Posts Tagged ‘Danielle’

You never know what you’re going to find when you go exploring the local flea market. It’s a one stop shop for all kinds of food, music, jewelry, cell phone accessories, things “As Seen On TV” and the latest trends — right now, scarves in high demand. To me, that’s a wonderful thing.

I first fell in love with flea markets as a little kid. Every Saturday, my dad used to take my brother and I to the Berlin Farmer’s Market (Berlin, NJ). I remember holding on to two of my dad’s fingers or and even riding on his shoulders. We’d get gigantic flavored popcorn balls and those little boxes of white things that < <::SNAP::>> when you throw them. (Does anyone know what they’re called?) That’s where I fell in love with that cardboard/pizza rink pizza, orange soda and Bubblicious gum.

One time, my dad got us a bunch of parakeets! We had an entire cage full. Oh, the best was when he’d get freshly cut cheesesteak from the butcher and we’d have homemade sandwiches for lunch.

Now, it’s a treat to go to the flea market. I usually go with my BFF, Danielle to the Columbus Farmer’s Market (Columbus, NJ). It’s pretty routine — she comes to my house on a Sunday at 8ish and we head out. On the ride, we catch up and listen to music, stop to get cash at Wawa and put a shopping strategy together.

We’ve gone through a number of obsessive buying trends — for example, those stretchable Italian charm bracelets and “designer” handbags. I remember when my dad got us “Oakley” windbreakers there! Man, I was the coolest thing in sixth and seventh grade.

Now, Danielle gets her candles from a store inside; I get “meat on a stick” (yes, that early); we eat Pete’s Pizza; and get bags of candied nuts. The last time we were there, I got a pile of hair accessories for $5. It was four for $1, fill a bag for $5. No lie, it was all stuff by Conair and Goody. I strategically stacked everything inside the little plastic bag. I swear, there were 25+ packages of pins, clips, rubber bands, headbands, etc. — all with cute designs on them.

I guess the main reason I like to go is to walk around, get exercise and try new foods like roasted corn, fried oreos or pizza on a braided pretzel. You never know what kind of bargains or random things you can buy or eat!
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Since I’m 30 now … here’s a list of 30 things what I’m thankful for:
1. My fiancée, Sweet William! He loves me for my craziness, randomness, dreams and goals.
2. Gabby and Sofia — my beautiful and fun nieces.
3. My brother, Mike, and his wife, Kim. They give so much to the community …
4. Hardworking parents. They’ve given me so much!
5. Front-row friends.
6. Cousins by the truck-load.
7. Loving and supportive “in-laws.” They are so generous!
8. My SUV. I can drive in the snow!
9. A set of new, sharp knives. I love cutting stuff now.
10. Inspirational books.
11. People that challenge me.
12. My Fit Friends, my workout partners and students.
13. Writing mentors — Holly and Greta, who really helped develop me and encourage me as a writer.
14. My Twitter friends.
15. People who give me blog love.
16. My favorite aunts — Auntie Evelyn, Auntie Alice and Aunt Diane.
17. Danielle — my maid of honor/BFF.
18. My education. No one can take that away.
19. My job at Amerikick. I’ve been teaching there for almost nine years.
20. Private jokes that make me laugh, even when I’m by myself.
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After yesterday, I now know that it would be super awesome to be a professional bridal expo attendant. Kinda like Wedding Crashers, but not. Why? At expos, there’s free food, awesome raffles, good music and dancing … and more.

The “and more” I’m talking about? Yeah, so apparently I met men from Club Risque. It was pretty hilarious. At first I was scared and started sweating! But they were totally cool. We danced and fist-pumped, and I’m totally going there for my bachelorette. (Scrap the paint pottery idea!)

Oh, and I got this bag full of free magazines, and Danielle (my maid of honor) and I got to goof around and take pictures in the photo booths.

The best part of the day was when Danielle made me volunteer to get up on stage and dance. Let me back up a bit. So they had a stage set up for a fashion show and different vendors shared tips, etc. Like, apparently, now I know how to pose so I look good in my wedding pictures!

So anyway, there was an entertainment/music company there. They were awesome. They picked me to come up on stage and dance! Yup, I fist pumped and beat the beat — but I did the twist, meringue and all that too. It was pretty hilarious. Danielle said everyone was going crazy laughing and loving it. I was all into it and living it up!

Now I’m just waiting for some emails to come in saying that I won some free stuff!!

So people are freaking out about MTV’s Jersey Shore. Some people hate it, some people love it. GUESS WHAT? I’m feelin’ it. I don’t go to those “North Jersey” shores though — FYI, the show takes place in Seaside Heights, NJ. (And seriously, that’s how it is up there — “guidos” and “guidettes,” tats and big hair.) It’s just funny. We were ALL young and what-not at some point.

I’m a SOUTH Jersey girl, and I go down to South Jersey shores. You know — Sea Isle, Cape May, Ocean City, Wildwood, Avalon. Rumor has it that the next season of Jersey Shore is going to be in Sea Isle, NJ. I like that! It will be funny to watch the show and see places that I used to hang out at — when I was young and awesome!
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Front-row friends – The first people you call to share good news and bad news. They tell you how it is with the best of intentions. You cry hardest and laugh uncontrollably together. They’re clapping when you succeed and gasp when you fall … and stay strong when you are weak. They’re in your front-row because they’ve earned a spot there.

I don’t know what I’d do without my friends. They are so good to me — and they love me for all my crazy ideas … and support everything I’m passionate about. I wear an outfit held together by scotch tape — literally, my pants were hemmed and my belt was help together with scotch tape — and they tell me I look great! I tell them I love twitter and how Comedy Central retweeted me — and they say — NO WAY!!!

Anyway, this blog post is an ode to the people who are in my “front row.” You know, those people that are there cheering you on to every new adventure.

Danielle, aka “bff” and maid of honor

How we met: Freshman year in high school, we were on the same bus. Our parent’s live about two minutes from each other. One time, early in our freshman year, Danielle gave me a “piece of chocolate” — it really was a laxative. I ended up running from the track to the bathroom in gym class. Keep your “enemies” closer, right?

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