BlogHer 10, a look back...

I know its taken me some time to get this post together, but you know how life goes. BlogHer '10 was only a short time after I moved into the new place and to run off for a long weekend without being completely unpacked, and come back and get right back into the swing of work and life, I feel like time has been passing by too quickly.

Let me first start off by saying, I absolutely LOVE my friends. I love them. There's so much that blogging is about, but the friendships that I've made over the years goes so much further than a lot that it entails. Sarah, Liz and I were roomies again this year and we had a blast spending time together. We vented, we laughed, we cried, we goofed off and simply had an amazing time just being with each other.Meeting some of the new people that I met was awesome as well! Not only was I stoked to simply meet them, I was able to work with Stuck on You USA again this year, and I was able to give out some cards for bloggers to get in on a super cool affiliate program with Stuck on You. I loved that I was able to share that with people who I know could totally benefit from it. (and yes, you can still hit me up if you are looking for this info!!)

There was the parties that simply rocked, the giggles, the out-to-dinners, fully equipped with singing waitstaff, and so much more. I was super stoked that BlogHer was in NYC this year, and to learn that its in Cali next year is cool too. NYC was just a quick train ride south for me, so money was saved this year, and I'm sure I'll make up the difference next year when I dish it out to head to Cali. There's no way that I could miss it for anything.

Friendships evolved. New friendships began. Bonding occurred. Insight given and taken. A release.

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Cool Treats from Breyers Smooth & Dreamy!

I'm a big fan of ice cream, not that my big ol' butt needs it, but I love it and so do the kiddies. I love trying out new varieties and brands and now the Breyers Smooth & Dreamy products are ranking pretty high on my list of faves!!

The Breyers Smooth & Dreamy are phenomenal! No artificial colors or flavors and with 160 calories or less, these are definitely new go-to treats for me, cause I'm back on track with my diet and I despise denying myself a treat. I don't feel bad with a little indulgence with the Breyers Smooth & Dreamy. I absolutely loved the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough sandwiches that I picked up for myself.When you head over to the Breyers website, you can enter into the 2010 Sundae Scoop Off contest, and snag the grand prize of a trip for 4 to Chicago, $10,000, a years worth of Breyers ice cream and a private lesson with pastry chef Gale Gand. Also, there's another giveaway going on over there where you can play the Wheel of Delights instant win game! You can win some great instant prizes or a grand prize of $10,000 and a day with personal trainer Kathy Kaehler!

Want to win 4 coupons for free Breyers Smooth & Dreamy products? Leave a comment with what varieties you'd get!! Check out the varieties here.

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This giveaway will accept entries until 11:59 pm on Wednesday, August 25th. Winner will be drawn with random.org and emailed. Winner must reply within 48 hours to winning email or a new winner will be drawn. Please make sure that your email is accessible, whether in the comment or a blogger profile, cause if I cant contact you, how can you win?


I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Breyers and received products necessary to facilitate my review. In addition, I received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate.

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Listen up Buffalo Wild Wings bigwigs...

Walking into the restaurant I work at this afternoon, I thought it would be just another random day. Yeah, totally wrong. I was immediately informed of the chaos that ensued the night before.

Now because we're open later then all the other restaurants on our strip, quite a few of the other places employees frequent our store. No different Saturday night when Buffalo Wild Wings employees stopped into our store. When they arrived, drinks were ordered and ID's were checked, and they were checked by a store manager as the server due to take the table was busy for the moment. When someone was denied a drink by our store manager because she had an "Under 21" id, even though the birthdate was over 21, the words started flying around.

Now, if you boast about what restaurant you work in, or wherever you work, in this case, Buffalo Wild Wings, you shouldn't act like an ass where we could track you down to remedy the situation. Sitting at your table calling our manager a "bitch, c*nt" and so much more, as well as telling her "I hope you don't have kids because you're a miserable bitch" doesn't make you a great representative for your job.

Now here's the kicker, she sat at this table, spouting her mouth off, with her own GENERAL MANAGER from Buffalo Wild Wings sitting right there. First off, most companies have policies about management fraternizing with employees, ya just don't do it. Secondly, you let your employee sit there and curse and run their mouth, and allow them to bring your stores name into the disgusting crap coming out of their mouth? Where's the professionalism??

I seriously hope that not all of Buffalo Wild Wings stores are run like this, and I hope something is done about it so that the store where these unprofessional, rude, nasty women work, doesn't get away with their actions.

Yes. These women, behaving like teenagers, were booted out of our restaurant, and yes, the cops were called. Nope, they won't be allowed to return. Good riddance.

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Back to school with Box Tops & Sam's Club

I have literally, like 1 month, before school is back in session. Miss Boug will be heading into first grade and I find it so hard to believe!! Although my schedule is crazy and I don't get to do a whole lot of in-class volunteering, I do what I can for the class in any way else that I can.

I love clipping box tops for education off of General Mills products, they make me feel like I'm able to do something good for her class and her school just by buying the products I normally buy. Except when you do your shopping at Sam's Club, you earn even more box tops on the bigger size packages!!

When you upgrade your Sam's Club membership to a "Plus Membership" between August 6th and 13th, and when you pay for that upgrade, you'll receive a certificate for a 150 bonus box tops!

Want to win a $25 Sam's Club gift card? Leave a comment with what your favorite box tops for education purchase is! My kids are big fans of fruit snacks so I'm always clipping the box tops from them!

Extra Entries??

