THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED SNOWSTORM POST PART I

Before we start, I'd like to take the time to wish each and every one of you a very, very Merry Christmas! Jesus is the Reason for the season, and I hope that all of you found Him in something or someone today. As for the Chicken Wings, we had an extremely blessed day, spent with my family - and the fun's not over yet! In a few days, we'll be heading north to see Mr. Chicken Wing's family, and we are so excited! I'm also excited because I've taken next week off from work, and it will be the first vacation I've had in months.

But, I know you are all excited to know how the snowstorm went down, and this post is going to document the amount of snowfall we experienced - and let me tell you, it was intense. You may have noticed in the title of this post that it is Part I. That's because this will be my photo-heavy post. Next will be more photos, and I'm going to attempt to do a vlog post (vlog = video blog). That way, you'll be able to see all of the fun we had during this storm. So, buckle your seat belts and get ready - this post is full of photo content.

So, after all was said and done, we ended up with about 17" of snow!!! It was absolutely incredible and so much fun for us and the puppies! It did shut down our city for a day or two, but I say that's okay. Stay tuned for the follow-up snow posts, because there is definitely more to come! :)

And again, MERRY CHRISTMAS, PEEPS!!!!

Until next time,

A Holly, Jolly Miss Chicken Wing

My Mantra - I'll Share It With You

There are many ways that people deal with times when they are tested. Some people get mad, some people get sad, some people turn to friends, some have a favorite song, and some have a quote or motto - a mantra, that when uttered, changes their perspective.

As for me, I'm in the last group. I have a mantra. It comes from my absolute favorite Broadway production, the everlasting goodness that is RENT.

You can catch this production "off-Broadway" or you can rent/buy the movie, which features an all-star cast. I saw this production for the first time when I was a junior in high school. I was privileged enough to be accepted into Governor's School (a supplement to high school that truly changed my life personally in addition to academically). My G-School (as we called it) junior year field trip was to New York City, a dream of mine to begin with. When we all went to the actual Broadway, we didn't know what we were getting into with RENT.

I wish you could have seen our faces when we realized the depth and the meaning beautifully framed by the entertainment that the actors and actresses gave to us. There were tears, there were laughs, there were mostly smiles - we had all been touched, and I don't think a single one of us expected that reaction at all.

So, since that day, I've had a relationship with RENT. When the movie came out, I went to see it, and something surprising happened - I wasn't disappointed! I was ecstatic! Then, years passed. I got invited by a friend to see a local theatre's production of RENT. Mr. Chicken Wing (after I had forced him to watch the movie with me and he had decided on his own that he LOVED it) decided to come with me, and we made a date night out of it. I thought that there was no way our little city could produce the caliber of talent that I'd seen both through the Broadway production and the film. Boy, was I ever wrong. I got teary-eyed, I sang along, and Mr. Chicken Wing was equally blown away.

The cool thing about RENT is that not only does it touch the people who are watching - but it deeply affects the actors/actresses that step up to the plate and try to do the production justice. They have so much respect for the work that it's not even an option - they have to be great. And I think one thing that seeing this local production taught me was that it's not about the production as much as it is about RENT. The show is just that good, that profound, and that meaningful.

If you haven't seen it, I would highly suggest you do. I hope it changes your life as much as it did mine. I will forewarn you that it does touch on issues that people are still sensitive about today, so if you aren't open-minded, it might not do as much for you as for me. But, the songs, the characters, and the topics that this work touches on will stick with me forever.

I guess all that's left to do is to introduce you to the four words from RENT that changed the way I live my life.

Are you ready?

"No Day But Today." - RENT

That's it. And so you can get a sense of what those words mean in the movie (as they don't have workable footage of the Broadway production that I know of), I've included the last clip from the movie, when all the friends come together and remember what's important - each other, and life.


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What's really awesome is that several of the actors and actresses in the movie were also in the Broadway production! (Some of you reading this blog may know that!) :)

So there it is: you have to live your life like there is no day but today. Don't wait to tell those around you that you love them. Don't get so caught up in the stresses of life that you don't enjoy life. Don't take the ones you love for granted. I know all too well that they won't always be around, and you have to cherish whatever time you get to have with them. Don't wait until tomorrow to start that project you've been wanting to do. Send your Christmas cards now. Stop and bake a cake with your family. Take your dogs outside and go wild! LOVE while you have the time. Make a difference.
NO DAY BUT TODAY.

Until next time (and SNOW posts!!!),

Miss Chicken Wing

Rest In Peace!

I apologize for my delay in blogging - we've experienced the largest snowstorm we've had in years, and therefore, I have been outside enjoying it! :)

But, I wanted to take a quick moment to post on a terrible tragedy that came out of Hollywood today before I get back into the swing of things and begin posting fabulous coverage of the snowstorm!

Today, at the age of 32, actress Brittany Murphy passed away, supposedly of cardiac arrest. While an autopsy is set to be done in near future, it is truly a sad day for those who loved her in films such as Clueless, 8 Mile, Little Black Book, Don't Say a Word, Girl Interrupted, Sin City, Uptown Girls, and my personal favorite of hers, Just Married.

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In fact, I loved it so much, I put mine and Mr. Chicken Wing's faces into on FaceInHole.com. See?

