always remember that winning is everything,'" Steinbrenner said in a 2005 interview. "It's a way of life."

The pressure of the pinstripes may lead some to crack (Randy Johnson) but to play for the Yankees, the world's most recognizable sports franchise is something you would want to consider for your MLB career (hello Johnny Damon). Of course being a die hard fan is something to be proud of too :)

Online Shopping-Easy, Medium, or HARD?

Is it easy to shop online? Hell yea! Is it easier to shop for books than shoes? Ehhhh, sometimes. Is it easier to shop for a book then it is for a fabulous skirt. YUP!

Online shopping has definitely boomed in the last 5 years. It is so much easier to turn on your computer and just click on any website you would like, click, and shop. You can go to any website and get almost anything you would get at the store. Books are obviously easy to shop for. You can get them new or used, depending on your preference. Accessories are also easy to shop for. Handbags can seem a little misleading size wise, but other than that, you have nothing to worry about. Clothes are not that easy to shop for though.

Once upon a time, I used to be a size S or Small. Ahhh, those were the days. A common size that all stores had. For the most part if you were a Small, then you were ALWAYS a small. Now that I am a Large in charge, there is no way in hell I can get into a Small. Sometimes, I can get into a Medium, but it depends on the fabric and style.

I have a friend who has 2 little ones, 6 months old and 4 years old. Time and money is a very important factor in her life right now. But she doesn't like online shopping because of shipping and inaccuracy in sizes. She would rather give herself a time limit and actually go to the store. Her 4 year old is a girl, very girly, very picky. So off to the mall they go!

My 8 year old boy could care less as long as it doesn't hurt his chunky tummy. Shopping for bottoms are always challenging for us. He just turned 8, but he is definitely not an 8. For bigger than normal, some stores use "Husky" sizes. For example, my son is a 10-12 husky-which is perfect for around his waist.

When I am shopping for myself online, I usually go to places where people review the items they have purchased. If it is shoes I am looking for, I will click on the shoe and read the reviews which could say "order a size up" or "true to size" to help me pick the most accurate size for myself (macys.com does this A LOT! Love them).

Shipping also plays a big part is online shopping. Sometimes there are shipping deals but I'll be damned if I'm going to spend $9.95 on a pair of $20.00 shoes I got on sale(unless its a name brand that shoe that is usually triple the price).

Look carefully when shopping online! Time is important, but so is money!

Thrift Stores-Hand Me Downs? or Hand It Over!

As a little girl, I used to enjoy thrifting. I would catch a train to the next town over (which was an upper-class neighborhood with the hottest Calvin Klein jeans for under $5) and simply shop. I would stay there for a long time and just search through other people's hand-me-downs.

Did I care? Hell to the no! A friend of mine goes thrifting for jeans at times because she says the jeans are already worn and washed and most likely the color or fit won't change. Girl does have a valid point there but I don't know why I am not that comfortable with thrifting anymore. Is it because I am older and more of a germaphobe? I know I can wash the clothes but I don't know what it is anymore.

A friend of mine went on an African journey and recently returned. She got her backpack stolen and in there were clothes that she had bought clothes at a thrift store before leaving to give to children where she would be volunteering. I was so heartbroken when she told me that. Some of these shirts she had bought were 95 cents and would have brought a lifetime of smiles to those children. Of course she washed it before she left, but it was all she could afford, especially since she had bought quite a few items.

I felt like crap because I am a little grossed out at the thought of buying clothes at a thrift store. But what I do enjoy are buying books from there. I bought 4 books last week for 95 cents each! LOVE IT! I love to read and enjoy reading from an actual book, not these new electronical widgets that make u download books (seriously, what's the big deal with those things anyway).

Nothing wrong with thrifting! Nothing wrong with finding a deal! Especially for 95 cent books!

Need a massage?

Then get one. Your body is calling for it. THEN GET ONE! It's so simple and not that expensive nowadays. Especially with the Massage Envy franchise everywhere I look. It is extremely relaxing. I feel asleep in the waiting room. There were celebrity magazines galore, the room was dark, but perfectly lit with candles to read up on Kim Kardashian and Reggie Bush's break up. And I wasn't sitting on some chair from the $1 store. It was a couch as soft as a baby's bottom. Trust me when I tell you that I fell asleep. What took 5 minutes for the masseuse to call me, I was out like a light. They are professional and give you a questionnaire to fill out to and talk about while you are getting a massage. I like silence during a massage, but the masseuse was simply pointing out my knots and possibilities on how I could have gotten them and how to get rid of them.

