Super Hero and a Winner!

As I've whined way too often in this space, our 'hood is under siege by several groups of no-good, dirty-rotten @#$%^! who are on a burglary spree that just won't quit.  However, after several new robberies over the past month, I think the bad guys are in for a big surprise if they try to rob again.

The neighbor kid is on the lookout...

How could I not feel better with a Super Hero on our street!?!

*****

Congratulations to Tammy of Hot Flashes In The Desert-- The lucky winner of The Wizard of Otin's totally cool and super scary book, In Blog We Trust.  Email me your address, Tammy, and Otin, aka Michael  Infinito will mail you an autographed copy!  Thanks to all who entered.  Be sure to check out In Blog We Trust and Otin's latest-- OMG it'll scare the daylights out of you-- thriller 12:19

How was your 4th of July weekend? 

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Christmas Ornament Giveaway!

Now that Thanksgiving is over and I'm well past my turkey coma, I don't mind the endless Christmas music on the radio anymore-- I'm actually enjoying it!  But what I'm not enjoying is the battle for a parking space at my local mall.  Ahh, this the season.

Thank heaven for blogger extraordinaire, Attila The Mom, and her crew of very talented folks who make the gorgeous fabric ornaments shown above.  Those beauties are all hand made and so beautiful that I own several of them already-- And I never had to leave the comfort of home to get them.  Isn't online shopping great?

Some of you may recall that Attila provided one of these gems as a giveaway for me last year, and now I'm totally in the Christmas spirit because she's offering another one this year!

What makes these ornaments so special and why I'm happy to participate in this giveaway is because of the significance of how these ornaments and the company, Highland Roses Design, came to be.  It all started with Attila's family... 

Highland Roses Design Collaborative Craft Studio is a privately-funded project that provides individuals who live with disabilities and/or mental illnesses as well as their family caregivers an opportunity to step towards independence through the sale of our own arts and crafts creations. They accept no grants or government funding, and are working to become self-sustaining through our own endeavors.

Every step of this undertaking is a collaborative effort---from design to creation. Each distinctive ornament is produced by several sets of hands---all working together to create something special!  For more info or to place an order CLICK HERE. 

I can't tell you how blown away I was when I received my first ornament from this hardworking group of crafters.  They are beautiful-- Not just the ornaments, but the hands and hearts that made them.  Here's YOUR chance to own one too. 

  

 Christmas Ornament Giveaway!  

 Choose from one of the three ornaments pictured as your prize. 

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on THIS POST and/or on and or all of my new my posts between now and midnight PT, December 15, 2012.  The more you comment, the more chances you have to win.

And, if you want to be a super elf and help spread the word-- Just blog about the giveaway and/or Highland Roses Design's ornaments, linking to THIS POST, and you'll get THREE MORE chances to win.

Easy peasy.

Giveaway available to everyone, everywhere in the world, as long as you have a blog and I can email you for your address.  I'll notify the winner on December 16th.  

So come-- Get in the Christmas spirit and enter to win!

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com  -  Joanna Jenkins

For more info on Highland Roses Design Collaborative Craft Studio click HERE!

Anniversary Giveaway!

Blogger has been having its way with me over the past few days by not saving any of my drafts. So I'm hitting the "publish" button without saving this post and hoping for the best. Is anyone else having the same problem-- disappearing post drafts???

Three years ago today, on a whim, I started this blog. Mind you, at the time I'd never read a blog and wasn't exactly sure what the purpose was, but here I am happily celebrating what has grown into a meaningful and important part of my life.

To say I've come to love this medium and the people I've connected with in cyberspace is an understatement. Through this blog I've met people from all walks of life and from all over the world.

You've read and stuck with me as I droned on (and on and on) about life's mid-life lessons. You've shared in some of the saddest losses of my life and the grieving process that followed. You've laughed with me at my mishaps and cheered me on when I was sick or blue.

And for all of those things and more, I thank you.

