Headed to the Beach This Weekend

Welcome back, loyal Bay Head Blog readers! It's been a long, cold winter, but temperatures are headed into the low 70s today in the Roxiticus Valley and down at the Jersey Shore. Rex, London, Maddie and I are packing up the SUV to head down to Bay Head, NJ this afternoon to open up our beach house for the season.

We'll have to wait and see what the Internet situation is down at the beach before I can promise current posts this weekend, but the Bay Head Blog will be up and running for the summer before too long.

Thanks for reading!

Roxy

Music Monday: Woman, Woman by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap

It's Gary Puckett and the Union Gap theme week for Roxy's Music Monday posts, and here at the Bay Head Blog, we're featuring a live version of "Woman, Woman."



Woman oh woman
Have you got cheating on your mind, on your mind
Something's wrong between us
That your laughter cannot hide
And you're afraid to let your eyes meet mine
And lately when I love you, I know you're not satisfied
Woman oh woman
Have you got cheating on your mind, on your mind
I've seen the way men look at you
When they think I don't see
And it hurts to have them think that you're that kind
But it's knowing that you're looking back
That's really killing me
Woman oh woman
Have you got cheating on your mind, on your mind
A woman wears a certain look
When she is on the move
And a man can always tell what's on her mind
I hate to have to say it
But that look's all over you
Woman oh woman
Have you got cheating on your mind
Oh woman oh woman
Have you got cheating on your mind?

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

Metal Music Monday: Give Her Inches (8 to 14) and Feed Her Well -- Scorpions Rock You Like A Hurricane

I'm in a Metal Music Monday mood, both here on the Bay Head Blog and over on Roxiticus Best Blogs, where Bon Jovi rocks us with "In and Out of Love." As Rex and I reviewed the winter storm watch forecast to deliver 8 to 14 inches of snow to the Roxiticus Valley and the rest of New Jersey, the Scorpions lyric "give her inches and feed her well" kept running through my head. Even though London and Maddie mock me for being stuck in the eighties (I was gonna shake my A** on the hood of WhiteSnake's car!) every time they see "80s on 8" on our Sirius Satellite Radio in the Acadia, I can't help it, I'm going to share this awesome video of the Scorpions performing Rock You Like A Hurricane from the 2000 Moment of Glory DVD.




It's early morning
The sun comes out
Last night was shaking
And pretty loud
My cat is purring
And scratches my skin
So what is wrong
With another sin
The bitch is hungry
She needs to tell
So give her inches
And feed her well
More days to come
New places to go
I've got to leave
It's time for a show

Here I am, rock you like a hurricane
Here I am, rock you like a hurricane

My body is burning
It starts to shout
Desire is coming
It breaks out loud
Lust is in cages
Till storm breaks loose
Just have to make it
With someone I choose
The night is calling
I have to go
The wolf is hungry
He runs to show
He's licking his lips
He's ready to win
On the hunt tonight
For love at first sting

Here I am, rock you like a hurricane
Here I am, rock you like a hurricane
Here I am, rock you like a hurricane
Here I am, rock you like a hurricane

Special thanks to Jackie (Simply Shinade), who is First Commenter here at the Bay Head Blog today!

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

Music Monday: Sea of Love (Performed by Tom Waits)

Valentine's Day is on its way, and LadyJava kicked off Music Monday with a love, love, love theme. I like that idea, and here at the beach in Bay Head, New Jersey, I'd like to stick with LJ's love theme and contribute "Sea of Love." This version is by Tom Waits... it's the one that played eerily in the 1989 Al Pacino murder mystery movie by the same name.



Do you remember when we met
That's the day I knew you were my pet
I want to tell you how much I love you

Come with me, my love
To the sea, the sea of love
I want to tell you how much I love you

Come with me, to the sea

Do you remember when we met
That's the day I knew you were my pet
I want to tell you how much I love you

GUITAR SOLO

Come with me, to the sea

Come with me, my love
To the sea, the sea of love
I want to tell you how much I love you

Come with me, to the sea

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

Remember the Good Old Days... Ah, To Be A Student Again

When I was growing up, my parents and teachers used to tell me that my days as a student were the best years of my life. I didn't believe them at the time, and all these years later, I'd have to say that the past fifteen years of investment banking and seven years of parenting have been and continue to be the best years of my life. Given the stream of emails that Rex and I have received from our alma maters letting us know about the increasing number of college students who need financial aid, I'm concerned that there's never been a tougher time to be a student.



