London and Maddie Have Spoken: Cats at NJPAC Is a “Must See”

Before I share London, Maddie, Rex and Roxy's thoughts on today's performance of Cats at NJPAC, I'll start by saying that there are still some tickets left for the final performance of Cats at NJPAC at 3pm tomorrow – Sunday, November 23^rd. If you live in or near New Jersey and have no plans for Sunday afternoon, here's your chance for some spontaneous family fun…grab a few of the remaining tickets (there's not a bad seat in the house at NJPAC), take the kids and share a memory you'll never forget.

Midnight, not a sound from the pavement
Has the moon lost her memory
She is smiling alone.
In the lamplight the withered
leaves collect at my feet
And the wind begins to moan.

London was already bouncing up and down in her seat as we drove into Newark in our Red Jewel...the new GMC Acadia we bought at the end of September. "Mommy, is NJPAC the place where we saw those dancers on Mother's Day? If it is, I love that place. There's that giant disco ball that hangs from the ceiling all the way up at the top of the theatre...and it feels like we're so close to the dancers!" I told the girls that I had read in the Star-Ledger that the Cats actually come out into the audience during the show.

As the lights went down in the theatre, the girls' eyes widened as it turned out to be true and bright yellow glowing cats' eyes appeared in the aisle next to our seats. When I saw Cats on Broadway over 20 years ago, I remember the sets, costumes and the special effects being impressive, even to a jaded college student. Today at NJPAC, I experienced it all over again, this time through my daughters' eyes, filled with delight. The traveling set was even more amazing as I realized it had been put together for a four-day run at NJPAC, rather than "Now and Forever" on Broadway, and would be dismantled to move on to the next town after Sunday's performance in Newark, New Jersey. Next week, Cats moves on to St. Louis, Missouri, followed by Costa Mesa, California, then San Antonio, Texas...and so on, giving families like ours around the United States the chance to get a taste of the Broadway classic without leaving their own hometown. I've certainly grown spoiled by the easy drive into Newark instead of the challenge of Times Square.

Memory
All alone in the moonlight
I can smile like the old days
I was beautiful then, I remember
The time I knew what happiness was
Let the memory live again

Every street lamp seems to beat
A fatalistic warning
Someone mutters and the street lamp gutters
And soon it will be morning

Maddie, as always, was a bit skeptical about a Broadway musical. "Will they talk? Like in Peter Pan?" Even though Maddie loves to dance at Garden State Ballet, she has serious hesitations about shows in which the performers express themselves entirely through body language and movement. Singing would be a step up from dance alone, but Maddie was still seeking dialogue. I told her that the show was based on poems from T.S. Eliot's "Old Possums Book of Practical Cats" but warned that the poems had been set to music and she could expect the cats to break into song rather than conversation.

Maddie ended up having a terrific time, although the show was a bit longer than her 6-year-old attention span. Like most of the parents (and grandparents) who had brought their younger children to NJPAC this afternoon, I was glad to expose Maddie to live theatre instead of limiting her concept of entertainment to "watching something" on the Disney Channel.

Daylight
I must wait for the sun rise
I must think for the new life
And I mustn't give in

When the dawn comes
Tonight will be a memory too
And the new day will begin

Favorites? Roxy's was the naughty Rum Tum Tugger, thrusting his pelvis like Elvis and bounding into the audience to pluck a young lady out of the crowd to dance in the aisle. Maddie was mesmerized by Grizabella the Glamour Cat and London favored Mr. Mistoffelees and his magic.

Burnt out ends of smoky days
The stale cold smell of morning
A street lamp dies
Another night is over
Another day is dawning

Touch me
It's so easy to leave me
All alone with my memory
Of my days in the sun
If you touch me
You'll understand what happiness is
Look, a new day has begun

-- "Memory": lyrics written by Trevor Nunn, based on poems by T.S. Eliot

In the end, for me, it is all about the memories....reminiscing about my first Broadway show (A Chorus Line), seeing Cats on Broadway, and creating new memories for London and Maddie. Since Cats left Broadway in September 2000, before London was born, NJPAC offered our family the unique opportunity to share a memory.

Changes Are Coming?

Apparently United States President-elect Barack Obama is not the only one who believes Changes are Coming. As Thanksgiving approaches, the jury is still out on whether change will be something we can all be thankful for in the New Year 2009. A new President, a new economy, a New Deal? Now that the election is over and Sarah Palin and John McCain have become much less interesting targets for political bloggers and comedians alike, there's a new movie on its way to make you laugh. “Changes are Coming” is a satirical movie about America’s final change, the change that takes us back to the days of ancient Rome (William Shatner fiddles while Rome burns?). God sends his only son, Jesus, to the White House to make sure history does not repeat itself...will America listen? Click the trailer below to get a preview of what happens. Then follow the link and leave comments on what you think of this new movie at the You Tube site.