I never expected to make such meaningful and close connections with people I've never met in person. But like so many have written in your anniversary posts, that's exactly what's happened and for that I am grateful. You know who you are and I thank you with all my heart.

Over the years I have read some amazing, funny, inspiring, mind-blowing and just plain outstanding stories and poetry not to mention seeing some incredible photography as well. I didn't expect posts like these when I started blogging either. The depth of talent in the blog community is beyond my wildest expectations and I'm confident that one day, when I see your names on the NY Times Bestsellers List, I'll be able to say "I followed him/her when they were blogging!"

The time you have taken to leave me comments and to share your opinions humbles me. Again, thank you for your generosity and kindness.

To mark this occasion, the wonderful Izzy from Under The Copper Sky has graciously offered a gorgeous handmade necklace for an Anniversary Giveaway. I'm a huge fan of Izzy's work and wear a pair of her earrings on almost a daily basis. Her work is beautiful and I'm sure who ever the lucky winner of this Giveaway is will be a fan as well.

Hand stamped copper with jasper.

Accented with chocolate recycled silk sari and copper chain.

18" in length.

To enter-- Just leave a comment below!

If you'd like a second entry, please visit Izzy's Etsy Shop and have a look around.

I'll bet you love her jewelry too! We're doing this on the honor system so leave a second comment if you pay her a visit.

Easy Peasy! (You must have a blog to enter. Giveaway ends at midnight, PT February 17th.)

Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your world. It's a pleasure knowing you. xoxo jj

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

How nice of Blogger to suddenly make the spacing and font size go crazy too! Sorry folks.

Photo Credit: Cupcakes © 14ktgold - Fotolia.com Photo Credit: Necklace

Enjoy Every Sandwich Giveaway

To say I was disappointed when our local Barnes and Noble bookstore closed was an understatement because the next closest store is 30 minutes in miserable Los Angeles traffic away.

I'm a big bookstore browser and could easily spend an hour or more each visit looking at various books for one that catches my eye... The one that says "pick me up"... The one that's not necessarily on my radar or the bestseller's list... The one that has the right size type, page cut and cover art that appeals to my senses and will entice me to actually read it from cover to cover.

Sure, I'm a Kindle girl, but I can't completely leave my beloved "real" books behind because I enjoy passing a good read on to my friends and family.

So when I was contacted by the folks involved with Enjoy Every Sandwich by Lee Lipsenthal, M.D., I was intregued because their giveaway offer included not only a $25 Visa gift card but also TWO copies of the book-- One for the winner and one for the winner to share with a friend. How perfect is that. The Giveaway is on!!!

My shelves are lined with numerous "self-help", inspirational and "how-to" books that I've read, reread and collected over the years. If my fav book store hadn't closed, Enjoy Every Sandwich is the kind of book I would have been on the hunt for. It's focus is to be grateful for something every day, and remember to live fully, love well and enjoy every moment.

The book is written by a young 50-something wellness doctor who walks-the-walk and has a great family, great practice, great life... and cancer. But this is not a doom and gloom book about dying. It's about the first 18 months of his journey with cancer and how he lived to the fullest.

I found it to be an interesting and worthwhile read. And, much to my surprise, so did my husband who read the entire book in one day-- Something he never does!

$25 Visa Gift Card

and 2 Copies of Enjoy Every Sandwich

GIVEAWAY

This giveaway is a simple one... Just leave a comment below on this post and you're "in". Blog about it and leave two additional comments to increase your chances. Easy-peasy.

--Contest ends at midnight PT, January 20, 2012

--Sorry, US and Canadian mailing address only.

--$25 Visa Gift Card and two copies of Enjoy Every Sandwich will be shipped directly to the winner by the publisher's representative so be sure I can contact you.

--You must have a blog to enter.

--Giveaway and sample courtesy of Random House

--Books are $22 each

Dr. Lee Lipsenthal worked with Dr. Dean Ornish at the famed Preventive Medicine Research Institute. As medical director of the Institute, he helped thousands of patients to overcome their fear of pain and death and to embrace living life with joy every day. In his own life, happily married and the proud father of two remarkable children, Lee was similarly committed to living life fully and gratefully each day.