If you are stressed, have an eye twitch, can't sleep, or all of the above, then go and get your massage on. Totally worth it!

Tweet Tweet!

Yes, I have a twitter. Its @Itsmindybitch. Classy name, I know. I got it early last summer when I found out I could follow my A-list celebrities and hot damn! They would reply back. I find out newsworthy information (I do follow @Anderson Cooper), my sports related news (@BostonCeltics @Yankees), and of course my celebrity gossip such as @PerezHilton and actual Hollywood peeps. It's fun and harmless. Follow me!

Lebron James Will Come To Miami. Anyone care?

I sure as shit don't. But of course I am here to entertain the topic. This means that the bandwagon fans (you know, the ones who were fans in 2004 when Shaq signed) will once again try and talk smack and make their presence known at the games they've missed since the heat won a championship. To those TRUE fans, I think this should make you feel better and with some hope they might take the championship from the Lakers. GO CELTICS!

Summertime FUN!

It's summer and there is a billion things to do! This time of year I can reflect on a lot and also enjoy as much time with Alex as possible. It's still hard to believe that he will be going into 3rd grade. I'm not going to get into that because I will start crying.

There is pool time and beach time! We must be careful though. This heat is NO joke and SPF is always on. I wear SPF 70 and the kids' sunblock is SPF 50. Sunburn is no fun. Neither is skin cancer.

Swimming lessons are also important, depending on where you live, and a thing to tackle at a young age. The older the child gets, the more hesitant they will become to learning. TRUST ME. The younger the better. Well, I started Alex at 4, and he cried and screamed bloody murder. Bad example. BUT yes, the younger the better. Whether you hire someone to teach your little one, there should be a community pool that offers the lessons, or getting down and dirty in the pool with your little one, it's something that can keep both child and parent busy.

The Parks and Recreation Department should have some information about swimming and/or summer camps.

The local library usually can hook it up with an activity or two to help out the stay at home parents with child. Whether it be arts & crafts or just grabbing a book to read, it's something productive that will only help your child in the long run. Reading 30 minutes a day will help fluency and vocabulary.

Depending on your area, some movie companies offers free kids' movies during summer months. Again, this depends where you live. Call you local theater or google a popular theater company to see if the website says anything about free summer kid's shows. Normally it's a first come first sit basis but in the end, it's fun, free and the kids enjoy it. You, on the other hand, may get into a serious game of brick breaker on your phone.

Of course there's nothing wrong with watching TV or playing video games, but I believe it should be carefully monitored. You don't want your kid to be glued 24/7 to the TV! Those of you home with your kids, props to you. It's not easy keeping them fed, entertained, and physically engaging in activities without spending a pretty penny!

Grocery Shopping

I remember shopping at the A&P when I was younger in NJ with my Abuelita and/or with my mom. So clean, so nice. Heck, one of my friends worked there while we were in high school. I loved this place and they always hooked me up with a free donut. What! What!

Then there is VONS. For those of you on the WEST SIIIIIIDE of the USA, this is more familiar to you.
It smells good once you walk in and they have this amazing cheese bread thing in the bakery. Yummy in my tummy!

Then in the Midwest, there is Jewel-Osco. ONLINE SHOPPING? ENOUGH SAID.

For those of you residing in South Florida like myself, there is Sedano's Supermarket. Close your eyes. Picture yourself in Havana, Cuba minus the beautiful beaches, exotic looking people and beautiful scenery. It smells awful in here, but at times their sales are pretty good. This week my Abuelita found gallon milk for 2/$5.00. Not bad I know, but this place isn't the greatest.

Wal-Mart is a nationally recognized store where we all know one thing about it-CHEAP! Yes, it's cheap-from clothes, to shoes, to underwear, to toys, to cards, to jewelry, to bags, to groceries. The store has a great concept, especially those Super Wal-Mart where you can even get an oil change while you shop 'til you drop. Here's the thing: how come in South Florida all of the Wal-Marts are DISGUSTING. The ones in Orlando, not bad. The ones in New Jersey, not bad (I'm not talking about Newark). The ones in Las Vegas, clean. The ones in Chicago, delightful. What the heck happened to South Florida? The only reasonable time to go is at 9:30 on a random Tuesday morning. Even on Friday nights. It's crazy. Baby Momma is there with her 8 kids causing an uproar in the store while there is only one cashier available to ring up the whole dang store. True story.

Next up is.............drum roll please.............................................

