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To Regift or Not to Regift, That is the Question

November 16, 2009 in Uncategorized by Lara Burke

regifter

This is the age old question: To regift of not to regift. The jury is still out on this one. Some say never but I say why not?  It’s a great way to save some money this Christmas while not letting perfectly good gifts go to waste.

 

Over the weekend I opened the box of gifts we received last year that remain unused. Among them, a beautiful Yankee Candle Christmas set that I just never got around to opening; a Disney Sing It for Wii - already have one but I’ll figure out who doesn’t; a Lenox picture frame - very pretty; a Christmas snow globe - I actually know someone who collects these so hooray for that; a really nice set of pasta bowls; and lastly, a Santa suit for my dog. I’m not into dressing up my dog but I know a few too many people who are. You see, none of these items are garbage that no one would want. They are simply items that we had no real need for.

 

Some people sell unwanted gifts on e-bay or Craigslist but my philosophy is that if the item was a gift you should not profit from it. Giving it away is the right thing to do. Therefore, I’ve written the following guide to regifting etiquette.

 

  1. Know who gave the gift to you. The biggest faux pas you can make is regifting to the original giver or any of their friends or family members. The key to successful regifting is not getting caught. 
  2. Make sure it is not monogrammed or personalized in any way. Last year a former co-worker gave her father’s girlfriend our corporate gift, a Tiffany crystal bowl, hoping she would not notice the faintly etched company logo at the bottom of the bowl. Bad, bad, bad! 
  3. Check the packaging carefully. The item should be in the original box and the box must be free of blemishes such as warping, stains or tears from previous gift wrap tape. 
  4. Never regift food - i.e. - the proverbial fruitcake. As a matter of fact, never give fruitcake under any circumstances, ever! 
  5. Know what people like before you give them a gift. Be sure that it is something that the person would want. I’m not a fan of Amaretto but I was able to regift a beautiful di Sarrono gift set to a friend who loves it. 
  6. Make sure it is a timely item. Don’t you dare regift a VHS tape even if it looks brand new. Regifted video games and toys are a dead giveaway. Kids know what’s hot and what’s not. If your kid didn’t play with Mighty Beans five years ago, don’t think my kid will want them now. 
  7. Avoid regifting clothes. Last years styles will be obvious to a savvy shopper and heaven forbid they try to return the item. You’ll be caught regifting and that would not be good. 
  8. Never regift something that NO ONE would want. If you received a gift that was so hideously ugly that you would be caught dead wearing it or displaying it in your home then why on Earth would you want to give it to someone else?   
  9. Be sure that the item you regift will not be missed by the giver. The last thing you want is for someone to ask why you are not displaying the tchotchke they gave you last Christmas. 
  10. Never regift a used item. I once received a cordless phone as a gift from my boss that had a voicemail message from his teenage son asking to be picked up from a party because he had too much to drink. Obviously it was used and even worse, it contained something he would not have wanted me to hear.

 

So there you have it. These simple rules can lead to big savings on your holiday spending and make someone else very happy in the process. Remember, regifting is not a bad thing. It’s how you regift that makes all the difference

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Sesame Street is Over the Hill but Young at Heart

November 6, 2009 in Uncategorized by Lara Burke

sesame-gang

Sesame Street is turning 40 next week.  Like so many others, I literally grew up with Sesame Street, having been born the same year.  I loved everyone in the neighborhood, puppet and human alike.  I wanted to live on Sesame Street. Even then, I recognized it as a perfect little society.

 

Sesame Street was the platform for so much more than teaching young children the alphabet and arithmetic. We’ve learned that even though people (and creatures) may look different we are still one in the same. We love, laugh and cry the same. We’ve learned about life and death, hope and disappointment, success and failure, joy and sorrow while watching Sesame Street. We’ve learned to respect each other and treat others like we want to be treated ourselves. These lessons far surpass academics. They helped mold our characters and lead us to becoming conscientious adults. Of course not entirely by Big Bird and Oscars doing, but to some extent we have them to thank.