One savings opportunity for students today is the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) -- an internationally recognized and accepted student ID card that comes with thousands of discounts at top retail stores and websites. The $22 card gets students discounts like cheap flights at STA Travel and 11% off JetBlue (or take the train and save 15% off Amtrak), 50% off at Park 'n Fly, an eleven (11) percent discount at Macy's or 10% off at Target.com, and access to a special $13 menu at Hard Rock Cafe. Students can use the ISIC at home or abroad, online or in brick and mortar stores. Unfortunately, I don't qualify for any of the three versions of the discount card -- the ISIC for currently enrolled students, the IYTC for any youth 26 years old and younger, or the ITIC for any current teacher or professor. However, my daughters London and Maddie are both students, so maybe they'll let their mom tag along with them for a change... unfortunately, just today I made the mistake of teaching them how to call me "abuelita" -- old lady in Spanish!

Music Monday: Come Monday by Jimmy Buffett

Got the cold winter blues? Nothing like a dose of Jimmy Buffett to get you smiling... go ahead and sing along with Jimmy on this week's Music Monday pick for the Bay Head Blog: "Come Monday."



Headin' up to San Francisco
For the Labor Day week-end show
I've got my hush-puppies on
I guess I never was meant for glitter rock and roll
And honey I didn't know
That I'd be missin' you so

Chorus:
Come Monday, it'll be all right
Come Monday, I'll be holdin' you tight
I spent four lonely days in a brown L.A. haze
And I just want you back by my side

Yes, it's been quite a summer
Rent-a-cars and west-bound trains
And now you're off on vacation
Somethin' you tried to explain
And darlin', since I love you so
That's the reason I just let you go

Chorus:
Come Monday, it'll be all right
Come Monday, I'll be holdin' you tight
I spent four lonely days in a brown L.A. haze
And I just want you back by my side

I can't help it honey
You're that much a part of me now
Remember that night in Montana
When we said there'd be no room for doubt

I hope you're enjoyin' the scenery
I know that it's pretty up there
We can go hikin' on Tuesday
With you I'd walk anywhere
California has worn me quite thin
I just can't wait to see you again

Chorus:
Come Monday, it'll be all right
Come Monday, I'll be holdin' you tight
I spent four lonely days in a brown L.A. haze
And I just want you back by my side

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

Music Monday: Heat Wave

For those of you who haven't been hit by the past week's incredible cold of winter, please count yourself lucky, send us some sunshine and just enjoy the music. For anyone who's seen their local temperature go below zero degrees Fahrenheit, maybe this Heat Wave video will warm us all up.... an oldie but goodie from Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.



Whenever I'm with him
Something inside
Starts to burning
And I'm filled with desire,
Could it be the devil in me?
Or is this the way love's
supposed to be?

(Chorus)

It's like a heat wave
It's burning in my heart
I can't keep from burning
It's tearing me apart

Whenever he calls my name
So softly and plain
Right then, right there, I feel that burning flame
Has high blood pressure
got a hold on me?
Is this the way love's supposed to be?

(Chorus)

Sax Solo.................

Sometimes I stare in space
Tears all over my face,
I can't explain it, don't understand it,
I ain't never felt like this before
Now this funny feeling has me amazed
Don't know what to do, my head's in a haze,
It's like a heat wave.

Yeah yeah
Yeah yeah
Ha ohhh yeah

Yeah yeah
Yeah yeah
ohhh yeah

I feel it, burning, right here in my heart,
Don't you know it's like a heat wave

Yeah yeah
Yeah yeah
ohhh

Don't you know it's like a heat wave?
Burning right here in my heart.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.

Maddie Misses Her Beach House

Tonight I caught up on the phone with one of our beach house neighbors down in Bay Head, New Jersey. Right now, it's hard to think about sun, surf and sand, cruising along Ocean Avenue in a souped up honda shadow 750. The people over at Weather dot com say the wind chill here in the Roxiticus Valley makes it feel like 3 below zero Fahrenheit... brrr! Anyway, despite the snow, ice and wintry weather, our beach house seems fine.

Not much is going on at the beach in January. Sadly, Artisan's Galleria on Mount Street closed at the end of the year. Rumor has it the owner is thinking about converting the retail space to an apartment to be rented this summer instead of trying to find someone who wants to open a new store in the current economy.

Particularly if we get away someplace warm during the winter months, my daughter Maddie starts to miss her beach house and asks when we'll be going to Bay Head. Even though we close our beach house for the season after the annual Halloween parade, we may make a trip down to Bay Head this winter. Rex's son, Trader, just moved into a new place in Connecticut. He has a huge open wall in the living room and is hoping I could take a photo of the Bay Head surf and have one of those places blow it up life size so even in the dead of winter in the Northeast it would always feel like Surfs Up!

