Top presenting team (can I say "top"?)

I woke up today to a happy announcement - Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May's new show will be exclusively on Amazon Prime!  This is great news for those of us in the US who will still be able to watch these three buffoons and now without any transmission delay.

A couple years ago, I accidentally started watching a show called Top Gear.  It was inevitable since they routinely have mini marathons on BBC America, so you really can't avoid it if you ever watch that channel or flip across it.  I am definitely not a car person, but somehow this motoring show drew me in, and I became hooked.  What made this show so compelling was the odd but unmistakable chemistry between the three presenters, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May.

At first I thought I liked the show because of the crazy challenges that inevitably ended up in disaster like building a motorhome that was meant to be livable, sailing across the English Channel in an "amphibious" car, or traveling through the Amazon (no pun intended) in cheap 4x4s that were barely functioning at the beginning of the journey.  If watching a recorded version of the show, I would skip over many of the boring car bits, including the news section of the show.  But as I watched more, I realized it wasn't the challenges that I loved but how they perfectly showcased the relationship and differences of the three presenters.

It's hard to describe or explain, but these three work incredibly well together on camera.  They do have running gags.  Richard is a short secret American that is at home with all things rural.  James is a pedantic old man that drives slowly, always gets lost, and wears shirts that are probably making my eyes deteriorate.  Jeremy is the loud lazy orangutan that only cares about speed and power.  But what makes them interesting is more than the gags.  There have been other versions of Top Gear and other motoring shows with similar formats, challenges, and presenters that get along and don't get along at the same time, but they are not nearly as entertaining to watch.  These three make you feel like you're there with them, that you're in on some joke together.


I have since re-watched many of the episodes, this time not skipping the car bits and making sure I catch the news, which has become my favorite segment, since it involves all three of them together.  I'm still not a car person, but I have picked up some things along the way.  For example, I instantly recognize and then cringe every time a Porsche Panamera drives by on the street.  No idea why people spend so much money on such an ugly car, especially when they're in a city where traffic won't let you go over 30 mph.

When I learned of their deal with Amazon this morning, I was thrilled.  In all of the talk about if they would go online or to another British network, I just wanted something accessible in the US.  It will be interesting to see how they work with being online.  On the one hand, they probably have more freedom to do what they want, but on the other, it was funny watching them make fun of and appear to circumvent network censorship.

Clarkson, Hammond, and May's new show is scheduled to be released in 2016, so make sure you have Amazon Prime by then.  In the meantime, you can check out some of their previous shenanigans on Top Gear.  For newbies, I'd recommend starting with the motorhome episode if you want to see the standard format, but any of their specials where they go abroad or to the North Pole are good, too.

Supplies - the best part of back to school

Now that I'm out of school, there are several things I miss about it.  Some you would expect, like the camaraderie, stimulating environment, independent lifestyle, etc.  But one that may be a little odd is the back to school shopping aspect.

I always loved back to school shopping because it meant getting fresh new notebooks, smooth-working pens, perfect pristine crayons.  I don't know what it is, but I just like office supplies.  Maybe it's the feeling of getting organized or feeling productive - or maybe I'm just weird.

When I got ready for college, it was even better.  Not only did I get new supplies (some were even school-branded!) but I also got to shop for dorm furnishings and decorations.  It was a chance to show my dorm mates who I was, shape how I wanted my college experience begin, and feel like I had a home away from home.

Of course I can still buy supplies and things for my home, but it isn't quite the same as before.  That doesn't mean I can't still take a look when the sales come around this time of year, though.

Twenty Twelve - a humorous view of the Olympics

It's been three years since the 2012 Olympics in London, an Olympics that many consider to be a huge success.  Ever wonder how they managed to plan it all?  Maybe not, but it would be fun to see a comical version of Olympic planning filled with awkward mishaps, quirky characters, and absurd-but-maybe-not-that-far-off scenarios and bureaucracy.

That's the television series Twenty Twelve in a nutshell.  I stumbled across this show several months ago, and it's a great way to unwind with a laugh.

Twenty Twelve is a mockumentary about the London 2012 Olympic planning committee and stars Hugh Bonneville of Downton Abbey fame.  The cast is full of talented actors, including the brilliant Olivia Colman of pretty much everything on British TV.

