Finding Your “Key”

Posted on November 19, 2013 by Tara Darazio

Did you ever look at something you use all the time and see it in a whole new light? I felt this way yesterday, therefore inspiring this blog about, wait for it…keys.

A key is a pretty magical little creation isn’t it? Little grooves and cut-outs that fit perfectly into a door, a lock, a treasure chest. I was at work yesterday (back in the office one day a week) and I work in a beautiful venue with many doors and locks and keys. I was looking at the golden key I was using to open the ballroom, feeling the weight of the heavy wooden door as I heard the click of it opening, and then the sound of the rest of my keys jingling in anticipation. It’s a strangely powerful feeling opening a giant door like that with a golden key.

Did you ever find a key in your junk drawer (does anyone else have these drawers?) and have NO idea what it opened. Didn’t it make you wonder? Didn’t you want to go searching for an answer? And I bet if you look, there are keys on your very own key ring that you carry everyday, of which you have no idea to what door they belong.

And did you ever keep a key for nostalgia? Maybe from your first car or your first home. Remember when we had to actually open our car doors with a key? Seems so strange to think of it now. And with ID cards you scan to get into doors, and codes, and all the other fancy schmancy technology out there, keys may someday, not even exist. And that makes me very sad.

Old keys are the best. I’ve always been fascinated with their intricate and ornate designs. They were little pieces of art. Keys today are so boring. One of the books/movies I loved growing up was The Secret Garden. And the movie contains one of my very favorite keys. It’s so gorgeous. I want to hold it, feel how heavy it is, smell the metal, hell, I’d hang that on my wall just so I could look at it everyday.

Image from http://imgfave.com/view/2466891

Image from http://imgfave.com/view/2466891In the movie,

In the movie, this key is found by a little girl named Mary and it leads her to, of course, The Secret Garden. The key is the first step in changing the lives of so many, definitely a movie worth watching if you’ve never seen it.

It got me thinking, what if we each had our own magical, old key that opened the doors to our wildest dreams, our deepest fears, our strongest passions. What would your key look like? I can design mine in my head right now. In fact, it’s the next tattoo idea I have. I want MY key.

Think about your key today and if it was REAL, what would you use it for? I want to take all the bad, scary, negative things in my life and lock them away in a box when I need to, keeping that key out of reach. And I want a key that opens the door to pure joy and happiness. And I want a key that can open a box of memories. A key I can use to relive the amazing times I’ve been blessed with in my life, seeing them again, being there again.

The next time I’m opening a door at work, or locking up my house, or starting my car, I’m going to take a moment to appreciate these little guys. Each key unique, each one with a purpose, each one important – just like all of you. 🙂

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The Moment They Knew They Found The One

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Tara Darazio

My friend gave me the idea for this post, and I am pretty in love with the results. I reached out to four couples and had them share their story of how they knew they had found the one. In reading them, and also in thinking of my own story, we all kind of said the same exact thing. We just knew. And we all know how hard it is to explain to someone who hasn’t had this feeling, what it’s like. But maybe these stories will give you a good idea. When you hear someone say it’s like someone hits you over the head with a sledgehammer, it really is true. It’s the most powerful feeling you will ever experience. I’m a sucker for love and romance, so I’ll start with my own:

Tara and Justin:
I met Justin in a bar. A totally random place to meet your one and only. And I’ve written about this before, but honestly, I saw him, and it was like a magnet was pulling me towards him. You know in movies when there is that tunnel vision and you can only focus on one thing and everything else around you disappears… that was how I felt. And I definitely wasn’t looking for anyone when I met Justin. I had just ended a long relationship, and was honestly ready to be single for a while. I had just graduated from college and had spent the summer with my friends, traveling and going out, not looking for anything serious. I went up and talked to Justin and we hit it off immediately. I actually offered to buy him a drink, because that’s the type of gal I am, and he said that really surprised him and he knew I was special. I want to keep these stories short, so I won’t get into too much detail, but after the entire night of talking and dancing, we were saying goodbye, and I was already in my car. I rolled down my window to wave, and he bent down and gave me the sweetest peck on the lips, like we had known each other for years. That was my moment. I knew I wanted to marry him. I told my mom (ask her, seriously) that night, that I had met my husband. She laughed, but it was true. The stats: Dated for 6 weeks before getting engaged (yes, you read that right), engaged for 11 months, now married for 7 years, and we have one beautiful little boy 🙂

Rae Beth and Tim:
Tim and I have actually known each other since the 7th grade; however the signs were never there until about sometime in early 2007. I had been in another relationship but spending some time with Tim and his friends, as my boyfriend at the time lived further away. I could tell that something was different when spending time with Tim. Despite the signs that were all around me, I decided to move in with said boyfriend, about 1.5 hours south of my hometown. Within a month, I was constantly driving back and forth so I could spend time with my new-found friends, without the boyfriend. The most significant moment to me was Halloween 2007. I was in a friend’s apartment for a Halloween party, knowing Tim was going to be there (obviously, as these were his friends). I heard he arrived and was coming up the stairs, and those butterflies in my stomach, man they were strong! It was then that I knew I was with the wrong guy. It took me about 2 more months to muster up the energy to tell the current boyfriend that it was time for us to move on and I was moving back home.  The day after I moved home was when Tim and I went on our first date (January 19, 2008); we have been inseparable since.

