Jane Carroll flowers/events/home/coffeehouse

Wordless Wednesdays

2011-03-23T15:06:00.000-04:00

So I thought I would start something new here on the blog.. Wordless Wednesdays... We would love to know what you think... Here is our first installment... enjoy!

St. Patty's day 2011

Peace out kiddies..

M-

Given enough coffee, I could rule the world

I know, I know...

2011-03-09T10:09:00.001-05:00

I know I know.. where have I been - I have no excuse, really. My child had so many snow days, one would think I would have a few minutes to write some things down.. but no.. that so did not happen. None the less, I am back - So without further a due.. here we go..

Ah March- time for spring, time for flowers, time for daylight savings - ok, I love all of this but why is there still snow on my front lawn? I always get this way this time I year I think - after having sooo much snow this year, most of my friends are ready for the better weather - but this is what cracks me up - It will start getting warmer, and the flowers will bloom, I can finally clean up my nasty looking yard - (seriously, it looks like crap) and tell my child to play outside for hours after school - and then I will talk to someone and they will complain that it is starting to get too hot. Seriously? Come on - You complained about the winter and but now the spring weather - really?

So I am trying to figure out something good to say to nip that behavior in the bud.. get it.. bud, flower, spring.... I kill me. So... this is where I need a bit of help -

What is a good comeback when someone complains about the beautiful spring weather?

Here is one I just came up with.. "well at least you are not "bipolar" like the Malibu Messiah, Charlie Sheen -

This should be good-

Peace out kiddies...

M-
given enough coffee, I could rule the world

I know, I know...

2011-03-09T10:08:00.000-05:00

Wow.. where did December go

2010-12-21T16:32:00.001-05:00

OMG - first Hanukkah came out of nowhere and Christmas is Saturday. I blinked and the month is almost gone. I did not have alot of time to decorate for Hanukkah - it was like Thanksgiving, then boom Hanukkah.. I felt so rushed. I thought I had it together - Ha! There are those people who have everything ready to go - and poof, there house is ready for the holidays. I hate those people - even though I aspire to be them. So frankly Martha Stewart, I am in awe of your organization for the holidays - but I am a bit bitter. I don't have time to make individual napkin rings made from the twines of my rose bushes from the summer! Seriously - (although I do admit that for Halloween, I really did enjoy making sparkly skull heads with my son.) who has time for this.. who has a calendar that reminds us to aerate the lawn so that it can breath, spray paint the summer furniture in the fall, Organize our closets so that our seasonal clothes are in order...

I just can't do it. Now if I had someone to do that for me.. that is a different story.. hmmmmm

Dear Santa.....

Peace out kiddies...

M-
Given enough coffee I could rule the world

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

2010-12-06T09:22:00.000-05:00

Welcome December - As I was getting my family moving and groovin this morning - we noticed the light flurries ourside - It was so pretty - kind of puts ya in the mood for the holidays - I know, I know, we are in the middle of Hanukkah, but still, in my world the holiday season , is just that, a season. In the midst of it getting dark at 4pm - it is so nice to see the holiday lights on through out town - and a little snow flurry - well it just brightens my mood-

I also get that feeling when I am home and we are lighting the menorahs and we have the Hanukkah Star hanging in our window with the lights on (this was something that my husband built for me about 15 years ago - it was our compromise between Christmas and Hanukkah - It works for me!) The lights are so warming and inviting -

Anywho..speaking of festive holiday...

I went down to Jane's the other day and she has started to decorate and yes, the Santa pants are up! I love those pants - they are awesome to use as a wine/gift bag - Lots of little trinkets and decorations and gifties to buy for loved ones.. (yes, Mom, I got your present..) I am sure her lights are up..

Get a little light into your life this holiday season- and post pics here.. I would love to see them!

Peace out kiddies..

Meliss-

"given enough coffee, I could rule the world"

Bridalplasty - really?

2010-11-10T12:51:00.000-05:00

Ok, I think I have heard it all - seen the reality shows.. but really - come on.. Bridalplasty? I am sitting here in Jane's coffeehouse and we are talking about this reality show.. and we have decided that we really need to have a reality show at the coffeehouse.. If the Housewives, DWTS, Harry loves Lisa can have their own.. there is no reason why we can't.. we have an awesome cast of characters.. the lovely Jane, of course.. but there is Eugene, Joseph, Michael, and the every popular local cop and of course, the comedy stylings of Mac and Dino.

Now we need a title - I leave it up to you loyal readers - Let the titles fly!

Now for a Hot Chocolate...

Peace out kiddies...

M-

Given enough of coffee, I could rule the world.

Elections..

2010-10-26T22:40:00.000-04:00

I had to get this off my chest - I am so sick of the political commercials I am seeing on TV now.. So over it. Whatever to just state the facts leave the decision up to the country and we vote..But now it is a contest to see how much one party can embarass the other - it is such a joke, everyone has lost the focus of what these elections are for - Why don't they take a little "time-out" and think about why they are doing what they are doing - If they can list 10 decent things that can be done for the middle class that actually seem attainable, then I will listen.

Welcome Fall?

2010-09-28T21:46:00.000-04:00

It is almost October and we are deep into our Indian Summer - but I can't help feeling like I need to get out my Fall Decorations, go get my cornstalks for the front of my house - you know the drill - but it is so difficult to get in the "mood' for that when it is 85 degrees outside! Don't get me wrong - I love the warm weather - but I think I am ready for the Fall -

I was able to really enjoy it this past weekend - I had to travel up north for a family function - As I drove up towards Lake George - I noticed how gorgeous the trees are starting to look - There is so much "green" country up there - makes me wants to go for another drive up there in a few weeks - should be at peek then!

What is it about the Fall that is so appealing? I guess it is time for all the snuggly things that we all love - a good fire, or sitting in front of a friends fire pit, roasting marshmallows, having hot chocolate (at Jane's omg.. it is so good) I can't wait.. I am so with you cocoa.! A nice hot cup of Jo.. no Joe, not you .. a good bowl of soup.. just the other day I had this great Mushroom Barley that Eugene recommended.. it was so good.. you can see where I am going with this.. basically all things comfortable and cosy.

So what to do to celebrate the Fall - Besides the apple picking, pumpkin picking - pumpkin carving.. there is that 'Blaze" thing in Westchester - but wait.. there is more.. oooh hot apple cider!!! (Jane has fresh apple cider at the coffeehouse.. she just got it in!) Cider donuts.. (yeah, she has those too!) There are many things around to do - It is all good..

This weekend is Pearl River day - If you can come out to PR and check out the things we have to offer - I should be around.. ok.. I will probably be at Jane's.. who am I kidding.

So welcome Fall - I will try to find a sweater that won't make me look like woolly mammoth..

peace out kiddies...

ps: the pic at the top is one of Jane's Root baskets with Freshly picked apples... great Fall gifty idea...

ORGANIC.......

2010-09-24T14:35:00.004-04:00

As we sat at Jane's coffee bar one day, I heard two women talking about using only organic products. I realized that she was being rather holier-than-thou about it to her companion and I was feeling sheepish myself and then I checked out a few things.

Read some labels my friends, just because it says organic does not necessarily mean it is better. Check the fat content on some products one day. And frankly, I want my chickens to have antibiotics!

Technically - Water and Oxygen are not organic because they do not contain the element Carbon.

Here's a few things that are organic BUT are they really GOOD for us:

Carbon Monoxide
Heroin
Snake venom
A pack of angry, hungry wolves

Joking aside, do not let the organosnobs get you down; your best defense is knowledge, read some articles, read some labels and if all else fails, hit them with pepper spray - it's organic!