Music Monday: Collide by Howie Day

Up north and west in the Roxiticus Valley, we're snowed in and lovin' it. Getting out in the Winter Wonderland to do some sledding and trying to build a snowman, playing Scrabble in front of a roaring fire, and catching up on some work while rating the "Unrated" list from my iPod classic. We're down to 5,209 unrated songs, having just given "Collide" by Howie Day five stars and deciding it would be the Bay Head Blog pick for today's Music Monday. Apparently, the song was featured in the movie of The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, which I've been meaning to rent or buy. I loved the book... just another one of Roxy's shameful page turners!




The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you
Yeah

I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide

I'm quiet you know
You make a first impression
I've found I'm scared to know I'm always on your mind

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I somehow find
You and I collide

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to ryhme
Out of the doubt that fills your mind
You finally find
You and I collide

You finally find
You and I collide
You finally find
You and I collide

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.

Music Monday: Drift Away

I was thinking about the old Dobie Gray song, "Drift Away" for Music Monday, but when I searched YouTube for a video I happened to discover this cover by Uncle Kracker. Gimme the beat, boys...



Day after day I'm more confused
Yet I look for the light
Through the pourin' rain
You know that's a game that I hate to lose
And I'm feeling the strain
Ain't it a shame

Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I want to get lost in your rock and roll
And drift away
[repeat]

Beginning to think that I'm wasting time
I don't understand the things I do
The world outside looks so unkind
Now I'm counting on you
To carry me through

Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I want to get lost in your rock and roll
And drift away
[repeat]

And when my mind is free
You know a melody can move me
And when I'm feeling blue
The guitar's coming through to soothe me

Thanks for the joy that you're given me
I want you to know I believe in your song
Your rythm and rhyme and harmony
You've helped me along
Makin' me strong

Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I want to get lost in your rock and roll
And drift away
[repeat]
Na, na, now won't ya
Won't ya take, oh ha ..take me

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.

Winter: Hibernate or Celebrate?

Every year, our family closes our beach house in Bay Head after the annual Halloween parade at the end of October, and our favorite summer time activities -- riding the waves, painting seashells, eating clams on our porch -- now seem so far away. As we approach the New Year 2009 and two or three months of cold winter weather, I think about hibernating indoors, playing family board games like Scrabble and Monopoly and staying warm by the fire. London and Maddie, on the other hand, are all in favor of celebrating winter with outdoor activities like sledding and building snowmen.

Branson, Missouri seems to be one of those places where people celebrate winter instead of hiding indoors. If you think you'd enjoy scenic views of the Missouri Ozark Mountains, an ice sculpture competition, the excitement and whimsy of the holidays will come together for you with a family vacation in Branson, Missouri. This season, celebrate winter in the entertainment capital of the Mid West and choose from exclusive holiday packages with themes like the It's A Wonderful Life Package or the New Year's Eve Package at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing or the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. Spa treatments and family style dinners are just the tip of the iceberg (forgive the winter pun) of what these two hotels have to offer. During the day, you'll capture the spirit of the winter holidays with light displays, parades and shows, with the old time charm of Branson surrounding you. Night time brings the luxury and elegance of either the Hilton Promenade or the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel.



If you love the nightlife, the hotels are conveniently located in and around the new Branson Landing retail and entertainment district situated on Lake Taneycomo. If you're more interested in cultural activities for the whole family, tt looks like there are two First Night celebrations going on nearby -- one in Springfield and one in Fayetteville -- where everyone can enjoy family-oriented activities on New Year's Eve. Instead of hibernating this year, why not celebrate winter in a town like Branson, Missouri? Brought to you by Hilton – the first name in hospitality.

Music Monday: Happy New Year with Guy Lombardo's Auld Lang Syne

When I was a kid, my parents would let me stay up until midnight on New Year's Eve to watch Guy Lombardo and the ball drop in Times Square on TV. Please join me in a bit of nostalgia with a video of Guy Lombardo's instrumental performance "Auld Lang Syne." I've also included the English translation of the traditional Scottish lyrics.



Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and days o' auld lang syne?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup
And surely I’ll buy mine
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS
We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS
And there’s a hand my trusty friend
And give us a hand o’ thine
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.

Grant a Holiday Wish for Our Heroes at Home

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight..."