I honestly think I always knew; I just felt a connection with him. When we were talking about the future (and that was pretty early on), we were talking of the exact same thing; and wanted those things with each other. I knew that he meant it. I knew it by the way he treated me, the way he comforted me.  He was always such a gentleman and everything I was hoping for in a significant other. The stats: Dated for 2 years before getting engaged, engaged for 18 months, married for 2 years, and are expecting our first baby, due December 31, 2013. We could not be any happier!

Stephanie and Dan: I was lucky enough to get both of their stories
Steph: We met at Martial Arts class. I was getting ready to begin class and I looked across the room and saw a guy come in and our eyes briefly met. I knew from the moment we looked at each other this was it. He was the one. After 1 year of serious flirting, Dan finally had the courage to ask me out! Of course I said yes!

Dan: I remember already being in class training and saw her out of the corner of my eye. I got excited but went back to training (I was pretty dedicated to training). Don’t remember how or when or how long we did, but we started talking and did the usual flirting and stuff.  Don’t remember the exact day but I think it was some time around Halloween because she still had her hair styled from a costume party or something.  I remember thinking how really good she looked with her hair that way. We were in the corner of the martial art school stretching together and talking and that’s when it hit me, I remember thinking to myself that I could spend the rest of my life with her.  It was a pretty long road after that, I was really shy back then and was afraid to ask her out.  We had a couple of near misses before we finally went out and started dating.  We had a lot of rough times throughout this whole ordeal but I always knew that I would marry her. The stats: Dated for 6 years before getting engaged, engaged for 9 months, married for 8 years, and have 2 beautiful and awesome daughters!

Cindi and Zach: From Zach’s point of view (love to hear the guys!)
Cindi and I have an interesting history. We actually started working with each other 3 years before we started dating. I was a third-party contractor at work and she was our boss on the client’s side. Side note: pretty much defining her role in our relationship as the boss (before I even knew it) 🙂. Anyway, we were pretty good friends for three years. I always knew I had a little crush on her, but never thought it would amount to anything. I was so set that she had no interest that I ignored the signs from her. She started asking me to hang out without any of our mutual friends…and, still, I had no idea. Had I known, I might not have blown her off to hang out with other friends! Who knew I was missing out on once-in-a-lifetime memories! One night we finally hung out, and it all came together. It was like fireworks in the sky!  I am pretty sure I knew from that night that she was the one. But, if I were to be conservative, one night about three months into our relationship it was cemented. We were lying on the couch snuggling. At that moment, I knew that she was the only one for me and that I wanted to be permanently in this surreal moment. So, it just came out, “I love you.” Thankfully, she felt the same way and now, we are destined to live the rest of our lives together! The stats: Dated 2.5 years before getting engaged, currently engaged with a wedding planned for September of 2014, which will make it a 19 month engagement.

Michelle and Domenic:
I was with a wonderful guy before I met Dom, there was nothing wrong with him at all, he just wasn’t the one for me. I met Dom at a mutual friend’s wedding, finding out some strange coincidences. We grew up in the same neighborhood, like literally the house behind me, but I went to Catholic school and he went to public school. He dated a girl who went to Kent and I dated a guy that went to Kent. He dated a girl who went to Point Park, and that is where I went to college! And we both weren’t even supposed to be at that wedding, but I went with a good friend, and Dom’s best friend had invited him to the wedding as a date. We talked at the wedding, but reconnected later thanks to Facebook. Social media strikes again! I don’t know if there was a black and white moment I knew he was the one, but meeting him at that wedding, made me realize I was with the wrong guy, a very strong feeling, that I hadn’t been able to fully grasp until that night. I felt immediately like I could be myself with Dom. I believe everything happens for a reason, and all my paths led me to Dom. The stats: Dated for 2 years before getting engaged, engaged for 2 years, married for 3 months and going strong!

Everybody has their own unique story, but it’s amazing how similar the stories turned out to be. I think what we can all agree upon, is that we can be ourselves with our significant others, and that we felt immediate connections with them for no reason at all, most of us, before we even spoke a single word. I do believe that our hearts have to find their other half, and if we are lucky enough to do that, fate will let us know. Maybe it’s not a moment for you, maybe it’s a feeling that happens over time, but no matter the case, you will know.

I keep singing this lately and it’s a perfect ending for this blog:
Wish that I could stay forever this young
Not afraid to close my eyes
Life’s a game made for everyone
And love is the prize
-Avicii

Love is definitely the prize. We all deserve someone who gives us butterflies, makes us feel like the only person in the room, and completes us. Please share your moments with me. I’d love to hear them!