The power of these beliefs was tested in July 2009, when Lee was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. As Lee and his wife, Kathy, navigated his illness and treatment over the past two years, Lee discovered that he did not fear death. Instead of fearing the future, he took the time to practice gratitude, connect with his loved ones, and make every attempt to live a full life with each breath. Enjoy Every Sandwich is Lee’s lasting gift to his family, his friends, his colleagues and to readers.

Leave a comment below to enter this giveaway!

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Good News + GIVEAWAY

Remember my niece and her boyfriend who were going wilderness hiking in Yosemite? If you do, then you can only imagine the huge sigh of relief I felt when they pulled back into my driveway yesterday safe and sound.

The trip was amazing and fun for them but I'm pretty sure this will be the last wilderness anything this couple does together. My niece said it was a once in a lifetime experience but "OMGosh hiking nearly straight up the side of a mountain is way harder than it looks".

I think it cured them, or at least her, of attempting this type of extreme adventure ever again-- "Extreme" being defined as anything that does not have a wood floor, a roof over her head, running water, and preferably an elevator.

But, they lived to tell the story, didn't see one bear along the way, and saw some spectacular sights. Speaking of sights, this is the sight I saw as they unloaded their gear from the rental car.....

Is this all the gear they took? Oh no, no, no. They were loaded with stuff. THIS is the gear that smelled too bad to bring into our house!

*******

Don't forget to enter my BFF Julia Roberts GIVEAWAY to win a $25 Fandango Movie Ticket Gift Certificate and a Larry Crowne Prize Package-- Two sets of prizes are up for grabs. Giveaway ends Monday, June 27th at midnight PT. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Sundays In My City #58 - A Rainbow, A Winner & An Elephant

Travel The World Every Sunday.

~~~RAINBOW~~~

You might have heard on the news about all the rain we've gotten in Los Angeles this past week. Sunny Southern California usually gets about 14 total inches of rain a year, but last week-- Last week our neighborhood got 8 inches in 5 five days! For a while there I was thinking it was time to build the Arc.

On Wednesday we had about an hour break in the downpour and the sun come out. Ahhh, it was such a nice change to see sunlight wash across my living room but even better when I looked outside and saw the most amazing rainbow a girl could ever ask for, and I could see the entire bow from side-to-side.

Look closely below, there is the bright inside rainbow and the hint of a second, outter rainbow as well....

The weather forecasters say the worst of the storm is over, but we're still predicted to get a little more this week. For those of you who know about my once sinking pool and deck, I'm VERY happy to say it's firmly in place with no signs of movement-- And believe me, I was out there checking A LOT. Phew....

The rainbow is hard to see in the above photo but in this one, it's arches across the yard...

...Before it slides down....

...And into someone's front yard! The base on both sides of the rainbow looked like movie lighting was in place to brighten the colors then shade a deep gray on the outside for contrast.

It was pretty amazing-- And I didn't color correct or adjust any of these pictures. My little point and shoot captured it as I saw it.

So many people called to tell me to look for the rainbow because it was seen all over the city. Each person ended with the same comment-- Make a wish! A rainbow is very lucky, all your dreams will come true!

In the 45 minutes I watched this spectular sight, I made a lot of wishes.

~~~WINNER~~~

Drumroll please-- The winner of my $80 CSNStores.com Giveaway is Mari at 365 Days! Congratulations and happy Shopping! And if you don't know Mari you really must stop by and say hello. She takes the most beautiful photos that make me wish I lived in her neighborhood.

~~~ELEPHANT~~~

Did you get a Christmas gift that's left you scratching your head wondering what was the giver thinking because it's soooo not you? Then swing by Nanny Goats In Panties and sign up for Margaret's Online White Elephant Gift Exchange Party. All you need is an unused get this piece of junk out of my house gift to participate. CLICK HERE for details and join the fun. RSVP by December 31st.

