MBT's @ Meeker Marshalls

Meeker Marshall Shoe store at 7520 Peach Street, Erie PA, formally inside the Millcreek Mall now carries MBT shoes.

If you are unfamiliar with MBT shoes, you will want to try these on if you have any kind of back,hip, leg and foot aches or just want to tone your body naturally as you walk throughout the day.

MBT shoes are made with technology that mimics walking barefoot in the sand which in turn benefits your whole body.

The shoes are well worth the money which is well worth an improvement in your daily life.

Curves Shoes sold through Avon sells an MBT knockoff at a fraction of the price, same idea but slighty different check them out here. Also, Sears sells TheraSandal by TheraShoe, again same concept but slightly different.

Best Wishes!

Fitness & Yoga Channel

It is a rare moment when I flip through more than a few television channels before I settle with something I have taped already on my DVR. The other night I did just that and came across a Free On Demand Channel that was full of exercise programs.

If you have Time Warner in the City of Erie it's channel 537, the LifeSkool On Demand Channel. You will find here Fitness and Yoga programming; as well as Abs, Cardio, Dance, Pilates, Yoga, Toning and short exercises programming which you can do after the kids go to school.

On the same channel you can toggle right to Hot Cars, Karaoke Challenge, Kids $ Family, Love Life, Magic, Music, and Schirripa Cooks episodes.

Butterfly Garden Plant #3

Purple Coneflower
Perennial

This plant grows abundantly and the butterflies love it. Check out my First Butterfly Blog. Also known as Echinacea purpurea this beauty will grow about 3 feet and will multiply itself. Once established you can transplant throughout your yard and your neighbors yard for that matter.
Plant in full sun.

Butterfly Garden Plant #2

A Butterfly Bush is staple in a Butterfly Garden. This variety has reached about 8 feet in height by 3 feet across, I have 3 other butterfly bushes but are much smaller still. I prune back early spring and patiently wait for spring growth. The purple flowers bloomed less than a week ago. This perennial loves a sunny area and will thrive year after year.

The Butterflies and Hummingbirds absolutely love this plant so be sure to plant one that you can see from an indoor window.

Butterfly Garden Plant #1

Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) 'Camelot Cream' attracts hummingbirds blooms early summer grows 3 to 5 feet.
These flowers bloomed early June and were here for a few weeks. Very nice attractive white bloom with red speckles, very pretty. I planted three separate plants about 4 feet from each other. It will take a couple summers for them to multiply and fill out.

First Butterfly!

I spotted my first Butterfly of the summer Sunday morning on my Purple Coneflowers in my Butterfly Garden. This butterfly is called a Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele.)

Although there is a flower petal shadow on him you can still see some great detail.

I have been working on my Butterfly Garden since I moved into my home 6 years ago. I have planted mainly perennials that attract Butterflies and Hummingbirds. I believe this will be my best summer yet, for observing Butterflies!

Presque Isle Evacuation

I was at the beach yesterday, a.k.a. Presque Isle State Park and it began to rain and everyone at the beaches started to evacuate the area.


I'd like to share some shortcuts that helped me get out quicker.

One key shortcut is when you are leaving the park and if there is lots of traffic near the Stull Interpretive Center (a.k.a. The Nature Center Beach) you can make a right and follow the beach road out towards the entrance of the park.

Another is if you are exiting Pettinato Beach (a.k.a. Beach 8) you can exit left to the main park road, which is quicker than following the one lane road towards the Parks Playground and towards the Lifeguard Center.

I recently visited some relatives in Maine who owned roosters , they said that the roosters feasted on the deer ticks. Why don't park rangers get some roosters in the Peninsula to eat all the deer ticks that could carry Lyme Disease?

Rainbow Around The Sun

Yesterday, while we were at Waldameer, I took these pictures of a Rainbow around the Sun. I have never seen such a thing and was truly thrilled.

I learned that when you see a rainbow around the sun, also known as "sundogs", there are high clouds overhead and that it's usually a sign that rain is on the way, which in yesterdays case was true. Those clouds are made of tiny ice crystals, which will refract the sunlight like a prism will.

I feel very fortunate to even see such a sight, and I also have to note that Waldameers new roller coaster The Ravine Flyer was so much fun, what a great ride.

Northwest Airlines Goes Mobile

Northwest Airlines Corp. is testing a paperless boarding pass that will let travelers use their mobile phones to board their plane.

Northwest will debut the E-Boarding pass in IND (Indianapolis) on Wednesday, 28th of May 2008. It will work like this: when a passenger checks in for a flight they can choose to send their boarding pass to their mobile phone or PDA instead of printing it out. The mobile device will then display a bar code like image on its screen, which will then be scanned by the gate agent at the boarding point. Continental is already testing a similar system in IAH (Houston). Northwest has plans to expand the system to other cities in the near future.

I believe it will take a long while before ERI (Erie) starts using such a system considering they don't have the scanners for easy boarding yet.

My only question is how smoothly are you going to get thru TSA security?

Ticks at Presque Isle

Ticks are a common known insect at Presque Isle, but if you are educated about how to protect and identify ticks there is no need to panic.

Presque Isle in Erie Pa, has posted signs where ticks may be an issue. Please follow their advisories and if going into the woods be sure to wear long pants.

This is what a tick looks like and some more information for your safety.