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Letting Someone Else Tell Me What To Do: My Yankee Candle Experiment

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Tara Darazio

I’m a control freak. I admit that with no hesitation. I know it’s a problem, but it’s my problem. Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it. OOPS. There I go again. Trying to control everything. I’m fighting with my own thoughts now.

But yesterday, just for a day, I decided to relinquish that control freaki-ness on a trip to the mall with my little one. I knew I needed to go to Yankee Candle. I had a coupon (you know my obsession with coupons) but that was all I knew. I had no idea or plan on what I wanted to buy. That doesn’t normally happen with me. I’m the type of person who researches everything before they make a purchase. I’m the type of person who has calendars and whiteboards and legal pads of notes and events and things I need to do, because I’m ridiculously organized in a scary way.

I can see the look of WTF on my husband’s face when I go on one of my rants, “We need to stop here, and get a sitter for this day, and we need stamps, and we all need new outfits for those photos, and…yada, yada, here’s our agenda for FOREVER.

Sometimes I HATE the way that I am. I wish I could let others make plans, but I always seem to take the lead. I was always the “leader” in group projects,  the friend that calls the other friends to plan get-togethers. I was the “mom” in the group, before I was the actual mom, and it’s gotten worse as I’ve gotten older.

But now, I’ve put myself into this role, and people expect it. My family looks to me when it comes to planning outings. They know I’ve already researched mileage, coupons, restaurants, planned our itinerary, chosen where we will stop to take photos. They laugh at me, but they secretly love my planning essence. I hope, lol.

But back to yesterday. I just didn’t want to be in charge. I didn’t want to make any decisions. I wanted someone to tell me what to do, guide me. I wanted to let someone else be me for the day, and boy did I LOVE that feeling.

Normally when a sales associate comes up to me in a store, I thank them, but tell them I know what I am looking for, because I honestly always do. But when the woman came up to me yesterday and asked if I needed help, I said yes. I even felt strange saying that, but she was so amazing, and I’m  glad I had the chance to speak with her.

She was ON IT, when it came to helping me find what I wanted (which was weird, because I didn’t know what I wanted).  In about 15 minutes, we had went over several products, and I found myself just saying yes to everything she showed me. It felt good to be led, and to trust someone’s opinions and expertise. She got me over the amount I needed to spend for my coupon and even talked me into buying an extra candle at the end because it was on sale. I NEVER give in to things like this, but I walked out of there with my bag of scents feeling empowered.

Now of course today I am looking at the receipt and wondering how the hell I spent that much on candles, but honestly, sometimes it feels good to just let go and do something crazy. Be someone else for a day. If you’re the control freak, let someone else make a plan. They may surprise you. We can’t do it all ourselves, and we shouldn’t try.

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All You Need Is Love…Or A 40 Foot Rubber Duck

Posted on September 30, 2013 by Tara Darazio

If you live in Pittsburgh, you know exactly what it means when someone asks if you’ve seen the duck. For three weeks, our beautiful river will be home to a 40 foot rubber duck, yes, you read that right, part of The Rubber Duck Project: “a series of sculptures that has floated along the world’s waterfronts, delighting onlookers in places like Amsterdam, Osaka, Sydney, Sao Paulo, and Hong Kong. Artist Florentijn Hofman views the Duck as a lovable global ambassador. “We are living on one planet,” he told WESA Pittsburgh, “and all the waters in the world become our global bathtub, so we are one family where we have to take care of each other in this bathtub of the rubber duck.” (Quoted from this article).

First view of the big yellow one

First view of the big yellow one

Of course my husband and I, being very kid-like ourselves, were pumped to see the duck. And it only helped that we have a two and a half-year old, that we knew would also love it! We went to The Point on Saturday, just one day after Mr. Duck’s debut, and although crowded, it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought.

It was a PERFECT day. The sky was an awesome shade of blue, the air wasn’t humid, and the mist from the fountain gave off just the right amount for a quick cool down. I knew I wanted to blog about this because I was fascinated at the LOVE that surrounded that duck.

A rubber duck to most people reminds them of childhood. It’s an iconic figure that made us laugh, and seeing a giant one, well that can just about do wonders.

Normally in a crowd of people, you find a lot of pushing, yelling, general annoyance, but I didn’t see one ounce of that by the duck. People were overly happy, excited, joyous. I counted 10 people who asked someone if they wanted them to take a picture, and we had a lovely family man snap one for us, as well. People were kind, quick to move away so the next batch of folks could see, and I myself stopped in my tracks for about three minutes so I wouldn’t ruin someone’s shot, and I saw dozens of others doing the same. RESPECT was floating all around that day. It felt like Christmas, when people seem to take life a little slower, relish in moments, help others, act the way we should all year. Duck-mas was in full effect.

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My wonderful family

The duck brought everyone together. In our world of crazy, cool technology and everything 3-D, a giant duck that does nothing, shouldn’t be that interesting, but that was quite the contrary. People drove from all over the place to come and see the duck. Why? Because they knew it would bring them happiness. We all want to smile, see our kids smile, heck, even see strangers smile, and the duck would do just that.

