Meghan ~ YES! “NO”

Sep15

Over Labor Day Weekend I went to the Meghan Trainor Concert in Allentown. I have been a fan of her’s since “All About That Bass!” The concert was outdoors and the weather was great. The first was a group called Common Kings. I had never heard of them but they had a cool sound. Next up was Hallie Seinfeld who is a young actress and singer and was fun to listen to. Not only does Meghan have a great voice and style but she seems like a nice person. She talked about her parents and how her mom was actually helping her with dress changes because her assistant broke her leg. Her mom and dad were also in some videos for some songs. I think it is a good example for young fans that Meghan did not try to be like other performers and try to get really skinny. She seems comfortable and loves herself (like her song).

It is amazing to me that she writes all of her songs, both music and lyrics. She is multi-talented. When I’m feeling bad about some things – her songs often cheer me up. “Better When I’m Dancing” is a great one for that! At the moment my favorite song by her is … ohh- so hard to choose just one- but at the moment my top two are “Hopeless Romantic” and her new hit “No.” If you are not familiar with her songs – Just listen and I bet you will be a fan! Yes! “No!” Yes!

Island Vacation

Nov18

My Vacation to the Bahamas

“Grandeur Of The Seas” August 2015

IMG_0117 - Version 2

On a Friday morning in August I took a comfy coach bus to Baltimore to board a cruise ship to the Bahamas. I had no idea how huge the ship would be and was shocked when I first saw it at the port. My friend and helper Kay came with me, along with my AADD group.

As we boarded they gave each of us a card/key with our room number on it! By the way… the card was also good for free sodas. The room was very small, with only two people fitting closely in the compact space.

After unpacking we met my group in the ship’s lobby. Next on the program was dinnertime.

The dining room was very elaborate. I was seated with my group of friends Lucy, Justin, and Greg. Our meals were served buffet style and the waiter for our table was from South Korea. For each dinner there was a theme from different countries made by chefs from all over the world. There were over 60 nationalities represented on the trip. Meals included salads, soups, and veggies, meat or fish. The dessert tables were amazing. My favorite was the white chocolate mousse!

Each morning we attended a meeting with AADD to talk about the day’s activities. Some included: enjoying the warm swimming pool, movies, nights outside on a big screen, clubs, dancing and hanging out and talking with friends.

One night there was a sing off contest. I won by finishing the song “I Want it That Way” by the Backstreet boys. Thank God for all those concerts I went to!! During the day we took excursions around the small islands. One was a glass bottom boat ride where I saw awesome fish underwater. So cool! Captain Eric and his crew were playing island music to get all of us in the mood. We saw Jonny Depp’s house, a huge mansion, and JK Rowling’s home, again – huge. Captain Eric, wearing his snorkel mask went into the clear blue water and grabbed a starfish. I can’t believe I held a live starfish. It was a bit gooey, but cool. I felt like Sponge Bob!!! We also disembarked at Paradise Island, where we walked around to the shops. They sold jewelry, scarves and clothing, and the sales people were anxious for us to buy things. I bought a necklace and earrings and a Bahamas t-shirt.

The last night on board was very emotional with everyone knowing that we would not be together like this again. The days went by too quickly. We were so grateful to Larry, who heads up AADD, & his Staff and the Captain of Grandeur of the Seas & his crew. My dream is to go on another AADD trip.

For anyone who likes Island music, I want to share a list I put together. I made a CD a couple of months in advance of my trip to get into the island spirit. I named it Bahama Bound!! Take a break and close your eyes for a virtual vacation!! Ya Mon!

Barefoot Jeans Nights – Jake Owen

Fins – Jimmy Buffet’s

No Shoes No Shirt No Problems – Kenny Chesney

The Life – Kenny Chesney

Cruise – Florida Georgia Line

Knee deep – Jimmy Buffet

Ballando – Enrique Iglesias

Turn the Night Up – Enrique Iglesias

Two Pina Coladas – Garth Brooks

Feeln’ It – Scotty McCreery

Beat the Summer – Brad Paisley

Volcano – Jimmy Buffet

California Girls – Katy Perry

Good life – One Republic

Jump in the Line -Harry Belafonte

Kokkomo – The Beach Boys

Surfin’ Safari – The Beach Boys

Beachin – Jake Owen

Key lime pie – Kenny Chesney

Halloween Baking

Oct22

My friend of twenty years and I decided today (October 21^st) to do some Halloween baking . Three guess…What Do you think was the major ingredient? Jello ?, Oreos? Beet Juice, Lemon Juice…Wrong ~ It was Pumpkin !!!!! We filled six small bundt pans and one larger ring pan . Those Pans were from my grandmothers baking collection to my mother, who will one day give them to me!! If you’d like to make these or a loaf, purchase Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Bread mix and follow the directions on the package. Very simple but VERY good!