 

Everybody you ask has a particular segment that stands out to them, or at least a favorite character with whom they identify. I loved Snuffleupagus and always remember feeling bad for Big Bird because no one believed Snuffy was real.  I especially loved watching Sesame Street when my daughter was very young and seeing her excitment when she heard, “la la la la -  la la la la, Elmo’s World.”  My co-workers pointed out episodes with Linda, a deaf character, who taught them some sign language; laughing at how Ernie and Bert would bicker with one another; how Big Bird would always say Mr. Hooper’s name wrong; and how Oscar tried so hard to be a grouch but everyone knew that deep down inside he was a big softy.

 

The impact of Sesame Street remains with us always, however big or small. This is partly evidence by the fact that Sesame Street costumes come in adult sizes, but also because we are so eager to introduce the show to our own children. We will never be too old to appreciate the simplicity and honesty of these characters. And as we watch with our kids we enjoy it as much as we always did.

 

So we wish you happy 40th birthday Sesame Street and hello to Mr. Hooper, wherever you are.

October 8, 2009 in Uncategorized by Lara Burke

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Halloween Safety Tips Part III - Neighbor and Homeowner Safety.

in Uncategorized by Lara Burke

 

 

As neighbors and homeowners there are many things we can do to ensure that trick or treaters are kept safe this Halloween. Following these safety tips will not only protect them but you as well. The last thing you would ever want is someone getting injured on your property.

 

 Here are the key tips for homeowners to remember this Halloween:

 

  • Put your pets in a secure place away from trick or treaters. Pet can be very frightening, especially to young children. Likewise, scary Halloween costumes, big crowds and unusual smell can be very frightening to your pet and can cause them to act in unexpected ways.
  • Clear your yard of any possible hazards such as ladders, hoses, dog leashes and flower pots, chairs, or any debris on the ground that kids may not see should they run across your lawn in the dark. Cover or fill holes.
  • Battery powered jack o’lantern candles are preferable to a real flame. Halloween costumes with tattered material can pose a fire threat when candles are near by. If you do use candles, place the pumpkin well away from where trick-or-treaters will be walking or standing.
  • Make sure paper or cloth yard decorations won’t be blown into a flaming candle.
  • Make sure your home is well lit. Your walkway and front door should be visible from the street.
  • Healthy food alternatives for trick-or-treaters include packages of low-fat crackers with cheese, single-serve boxes of cereal, packaged fruit rolls, mini boxes of raisins and single-serve packets of low-fat popcorn that can be microwaved later.
  • Consider peanut-free or non-food treats: plastic rings, pencils, stickers, erasers, coins. You’d be surprised how many kids have diabetes or allergies.
  • When it gets close to curfew, remind kids of the time in case they need time to get home.

 

We hope this three part series on Halloween Safety was helpful. If you have kids, please review Parts I & II of this blog for kid’s and parent’s safety tips.

Halloween Safety Tips Part II: Parent Safety Tips

October 7, 2009 in Uncategorized by Lara Burke

 

 

As parents, we need to make sure our kids have a great Halloween but do it in the safest way possible. With a little bit of thought and planning, your Halloween will be even more enjoyable because you’ll know you did everything possible to prepare your kids for safe trick or treating.

 Here are some key safety tips to remember:

  • Make your kids eat dinner before setting out. This way they have energy to trick or treat and are not tempted to eat uninspected candy from their bags.
  • Send your child out with a cell phone or have them trick or treat with someone who has a cell phone.
  • Have your child trick or treat with a group and know who the children are and where they live.
  • Ideally, young children of any age should be accompanied by an adult.
  • Discourage your older children from trick or treating alone.
  • Make sure they have a flashlight.
  • If you buy a Halloween costume, look for one made of flame-retardant material.
  • Older children should know when their curfew is and consequenses for disobeying curfew.
  • You should know where they’re going; know their route.
  • Although tampering is rare, tell children to bring the candy home to be inspected before consuming anything.
  • Look at the wrapping carefully and toss out anything that looks suspect.
  • Remind your children with allergies to ask if candy has nuts before accepting a treat. If necessary, have them carry an epi-pen and a cell phone.

These are your rules and you should stand by them! Make sure your kids have their safety tips outlined in Part I of this blog. Stay Tuned for tomorrow’s blog: Halloween Safety Tips Part II: Homeowner and Neighbor tips.