I loved seeing the faces of little kids as they got up close to the duck. I loved watching an elderly couple stroll along the walkway, even stopping to take a selfie with the duck in the background. I loved being a part of a historical moment in our City, spending the time with my family, a story to tell for ages to come.

So I urge you, if you are anywhere near Pittsburgh, take a trip down to our visitor. He won’t sing, he can’t dance, he doesn’t light up, he won’t even notice you’re there, but you will smile, and sometimes smiling and laughing is just about as good as it gets.

QUACK, QUACK!

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Oh Michael, you “Bublé” me away!

Posted on September 22, 2013 by Tara Darazio

I have loved Michael Bublé since before it was cool to love him, and when my husband and I got the chance to go to his concert this past Friday night at CONSOL Energy Center with some of our best friends, we jumped at the chance!

Not only was it a beautiful Friday night in the Burgh, the concert far exceeded my expectations, and I cannot wait to see him perform live again.

I’m a very dramatic person, theatrical at heart, so of course I felt I had to be dressed to the nines to see Bublé. He’s such a classy, formal guy, and I wanted to be a part of his aura. As you can see from the pic, all of us stepped up our game for this special night and even though I was the only girl I saw wearing a bow tie, I’ll take it. I’m different and crazy and weird and wacky, and that’s me.

buble

As we were taking this photo, a woman stopped dead in her tracks to tell my husband that he looked like Bublé, which made him smile, as that is not the first time he’s heard that, and looking at this picture, I definitely see the resemblance. Now if I could just get him to sing like that and wear suits and bow ties all the time… 😉

We found ourselves sitting in a Loge, which is by far the way to go if you are thinking about seeing a concert there. It was our own private section, with a bar for our drinks, purses, cameras, etc. Our seats were super comfortable, like glorified office chairs on wheels, and we had a good five feet of space behind us to stand up, dance, sit back, whatever! We also had our own waitress, so we didn’t have to fight the crowds for a drink, and the view from the Loge was SPECTACULAR. All the seats at CONSOL are pretty great, but this took the cake. Pictures don’t even do it justice.

The LOGE

The LOGE

20130922-123627.jpgThe opening act was a group called Naturally 7. They are an amazing acapella group, turning their bodies into instruments. Really a great way to get the night started, and they came back to sing with Bublé later in the show.

Bublé is now not only one of my favorite singers, he’s one of my favorite people. I have been to a lot of concerts in my day and have never come across someone so genuine. I read a blog saying that when you go to his concerts, you feel like he is crooning just for you, and I absolutely agree with that.

When he first came out, he immediately started interacting  with the crowd. He made mention of some of the signs, even a few way in the back with LED lights on them. One girl had a sign saying it was her 18th birthday, so he brought her down to the stage, gave her a hug and a kiss, and had the whole stadium sing Happy Birthday to her. Right from the get go, the show was about his fans, not him. What a special night for that girl, and what an awesome memory to make. He brought up a little girl later in the show that had a sign for him, and serenaded her with You’ve Got A Friend In Me. Her face was priceless, and he even gave her the mic to sing along with him.

His show was two hours of non-stop action, and he is one of the best live singers I have ever seen. He sang a lot of his original songs, a lot of classics, threw in some Elvis, even sang the new Daft Punk song. Scattered between songs he bantered with the crowd, told stories of his early days singing in nightclubs, and how fame didn’t come to him until later in his life, and how he’s happy about that. He talked about his new baby boy, his wife, and even took a gift from a woman in the front, opening it with excitement, and holding it up for the crowd to see. It was a little Pittsburgh Penguins outfit, and he jokingly replied that it was really nice, but that he would never fit into it. He’s really funny. Much funnier than I imagined him to be, and that took the concert to a whole other level.

He did an awesome section where he introduced every member of his band. The screens, backdrops, and effects throughout the whole show were fantastic, and during this part, each guy’s photo was put up and they performed a solo. Bublé made up funny anecdotes about each guy and it was super endearing to see an artist put so much love into his band, realizing they are just as much a part of his fame, than he himself.

About halfway through the show, Bublé walked through the entire floor section to reach the secondary, smaller stage, where he sang a few numbers. Stupendous for us, as we were really close.

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Second Stage

You really feel the utter joy and love in the air at his concerts, with one of the best moments being a huge explosion of heart-shaped confetti fluttering around the entire stadium, as he sang All You Need is Love. 

His encore was over and above the normal one song come back, it was more like four songs, and he came out with a new dapper suit, and an energy even higher than before. We were all sad to leave that concert. We didn’t want it to end. And it’s now a tradition for the four of us to go to Bublé  every time he comes back to our City.

So thank you Michael, you are a true class act. Continue to keep making beautiful music. You were born to do it.

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We’re Growing Out Of Our House

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Tara Darazio

We keep outgrowing our surroundings. We have lived in one apartment and two houses in the past eight years, and again, I find myself ready to pack up and go. My neighbors are moving, they sold their house in three days, so of course that gets me excited about our chances of selling fast, and as they load up their big yellow Penske truck today and are off to Florida, I envy that feeling, the fresh start, the new beginning.