Those are the words from one of the most well-known Christmas carols, with lyrics by Ralph Blane and music composed by Hugh Martin. We've heard the words, and hope they come true this holiday season. Rex, London, Maddie and I offer this wish for a merry little Christmas to you and your family and to all of our heroes at home on Christmas Eve. While our stockings are hung by the chimney with care, there's still time to grant a wish for a military service family or veteran during this holiday season. Sears established the Sears Heroes at Home registry to make it easy for those of us who are fortunate to be safe at home with our families at Christmas to contribute online and provide financial support for the families of military service members who won't be home for Christmas and have made requests for our help. If you visit the site, you'll find stories that will tug at your heart: one soldier writes that his wife is the real hero, taking care of his family at home, another writes about missing his baby boy's first Christmas... you'll also see that the wishes these families have made are not extravagant, simple things like kids' shoes, clothing and coats are at the top of the list. The donations made at this site are not tax-deductible, but they will be distributed among the registered families as Sears gift cards to show our heroes at home, the families of American soldiers, how much we appreciate the sacrifices they make all year long and their efforts to keep our families safe and free.

From the four of us to all of you... Have yourself a merry little Christmas... now!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year.
Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!

Now bring us some figgy pudding
Now bring us figgy pudding
Now bring us figgy pudding
And a cup of good cheer!
Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!

We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
So bring it out here!
Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!

We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year.
Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!

Roxy Cuts 2008 Tax Bill by Spending Money On Year-End Blogging Tools

I don't know about you, but lately everywhere I go in the blogosphere, I seem to be reading about one of my blogosphere buddies using Dragon NaturallySpeaking software to use their own speaking voice to post to their blogs and create documents, reports and e-mails as much as three times faster than most people type -- with up to 99% accuracy. Mariuca and LadyJava can surf the web using their lovely voices or dictate and edit in software programs including Microsoft Word and Excel, Corel WordPerfect, and many other Windows-based applications. Dragon Voice Shortcuts collapse common tasks into simple voice commands. Bloggers and small business owners can create custom commands that will insert blocks of text or bitmaps -- your name, title, or signature -- by barking (or meowing) out a single voice command. Soccer moms can even dictate their next blog post into a handheld device when on the soccer field or otherwise away from the PC, or use a Bluetooth microphone. The software package includes a high-quality headset.

Right now through December 31, 2008, bloggers and small business owners can save on Dragon Naturally Speaking with the following coupon codes for 10 to 25% off:

• $50 Coupon Code- DNSMSBG -Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 Preferred


• $25 Coupon Code- DNSMSBG -Dragon Naturally Speaking 10 Standard


• $25 Coupon Code- DNSMSBG -MacSpeech Dictate

Another good reason to shop now is that if, like me, you're buying the software for your business, there's still time to write it off for this year's 2008 taxes if you buy by December 31st.

Support the Bay Head School Foundation

As my loyal Bay Head Blog and Roxy's Best Of... readers know, our family summers at the beach in Bay Head, New Jersey, but our full time home (where London and Maddie go to school) is up north in Mendham Township. If you do live down at the beach all year round, however, please consider a tax deductible donation before the end of the year 2008 to support the Bay Head School Foundation. Rex and I received the following letter that I'd like to share with you:

Dear Friends of the Bay Head Community:

We are appealing to you in this, our annual letter, for funds to continue the Bay Head School Foundation's mission of supporting Bay Head School in its efforts to maintain the tremendous quality of its curriculum and the way in which it is delivered.

The Bay Head School Foundation was founded when Bay Head School had to scale back as the budget could no longer meet all curriculum and facility needs to maintain the program level desired for the Bay Head School children. Three years ago, the voters approved a referendum making it possible for the district to bring our facility forward to meet the State mandated standards. The same year, the Bay Head School Board launched a new organizational structure including sharing services. We entered an inter-local agreement with Point Pleasant Beach to share their Superintendent with Bay Head School, which has become an example for the future in other districts.

Continue reading

I Made A Wish On Santa's Lap: Let's End Hunger in 2009

Seems like everyone's got a wish this holiday season... London and Maddie have been writing letters to Santa, but this year they've been more conscious of other people's needs and situations. Just today, Rex and I went over to Mendham Township Elementary School for the holiday singalong and brought a second big bag of London and Maddie's contributions to the Interfaith Food Pantry (I posted about Maddie's Pop Tart contribution over on Roxiticus Desperate Housewives when the food drive first started a couple of weeks ago).