PUBLIX SUPERMARKETS WHERE SHOPPING IS A PLEASURE. Their slogan is 100% on point. Shopping is always a pleasure when I go to Publix. It smells magnificent, the people that work there are so nice and helpful. Even the managers are always in sight and ready to answer any question you may have for them. Sure, they are a bit more overpriced than Wal-Mart and sometimes Target, but it's clean and doesn't smell like toe jam. Every Thursday they have new sales and they always change! Last week, they have Ruffles chip buy 1 get 1 free, this week is Lay's chips that are buy 1 get 1 free. Their buy 1 get 1 free sales is really what "sells" me. Again, they change every Thursday and to view their weekly ad go to www.publix.com then click on Save Here and a drop down menu will come up. Just click on "Weekly Ad" and see what's on sale before you make the drive.

Sunday nights just got a little more interesting...

I love NBC. Not only did they give me MUST SEE TV that included "Seinfeld", "Friends", and "Mad About You" to name a few, but they also give great news documentaries. The "Today Show" is pretty awesome and before I became the ultra sensitive mommy that I am, I used to watch it every morning with Katie Couric and Matt Lauer. I do watch it from time to time, but have to change the channel due to my sensitivity to issues of the world. I'm a crybaby, people. It's OK.

They also have a show called "Dateline" that's an hour long documentary cases around the nation and sometimes worldwide issues. They take rare cases and elaborate on them a little more. Friday night their show featured a young British woman who was attacked by someone who threw acid on her face. Turns out the person behind that was a guy she went out on one date with a few weeks prior and the guy ended up raping her as well. Brutal, I know. And of course I cried, but these are just eye opening experiences for me.

There is a special that "Dateline" used to produce from time to time that was called "To Catch A Predator." It focuses on adult men who prey on minor online for sexual favors. ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING, I KNOW! But man, this stuff was hilarious.

There is a company called Perverted Justice that hires people to play decoys online as minors who are trying to nab the nasty pedophiles out there. That guy on the logo up there is Chris Hansen. He's the one with the cojones to actually get in a room with these pedos and interview them without them knowing. Here's how it works:

-The people at Perverted Justice, the people at Dateline, the police, and of course, Chris Hansen himself, rent out a house in a community and set up shop. They have installed security cameras everywhere imaginable in and around the house. They have police in the perimeter of the house and are ready to nab these pedos as soon as they walk out the house.

-Perverted Justice has a room in the house where they chat online to predators who think they are chatting with minors. They chat in a sexually explicit manner, which in some states is illegal. And sometimes these people send pictures of their privates. Gross again. But because it is illegal, that's how the cops can catch these suckers.

-Once contact is made between the decoy and the predator, the decoy tries to get the predator to come out to the house that NBC has rented out and when they go, that's when the fun starts.

-These disgusting perverts walk up in the house thinking they are going to get some from a minor, when little do they know....all of America is about to start laughing at their pathetic asses. So they walk up in the house and remember the whole house is filled with cops, security, NBC producers, Chris Hansen, and of course someone who sounds as if they were 12-14 years old so that once the predator comes in, the predator believes a minor is in the house. That's how they reel 'em in!

-Once these predators are inside, they walk to the kitchen where there is a table and stool and they sit down waiting. As they are waiting, Chris Hansen comes in through a door and scares the crap out of these guys. He approaches them as tells them to have a seat and tries to talk to these nasty men.

Chris Hansen also has the chat log between the pervert and the decoy set up by Perverted Justice. So if the idiot in red tries to lie, Chris Hansen will put his sorry ass on blast!!! For example:

Chris: How old did the decoy say she was?

Idiot: Oh, she said she was 18.

Chris: You sure about that?

Idiot: Yes! 18!

Chris: I have the chat log here and it CLEARLY states her saying she is 13.

Idiot: Oh, well....hmm.

Chris engages conversation between this guy and many others and lots of times you hear the idiots say they were just visiting, they weren't really going to have sex with the minors they thought they were talking to (oh, these men also brings condoms, lube, alcohol, toys. Yes, it's great TV), they were making sure the minor was OK. Then once all is said and done Chris says "Well, there's something you need to know. My name is Chris Hansen and I'm from Dateline NBC and we're doing a story on men who prey on minors online." The look on these men's faces are priceless.

These men are arrested and booked for different charges such as soliciting minors online for sex, transmitting pornographic images to a minor, and others. Remember, the whole point for this documentary is to arrest pedophiles in America, embarrass the hell out of them, and make sure they are put through hell. Mission Accomplished, NBC.