As I look around my house, I’m reminded daily of the lack of space. I feel like the walls are literally closing in on me. My living room, which we thought was a great size when we moved in, has turned into a badly organized Toys ‘R Us. I keep putting toys in bins after my son grows out of them, yet more toys keep appearing. It’s frightening.

My dining room/office #1 is in no way the formal eating area we imagined. My Dell laptop (I HATE PCs, I’M A MAC SNOB) is sitting atop my table, legal pads are strewn about with notes on what needs done for the million clients I have, power cords are plugged in everywhere, and the most action this table gets is a nice rub down when I Pledge every couple of days. I think I’ve served a giant meal with family around this table twice in four years.

Office #2 (bedroom #3) houses a huge computer desk with my beautiful iMac, the love of my life (besides my hubs and my kid) and sometimes sitting there writing, I forget about everything else around me. Then reality hits. Shelves upon shelves of scrapbook material (I’m only two years behind on that, so sue me), a basketball hoop of my sons, my keyboard I got for Christmas when I was 12 that is still awesome and still works, unlike my shredder also housed here, that I have to hit reverse on 5o times before I can shred one receipt, and a massive stockpile of “to sell on eBay” stuff. My husband has been doing a really sweet job of making us some extra dough by selling his old stuff, but holy hell, I am constantly tripping over wrestlers, Nintendo games, records, you name it. The man has three garbage bags full of wrestlers right now. He threw nothing away as a child, and I’m shocked at how much people will pay for these rubber men.

We have…

We had an awesome game room with a wet bar, that for the early part of our time living here was used solely for parties, and lots of them. There were plenty of places to house the five or six coolers our friends had, bar space for snacks and sweets, our college dorm-esque futon that I didn’t care if people spilled stuff on, and our old school computer. We would just spend hours looking up YouTube videos, taking turns as the DJ. The walls are adorned with vintage movie posters and photos: Audrey, Marilyn, James Dean, and it was just our space, our special space where so many memories were made and good times were had. Beer Pong was in the next room, and the boys bathroom downstairs, while us ladies went upstairs.

Now… the bathroom downstairs doesn’t work, and the only activity that game room sees is once a year on fantasy football draft day. It’s littered with everything. Baby swings and bouncers, highchairs, holiday decorations, bins of clothes, my husband’s home gym. I don’t even go in there anymore. It depresses me. Sometimes I look at my favorite pic of Audrey down there and just start singing Madonna, “This used to be my playground…” LOL!

Just as wowed I am every time my son grows out of something so quickly, I realize that we are growing out of our life, too. This “big” house seems so small. And the party days, few and far between. Now it’s us “adults” getting together so our own kids can play. I guess this is 30. I guess we had to grow up someday. And you know what, I like this new life. I like being older. I never thought I would, but you know who your true friends are at this point, and more importantly, you know more about yourself. So I’m sure a bigger house will come someday. I’ll try not to rush this time of my life. Years go by, people come and go, places change, and I want to remember everything.

If you need me, I’ll be at Walmart, buying yet another storage bin.

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The two days we needed more than we knew…

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Tara Darazio

If you read my blog a month or so ago, I wrote an entire piece about not going on vacation this year, and then low and behold, the stars aligned perfectly and my husband and I realized that although it would be short, we were actually going to be able to go away, just the two of us.

We haven’t went on a trip alone together since our son was born 2.5 years ago, so we were beyond excited. After an amazing weekday rate email deal came though at our favorite casino (The Tropicana) in Atlantic City and my mom had a random Tuesday and Wednesday off and was able to watch our little one, we were headed to paradise.

This felt very much like a second honeymoon for us. The Tropicana was where we stayed for our honeymoon and with our seven year anniversary coming up at the end of next month, it seemed fitting and strangely serendipitous that the room we got at the hotel was TWO doors down from our honeymoon room. Considering there are four different towers in the hotel, each with 20 or so floors, I find this to be magical, and the reason why I so believe in destiny and fate.

Inside The Quarter at the Tropicana

Inside The Quarter at the Tropicana

Inside The Quarter at the Tropicana

Inside The Quarter at the Tropicana

We only had two days of bliss, but we packed A TON into those 48 hours. Even though the drive was six hours each way, it was nice to just spend time together in the car talking, reminiscing, listening to music, making fun of billboards, just being us.

I think when you have kids, sometimes you lose a little of the “us” and it becomes so much about parenting and responsibility, that you forget to let loose and have fun, do the things that make you such a great couple. My husband and I are really two peas. We’re a lot alike, but also quite different, it’s the perfect balance. I have more fun with him than anyone in the world, and after eight years together, I still want to spend every minute I can with him. Even as I write this blog and he’s back at work after a week off, I miss him terribly.

I wanted to share a few highlights of our trip and some places to stop if you’re ever in AC. We went the Tuesday after Labor Day and let me tell you, the crowds were minimal and the beach was bare, great time of year!