As you may have noticed, all of my blogs, including this one, the Bay Head Blog, participated in a Blogging Out Hunger campaign to raise awareness of hunger in New Jersey and to raise money or food donations for the Community FoodBank of NJ on Monday, December 15th, and the donations are still coming in through the blogosphere. Today, I kept going on the Blogging Out Hunger campaign by leaving a comment on This Full House (see link in the post below), where Stop and Shop will contribute $1.00 for every comment up to $300. I also went over to the CEIVA Digital Photo Frame site and sat on Santa's lap. As you can see from the photo above, I made a wish to end hunger and whispered it in Santa's ear. You never know... I thought it made sense to cover all bases. The folks at CEIVA are also having a contest at their site: one random entry will be selected on each day of the contest through the end of the year. Each winner receives a cash prize of $500. While $500 won't end hunger, it sure would make a nice contribution to the Community FoodBank of NJ. Why don't you head over to the CEIVA site and make your own wish?

Let's Keep Blogging Out Hunger: Stop and Shop Contributes $1.00 Per Comment at This Full House

As part of the Blogging Out Hunger campaign for the Community FoodBank of NJ, one of my fellow New Jersey Bloggers -- Liz, from This Full House -- has gotten Stop and Shop to pony up $1 for every comment left (up to $300) under the blog post linked below. It's a way all of you can help and it won't cost you anything. Please take a second to click the link below and comment. Let's see how quickly we can raise $300 more bucks for the FoodBank.

http://www.thisfullhouse.com/this_full_house/2008/12/blogging-out-hunger-we-cant-let-this-bank-fail-the-big-give.html

Music Monday: Go Tell It On the Mountain

I just realized that this week's Music Monday is my last chance to share a favorite Christmas song. Hard to believe, but Christmas is this Thursday!

Here's Garth Brooks singing the gospel classic, "Go Tell It On the Mountain." I'll warn you in advance that the video is lame, but the music rocks.




Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and far away
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

The shepherds all were watching
Over their sheep at night
When a guiding star shone from heaven
And the followed that holy light

Got tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
They found a lovely manger
Where the humble Christ was born
And God sent out salvation
On that blessed Christmas morn

Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

He brought with Him forgiveness
He live to show us the way
He came to redeem all creation
And to wash all our sins away

Go tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.

Secret Santa Shops After the Snow Storm

As I have posted over on my Roxiticus Desperate Housewives site, New Jersey has been covered in a wet blanket of eight to ten inches of snow, sleet, and freezing rain since yesterday's winter storm warning closed all of the schools. I hope our Bay Head beach house is weathering the storm without us. I'll probably call one of our good neighbors later today to check on it. Snow storms, as you might imagine, are not a good thing for holiday shopping procrastinators like Roxy. Our family was planning to finish up the Secret Santa part of our shopping over the weekend, and I'm hoping that Ignacio and his band of merry men will be here soon to shovel out the driveway so that Rex, London, Maddie and I can head out to pick up our last minute gifts from Kmart.

Since I've learned that many members of our extended family, including Rex's mom a.k.a. Grammy, read my blogs, I have to be careful about posting the details of any surprise gifts, but I don't think I'm giving too much away to say that London has to buy a Secret Santa gift for her eight year old niece and Maddie has to pick out a gift for her six year old nephew. Since Trader and his wife split up earlier this year, we're hoping to find some High School Musical and Star Wars sheet sets for the kids' new bedrooms at Trader's house.

The challenge may be staying under our $25 Secret Santa limit with shopping budgets tight this year. If we can't find sheets that fit Secret Santa's budget, I know there are plenty of other great holiday gift ideas that we can execute for under $25 at Kmart. For example, Trader could get a Craftsman® 23-inch hand tool box with comfort handle for his brother, TallBoy; someone could give Grammy a set of Martha Stewart Everyday tall nickel pillar candleholders; London could get a Route 66 girls' fashion hoodie or embellished jeans for her niece; and Maddie can choose from a wide selection of LeapFrog Leapster Learning Games for her nephew. The complete Kmart collection of 25,000 gifts under $25 is available in Kmart stores.

With only four and a half shopping days left until Christmas, shoppers can also sign up at Kmart.com to receive the latest Kmart news via e-mail, including updates on special store hours, in-store deals and online-only sales. To help budget-conscious consumers this holiday season, Kmart is one of the few retailers that continues to offer a layaway program and no payments, no interest for six months, offering shoppers the value and savings to make this holiday season shine for one and all.

Please stay safe if you're heading out into the snow to complete your holiday shopping, and from our family to yours, here's a wish for the happiest of holiday seasons!