That movie produced one of the most profound statements about love and/or marriage that I'd ever heard at the time, and it's stuck with me since the movie came out in 2003 (I'd say that almost 7 years is a pretty decent amount of time to remember a movie quote, wouldn't you?).

In the movie, Ashton Kutcher's father, Mr. Leezak, says the following thing after the newlyweds encounter some tough times directly after getting married:

"Some days your mother and me loved each other. Other days we had to work at it. You never see the hard days in a photo album...but those are the ones that get you from one happy snapshot to the next."

How true is that? When you look at someone's photo album, you never see them fighting, mad, or arguing about something - you usually see them smiling or laughing. But, that doesn't mean that they don't go through tough things. Brittany Murphy helped make that movie for me, and it is still one of my favorite romantic comedies. It is truly a sad time for Hollywood now that she's gone, and at such a young age.

So, I hope she rests in peace, and that she knows just how much she touched the world in such a short time. Thank you for sharing your gift with us, Brittany. You will be truly missed.

Until next time (and a more fun post),
Miss Chicken Wing

There's No Time Like Christmas To Show People That You're Crazy!

And I'm going to let the following pictures and movie speak for the title! :) I told you Christmas was my favorite time of year, and I love to be crazy and fun around the holidays!

Take this, for example. When else can you dress like an elf and people not think you're crazy?



You know the holidays are upon you when you wear an elf hat around your guy friends and they still pose in a picture without minding!



You also know that the holidays are drawing near when you are actually requested to wear your elf hat at the company Christmas party! :) Holiday cheer, anyone? Presents, anyone?




Lemme guess...you totally didn't think it could get any better, right? Well, HA! Now, there are two elves. BOOM! :) Meet TayTay, the second Christmas elf! (He also happens to be my boss's son!) He did a great job helping the Boss Elf (yours truly) pass out gifts to the employees! I must admit that I was happy to have the help...all that elfing sure makes ya tired!

And finally, I leave you with this. A family full of elves dancing in a hip-hop style. Does it honestly get better than this?!?!?! Yeah, I agree with you this time - PROBABLY NOT! I hope you enjoy my family in this Elf Yourself video!

Without further ado, I present to you Miss Chicken Wing, Mr. Chicken Wing, Momma Chicken Wing, Little Sister Chicken Wing, and Little Brother Chicken Wing - the hip-hop dancing elves!!!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Love this? Want to make your own? Click here!

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

A Post About Grass

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Yes, Peeps...you read that correctly - this is a post about grass. (Now, you didn't honestly think I'd make you read continuous posts that were only about Christmas, did you? While I love Christmas to pieces, even I know that we would be traveling down a monotonous road if that's all I posted about this month).

Now, you already know that I've got the attention span of a gnat, but you might say that this is a major jump, even for me. Really, Chicken Wing? You go from Christmas to grass????

Hang with me! I heard a quote the other day that resonated with me, and inspired me, to say the least. As you know, when I find these so-called gems, I like to share them with you, because they might affect you in the same way!

So, here goes...

"The grass isn't greener on the other side, but where you choose to water it." - Author Unknown

Wow. I'd never heard this quote before, but how profound it is. In a nutshell, your grass is the greenest where you decide to nurture it.

If you're unhappy in your life, job, or relationship, the easy way out is too look elsewhere and dream of that "greener" grass. The fulfilling way to go about it, though, is to...

Water the grass you have. Mow the grass you have. If you're not doing your part, and putting in the work to make your own grass greener, there will always be temptation elsewhere. But, when you put in the effort and the elbow-grease, and you nurture your "grass," it's that much more worthwhile to you. You can't take ownership of grass you don't have, but you can make your grass the best in the neighborhood and that is something to be proud of.

So, there you have it, Peeps. A quote for the ages. Here's to all of us, and to making our "grass" the greenest that we can!

Until next time,

Miss Chicken Wing

Christmas Is Coming: Better Prepare Yourselves!

"Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus, right down Santa Claus Lane..."

Can you hear the Christmas music? Can you feel the spirit of the season coming on? No? Well, get on board, Peeps, because Christmas is coming...and with that comes my favorite holiday of the year!

(Basically, you should read the passage above as follows: Prepare yourselves, because Christmastime is going to take over this blog for a little while!)

I love this holiday for the obvious reasons - there is a magical air about the world where meanness goes down and happiness and love go up. I love that I get to see family that I don't see all the time. I love the food that we are blessed enough to have together. I love watching my loved ones opening up the presents that they didn't know about (surprises are the best!). I love soaking in the memories, because our family members won't be around forever, and you have to be present as discussed in the post just before this one. I love the Christmas music!!!! I love hoping for snow, and getting snow! I love that we celebrate Jesus, and He is truly the reason for the season! His sacrifices allow us to enjoy all we have in life, and for that, you must be thankful!

One other thing that I absolutely LOVE about Christmas is the decorations! My goal is to make it look like Christmas exploded inside my house! :) I am currently in the stages of decorating now, so stay tuned to see Casa de Chicken Wing all Christmas-fied!

With decorations comes Christmas ornaments, and decorating the tree (another reason why I love Christmas!). This past weekend after Thanksgiving, we decorated Grandma and Papa Chicken Wing's tree, and Momma Chicken Wing's tree. I will be sure to post some pictures of those in my tree post (along with our tree).