As my loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers know, you'd have to drag me kicking and screaming to see a comedy, particularly with a political message, but I know there are plenty of you out there in the blogosphere just wondering what to do with your time from now until the next Presidential election....or at least the next entertaining political scandal.

Embedded Video

Weekend Fun: We're Off to See Cats at NJPAC!

London and Maddie, Rex and I are very excited...we've been listening to the Complete Original Broadway Cast Recording of Cats for weeks in anticipation of todays big event: Cats at NJPAC (New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey). We're heading out in a couple of hours to the 2pm matinee performance, so I will leave all of you with a video of Jellicle Cats to share in our weekend fun. Enjoy!

London and Maddie Go Christmas Caroling with the Girl Scouts, More Holiday Fun On Mendham’s Holly Trail Celebration – Saturday, December 6th

On Saturday, December 6^th, the Holly Trail through Mendham, New Jersey, celebrates the season with fun for the whole family.

I first learned about Mendham's Holly Trail through an invitation for London and Maddie to go Christmas Caroling with the Girl Scouts at one of three locations: Hilltop School from 10 to 10:30am, Holly Manor from 11 to 11:30am, or in front of Kings supermarket from 10 to 10:30am, all in Mendham on Saturday, December 6^th.

Beyond the caroling, the Mendham Business Association and the Mendham Borough Recreation Department has put together a full day of Holly Trail events on Saturday, December 6^th:

Continue reading (complete schedule of events)

Roxy’s Mail Call: Where to Celebrate When Your Kids Have Already Done It All

Dear Roxy,

I was wondering if you could help me with some suggestions. I am in charge of planning the holiday party for the competitive gymnastics team at Randolph Gymnastics every year. So far we did bowling, ice skating, roller skating and swimming. I am running out of ideas! Do you have any suggestions? I know you work with places in the area. We have about 25 girls on the team, and their ages range from 5 to 13. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for your help,

Shannon, Randolph Gymnastics & Climbing Center

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Shannon,

I will give it some more thought, but it sounds like you've really done it all! A couple of ideas would be "crafty" rather than the more physical activities you've done in previous years -- Studio U in Chester has crafts for all ages, including "Mom's Night Out" parties; Cooks and Crafts in Flanders does both crafts and cooking. New York Pizza in Chester lets groups in to make (and eat) pizzas together.

My other notion would be to attend an event together -- PaperMill Playhouse in Millburn has the Nutcracker in late November/December, NJPAC also has special holiday shows, or the Mayo Center (Community Theatre) in Morristown is closer and has some performances geared towards kids/teens.

Libby Lu in the Rockaway Mall does hair,nails, and make-up, Hannah Montana style. You could rent out a local movie theatre like Clearview Cinemas in Chester, particularly if there's a new (or old) gymnastics oriented movie all the girls would enjoy.

Hope that helps!

Roxy

Roxy Saves: Coupon Promotion Codes for Favorite Online Retailers

It feels like holiday music on the radio and holiday shopping get started earlier every year. While one of my sisters has everyone's Christmas gifts purchased, wrapped and ready to go by the end of July, I tend to wait until Thanksgiving and the chill of December put me in a festive mood for holiday shopping. Every year, Rex, London, Maddie and I spend one December Sunday shopping in our old West Village neighborhood in Manhattan, and one day exploring our favorite shops in Lambertville, New Jersey and Newhope, Pennsylvania. Shops in nearby Bernardsville and Chester frequently offer up just the right unique gift for Grammy, Aunt Veg, PostBoy and MathGirl. For power shopping, though, there's nothing like online shopping, starting around Black Friday and waiting for the coupon and promotional codes to pour into Roxy's e-mail bag.

As part of our new Roxy Saves feature, I'll be sharing the best ones with my loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers over the coming weeks, starting right now:

Maddie just got a beautiful new winter coat from Mini Boden, and Johnny Boden wants you to save $20 when you spend $80 or more, plus free shipping and free returns. I couldn't find a coupon code but this link seems to take you there. Valid until 11:59pm on Sunday, November 30, 2008.
I use Kodak Gallery to archive and print all of the thousands of photos I take of London, Maddie, and our family's adventures, and I've found that if I wait long enough, there's always a way to save big on prints, holiday cards, and photo gifts. Right now through Thanksgiving Thursday, November 27, 2008, use coupon code TURKEY30 to save 30% when you spend $60 or more on photo gifts site-wide at KodakGallery.
Particularly for pre-schoolers, but even as kids get older, Halloween can be a year-round celebration. London and Maddie and their friends love to dress up – as princesses, pirates, and pop stars – so I always wait until after Halloween to stock up on costumes and wigs for holiday gifts and winter birthday parties. Now through 11:59pm on Saturday, November 22, 2008, use coupon code 20offsale to save 20% off already marked down sale items at BuyCostumes.com. I just bought a Yoda costume for an upcoming birthday party and saved ten bucks.
It's no secret that London and Maddie love their American Girl dolls. They can play together for hours at a time, inventing their own stories about American Girls like Felicity and Elizabeth, Samantha and Nellie, Molly and Emily, not to mention the Bitty Twins. We have Ziplocs filled with American Girl outfits, and it seems like someone is always changing from nightgown to ball gown or riding outfit and back again. The dolls, outfits and accessories are pricey to begin with, but shipping seems to get me every time, so I was thrilled to see a coupon code (GIFTSHIP) for free shipping on every American Girl order with no minimum purchase now through Tuesday, November 25, 2008.
While there are plenty of parents who have had enough of Disney for a lifetime, my girls started out as toddlers adoring the Disney princesses, have grown up with Disney, and continue to enjoy Disney movies and their friends from the Disney channel – Hannah Montana, the Jonas Brothers, the Suite Life of Zack & Cody, and of course, High School Musical. Use coupon code HOLIDAY25 to save 25% off sitewide on Disney.com through Friday, November 30, 2008.
Look for savings of up to 40% on designers and use coupon code SAKSFS at Saks Fifth Avenue to get free shipping on orders of $200 or more, now through Sunday, November 23, 2008.

Easy As A, B, C...

You went to school to learn girl
things you never knew before
like "I before E except after C" and why 2 plus 2 makes 4
now, now, now
I'm gonna teach you, teach you, teach you
all about love girl, all about love
sit yourself down, take a seat
all you gotta do is repeat after me

A B C , It's easy as
1 2 3 , as simple as
do re mi, A B C, 1 2 3
baby you and me girl

Come on and love me just a little bit
Im gonna teach you how to sing it out
come on, come on, come on
let me tell you what its all about
reading, writing, arithmatic
are the branches of the learning tree
but without the roots of love everyday girl
your education aint complete
teachers gonna show you (shes gonna show you)
how to get an A? (na,na,na,na,na,na)
how to spell me? you? add the two
listen to me baby thats all you got to do

Oh,
A B C , Its easy as
1 2 3 , as simple as
do re mi, A B C, 1 2 3
baby you and me girl
A B C its easy, its like counting up to 3
singing simple melodies
thats how easy love can be
singing simple melodies
1 2 3 baby you and me

Why the Jackson Five lyrics? The lovely, gracious and talented Mariuca got me with the A,B,C tag. It looked simple and fun, so here goes:

A. Attached or single? Happily married to Rex.

B. Best friend? Also Rex, though if we said best girl friend it would have to be Melissa, who I have known since the sixth grade.

C. Cake or pie? Rex cooks every meal in our household, but when it comes time to bake, that's Roxy's job. I like both cake and pie, but since Thanksgiving is coming next week, I'm going to go with pumpkin pie, with a dollop of vanilla ice cream.

D. Day of choice? As the Bay City Rollers would say "S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y!" The first day of the weekend...we can wake up late and lounge around and in the summer we head straight to the beach in Bay Head, NJ.

E. Essential item? Like Mariuca, it's my laptop. For business and blogging, I don't go anywhere without it.

F. Favorite color? Blue, though London and Maddie have gotten me much more comfortable with pink and purple.

G. Gummy bears or worms? Gummy bears for me please!

H. Hometown? Born in Plainfield, New Jersey (home of Henson's Hell), grew up in Branchburg, and I plan to spend the rest of my days in Mendham, NJ.

I. Favorite indulgence? Fudge-like brownies, no nuts....along with a hot mug of coffee and a good book.

J. January or July? January is London's birthday month, so it holds a special place in my heart, but I'd have to say July since I love summer at the beach.

K. Kids? Two beautiful girls...London and Maddie.

L. Life isn’t complete without? Rex, London and Maddie.

M. Marriage date? September 19, 1998. Rex and I just celebrated our tenth anniversary, along with London and Maddie, at the Bernards Inn in Bernardsville, NJ.

N. Number of magazine subscriptions? Hmmm...let's say 3 that come to me -- Cookie, Parenting, and the Reader's Digest, though Rex gets a few others and so do the girls. I used to get Cosmo but it must have expired since I haven't seen any of those great sex tips lately.

O. Oranges or apples? Apples.

P. Phobias? Mushrooms and taxicabs....I've been hit by a taxi in Manhattan and Rex and I were in a taxi that spun out of control and left us hanging upside down (in a state of shock but otherwise unharmed) in a ditch a few feet from a cliff on our honeymoon in Corsica.

