Macy's Parade Plan-of-Attack

There's a certain exciting holiday right around the corner...

...and no, Mom, it's not time to celebrate Christmas quite yet.  Even though you already have five Christmas trees decorated at home. (yes.)

I'm talking about Thanksgiving!

If you're like me and planning a big apple Thanksgiving celebration, here are a few tips for the 2010 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

According to About.com, the parade will start at 77th Street and Central Park West. They will travel south on Central Park West and then turn east onto Central Park South. When they reach 7th Avenue, they will turn south at the corner of Central Park South and continue down to 42nd Street. They will turn east at 42nd until 6th Avenue (Avenue of Americas) and will travel south to 34th Street. Once there, the procession will head west ending at Herald Square located at 34th Street and 7th Avenue.

map from here

Here are the suggested public viewing areas:
Central Park West: West side of street from 70th Street to Columbus Circle & east side of street from 70th to 65th

Columbus Circle: West side of street 

7th Avenue: between 58th & 42nd Streets 

42nd Street: from 7th to 6th Avenues 

6th Avenue: between 42nd & 34th Streets

34th Street: south side of street between Broadway & 7th Avenue

image from here 

People apparently line up as early as 6/6:30am (!) to grab their viewing spots. If you're hoping to just get a glimpse of the balloons, consider heading uptown to Central Park West between 77th and 81st on Wednesday, 11/24. You can watch as the balloons are inflated between 3 and 10PM.

And, as always, you can also watch the parade on NBC from 9AM until noon. 

Keep an eye out for the little lady! ;)

until next time,

g

Puppy Love

Today, I fell in love. 

puppy love.

Meet Molly, my dad's border collie.

 Au revoir, 24.

 until next time,

g

Etsy Finds Under $10

Here are a few Etsy knick knacks all under ten dollars. Whether you need to find a small gift, a treat for yourself, a great stocking stuffer or just an idea for something you can make yourself, take a look:

Margarita-flavored Lip Balm Tint $3.00

Etsy Store: LilacAve 

Lip Balm Pouch with Clip $6.00

Etsy Store: hollyberrydesigns

"love" sculpture $9.00

Etsy Store: WeiblerSculptureWire 

Gold Vintage Trinket Box $9.99

Etsy store: CrypticCulture 

Murano Glass Heart Earrings $6

Bottle Cap Bookmark $5.00

Etsy Store: PendantLicious 

Antique 1800's Victorian Monocle $6

(great addition to a long chain)

Etsy Store: Foundlings 

Sweet Holiday Blend Soy Candle in Mug $8.99

Store: MoniCandles 

Two Apple Pie Candles $6.99

Holiday Sachet $5.75

Etsy Store: Veronicasun 

Lady Lavendar Sachet $5.75

until next time,

g

Happy Veterans Day

 This is our day to honor and respect America’s heroes for what they have done for the United States of America.

A special shout-out to my stepdad and brother.

And to my Papa, pictured below.

He was 18 in Hawaii during WWII.

He will turn 84 in 11 days.

I will see him in 40 days.

And I can't wait.

Thank you, veterans.

until next time,

g

Do You Have an Elf on Your Shelf?

While you may still be in denial that Christmas Eve is only 45 days away, there are a group of people that know the holiday is nearing.

Who, you ask?

Da wee ones!

To indulge their jolly spirit and to ensure their names appear on the nice list this year (read: to keep them on their best behavior), consider purchasing an elf on the shelf.

image from here

The elf on the shelf comes with a children's book, illustrated by Coe Steinwart and written by Carol Aebersold and her daughter, Chanda Bell. The story explains how Santa really knows who's been naughty or nice:  the elf reports back to Santa every night and returns back to a different spot in your home to keep a lookout. (read: the elf is a spy.) Children musn't touch the elf or it will lose its magic. (read: you're going to have to touch the elf - or come up with a good excuse as to why the elf comes back to the same spot.)

For $29.95 + S/H, you receive a "North Pole scout elf" (for which you can select light or dark skin), a hard-bound children's book and a keepsake box. The elf's legs are bendy so you can easily perch him on a shelf or any kind of ledge.

image from here

image from here

image from here

You can even buy your elf a skirt.

image from here

Once you receive your elf, you can visit Elf on the Shelf's website the North Pole and register your elf and print off an official elf adoption certificate.

"You need to finish those green beans, Johnny."

"How come?"

"Because the elf is watching!"

You know someone that needs an elf, don't you?
Adopt one here.

until next time,

g

5 Recommendations

First of all, snaz up that boring desktop image of yours at work or home with one of Rebecca Minkoff's two November desktop wallpapers. Click here.

Secondly, here is a website you need to know:
ZocDoc
(currently available in NYC, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco and Washington D.C.)
You can use ZocDoc to find a doctor or dentist in your area. You can select the doctor's specialty and zip code, designate your insurance type and then scan through a list of doctors that match your criteria. You can see their offices on a map, read patient reviews and even see their availability! The best part? You can book your appointment right then and there on ZocDoc's website - no need for the awkward phone call at your desk describing your ginormous foot...

Thirdly, daylight savings time ends on Sunday, November 7th for most of us in the US. Set those clocks back an hour on Saturday night and get an extra hour of sleep (woohoo!). This is also a good time to replace the batteries in your smoke detectors. According to an analysis last year by the National Fire Protection Association, almost 2/3rds of home-fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke detectors or non-working smoke detectors in the years 2003-2006. In 40% of those homes, no smoke detectors were present. In 23% percent of those home-fire deaths, smoke alarms were present but did not sound.

Fourthly, I was reading my November issue of In Style during my morning commute and noticed the earrings I am wearing on page 345. They are the By Boe Alfabet Earrings and they make a great gift. (I love mine!) Since you can buy each letter separately ($18 each), you can really get any combination you wish!  What letters do I wear? An X and an O. ;)

Fifthly, as you pull out those winter shoes from their warm-month hiding places and realize you don't wear/need half of them, consider donating to Sole4Souls. Your shoes will be distributed to people in need in more than 125 countries. Click here to find a drop-off location near you.

until next time,

g

I Can Has Cheezburger?

Here's a little assortment from I Can Has Cheezburger for your Monday morning.

until next time,

g