I know that my family has a tradition of giving Christmas ornaments to each other, and I love it! When I left the "nest," I already had a great start to my own tree, which was great because I had some old and was then able to purchase some on my own! It's a tradition I hope to pass on when I have little Chicks!

So, I decided to share some with you that I found to be completely awesome this year! I hope you find one you like, or at least become inspired! It's time to get excited for Christmas!!!


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This could be the most perfect option for 1) the resident golfer in your life or 2) the person who loves the movie "Caddyshack." I know that it was one of my Daddy's favorite movies, and I'm sure that anyone would love to hang this adorable "Teed-Off Gopher" on their tree!!!

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"I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas....only a hippopotamus will do...." I know you've heard this familiar Christmas classic, and if you're like me, it gets COMPLETELY stuck in your head for hours after first hearing it. I actually have a coworker who loves this song, and he was gifted with this ornament last year. He still gets so excited and happy every time he presses the button (yes, it's musical!)!


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This is an ornament that I really want to add to my collection! As a child, Disney movies were my film existence for the most part, and I always loved "The Little Mermaid." I also was given multiple gifts of "Precious Moments," which this ornament also embodies.

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"You'll shoot your eye out!" This ornament, appropriately titled "Ralphie's Pink Nightmare," immediately put a smile upon my face. It really makes you remember Ralphie's embarassment during the holidays, and while it's not my personal favorite Christmas movie, I'm sure it is for others! Who knows? Maybe someone in your family loves this film, and would love a little Ralphie to adorn their tree!

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"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is my FAVORITE Christmas movie of all time, and that is why I had to show you this ornament! I have several Rudolph ornaments that are from the movie but none that included Santa himself! When I saw this ornament, my first reaction was "Eat, Papa, eat!" LOL! If you've seen the movie, this was likely your first reaction, too!

So, these are the ornaments that have inspired me this season, and I hope that each and every one of my Peeps is getting in the holiday spirit! Stay tuned for more Christmas-themed posts, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

Thanksgiving 2009: So Much To Be Thankful For!

In case I've never said it before, this time of year is my favorite. Why, you ask? Because Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favorite holidays. They always offer the most fun for me. With Thanksgiving comes sitting down with family to eat a huge meal (one that we are so blessed to be able to have), toss the football around, watch the parade in the morning, take turkey naps, eat the leftovers (and boy, are there leftovers?!?!), then take another turkey nap. I mean, really, could there be a more perfect day?

Then, you have the opportunity to go shopping on Black Friday (which is a holiday that gets piggybacked onto Thanksgiving, for me) and score some great deals for Christmas gifts if you dare to go out in the madness. This year, Grandma Chicken Wing, Little Sister Chicken Wing, and I did brave the masses, and we made out like bandits for the most part. For Little Sister Chicken Wing, it was too much madness. For Grandma Chicken Wing and I, it was like a sport. We operated like a well-oiled machine. We knew what we wanted, we'd already priced it to know where to get it, and we went in, picked out our stuff, paid for it (most of the time with coupons!!! EXTRA SAVINGS.....YESSSS!!!), and went on to the next store.

Grandma Chicken Wing literally almost got all of her Christmas shopping done in a matter of a few hours! Go us! Toss in lunch at Sbarro and dinner at Cracker Barrel, and you've got yourself an awesome day!

Super slice of cheese pizza and a country ham dinner plate with mac & cheese and string beans, anyone?

I'm sorry for the drooling that probably just occurred all over your keyboard.

Either way, Thanksgiving this year was just as awesome for me as it always is. I have so much to be thankful for, and for some reason, if you slap a title on a day and call it Thanksgiving, it really resonates with me. I'm instantly grateful for all that I have in my life, and I genuinely thank God for all He has blessed me with. I know that there are many out in the world who would kill to be in my shoes, and I take some time out of my day to pray for them - I wish nothing but good things for them, and I ask God to look out for them even more.

I think the one thing that's different for me this year is that I really wanted to be present. What I mean is that sometimes you get so busy around the holidays (as previously mentioned in the post directly before this one) that you forget to be present and that is incredibly important. You can't go through the holidays in a fog...you'll miss out on some of the best memories. So, I decided that no matter how busy I get, I am going to make a huge effort to stay present in all that's going on around me. I want to pay attention to my family, my friends, and the memories we are making. I think that's a fair goal.

In closing, I wanted to share a few pictures from Thanksgiving, Chicken Wing style.

As evidenced by her face in the pic above, Grandma Chicken Wing had NO idea I was taking this. She was not too happy when she realized I was taking pictures of her putting food away. I believe her exact words were, "Why are you taking pictures of this messy kitchen? Stop that!" Haha!

Another gratuitous food shot. We are most definitely blessed - 1) for the food and 2) for Grandma Chicken Wing who makes the food.

Then the turkey naps set in. Oh, you sneaky carbs, you....you always win. (You know it's bad when your dogs see a photo opportunity and you are completely oblivious until you see mysterious photos on your camera...)

Here we have Mr. Chicken Wing and Little Brother Chicken Wing being taken over by the turkey.

Final Score:

Turkey-3, Chicken Wing Family-0

So, there's my Thanksgiving 2009 recap! I hope you enjoyed it! I also hope your Thanksgiving holiday was as fabulous as mine was! Here's to many more!