WHAT??

2010-09-24T08:56:00.007-04:00

Jane's hot Cocoa season is coming soon - Hooray!! I know I will hear endless cracks from the backroom about Hot Cocoa and let me pre-empt them with this - Joe, keep your shirt on and your lips buttoned!! Thank you.

I am trying to get along in this multi-cultural world of ours but seriously - can we all get on the same page here!?!? I have enough trouble with the accents; let alone various languages.

There is one person I interact with almost daily and I RARELY understand a word she says. It is not her fault, she is from another country, has an accent and speaks softly. "Did you just ask me to buy a goat?" "Tie a boat?" "Fry a donut?" WHAT?!?!?

Even in Pearl River, at Jane's place, the lovely folks that come in with the enchanting Irish accents. I love an Irish accent, so much more fun and lively than most accents. It's rich and full of character with deep expression and passion. Have no clue what the hell any of them are talking about - EVER. WHAT?!?!?

Then there was the Polish cleaning woman and her crew, also from Pearl River, who spoke 100 mph and had a thick accent that actually resulted in me calling her by the wrong name for two years. She just gave up on me understanding and answered to the misnomer. To hear her speak you would think map and mop were the same word. Box and Backs - exactly the same. There was no differentiation between the letters a, o and u with this woman; you can imagine the chaos. Or is that Chaoooos.WHAT?!?!?!

I once worked with a man from the Ukraine that told me he had an AUDI TT. I was appalled and told him that he had given me entirely too much information. I had heard of an Outy Belly Button but never an Outy Titty and frankly that just sounded painful. Why I had to sit through "Sensitivity Training" and not him was completely a mystery to me. WHAT?!!?!

I did not grow up here and some people think I have an accent.
I was once in charge of orienting a new co-worker. She was young and perky, very sweet. I took her to lunch in the cafeteria to show her around the edible sections and noticed a young girl dressed in thigh high black boots and a mini-skirt. Immediately I thought, Oh boy! Let's just get this over with in case my new young co-worker gets any ideas that wearing this type of apparel is ok.

So I said to my young protege, "Would you get a look at her boots?" and then raised an eyebrow as if to say - definite no-no. She looked back at me with the oddest look I have ever seen. We sat down and at this point I realize she looks scared; I am guessing this is her entire wardrobe - hoochie mama/dance club outfits. So I ask her, "You don't have a pair of those same boots do you?" Relief washed across her face and she laughed,"Oh thank God, I misunderstood you the first time - you said `BOOTS' not BOOBS!"
She is now one of my dearest friends!

Auf wiedersehen

The first day of school.....(yahooooo)

2010-09-07T08:55:00.001-04:00

I will start off by saying that I love my child. I really do - but by the end of August, it is time for the kiddies to go... get on that big yellow bus for the first time or the 8th... It is always exciting to go and get the school supplies,and the questions that go with it - "Mommy, look at this cool book cover, it smells like orange - smell it! Don't you think we need that?" Or, "Mommy, I think I need a new backpack this year AND a new lunch box! Soooo, can we get them.. huh can we?" And the questions and comments continue - and we as parents, sometimes have to count to 10. And sometimes... we count again. Our kids are so excited - new experiences, new friends, a new bus! We parents just want to get the shopping done - as we fly through the stores getting the back to school supplies, we don't take the time to realize (or we just forget) what an exciting time this is for them. So we try to listen to them, try to feel their excitement - but when someone is grabbing pens and yelling at their kids to be quiet and keep their hands to themselves, it is so hard.

So today as the kids get on the bus, remember how excited and nervous they are, take pictures and listen to what they say...and then go get yourself a cup of jo at Jane's... and breathe.

Peace out kiddies

Melissa

Given enough coffee, I could rule the world!

Holy September Batman....

2010-09-02T21:05:00.003-04:00

What an awesome start for September - I decided to take my son down to Jane's for a waffle for breakfast - it was great - not very busy.. we walk in.. and then.. there was a meeting of a lot of.... toddlers. It was so cute.. so Eugene was hopping at the waffle maker - making waffles faster than he ever has.. there were blueberries and strawberries flying.. lots of little people giggles and the people kept coming.... Remember that movie "Field of Dreams"? The one mantra that was said through out the movie - "if you build it, they will come".. that is kind of how it was at Jane's today - It was great to see the store hopping, the ice coffee flowing, flowers being sold, kids happy eating delicious waffles.. and .. well there are the juice boxes for the kids.. don't forget the juice boxes...and the lemonade...I don't know, it was just a great morning ...

The Dog Days of Summer

2010-08-17T23:34:00.005-04:00

It is the time of year again.. the dog days of summer - where we are all walking a bit slower.. taking the kids for ice cream, ok, taking ourselves. Kids are starting to get excited about going back to school and we are getting excited for them to go.. oh wait.. did I say that.. I really need to stop saying stuff like that-

I can't help but think about when I was a bit younger- we did not have fancy camps - we had soccer or softball- where we road our bikes, played soccer, then we would ride to 7 11 got a Slurpee and then went home.. and it was still light out - so we would hang out and possibly listen to our Saturday Night Fever album, ACDC , REO, Oh yeah.. of course I was way younger then.. (of course) and if we did watch any TV.. we had to change the channel the old fashion way...

1. get up

2. walk to the TV

3. change the channel

4. go sit down

very simple.. 3 channels... plus PBS.

And if it was Saturday night - I Loved the TV line up..

The Love Boat - 9pm

Fantasy Island - 10pm

SNL - 11:30

You could not beat it.. I mean who did not want to be "Julie, the cruise director" - and who did not love Ted, the bartender.. oh please.. then Fantasy Island.. who did not want to have a fantasy on that show.. really!

It was a great time for being a kid - we were alot freer, you could go and play outside all day and come home for dinner and no one would think twice about it - Now we have to monitor everything, where our children go, when, how long they will be there.. and now we call it a play date.. what happened to " I am going over to Amy's house" - those days are gone.. maybe they will come back.. it would be nice .. but I doubt it.

Today I went to the zoo with my kid today - we had a great time.. it was great to go and look at the animals, birds.. etc.. and to my son's face light up when he saw the various animals.. totally cool.. so on the way home he said.. Can we go get a slushy something.. and my husband and I said yes.. and we went to 7 11 and ....

got a Slurpee..

I guess some things don't change.

peace out kiddies.

meliss-

given enough coffee, I could rule the world

It is sunday at 6:46am.. why am I up...

2010-08-15T06:47:00.002-04:00

I think I have writers block.. but how is that possible when I have so much useless information in my head.. like - Eugene went to jury duty this week - I always thought Jury Duty was an interesting study in human beings.. seriously - so people I know love jury duty.. me, not so much.. so I decided to make a list of things and situations that might get you thrown off Jury Duty.

1. Keep correcting your name when they pronounce it incorrectly - unless your name is Smith, Jones, or Kim...

2. You could say "I save lives" - it would be horrible if my terminal patients could not get a hold of me.

3. I'm a cop

4. I'm a fireman

5. I work for the District Attorney

6. I'm getting married!

7. Ah.. the overeager Juror who will change their vacation plans with his entire family

8. "You know, I am currently involved in another lawsuit"

9. In the event of a personal injury case - tell them you work for an insurance company

10.... My favorite.. "Hi there.. my name is Eugene"

Peace out my fellow coffee ants.