Pumpkiin Mini Bundts with Ice cream! Yum!

Cooking Dinner ~ Mexican Lasagna ~ Quick & Easy!

May15

I work with a facilitator a few days a week and we made a great recipe. My mom & I ate this for 3 nights when my dad was in the hospital it was so convenient & so good ~ It’s called Mexican Lasagna. So easy to make try it – I’m sure you will like it! I know this might look like a Trader Joes Ad- But It’s not! We just Love TJ’s Products -so healthy and good for you!
Bon appetite…………..opps I mean ~ Buen apetito!

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 pounds ground chicken breast, available in the packaged meats case (We used Trader Joe’s frozen grilled chicken strips – thawed and chopped up and skipped the next 2 spices because the chicken had a good mesquite flavor – and you don’t have to pre cook)

2 tablespoons chili powder

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1/2 red onion, chopped

1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained

1 cup mild or medium taco sauce or 1 (14-oz) can stewed or fire roasted tomatoes (we blended some TJ’s salsa in a mini processor because that’s all we had in the house)

1 cup frozen corn kernels

Salt

8 – (8 inch) flour tortillas (we used Trader Joe’s high fiber low carb tortilla’s)

2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar or shredded pepper jack (We used Trader Joe’s lite shredded 3 cheese)

2 scallions, finely chopped

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Bree & Erin preparing the ingredients

Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil – twice around the pan. Add chicken and season with chili powder, cumin, and red onion. Brown the meat, 5 minutes. (you can skip this step if you used pre-cooked meat). Add taco sauce or stewed or fire roasted tomatoes. Add black beans and corn. Heat the mixture through, 2 to 3 minutes then season with salt, to your taste.

Coat a shallow baking dish with remaining extra-virgin olive oil, about 1 tablespoon oil. Cut the tortillas in half or quarters to make them easy to layer with. Build lasagna in layers of meat and beans, then tortillas, then cheese.

Repeat: meat, tortilla, cheese again. Bake lasagna 12 to 15 minutes until cheese is brown and bubbly. Top with the scallions and serve.

just out of the oven!

Can’t Wait For Spring!

Mar24

Four weeks ago my dad went out to walk Bancroft and he slipped and fell on “Black Ice” and broke his hip. Ouch! I was so upset. It was so hard to hear my dad shout and moan for help . The ambulance came and took him to Bryn Mawr Hospital. There were so many people who fell on the ice that day that they could not do my dad’s surgery until Thursday night. He went to Bryn Mawr Rehab for a week and is now doing out-patient therapy. I remember that well from all my surgeries and know exactly what he is going though. He’s doing better every day! Thank you God!

The ice is gone. (hopefully forever) and the snow hills are almost all melted

Can’t wait for warmer weather and green grass again!

Dad Just Before Surgery

BACHELOR’S BACK!

Jan24

My family & I have been busy with the holidays- that’s why you have not heard from me. Now that winter is settled in I have been snuggled up and catching up on my TV shows.

My very favorite type of show is Reality TV. Yes I am a Reality TV junkie. My favorite is of course…The Bachelor! I am embarrassed to tell you I have been watching for 7 years!

And still Love it!

Sean Lowe from last season is still my favorite although I did not like his choice Catherine, who he is about to marry this coming Sunday. Although…I will definitely watch the wedding!

So what do I think about Juan? He’s pretty cool, good-looking, good athlete and seems to be a nice guy. I am not crazy about him, but I do like his accent! There are 15 girls left – – should be interesting! Are you tuning in?? Watch on ABC! We’ll talk later!

Two Hotties!

Surprise! Surprise!

Nov19

On Sunday November 3rd my mom told me we going out to eat. On the way, she said after we eat we were going to hear this new unknown singer. She then handed me the tickets and asked me if I ever heard of him? I shouted out “Shut UP”! They were tickets to see my second most favorite singer – Josh Groban! OMG! I could not believe it. I have all his music but have never seen him in concert…. And have been dying to go.
It was amazing! He doesn’t only have the most angelic voice, but he is hot, hot, hot, and so funny…. A great personality. I had the best time ever.
We first stopped at X-Finity LIVE ~ sports bar and that was also fun. There are kazillon giant TV’s and the Eagles were playing – so the Philly crowd was loud and rowdy but so fun.