Who's ready for Christmas???

CiCi, obviously.

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

A Website To Be Thankful For!

Wow, Peeps....can we say "fifteen-day-blogging-break?" I am so sorry for that...I've been so busy that I haven't had the energy to write. This time of year rolls around, and it seems that everyone is so busy - working before being off for the holidays, decorating the house, deciding what to get everyone for Christmas, strategizing the plan of attack for Black Friday shopping expeditions, planning and preparing food for Thanksgiving, etc., etc., etc. Honestly, the list goes on and on, and I know that every one of you goes through some of that "Holiday Busy-ness" just like I do.

I wanted to take a 5-Minute Mental Health break and dedicate it to the men and women of our armed forces...the ones who might not get to spend the holidays with their families because they're protecting all of ours. I know that I whole-heartedly appreciate all that they do and all that they sacrifice for the rest of us. Sometimes, it's easy to get caught up in the busy-ness of the season, and when that happens, we lose sight of all that we have to be thankful for.

I don't want that to happen to me. I don't want it to happen to anyone this year. Let's make a resolution to remain thankful, no matter what kind of stressful situations come about. Let's also make sure that we slow down and actually thank God for all that we are thankful for. This year, I am making more of an effort to include the military in my prayers and messages of thanks. And luckily for me, for you, and for everyone, there is a website that makes it 1,000 times easier to thank the men and women who need it the most!

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You heard right. Click --> here. Pick out your design, customize your message, and hit submit.

That's it. Three simple steps, and someone in service gets a holiday card thanking him or her for their service. Could it be any easier?

I want as many Peeps as we can get to go to this website and send our troops a message! Let's thank them for allowing us to be thankful for so many things - they've given us our freedom, and that's the best present we could receive!

Thanks for reading this post, and I will be better in the coming days about posting even more! I apreciate each and every one of you...thank you for following this blog. Thank you for your love and support! It truly means the world to me, and this blog is as much for each of you as it is for me. I hope that I can bring a smile to your face every now and again. I hope that I can alert you to something you've never run across before. I hope I can offer each and every one of you something - that is my goal.

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING, PEEPS!!!

With all my love and devotion,

Miss Chicken Wing

It's All Good

Well, Peeps, I hadn't acknowledged this on the blog yet, but it's officially November. You heard me. NOVEMBER. I know, I can't believe it either. It's hard to believe but Thanksgiving is upon us and Christmas is juuuuuust around the corner! The shops and stores are out in full force, trying to get you to pull your wallet out for them - they've got just what you need! You're trying to round up everyone that you want to buy for and get them to at least hint to you what would bring them joy around the holidays. Then you want to price check, make the purchase, come home and wrap it up, and you're set!

I have to admit that Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favorite holidays! I love all holidays, but these two take the cake for me. It's the family, friends, love, FOOD, and good times that make these most important to me. They give us reason to get together, and the memories I have of these two holidays are among the best of my life.

The other reason why I love this time of year is because something especially moves me - moves me to want to do good for others. I've come to realize that it doesn't matter how much or how little you do for others - what matters is that you're doing for others. That's what counts, especially during what's supposed to be such a joyous time of year. And this year, I'm trying to incorporate some smaller ways to help others out.

For example, did you know that for $1.30, you can feed a family of four at a soup kitchen? I didn't literally until tonight. I have been wanting to stop using plastic bags for my groceries for a long time now. I, in all honesty, have two LARGE gatherings of plastic bags - one for Walmart and one for Kroger. I know that I can recycle them, but for some reason, I can never remember to take them with me! :( Tonight, I decided that I needed to make myself take the first step, and I decided to start off small. That's why I purchased two of these for $1.99 apiece:

When I purchased these at $1.99 apiece, Kroger donated $1.30 of each bag's purchase to a local soup kitchen, and now two families can be fed there! :) That's something good for two families I may never meet and something good for me and the planet! (No plastic bags!)

I'm definitely not as green as I need to be, but I'm a work in progress. And, in case you want to go green, here are some really cool reusable bags! You honestly don't have to sacrifice style when saving our world!

Even though these may be a little pricey to me for what they are, I still may end up investing in a set of these Baggu bags. You can choose pretty much any color, and you can buy a set of 5. They seem to be really sturdy, and they're machine washable - can't beat that!

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They're really cool, and if you do a quick and easy Google search, you can find some awesome reusable bags that suit your personal style. The experts say to buy several and keep them in your car so you don't ever forget them at home. So, multiple cars = multiple sets of bags. But, all in all, I think it's worth it. Tonight's groceries would have been packed into five plastic bags, but I fit them into my two bags with room to spare! That's a pretty considerable difference!

So, as I stated before, it doesn't matter how much good you set out to do, just that you do it. Whether it's contributing to the planet, animals, or people in need makes absolutely no difference. There was never a better time to do something better than you've ever done it before - it's not too late. With the holidays fast approaching, embrace the reason for the season and just make a change...make a difference in some small way. You'll be amazed at how it makes you feel!

Until next time,
A Semi-Green Chicken Wing

I Want To Be a Wino, Too!