Melissa

Given enough coffee I could rule the world

House Guests and House Pests

2010-08-07T10:48:00.002-04:00

Iced tea - Green. Eugene, PLEASE make it a double! I need caffeine in large quantities and keep it coming until I am stuttering. I love Jane's green tea, unsweetened, served with a smile from Jane or Gene or the fabulous Betty who does not like to be tipped unless bourbon is involved.

I have one really obnoxious house guest that I have escaped from under the pretense of getting cheese, in Wisconsin; see you all next Tuesday.

I was brought up that if you are invited to someone's home, be it family or friends, you bring something with you, you help the hostess/host, and you pick up after yourself. When my family comes to visit, they do these things. I can be assured that after each meal, which they have helped me prepare, they will not leave the kitchen until it is spotless as well as the dining area. My father, God rest his beautiful soul, would be the first one rolling up his sleeves to wash dishes.

My father-in-law is here with us this weekend. I am surprised he can successfully tie his own shoes without someone doing it for him. We make everything for him, serve him, clean up after him and quietly listen to his rants about what we serve, what we do and how we do it. He leaves dirty dishes around for me to pick up, dirty towels, dirty socks, shoes. His wife, my husband's step-mother, did not come with him to visit and now I know why; she needed a vacation from this nightmare of a 6'1" toddler. This fool cannot even make his own toast; he sits on his caboose and barks orders to everyone including my five year old child. THAT was where I drew the line. We had words, outside earshot of my children, to the effect that I was going to be major influence on the type of elderly care he receives and he had best not cross me. Now be a good boy, eat your Gerber lunchable and be SILENT! Did I mention I was holding a butcher knife?

Eugene - Perhaps some decaf Please - kiss kiss!

2010-07-29T20:55:00.004-04:00

OK, so tonite starts the new season of “The Jersey Shore” and I am sitting here watching LX New York (don’t know why.. it was on)– and what are they talking about.. “Jersey Shore” Fashion .. Yes I said it, Fashion. As I am watching this I am thinking, wait, didn’t I go through this fashion in the 80’s? And the answer is....Yes, yes I did - so do I have to go through it again? No, no I don't.

Now, I do have a few friends who have never left the 80’s. (can’t really say anything… you know how that goes) They are mostly women, but a few months ago, I was at Jane’s, and then….

…he walked in…. Black T-shirt, Black Jeans, Black Cowboy boots, gold necklaces, bracelet, rings, and his key ring hooked on his jeans belt loop( of course) All that was missing was his slicked back black hair.. oh wait.. he had that. Never mind. Moving on…

I know what you are thinking.. “Who is this fine specimen of a man?” Well, his name is Gino.. yes, Gino.. (I cannot make this up people.) Now, I am not judging him by the way he looks (you know – like the people in Arizo-.. oh did I say that – outside voice again.. I really need to stop that.. ) but I was trying to give him the benefit of the doubt – I mean really, you only hear about this kind of guy in sitcoms.. So I was introduced to Gino, and then he opened his mouth . Did I hear a low melodious resonating voice? Uh.. no.. it sounded like… Joe Pesce. No, I am serious, I swear, if you close your eyes, you would think you were listening to a scene from My cousin Vinnie–

I think my favorite part of being there that day, was listening to the bromance between Gino and another guy talking about “the good ol’days” The way they were talking about music and bands, you know, who was dead and what great music they made – well it sounded like they were reliving the 50’s and 60’s.

I hope I get the chance to see Gino again – because you know there will be a story –

Time for a decaf...

later kids...

Melissa, from the coffeehouse...

Given enough coffee, I could rule the world.

Weekend in the Country?

2010-07-28T14:25:00.003-04:00

When the weather forecast is bleak for the entire region and your husband suggests leaving the city to go to your summer home/getaway/relatives wherever in the country, just smile and say "No thanks dear, I'd rather walk on my lips."

Bleak weather in the city is fine. You can still run, drive whatever to the nearest civilized shopping area or entertainment source. When trapped in the bowels of Far Upstate (or as I call it F.U.), this is just a fantasy in your little city girl head.

Here is a gleaming example of what happens in F.U. country:

I needed a few things from the grocery store, Peppers, Eggs, Hamburger Rolls, and Bread. Now I was keeping my expectations low about finding low-fat, whole grain, cage free, organic etc... I was just hoping to find the actual items together in one store.

No such luck folks.

Four Items = Five Stores ("store" is a stretch for these places)

Store Number 1 - The first place we went to had none of the items even though it had a sign designating it as a grocery store. It did however have large quantities of the following items:

Customers who looked like they were desperately out of cigarettes or heroin with misspelled tats covering things I did NOT want to see.
Beer
Styrofoam coolers (yes they still exist)
Ice
Bait, in the same cooling unit as tomatoes
AND as announced in all Caps by the sign on the cash register

PREGNANCY TEST KITS

I fled with a child in each hand saying under my breath; do not touch your faces or anything else until we get you some hand sanitizer so you can bathe in it.

Store Number 2 - We proceeded to a grocer claiming to have organic items. I was able to secure the peppers, a red onion and a few plums for about $300.00 give or take. The prices were so high I thought I'd bought magic produce and debated changing my name to Jack then planting them in hopes of finding a golden goose. Not a stitch of bread in the place though. Not one crumb; as if the grinch had been there before me and took the last morsel of the Whoo feast. As for eggs, there was not even a dairy section; enough said.

Store Number 3 - Closed by order of blah blah blah ... health code violations!!!! Oh for the love of God! I am now frightened and I just want to go home and I mean my real home in Rockland County. I am about to have a panic attack when I become acutely aware that my children are with me and they are staring at the dead animal in the vehicle next to me. Now I did not know this prior to the dead animal incident but my SUV will "burn rubber" when needed.

Focus! Rolls and bread and eggs! Oh My! Rolls and bread and eggs! Oh My!

Store Number 4 - a small Italian bakery. Praise the Lord! The bakery was great but the clientele....I was in fear for my life. I have always had a theory about rednecks; Rednecks do not kill you, they keep you. Bread and rolls - Secured! Heart Attack - Survived!

Store Number 5 - - I finally stoop to stopping at a gas station convenience store for eggs. The aisles are small and the patrons are smelly but I persevere and get my dozen.

NOW RUN!

So my friends, stay home, go to Jane's have a latte or one of the famous iced teas at Jane on Main and avoid the F.U. experience.

---- ---- Cocoa from the flowerhouse

The Jersey Shore at the NYSE - really?

2010-07-27T19:14:00.003-04:00

So I am reading and what do I see - The Jersey Shore cast ringing the NYSE bell - really? Are you kidding me? The end must be near...I mean, that is sad - really and truly sad... I mean, I can understand Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Bono - and even Madonna.. but "the situation and Snooki?" really, is that what it has come too?

I really thought that the reality show explosion was on the down swing.. but I was wrong.. now don't get me wrong - I love a good "housewives" ANYTIME.. who doesn't.. hell, maybe it is the demographic - But Big Brother, whale wars, cupcake wars..those stupid nanny shows, the list goes on and on - and I am so over who is getting booted off the island. oh did I say that.. oops.. I thought that was my inside voice-sorry.

Oh and then there are the dance shows.. because it wasn't enough to have American Idol, America's got talent.. The dancers must have felt slighted.. so bring on Dancing with the stars... So you think you can dance.. and my favorite.. Dance your *(& off..

So0 then I was thinking maybe we should have our own reality show... yeah, that is it.. and I am up for any titles you may have... Coffee with Jane... or.. Really, Eugene, Really? Or my favorite.. Ask Joe.

yeah, I need a latte..

ok kids... peace out...

Melissa from the coffee house

"Given enough coffee, I could rule the world."