Blogging Out Hunger On Music Monday: We Can't Let This Bank Fail. 100 New Jersey Bloggers Unite to Help the Community FoodBank of NJ

It was 1985 when USA for Africa recorded "We Are the World" to raise awareness of hunger in Africa. Today, I'm posting this Music Monday video to raise awareness, not of hunger in Africa, but of hunger right here at home in New Jersey. Over 100 New Jersey bloggers have united to fight local NJ hunger in a coordinated "This Bank Can't Fail" blogging campaign for the Community FoodBank of New Jersey on Monday, December 15th. Our goal is to spread the word about the increased demand being put on the food pantries in New Jersey and how everyone can help.



No matter how you feel about the government bailout of the nation's largest banks, I think you'll agree that there's one bank that we can't allow to fail: the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. As you are probably well aware, the Food Bank is in desperate need of donations this holiday season. With bare shelves and demand for food among state residents far outpacing supply, the FoodBank is in danger of being unable to meet the needs of New Jersey’s hungry.

Our team of NJ bloggers will be in good company. Legendary music icon Bruce Springsteen will be lending his voice to the fight against hunger in New Jersey by headlining "We Can't Let This Bank Fail" -- a major advertising campaign and call to action for people to contribute in any way they can to help the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. Although Bruce Springsteen has been a supporter of the FoodBank for 23 years, often donating proceeds from his concerts to the organization, this ad marks the first time Springsteen has publicly lent his image to the campaign, due to the urgency of the situation.

The Community FoodBank of New Jersey is facing a dire shortage of food. Without the public’s support, it may, for the first time in its history, begin to ration food. This is a state-wide crisis, with the unstable economy resulting in a 30 percent increase in those needing food. In years past, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey has provided assistance to more than 500,000 New Jerseyans, but expects to see a major uptick in need this year, especially during the winter months when people often struggle between paying heating and food bills.

We're hoping our efforts will compel everyone to do something, anything, to help. Visit the Community FoodBank of New Jersey at www.njfoodbank.org or call 908-355-FOOD (3663) to learn more.

There comes a time, when we hear a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all

We can't go on pretending day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make change
We are all a part of God's great big family
And the truth you know
Love is all we need

chorus:
We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day, just you and me

Send them your heart so they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free.
As God has shown us by turning stones to bread
And so we all must lend a helping hand

When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all
But if you believe there's no way we can fall
Let us realize that a change can only come
When we stand together as one

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.

Music Monday: Roxy and Rex's Wedding Song #2... Jersey Girl

"I got no time for the corner boys, down in the street makin' all that noise,
Don't want no whores on Eighth Avenue, cause tonight I'm gonna be with you.

Cause tonight I'm gonna take that ride, across the river to the Jersey side,
Take my baby to the carnival, and Ill take you on all the rides,
sing sha la la la la la sha la la la.

Down the shore everything's alright, you and your baby on a Saturday night,
Don't you know that all my dreams come true, when I'm walkin down the street
With you, sing sha la la la la la sha la la la.

You know she thrills me with all her charms, when I'm wrapped up in my baby's arms
My little angel gives me everything, I know someday that she'll wear my ring.

So don't bother me cause I got no time, I'm on my way to see that girl of mine
Nothin' else matters in this whole wide world, when you're in love with
A Jersey girl, sing sha la la la la la la."

-- "Jersey Girl" by Tom Waits, with perhaps the most famous cover version by Bruce Springsteen. One of Roxy and Rex's two wedding songs (the other one was, of course, "Prove It All Night" by Bruce Springsteen).

As a Jersey Girl, that song is an anthem that always brings tears to my eyes and sends chills down my spine. Here's a video of Tom Waits singing "Jersey Girl"... check it out and let me know if it has the same effect on bloggers around the world, or if it's just a Jersey Girl thing.

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted.

Some Gave All: This Holiday Season, Grant a Wish for a Military Family

Back in November on Veteran's Day, I got to thinking about my Uncle Joe, who's in the Veteran's Hospital in Lyons, New Jersey. He's almost 90 years old, and has lived most of his life with a metal plate in his head from a gunshot wound in World War II. I posted this Billy Ray Cyrus song as a tribute to my uncle, and it's running through my head again today as the holidays are approaching.