As I've said on multiple occasions, there are many things that I aspire to do in life (traveling has been thrown in there more times than I'd like to count!). One of the things I haven't ever talked about is food.

I'm not sure why this is, to be honest, but I think it just didn't cross my mind. Food has always been a funny little monster to me. It all started when I was a child - I was the pickiest eater! Some would say that I "ate like a bird." Some would actually believe that I was underfed (I've always had the blessing and curse of high metabolism, which is a kinder way of saying that I've always been skinny). Trust me, skinny folks get picked on plenty, too. It's a tough road if you don't have the absolute perfect body, it seems!

One of my attitudes about food and drinks and other things was that "I just didn't like them." This would be a fine statement to make, but the truth is that I had never tried many of the things I didn't like. I'd never allowed myself to be exposed to them!

Prime Example: Seriously, who can say that they'd never had Chinese food until they were 19? Pumpkin pie? Sweet potatoes? Stuffing at Thanksgiving? (Yes, all of those things were tried after the age of 19.)

Many of the things I tried have been brought about by Mr. Chicken Wing. He loves food, and I would consider him to be a "foodie." He loves to cook, and is definitely not afraid to experiment in the kitchen. He's also much more open to trying things than I am, but I am working on it! :)

Now, one thing that has been brought about more by my friends than by Mr. Chicken Wing is wine. I always thought that I didn't like wine. I'd tried red wine before, and it gave me that painful feeling behind my jawline - you know what I'm talking about! (It hurts!) I've also had wines that I determined were much too bitter for my enjoyment. I recall thinking to myself, "I can't believe people actually enjoy this stuff!" It seemed there would be no hope for me to become a wino! :(

Since then, I've discovered two types of wine that I really, really, really enjoy! I was so excited! I'm not big for drinking excessively, but I like to enjoy a glass with dinner (especially when I'm at a restaurant). So, I have to give a HUGE THANK YOU to my favorite chain restuarant:

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It was sitting at that table each time that I was introduced to the first wines I've ever really enjoyed! The first came when the nice waitress had just brought out our salad (filled to the max with freshly grated cheese, which everyone knows is the ONLY way to eat an OG salad)! I was just excited about the salad and could hardly wait to dive into the bowl when she asked if we'd like to sample their wine of the day, which she explained was a sparkling wine. We said, "Okay." That was it. I was done. I was in love for the first time with a wine.

Meet Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante:

He's a looker, ehh? Source

It was again at Olive Garden that we were met with the following dialogue from our waitress. "Would you like to try our brand new wine? We haven't even added it to the menu yet, and we're in the testing phases to see if people like it. So far, it's been a huge hit!" Again, we said we would give it a shot, and I couldn't believe it. It's either tied with or beating the Asti from before! What? I now have TWO wines that I enjoy and can now look for on restaurant menus?!?!

Meet my other love, Castello del Poggio Moscato d'Asti:

Ahh, she's a beauty! Soooo good! Source

So, what has this little journey told me about myself? I like Asti, obviously! Asti is the common link! And what is that, you ask?

"Asti or Asti Spumante is a white sparkling wine produced in an area to the south of the town of Asti in Piedmont, Italy. Made from the Moscato Bianco grape, it is sweet and low in alcohol, and often drunk with dessert. It retains its sweetness through a complex filtration process. Another wine called Moscato d'Asti is made in the same region from the same grape, but produced by another technique which differentiates it from Asti." Source

So, there you have it, Peeps! If you like wine or want to like wine, get out there and try these two! I believe it will be worth it! If you're like me, you'll never know until you try. I already knew that I loved Italy, and this is just another thing from that area that I really enjoy. I hope with all my heart that I will be able to afford to travel there someday and look around!

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

Chicken Wing Quote of the Day

Once again, REAL SIMPLE magazine pulls through with a great quote to start this Friday. As my mental health break this morning, I decided that I'd love to share it with you.

“Just because something doesn’t do what you planned it to do doesn’t mean it’s useless.” - Thomas Edison

This quote applies to me especially because I am what is known as a planner. Most of the time, I'm at my absolute happiest when I have a plan of action - an itinerary for trips/outings, for example. I don't like going on a trip and then idly sitting around. I like to do things - I live for the experience! (I will admit to being an anomaly, though...sometimes, I do like to be spontaneous. A great instance of this is window shopping - I LOVE window shopping, which never has an itinerary or schedule. That is one of my times to wander along aimlessly, just enjoying the views.)

Sometimes, though, my plans just don't work out - it's that simple. It's then that one has to improvise and adapt, and I think that is the essence of what Mr. Edison is saying. Just because you didn't get your way doesn't mean that all is lost. And that is a lesson that we can all put to use in our everyday lives.

Happy Friday, everyone!

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

Chicken Wing Movie Review: This Is It

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This Chicken Wing Movie Review is one that touches my heart, as you all know that I am a HUGE Michael Jackson fan, and have been all my life. I wasn't sure what to expect out of this film as we pre-ordered our tickets to see the behind-the-scenes footage of the King of Pop's last show. In his words, it was a "curtain call," and as he told all of his fans, "This is it."

I don't think he could have ever realized how true those words would be when he uttered them, and to watch the movie, Momma Chicken Wing and I both agreed that it made us sad. Not sad because it was disappointing (it most certainly was not), but sad because the overwhelming feeling of "it wasn't his time" came over you.

