Who Writes Letters Anymore?

So I went to the mailbox the other day and there was an envelope with my daughter's name handwritten on it. I gave it to her to open and it was a handwritten letter from one of her college friends. Who writes letters and uses snail mail anymore? My daughter and her friends. How refreshing that this generation of kids who is so computer savvy is using old-fashioned methods to communicate with one another.

The Lady Slipper

As we were walking through Sessions Woods this past weekend, I spotted a Lady Slipper plant. Something I hadn't seen since childhood. One lonely plant among all the dead leaves and green plants of the forest. Not something you see every day.

Thinking about a new way to make money. . .

So my sister and I have come up with the idea of making some money other than the traditional get a job with a paycheck way. She and I along with our daughters were sitting around realizing how many people have gone public with their lives and are now on TV every week with camera crews documenting their every move. We decided to live in her gladiator in the parking lot of WalMart in order to get attention at first. Our first episode will be called "Big Family. Little Car." and we'll be documenting how all 9 of us survive daily life living in the gladiator. We also decided that one of us (not me, please) will have to give birth to at least 9 children at once (in order to beat out and be more sensational than Octomom, of course!). So the second episode we'll be going into WalMart to purchase some extra living space – tents. This episode will be called "Two Tents and Counting." We still need to come up with a name for our show so any one that might have suggestions, please contact me and let me know your ideas.

Nature's Gym . . .

. . .No Membership Fees or Monthly Dues Necessary.
When my husband lost his job in December we had to cut our monthly budget in half and one of the first things to go was our monthly gym membership. After working out all winter with the Wii® Fit we were looking for a change of scenery and decided to take a three-mile hike at Sessions Woods – a nature preserve a couple of miles from our house. What a great workout. As you travel up and down the footpaths you get a good cardio workout. It also tones your gluteus maximus. Walk up and down the steep wooden steps to the waterfall and tone your thigh and leg muscles. And the best part of all – you don't need your earphones and iPod! As you walk you can listen to "nature's music" as you hear the birds chirping, the animals rustling through the woods all around you and the sweet sounds of the water running in the brooks and streams you pass by. Take a break at one of the many resting areas and soak up the beauty of nature. And if it's sunny out you can get a tan while you soak up some vitamin D. There's nothing like staying in shape for FREE!

There is hope. . .

As the economy continues to worsen there is hope. Yesterday on Oprah Suze Orman gave some really good advice for everyone – because, yes, we are all in this together! Click here to read/view all about Suze’s Recession Rescue Plan – it is truly uplifting!

New Technology Helps Us Connect with the Past . .

. . . But, be careful.
I became a Facebook user to check up on my two teenagers as well as to market my Pampered Chef business, but am finding that it has enabled me to find and connect with a lot of people from my past. It's amazing how much Facebook has grown from a tool for college people to keep in touch with one another to a social networking phenomenon for 175 million people (active Facebook users worldwide as of March 2009). As more and more of my high school and college classmates find me on Facebook I realize how useful it is to connect with the past and enjoy catching up with old friends to see how they are and what they have been up to since graduation.

At the same time, it's also a window into my current life and I am careful to only divulge certain information about what I'm doing on a daily basis as well as what photos I post. A recent incident here in the State of CT shows how Facebook could get some people in trouble with the law. Forty-three percent of users are between the ages of 18 and 25 years old. Facebook for them has always been a way to communicate with their peers. Part of this communication is posting photos of their every day lives. The lines that traditionally separate home life, social life and public life have been blurred for young people. As this incident illustrates. The parents stood at the front door and collected car keys from all the guests at an 18 birthday party they hosted for their daughter, thinking they were doing the right thing. Little did they realize that right after the party photos were posted to Facebook then seen by school officials who then alerted the police that they provided alcohol to minors. As a result five students were kicked off or sanctioned from school teams and the parents are now facing nine counts each of permitting minors to possess alcohol during an 18th birthday party for their daughter at their home.

AAAH March – The Promise of Spring!

March means longer days of daylight and warmer temperatures. Looking forward to it!

Looking Back in Order to Move Forward…

”Life can only be understood backwards, but it has to be lived forwards.”
– Soren Kierkegaard

Marking the Milestones of Life

Yesterday was not only Valentine’s Day, but also the 19th birthday of my oldest daughter. I can't believe I have a daughter who is 19 years old – where has the time gone?! It seems like yesterday that my husband and I had decided to have her on February 15, 1990 – I was scheduled to be induced on that day, but the day before she decided to come on her own. We had just made plans to celebrate one last Valentine's Day together with a lobster dinner for two when on the 13th I began to go into labor. By 10:30AM the next day Heather Lynn Nielsen entered this world. So instead of a lobster dinner for two we enjoyed becoming new parents to a beautiful baby girl. Nineteen years later, Heather has made us so proud with all her accomplishments in music, academics and the theater. Thank you for becoming the wonderful young woman you've become, Heather. I know you have many more accomplishments in your life to achieve and have no doubt you'll reach all your goals. : )
Giving birth to you on Valentine's Day 1990 was so much better than any lobster dinner!

Heather – winter 1991 right after her first birthday

Past + Present = A Great Super Bowl XLIII Commercial

The past meets the present in an awesome TV commercial for Pepsi. This was voted the number TV commercial for Super Bowl XLIII. What great messaging – enjoy!

Click here to view >

Remember Then?

That is the title to a song by Larry Chance & The Earls – a band from the 1950s. This is just one of many songs from the 1950s and 1960s where every song has a story. Yesterday we celebrated my Dad's 70th birthday with a brunch and a trip to Mohegan Sun to see Bowzers Ultimate Doo Wop Party – and what a party it was! Not only were we treated to all the classics from the 50s and 60s, but the performers were the original singers and songwriters of each song. As all 18 of us clapped, swayed and moved to the beat of each song we were taken back to a "simpler" time, as Bowzer called it. I know that my Dad enjoyed every minute of it, because every time I looked over at him he had a huge smile on his face! Organizing such and event for a family of 19 is no small feat. First we had to keep this whole thing a secret from my Dad (Papa) until yesterday when we presented him with a video and tickets to the show, then we had to coordinate getting 18 of us (Maddie, the youngest member of the family went to her Aunt Donna's for the afternoon) there in a snowstorm! As with every family event it was an adventure, but one we will all remember. Happy 70th Birthday, Papa! We'll always "Remember Then.”

HOPE for a Happy New Year…

…as we ring in 2009, continuing to hope for a happy new year for all!