"I knew a man, called him Sandy Kane
Few folks even knew his name
But a hero was he
Left a boy, came back a man
Still many just don't understand
About the reasons we are free

I can't forget the look in his eyes
Or the tears he cries
As he said these words to me

All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all

Now Sandy Kane is no longer here
But his words are oh so clear
As they echo through out our land
For all his friends who gave us all
Who stood the ground and took the fall
To help their fellow man

Love your country and live with pride
And don't forget those who died America can't you see

All gave some and some gave all
And some stood through for the red, white and blue
And some had to fall
And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall
Some gave all

And if you ever think of me
Think of all your liberties and recall, yes recall
Some gave all

Some gave all"

It feels to me like we can't do enough for the brave men and women who serve our country in the military, but at the Sears Heroes at Home Wish Registry they're trying to make a difference by granting the wishes of the heroes at home... the families who are missing their loved ones this holiday season. Military families are wishing for simple but important things. Kids' shoes, boys' and girls' pajamas, sweaters, pants and shirts, all with an average cost from $15 to $30, are at the top of the list. By making a donation to the Heroes at Home Wish Registry, shoppers can do something for a military family while shopping online for their own gifts from Sears. The donations made to the Sears Wish Registry are not tax-deductible and will be used to purchase Sears gift cards that will be distributed equally to the registered families.

The Spirit of BEAR-iuca Comes to the Beach in Bay Head, New Jersey

-START COPYING HERE-
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there lived a powerful Genie Princess named Mariuca who was known throughout the land as the friendliest, most popular blogger in the blogosphere kingdom. Adored and admired by international visitors and commentators from around the world, the Genie Princess travels the blogosphere on her magical flying carpet, always looking for ways to share her good fortune with others. Over the past two years of blogging, Mariuca has met so many new people, from all walks of life and all over the world, each one bringing a little of their culture and lifestyle when they visit and comment on Mariuca’s two sites. So on her 2nd Blog Anniversary, Mariuca wanted to celebrate with all of her international blogosphere buddies by hosting bear-naming contests at Wishing On A Falling Star and Mariuca’s Perfume Gallery and to pass her two lucky, cuddly teddy bears along to the winners who came up with the best names.

On the opposite side of the world, from the moment Roxy (the prolific Roxiticus Desperate Housewives blogger) and her sweet daughters London and Maddie saw the teddy in his personalized t-shirt and blue muffler at Wishing On A Falling Star, they knew that he needed to come to live with their family in Mendham, NJ. The three New Jersey girls named him immediately and burst into a wonderful song for BEAR-iuca:

BEAR-iuca, BEAR-iuca, amazing teddy cheer
BEAR-iuca, BEAR-iuca, we’d love you to come live here!

Mariuca received 16 possible names for the Mariuca Teddy Bear, making it hard for the Genie Princess to choose just one…then Alakazam! A bolt of lightning delivered the perfect way to share BEAR-iuca’s good fortune to bloggers around the globe. While the soft, stuffed, cuddly BEAR-iuca is on his way to live with Roxy, London, Maddie and Rex in the Roxiticus Valley, the Spirit of BEAR-iuca is racing through the blogosphere to bring happiness, holiday cheer, and beary best wishes to everyone who welcomes him into their online home and passes along the BEAR-iuca good luck charm to ten friends.

Please play along with us by following a few important rules:

1. Add your site(s) to the list once you have received the Spirit of BEAR-iuca badge of teddy bear cheer.
2. Pass along the Spirit of BEAR-iuca and his cheery badge to as many people as you like.
3. Leave a comment HERE once you’ve passed on the Spirit of BEAR-iuca.
4. Once Roxy and the Genie Princess have visited your site to make sure your links are complete and proper, you will then be added to the Master List.

To ensure everyone receives equal link benefit, please UPDATE your list regularly!

BEAR-iuca LOVES 1. Mariuca 2. Roxiticus Desperate Housewives 3. Mariuca’s Perfume Gallery 4. Roxy’s Best Of... 5. Bay Head Blog 6. Roxiticus Best Blogs 7. Emila's Illustrated Blog 8. Metz - Empty Streets 9. The Spirit of Blogging 10. Speedcat Hollydale Page 11. Snapshot 12. purplefrogcat 13. Turn-u-Off 14. Simple Life 15. A Little Girl Talk 16. Life in the Lapadula House 17. Spicybugz World 18. The Mom With Brownies 19. Our High School Homeschool 20. Our Five Dangerous Boys 21. The Big Dog 22. LadyJava's Lounge 23. Moments of My Life 24. Life is too short to be ordinary 25. A Great Pleasure 26. Time Goes By 27. Life According To Me 28. Laketrees 29. This is a miracle 30. Porcelain Doll 31. Moms...CheckNyo 32. Wonderful Things In Life 33. Sweet Nothings 34. Hot Shit Form Here 35. Not Just a Mom Site 36. The Life of a Mom 37. Wiehanne Lounge 38. The Painted Veil 39. My Crossroads 40. Little Mermaid 41. LOVE's Haven 42. Also Mommy 43. The Journey 44. Comedy Plus 45. Making sense...(somehow) 46. The Modern Mom 47. Stay At Home Mom 48. Picture Clusters 49. Maiylah's Snippets 50. Sweety tots 51. My Discoveries 52. A Life to Remember 53. Rekha 54. Crissy's Haven 55. Crissy's Library 56. Crissy's Zone 57. Shopping Blog 58. Crafts and cooking 59. Asian Mutt International 60. A Simple Life 61. I AM KCAT 62. A Girl For All Status 63. Berry Blog 64. Carnation 65. Pinaymama's Diary 66. Life's sweets and spices 67. The Callalily Space 68. Butchay 69. Blessings in Life 70. Pinay Mommy Online 71. The Ruby Posts 72. Day Break 73. R...E...B...E...L?!? 74. VDAY CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY 75. Just the Tip of the Iceberg 76. Honeysweet Learning Center 77. Vsk8shop 78. A Diva's Hammer 79. Arlene - Joys in Life 80. Listening..Learning..Living 81. Mommy's Little Corner 82. Living one day at a time 83. Momhood Moments 84. SUPER INFO THAILAND 85. Life Ramblings 86. Samantha Ysabelle 87. Kikamz' Just About Anything 88. SigneSays 89. Normz 90. YOU Next!