~~~~~~~

How's your Sunday?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

For more Sundays In My City CLICK HERE.

Sheesh & Giveaway!

Stop by and enter my Giveaway HERE.

$80 CSNStores.com Gift Certificate

If you've already entered,

stop by again and leave another comment

for a 2nd chance to win!

I was never much of a basketball fan until I was invited to a Los Angeles Lakers vs Boston Celtics game back in the day-- The days of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird and their huge rivalry. It was my first ever professional basketball game.

In the early 1990s they played at the old Forum, not the hip new Staples Center like they do today. I was "just a date" for my now Husband and a little unsure of what I was getting myself into. He said it was "compliments of his business bankers" and we'd eat at the Forum then watch the game with them. I basically expected to meet a couple of very serious old guys in dark suits and, honestly, didn't think it sounded all that fun.

This was back in my big hair and short skirts days but since it was a basketball game, I pictured it being barely a step above bleachers and hot dogs. So I dressed nice, but casually in jeans, and ate before I left since hot dogs and beer, my impressions of typical "game food", were not a favorite.

The VIP Parking Valet was my first clue that the night might be a little more than I'd anticipated. We were directed to the Forum Club for dinner where we met the banker, a 30-something guy and his young wife. Things were looking up.

The menu had only three entree choices-- Chicken, Filet Mignon or Lobster and the prices were, in my opinion, astronomical. I'd hosted my share of business dinners and always was put off when "the date" would order every expensive item on the menu eating like there was no tomorrow, so I remembered what my mother taught me and ordered the lowest priced $50 (!) chicken and tap water. Husband had the steak.

The banker and his wife both ordered the $125 Lobster dinners along with an unusually expensive bottle of white wine.

When it came time for dessert, husband and I passed but the banker ordered four desserts to-go so they could give them to their kids in the morning-- Those cost more than my nasty, dry chicken, by the way.

On to the game. When I was handed my ticket, I nearly chocked. They were center court floor seats costing $500 each! My first thought... Dang, I should have ordered the Lobster!

We sat directly across from Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty. I swooned. But when the players come out-- Oh. My. Gosh! Those guys were amazing.

When they dribbled the ball, our seats vibrated. When they ran past us, it felt like a small earthquake. When they scored long shots, the Forum rocked! It was honestly one of the most exciting things I've ever seen in person-- And I'm not even a basketball fan.

Husband and I have talked about that night many times in the past 20 years. First because of the price of things, since he doesn't consider himself or his company all that big of a deal to warrant such treatment. Second because shortly thereafter, his business banker whined that they had to relinquish their floor seats because the (then) economy was tanking. And third, because within the year, the 30-something banker's boss was laid-off and not replaced for budgetary reasons.

I'm pretty sure four season ticket floor seats would have covered the boss' salary and then some.

We saw the young banker and his wife three or four more times for dinner over the next several years. I continued to order the cheapest thing on the menu and they continued to eat like kings and queens then order take-out for their growing kids, all paid for with his Bank's lavish expense account.

I know "perks" are a part of doing business and have passed on and received more than my share during my career. But I'm always surprised when the "perks" are so excessive.

And I'm even more surprised when the businesses doling out these massive "perks" don't learn their lesson and repeat the excessive spending cycle over and over again.

So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when I spotted the now 50-something banker and his wife, with doggie bag under their seat, at a recent Laker's game-- Floor seats, center court, right across from Jack Nicholson.

Sheesh.

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Photo Credit: © Orlando Florin Rosu - Fotolia.com

Click HERE for a chance to win an $80 CSNStores.com Gift Certificate.

Giveaway!

The very first movie I ever saw was the original animated feature, Jungle Book in 1967. I was about 8 years old. I loved it, and I loved that my dad took Mom and us kids to all see it together-- And, we got popcorn.