Halloween Safety Tips Part I - Kid Safety

October 6, 2009 in Uncategorized by Lara Burke

pumpkins

 

The only thing more important than wearing the perfect Halloween Costume and getting the most candy this Halloween is doing it safely.  There are many things that trick or treaters, parents and neighbors can do to make sure every one has a safe and fun Halloween. This 3 part blog will highlight the most important tips to keep you safe.

 

For trick or treaters, before you leave the house make sure:

 

  • You have comfortable shoes because you may be walking a long distance. Comfort comes first, even if they don’t match with your costume
  • Check your costume for pieces that drag, they can get caught, snagged or stepped on.
  • Dress warm enough. Either wear a jacket or dress in layers of long underwear under your costume.
  • If you have a cell phone, make sure it’s charged and easily accessible. You don’t want to be fishing through your candy bag if you need your phone in a hurry. Have your home number set on speed dial.

 

 

If you will be trick or treating at night:

  • Carry a flashlight.
  • Put reflective tape on your costume or shoes.
  • Wear a watch you can read in the dark.
  • If possible, wear a glow stick or light-up necklace. 

Once you are out and about:

  • Walk, don’t run.
  • Stay on sidewalks.
  • Obey traffic signals.
  • Stay in familiar neighborhoods.
  • Don’t cut across yards or driveways.
  • (If no sidewalk) walk on the left side of the road facing traffic.
  • Don’t trick or treat alone. Stay with a minimum or one other person who knows the neighborhood.

 

Other tips to remember:

  • Avoid wearing masks while walking from house to house.
  • Carry only flexible knives, swords or other props.
  • Don’t wave props around because you may accidently hurt someone.
  • Approach only houses that are lit.
  • Stay away from and don’t pet animals you don’t know.
  • Don’t eat any candy until you get home.
  • Never, ever go into a stranger’s house no matter what!
  • Know your curfew and give yourself plenty of time to get home.

 

These tips really boil down to common sense. Use your noodle. If it feels wrong then trust your instincts. Know when to call for help and when to go home.

 

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s blog: Halloween Safety Tips Par II - Parent’s Tips

Summer is Over. Halloween is Coming. Are You Ready?

September 16, 2009 in Uncategorized by Lara Burke

pumpkinThe Halloween Season is here. For those of you who cling to summer as if your life depended on it, this is a sad but true fact. You cannot turn back the clock. The season is thrust upon us with unavoidable reality.  It may still be 80 degrees outside but the signs are everywhere. You’re house is suddenly quiet because your kids have returned to school.  Also, I bet you were late for work several days in a row because you’re still trying to time it so you don’t get stuck behind the school busses. But the kids returning to school isn’t even the most obvious sign that autumn is upon us. It’s all of the fall merchandising in our retail stores.

 

By mid August the summer items at my local supermarket were on clearance and picked clean to make way for an entire isle of Halloween candy. I can’t walk into drug stores, or big box retailers without being overcome by the smell of pumpkin and apple pie scented candles, and every farm market is selling with mums and winter cabbage. Last week, at my local pharmacy, as I rounded the corner toward the isle that sells back to school supplies I noticed it was completely transformed into a fall shopping fest. There were autumn wreaths, scarecrows, candles, plaques, candy, ceramic jars shaped like pumpkins, squash and gourds, and all of the yellow, brown, burgundy, and deep green I could handle while wearing a sundress and flip flops. I still hadn’t bought school supplies!! Now I need Halloween costumes and candy. Somebody stop the clock!

 

So even though it takes me some time, I accept what all the store merchandising is telling me. Summer is ending. September 21 may be the first official day of fall but summer is now unofficially over. Soon, I’ll feel that first morning chill that will clearly define the start of autumn. As I sadly say farewell to the warmth of the sun I look forward to our cache of Halloween candy, the warming fires in the patio fire pit and big roomy sweaters that hide the Halloween candy weight. And just as I have come to accept all that Halloween stuff in the stores so early I also accept the fact that I truly do love autumn and Halloween even if I have to give up my flip flops.