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I’ve already shared the Spirit of BEAR-iuca with everyone I know with tags at Roxiticus Desperate Housewives and Roxiticus Best Blogs, so today I'm just tagging YOU! Leave me and the Genie Princess a comment and come join the Spirit of BEAR-iuca and share your teddy bear good luck stories with us. Copy the complete post, including the BEAR-iuca photo badge and hyperlinks, and be sure to UPDATE your list of links regularly to ensure that all participants enjoy BEAR-iuca’s worldwide linky love. Add your own story, song or video about BEAR-iuca to personalize your post. BEAR-iuca is looking forward to a warm welcome into your blogging home.

Dreaming of Jersey Shore Vacations and Getting a Head Start on Music Monday with Tom Waits and Bruce Springsteen

"I got no time for the corner boys, down in the street makin' all that noise,
Don't want no whores on Eighth Avenue, cause tonight I'm gonna be with you.

Cause tonight I'm gonna take that ride, across the river to the Jersey side,
Take my baby to the carnival, and Ill take you on all the rides,
sing sha la la la la la sha la la la.

Down the shore everything's alright, you and your baby on a Saturday night,
Don't you know that all my dreams come true, when I'm walkin down the street
With you, sing sha la la la la la sha la la la.

You know she thrills me with all her charms, when I'm wrapped up in my baby's arms
My little angel gives me everything, I know someday that she'll wear my ring.

So don't bother me cause I got no time, I'm on my way to see that girl of mine
Nothin' else matters in this whole wide world, when you're in love with
A Jersey girl, sing sha la la la la la la."

-- "Jersey Girl" by Tom Waits, with perhaps the most famous cover version by Bruce Springsteen. One of Roxy and Rex's two wedding songs (the other one was, of course, "Prove It All Night" by Bruce Springsteen).

As a Jersey Girl, that song is an anthem that always brings tears to my eyes and sends chills down my spine. Today I don't need a reason to get the chills, since as they say in New England, it has been WICKED cold here all day in the Roxiticus Valley... while London and her Brownie Girl Scout troop were singing Christmas carols in front of the Mendham, New Jersey Kings supermarket, and while we walked the streets of Chester and Mendham and Bernardsville to get a start on our holiday shopping. I can only imagine that our Bay Head beach house is shivering in the cold.

While some might find it odd to be thinking about the beach when it is well below freezing and due to stay that way for at least the next three months, the wind is whipping down the Boardwalk, and Santa's sleigh is slipping off of the icy rooftops, what better time is there to reminisce about last summer's good times at the Jersey Shore and to plan our next Jersey Shore beach vacation? It warms me up just to look at photos of London and Maddie selling seashells down by the seashore or riding the rollercoaster with their Jersey Girl friends at the Boardwalk.

While I'm not brave enough to head down to the beach in this weather, I can shop online for the perfect Jersey Girl holiday gifts at the annual holiday sale going on at Morey’s Piers in Wildwood. Morey's Piers is known for their amusement park rides and many other boardwalk attractions. From December 1st through January 9th, we can all save almost 40% on a season pass to both of the Morey's Piers waterparks. Come to visit your favorite Jersey Girl from afar, or plan out your Jersey Shore "staycation" close to home by using the Morey's Piers website to find the Wildwood, NJ hotel or motel that suits your family this summer. It may be cold outside, but it won't be long before the Boardwalk beckons!