Cinderella at Station Theatre

As a follow-up to the new at the Station Dinner Theatre, we went to see Cinderella Sunday, February 17, and thought the show was fantastic.

Not only did we laugh out loud numerous times, but I also found a lot of adult humor intertwined in the dialogue that was too funny.

The children were equally impressed with the show, and were entertained the whole time, there were numerous audience participations.

The meal was served before the show began, which was served family style with as many helpings as needed. Our meal consisted of real chicken tenders, tator tots, chicken salad croissants and a fruit and vegetable plate which was all served by a cast member, not yet dressed for their role. During intermission the cast served a basket of cookies for the table, which was exciting for the children, because now the wicked-stepmother was serving our table.

Job well done by the cast and crew at the Station Dinner Theatre.

The Station Dinner Theatre

The Station Dinner Theatre has announced its new Children's Theatre troupe.

Your lunch and show includes appetizer, meal, and dessert, water, juice or coffee or tea. You can reserve your tickets by calling the Station box office at 814-864-2022.

The following is a list of upcoming shows:
Doors open at Noon show begins at 12:30.

Cinderella-February 16,17
Peter and the Wolf-March 25,26,29,30
Alice in Wonderland-June 21,22
The Emperor's New Clothes-August 16,17
Henry's Halloween Howlabaloo-November 1,2.

Enjoy.

McDonald's in the Mall

I have recently learned that the McDonald's inside the Millcreek Mall will be closing at the end of this month.

I understand the reason for this closing is that McDonald's built a brand new restaurant on Interchange Road.

I guess there may be a lot of children disappointed that they can no longer play in their play land. I will be curious as to what will takes its place inside the Mall as this McDonald's has been a popular spot for children for years.

McDowell Class of 1992 Reunion

McDowell High School
Class of 1992
15 Year Reunion:

Where: Upstairs Lounge of Calamari's Squid Row, 1317 State Street, Erie, Pennsylvania.

When: November 21, 2007, 6-11p.

Cost: $12.00 donation at door.

The Balloon Guy

If you have not been to 8 Great Tuesdays down at Liberty Park, if anything take your kids to get a balloon from the Balloon Guy.

The Balloon Guy has a list of balloon art for you to choose from. The list contains an easy sword or airplane, to a one-eyed, one-horned flying purple people eater. He is usually standing just west in the playground area near the fence, he may remind you of that tie-dyed Survivor winner from a couple years ago.

The line may take some time so be sure to get in line as soon as you can. The balloon art is free but donations are appreciated.

Enjoy!

Small Town Circle of Friends

Since I was raised here in Erie, I have a number of friends in all areas of town.

Friends from high school, friends from work, friends of friends, husbands friends, children's friends, and so on and so on.

The thing I find most often, is that everyone knows someone that I know and if you dig deep enough you too will have someone in common.

Everyone says "small town", but the truth in the matter is that you will find that everywhere you go and that's what makes this town great. I hear everyone knows somebody that knows somebody, every 6 people.

I love that.

Dr. Charlie Pados

If any of you ever suffer from back pain, I understand.

I especially find my back pain worsen when I do not keep up with stretching everyday. But, when I do suffer from the discomfort I know I can count on one particular guy in town, his name is Dr. Charlie Pados, at State Street Chiropractic, 3308 State Street Erie PA 16508.

If you are on the prowl for a chiropractor or looking for a new Dr., I can no longer keep this man a secret.

He is hands on, no machines, and no changing into a gown. He knows where the troubled spots are, hands on, and you truly learn and understand how connected your whole body is.

I have seen different chiropractors since I was in high school and fortunately found Dr. Charlie Pados about 10 years ago. My next door neighbor loves him as much as I do.

Back pain is something I would never wish upon anyone and my heart goes out to all of you that know what I am talking about. If you're not truly satisfied with your back care, try Dr. Charlie Pados at State Street Chiropractic, 814-453-3150. You will thank me.

View of Lake Erie!

Have you driven north on Peninsula Drive lately?

You really need to. The view of the lake is great just as you are nearing Tom Ridge Environmental Center. You cannot miss it!

I understand they are clearing the trees for the new Waldameer Park, Ravine Flyer II roller coaster.

Scott Park, Erie PA

We recently visited Scott Park, located just 1/2 mile east of 6th and Peninsula Drive. There is a new playground that has been added since last year.

This park also has a picnic shelter,restrooms, sand court volleyball, basketball court, BMX racing course and a baseball field. The park also connects to a bike/walking trail with views of the bay.

The picnic shelter is available Saturday and Sunday by reservation only thru Memorial to Labor Day by calling Millcreek Township at 814-835-4122. Weekdays and all other weekends are available first come first serve.

Last year we rode our bikes thru the trails and my son remembered the BMX track that he never got to ride on, and had asked me to return to Scott Park so he could ride the track. So I am looking into when the BMX track would be available to the public.

My secret here is to remind you that your children remember everything.

Have you rode the loop?

In 2005, Penndot completed the west side bike path that links Frontier Park to the Bayfront walkway.

The Frontier Park Loop connects to Bicycle PA Route Z which begins at Route 20 at the Ohio border and ends at PA 5 at the New York Border. Which is the shortest bike route in Pennsylvania at 46 miles long.

This project has enabled us to completely loop around Frontier Park and continue either west or east on PA Bike Route Z.

The secret is that you are never to far to begin your journey.

For a list of other PA bike routes and complete directions, check out PA Highways.