Pop the cork on a new issue of Champagne Living

Blockbuster Express threw down the gauntlet and challenged me!

2010-03-20T12:44:00.004-04:00

And, being the woman that I am I ACCEPTED this challenge and faced it HEAD ON. Yes, Blockbuster Express challenged me (and a few others) to create a Cheap Date for under $25. CHEAP DATE??????? Apparently, they have NO IDEA who they're dealing with here. I've been accused of MANY things in my life, but being a cheap date is NOT one of them (except when it's ME who's opening the wallet). $25

Cezanne, Pastis - yes, it's Provence

2010-03-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

Just mention the word "Provence" and I can SMELL the lavender and remember the wonderful dinners served up by George Germon and Johanne Killeen of Al Forno (which was next to our restaurant years ago) who have a second home in Provence. "It's the place that dreams and magazine spreads are made of. Where everything is beautiful, and soft, and smells good. Like a movie, only better", says Tony

Enjoy a Great Retirement and a Lifetime of Happiness

2010-03-19T19:09:00.000-04:00

Close your eyes for a moment and picture yourself enjoying your ideal retirement. Perhaps you’re standing knee-deep in a Montana river, fishing for trout. Or strolling through the streets of Prague. Or reading Faulkner on the back porch, listening to the sounds of your grandchildren playing in the yard. Chances are, your actual retirement will look quite different from the way you’re imagining

I so want a pair of Balmain Zipper Sandals but....

2010-03-19T18:57:00.000-04:00

Please...won't somebody create a pair of shoes that look like this.... More Balmain... But feel like this....

Hershey's Better Basket Blog Hop - stopping at the Mansion

2010-03-18T14:19:00.003-04:00

While we don't celebrate Easter here at The Mansion (but Passover is quickly approaching), I do celebrate companies that do WONDERFUL things to help out others. Because of this Champagne Living is participating in the Hershey's Better Basket Blog Hop to raise money for the Children's Miracle Network. In celebration, I'm going out to buy one of those FABULOUS Reese's Easter Eggs that they sell at

Yoplait YoPlus

2010-03-18T11:02:00.002-04:00

I've been eating yogurt for - MANY years. That's how I start my day. A cup of coffee, a glass of OJ and a container of yogurt. If I'm still hungry (which I USUALLY am), I go back and have something heavier. For YEARS I bought yogurts without even considering the fact that ALL OF THE GOODNESS of eating yogurt had been removed. I always wondered why the thick (almost lumpy) yogurts that I'd buy in

Things I Learned from - a Moroccan Camel Driver

2010-03-17T21:18:00.002-04:00

This week's Things I Learned from is from a HIGHLY unusual source - Betty from Betty in the Sky.com. I think that you'll really enjoy it. Things I Learned From a Moroccan Camel Driver I was on a three-day camel trek in the Sahara desert in Morocco. My camel driver was a handsome young 22 year old boy named Hamid. He guided the camel as I rode on top. He spoke some English and I was amazed at how

The Shoe-a-Holic in me just loves....

2010-03-17T19:54:00.003-04:00

I have to keep my closet door closed AT ALL TIMES, for 2 reasons. 1. My dog will go in and steal my shoes and run around the house with them. 2. My husband will look in in utter amazement and say the same things he ALWAYS says after peering in..."Why would ANYONE need that many pairs of shoes?" It's just not worth the aggravation of either chasing or explaining. Now you'll understand just

Natural Home Pest Control at The Mansion

2010-03-16T11:19:00.000-04:00

We're all friends here right? Friends, we SHARE things amongst ourselves that may be - oh I don't know....PERSONAL? I'm going to share something with you right now.... TAKE A LOOK Yes, friends - that's the lanai at the mansion. It seems that it's not just hubby and I (and Clem the Mini Bull Terrier) that like living the good life here, but apparantly there are hundreds (if not THOUSANDS) of

Sugar Apple Design - living on island time?

2010-03-15T20:07:00.001-04:00

You'd think that living in South Florida - "The Sunshine State" that I'd be "living on island time." You know, wake up and split open a pineapple or have a slice of watermelon as I lounge outside with my big floppy hat on, no worries, no cares. I'd take a dip in the ocean every now and then and take long walks on the beach. Evenings I'd have a pina colada in hand as I sit at the Tiki Bar...... I

Save Money by Looking Hot

2010-03-15T17:10:00.000-04:00

SMOKING HOT! No, I'm not talking about looking so good that you'll never pay for another drink again (although that may very well happen). I'm talking about taking care of yourself by losing weight and getting fit you'll save money - on the gym, insurance, etc. Whatever happens AFTER that....let's just say that what happens on Champagne Living STAYS on Champagne Living. You can Save $387.03,

I have a favor to ask -

2010-03-14T18:17:00.001-04:00

Two of my friends are involved in the Pepsi Refresh Project at SXSW this weekend. Sandy of Organize with Sandy (@organizersandy) has come up with a WONDERFUL idea to help fund food banks. Her "campaign manager" Melissa of Consumer Queen (@consumerqueen) had run this contest on her site. She is now in the running (along with Gary V. and Mashable) - this is going to be a TOUGH one, she's currently

Congratulations to our latest winners

2010-03-14T11:47:00.000-04:00

Please join me in raising a flute of champagne to the latest giveaway winners here on Champagne living. Redbox Codes Giveaway juleemm@ shel704@ Songs From The Heart Inger O. - Mercer, PA Pillsbury Orange Sweet Rolls Peggy G. - Preston, CT Congratulations and keep entering - YOU might be our next winner!