The Rainforest Cafe. In all the years we’ve been coming to AC, this is always our first place to go for lunch. It’s a tradition now, and I don’t care if I’m 30 years old, I still love the fake thunderstorms and always have at least 10 pictures of the monkeys and elephants. We got burgers which never tasted so good and I got some Island Rum drink that had more whipped cream on it than any one drink should house. It hit the spot.

HPIM3007

Next stop, the Pier Shops at Caesars. We always go there for the fountain water show, running every hour on the hour, which for seven years has been the exact same show. I love the familiarly of it, and it’s one of those things that just never gets old.

water

The mall is full of designer stores like Gucci and Burberry, along with regular every day stores, so it’s a great way to shop around no matter what you’re looking to buy. If you’re an It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia fan, you’ll know that Charlie says magnets are one of his hobbies, so we of course snapped a pic of this gem and tweeted it to him right away.

IMG_1680Nothing tops the views from the pier observation decks or on the second level, where you can sit on beach chairs set up in sand, looking out huge windows, and you feel like you’re in the middle of the ocean. It was beautifully overcast the first day we were there, and I love the sky in this picture.

ocean

Also in this mall, we found GlowGolf. Just what it sounds like, glow in the dark golf. Pretty freaking cool. It was 27 holes and about six different rooms, all with paintings of sea life adorning the walls. My hubs and I are very competitive when it comes to well, everything, and mini-golf has always been one of our biggest competitions. I started off great, but somehow lost it on a few holes with these mounds on top, and let’s just say that he ended up beating me by 18 strokes. Yes, 18. Epic fail on my part. But super fun, none the less.

IMG_1719The Bungalow Beach Bar was a highlight of the trip. It was tucked right beside the ocean and it was crisp and cool the night we went, so it felt like summer with a touch of fall around the corner. We only got a few drinks each and ended up paying $40, but it was worth it. They had really chill house music playing (my favorite) and it had a laid back and relaxing vibe about it. It was also a Hookah bar, my husband and I didn’t partake, although the guy wearing the Hookah Daddy t-shirt and carrying around the giant pipe was pretty amusing.

photo 1We of course did some gambling. We won a good amount on Blackjack, and killed it on the penny Monopoly slots. We hit a bonus after only three spins and thoroughly pissed off the lady beside us who was probably sitting there for an hour. DON’T play The Hangover slots, they sure sucked, and so did Deal or No Deal. We say every year we’re not going to do slots, but we can’t help it! We came home up on our gambling, so win for us!

Day Two we walked for an hour, all the way to the end of the boardwalk to check out the Revel Casino, and it was pretty spectacular. Words won’t even do it justice, so here’s a few pics of the views. Could you ask for a prettier sky?

photo 1 (2) photo 2 (2) photo 3 (2)Boardwalk Empire, one of our favorite shows started last night. Fell asleep like the old heads we are, so it’s on the DVR, but being in AC right before the start of this show (which is based on AC in the 20s) was pretty awesome. They were pushing the show everywhere and I’m still mad we didn’t end up buying some Nucky’s Atlantic City White.

wine

In between all these highlights, we ate at a lot of great restaurants, like Ri Ra Irish Pub where our waiter actually was Irish and had such a sweet accent, spent time talking, holding hands walking down the boardwalk, sitting on the beach and making sand pictures, and for a few days, turning into the Tara and Justin we were many, many years ago.

Coming home to our son was the best feeling in the world and we sure missed him more than he missed us. The three of us back together again feels perfect, but our two days away from reality was a new reminder to cherish each other always and remember what makes our love so special.  Thanks for reading and sharing in our trip!

And here’s  our classic “mean model” shot we always take on night one. Once you start, you can’t stop… Till next year AC. Miss you already!

IMG_6633

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My Top 10, Plus 1, List For Coupons and Deals – if you watch TV #11 will shock you!

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Tara Darazio

I used to get annoyed with “coupon people.” You’re trying to get out of the grocery store quickly and the person in front of you is digging through their wallet, holding up the line because the cashier has to check on some BOGO offer, etc., etc. I used to be a bit snobby with my purchases. I have expensive taste and back in the day I just bought what I wanted.

Now that I’m older, married, have a mortgage, bills, our two-year old to take care of, and live on one full-time salary and my freelance money (which is about half of what I used to make), I’m coupon crazy!

I’m not of those extreme coupon-ers. I don’t have time to do that, nor would I ever want to do that, I need my garage for my car, not for 80 bottles of Tide. But I think you can still save A LOT of money with just some simple ideas.

Here are the top ten, plus one,  places from which I get my deals. Hope it helps your family, too! There really is a feeling of excitement as you watch money drop off your total, a feeling of accomplishment. Hey, every dollar counts, right?!

1. Restaurant.com or local sites (for Pittsburgh
we have http://www.justpayhalfpittsburgh.com/) are awesome! There are always deals to find here. You can get a $50 gift card for $25 or other increments, and Restaurant.com often has promotions with movie companies. *This year I paid $35 for a deal (got an email about it because I subscribe) that gave me $100 in Restaurant.com money, 2 free movie tickets ($26 value) and $10 to dinnerandamovie.com.