If you work in business or government, you may recognize some of the ridiculous situations the characters find themselves in, but it's done in a way that makes you laugh and appreciate the joke even more.  I managed to enjoy it without being traumatized by personal flashbacks to unnecessary meetings where nothing is really said or gets done.


It's the type of show where you want to watch more.  Luckily the first season was such a success that they added a second one, but even after that, I still hadn't had enough.

With the Olympics over, a third season wouldn't make sense, but they did create a new show that's kind of a continuation of Twenty Twelve called W1A, which brings Hugh Bonneville's character to the BBC.  For those of you lucky enough to get access to it, you should also check that out after finishing Twenty Twelve.

I scream for mint chocolate chip ice cream

On a hot day like today, I instantly slip into a moment of bliss with mint chocolate chip ice cream.  That cold when it hits your tongue.  The sweet creamy texture.  And the refreshing taste with bits of chocolate.  What could be better?

Every time I go into an ice cream shop or decide to venture down the freezer aisle in the supermarket, it's difficult for me not to choose mint chocolate chip.  I like this flavor in pretty much every brand of ice cream.  Some of my favorites, though, are Breyers, Edy's, and Friendly's.

The ice cream is, of course, great on its own, but for more indulgence, add brownies, chocolate cake, and/or chocolate chip cookies.  An unexpected tasty combination I stumbled on is mint chocolate chip ice cream with ginger cookies.

For something that also quenches your thirst, make an ice cream float with Sprite.  With the float, I find that Breyers is the best, but they're all good.  It's a treat my mom made for me when I was growing up, and it still hits the spot today.

Lumos on Harry Potter

It may be a minority opinion, but I love overcast days.  Temperatures are comfortable, and you don't feel the burning of the sun on your skin.  There's also something calming about the light yet grey tone of the environment.

If it's raining, and you want to stay indoors, it's the perfect time to grab a cuppa tea and curl up with a good book.  Some of the best indulgences - the books in the Harry Potter series.  I started reading the series in college, and I still love rereading it today.

The stories are captivating at any age and a treat for your imagination.  For those of you that have somehow managed to avoid all the hoopla, the series is about a boy who learns he's a wizard and gets swept up in the wizard world.  While going to a wizarding school, he develops lifelong friendships with classmates and teachers who help (and hinder) him in various adventures.  The overarching adventure, however, is the classic battle of good versus evil.  The evil in this series are the forces of a powerful wizard gone bad.

Like any great work, the stories are entertaining at face value, but there are also deeper undertones on life, humanity, and morality.  Depending on what you like to get from entertainment, you can read it as you wish.


I will admit, some of the books are a little slow in the beginning.  It's not that they're bad, but they're not as page-turning as later on in the book, once you've passed the scene-setting and are in the thick of the plot.  Usually about a quarter of the way through, though, you are compelled to keep reading until the end.  That's how some die-hard fans finish a book in one day.  It usually took me a week to finish a book - a few days for the first quarter and one day into late night for the last three quarters.  Now that I've read them all, every now and then, I go back and just read the bits I'm craving at the time.

So why not watch the movies and save some time and effort?  Please do!  I find them highly entertaining.  The Harry Potter movies are some of the better adaptations from books that I've seen, but the main reason I would also read the books is the internal monologue that doesn't come across on screen, which allows you to connect more deeply with the characters.  There are also significant elements and subplots in the books that aren't developed or shown in the movies.  Elements that make the books that much more enjoyable.

So put the kettle on, get settled in your cozy chair, and welcome to the wizarding world of Harry Potter!

Discover cash back credit cards

I love cash back credit cards.  There's nothing like getting a little change back for something you're buying anyway.  I also feel a little sense of joy when I feel like I'm being strategic and optimizing my spending across cards, loyalty programs, sales, coupons, etc.

One of my favorite cash back credit cards is Discover.  While their standard cash back percentage isn't as high as others, they do have those rotating 5% cash back categories every quarter, so I like to use it when the category is relevant to me.  Since there's no annual fee, I can also choose not to use the card when that quarter's category isn't useful for my spending habits (i.e. for gas purchases, since I don't have a car).  Last quarter they had 5% cash back on restaurants. I get takeout and eat out a lot, so I got a good amount of cash back those three months - enough to get myself a $25 gift card.

