New ‘Eden’ Movie is Fantastic !

Nicole — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:58:12 +0000

I just saw the new film Eden about the harrowing tale of Chong Kim, who was kidnapped and sold into a domestic human trafficking ring in the mid 1990′s.
WOW.
This movie is RIVETING. I was LITERALLY on the edge of my seat during this movie. There were scenes that I was so scared for this girl that I honestly, was leaning toward the screen.
And the acting is EXCELLENT. Jamie Chung, who plays the lead character is incredible. She is so believable…. There were other times in this movie when I was so sad for this young woman and for all these women that I thought about even if they do escape, ‘How do they recover from this?’. She was that good. Matt O’Leary and Beau Bridges are great as well.
This is a fine piece of movie making. Full Disclosure: The story was written by a high school buddy of mine, Rick Phillips and he co-wrote the screenplay too. Regardless of the fact that I know someone attached to this movie, this is such an important story to tell and it has been done so well.
The film just won The Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 2012 South by Southwest Film Festival, as well as many other awards.
It is out in limited release right now and you can also rent it On Demand on Verizon Fios right now too.
This movie is well worth the price of admission, and more.

Kudos to everyone who worked on this film for bringing the terrifying truth of human trafficking to the screen.

It’s A Small World After All …

Nicole — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:06:40 +0000

photographer unknown, Indonesia

These little boys in Indonesia, are about the age of my son. He wears a dapper little uniform to school, just like these boys….
He laughs and smiles like these boys too.
The only difference- he uses an umbrella,
they use a banana leaf….
It’s a Small, Small World.

Announcing My New Book !

Nicole — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 17:18:15 +0000

Available in Amazon's Kindle Store

I’m so excited to announce the

publication of my eBook,

Living A Miracle,

We All Do… Every Day

It has been a labor of love and recounts my recovery from a terrible car accident that left me partially paralyzed, with brain hemorrhages,
and comatose.
I made a complete recovery, obviously,
and I look at life differently now.

This is a book about reality.
I’m a realist.
We all live miracles, every day.

Click On the Image of My Book
to the RIGHT to Check it Out,
or read Sample Pages!

PEACE!

Listen Up …

Nicole — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:31:57 +0000

TAKE RISKS :

If You Win, You Will Be Happy;
If You Lose, You Will Be Wise.

Listen …

Nicole — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:51:08 +0000

: From- Amazing Things in This World

A Year from Now,
You will Wish you had started
TODAY.

– Karen Lamb

Words to Live By

Nicole — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 16:53:00 +0000

“Most people fail in life

not because they aim too high and miss,

but because they aim too low and hit.”

- Les Brown

Beauty in the World…

Nicole — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 19:11:47 +0000

Photo by John Dalkin

I found this beautiful photo of the famous statue of Jesus in Rio, on Amazing Things in the World Facebook Page!

Check it out!

The Joy Of Black Friday Shopping !

Nicole — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 21:25:42 +0000

Are you going out on Black Friday? I AM !!!! I had a great experience a few years ago…

Here’s My Story About it …

Well, I finally did it. I went against years of eye rolling and head shaking… and I joined the shoppers in the early morning on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.

I had previously sworn off Christmas shopping even on weekends- due to crowds. I had always shopped strictly on weekdays, when parking is easy and crowds are… nonexistent.

But the deals that were being advertised got me, and the desire to surprise my parents with a laptop computer this Christmas…

So there I was, dropped off on the sidewalk in front of Staples… at 7:45am.

(Please; I wouldn’t forgo regular sleep for shopping; 7:45 was early enough.)

I walked in. People were shopping, but it wasn’t crazy. I was told there was a ‘laptop area’, approached it, and within a few minutes I was being helped.

Every employee was really well informed, and helpful. The assistant manager who helped me with the laptop, also helped me find the 50%-off shredder I had seen in the paper (my gift to myself- I’ve always wanted a paper shredder for some reason AND I got it in ‘sapphire’- gotta love Christmas shopping.)

Then, I got up to the cashier- with my crazy-discounted laptop, the discounted wireless mouse, and my 50%-off sapphire paper shredder- and the assistant manager starts in on what I think is going to be the ‘strong sell’…

“Do you need a new printer to go with your laptop?”

“No.” I firmly, but nicely replied.

Then the cashier and assistant manager exchanged almost embarrassed looks…

And the cashier looked at me and said,

“They’re five dollars.”

What? What did she mean? I thought I heard her wrong… But it turned out that when you bought a laptop during ‘early bird’ hours on Black Friday, you could also get a new printer for $5, or a wireless, touchpad printer for $15.00.

… So I got the wireless touchpad printer for our computer room for fifteen dollars!!

My guys had decided against going to Dunkin’ Donuts and instead found a parking space right in front of the store, and walked in- just in time for us all to carry packages out to the car!

Success! For a moment, I thought I heard trumpets playing…

I was so inspired- I did something I wasn’t planning on doing. In fact, I never thought I’d do it-

I told my husband and my son to do some male bonding … and I WENT BACK OUT SHOPPING!

I went to Toys R US next-

It was busy, but so well organized! There were tons of helpful employees, the checkout was incredible, almost no wait- one line, specially made for Black Friday, and a guy pointing out clear cashiers… And last but not least- a young man whose sole job was passing out complimentary boxes of new 64 crayon sets!

I was having such a great time… I went to 4 more stores !!!!

I got some GREAT deals!

And people were nice, not crazy.

I think I just may do this again next year, I almost feel like the ‘Shopping Scrooge’ who has been enlightened, and now sees the error in their ‘previous shopping ways’…

Black Friday Shopping-

Another tradition has begun!

Words To Live By

Nicole — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 16:39:50 +0000

“I learned how to sumon,
from somewhere deep within,
the extra will I didn’t know I possessed.
Knowing it was there, and could be tapped again,
gave me the boost of confidence
I would rely on for years to come.”

-Sugar Ray Leonard

A Great Little Time Enhancer

Nicole — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 14:59:42 +0000

Things Organized Neatly

I discovered a great little site,
Things
Organized
Neatly,
thanks to a mention by
Daniel Nayeri,
the Digital Editorial Director of
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
during the Mid-Atlantic Fall Conference of the SCBWI this past weekend.

And this site is what it says.
Everyday there is a new picture of
things
organized
neatly.
This is not a time waster!
This is a moment of joy
to check out
every once in a while

Peace.