Q. Quotes? From Casey Kasem, "Keep your feet on the ground, but keep reaching for the stars!"

R. Reasons to smile? Rex, London, Maddie and my good friends, the real Roxiticus Desperate Housewives.

S. Season of choice? Summer, Summer, and more Summer!

T. Tag 5 people. I'm going to tag more than five, hope that's OK: SpicyBug for good luck, Henson (the funniest person I know) and hope he has time to "do the homework," as well as a few friends who signed up to "follow this blog"... Shelly (the Mom with Brownies, my favorite indulgence), Maitri, MamaFlo, Health Nut Wannabee Mom, Mik, Elaine, Darlene, Lucky Lady and Lola (watch out, she bites!). It's a great way to learn more about new blogosphere buddies so I'll try to catch up with all of you on my EntreCard rounds over the next few days...and if I missed anyone and the tag looks like fun to you, please leave me a comment to tag yourself and I'll add you to my list.

U. Unknown fact about me? If I told you, it wouldn't be unknown, now would it?

V. Vegetable? Corn on the cob.

W. Worst habit? Biting my fingernails.

X. X-ray or ultrasound? Ultrasound.

Y. Your favorite foods? Anything Rex cooks, but celebration dinners at the Bernards Inn, the Limestone Cafe, Grill 73, Theresa's South, or Dennis Foy's Bay Point Prime. I also enjoy sushi and most everything spicy.

Z. Zodiac sign? Libra.

Baby, It's Cold Outside...Warm Up with Cozy Deals from Kmart

Baby, it's cold outside! I'm getting ready to wake London and Maddie up to catch the school bus, and I know they're going to want to stay warm under their covers today. I saw 26 degrees on my car's thermometer yesterday, shivered, and cranked up the heat. It won't be long before my friend Mary Alice taunts me with a text message from the beach in California.

I did hear on the CBS Early Show that Kmart has comfy savings on a couple of warm and cozy items for holiday shopping:

• Cuddle up in an Attention Women's Kimono Wrap Sweater -- extra 10% off online only (search ID# 70198911)
• Stay under the covers with Abbey Hill bedding, Medallion Dream bedding collection -- extra 30% online only (search ID# 96096112)
• Diamonds are a girl's best friend and can warm you up on a cold winter's night: 1/4ct diamond 5-stone Journey Pendant and Earrings Set in 10K Yellow Gold -- extra 10% off online only (search ID# 89270115)
  

The sale price is shown in the cart (not on the product page). Now through December 26th, Kmart will also be offering an additional 10% (online only) on the following key categories:

• Womens plus sleepwear
• Womens Attention brand
• Girls tops
• ALL juniors
• Boys tops
• Mens shirts and bottoms
• Big mens shirts and bottoms
• Infant and toddler bedding
  

Look for the hidden ornaments throughout Kmart.com every week until Christmas for extra savings on already great prices with a secret coupon code just for you!

Stay warm and happy shopping!

Roxy's Report from the Mendham Township School Board Work Session Meeting Tonight -- Tuesday, November 18, 2008

At the Mendham Township Home and School Association (HSA) meeting following Elementary School Principal Michael Craver’s resignation, School Board President Mark Ford urged interested parents, “If you want to know what’s going on with the School Board, what issues we’re addressing, go to the School Board meetings. They’re open to the public.” Before tonight, I had only attended one other School Board meeting, the one in September welcoming our new Superintendent, Kristopher Harrison. While I certainly would have preferred to stay home tonight and do math facts and read stories with London and Maddie, I wanted to learn more about the recruitment process for our next Elementary School Principal. The agenda included quite a few items, none of which were clearly labeled, “How’s the Principal recruitment process going?” That was eventually covered when Mark Ford asked for questions/issues from the public, but before we got there I learned a few things that I’d like to pass along.

Continue reading

Music Monday: Hips Don't Lie

For the most loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers, this post may feel like a repeat, as Shakira's Hips Don't Lie has been the theme song for Roxy's back-to-school workout program since early September. However, this is only the second time that I'm participating in the Music Monday Meme, so I hope my new visitors will find the song (and the video) as inspirational as I have.

I'd also like to fill you in on my workout program progress. Back in September, I borrowed a page from Bridget Jones' Diary and started to post updates on my fitness plan. On Pop Tart Friday, September 5th, 2008, I weighed in at 160 pounds (I'm 5'7") with the goal of dropping 25 pounds by losing 1 pound per week until I get back to my "fighting weight" of 135, which I haven't really seen since Rex started cooking for me in 1996.

In the early going and through the month of September, I worked out, using my iTunes Genius playlists, about 5 days each week on the elliptical trainer, dropping 1 to 2 pounds per week until we went away for a long Columbus Day weekend in Duck, North Carolina. The dismal economy destroyed my appetite and my will to work out during the month of October, and despite the lack of exercise I dropped another 10 pounds to weigh in at 145 on Pop Tart Friday, November 14th. With a boost from my good friend Lynette last Thursday, I broke out of my funk and decided to get back on the elliptical trainer and kick-start my fitness program on Friday and Saturday. No matter how I got there, working out 15 pounds lighter and seeing my new self in the mirror provided an incredible motivation to KEEP IT UP! It felt so good as I worked out to my hip-hop playlist that I could feel it in my hips....Roxy's Got Her Groove Back! As Shakira says, Hips Don't Lie!