The very last movie I saw was The Tourist starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. I hated it. The movie was the biggest waste of a Saturday night (and $24) that I can remember in a very long time. It was a dog and I'm pretty sure the rest of the audience in the theater agreed with me. What a disappointment.

So imagine my surprise when I was up early this morning watching the Golden Globe Award nomination announcements on television. When The Tourist was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress and Best Actor, I nearly fell over the tv stand.

But it got me thinking-- I've seen A LOT of really bad movies over the years but I've also seen some really great ones too. With the exception of E. T.; The Extra-Terrestrial, my all-time faves tend to lean towards small independent films like The Madness of King George with Helen Mirren and Nigel Hawthorne, Eat, Drink, Man, Woman directed by Ang Lee, Big Night which is when I started crushing on Stanley Tucci, and Life Is Beautiful starring Italian darling Roberto Benigni.

Movies currently playing in theaters have been a bit lackluster for me, but I'm hoping-- always hoping-- for a really good one just around the corner. This coming weekend, Black Swan is on my "must see" list. And, if I can get some extra time, I'll actually go see the not so great Burlesque so I can check out Mr. Tucci's performance.

*******

GIVEAWAY!

Are you one of those Day-After-Christmas-Shoppers? If you are, here's your chance to win an $80 CSNStores.com Gift Certificate to shop (online) til you drop starting December 26th. I'm having a giveaway and the winner will be announced December 25th! Just leave a comment below to enter.

Usual CSNStores.com Giveaway rules apply: US and Canada only (sorry). YOU pay the shipping. One time use only. No exchanges or returns. I draw winner randomly. Entries close Midnight, December 24, 2010 Pacific Time.

What are your all-time favorite movies?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Photo Credit: © kentoh - Fotolia.com

Photo Credit: Burlesque

Stuff, Stuff, Stuff & GIVEAWAY

Don't forget to enter my Giveaway HERE!

*****

My mother is a great collector of stuff. Her home is full of it. Every nook and cranny, is covered-- Framed photographs-- art work-- baskets-- glass/porcelain/crystal/china... Stuff, stuff, stuff-- All with just a hint of dust to qualify as "patina". From side tables, and book shelves, to cabinets and window sills, a look around her house will leaving you wondering....

Where in the heck did all this stuff come from?

First let me say, even with all this stuff, a good deal of which is breakable, my folk's home is VERY livable and childproof. It's a home you can put your feet up and enjoy, not a museum/don't touch anything kind of place. That said....

Every visible space has something on it. But the interesting thing is that Mom remembers the story behind every item (all trillion)-- A nic-nak that one of her five kids gave her when they were in 2nd grade, a vintage basket she found at a long lost friend's garage sale in 1962, a birthday present from a grandchild a decade ago, Mom knows the story behind it all.

So imagine my surprise when, during my visit home last week, Mom handed me a box and told me to take whatever I wanted-- That she was getting rid of the stuff cluttering up her house. And yes, she actually used the word "clutter". I didn't know that word existed in her vocabulary!

Aside from the shock that she was willing to unload everything including stuff I'd seen since I was a baby, and aside from the fact that for the first time ever, Mom was referring to her "mementos" as "clutter"-- I was more than uncomfortable at the notion of pillaging my folk's home for family treasures, items that reminded me of my youth, and *ahem*cough*err* things I've had my eye on for sometime now.

Knowing my mother, I knew reading between the lines was probably in order so I immediately asked if she was sick and/or had anything to tell me about her health. She assured me she as not about to kick the bucket, but she was ready to start "decluttering" and figured I might as well take what I wanted rather than "being stuck" with the stuff she would pack up for me and stick a bow on for Christmas.

After much prodding and a few days of stalling, I finally started filling the box. Mom and I both collect blue glass so those were the things she pointed me in the direction of first. Then she "suggested" the lavender glass, then the crystal, then the rose glass, then the milk glass, then, then, then.

Whoa!