The Summer List

August 13, 2009 in Uncategorized by Lara Burke

It’s already the second week in August. Summer is almost over. Where does it go? Every year I find myself asking the same question at about the same time. At the start of every summer I always make a list. It’s my to-do list of goals that I’d like to accomplish before the summer is over.  Like every year before, I never get to fulfill everything on my list. It’s not even like these things are monumental, they’re just regular things that I should be doing anyway, yet I find them nearly impossible to do. My list each year I looks something like this:

 

  • Spend lots of time outdoors
  • Cook all my meals on the grill so my kitchen stays clean
  • Lose the winter weight gain and wear lots of pretty summer dresses
  • Keep the garden and flower beds weed free
  • Never let the laundry pile up for the weekend
  • Go to the beach every sunny Sunday
  • Grow my own organic vegetables
  • Have get-togethers with friends on a regular basis

 

 Between work and this summer’s iffy weather, I have definitely not spent as much time outside as I had hoped. Weight loss - nope - gained 4 pounds from grilling all sorts of outdoor BBQ and guess what…my kitchen is still a mess. The flowers beds have weeds, the Topsy Turvey only produced 16 tomatoes, I’m stuck doing piles of laundry every Sunday and that cocktail/pool party just can’t seem to get itself together.  So I’m not Martha Stewart (but I wish I was).

 I believe I have a solution to this problem. My list is BORING! Maybe what I need to do next year is come up with an extraordinary list of things to do. This way I won’t feel so bad if things don’t get done. And if I do manage to complete even one item on the list it would be something worth remembering. Something extraordinary.

 

Here is my list for next year:

 

  • Learn to surf
  • Sing at a Karaoke bar
  • Go Parasailing
  • Swim with dolphins
  • Go Jet Skiing
  • Eat out every night at fine restaurants instead of cooking

 

Sounds like a vacation. TAKE A VACATION!!! That’s it! I can accomplish everything on next year’s list if I take a vacation! Everything on my list accomplished in one glorious week, why didn’t I think of this before. I’ll pack up my Bermuda shorts and Hawaiian shirts and not worry about that winter weight.  I’ll do all sorts or crazy things and not worry about a single item on that old, boring list.  I may have missed the boat this year but the weeks will just fly by until next summer. I have all year to deal with the first list. From now on, I’ll let the summers be extraordinary!

Writer/Director John Hughes Dies at 59

August 7, 2009 in Uncategorized by Lara Burke

costumesupercenter-blog-the-breakfast-clubJohn Hughes, writer and director of such iconic 80’s films as Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Weird Science, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Some Kind of Wonderful and Home Alone died yesterday of a heart attack in New York City. He was only 59 years old.

 

John Hughes’ movies defined teen life in the 80’s. He assembled a group of unknown teenage actors and developed them into the dream team of young talent referred to as the Brat Pack. Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, John and Joan Cusack, Emilio Estevez and Ally Sheedy, not to mention Matthew Broderick, Jon Cryer and later, Macaulay Culkin became superstars thanks to the movies of John Hughes.

 

The Brat Pack and John Hughes were a winning ticket; a guaranteed box office success. John Hughes understood teen angst. Much of inspiration for his movies was taken from his own experiences. Anyone who has seen any of his movies can relate to them.  I must have seen them each 20 times. They never get old or stale. Two decades later, people still quote from his films.

 

Although he specialized in teen movies he also had commercial success with more mature comedies like Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Mr. Mom, N.L. Vacation and his final movie, Curly Sue (which launched the film career of Steve Carell).

 

Although John Hughes has not made a movie since 1991 and has slipped in Hollywood oblivion, becoming a recluse over the years, his passing touches us deeply because his movies remain so fresh in our minds. This unforgettable quote sums up everyone’s feeling about John Hughes. “They think he’s a righteous dude.”-Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

1987 Music and Memories

July 22, 2009 in Uncategorized by Lara Burke

 1987 was my year. I fondly refer to is as the best “F”-ing year of my life - “F” standing for fashion, friendship, fun and freedom. It encompassed two extremely transitional periods: the second half of senior year in high school and the first semester of freshman year in college. In the background of it all was the soundtrack of my life; the best and most memorable music ever.bonjovi1