Ladies up in here tonight
No fighting, no fighting
We got the refugees up in here
No fighting, no fighting

Shakira, Shakira

I never really knew that she could dance like this
She makes a man want to speak Spanish,
Como se llama, bonita, mi casa, su casa
Shakira, Shakira

Oh baby when you talk like that
You make a woman go mad
So be wise and keep on
Reading the signs of my body

And I'm on tonight
You know my hips don't lie
And I'm starting to feel it's right
All the attraction, the tension
Don't you see baby, this is perfection

Hey Girl, I can see your body moving
And it's driving me crazy
And I didn't have the slightest idea
Until I saw you dancing

And when you walk up on the dance floor
Nobody cannot ignore the way you move
your body, girl
And everything so unexpected - the way
you right and left it
So you can keep on shaking it

I never really knew that she could dance like this
She makes a man want to speak Spanish
Como se llama, bonita, mi casa, su casa
Shakira, Shakira

Oh baby when you talk like that
You make a woman go mad
So be wise and keep on
Reading the signs of my body

And I'm on tonight
You know my hips don't lie
And I am starting to feel you boy
Come on let's go, real slow
Don't you see baby asi es perfecto

Oh I know I am on tonight my hips don't lie
And I'm starting to feel it's right
All the attraction, the tension
Don't you see baby, this is perfection
Shakira, Shakira

Oh boy, I can see your body moving
Half animal, half man
I don't, don't really know what I'm doing
But you seem to have a plan
My will and self restraint
Have come to fail now, fail now
See, I am doing what I can, but I can't so
you know
That's a bit too hard to explain

Baila en la calle de noche
Baila en la calle de dia
Baila en la calle de noche
Baila en la calle de dia

I never really knew that she could dance like this
She makes a man want to speak Spanish
Como se llama, bonita, mi casa, su casa
Shakira, Shakira

Oh baby when you talk like that
You know you got me hypnotized
So be wise and keep on
Reading the signs of my body

Señorita, feel the conga, let me see you
move like you come from Colombia

Mira en Barranquilla se baila asi, say it!
Mira en Barranquilla se baila asi

Yeah
She's so sexy every man's fantasy
a refugee like me back with the Fugees
from a 3rd world country
I go back like when 'pac carried crates for
Humpty Humpty
I need a whole club dizzy
Why the CIA wanna watch us?
Colombians and Haitians
I ain't guilty, it's a musical transaction
No more we do snatch ropes
Refugees run the seas 'cause we own our
own boats

I'm on tonight, my hips don't lie
And I'm starting to feel you boy
Come on let's go, real slow
Baby, like this is perfecto

Oh, you know I'm on tonight and my
hips don't lie
And I'm starting to feel it's right
The attraction, the tension
Baby, like this is perfection

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

Making a List, Checking It Twice, Holiday Shopping at Sears on Roxy's iPhone!

You better watch out
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Roxy's shopping on her iPhone
I'm making a list
And checking it twice
I'll shop for you at Sears if you're naughty OR nice
Roxy's shopping on her iPhone
I'm shopping when you're sleeping
I shop while you're awake
I don't care if you're bad or good
Just blog it for goodness sake!
Oh! You better watch out!
You better not cry
Better not pout
I'm telling you why
Roxy's shopping on her iPhone

I'm in for a hectic week at work this week, going in on the train for meetings in New York City every day, so I apologize in advance if I'm not up to my usual prolific posting. I do want to tell you all about High School Musical On Stage over the weekend... London, Maddie, Rex and I had a great outing to Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn NJ with London's Brownie troop.

I usually get work done on my train commute, but this week I'm going to try to do some holiday shopping on my iPhone with Sears2Go. Just in time for the busy holiday shopping season, Sears.com has announced the launch of Sears2Go, the first on-the-go mobile commerce web site offered by a United States retailer. I can use my mobile phone to browse, search for and buy select Sears.com merchandise, and use a store locator to find the nearest store. The holiday elves at Sears will send me a text message alert when my sack of goodies is ready for in-store pickup.

Many of the same features of Sears.com are available through Sears2go... the shopping cart and checkout, product reviews, special offers and order status are designed to make Roxy's mobile shopping just as easy as shopping online. If you'd like to join in the fun, text SHOP to 73277 or visit Sears2go.com on your mobile phone. Standard text messaging rates may apply.