Mommy Needs Coffee Not Chickens

2010-07-22T09:08:00.005-04:00

Thank the Lord the Jane on Main has good strong eye opening coffee. Without it I suspect I would be making the noon news cast with artificially somber reporters announcing things like "Before turning the gun on herself.............." & "Eyewitnesses claim to have heard the assailant whimpering about the inability to have a decent night's sleep in 8 years and chickens"!

Chickens?

I often tell my closest friends this:
When my children are talking at me simultaneously with rising volume and speed accompanied by pokes, pulls and punches, I called this daily ritual:

being pecked to death by chickens.

I find it a perfect analogy for this behavior. Now when my children begin pecking me to death I simple start making chicken noises for their amusement and to distract them ("distract" in mommy language means shut them the hell up). Not sure if they think the chicken noise is funny or if they are laughing at some crazed look on my face which was most likely their initial goal.

All moms have experienced this at one time or another and probably have their own special name for it; some repeatable, some not so much. I do not dispense advice or claim to know anything about children. Frankly, every day I find myself wondering if I will ever learn that these punks, I mean dear sweet loves of my life, are always calculating their next move and lie in wait for the moment that I am most exhausted, say noon, and then pounce, "Mom can I set the shed on fire now?" "Sure Sweetie, just make sure you're wearing sunscreen".

I do know that these things are true of my children and am thrilled to discover that other moms have the same issues. This is one of the reasons I like to go to Jane's, grab a coffee, and laugh with the other people who are dealing with the same farm animals in their own homes.

Eggs Anyone?

Meet Jane's New Blogger Cocoa

2010-07-21T21:17:00.004-04:00

Hello Everyone. Let me introduce myself to you all.....
I will be using the name Cocoa to honor my long love affair with chocolate and to protect my long suffering husband from further public humiliation.

I am a regular patron of the fabulous Coffeehouse, Jane on Main, where the coffee is fresh and Joe in the back room is not (P.U.). Jane found some of my anecdotes humorous and asked me if I'd like to blog on her website. I took a giant swig of her famous red iced tea and replied, "What's a blog? Am I required to be naked because I am really not up for that? Do I have to be pleasant because frankly I think I am early pre-menopausal and there are days when I am just hostile towards stupid people? Will that be a problem?"

Jane is from the Bronx; enough said!

So soon I will try to see if anyone else finds the same things funny, annoying, or plain ridiculous.

Speaking of Mel Gibson aka Ridiculous, I have one word for that man - - tantrum! That was clearly a man entirely too old for this type of behavior having a two-year-old-like tantrum over a lost opportunity for oral. HELLLLLLOOOOOO! Anyone else think Mr. Gibson needs a pacifier shaped like a giant nipple.

Bye Bye Lindsey....Hello Housewives of DC...............

2010-07-20T16:51:00.000-04:00

Good Early Evening From Jane On Main....

I just love a train wreck..don't know if I am just fascinated by human nature and what makes people tick or if these train wrecks make me feel like I am the most sane, grounded & level headed girl around (adjectives not normally used to describe me)!!!! I am way to chicken to go to jail, although in Lindsey's case, I may consider a trip to the "big" house". She won't be mixing it up with the other prisoner's so she gets to stay in her cell where she can sleep, read a few scripts, exercise, think. She doesn't have to worry about what she looks like so if she skips a day or two in the showers, not a big deal. Her meals will all be made for her, maybe not gourmet but for the rest of us this would be a great opportunity to lose a few pounds before emerging into the spotlight upon a release. I even hear there is a million dollars on the table for her to write about her "horrifying" experiences in the big house. If she is feeling lonely she can fake a suicide or depression attack and make her way over to the jail hospital, like her pal Paris before her, where she can then lay around in a more comfy bed and watch TV. Hey, not a bad way to check out for a while and get some rest.

Poor, poor, poor Lindsey, my heart bleeds but we keep this girl in the spotlight. We keep her thinking she is way more relevant then the war in the middle east, more newsworthy then the Gulf disaster, more controversial then extending unemployment benefits for over a million of our neighbors but hey.....maybe not as talked about as our Mel..... It's like the housewives of where ever, NY, DC, OC, CC, where ever I am watching! It will never seize to amaze me what some people will do for 15 minutes of fame....ie; balloon boy, hello wackadoo's!!!!!! You could just look at that father and see him salavating for the camera!! Train Wreck, ballon boy, celebrity rehab, bad girls club.....I'm Watching!!!!! I need some mindless entertainment!

OK, can't even go to the Mel thing, way too much material there and someone needs to run the coffeehouse here in Pearl River. Speaking of, we have our book club this Friday night 7:30pm so if you are in the neighborhood pop by. We usually have a very interesting group with interesting conversation after the book.

Stay tuned for more.....Jane

bye bye linsdey...see you in the Fall

2010-07-20T07:36:00.002-04:00

Good morning everyone...

As I sit here drinking my coffee watching the news, I can't believe how much press Lindsey Lohan is getting this morning! Well, wait, yes I can....remember Martha and her drama? I guess it does not matter if the cap in the Gulf is or is not working! Or what is going on in Afghanistan, the important thing is that Lindsey is going to prison! Ah.. the press... Well, I truly believe that if you don't follow the rules on parole, there are consequences...duh. Well I do hope that she does get along with the other 2,000 women there. I know she will find a new BFF and I am sure we will get updates on how she is doing.. really... Do we care that much.... really?

anywho....FYI - Mel Gibson and Oksana are going back to yet another custody hearing today..really Mel, really? - have you not heard your own voice on all the phone calls/message tapes you left your ex girlfriend? .. uh yeah, mel go home where you can be hateful to every human.. and you can do that.. alone. Mel, Mel, Mel... give it up you are going to lose. Have you not heard tape 6? This just makes me sad for baby Lucia.

I am away from the coffeehouse this week- a family situation has called me away. But you can't keep me away from blogging - I am sure that I will have plenty to say later... it is just early and I have not had the proper amount of coffee to function.. I know you understand.

OK coffeekids... See you all soon...

Melissa from the coffeehouse..

Given enough coffee I could rule the world

Welcome back from the silence... Thank God!

2010-07-13T16:47:00.003-04:00

Well here I am.. Melissa from the coffee house.. get used to it.. because there is alot that goes on here that you will need to know. Seriously, there is alot that goes on here - so many people in and out of here.. ah.. where to begin...

I guess it would be a good idea to share how I met Jane and her fun bunch. She had just opened her funky cool coffee house and was still choosing what exactly to have on the menu.. I was walking by the shop and was drawn in... I walk in and Jane said hi and the next thing she said was " try this pastry and tell me what you think." Well that was it.. our relationship began..

The shop in our town was a great addition - we did not have anything like this here and me being newer to the area - I was looking for a place to hang out and call my own!!
I started coming in on a regular basis, getting my non fat latte - delicious, usually made by Jane's mom, Betty - The woman knows how to make a latte.. but she has since retired - at that point I had a choice.. make it myself or have Eugene make it..who is Eugene you ask? Stay tuned, I will let you know...Getting back to the lattes... well for awhile Jane made them for me.. (but there was that hot chocolate phase I went through - so good..really she makes the best HC) Then I finally let Eugene make me a latte.. he did a good job.. (actually I am drinking one right now.. delish... )

In the back room of the coffeehouse is a well kept secret.. Joe. He is the order guru - and full of humor.. I love Joe's humor..he is very dry and very quick.. he cracks me up.. He always has something funny to say - always.

So many characters that come into the shop.. just stop by the blog, and if you are in the area.. the shop.. seriously, she just got fresh pastries in .. you should get in your car, on your bike and come ... now. Hurry she closes at 6.