If Mom had her way, I'd have needed a U-Haul for all the "stuff" she wanted me to bring back to Los Angeles, but in the end, she was happy with the single box I filled with blue and lavender glass. Along the way however, she did managed to include a huge wool blanket claiming it would help against breakage, but I think she really just wanted to empty a shelf in the linen closet.

All kidding aside, I'm thrilled to have the mementos I remember since I was a kid. Hubby on the other hand, is still grumbling about where we're going to put it all. And, I'm pretty sure the words "you've become your mother" actually escaped his lips but he's not copping to the charge.

Do you have too much "stuff"?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

And Then She Said... & GIVEAWAY

There I was in the airport security line with my carry on suitcase in one hand and my snow boots in the other-- The boots I bought in Cleveland on vacation visiting my family-- Because it rained, snowed and was slushy the whole time I was there.

In front of me was a very fancy, 60-something woman (translation: obviously very rich judging by her chic Louis Vuitton bag, full length fur coat, excessive diamonds and exceptionally good facelift). She clearly had lots of money and knew how to spend it.

Behind me was none other than "The Chief" (James Pickens Jr.) from my favorite TV show Grey's Anatomy. I tried not to let him see my jaw drop as I did a double-take looking at him over my shoulder. For the record, The Chief is wildly sexy, which, at the moment, sounds a little weird, but please trust me on this. They dress the guy kinda frumpy and fatherly on the show but in real life-- Whoa! I was swooning.

So there we were all trying to get through the first ID inspection of the security process so we could go through the x-ray machine, but Ms Lotof$$ was holding us up. Apparently her driver's license name did not match her ticketed name and security was checking her out.

She was giving them a very nonchalant story about how she changed her name and the paperwork hadn't caught up with her yet. She said her driver's license name was her "real" name, then she vaguely mention it was her husband's last name on the ticket, but now she was back to using her driver's license name again. It was all "quick, quick, quick with nothing for anyone to worry about", she said. But security was worrying and continued questioning her... While The Chief and I waited, and waited, and waited right behind her.

Apparently the security crew was also taken with The Chief's good looks so instead of checking our IDs and waving us through, they kept us waiting so everybody and his brother could get a good look at him too.

After a few minutes, Ms Lotsof$$ was starting to get exasperated... and so, apparently, was the yip yappy dog she had in the Louis Vuitton bag. (Who knew!?!) Between the barking, the now four security people questioning her, and The Chief clearing his throat loudly behind me to help move things along, Ms Lotsof$$ finally said...

"The tickets is in my married-but-almost-divorced name and my driver's license is in my real name. My marriage was very fast--very fast, she repeated in a deeper voice-- It was so fast it was like the drive through at In-N-Out Burger...."

**Blink**

At which point, everyone immediately tried not to laugh.

By the way, The Chief has a very nice choke-back-a-laugh-chuckle... and it gave me another excuse to check in out.

Security finally let the now long line behind Ms Lotsof$$ pass while they continued to question her.

More on my vacation later. But first--

I'm having a Giveaway and it's easy to enter!

CSNStores.com has given me a $100 Gift Certificate to pass on to one lucky blogger. Their usual terms and conditions apply (one time use, you pay the freight, US and Canada shipping only-- Full details will come with the Gift Card.) I'm sure you've heard CSNStores.com has more than 200 online stores to shop until your heart's content.

All you have to do is--

1) Leave a comment here and on all my new posts between now and midnight PT Saturday, November 20, 2010. The more you read new posts and comment, the more chances you have to win the $100 Gift Card.

2) For extra entries blog about the giveaway linking to THIS POST then come back to THIS POST and LEAVE ME TWO MORE COMMENTS with your giveaway URL. These are how your extra entries will be counted so don't forget this part.

3) You must have a blog to enter. Be sure I can reach you via email if you win. I'll randomly draw the winner. Results are final.

So there you have it. Come on! Leave a comment to enter.

Have you ever had an unexpected airport experience?

Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

Photo Credit: Suitcase- © chris-m - Fotolia.com

Photo Credit for James Pickens Jr.

Photo Credit for In-N-Out Burger