Raise a Glass! 50,000th Visitor and 635th Post at Roxiticus Desperate Housewives

Sunday Morning Update on Visitor #50,000...I think it was LJ! Our distinguished visitor came in from Kuala Lumpur at 3:48am, while Roxy was sleeping. Zzzzz. The referring URL was LJ's Music Monday meme, where I had left LJ a question about the Top Commenters widget in my sidebar (does anyone know why only nine of my commenters are listed instead of ten??!!). Visitor #50,000 stayed only 10 seconds before clicking on the Top Commenters widget and dashing away in the night.

It's a rainy weekend here in the Roxiticus Valley, so I thought I would liven things up with a little celebration...it's time to raise a glass and join me in a toast to our 50,000th visitor (and 635th post) here at Roxiticus Desperate Housewives. As of 7:30pm on Saturday night, we're up to Visitor #49,909, so YOU could be the one who helps me hit the big 5-0-K. Scroll down and check the Sitemeter at the bottom of the page, and please leave a comment if you're The One.

And what kind of celebration would it be without a gala awards ceremony? I'm going to slip into a little black dress to accept an award on behalf of Roxiticus Desperate Housewives and pass it on to other deserving sites. My good blogosphere buddy Mariuca honored me with the Uber (synonym to Super) Amazing Blog Award, a blog award given to a site that:
~ inspires you
~ makes you smile and laugh
~ or maybe gives amazing information
~ a great read
~ has an amazing design
~ and any other reasons you can think of that makes them uber amazing!

The rules of this award are:
* Put the logo on your blog or post.
* Nominate at least 5 blogs (can be more) that for you are Uber Amazing!
* Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog.
* Share the love and link to this post and to the person you received your award from.

I'd like to honor the following blogs with the Uber Amazing Blog Award, and I'm hoping to pick a few of my faves that haven't already been tagged and that many of my loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives haven't visited on a regular basis:

• Mister Scott and Run-A-Bout, who is currently competing with me in a BlogExplosion Battle of the Blogs;
• Spicy Bug;
• Deb On the Rocks, who always makes me laugh;
• Shelly, aka The Mom With Brownies; and
• Tricia's Musings, my blogosphere role model.

Unless I'm fast asleep when it happens, I'll be sure to give you an update when our 50,000th visitor joins the party here at Roxiticus Desperate Housewives. In the meantime, do drop in and visit these five terrific blogs. And don't forget, tell 'em Roxy sent you!

The Widows of Eastwick, The Witches of the Blogosphere

I just picked up my November issue of Reader's Digest and read a great interview with "The Scribe of Suburbia" -- John Updike, who at age 76 just completed his new novel, The Widows of Eastwick. It's a sequel his 1984 bestseller, The Witches of Eastwick, which was made into a fun movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon, Cher and Jack Nicholson. The Widows of Eastwick picks up with the same intriguing trio of witches, several decades older now but at no loss for fresh challenges.

The following negative review from Publishers Weekly still has me mesmerized by Updike's Witches/Widows: "Motivated by advancing age, loneliness, latent guilt and a sense of unfinished business, the erstwhile Witches of Eastwick return to their former Rhode Island coastal town in this tepid sequel to the 1984 novel. Alexandra, the fleshy Earth Mother; Jane, the wasp-tongued snob; and Sukie, a would-be sexpot operating beyond her expiration date, have each survived the second marriages that took place following their flight from Eastwick in the early '70s, after a rival, Jenny Gabriel, died as a result of their spell. Where before they were strong, sassy, lusty and empowered, now in late middle-age they are vulnerable, fearful and in thrall to their aging bodies. Witchcraft is now beyond them; when they try to resurrect their supernatural powers to atone for their guilt, an inadvertent death ensues. While Updike remains amazingly capable of capturing women's thoughts about their bodies and their sex lives, the plot never gains momentum; the first hundred pages, in fact, are tedious travelogues covering the widows' travels to Egypt and China. Updike's observations about culture and social disharmony flash with their customary brilliance—a less than sparkling Updike novel is still an Updike novel."

In both "Witches" and "Widows," the leading ladies have magical powers and men are helpless to resist them. I'm excited to see how the three witches have changed over the past 25 years. As Updike shared in his Reader's Digest interview, "One way to deal with being elderly as a writer is to make your characters elderly, so I aged the witches and had them return to the place of their prime. It was fun to write."

Updike's sequel definitely made it to the top of Roxy's Christmas Wish List and got me thinking about all of the witches I run into when making my way around the blogosphere via EntreCard or BlogExplosion. One of the charming elements of the Witches of Eastwick movie back in the late 80s was the notion that there were beautiful witches living quietly among us in suburbia, coming up with spells to solve problems in daily lives. From what I've found in the blogosphere, John Updike was onto something, and there really are witches among us. Check out a few of my favorite Witches of the Blogosphere:

Pandora's Casket: From working on Ebay to pagan issues and raising a family in a small town, one never knows what they will find here.