And Jane..

Welcome back from the blog silence - we are all glad.

Peace out kiddies-

Melissa from the coffeehouse

*given enough coffee, I could rule the world*

I'm back from the silence!

2010-07-13T15:07:00.004-04:00

I'm back!!! It has been a rough couple of years. House fire, heart attack and the worse recession to hit this country since the great depression! WOW......still hanging in there and decided to open up a funky and cool coffeehouse within my flower shop to keep my head above water. So if you are 18 miles north of manhattan come hang out, have a cappuccino fresh sandwich or salad and the best cupcakes your ever going to taste. I feel like a bartender at times and am really enjoying the chance to interact with so many interesting people. just dropping a quick note to blow the dust off my writing fingers. better posts to come. Thank you to all who have continued to support my company, it means more then you'll ever know! Jane

those annoying emails!!

2009-01-07T13:56:00.002-05:00

I had to show you this annoying email that I receive on a consistent basis and is clearly a scheme but they keep sending stuff like this anyway! Take A look:

Re: MATTER OF URGENCY; NEED YOUR URGENT RESPONSE

From: "JAMES BARRY"
Reply-To:
Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2009 17:17:02 -0000

>Dear Friend,
>
>I am James Barry, am an army contractor attached to the army force in Iraq.
>
>On the 27th day of August 2008, I and my men discovered some metal boxes (5
in number) piled on top one another, each with a sign written on them. One filled
with hard drugs (heroine), two filled with bullets and the other two to my
amazement contained US Dollars, which is total with a figure mark $8.2 Million.
We believe the boxes is owned and linked to Saddam Hussein.
>
>We hide the boxes containing the money in untraceable location. I am now in
desperate need of a reliable and Trustworthy person who would receive and secure
these boxes containing the US Dollars. We cannot afford to leave the boxes here in
Iraq for any reason since Iraq is getting unsafe and dangerous every day. We have
no idea what could happen next as everything remains inconclusive at this point.
>
>I am fully aware of what your thoughts would be next, but on receiver of your
response, I will send my picture as well as my Identity, for you to know whom you
are dealing with.
>
>I assure and promise to give you 15% of this fund, please assure me of your
keeping this topmost secret within you so that my job would not be jeopardized.
>
>My Sincere Regards,
>James Barry
>

OK and this is what I sent back to him:

and my name is marcia brady and I live in sherman oaks california with my 2
sisters and 3 stepbrothers and a maid called alice!!!

Jane E Carroll
Jane Carroll Inc.
50 N Harrison Ave
Suite 15 & 16
Congers, NY 10920
845-268-7202
www.jane-carroll.com
800-203-1527

The Holidays

2009-01-07T11:23:00.006-05:00

Oh my god I cannot believe it is 2009 already. It seems as though we rush through the holidays so much these days that we don't have the chance to enjoy them. Running a small business in this economy has been challenging and so time consuming that I truly rushed through Christmas and feel a bit guilty about it! Here are a few photos of some of our funky Christmas designs for 2008! Our boot is made of fiberglass and is lighted from within, you just plug it in! Will last for years to come. My holiday shoe I make of all fresh evergreens and add a battery operated light to it and place them going up my steps to my front door instead of the traditional wreath! My table centerpiece were my evergreen spheres on an aged tin tray with square candles. Again, a very easy and inexpensive way to decorate your table. Take styrofoam balls and spray it with spray glue. The cut up cedar evergreen and start layering in the ball. once you have the ball covered completely you then wrap the entire ball in very thin copper wire to hold the greens tight. Mist them once a day to keep fresh. You can also hang them outside on the porch!!! Hope your holidays were bright and cherry and let's all think positive thoughts going into 2009!!!!

Thanksgiving Tablescape

2008-11-05T14:38:00.003-05:00

I was asked to set a tablescape for a fall/thanksgiving dinner table for a magazine. I used a lucite table that I designed where the top comes off and you can fill the table with whatever relates to the season or theme of your dinner party. I filled the table with maple leaves. I then lined the table in my rooster wreaths and candles as well as my flower pods in between the wreaths, all available on my website http://www.jane-carroll.com/. For the pre-set salad course I hollowed out small pumpkins and filled each one with fresh organic greens with a balsamic dressing and chopped pumpkin seeds. The results are lots of texture, color, punch and creativity! When you think about setting a table with a harvest theme use the harvest as much as possible for your decor it is not only readily available but very cost effective. Check out my site for the gourd tea lites also used on this table. Enjoy falling into the season

Designing With Fall Leaves

2008-10-06T15:09:00.005-04:00

This has to be one of the prettiest times of the year, especially if you live in a part of the country that has the changing of the leaves in autumn! The leaves at this time are as beautiful as flowers with their brilliant shades of gold, orange and flaming red. I try to wrap everything and anything in fresh fall foliage for my home this time of year. Above is a photo of our fresh fall foliage table runner which is so easy for anyone to make. You just need an old runner or make a runner out of any old sheet or fabric you have hanging around the house. Cut it to fit you table, if you have a rectangular table cut the fabric so it is in the center and hangs over the edge. If a round table is what you have just cut a piece of fabric in a circle. Then go collecting fall leaves, cut the stem off the leaf and lay the leaf right side down on a piece of cardboard (so that the glue is on the backside of the leaf). Spray the leaves with tac2000 spray glue (I found this to be the only spray glue that actually works!). Spray about a dozen leaves at once, they are best when tacky, not dry but not completely wet. Once the 12 are sprayed start applying them to your runner or cloth until it is completely covered. If you are not using your runner right away you can store it in a cool place like the basement or even outside as long as it is cool and not in the sun. It is best to store your runner flat with paper on top (newspaper works great too) and then add books to weigh it down and keep the foliage flat. This design will liven up any dinner or brunch and will be a huge hit at thanksgiving. It is one of the easiest creations to make with the largest impact visually! If you have any questions please let me know and I will gladly answer. You can email me directly at jane@jane-carroll.com or call my studio at 845-268-7202. Happy Fall!!!

Saturday Night Live Biden Palin Debate

2008-10-06T14:38:00.002-04:00

I had to post this video from SNL, I thought it was hysterical!! I can watch it over and over again. Let me know your thoughts! Oh God, when your down and feeling blue crack open a bottle of wine, eat bread & cheese and watch this video.

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/vp-debate-open-palin-biden/727421/

Jane

Veggie Centerpieces

2008-09-17T13:46:00.005-04:00

OK, I am finally back. Summer is gone and I am looking forward to having a massively busy fall into winter season!! I have re-designed our site a bit to make it easier to navigate as well as more informative.

I wanted to start off this fall season with a little how to blog. I use to teach in my studio years ago to make some extra money in slow season. I had a morning class and an evening class. We actually had a waiting list of people wanting in!!! The ladies love it, as did I. We ate, we drank (wine at the night class), smoked cig's (pre-heart attack) and laughed. My students loved the idea of also having a centerpiece to take home and enjoy.

I want to start how to's on my blog for people who don't or can't spend a lot of money or have cdd (creative deficit disorder).

Since it is the fall season I thought I would share with you the art of making a fresh vegetable centerpiece. It is one of the easiest designs I know how to make and again, not your typical glass ginger jar with stuff! You first take a glass or plastic cylinder. If you have neither one of these get a 2 litre bottle of soda and cut it down so it is 4 inches shorter then your fresh asparagus. Take a heavy duty rubber band and place it around your cylinder container. Cut your asparagus so that they are all the same height. Start placing your asparagus between the rubber band and the container until it is completely covered. Then take a handful of your favorite flowers and cut them so the flower heads sit right on top of the asparagus. When you are done tie raffia around the rubber band to hide it. Place the arrangement on the dinner table and you are good to go for a perfect fall feast or your thanksgiving table. One note...make sure your arrangement is never over 11 1/2 inches tall so that your guests can all converse.