After watching the film, I had no new revelations. I already knew how hard Michael Jackson worked to perfect his art - he was the pinnacle of entertainment. I already knew how passionate he was about his songs and his moves. I already knew how he championed many causes, the top two being protection and advocation of children, and preservation and sustenance of the planet we all call home.

What touched me was watching the "chosen ones," the dancers hand-picked from thousands to be extensions of the man himself while on stage, talk about what it meant to them to work with the King of Pop. Their love and admiration of this man was completely evident, and they were different ages, from different countries, and different ethnicities. They were a good picture of our world - a world that was touched by a gifted individual. The director, choreographer, vocal leader, music director, backup singers, and band members all discussed what an honor and a privilege it was to work with a man so "kind, generous, and dedicated."

I also loved the fact that Michael was taking this show to the next level - yes, it was going to feature songs that he made into record gold in years past, but he had added things to make them current and even better! To be frank, I would have probably considered giving my first born child to go to that show! (Just kidding, future first born child!) Bottom line: It would have been one of the highlights of my life - to see someone of that level of genius in his element for the last time.

Months ago, I took advantage of an opportunity to become a part of this movie by submitting my photo to the Michael Jackson: This Is It Fan Mosaic. Basically, they wanted to recreate the movie poster, and they wanted to make it out of the pictures of Michael Jackson's fans. I thought it was a really cool way to show your support of the artist, and I really was hoping that my photo would be selected. I wrote myself a note of the date in which to check the website.

Here is what the finished mosaic looks like (zoomed out, of course):

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Imagine my surprise and happiness when a search of the mosaic produced this:

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I was completely overjoyed that my photo had made it! I did some editing of the photo above so you could see just where my picture was placed (see the red arrow). All you had to do was search by name, country, or favorite Michael Jackson song (and believe me, that was a TOUGH one!). And, when you zoom in, you can see the thousands of pictures that they used to make this portrait of the man himself. It was a really cool experience that I am privileged to have had.

Basically, I will be buying the DVD of this show, and I hope that people who didn't understand MJ will watch it. There were many people whose only goal was to bring him down when he was alive. That is unfortunate, but there is nothing we can do about that now. He didn't let it beat him down. His priorities were his children, his family, his fans, his causes, his world. I think that he is a shining example of perseverence.

(I also think it's pretty cool that a 50 year old man can still dance better than twenty-somethings that idolize him!)

So, that's my biased wrap-up. :) I love the King of Pop, and I loved this movie. It gave me the chance to "see" him in concert. So, if you are a fan, or are just curious, take a look at it. You might just find yourself enjoying. You'll most likely find yourself singing along!

Until next time,

Miss Chicken Wing

So....This Week Was Interesting!

Before I go into the original topic of this post, please let me wish each and every follower and reader of this blog a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!! :) I hope that everyone celebrated in the way that they felt was best, whether it be by dressing up the kids and taking them trick-or-treating or by dressing up yourself and going to a party with all your friends! It was rainy here, but the kids were still out in full force this year, out to get their treats!


But, this Halloween was the culmination of a crazy and hectic week at Casa de Chicken Wing! In addition to the normally busy week of just working, Mr. Chicken Wing started to feel weird. He just wasn't himself. After three days of coughing his head off, I took him to the doctor to figure out what was wrong (because you know what they say about headless chickens!).


We expected the doctor to say that it was just a really bad seasonal allergy attack. What we didn't expect was for the doctor to say, "I'm sorry to let you know that you've tested positive for H1N1."


Yep, that's right. Mr. Chicken Wing had the swine flu!

My little piggy! Swine Flu - 1, Mr. Chicken Wing - 0

So, basically, Mr. Chicken Wing ran a fever for the better part of 4.5 days, and he just felt awful. And, because he was "otherwise healthy," they couldn't give him the Tamiflu that would have helped him get better more quickly. They've just had so many cases that their supply is low, and they have to save it for asthmatics and people with pre-existing lung and respiratory conditions. We had to alternate two Tylenol and two Ibuprofen every four hours, and she did give him a prescription cough syrup.

I felt so bad for him. Mr. Chicken Wing was confined to one room in the house, and every single thing he touched got Lysol'ed every five seconds. I'm sure he felt kind of bad because of that, and so I felt bad for doing it. But, nobody else in our house got sick! (I've been sleeping on the couch with the two dogs since Monday!)

We just had to take extra precautions, and luckily, it worked!

So, that was our crazy and off-schedule week! It was a challenge, but we made it through, and I am happy to report that we've made it to the other side! God is good!!! And now, I am signing off to hang out with my Mr. Chicken Wing, since this is the first time he's been allowed downstairs in a week! :)

Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

Pat Eye Owe

I can't speak for the rest of the country, but today in my world, it's a beautiful fall day. The air is slightly crisp, the sun is shining, and all is good today. I've decided to devote this post to one of my favorite places in the rental unit that I call home: the patio (get the post title now?).

The person that made the patio special for me was Mr. Chicken Wing's mom. She gave Mr. Chicken Wing his grill, which makes him (and subsequently me) very happy. Mr. Chicken Wing looooooves to cook, and I loooooooooove to eat what he makes! :) It's a pretty good setup I have here! LOL!

