Time Out Everyone

So Jacob and I are enjoying a lovely Sunday morning breakfast of goat cheese omelet, turkey bacon and carrot juice when it happens AGAIN.

Carrot juice goes flying all over the place mostly, because he is 6 and spills, drops, and knocks down everything within his reach and secondly, because the house is spotless and I want to keep it that way. I don't really overreact but do scream out, “That’s it, I can’t take it anymore” and turn off the TV.  OK, so maybe a bit too dramatic on my part and I didn’t really want to make a big deal cause as Phil often reminds me, he is 6 but, that delivery felt just intense enough at that moment.  Jacob gets mad and storms out of the kitchen and into his room. After a few minutes he emerges only to tell me that he knows that I'm mad but he is also mad.  Deep yes but, not out of character for Jacob.  Why are you mad I ask?  Because you put me in time out, he says.  No I didn’t, I say.  Ok then, since I know you’re upset, I put myself in timeout but please come get me when you’re ready and tell me that I did a good job…OK? and off he goes.  Now, he is playing and enjoying some quality alone time in his room which got me thinking.  Don’t we all at one time or another need a self-imposed time-out?  I know I do and by giving one to himself, I in turn got one too enough, to write this.

Happy Sunday and do yourself a favor...take a time-out, it can do wonders for you and those around you!

Trick or Track

Halloween is right around the corner and if you have little ones, this time of year often brings with it a ton of fun and, a bit of anxiety especially, if they are old enough to venture out on their own.  So, while there is no replacement for a physically present parent, there are a few geo-location apps creeping up this Halloween that can help provide ease of mind.

TrickorTracker® can locate a trick-or-treater with the touch of a button on your Smartphone. The app installs easily on both the parent’s phone and the child’s own phone…if your child is too young to use a Smartphone, they are probably too young to trick-or-treat without being accompanied by a parent or guardian…but you already knew that!?

The Android app will allow you to know where the kiddies are by receiving a text of their location. So first, download the app to both phones and set a password. Then, select an interval of time-say, 15 minutes-to receive a text message as each interval passes with the kid's location. You can also set up a geo-fence and get an alert if the phone leaves a defined perimeter.  Not gonna be accurate if your little monster 1. Loses the phone 2. Stashes it in a neighbor's mailbox or 3. Is smarter than you and turns off the location broadcasting.
The Android Trick or Tracker app costs $4.99 for each download and can be downloaded at http://www.trickortracker.com/

There are also some everyday apps that perform some of the same tasks and are free. Google Latitude and Apple's Find My Friends are two that allow users to sign up to receive real-time locations of friends and family members.  Each party has to approve sharing his or her location with the other, a process similar to friending on any other social network.

If you decide to use any of the above make sure that all smartphones are charged before venturing out, apps that use a phone's GPS are battery hogs.

Happy Halloween!

Who needs couples therapy when

you've got swords?
Yes I’m talking about the Pennsylvania Renaissance Fair and not real therapy not that I have anything against real therapy and, clearly I’m not a doctor to advise one way or another but, I think that beating on each other for 5 minutes goes further than any therapy session ever could and…it’s fun!

For $5/person, you get to don head to toe leather=fashion, carry a sword=bling and, if you’re a weakling like me, a mercy balloon=more bling plus, permission to use both hands=power. Now doesn’t that sound like fun!?
Yes, some people take it really seriously and dress head to toe in period garb but others like us just enjoy the merriment,

Human Chess Match

Joust

yummy food 

Pickle on a stick

Turkey Leg...hard to eat if you're missing 2 front teeth (-:

and watching those that take it way too seriously.

It’s whacky, it’s amusing and it’s tons of fun so if you haven't experienced it yet...go!

Only 1 more weekend left in 2011 but if you miss the fair, there are all kids of other events going on throughout the year, http://www.parenfaire.com/

The Renaissance Fair definitely takes Eat, Drink and be Merry to a whole new level!

We Came-We Worked-We Kicked Butt!

From pouring concrete and chopping down trees

to planting and mulching,

Philly Cares Day at Greenfield turned out to be a huge success!

Everyone contributed including the kids...OK, so they mostly ran around the playground but they were there...

We did it ALL and with the energy and passion that can only be achieved when everyone is working towards a common goal; transforming Albert M. Greenfield School into a space that everyone, especially the kids, could be proud of and enjoy.

I was blown away by how much we accomplished in such a short period of time and, by how much FUN we had doing it!

So now I've definitely caught the Volunteer bug, anyone want to join me for my next endeavor?