The ball in the photo is another unique idea for a table centerpiece. We just covered tennis balls with fresh flowers using a low temp glue gun. Try to use flowers that last a while such as santini mums or use flowers that dry well like roses, ranunculus or hydrangea florets. We then mound up five balls and place in a bowl.

Try for something unique and creative at your next dinner party!

Jane

work out

2008-07-15T09:15:00.001-04:00

Sorry for the long delay between blogs, it is slow season so I have been working my butt off coming up with new product and product lines for the fall. Check our site to see the new selections which should be up by August!! We will be adding gift baskets to my product line. I hate the word basket so if anyone out there has another word for basket in the "gift basket" industry let me know. You can register on my site and be sent updates and special pricing and offerings.

So let me tell you what a freak I have become since my heart attack (which by the way it is my 1 yr anniversary). Over this past weekend my sister wanted me to go check out this new gorgeous gym her and her husband joined about 3 months ago. Now keep in mind it has a nursery for her 3 year old daughter (you know the daughter, the kid who comes to my office every day and writes on my walls and furniture. Her new thing is potty training, she now likes to stand behind me at my desk and pee on the floor, why me!!!!!) My sister loves this gym but only made it there 2 or 3 times. She tells me I would motivate her to go if I join. OK, so now here I am, the total opposite of my sister. About a week after my heart attack I decided I was going to become a runner. Now remember I was a smoker for over 20 years but I was not only going to recover from my heart attack I was going to be stronger then I ever was. I walk up a couple of hills and made my way to hook mountain. It was August and hot and I walked the trail along the hudson river until I saw the mile and a half mark. I then turned around and started walking back down the trail. Well the idiot I am, by the time I got to the end of the trail I had to call Robert to come pick me up because there was no way I could make it up another hill. Cathy my sister one extreme, Jane the other extreme.

Anyway, back to the gym. Vision Fitness in Pearl River NY www.visionfitnessny.com is one of the most beautiful gyms I ever saw. It is state of the art with a fireplace in the yoga room, lounge with computer access, spin room, children's gym room with amazing exercise equipment for kids age 8 and up and even a movie room which has all sorts of cardio equipment! Of course like I need more fitness. I presently work out 6 days a week, 3 days with my incredible trainer Nancy (if your in NY looking for a trainer she is brilliant). I do 2 days circuit training and 1 day kick boxing. I then do 3 days cardio walking, running but like any other lunatic I feel I need to push more so I thought of joining a gym to have options, take a class, do yoga, etc. So here I am having a good old time walking around with the 20 something trainer who was just adorable telling me all about the gym as my niece is holding her crotch telling us she didn't have to go potty. Oh god, let us get thru the gym without her peeing on the floor!!! My sister did manage to get her to the toilet (she is a skinny kid and did slip into the toilet rather then sit on the toilet but she made it yehhhh) when we checked out the locker rooms. As our tour ended I sat with my guide who gave me literature to take home as my sister and my niece sat at the smoothie bar ordering chocolate milkshakes!!! My sister just kept saying, "it only has 280 calories"!!! Bottom line, I will most likely join the gym and become more addictive to exercising and maybe I can get my sister Cathy to go with me by reminding her of the chocolate milkshakes at the smoothie bar! Stay tuned..........

heart attack

2008-06-19T09:07:00.003-04:00

I was shocked and saddened, as the rest of the country was, to hear about Tim Russerts death this week. I felt especially vulnerable when I heard about his ongoing medical condition. His doctor said he was a model patient, followed a modified diet, exercised and took his medication. After our house fire in February of 2007 we moved into a rental for almost a year. In mid July of last year, on a Monday evening around 8pm I started to get mild chest pains with some mild pain in my shoulders. The pain gradually got more intense and Robert (the boyfriend from previous blogs whom also is the person I rented the house from while my house was uninhabitable) insisted on taking me to the hospital. I went kicking and screaming and only went after I ran into the bathroom and sucked down one last cigarette knowing the hospital wait would be long!!

We arrived at the hospital around 9:30pm and they ushered my ass right thru the doors (complaining of chest pain moves you to the head of the line). I was trying to tell the nurses and the doctors that although I had not formally attended medical school (nor did I even make it to the 3rd semester of college) I was stung by a bee a few days prior and when I researched online about heart attack like symptoms it stated that an allergic reaction to a bee sting could trigger side effects similar to a heart attack. I just wanted them to confirm my diagnosis and then I could take a pill, go home, have a good night smoke and go to sleep! Well they hooked me up to ekg's, took a mri, checked vitals and were a bit dumbfounded. I was far from the typical heart attack victim, 42 yrs old, 5'10" tall weighing in at a whopping 121lbs. The female doctor on duty that night came in with the nurse and informed me that she thought it could be premenopausal but wanted to take blood tests to rule out other possibilities. Doing the blood work would mean keeping me overnight which was never going to happen. I mean for gods sake I was felling better and was dying for a smoke! The premenopausal comment also put me over the edge and I thought I would have to take down the doctor for it and would end up spending the night in a jail cell. The safest place for me was home so I checked myself out, signed a paper releasing the medical personal and hospital from any liability if I dropped dead. Had poor Robert bring me home as I insisted I was fine and it was the bee that was affecting me! It was 1am by the time we got home and Robert gets up at 6am for work, I felt terrible!!!!

I got up on Tuesday morning and walked Guinness which felt like I ran a 20 mile marathon. I then went to work, went to the grocery store at the end of the day and lifting the bag with a loaf of bread and some pretzels winded me beyond belief. That night I managed to eat nothing and just dove into bed at 6pm. I got up on Wednesday feeling much better. I thought the bee sting had finally left my body and I was getting back to normal. I spent the day in the office with 2 business associates who were down from Canada to visit my company. Myself and Robert took them to dinner that night in Nyack. When we got to the restaurant I was feeling a bit tired and achy, I felt it was just from the stress of the last couple of nights at chez Nyack Hospital. I ordered my norm, steak, french fries and a nice glass of red wine. The first hint that something was wrong was I couldn't drink my glass of red wine, it almost made me sick to my stomach (oh god, how sad that comment is). I can drink a glass of red wine in 120 degree weather on a sandy beach! I was starting to feel out of breath. I cut the dinner short and headed home. When Robert and I got to the house we were sitting on the couch and I was feeling like I was suffocating and didn't want him to know so I tried my best to get rid of him! He left and I found myself slumped over a piece of furniture gasping for air! This happened a few times and I started to get scared so I called Robert down to the house (are you all thinking...oh this poor guy???). He sat with me for a few episodes of not being able to breath with shooting pains down both arms as well as massive chest pains. Then it finally went away and I told Robert I was fine, even though he wanted me to go to the hospital. He went back upstairs to his apartment and I tried sleeping. About 20 minutes later the shooting pain down my arms and chest started again as well as being breathless. Poor Robert, I called again and he came downstairs. He insisted I go to the hospital. I insisted that if it happened 3 times in a row I would go. Oh god, the pain was ridiculous and not being able to breath is one of the scariest things to experience. I was falling apart and knew I needed to go so off we went to the hospital for the second time in 3 days. Of course as soon as we got there I was known as the woman who checked herself out 2 days ago!!!! Well to make a long story short, Robert saved my life by convincing me to go to the hospital. I ended up having a heart attack in the emergency room and fortunately they administered a nitro patch which prevented any muscle damage to my heart. I will fill you in on what happened over the next couple of days in the hospital but I have to get to work now. I am just hoping that we get more info on exactly what Tim Russert's diet, exercise routine and medications were because I have changed my lifestyle and I hope to god it makes a difference otherwise I'm going back to smoking for stress release, eating junk and getting off these meds that throw your body into complete chaos!!!!

surviving mothers day and thereafter

2008-05-20T17:01:00.002-04:00

I know it has been a while but it took some time to recoup and I had a few things I was working on! This is always a bit of a scary time for my business, the summer is slow so I am trying to do a few things to change that. Spread the word about my blog and site and help me out!