Show me the money.....

2010-03-13T16:54:00.002-05:00

It's been a lazy Saturday. I was up fairly early, but had one of those days when I stay in my "comfy clothes" until about 3:00PM. At that point I figured that it was time to get up and dressed for the day after which, I immediately came back to do a little web surfing. Saturday's are fun for exploring new sites, visiting my favorites, etc. I was visiting a site when I saw this little widget

As I was surfing the Internet...

2010-03-13T13:45:00.000-05:00

..and thinking about Mother's Day, I somehow (well, not REALLY somehow - I actually typed the URL in) ended up at The Vermont Teddy Bear Company. OK, so I saw them checking out Champagne Living and although I've heard their radio ads and knew a bit about the company, I figured that if they could check ME out, that I could check them out....which lead to me thinking about Mother's Day and how one

No Reservations - China - will I be hungry for more?

2010-03-13T12:18:00.000-05:00

When I first heard that Tony was going to be visiting China on this week's No Reservations, my mind filled with clichés like. After watching, will I be hungry for more in an hour? I profusely apologize for my insensitivity - but the Fu Dogs that used to flank the entryway of my aunt's house made me do it! The truth is that I'm very excited about Tony's visit to Harbin in northeastern China (

It's a good weekend to rent a movie - for FREE

2010-03-12T22:05:00.000-05:00

I've been listening to the news today and it sounds like there's nasty weather heading here and a LOT of other parts of the country. So, what better than to rent a movie and cuddle up with some popcorn, while it's raining, snowing or otherwise YUCKY outside. Blockbuster Express is offering a free rental code, good for the month March! Their DVD rentals are only $1.00 a night, making it an

How to NEVER Look Fat Again

2010-03-12T11:08:00.001-05:00

How to NEVER Look Fat Again by Charla Krupp promises over 1,000 ways to dress thinner without dieting! I'd be happy with just ONE! Being a whopping 5'1" it's easy to look as wide as I am tall, so I can use ALL of the help I can get. Having been a fan of Charla Krupp's previous book How Not to Look Old, I KNEW that she'd have another winner on her hands. I mean, tell me the truth - wouldn't YOU

A Flute of Champagne for our latest winners

2010-03-11T14:06:00.000-05:00

I'm finally getting around to announcing some more of our winners. Progresso Souper You Melanie D. - Cordova, TN Horizon Chocolate Milk Renee C. - Stone Mtn., GA Jeanne G. - Middleboro, MA 31 Days of Oscar Party Pack Theresa S. - Davenport, FL Cover Girl Smoky Eye Kit Donna t. - Meridian, MS Milena B. - Clintondale, NY

Things I learned from - being a tour manager for a band

2010-03-11T09:30:00.002-05:00

This week's "Things I Learned" comes from a 15 year veteran of the music business. Tammy is a booking agent, publicist and writer and has learned a lot along the way including.. Things I learned from being a tour manager for a band 1. Be kind to the door guy or the bartender. He may be the talent buyer next week. 2. You can take the band out of the bar, but you can't take the bar out of the

Mirra, Mirra on -

2010-03-10T15:08:00.000-05:00

my body? That's right. I was lucky enough to be able to try out some NEW hair, skin and body products by mirra This may be the first your hearing of them, but it certainly won't be the last. mirra is a new line of skin and hair care product that are exclusively available at Kroger. That's right - not Nordstrom, not Saks, but KROGER! If you LOVE using natural ingredients coupled with

Costa Rica WITHOUT Rush Limbaugh

2010-03-10T10:36:00.000-05:00

No political debate here. Rush Limbaugh can go live in Costa Rica - it doesn't make a bit of difference for me. I'd like to go as well (of course for VERY different reasons), not to live - but to have a WONDERFUL vacation visiting the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve and more. I just got an update from Gate1 Travel that would make going quite affordable. For only $699 per person you could be

This week's The View

2010-03-10T10:08:00.001-05:00

I was sitting here watching The View and thinking that I need to keep a list of who's on when. I don't ALWAYS get the opportunity to watch it WHEN I want (scheduling), which is why I LOVE the fact that I can access previously aired shows on the ABC website. This morning I caught up on Monday's post Oscar show (just can't get enough of The Oscars). In case, like me - you have a tendency to wait

Corked

2010-03-09T17:59:00.000-05:00

Corked: A MemoirAuthor: Kathryn Borel There are times when you find a book that just hits home. For me Corked is one of those books. This simple memoir of a father/daughter trip to the French wine country hit me hard. It is the story of a final trip of an older, father, who (although it is never stated) is ill and this is the last trip that he and his daughter take. Their relationship

Help raise money for Haiti with CasaBlast

2010-03-09T09:36:00.000-05:00

It's always refreshing to see companies giving back and CasaBlast seems to be doing this on a HUGE scale, by donating $10,000 IF they reach their goal of getting 10,000 people to sign up. That equates to nearly an entire cargo container of FOOD and SUPPLIES for people who are in desperate need. The cool part? CasaBlast is a FREE service, so it won't cost YOU any money and you'll be helping