Walking the Walk

When I became a mom, I made myself two promises; 1, that I would never be one of those parents that tells my child to do something because it’s the right thing to do but not do it myself and 2, that I would never wear Mom-jeans. The first was to better Jacob and the second was to better my marriage but I digress…

I know you know what I’m talking about and I’m sure we’ve all done it but I’m always very conscious of setting a good example for my son.  No matter the situation, I try to talk the talk AND walk the walk and what better way than volunteering?  It’s the one thing that we all say we should do and would do but for one reason or another, very rarely actually do do.  Family obligations, hectic schedules and complete exhaustion leave very little time for giving back to others and so, many of us resort to monetary donations.  If that’s you, great and I’m not here to tell you to stop but, there is something to be said for getting your hands dirty, bonding over spilled paint and plain old-fashioned hard work especially, if you child is witness to it…trust me, it will earn you street cred!

So why am I telling you all this?
Last year, my company partnered with Greater Philadelphia Cares and spend our very first Philly Cares Day, a marathon day of volunteering, rejuvenating an elementary school in dire need of some TLC.  This year, we’re taking on Greenfield, Jacob’s school and as you can imagine, I’m psyched!  Not only because it’s my son’s school and they need the help but also, so that Jacob can witness firsthand how a little can go a long way!

In preparation, last night, Jacob and I discussed the importance of volunteering and helping those less fortunate. He then helped me make a sign that he promised to take to school and help persuade his friends to join us.

40 volunteers…could be more but I’ll take what I can get, 4 hours of work to make for a lasting impression.  If you’re in the area, join us and bring your kids, trust me when I say that there is nothing better than walking the walk!

It occurred to me last night

as I stood surrounded by hundreds of other adoptive parents, that I don’t talk enough about being an adoptive parent.  Not nearly as much as I talk about Jacob who, I talk about all the time and with anyone who is willing to listen.  

Phil and I often say that we’re probably just plain annoying about how much we "Jacob this" and "Jacob that" and all the great things that he says and does.  But is that wrong?  To be proud and overjoyed about a gift that is so priceless, so precious that no money can buy?  Well, last night I was reminded that money does buy it and it is expensive which is why http://helpusadopt.org/ was established and is thriving today.

A room full of people some who have never met each other but who, from the second they stepped into that room at Fleming's, had so much in common that there was no need for formalities or uncomfortable conversation starters.  Well, there was a conversation starter and in that room it was adoption and you know what?  IT felt comfortable, almost soothing and, altogether pretty amazing!  To describe our adoption process to a complete stranger who is nodding not because their mind is wandering off to the nearest bar but, because they are remembering and they get it because they too experienced it.
No two experiences are identical but they all have something in common; People who desperately wanted a child to love and share their lives with but were denied for one reason or another.  Clomid, IVF, Infertility, Birth Mother, you heard those words all around the room and not being whispered but being talked about openly and honestly like badges of courage. All while realizing just how lucky we all were to be there and able to talk about it.  It reminded me of one of the many Open Houses that Phil and I attended where a couple was bouncing a toddler on their lap speaking to the desperate crowd of adoption-wanna-be's about how it took them 5 years to adopt.  Yeah, that’s encouraging we thought at the time. 
Well, our story is one out of an adoption fairy tale and I know that they hardly EVER happen that way which is probably why I don’t talk much about it unless asked that is.  Also, just to put it out there, why we are one and done.  Would you mess with fate, not me!?

So there I was, surrounded by people who got me and my obsession with the boy. And then the speeches started and jarred me into consciousness.  First Becky, the founder of helpusadopt.org and the http://www.aninfertileblonde.com/ blog introduced the charity and spoke of her and her husband Kipps journey to adoption.  Followed by David Pernock who I happen to know from my days at GSK but never knew had adopted…small world.  David and his wife have two adopted children and so after he spoke about his experience, he introduced us to a couple who have been waiting to adopt for nearly a decade.  They couldn’t afford adoption and turned to foster care that too, had failed them.  Five minutes later, the room had raised close to $14,000 to help this family and I stood in awe witness to what can be accomplished when you get the right people with a common mission and passion together. Wow, imagine what we can achieve if we ALL worked together.
I had a few glasses of wine; this was after all a winetasting. 
Won a pair of monogrammed Wellies; this was after all a silent auction and I never walk away from an opportunity to shop.

And then I hurried home so that I could plant kisses all over my most precious gift, my son Jacob who I hope one day realizes just how much he was wanted...
how much he is loved...
and, never has to learn how hard we tried to bring him into our life!

Talk about motivation!

Contrex - Ma Contrexpérience - 97s from Marcel on Vimeo.

Classic case of miscommunication

After many weeks of wiggling, pulling and apple biting, Jacob finally lost his "Queen" tooth. 