OK so yesterday I thought I would burst a blood vessel! My son was working all day and went home to take a shower. He called me at the office 15 minutes later to tell me that United Water had cut us off. Of course my dear mother was here at the office with me and immediately asked if I had paid the bill (that sort of questioning comes up a lot when you own a small business and live by the seat of your pants waiting to turn the corner and never worry about bills again!)

Anyway back to the story. So of course I told my mother the water bill is practically the only bill I pay on time because it is always so low! My son tells me he called United Water and they said there was nothing they could do. Being the calm, cool and collected individual that I am (mind you, I am so calm I ended up giving myself a heart attack last July, a real authentic, emergency room heart attack with all the bells and whistles that come along with that particular health [problem!) I immediately got on the phone to customer service at United Water In Rockland County. The woman explained to me that we did not have a water meter and therefore they shut us off! No warning, no letters, no nothing, just give you the finger Jane Carroll in your face attitude from my rep at United Water. I explained to her that the water meter had melted last year when we had the house fire and when we got back into the house in January I called them to get one installed. They finally got back to me in April and told me they were installing a new meter and it had taken so long because they had new meters that there employees did not have to enter the home anymore they just drive by and their little gadgets read it automatically (oh boy, technology, what a wonderful thing, now if we could just have intelligence to go along with that!). So we finally got our drive by water meter in May as I paid for the past year and a half on estimated bills, and yes mom, on time!!! The customer service rep tells me that everyone there at United Water had been instructed, under no circumstances, to turn my water back on. With that said, the lunatic in me came out and I asked her who was the almighty powerful one who instructed them with such confidence in his position as supervisor. They gave me the supervisors name and I asked to be connected to his phone line. They told me that would be useless as he was either in the field or home. Home....hmmmmm...I am sure he was going home to a nice shower, pasta boiling in water, fido drinking water from his bowl, his children washing daddy's car with water supplied by United Water, his wife in the jacuzzi filled with water!!!!! My son and I were going home to a dried up well, I was not going down easily. Since I couldn't contact the powers to be I then asked for the telephone number of the main headquarters for United Water, to my shock she informed me that would be in the country of FRANCE!!!!! Now in the great country of ours, how in god's name did France get approved to own a utility company, here in my sleepy river town of Nyack, NY?????? So OK, can't call France (they are 5 hrs ahead of us), it was 10pm their time. I resort to desperate measures, I look over at my mother and decide to use her as a bargaining chip. I tell (well maybe I scream) my lovely customer service rep (whom I am sure she felt so lucky to have picked me as her phone customer) that I have a sick mother over the age of 70 who is staying with me and is in need of water. I tell her I will sue the french beret off of United Water if anything happens to my poor, sick mother (who by the way is sitting next to me waiting to go out to dinner and throw back a few with my sister!) She certainly couldn't go to my house for the Dewar's and water!! This ranting went on for what felt like minutes when I am sure it was just seconds. I finally hang up with her and then proceed to leave a voice message for the supervisor who gave the orders not to turn on my water under any circumstances! Five minutes later my cell phone starts ringing, surprise, it's United Water telling me they made a mistake and were sending someone out to my house to get the water back on. How do you install a water meter in April and not document it anywhere? Also how do you shut off water to a customer without any warning? It infuriates me that a customer service rep can't help and you have to become irate to get anywhere. Well anyway, that was the end of my day yesterday, hoping today's ending will be a bit better. It should be, I am working out so I can get my aggression and frustrations out on the heavy bag. I'll tell you about my heart attack next time, yes I was only 42 when I had it!

lucky

2008-04-30T19:10:00.004-04:00

I am home, it's 7pm and I was just thinking how lucky I am. Work has been tough with the economy lately but it's my own company and I have options. I can work harder, be creative and make a mark in my industry. I am having a glass of wine and I have my music blasting throughout my house. After the fire I decided to get my entire house wired. Each room has a keypad for CD, Satellite, TV, Radio, my god who has it better then me! I need to remind myself of that more often! My son has a 3.5 grade point average for his first year of college, I got my health back (we can talk about that later) and I get to dance in every room of my house (and thank god I have a house)!!!! Michael, if you read this I want you to know how incredibly proud I am to have a son like you!!!!!!!! We're Irish so we would never voice that sentiment so I thought I would write it. To coming home tomorrow, I missed you!!!! MOM

The House Fire

2008-04-30T08:51:00.000-04:00

So in the middle of trying to make a business bloom, we also did major renovations to our home mostly by ourselves. Michael and my brother made concrete counter tops. We removed thousands of staples in the beautiful hardwood floors hidden under linoleum and carpets, put together kitchen cabinets by Ikea. A note on Ikea, you need to consider these cabinets, they have a 25 yr warranty, come in so many styles and the drawers are molded plastic so they are so easy to keep clean. We did our whole kitchen for $3,000 and anyone who sees the cabinets think they are custom. So anyway, we were nearly finished, had a great Thanksgiving and Christmas and on a freezing bitter cold Sunday night in February I turned in early. I had a bad cold and needed to be at Lincoln Center the following day to receive an award from Forbes Magazine for my companies achievements. I took some cold pills, put Little Miss Sunshine in the DVD played and fell asleep. At 1am my son Michael came into my bedroom and told me we needed to get out of the house that it was on fire. I told him to go get Darina and the dog and I would go downstairs and check it out. As I made my way down the steps, thick black smoke overcame the house. Michael thought the fire was in the laundry room so I made my way over there, hit the light switch and heard sizzling. I immediately thought it was an electrical fire and screamed to the kids to leave everything and get out of the house. We stood out in the street in 10 below weather with only the clothes on our backs watching thick black smoke coming out of every crevice in the house. I called the fire dept. and our neighbors let us in as we watched 6 fire trucks and tons of fireman go in and out of our house for the next five hours. When it was all over we were told by the fire inspector that the fire was caused by spontaneous combustion. We were refinishing a piece of furniture in the basement and we left rags with stain on the concrete floor. The rags combusted in the middle of the night and spread to everything in the basement and made its way up the walls to the first floor of the house. The fire Marshall said we were lucky, if our dog Guinness didn't wake up Michael by barking non stop, we would have been overcome by smoke inhalation within minutes. Of course I was unconscious because I took a cold and flu medication and when Michael woke me up I told him he could take off from school and to go back to sleep!!! The kids and the dog saved my ass! When the smoke and flames subsided reality crept in. We sat in the driveway in the car with my insurance agent who told us to each get a garbage bag and take clothes for a day or 2. All our belongings would either go in the garbage or would be taken out to be cleaned. We gathered our garbage bags and headed to my office to figure out where we were going to live for a while! I'll continue later.....

Michael My Son

2008-04-30T08:15:00.001-04:00

I just read my last post and realized why Michael and Darina decided to go to college in South Carolina last September. They must have needed the rest and relaxation!! Guinness is still stuck with me! Here's my Michael with a future family graduate, Catherine my godchild.