That leads me to one of the best things about Discover's cash back program - their cash back redemption options:

1. "Cash" back - You can redeem ANY amount of your cash back balance as straight cash back in the form of a statement credit or direct deposit into your bank account.  Most other cards make you wait until you reach a minimum or only allow you to redeem in set increments such as multiples of $25.  With Discover, you can choose to redeem the amount you earn every month - great for those firm believers of time value of money.


2. Gift card deals - While I love the flexibility of cash, I actually prefer redeeming my Discover cash back for gift cards because they have deals on their wide selection of merchant gift cards.  For example, that $25 gift card I mentioned earlier only cost me $20 of my cash back balance.  I've also redeemed $20 cash back for a $40 car rental instant e-certificate before.  Basically, I got cash back on purchases I was making anyway and then doubled the value of the cash back I received.  In a way, I was getting 10% cash back on my purchases.


3. And more - You can also shop with your cash back at select online merchants and donate to certain charities.

On top of that, Discover has a pleasant and easy to use website, and they give you your credit score on every statement.

Right now, eligible new cardmembers can get a $50 cash back bonus if they open a new account and make a purchase within three months.  And if you want to get in on this quarter's categories, your purchases from July through September at Amazon.com, department stores, and home improvement stores get 5% cash back.

Coca-Cola - the real thing

One of my earliest, if not original, little thing of bliss is an ice cold bottle of Coke.  I was reminded of that after working this afternoon and walking home in the hot sun.  There's nothing like that first moment after you open the bottle and take the first sip.  You can't help but sigh and exhale "ahhh."

My attempts to reduce my soda intake obviously aren't perfect, but if I do have one of those wonderful bubbly drinks, I enjoy every moment of it.  And as an added bonus, I enter the code on the bottle cap into My Coke Rewards.

MCR is a free loyalty program where all you have to do is sign up for an account using an email address (here's another chance to use that email account saved for shopping, loyalty programs, and spam!) and enter the codes you find on Coca-Cola products' bottle caps or 12-can boxes.  You get points for entering codes, and you can redeem those points for goodies, sweepstakes, or coupons for a free bottle of Coca-Cola product.  If you're going to be drinking those drinks anyway, might as well get a free drink out of it now and then.

Go on and open some happiness . . . and then get some more happiness out of it.

Orphan Black - low commitment binge watch

Recently, I cancelled my cable subscription.  The only reason I didn't do it sooner was because I wanted to watch the final episode of Orphan Black season 3 as it aired.  I literally called the cable company right after I finished watching.

I didn't start watching this show until after season 2 had finished airing, but I got through all two seasons very quickly and couldn't wait for the third to start.  It's a great binge watch because every episode is compelling, and there are only 10 episodes per season.  It's easy to finish in one weekend and get caught up before the next season starts - perfect during this slow season for TV.

Yes it is a sci-fi show, but it's not just for sci-fi lovers.  There's mystery, suspense, action, dysfunctional and unexpected relationships, and of course the occasional comic relief.  The premise is about a woman who finds out she is a clone and has many clone sisters that look like her around the world.  She and some of her sisters embark on a hunt to find out the truth behind their existence while still trying to live their normal lives.  It sounds a little quirky the way I describe it but it definitely isn't once you watch it.  Check out the first episode for free (with ads).


Tatiana Maslany, the actress that plays all the clones, is remarkable.  Each character is unique and incredibly well-developed.  They also have great chemistry together.  You forget that it's one person playing all these people.  Think of how much time she must put into just filming, let alone all the other work that goes into playing each clone.

If the storytelling and acting isn't enough, special effects lovers will be impressed by how seamlessly they create the scenes with more than one clone.  They go through a bit of it on the special features of the season 2 DVD and behind the scenes footage available on Amazon Prime.

Right now the first two seasons are streaming for free on Amazon Prime.  And the first episode with ads can be seen for free by everyone.  If you're not a Prime customer, you can sign up for a 30 day free trial, which is plenty of time to get through all the episodes.

Enjoy the show!