• Follow or Subscribe to A Couch With A View
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• Become a fan of A Couch With A View on Facebook.
• Post my button on your blog.
• Add my text link to your blogroll: http://acouchwithaview.blogspot.com/
• Post about this giveaway on your blog!
• If you don't have a blog, you can gain extra entries by emailing a friend about this giveaway! Just CC me in your email! caseyscouch@yahoo.com

This giveaway will accept entries until 11:59 pm on Wednesday, August 11th. Winner will be drawn with random.org and emailed. Winner must reply within 48 hours to winning email or a new winner will be drawn. Please make sure that your email is accessible, whether in the comment or a blogger profile, cause if I cant contact you, how can you win?

This was written through General Mills and MyBlogSpark. The plus membership, gift card and giveaway have all been provided by Sam’s Club and General Mills through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are my own, and not influenced in any way. I received a $25 Sam's Club gift card to help facilitate my review.

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Do I feel like talking about what I'm wearing to BlogHer??

What am I going to wear next Thursday through Sunday?

NYC in August is sticky, muggy and disgusting. I won't be overdressed. I won't be doing 48 clothing changes a day. I won't be wearing heels this year. I won't be caring what anyone thinks of my outfits.

I will be comfortable. I'll be comfortable in my clothing and in my own skin. I'll be happy with who I am. I'll be content with the choices I've made with my clothing, and with the choices I've made in my life.

With that being said, I have two super cute pairs of black flat sandals that will be packed. One has flowers down the front, the other has silver beading. Love them both tremendously and they're super comfortable for all the walking that I know will be happening. And I won't fall in them when I'm all drunken. I have a denim skirt and a black tank that goes perfectly with it. I have a long black summer dress that is oh-so-very comfortable. I have a green dress that I might bring, and a brown one that I might bring. But I'd be happier if I picked up a couple more that fit me a little bit better than they do. I have the most awesome, perfectly fitting dress from NY & CO that I'll be bringing. Its definitely my new, go-to, little black dress.

Of course I'm stoked to have another reason to use my beautiful Sherpani suitcase that I got for last years BlogHer. You can check out my posts about Sherpani from last year here and here.

That's that. I'm not overpacking. I'm not going crazy, and yes, I'm leaving a ton of space in my suitcase. Last year I could barely zipper it on the way back home!!

Pictures? No. You'll have to see how fabulous I am in person!!

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Impending chaos in a small town...

Its beginning. The lovely Miss Chelsea Clinton is getting married this weekend in the neighboring small town up here. Literally 8 minutes from my house, 4 minutes from my job. Here's just my public cry, my pleas- Paparazzi, don't get in my way. I will take you out with my mini-van if I need to. Yes. I sure will.

I went to drop off a friend this morning and there was camera crews right in the center of town at the Beekman Arms. Of course it happens to be the oldest inn in America, and supposedly there's some celebs that will be staying there, so naturally they'd be filming on the sidewalk there. I got back home and flipped through the channels, one of the camera crews were Good Morning America.

Lets just hope that all the camera crews and paparazzi that come into the area are respectable and don't run out into traffic. Not like the people that visit from the city each and every weekend that think they can just walk where ever the hell they want.

Thanks Chelsea. I know we have a great area, and I'm sure you'll have an amazing wedding. But who needs it? Go hit up the drive through chapel in Vegas.

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Prepping for BlogHer10 NYC

I've got ten, 10!, days to get myself packed up for BlogHer10 in NYC. First off, I'm seriously happy that its so close to my home this year. Of all years that I needed it to be affordable to travel, this is the year. You know my story, separation and going to a single income in my own apartment is difficult. Being able to skip airfare is an exciting thing for me.

Now back to the topic at hand, packing. I REFUSE to overpack this year. Last year I went a little insane and brought 5 or 6 pairs of shoes. Completely unnecessary. Overkill. Not to mention only one of those pairs of shoes was comfortable at all. I refuse to do that again. At the end of everything, I can see the error of my ways. I overpacked. I felt like I needed to. I felt like I needed to have endless outfits and shoes and accessories because I felt like I had someone to impress. Where in all honesty, I had no one to impress. My friends loved me regardless. Why did I feel that my clothes and my shoes made me who I am? That's so far from the truth.

This year, if I have any tips or tricks for anyone, I hope they are taken for what they are worth. Shoes and clothes do NOT make the person. Do NOT overpack. Comfort is key, and if you can score cute with your comfort, that's an added perk. NYC in August is disgustingly hot and muggy. New York in general has pretty humid summers and throw a big, congested city in there and you've got sickeningly sweaty. Dress for coolness, comfort. Be YOU. Embrace who you are and don't try to impress anyone, because those people who need to judge you on your clothes and whatnot aren't worth it. You as a person are worth much more than that.

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Project Mom Casting Video

I'm a rambler. We all know this. If you've seen my Monday Mingles, you know that I don't script myself in my videos and this one is no different. You know that I don't doll myself up for my videos. I am who I am and what you see is what you get. Makeup? Who needs it. Real clothes? Pajamas do just fine.

This video was done for the Project Mom Casting, where bloggers will be put into a reality show and I want my hand at that. With the new phase of my life that is beginning, I know that venturing into single motherhood is something that can be shared with so many people. As bloggers, we are all so different and so alike at the same time. We're all individuals and even as individuals, we have something in common. We all gave something to give to another. We have our written words. Our experiences. Our lives. There's something that we can share and we all take the time to share. We help each other. We bond. We grow.

Project Mom Casting Video from CaseyDeuce on Vimeo.

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