Lord, what would I do without my I-Pod during a long run.
Here are some of the songs on my current workout playlist:

1. Machu Picchu: The Strokes
2. This Modern Love: Bloc Party 
3. Magical Mystery Tour: The Beatles
4. Good to Me: The White Stripes
5. Do You Want it All: Two Door Cinema Club
6. A Chore: Tom Vek
7. Ready to Start: Arcade Fire 
8. Barton Hollow: The Civil Wars
9. Bennie and the Jets: Elton John

Here’s to my next run..

July is my favorite month.  Obviously here in Ohio the weather is wonderful for the most part, the days are long, and plenty of events are planned.

One of those events was this past Saturday as my husband’s brother got married in Canton.  The setting was beautiful for the reception.  Gervasi Winery is only a couple of years old and the food is spectacular.  The weather was picturesque.  I was so happy for Zack and Joanne.  They really had the perfect day.  So did I.

The wonderful thing about family weddings (that aren’t your own) is that you can see everyone you know and love and there’s no pressure to cut a cake, dance a first dance, or talk to every single person.

I was able to dance the night away with my parents and all of the Barnard/Ricker clan.

Not to mention the bride, Joanne, was stunning. 

This was our big summer event.. now we have to find something else to look forward to.

We all know about Facebook and Twitter.  Some of us have been joined up on those social networking sites for years now.  I personally have both, and already that seems like too much to keep up.  I usually update my Facebook page.. but I use Twitter far less frequently (even though some co-workers are converting me a little).

Anyways, I bring this up because I have been hearing a lot of buzz about Google +,  lately.

From what I understand, you can consolidate all of your social media information.. and also do things like Skype and video chats for free.  I have also heard that you can choose which groups you want to check out your status updates, basically tailoring what you say to each group that may be interested.

It sounds kind of cool to put everything into one social media outlet.

Any more feedback on Google +?  I’m curious.

I’m kind of worried about my dog, so I guess it’s time to take her to the vet.

She has some redness and she won’t stop scratching.  I am thinking it could be poison ivy.  If she does, this is not good news.

She is around me all of the time.. I hope I don’t catch it!

I didn’t even think that she could pick up something like this….

I love cake.
Most people know that about me.
Anyways, I’m in the process of throwing a shower with my in-laws because my brother-in-law is getting married in July.

I of course volunteered to purchase the dessert. I will not say where I got it, but I thought the dollar amount is pretty steep for a half sheet. However, I still placed the order.. I know I will be getting some quality cake.

How much is too much for cake? I don’t know.

Maybe I should just take the time and bake my own?
Nah, I’m good.

Last week I was honored to speak with children over at Sylvan Elementary School in Sylvania. It was part of the school’s Career and Enrichment Day.

Photojournalist, Craig Picklesimer, and I were able to talk to kids about news, how we gather stories, shoot stories, edit stories, make contacts, write stories, use the live truck… etc.

I found it interesting that so many kids, even as young at 5 and 6 knew about big stories going on in our area. 

We also gave them the opportunity to be on TV.. and do some reporting themselves.

I know I’m not sick, but sometimes it feels like it… allergies are a problem.

I love this time of year because the weather has finally gotten better. On the flipside, all I want to do is itch my eyes.

It wasn’t until the last couple of years that I started noticing that I had them, but now I am never forgetting them.  Since I was little, I’ve always been allergic to cats.. but I’m not around many.

I know a lot of people are allergic to grass, so I’m guessing that could be my current issue. 

I guess I’ll just always have to pop an allergy pill this time of year before starting my day.

It’s a time to salute our Veterans.
It’s also the unofficial start to summer.

I love Memorial Day. Between the cook outs, the weekend shopping, the beautiful weather (usually).. it’s just a fun holiday.

Hope you enjoyed it!!

Today is a tough one.  

At least 116 people dead in Joplin, Missouri.. after terrible tornadoes.
Some of the pictures I have seen so far are bone chilling. You can’t help but wonder why things like this happen. Really, there’s no explanation.
This time of year tornadoes come with fury. Over the weekend, twisters touched down in Kansas, and Minnesota.
Almost a year ago we were dealing with devastation ourselves. Lake Township and other areas of northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan experienced damage.

Soon we will relive it again through news reports and pictures of the devastation.. and remember those lives lost on June 5th.

Keep everyone going through these disasters in your prayers.

I know, I know.. I’m late in the game when it comes to couponing.  But, better late than never, right?

Honestly, before my last few shopping trips, I had always wanted to try, but felt like I didn’t have the time.

I even did a story in November with a coupon saavy lady named Jen Myers, and learned from her one-on-one when it comes to the tricks of the trade.  I guess that’s when I first really paid attention to the concept.

Then a few weeks ago I saw an extreme couponing program on TV and the savings was just too ridiculous not to try it out for myself.

Every week my husband and I get the paper and cut out every coupon we think we might want to use.  Then we run over to my in-laws and take their inserts, ha.

I have a binder and organize every food product by aisle. (This sounds like a lot of time, but really, it’s not.)

All you have to do after that is match up your manufacturer coupons with what’s on sale at the store.  The cool thing about this is that a lot of times the store has the same products on sale as your weekly coupons. 

Plus, if you use your loyalty card that’s more savings right there.

I’d say the key to all of this couponing business is going to your regular grocery store on double coupon day/week.  The savings is out of control.

Long story short, I saved 70 bucks last week on groceries… cutting our bill almost in half.

Not bad for my second try.  I’m hooked.