Me and My Dad at XFinity Live

While we were at that concert I saw Justin Timberlake posters and said ~oohhh!!! I would love to see him. So without telling me, my mom went searching on the internet for tickets for the sold out concert. On Saturday morning, November 9th my mom said she was meeting someone at Minella’s Diner to pick up something she brought on Craigs List. I thought it was a piece of furniture. She returned to the car with 2 tickets for the JT concert that night! “What a nice piece of furniture!”
The Concert was UNBELIEVABLE!
JT and the Tennessee kids danced and sang for 3 hours non-stop and there was a laser light show and this moving stage that moved above the people sittiing in the floor seats. entire – SO COOL! I LOVED it!!
I love my music and concerts are the best!
What a great week of surprises!!!!
By the way…if you have a disability and can’t get to your seats at the Wells Fargo Center, you go to Guest Services and they will usually change your seats to an accessible one. That’s what they did for us.

JT and the Tennessee Kids

Laser lights

The Moving Stage

JT moving past our section

Cupcakes With Nina! What Could Be Better!

Oct30

Tuesday I went to a baking class for special needs young adults. We were making Halloween Cupcakes with a professional baker…Nina.

We made everything from start to finish …. Delicious dense vanilla cupcakes with butter cream frosting. Nina showed us how to frost and decorate the cupcakes with three different designs for Halloween. Here’s some ideas for all you bakers out there!

The first was bloodshot eyeballs, the second was a spider web with a jeweled ring , and last was a pumpkin patch!

It was so awesome and also so delicious and amazing to eat.

Wish I could share one with all of you!

Yummmm!!!!!!

Aaahhhhh…Michael !!!!!~

Oct11

A couple of weeks ago I had the best surprise! I found out that my grandma was coming for the weekend to visit from Buffalo. She is recovering from cancer and I was excited to see her. And what was really exciting was that my mom, grandma, and I went to see Michael Buble in concert.

That week my mom and I were driving to Wegman’s and I heard the DJ on the radio say “Call in to win Michael Buble tickets.” I grabbed my cell and my mom grabbed hers and we started speed dialing!

About 30 busy signals later, the DJ answered my mom’s call and said “you’re the winner!”

I could hardly keep from screaming, but I had to control myself while they got my mom’s information! As soon as she hung up we both started laughing screaming for joy! We couldn’t believe it! We were able to buy one extra for Granny!

Michael has been one of my favorite singers and it was so cool to actually see him live.

For one song – “All You Need is Love” red and white hearts came down from the ceiling and it felt like heaven. (Love You MB). I saved a bunch of them that fell near us!

The opening act was Naturally 7, an a cappella group that make it sound like there is a whole band of instruments playing. Check them out on youtube. You’ll be amazed.

Wish all my friends who are MB fans could have been there with me!

Me & Michael…great Poster ~ wish it was the real thing!

MV ~ A Little Bit of Heaven!

Aug15

Last Monday we drove to the cape. It took about 7 hours and then we stayed over night in Falmouth. The next morning we took the ferry over to Martha’s Vineyard. I remember when I was little, the fog horn used to scare me. I still jumped today when it sounded. Martha Vineyard is my favorite place in the world!

We went for dinner and ice cream. (it’s a tradition for our family to get ice cream every night form the “Candy Store”) Both were so so so so good.

Marissa, one of my sister’s best friends joined us. It was so nice to be back there.

Me & my Dad going for our ice cream!

Brooke & Marissa

On Thursday we went to see Vineyard Sound (VS) MY favorite a cappella group on the island. They are college guys who spend the summer on MV singing!

You can look them up on http://www.youtube.com/user/VineyardSound

Here’s one of my favorites that they sing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN0qJ08aqP4

Vineyard Sound ~ Heavenly!

Afterwards, we walked around Edgartown. I watched a guy make fudge and then of course we had to buy some!

Yummy Fudge! We had the chocolate with walnuts.

Saturday AM we brought a triple berry pie from this small stand and ate it for breakfast. The lady makes 100 pies a day and they sell out in about 2- 3 hours. Wish we could have bought more!

We just really enjoyed vacation. It was nice weather outside all week.

We went to South Beach a few days to see a sand castle contest. My family pushed me in a special beach wheel chair with big wheels to go over the sand. They are great for people who use wheelchairs and walkers because the sand would ruin them. The special chairs let you go down on the beach and onto the sand. I have used them before at Ocean City, New Jersey. Many public beaches now have them.

South Beach

While we were on MV went out to a few shops. I didn’t buy anything but my mom and sister went into even single store. I went with them everywhere. It was fun shopping.

On Saturday after dinner I went to a club with my sister. There was one guy dancing who reminded me of Allen in “The Hangover”…and he asked me if I wanted a drink! It was so fun.

Everybody in the club…they’re looking at us!

On the way home, my mom and dad surprised me surprised me by taking me one last place. We have a very special family friend who has been visiting me for almost 18 years who is like a grandmother to me. She has a summer home in New Hampshire, so they took me up to visit her. Her family was there too, along with all of there Labrador retrievers. There were seven…6 black and 1 yellow. It was so fun being greeted by all of them! It was the best time with family, friends and dogs!