Let’s step back and remember the time. Hair bands reigned supreme and Aqua Net was the one thing you never left home without. It was all about the hair - the higher the better. Tease it, hang upside down and spray, then spray, scrunch and spray again. Whether you were a boy or a girl, the guys in pop metal bands had the hair everyone wanted. Jon, Richie, Brett, CC, Tommy, Nikki. They were hot beyond belief.  Dirty Dancing was my favorite movie. I wanted to be Baby, dancing around and having a forbidden romance with Johnny. As corny as the movie is now, back in 1987 is was a love story beyond compare. I’m compelled to watch it every time it’s on cable. On TV the Huxtables were everyone’s favorite family. Imagine, a wealthy, professional, married black couple raising respectable children? What next, an African American President? As for the economy, The stock market may have crashed that year but I could still put a few days worth of gas in my car with just the loose change I found on the car floor and in the seat cushions.  In sport, Mets fans were still excited over their World Series win the previous fall. Life for an 18 year old was grand.

 Fortunately, fashions and hair styles of the 80’s have not come full circle yet but I have my acid washed jeans and hair spray waiting in storage just in case. In the meantime, 80’s clothing trends have been relegated to the Halloween costumes  for Millennials who want to look “go retro” and Gen Xers who want to relive their youth if only for one day a year.  What has come back into favor, thanks to satellite radio, is 80’s music.  Younger generations love the sound and my generation loves the memories.

 

Here are the Top 5 most memorable bands/artists that defined my life in 1987 and still do today.

 

Bon Jovi – Slippery When Wet was my number 1 album in 1987.  That cassette went everywhere with me. In 1987 the most played Bon Jovi song was “Living on a Prayer” but I have a special place in my heart for “Never Say Goodbye” which was my Senior Prom theme song. (Brian Heller, if you’re out there, I had a blast. I hope you are well. This song will always remind me of you and partying in AC). Bon Jovi is just as good today as they were then. This band has evolved over time and remained one of my consistent favorites for over twenty years. My husband and I have an agreement that given the opportunity I can have Jon for a wild night. I think he’s pretty confident that that opportunity will not be knocking at my door in this lifetime. I can still dream.

 

Bruce Springsteen – The best storyteller of all time. Being a Jersey girl, everyone you knew had a personal “Bruce sighting” to tell about. “Brilliant Disguise” was the Bruce Springsteen song most played in 1987.  It has amazing lyrics that dealt with his ending marriage. The words made you question your own relationships. The lyrics are better than the melody but it’s still a song I never get tired of hearing. Everything that Bruce wrote (and continues to write) makes you think, laugh, cry, dance and live.  

                                                                                                  .

Cyndi Lauper - “True Colors” and “Change of Heart” were on my favorite mixed tape in 1987. In my book she blows Madonna out of the water then and now. 100 times cooler, 100 times better, hands down, no arguments end of story. True Colors remains one of my top 3 favorite songs. It’s a gem and so it Cyndi Lauper. I feel like she writes her songs just for me. She makes a connection with her music. It is truly in her soul. Her style was her own. She made me proud to be unique and march to my own beat. 

 

U2 – The Joshua Tree is an album I put in a class with only a few others that I consider to be nearly perfect masterpieces. Every song was great. You never got tired of hearing them. “With or Without You” was the first single released on this album followed by “Where the Streets Have No Name” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” I’ll remember the tape as the first cassette I put in my player on my first day in college. 

 

REM – “The One I Love.” Michael Stipe has a very distinctive voice. It resonates with me. He could sing the alphabet and I would love it. This song was about the women he has used in the past (“a simple prop to occupy my time”). Listen to the lyrics and you will find it is not a love song.  When he sang the word “Fire” in the chorus I could associate it with a painful event that led to the final break-up with my on again off again high school sweetheart. I learned so much about myself during that time. The song still has a profound impact on me today.

 

Who cares about the one hit wonders. These artists listed above have transcended time. 1987 was my special place in time.  I have had many blessed years since but none that had the musical impact of 1987. Songs don’t really trigger specific memories for me now like they did back then.  I don’t remember the first top 40 song I heard on the radio after my daughter was born. Nor can name a single top 10 song that defined any pivotal moment in my life since I danced at my wedding. That’s OK. My life is great. But, 1987 was the best f-ing year, ever.

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