Here We Are...with Luci

Chick Flick Chat: "He's Just Not That Into You"

CLICK HERE to Listen to the Chick Flick Chat Radio Show featuring the movie, "He's Just Not That Into You."

What do Jennifer Anniston, Drew Barrymore, Ginnifer Goodwin, Scarlett Johannson, and Jennifer Connelly have in common? Terrific and telling performances in the movie, "He's Just Not That Into You." Explore the women's roles in this popular film with Luci and co-host, Susan, in this episode of Here We Are's spin-off radio show, Chick Flick Chat. Warning: we really picked this one apart! Enjoy!

Did you see this film? What are your thoughts on the performances? Relationships? Emotional twists and turns?

Staycation: HOME SWEET HOME

Ten Tips For A Successful "Staycation"

 - by Marie-Christine Lochot, NCTMB (republished with permission)

This year with the slowdown of the economy more people are staying home during their vacation. There are advantages to staying home besides saving money: no stressful traveling, no jet lag, no need to pack, and also a chance to discover what is in your backyard and to enjoy your home.

1. Take care of your household chores before your staycation starts.
2. Do not schedule a home/garden project.
3. Rest, try to just "be."
4. Shut off the Blackberry, stay off the email.
5. Have a day without a plan, be spontaneous.
6. Don't set your alarm clock, sleep as long as you need.
7. Take day trips. If you need ideas, go to Roadside America.
8. Enjoy your town: restaurants, museums, parks, and shops.
9. Schedule a massage.
10. Have a potluck dinner with friends you never have time to see - celebrate, have fun.

Bon Voyage!

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What is your plan this summer? Are you too busy to plan an "away" vacation? Do you have a fun staycation tip? Share your ideas and experiences with us!

Smith & Hawken: The Garden Party Is Over

Shopping Alert

Smith & Hawken, the iconic garden supply store is closing its doors after 30 years of furnishing gardeners with outstanding products and customer service.

If you are a gardener, the brick and mortar stores were a mecca of seasonal delights. Whether you were shopping for bulbs, outdoor furniture, or well made tools, stepping inside was always a respite from the elements. If you only dream about a prolific English Garden because all your plants turn brown, Smith & Hawken provided ideas and simple window sill solutions to help bring the outside indoors. In this thorny retail climate, it is surely a store that will be missed when the economy re-blooms.

Currently, the discounts are 20% off most items, 30% off furniture. They are exhausting their inventory through the stores only. Already, the catalog and website branches are no longer accepting orders. A little birdie told me the discounts should go to 40% off everything by late August or possibly earlier depending on sales. Now is the time to get to a store near you, there are 56 locations around the US. The store I recently visited was loaded with merchandise, so the selection was still very good. BONUS: Check the back of the store for their clearance items, some of the merchandise is 50%+ off the original prices.

Gardening is one of those activities that unite people in the simplest of ways but carries a deep respect for Mother Nature and those who tend to her. In the spring, I suggested sharing seeds to "Plant the Seeds of Friendship." It is fun to share, learn, and trade. In growing nature, you grow, too. Flowery? Maybe. But ask any gardener, novice or pro, and they will agree.

Recently, I passed a house with a sign in the driveway propped up by a bunch of full grown plants that read, "Free." I turned the car around and was delighted to meet Bob, an avid gardener whose home garden is stunning. His garden is so plentiful, it needed reshaping; plus, it is a Certified Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation. After a brief chat about our love of gardening, I drove away with a trunk full of green goodies. The picture above is one of the Echinacea plants from Bob's garden transplanted into mine. Thank you, Bob!

Have you made a friend through gardening? Has gardening taught you something about life? (Mine is "patience.") Tell us, so we can grow with you.

Chick Flick Chat: Postponed Until 7/24

Quick Update:

Tonight's episode of  "Chick Flick Chat"  is rescheduled for next Friday, July 24, at 6:30pm EST. The selected movie for this chat is, "He's Just Not That Into You," starring Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Gennifer Goodwin, Scarlett Johansson, and Jennifer Connelly. If you haven't seen it, now is the time to view it OnDemand or rent the DVD.

Listen live and call in (646) 929-2473 to share your thoughts on this fascinating look at dating, love, friendship, marriage, and more! NOTE: You don't have to "sign in" to Blog Talk Radio to call in and/or listen live at www.BlogTalkRadio.com/Here-We-Are.

Risky Business...Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

RISKS
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams, before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, and is nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.
Chained by their attitudes, they are a slave, they have forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.
~ Author Unknown

This saying has hung on my office cork board for years. It flew off seemingly on its own the other day. I reread it and decided to share it with you.

When I hesitate over risking something, it reminds me to jump in with both feet so I can avoid ever saying "coulda, shoulda, woulda." I hope it helps you do the same.

Is there something you are afraid of risking? What are you longing to roll the dice on? Take a risk today and live free. Tell us what you risked...sharing can help another woman step outside her comfort zone.

Summer Reading: What's In Your Beach Bag?