Free treats

I love free stuff and loyalty programs that give you free stuff.  Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins offer a couple good ones.

Baskin Robbins - Sign up for their emails and you'll get a coupon for a free scoop of ice cream emailed to you for your birthday.  Their marketing emails usually only come around holidays and special occasions (Mother's Day, graduation, etc.), encouraging you to buy cakes to celebrate.  I hardly notice them since I have a dedicated email for marketing and shopping purposes.

Dunkin Donuts - Sign up for their DD Perks loyalty program and you get a free drink right away.  You also get a free drink on your birthday, and they often have specials during the year where you can earn free drinks or get bonus points towards earning a free drink.  For example, they once had a special where I got a free drink just for signing up for autoreload on my card.

Signing up for the program is free, but you do have to associate a Dunkin Donuts gift card to your loyalty account.  If you don't already have one, you can get one while singing up for DD Perks, and you only need to put $2 on it.  $2 is less than the cost of most of their drinks.  I use their mobile app so I don't have to deal with plastic cards and printing out coupons.  It's also great when I suddenly get a craving for a giant coffee and I can just pop by a DD to grab a free one using my phone.

Cool off with Bliss Super Minty Soap'N Scrub

It's getting hot out there, so now's the perfect time for me to break out one of my favorite bath products - the Bliss Super Minty Soap'N Scrub.  After bbq-ing outside, playing golf, or commuting home from a long day at work, I always feel de-stressed and refreshed showering with this cleanser.

Soon after you lather it on, you can feel the "minty" burst of cool.  The "scrub" part leaves your skin feeling smooth and soft.  I love this scrub even more because the exfoliants are jojoba beads rather than salt.  For some reason, salt scrubs badly irritate my skin.  The jojoba beads are effective but also gentle enough that can I use this product as my body wash every day.

A little goes a long way with this product, so you get a lot of uses from one tube.  The best part about the Bliss Super Minty Soap'N Scrub is even after you've finished showering and dried off, you still feel the cooling effect for a while.


It's a great treat for yourself on a hot day, and I also like giving it as a gift, especially to people I visit so I can use it when I'm there :)

Wegmans - the gem of many east coast towns

One of the best things about returning to my home town is being able to go to Wegmans every day.  If you've ever lived near a Wegmans or known someone that has, then you probably already know how fanatical people are about it.  If you've never heard of Wegmans, I'll try to explain.

Simply put, Wegmans is a supermarket.  Yes, many people think we Wegmans fans are crazy when we say that, but it's not just any supermarket.  Over the years, this family-run private company has honed its brand and cultivated loyal customers.  Its private label products are sometimes more sought after than the brand name alternatives.  Customers trust the store to provide quality products, reasonable prices, and great service.  Produce is often locally-sourced, and they have a huge selection of prepared foods and kits that make your own home cooking and party preparation easier.

Because pretty much all the new stores (and several of the renovated old ones) are built in the "super" style, there's tons of seating, making Wegmans a great place to grab a meal with family or friends and just hang out.  For your entrée, you can select what you like from the food bar or choose something from one of the many food stations (subs, pizza, sushi, burritos).  Their $6 meals are a great deal, which include one entrée and two sides.  When you're done with your entrée, you can stop by the patisserie and grab some cake, or cookies, or any of the other beautiful and delicious desserts made on premise.  To wash down all that goodness, grab a latte from the coffee bar.

Oh, and did I mention there's wifi?

Over the past decade, this company has expanded without compromising the experience expected by its original Upstate New York clientele.  That's great news for all those kids that grew up and moved to New Jersey, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, or Maryland.  Coming soon, there's even going to be a Wegmans in NYC.  For now, here are all the places you can find this amazing store.

So the next time you're near a place that has Wegmans, go visit.  Or if you're driving by one on a road trip, it's worth getting off at the exit to check it out.

Welcome!

I've never been much for introductions or goodbyes, so I'll keep this first post brief.  Welcome to my blog where I will share with you the little things I run across that make me happy, in hopes that you'll find bliss in them, too.

These little things could be great ways to maximize the value you get from something (i.e. save money), products I love, my latest TV show addiction, or other stuff that pops into my life.  Thanks for joining me in the journey!  Enjoy!