Here we are! Mr. Chicken Wing is wearing the new apron I got him! It's the ultimate "dude's" apron, complete with an insulated pocket for his beer and an attached zipline bottle opener.

That's why Mr. Chicken Wing loves the patio - it's an extension of his kitchen, and it allows him to do what he loves to do, which is feed people! As for me, while I love to be fed, there is another aspect of the patio that makes me pretty happy. Again, HUGE shout-out to Mr. Chicken Wing's mom because she provided us with the most adorable patio set that has ever existed!

See???? I told you! Still not sure???

MuChi loves the patio set, too!

There are many reasons why I love this patio set but there are two in particular that I wanted to share with you. When you have little dogs and a backyard that's not fenced in, you only have a few options. One is to leash them 100% of the time, which is fun while on walks, but not so much for every single time they need to go outside. This patio set allows me to sit in comfort and watch them while they play! It's so relaxing just to be able to enjoy outside all while fulfilling an important obligation of being a devoted pet mother! :)

If you look closely, you can see CiCi doing at the top right of the picture! She's having a ball!

The other reason why I love this patio set so much is that, when the weather is good, it allows me to save an immense amount of time in the morning. Anyone who has ever met me can confirm to you that I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON. If I had my way, I would work from 10am on. I don't feel at my best early in the morning, and I can't muster my "go get 'em, Tiger" attitude before 10am. It's sad, but it's true. So, anything that allows me to save time in the morning is something that I love. This patio set has allowed me to do that!

As explained before, the dogs have to go outside every morning. (Come on, can you honestly say that you don't have to "go outside" every morning?) Before, I would stand and wait as the 10-15 minutes of them sniffing every piece of grass in the yard happened, which meant I had to factor that 10-15 minutes into my morning routine by getting up 10-15 minutes earlier. BOO to that. Now, with this patio set, as long as the weather is nice, I sit outside while they "go outside" and I put on my makeup, which is something that I have to do every morning anyways! So, I save the 10-15 minutes and can sleep a little bit longer! YAY TO THAT!!!

See? So much easier!!! It's two jobs in one!

So, as I've said before, I have to give a HUGE THANK YOU SHOUT-OUT to Mr. Chicken Wing's mom, who has basically saved my life in the mornings, and has given us the two reasons why we love our patio. She's extended our home area, and life is much more enjoyable because of that!

I hope that everyone has the chance to enjoy life on a PAT EYE OWE!

Until next time
Miss Chicken Wing

Chick's Pick: New Music For My Peeps!

As you already know, I have totally random tastes in music, but music is what I respond to most. So, one of my favorite types of posts are ones where I can "introduce" my Peeps to music that is speaking to me and that I find to be catchy. The way I figure it, I get to listen to good stuff, you get to listen to good stuff, and who knows...you might just find your favorite new artist.

Before I share with you a few tunes that have my toes tappin', I'd like to share that I never ever mean to infringe on any type of copyright/ownership situations that are already in place. The reason why I share music on my blog is simply to amp up awareness of the artist and the song, and also to share my love of the music with more people. There's never any negative "pulling a fast one" intentions to my music sharing; it's just that - music sharing. The more people who know about an artist, the more people who will hopefully love them and support them in their careers. So, just to be as transparently clear as I can: I own the rights to absolutely nothing I'm about to show you, apart from my words. All credits go to the artists/songwriters/production and record companies, etc.

Okay, now that I've gotten the "official" jargon out of the way, I can share with you some Chick's Picks that are slowly making their way into my playlist!

First up is a fellow named Jason Derulo, and he has a song that is catchy as can be, even though the topic isn't the best. Basically, it's about a cheater trying to get back with the one he cheated on. How you can take a topic such as that and make it likeable enough for me to sing along in my car and happy-clap when it comes on is beyond me. One of the reasons I like this song is because Jason samples Imogen Heap in it. (Basically, she is the female voice on this track, and the song of hers he sampled is entitled Hide and Seek. Hear that song here.) Enjoy this video. If it gets taken down, I apologize....just let me know and I'll try to find another one for you.

Jason Derulo - Whatcha Say

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Next up is a totally catchy tune by a band called The Script. I heard it on my Sirius XM Satellite Radio one day as an "Ear-Poppin New Music" selection. (Yes, that is what they call it!) It immediately got stuck in my head, and even though I couldn't remember the words, I was humming it for a good 30-45 minutes after first hearing it. Naturally, I stalked the three or four words I could remember and found it! :) Now, it's here for your listening enjoyment.

The Script - Break Even (with lyrics)

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Okay, another one that is so quirky and weird but so catchy and cute is "Fireflies" by Owl City. At first you think, "Seriously. Chicken Wing actually wants me to listen to this?" Then you think, "Seriously. Chicken Wing actually likes this song?" Then, you give it a second chance and you think, "Seriously. This song is kind-of awesome." It pretty much builds from there. Quirky, Weird, Catchy, Cute. Pretty much that order. Enjoy!

Owl City - Fireflies (with lyrics)

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So, what do you think? Any new faves come from this list? Hopefully, my Peeps don't think I struck out on these, and look forward to more ear-opening posts like this one! If you have any cool music selections for me, comment me and let me know! I will give ANYTHING a listen once!