Modern Witchcraft School: Tips, hints and other fun and thought provoking articles for students and general viewers to gain more insightful knowledge on what "we" are really about.



The Simple Witch: a monthly print publication (since 2006) relating to Wicca, Paganism, Spiritualism and other New Age beliefs.



Stir the Cauldron: Lady Rose and Mama Kelly (best friends, wiccan, and Reiki practitioners) share their collection and knowledge -- including tarot basics and how tos, facts, trivia and fun, with a touch of magic, and related topics such as spirit guides, spirituality, Reiki, divination, Wicca, and the paranormal.

Now, as far as I know, I've never met a witch in person. Since our family moved out from Manhattan's West Village to the Roxiticus Valley (Mendham, Bernardsville, Chester, Randolph, Far Hills, Morris and Somerset Counties), NJ, I've wondered if I might run into a witch here in suburbia. Perhaps she would stand out from the crowd on Halloween as we met our neighbors trick-or-treating? Or, instead of inviting the Westmont Montessori moms over for a tupperware, jewelry, or lingerie party, a witch might have a more creative theme night at her place?

How 'bout it, loyal Roxiticus Desperate Housewives readers... Are you a witch? Have you ever met one? Am I living in the wrong neighborhood for witchcraft? How will I know if I do run into a witch or two in suburbia?

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee, Then Get Out to the Big One Day Sale at Sears -- Saturday, November 15, 2008

What are your plans for the weekend?

London, Maddie, Rex and I are just kicking back tonight, watching new episodes of Suite Life of Zack and Cody on the Disney Channel. Unfortunately, my 83-year-old mom fell and broke her pelvis, so tomorrow our family will be helping her to make the transition from Somerset Medical Center to rehab, where Grandmom will be recovering for the next few weeks. I'm still hoping to make it to the Big One Day sale at Sears tomorrow -- Saturday, November 15th. There are some real doorbuster items at the lowest price of the season that make it worth my while to wake up, grab a cup of coffee, and get in on the early-open special deals first thing tomorrow morning.

I know my friends Susan and Mike, who are out celebrating Mike's birthday at Plucky's Tavern tonight (check out Roxy's Best Of... Pluckemin, NJ for a review sometime next week), are in the market to upgrade their megapixels with a new digital camera. At the Sears one day sale event tomorrow, they can get a Canon Powershot 8.0 megapixel 4X optical digital zoom still camera for $149.99, and that's before an additional $30 instant savings. That's a great price for a great brand...I never go anywhere without my Canon Digital Rebel, and Susan could surprise Mike with a hot new digital camera from Sears for his birthday.

I'm also looking ahead to low-priced Christmas gifts for Grandmom and Grammy. Both Rex's mom and my mom are hard to shop for every year, but Sears has a Nextar 7 digital photo frame on sale tomorrow for only $39.99...what grandmother wouldn't love an endless stream of photos of London and Maddie in action on their living room table?

So wish me luck getting my mom situated to recover from her fall over the next few weeks, not to mention figuring out how we'll be celebrating Thanksgiving...and remember, the early bird catches the worm at Sears one day sales event tomorrow -- Saturday, November 15th.

We’re All In This Together: Lynette Gives Roxy a Lesson on the Importance of Friendship in Troubled Times

I was surfing around the blogosphere yesterday and came across a thoughtful post on Lofty Matters about "Increasing Anxiety and Depression in Economic Recession." Lofty Matters shared the headlines from the American Psychological Association's online surveys about recent high levels of stress, along with a few of the economic statistics triggering these spikes in anxiety and depression. None of the information was surprising, but the post also offered sound advice and the following coping strategies to help with increasing and widespread anxiety in the midst of the current economic situation gripping the world:

• Develop a "pause but not panic" approach to decision-making. We often want to react immediately to bad news but this can often make a problem worse.
  
• Eliminate negative habits like gambling, substance abuse or overeating. Instead, engage in activities like exercise, meditation and hobbies. Roxy would add that people who recognize the warning signs of addictive behavior should seek out support through a local 12-step program such as Alcoholics Anonymous. While I have never attended a meeting, I have seen the results of these programs in action and have become a believer in the power of support groups.
  
• Consider counseling if symptoms persist. You may find useful tools for sorting through emotions and options.
  
• View these challenges as opportunities for growth. Look for ways to improve your professional skills, consider volunteering for work projects, and re-evaluate your planned career path. Roxy will be writing more about this concept in a future post based on the oldest self-help book in the world…Napoleon Hill's 1937 best seller, Think and Grow Rich.