My Dog

2008-04-29T15:22:00.000-04:00

Here's the star of the family, Guinness the dog who saved us from our house fire last year! I see him as absolutely adorable with a mush face but most (for some strange reason) see him as a scary dog!

So I will briefly tell you about the lovely 2007 we had as a family (Me, Mike, his girlfriend Darina and Guin). We moved from Darien CT (the most pretentious, obnoxious, self absorbed, judgmental place I have ever been. Where how you dress, where your from, how much money you make, what you drive and who you know makes the person) to Nyack NY. Nyack is a beautiful, artsy river town located 20 miles north of NYC on the hudson river. I used to drive from the Bronx when I was young and look at houses telling myself I would live in Nyack one day and now I do!

CT was a major mistake, my sister and her husband lived there which is why I tried it (they don't live there anymore). I am not going to get into the whole experience of Darien CT today, but I will tell you my son was arrested (for attending a house party with 300 of Dariens finest children (at least in their prescriptive drugged parents minds), my house was raided by 16 policemen in 7 police cars. My son was also arrested for riding his dirtbike. I was continually followed by police cars, my house was always watched and going to the grocery store in my sweatpants and baseball cap with no makeup was like attending a yankee game and standing on the pitchers mound in my underwear! The neighbors were horrified!!!! Good riddens to you Darien, may you all continue to pretend to live perfect lives while hitting up the medicine cabinet with your children!

Anyway, my son, Darina and I (with our Guin) moved into our 1966 contemporary with hudson river views in February of 2006. I had a vision!!!! We all looked beyond the red, white and blue shag carpeting, linoleum kitchen floors, pink and blue bathrooms and a painted white wrought iron banister and saw a diamond in the rough. Everyone nicknamed the house "The Brady Bunch House". Many nights I would wake my son up holding a sledge hammer telling him another wall had to come down. We ripped out the kitchen ourselves as our neighbors watched us in our pj's laughing our asses off trying to carry pieces of the kitchen that weighed more then me into the dumpster (one of 6 dumpsters in 7 months). One night I decided we could re-do the copper pipes under the kitchen sink and install the new faucet without the help of a real plumber. What the hell, if you can read instructions what's the big deal. I went and bought the kit with the soldering gun, flux, sandpaper, the whole nine yards. Of course it was the middle of the winter and we had to shut the water off which meant no heat until we fixed the pipes. We thought the more solder you put onto a copper pipe the better the fitting. Every time Michael went into the basement to turn the water back on, water shot up through the connections on the pipes. I was up in the kitchen screaming "shut the water off" as I got soaked along with the kitchen floor. We would then run to the fireplace, get warm and then back to soldering. This went on from around 7pm until 2 in the morning. I finally got online and read everything there was on copper pipes and plumbing. I can flux, sand and solder my way through any copper pipe these days! We worked like dogs, had so many laughs and I have so many tips for designs that are creative, look gorgeous and cost little. I will try to post some before and after photos if I can find them and also give tips along the way.

My mother is here at the office and is hungry and wants to go out to dinner now so I have to sign off and will continue writing later. Sorry but when mother wants food and a jug of wine we go.

moms sauce

2008-04-15T18:55:00.000-04:00

I could get addicted to this blogging thing and end up with no life! I'm home after my day of playing with flowers and just replaced the candles on my dining room table. I will post a photo of what my table looks like because the most cost effect and bang for your buck decor is so simple. I bought 6 various height and style glass and crystal candle holders that I have scattered down the center of the table with 12 glass votive candles interspersed. You can pick up candlesticks at garage sales, ebay or any homegoods type of store!!!! I will post a photo tomorrow. I always made it a point, even if we had macaroni and cheese, when my son and I (or a house full of guests) sat for dinner it was always by candlelight, this was my rule. So no matter how shitty or stressed your day went you couldn't help but be soothed by a full belly, huge glass of red wine and the way candles made everything appear beautiful! I am cooking my mothers tomato sauce, it is a tradition in mine and my siblings homes. She brews a fresh batch every time my son comes home from college. It is the Irish version of sauce and I will post the recipe if she allows me, it's to die for.

I need to run so I can finish cooking for my boyfriend whom has the strength and courage to come to my house even after my dog Guinness (yes the Irish beer) attacked his mother and sent her to the ER for stitches in her arm. God I will let you know the details and my dog tendencies for aggression later in the week. I am going to post photos of my endearing puppy. I think I need a survey as to who thinks he looks like a beast and who thinks he looks like an angel!

where have all the good guys and girls gone!

2008-04-15T15:13:00.000-04:00

Politics is not going to be a huge forum for me on my blog (the candidates bore me to tears) but I wanted to chat about our senator Hillary Clinton. This particular incident has bothered me for years! From the first year I started my business in 1996 until 2002 my company only provided event designing and planning, my retail line did not exist up to this point. In the summer of 2001 (I was living in my shop from 1997 until late in 2001) I was desperate to get ahead and of course I was not going to give up. I decided to write a letter to Oprah introducing my company. I also sent her photo copies of pictures from events we had done. I told her if there was anything she may need in terms of event coordinating or event designing to let me know. Of course everyone in my building complex along with the couple of employees I had laughed their asses off when I told them what I had done and let them know Oprah would be calling! 3 days after I sent the letter the phone rang and it was a woman calling from Oprah's office. She informed me that Oprah loved my work and wanted me to come up with a retail item that could be shipped anywhere in the country. I created boxed in blooms and it was due to go into her magazine on her "O" list in November 2001. September 11th 2001 the world trade center was hit and the world changed. I had one brother who is a NY City Fireman, another who had just resigned but was called back into the NY City Police Dept. New York stood still as we all tried to comprehend the totality of this tragedy. As friends and family in Pearl River NY (huge population of Irish, cops, fireman, policeman, nurses and teachers, most transplanted from the Bronx) attended funeral after funeral for a year, I struggled to hold on to my business. As event work disappeared in the city and elaborate parties came to a halt I had the Oprah magazine coming out in November and thought that would sustain my company so there was light at the end of the tunnel and I just needed to hang on. Then around September 21st the phone rang and it was once again Oprah's office informing me that under the circumstances they were changing the layout of the November issue due to the events of September 11th and they would call to let me know what issue we were going in. I waited and waited and waited. In the meantime I thought of our dear senator and thought she was there for the people of NY and represented women and our struggles, god was I wrong!!!! I wrote telling her how my business was devastated and we were trying to keep afloat. If there were any suggestions on networking with other women, any organizations she knew who could possibly help us while we tried to figure out how to get business back into NY would be greatly appreciated. I emailed Hillary 8 times over the next few months and never once did she respond. Hillary was not there for us New Yorkers, nor was she there for a fellow woman but Oprah was and my boxed in blooms was featured on the "O" list in February 2002. My retail line was born!

welcome to my blog!

2008-04-10T15:53:00.001-04:00

I am so thrilled I now have a voice thru my site. I have a big mouth in real life and wanted an opportunity to share tips on floral designing and decorating, as well as share incredible highs and lows as I navigate and try to grow a small business from the basement of my home in the Bronx to the pages of Oprah, Instyle, People and more! With no investors, PR firm, business loans or partners I hope to give insight and humor into the daily struggles and triumphs of running a new york company that employs not only me but my sister, her 3 yr old daughter Catherine, my mom, the ex-husband, the ex husbands childhood friend, my son part-time, Brooks, Yolanta, Norma and more. In the world of big business, big bonuses and even bigger bail outs, step into and get personal with the little guys!