You can watch reruns of "To Catch A Predator" Sunday nights starting at 10pm on MSNBC. Holla!

Marvelous Marketing

How friggin' cute is this puppy? It's so teeny tiny! Look at it's paws, those cute little eyes, those baby little whiskers, the button nose!

Now that I am a night owl and can sleep at whatever time I want to, infomercials seem to be the thing to watch on late late late television. For the most part, I am NOT sold on any of those informercials I see. BUT DANG! Once you hear Sarah McLachlan start to sing "Angel"...come on...you KNOW what I'm talking about ...."In the arms of an angel..fly away from here" That's it. It was over for me. Waterworks shortly ensued.

It's a really heart-wrenching commercial for abused animals and I am not an animal lover, per say, but damn that commercial really hit me hard (and I wasn't even on my period). So I gave in. Damn those marketers!!!! They hit the money shot with those sad little puppy eyes and the damn song to match!!!! Oh well. At the end of the day, I am contributing to a great cause and I know lots of pet owners. Those pets are an addition to their family. It's deep yo! Hell, I don't even kill cockroaches anymore(Sorry, Chrissy)-they deserve to live too!

Forever 21?

At times I wish I was 21-no rent, no mortgage, no weird getting old diseases, good music played on the radio, you could fly anywhere in the continental U.S. for cheap, and cost of living wasn't so bad. But at the same time, I didn't have my child-my reason for living (awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, I know). But there are things that I do that can take me back to that age-

Shop-I am a woman. It is in my blood to shop.

Download music-I can download some old school Jay-Z and Nas and I'm good.

Getting my drink on-Anytime. Anywhere. Granted I don't drink as much, but I feel a little tipsy from time to time (case in point-yesterday).

Talking to some old school friends-Just reminiscing on the old times always puts a smile on my face.

Speaking of Forever 21-the store is pretty fabulous. I KNOW I cannot get more than half of the stuff there because, let's face it, I don't fit into their sizes. But man, sometimes I glance at their website and these little girls don't know how lucky they are! Supposedly, their sandals (the flats, of course) don't even hurt! Just a little something to think about next time you pass by the store and think you can't get anything. You never know.

www.forever21.com

Cloudy with a chance of meatballs..

These rain drops out here are so big they are the size of meatballs. The weather is so depressing outside-cloudy, raining, dark, gloomy. I feel like we are in London or something. I woke up thinking this would be a fun day with some friends. Well being that one friend is as reliable as a wet paper bag, that didn't happen. Another friend of mine came over and the weather got her sleepy so she took a nap but she just left to get all whored up for tonight. Where are we going? I don't know. Hopefully, alcohol will be involved. Nothing outdoors because of this weather, but hopefully it will be fun. Besides, I am fun. Drunk, sober, indoors, outdoors-I put the P in Party! Or so I'd like to think....

Holler For A Dollar!!

So the country is in a recession-blah, blah, blah. Everyone is broke-wah,wah,wah

Money is tight-boo-hoo-hoo

That doesn't mean you have to stay at home watching reality TV or Law & Order reruns while going to the kitchen every hour on the hour because you are hungry and bored. So not only are you broke, but now you are fat. When you're fat, what's the solution? The gym-another monthly expense that you don't need. On top of that, since you are broke and home all the time, you are also glued to the Internet and SPAM! You get hacked or a virus on your computer. Side note: if you are a PAYING Comcast customer (not you "customers" getting the Internet rigged by Comcast) then Norton Security is available to you for free. Or if you are a college student, your university should be providing some sort of anti-virus-security something for your PC or laptop.

When you are working, don't go out to eat all the time. As much as $20 a week (and that's lowballing it ) which equals $80 a month can go to waste. That could have been your gym membership, chunky monkey. If you must go out to eat, try Subway. Their $5 footlongs could be lunch for 2 days. Wendy's has a dollar menu which includes 5-piece chicken nuggets and a garden or Caesar salad. If you break the chicken nuggets into pieces, you've got yourself a crispy chicken salad. Little Caesar's $5 pizza come a long way, especially with the little ones, and they aren't THAT greasy. Paying for music online? WHY? When there are free sites where you can get music and feel safe with your Norton or McAfee security set up. :)

There are so many things to do that is low budget for everyone. Going to the pool with the kiddies (That's a work out and the water doesn't really make you hungry. When you get home, different story), even going out to eat, shopping for clothes (MACY'S ONE DAY SALE HAVE YET TO DISAPPOINT), outlet stores, etc. Get creative. Go online and research! It's out there! You can do it!