2. The paper, or the flyers you get in the mail, usually on Tuesdays. Don’t throw these away! There are usually 1-2 pamphlets of coupons in there. You can easily find $5-$10 worth of savings for food items, and then they often have restaurant coupons, too. Also, don’t disregard those local coupon magazines. Around here’s it’s Clipper Magazine. There are some really great coupons in there, including many for home repair or maintenance. 

3. Store emails. I know our inbox is inundated, but if you really like a certain store, make sure you are on their email list. I get so many coupons via email, and most stores accept them electronically, so you don’t even have to worry about cutting them out. And if it’s not a coupon, sometimes it’s an online deal with a promo code sent to you. Definitely worth it. *This year I must have saved at least $100 at Michaels on craft stuff (they have great coupons), Old Navy is another nice one, Sears, Papa Johns, Hot Topic (yeah I shop there, lol), JC Penney and Macy’s – to name a few of my favorites. 

4. Opening credit cards. I did this TWICE this year, but that’s it, and that’s about how many times it’s worth it. And then once you have the card, you get tons of deals, too. *I was at Macy’s and I was buying a bag and my favorite perfume with some birthday money. Both of these were super pricey items. By opening a Macy’s card, I got 20% off each item, and then a bunch of follow-up coupons for future purchases, and special shopping passes with savings that only card holders receive. I saved close to $100. This credit card trick really only pays off if you are making a super large purchase. And ask about how you can pay off your card. Victoria’s Secret, for example, lets you pay your credit card total right at the register. So you can charge your items, reap all the points and benefits for having the card, and then pay the balance right off with cash, so you aren’t getting yourself into debt.

5. Product websites. Not all products have online coupons, but many do, especially cleaning products. If you need to buy something, or want to try a new product, check out the web site. Just Google it, too, and you will see if any coupons exist for that product. Sites I know have them for sure are Febreze, Clorox, Lysol, Swiffer…

6. Retailmenot.com is AMAZING. You can just search for whatever store you are buying from (online-based) and it will show you codes that are available to use. Sometimes it’s free shipping, or a percentage off. It pulls codes that are currently active and lets you know. 

7. For the digital person who doesn’t want to sit there and clip, there are TONS of coupons on sites like couponsuzy.com and couponmom.com. You can just virtually clip and print them out. Also, store loyalty cards. CVS, Rite Aid, Giant Eagle – you can actually download coupons to your Advantage Card at GE (from the website) which when they scan the card at checkout, will come off your total. And of course we all know about Fuel Perks, and buying gift cards at GE for places you are going to shop anyway, to help get those Fuel Perks.  For the other stores, check online or in the circular they mail to find card holder specials. *We always buy gift cards at GE at Christmas time when we are buying so many for presents. With $50 netting you 20 cents off, you can easily save.

8. Social Media. If you like a certain store, restaurant, etc. like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, Pinterest, etc. Often times you will get deals or promotions via social media that aren’t open to everyone else.

9. I don’t get those Entertainment books anymore, but they are still around, and you can also order digital-only access and get lots of great coupons. I just looked and for Pittsburgh, it’s $20 a year. https://www.entertainment.com/coupon/m/pittsburgh-digital-access-digital-access These always include coupons for recreational activities, as well as dining.

10. And then of course, your online bargain sites: eBay, Priceline, Amazon, Overstock. Just make sure you are on a credible site. Most of the big ones you already know, or have heard of, but some smaller ones you may need to research. And sell your stuff online, too! My husband and I have been dabbling in the eBay world for a while now and believe me, making $50 a month selling your old stuff, or reselling stuff you find, is WORTH IT.

11. VIGGLE!!!! This is the greatest app ever created and I swear no one knows about it. It’s FREE. All you do is “check in” to TV shows you are watching, and you get points. Some shows will give you higher points, so you can check in, and then change the channel and watch whatever you want, you will still get the points. These points add up and you can cash them in for gift cards, promo deals on websites, movie tickets, even give to charities! It’s super easy. *My husband and I have had this app for about a year, and we cashed in points at least 20 times, saving hundreds and hundreds of dollars for doing NOTHING but watching TV.

Hope that gives you some ideas, and if I missed anything, send me your thoughts!

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I’m DONE with you summer, bring on FALL and FOOTBALL!

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Tara Darazio

Glimpses into Fall during normally hot summer days are my favorite. I’m sitting here with the window open, enjoying a nice breeze, and this blog is pouring out of my fingers. Fall is my time of the year. I love everything about it. Sure summer is nice, but I’m over the BBQ’s and endless weekend commitments, not to mention the 90 degree heat waves and pop up thunderstorms that knock out my satellite TV.

I’m ready for cool weather and lazy football Sundays, personally my very favorite part of Fall. I’m not your typical girl. I will sit all day and watch football because I want to, not because my husband wants me to. I am the returning champ in our fantasy football league, and I genuinely enjoy and respect the game.