Until next time,

A Humming Miss Chicken Wing

If You Are Able, Revisited...

OT-SO-FUN FACT OF THE DAY:
Today an estimated 5.3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's. In addition, 78 million baby boomers are approaching the age of greatest risk for developing this fatal disease.

This will be my second year supporting those affected by Alzheimer's, but it is the first year that I am supporting someone I actually know and love. As of this year, I have been personally affected by this disease, so I'm participating in the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk® this weekend to raise funds and awareness to fight this horrible disease. Our walk last year was a great success, and there were people from all walks of life showing their support - by walking, by running, by donating! I can tell you that dealing with this disease is absolutely not fun - it's an incredibly cruel process that steals the lives and minds of some of the best people this world has to offer.

This disease came after my family.
This disease made it personal.
This is why I walk.
This is why I donate.
This is why I work so hard to raise money.

If we don't find a cure, it is only a matter of time before Alzheimer's touches everyone.

The Alzheimer's Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research, and the funds I raise will go directly toward supporting their efforts. I know I can make a difference with your support, should you feel inclined to give it! I also know that the current economy has made all of us re-evaluate where we allocate our monthly intake. It's definitely made it harder on everyone, and that is why I will be so thankful for any pennies I may receive towards this year's campaign!

Thank you in advance for checking out the blog, and I cannot thank everyone enough for their extreme generosity - together, we can help end Alzheimer's!

Please click on the link (or copy the link to my page (below) into your web browser):

http://memorywalk09.kintera.org/lynchburg/endalznow

Again, thank you a million times over for hearing my cause! If you are able to donate, thank you a million times, too! Your donation will not be used in vain!

All my love and gratitude,
Miss Chicken Wing

While On The Wedding Vibe...

Okay, Chicken-Wingers....no, scratch that. From this day on, I will call you my Peeps.

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Why, you ask? For one, it's shorter, so it's easier to throw in while typing, and for two, I love Peeps...you know, the kind you get at Easter...the kind that consist of two ingredients: marshmallows and sugar. Gross to some, good to me. Grandma Chicken Wing always buys me some for Easter, and I hope that never changes!!!!

So, anyways, Peeeeps, I have been in a sort of wedding-palooza since the last two posts, and one of my friends on facebook posted the following video that answers a popular wedding question:

Why do people wear their wedding rings on the fourth finger of their hand?

So, here you go, Peeps...check it out - it's a perplexing and highly interesting answer to that question. I actually got chills when watching it. Enjoy! I hope it causes you to stop and ponder life's mysteries awhile! Oh, and hug the ones you love. (Just thought I'd throw that in there!)

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Until next time,
Miss Chicken Wing

Mr. and Miss Chicken Wing: Model Citizens Part II

So, I left you with the mock engagement pictures that my fabulous friend took. I hope you liked them! After that, it was time for me to shine! :) (And, let's be honest, what girl doesn't want the chance to feel like Heidi Klum, Giselle, or Cindy Crawford?!?!?!)

Random Gnat-like Chicken Wing Thought: I once saw the following bumper sticker and friends of mine said it reminded them of me...I figured I'd share, you know, since we're on the topic of shining!!!

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But, I guess that's neither here nor there, is it? ;) Back to the reason for this post...

I got a fabulous opportunity at work to be the official spokeswoman of a vertical website we're starting, which means that I get to star in all of the commercials and be featured on our major website! Cool, huh? The commercial, which you will see at a later date, came out pretty good, I think.

(What's that? You want to see it now? I've got to leave something to the imagination - otherwise, you'd be completely bored by this blog and you'd never come back - and that's the last thing I want!).

The first commercial centered around the Weddings section of the new website. Basically, that section of the site allows brides-to-be to find all the vendors they'll need to plan their big day, and they can even post their engagement and wedding announcements for FREE! Awesome, right? I know! This is the new thing - you get engaged, and you create an announcement for it. In the "olden" days, you would simply do a write-up for the paper, and you could include one black and white photo. Nowadays, with the internet, (this new website included) you can do the same exact thing (except in COLOR) and you can send the link to all of your friends and family! This way, it doesn't matter if they don't subscribe to the newspaper you put your announcement in!

Okay, I know I keep jumping, but keep with me, peeps! While shooting the first commercial, one of the most fabulous photographers of all time took some still shots of me in the wedding gown (aka my costume for the day!), and I wanted to share those with you. It's really crazy to see myself in a wedding gown. I was absolutely sure that Mr. Chicken Wing would freak out, but his reaction was actually pretty adorable - he had this look of slight awe and said, "Wow....you look absolutely beautiful." (Yeah, I was pretty stoked with that reaction). I know Momma Chicken Wing freaked out! Haha!

So, here we go...take a deep breath, and let's see the goods!

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So, I know what you're thinking...MOTHER OF ALL THINGS HOLY, THAT DRESS IS GORGEOUS!!!!! I know, I felt the same way! If you would like to try on or purchase that wedding gown, go here. If you would like to post your wedding or engagment announcement for free, go here. Basically, I am HIGHLY recommending any of the sources I've linked to in this post. Feel free to leave comments and let me know what you think!

And don't forget to stay tuned for the commercial/website advertising post! It's pretty cool!!!

Until next time,
Miss "Glitterific" Chicken Wing