Are Good Men Are Hard To Find?

HELLS TO THE YES!

Just kidding my peeps. No, it's not hard at all. They are out there, ya know. Especially with match.com, eharmony.com, okcupid.com, plentyoffish.com (you catch my drift)out there.

You aren't "unlucky in love" or having bad luck. That's what life is all about. Sometimes you THINK you have shit all figured out then BAM! Life happens. And you know what? THAT'S OK! Sometimes you need to go through life alone for a minute to know that you can hold your own if need be. AGAIN. NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. Society also has a view on what we should do with our lives-graduate high school, go off to college, maybe grad school, work in corporate America, meet someone, fall in love, get married, soon after have kids, and live happily ever after. Uhmmmmm, seriously?

For some folks, this has truly happened, but it was hard as hell to get to that "happily ever after" point. Some may have had a child, then finished school. Some may have finished their Master's Degree, have a house, but live alone. Ultimately, you can somewhat decide what you want to do to secure your future. By going off to college, you can safely market yourself with a little more confidence than the freshman college dropout with less than a year of real world experience.

Marriage is something that is very special and sacred and a necessity, depending on who you ask. For those of you that are married, I commend you tremendously because it is NOT easy. There is no ME in a marriage, it's US. To me that friggin' unheard of, but that is why I give you props. This is something I really don't picture myself doing. The only "US" I know is Alex and myself. Marriage is a HUGE commitment and it should also mean through thick and thin, nothing can that unity (I don't mean pulling a Tiger Woods on your significant other and thinking you can get away with it).

Cuba Libre

Living in South Florida, you are surrounded all kinds of people and different cultures. Living in the Miami Metropolitan Area, you are especially surrounded by Hispanics. Living in Hialeah, Florida, there are more Cubans than any other culture. For my last 2 years of high school, I went to Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School so I got a taste of Hialeah for a little bit. Where else could you get a pizza and drink for $1.00 during lunch and bring your teacher back lunch so she doesn't mark you tardy? Then again, that was 1998 when open lunch was allowed. Fast forward to 2010 and the same school I went to high school with is an "F" school. "F" means of course failure. Failure in what, you ask? The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. This is a statewide test that assesses students progress (at least that's what Jeb Bush wanted Floridians to think). Is it a horrible test? No. It's pretty basic stuff for the grade-level student, but it is a high-stakes test and some of these principals just sit on their desks analyzing these scores and other testing scores. Sad, but true.

I got off track there but back to Hialeah. The city has changed in the last 10 years mostly because population has boomed and of course, the recession. I hardly ever go to Hialeah unless I need a manicure, pedicure, or eyebrow wax ($25 for all 3. Can't beat that). Or if I want to grab a drink (50% off all drinks after 9pm every day) at Flanigans. I could go to Flanigans in PJs. That's how casual it is (for women at least. Some 40 year-old men who still live at home with their mom and abuela try to pick up women there. True Story).

Gotta love Hialeah-La Ciudad Que Progresa!

You can take the girl outta Jersey, but you can't take the Jersey outta the girl....

Jersey Shore 2 is set to return to our television screens on July 29th and judging from the trailer, it'll be a drunken debauchery taking place in Miami Beach. Miami Beach you ask? Well because it was too friggin' cold to tape in the Jersey Shore. They tape the show in Seaside Heights, New Jersey also known as SLEAZE-side Heights. Some people know I'm from there and I get asked all the time "Are all Italians like that?". I mean come on. Are we really going to base our opinion on Italians from one show? That's like me saying everyone from Hialeah, Florida are losers that never amount to anything (well...that one may be true. I kid. I kid.).

Do people fake bake up north? Yes, they do! Some even spray tan which is a lot better for your skin anyways. But you may end up looking like an oompa loompa.

Do people really use the term "Guido" and "Guidette" to describe these people you see on "Jersey Shore" ? Yup, again, very true. Pauly D didn't invent the blow out people. It's been a hott mess of a trend for a hot minute.

Does fist pumping really occur? Yes, it does. The ever-lasting beat of the house music blaring at the club will get any guido going at it with their fist like there is no tomorrow. It's funny, actually. Not my cup of tea, but pretty comical to watch.

Going down the shore during summertime is fun in the sun. When you are single and ready to mingle, it's better than any dating site, that's for sure. However, if you have a family, it may not be the place for you. Here in South Florida, South Beach is more for the sexy, single, sassy scene, while Hollywood Beach is more family oriented. Same thing in New Jersey. Except the water is muggy, murky, and kind of cold.