FEATURED ARTICLE OF THE MONTH: Comment On Here We Are For A Chance To Win A Signed Hardcover Copy of Lisa Scottoline's Latest Best Selling Book, "Look Again"

It is time to pick up that book that has been waiting for you since the cold days of winter. There is no better place than in a beach chair to turn the pages of an intriguing thriller, a victorian romance, or the current chick lit. Whatever your pleasure, indulge yourself!

Tell us what you are reading, going to read, want to read...I just finished my summer catch-up reading of James Patterson's books: Sail, Cross Country, Mary Mary, and Judge & Jury. If you like a thriller then I recommend any and all four. Warning: Each has its own brand of Patterson violence but the suspense is worth the gore.

As for the vampire trilogy that is o' so popular. I am finally giving myself over to it. There is a copy of Twilight at the top of my "to read" stack, along with two more Patterson books, Cross and Double Cross. Okay, this is beginning to sound like an obsession but I just love the Alex Cross story-lines. 

This latest book by Lisa Scottoline looks to be another page turner in her long line of heart pounding plots. Lisa has managed to sell over 25 million copies of her books while raising a daughter as a single Mom! No easy feat, but her readers are glad she discovered her passion for writing. Check out the video trailer or read the first chapter of "Look Again" here.

How to win the July Gift Giveaway of "Look Again" -

1. You must be a Here We Are email subscriber (more info here)
2. Tell us in the comments section what you are reading or recommend a book you've read
3. Comments published on any and all July entries will count - so if you are not currently up on the latest best seller, jump in on another conversation and share your thoughts!

NOTE: Comments are moderated, so you won't see them immediately upon submission. As long as they fall under our policy, they are published ASAP, and I do not reveal email addresses - ever!

Not sure what to comment about? Check out the popular comment thread answering Bionic Beauty's question, "What are you reading?" Jami, the Bionic Beauty, inspired this entry. The girls that commented at Bionic Beauty are responsible for me going over to the dark side...I want in on the vampire action, too!

So here's to your toes in the sand and nose in the book...remember to comment! The next book in your beach bag could be "Look Again."

July...The Summer Is Upon Us!

Announcement, Updates, & Reminder - An EASY As Pie Recipe To Enjoy This 4th of July

Announcement

Our "Chick Flick Chat" Movie Date is set for Friday, July 17, at 6:30pm EST. The selected movie for this chat is, "He's Just Not That Into You," starring Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore, Gennifer Goodwin, Scarlett Johansson, and Jennifer Connelly. If you haven't seen it, now is the time to view it OnDemand or rent the DVD. Listen live and call in (646) 929-2473 to share your thoughts on this fascinating look at dating, love, friendship, marriage, and more!  NOTE: You don't have to "sign in" to Blog Talk Radio to call in and/or listen live at www.BlogTalkRadio.com/Here-We-Are.

Updates

Speaking of the Here We Are radio show...Did you miss the recent show, "Calling All Women: What You Must Know About Your Body & Synthetic Hormones And How Herbs Can Help" with Herbalist Cynthia Johnston of MoonMaid Botanicals? If you did, no matter what your age, you will hear eye-opening information about this troubling area and learn that natural options do exist.

The Here We Are May Great Gift Giveaway Recipient is subscriber & blog list member Jami, the Bionic Beauty, for her May comment on Five Easy Ways To Green Your Bathroom. If you haven't yet checked out the Bionic Beauty website, now is the time and remember to subscribe - this popular blog is celebrating its second anniversary with lots of giveaways and more terrific information, tips, and freebie offers than ever! Congratulations Jami on your anniversary and for receiving a signed copy of Kathy Ireland's latest book, "Real Solutions For Busy Moms."  

Reminder

Blueberries are plentiful right now and there is still time to bake up a fresh dessert for the weekend...Here is my sister-in-law, Lynn's, "Blueberry Easy As Pie" recipe.

Pie Ingredients:

• 1 Pillsbury Pie Crust (use 1 of the 2 dough sheets)
  
• 2 pints fresh blueberries
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons corn starch or flour

Crumb Topping:

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup softened butter (1/2 stick)(NOT melted)
  
• Dash cinnamon
  

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cover a cookie sheet with foil or parchment paper (makes for an easy clean-up). Unroll one pie crust into a 9 inch pie plate and crimp the edges. Toss the blueberries, sugar, and corn starch/flour together and then fill the pie plate.

Mix the crumb topping flour and cinnamon in a bowl. Add the sugar and cut in the butter using a fork to combine until it is a "crumbly" mixture. Pour topping over pie.

Put pie on covered cookie sheet and into oven on bottom shelf. Bake 45 - 60 minutes until the crumbs are golden brown and the pie is bubbling. Remove, cool on wire rack.

Alternative 1: Instead of the Crumb Topping, use the other dough sheet on top and cut star shapes out of it. Apply and crimp the top and bottom crust edges together.

Alternative 2: No pie crust? Just skip the crust part, cover the blueberry mixture with the crumb topping, and Voila...a Blueberry Cobbler! BONUS: Less calories so you can have that second slice!

TIP: Depending on oven, you may want to cover the edges with foil so they won't burn.

Put the pie in a basket and bring to a B-B-Q. Enjoy and have a fun weekend!