He was so excited that he immediately wrote the obligatory note, taped his tooth on it for evidence and placed it under his pillow. 

I explained to him that the Tooth Fairy offer is not valid if you don't sleep in your own bed or, don’t wake up in your own bed or…oh, who am I kidding! 
Being the Tooth Fairy novice that I am with only a $20 bill in my wallet, “we” wrote a note back to Jacob and placed it and the $ under his pillow.   

Ok, so here is where it gets interesting.  Phil, up until now, is MAT (Missing @ Work) so I’m handling all the Tooth Fairy logistics and feel pretty good about what I’ve got going on.  In the morning, Jacob wakes up…in our bed, and runs into his room only to emerge with a folded note and a $10 bill.  I’m confused but Phil and Jacob are laughing and congratulating each other.  Jacob unfolds the note and a $20 bill falls out! 
You would think that by now, we would have perfected our coordination skills?  Not!

Big in Japan and now...

ready to take on the USA?
While American retailers are increasingly staking their future overseas, Japanese apparel giant UNIQLO http://www.uniqlo.com/us/ is setting up shop in NYC. 
The three-story, 89,000-square-foot Flagship store will open this Friday on the corner of 5th Avenue and 53rd St. in Manhattan and is reported to be the most expensive retail lease in New York's history. 

Yes, it's a chain and yes, the novelty will wear off especially after they start to populate every mall in America but, it's cool to see new merchants appearing in our market and with an estimated +1500 new jobs in New York alone, I'm liking in.

"UNIQLO New York Fifth Avenue” will open on Friday, October 14th and one week later its second largest global flagship in the world, “UNIQLO New York 34th Street” on Friday, October 21st.
Be There or, Be Square...Get it?  Square cause that's what...oh, never mind it's been a long day

"Stay hungry. Stay foolish"

iHave to admit that aside from the very general, I knew very little about Steve Jobs.  Yes, I knew he was an innovator, a visionary, co-founder of Apple and, most recently, a warrior of pancreatic cancer but, what I didn’t know was what made him tick.  Why didn’t he just give up when he failed and stop out of contentment when he succeeded?  Now, the day after his death, I’m learning and I have to say that I’m truly inspired.  His words really speak to me personally and, remind me that every day is an opportunity and should be embraced as if it were you last. iLive!

Here are some of my favorite Steve Jobs quotes, would love to hear yours.

1. "Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything -- all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. ... Stay hungry. Stay foolish." "Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new."

2. “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.”

3. "Picasso had a saying: 'Good artists copy, great artists steal.' We have always been shameless about stealing great ideas...I think part of what made the Macintosh great was that the people working on it were musicians, poets, artists, zoologists and historians who also happened to be the best computer scientists in the world."

4. That’s been one of my mantras — focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.”

5. “I think if you do something and it turns out pretty good, then you should go do something else wonderful, not dwell on it for too long. Just figure out what’s next.”

6. "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something -- your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."

7. "Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become."

8. "It's really hard to design products by focus groups. A lot of times, people don't know what they want until you show it to them."

9. “Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.”

10."My model for business is The Beatles. They were four guys who kept each other's kind of negative tendencies in check. They balanced each other and the total was greater than the sum of the parts. That's how I see business: great things in business are never done by one person, they're done by a team of people."

"We're here to put a dent in the universe" and that he did! 

You don't need to travel to Beijing to

experience the sights, smells and flavors of a traditional "Night Market" because this Thursday, October 6th it’s coming to you, Philadelphia.

PCDC has joined forces with the Food Trust to create "Night Market Philadelphia," a market of food vendors, live music, lion dancing, arts and atmosphere, starting at 7 p.m. under the Friendship Gate at 10th and Arch Streets.
http://www.nightmarketphilly.org/
Ever since returning from Beijing, where the markets' bustle and vitality were on full display each and every night and, where I tried my first starfish on a stick, I've been dreaming of something like this but, closer to home and now...

Although I hear that scorpions, squid and crickets on a stick didn't make the cut...

in addition to some more adventurous treats, there will be plenty of great, cheap and more familiar Asian-style fare.  And, if you are a food truck fan, you too won't be disappointed. The Dapper Dog, Nomad Pizza and Sweet Box Cupcakes will be making an appearance as will two brand new trucks, Strada Pasta and Local 215.
So, Like them on FB, download Foodspotting and join the "Night Market" scavenger hunt and get a sneak peek at all of the street food vendors and fresh produce stands right here right now http://nightmarketphilly.org/Ctown_NMprogram5.pdf

Come on down to Chinatown and experience a market like no other and do me a favor, try something new...I know I will be!!