I love that over-sized jerseys and sweat pants are accepted outfits, pigging out on nachos and pizza is standard, starting to drink at 1:00 pm is not only normal behavior, but encouraged, and life slows down for those few hours when we can throw ourselves into football world.

No one is focused on work, everyone is fixated on their team, their fantasy team, coaching strategies, the cheerleaders, whatever your fancy.

The cool breeze flows into your living room, one of the few times of the year in Pittsburgh that you don’t need heat or air, and if you’re lucky you’ll catch a hint of a bonfire or someone burning nearby. You’re probably in the company of good friends or family too, because Sundays in the Fall just seem to scream togetherness.

There is also just a smell in the air. I can’t describe it, but I know it when I smell it. It reminds me of the first day of school and new beginnings. Speaking of school, another great Fall tradition is going to high school football games. The sound of the marching band, the cheers from the crowd, the smell of greasy snack bar food and coffee, and the joy of youth all around you.

I met my husband in September many years ago, so Fall also reminds me of those first few months together. A time in our lives when everything was new and exciting, options were endless, worries were few, and love was all that mattered. Even though responsibilities, work, a house, a kid, and bills take up much of our time these days, Fall helps remind us of the beginning and how much in love we were and still are.

I’m a sucker for a hot beverage (Sheldon Cooper voice) and Fall is the best time to sit on your porch (if you’re lucky enough to have one; I use my Moms when I can) to sip a steaming hot cup of tea, coffee, cocoa, and just chit-chat. My friend Meesh and I talk all the time about how awesome it will be when we are old, and we sit outside on our rockers with our blankets on our laps and our hot coffee, discussing the neighborhood gossip.

And of course, Fall TV! My top five in random order: Boardwalk Empire, The League, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Survivor, and New Girl. I know, quite a mish mash of shows. But I relate with each of them. I want to live in the ’20s and be a gangster. I want to live and breathe fantasy football and win the Shiva. I want to work at Paddy’s and be in the gang. I want to go to an island full of strangers and survive off the land (no I don’t, but I said I related, so now I’m stuck). And lastly, I want to be Jess. She is quirky and funny and lovable and she dates the hottest guys, right?? Dr. Sam?? Nick?? Plus, I do a mean Zooey D. impersonation!

And lastly, rounding out Fall’s awesome splendor: the trees. Who doesn’t love Fall colors? Everyone snaps at least one photo a year of a giant orange or yellow tree. And when the leaves fall, the rustling of someone walking through them, or just the site of them littered along the street, makes me feel alive and happy inside. If only the world was always that colorful. It really does affect your mood.

Fall is fleeting, only lasting a few weeks before Winter rears its ugly head and snow begins to cover our colors. I think that’s what makes it so magical.

“Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all the other seasons.”
-Jim Bishop

What makes Fall special for you?

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You’re from the 2000s, but I’m a ’90s chick

Posted on July 30, 2013 by Tara Darazio

I’ve been talking about this blog for a long time now, and I’m finally getting around to writing it. I’m a child of the ’90s and I swear we had some of the best television back then. My girl and I were just discussing this over a fervent text conversation the other day.

Some highlights below:

TextOne TextTwoThat’s just a snippet of a probably half and hour long back and forth of some of our faves. We were so excited just remembering all the awesome shows we watched as a kid, and it got me thinking that the sitcoms and shows of  “yore” are a WORLD away from the shows of now.

Some of the classics we were discussing were Saved by the Bell, Full House, Step by Step, Family Matters, and Boy Meets World.

My husband and I have been DVRing old reruns of Saved by the Bell for fun, and I’m amazed at the simple, innocent story lines. The biggest problems at good old Bayside were keeping Mr. Belding away from the groups shenanigans (he was the dumbest principal ever, right) Jessie taking caffeine pills, or which guy Kelly was finally going to pick to date, Slater or Zach. They were also super caring and compassionate for high school kids. The Christmas episode we watched the other day had them all volunteering at the hospital and Zach and his mom taking in a  homeless man and his daughter for Christmas dinner. It’s like an alternate universe.

Today’s sitcoms, if you can even think of a true sitcom, are riddled with adult issues, sex, violence, drugs, you name it. Can you imagine DJ Tanner becoming a teen mom? Or Corey and Topanga running a drug ring?

What happened to good old-fashioned family values and morals? It seemed like every episode taught us something. Danny Tanner or Uncle Jesse always shared words of wisdom, even Mr. Feeney from the other side of the yard got inside the Matthews’ brains. I’m afraid of what shows will be like by the time my son is old enough to watch them.

Disney shows today geared towards the younger generation are more adult than anything we ever witnessed at that age. Kids already grow up way too fast; what’s wrong with trying to keep them innocent as long as we can?

I’m super excited for the spin-off of Boy Meets World where we will now meet Corey and Topanga’s kid. I hope it can take us back to that little decade, pre-social media and even the Internet, when kids were kids, and life was simple. Shows were cute and funny and didn’t need to explore major issues to be entertaining. We miss you ’90s!

What are you favorite shows of the ’90s?

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