All of this is a lead-in to a phone call I received from my good friend Lynette yesterday. Our families have been friends since the summer of 2004, when we met at a Westmont Montessori new family orientation, and we've stuck together through good times and bad. Lynette was calling to say that I had been on her mind, and to invite me over for lunch. She picked up my favorite Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks and a panini at Amazon Café in Chester, NJ. When I arrived, Lynette reminded me that it was the first anniversary of her mother's passing away last November, and I quickly found myself in tears at the kitchen table as Lynette began to talk optimistically about her mother's belief in the importance of friendship. While Lynette's mom was one of those fortunate people who made and kept dear friends all her life, including a kindergarten friend who attended her funeral, friendship doesn't come as easy or last as long for all of us. I do my best to keep in touch with my friends from high school and college, but distance and busy calendars often get in the way. My lunch with Lynette was a reminder of the importance of friendship in troubled times. I don't pretend to be smart enough to have the answers to our troubled economy, but I do know that the love and support our friends can go a long way to calm our stress.

I'm hoping this post will inspire each of you to make a phone call and reach out to a friend. Whether you're reaching out to lend your support or to ask for it, I guarantee that both you and your friend will be uplifted by making the effort. Pardon the High School Musical lyric, but we're all in this together.

Thanks, Lynette!

Roxy Saves: Holiday Shopping in the Current Economy

About a week ago, I started a new feature here at Roxiticus Desperate Housewives called "Roxy Saves." With the current economic conditions, all of us are tightening our belts, but we'd still like to be able to exchange holiday gifts with our loved ones. Rex and I have discussed holiday shopping with many of our friends, and it feels like our families have all agreed to reduce spending amongst the grown-ups, but we all want to keep Christmas special for our kids.

Responding to shoppers' concerns about the eonomy, Kmart has unveiled an unparalleled assortment of over 25,000 exclusive, exciting gifts under $25 for your home and family from America’s favorite brands...including LeapFrog Leapster Learning Games (various titles priced at $24.99), Craftsman®, Route 66, Joe Boxer, Martha Stewart Everyday, and lots more. If you shop smart with Kmart, you'll continue to find unbeatable prices and Blue Light Specials on exclusive brands and products for everyone on your gift list, whether they've been naughty or nice.

If you'd rather shop in your jammies than head out to the store, you'll find Kmart's complete collection of 25,000 gifts under $25 online at Kmart.com. While you're there, sign up to receive e-mail updates including special store hours, in-store deals and online-only sales to help you find the best value as you make your list, check it twice, and wrap up your holiday shopping.

If You Build It, They Will Come

Does everyone remember Kevin Costner in Field of Dreams? I need you all to conjure up that famous line, "If you build it, they will come" and stay with me for a while...there's a special invitation for you at the end of this post, so feel free to skip ahead if you don't have the patience for "Once upon a time..."

When Rex, London, Maddie and I moved out to the Roxiticus Valley in October 2003 from a co-op on the Hudson River in New York City’s West Village, we didn’t know where to find anything: toddler ballet classes, butchers and prepared foods, local clothing boutiques, and all sorts of personal services, from pediatricians to florists to our now beloved cake lady. As our little girls grew up over the past five years, from ages 2.5 and 1.5 to 7.5 and 6.5, we discovered age appropriate opportunities for them, and favorite restaurants for grown-up play dates.

In August 2005, I was inspired to start my own blog by Instructions to the Double, the personal blog of a New York City nanny named Tess (you can read her story here). I launched Roxiticus Desperate Housewives as a local blog focused on family life in the “Greater Roxiticus Valley.” As I began posting my experiences on a daily basis, I realized that my family’s struggle to find the best of everything – kid stuff (ballet, gymnastics, tennis lessons, summer camp), restaurants, food and wine (butchers, caterers, cake ladies), home services (realtors, handymen, plumbers, electricians), professional services (doctors, dentists, pediatricians), personal services (florists, hairdressers, nail salons, spas), events and entertainment – could benefit many other families, instead of being limited to word of mouth.

I'm proud to report that, while I've been entertaining all of you international visitors (coming up on the 50,000 mark since I started counting in February 2008) with tales of the Roxiticus Desperate Housewives, their family dramas, sexual pecadilloes and whatever the milkman delivers each morning, both the original Roxiticus Desperate Housewives and Roxy’s Best Of… online community of local web sites have become valuable information resources for local families.

"If you build it, they will come." In the header of my Roxy's Best Of... main page, you'll find the words "coming to a local area near you!" Recognizing that one Roxy can’t do it all, I'd like to invite YOU to write about your hometown... the local area where you’ve become an expert. No commitment necessary, just post to your Roxy's Best Of... site any time you've enjoyed a terrific meal at a local restaurant, or when you'd like to tell everyone about your favorite local boutique. Jason Buckley of Washington Interns Gone Bad fame has been making regular contributions to Roxy's Best Of... the San Francisco Bay Area. Yesterday Matt Urdan, best known for his Meltwater.Torrents.Meanderings.Delta. blog and the new Inside Government educational site, just wrote his first post on the Franklin Cider Mill for