Sunday, Sunday...

I'm still having a difficult time just sitting down and, well, writing. I don't know why. I have a brain full of ideas, pouring from my heart and overloading my mind throughout the day and yet, when I sit down? Nothing.

But I am getting crafty. I brought a pad of paper to the speech meet that I was judging yesterday and I just wrote. And wrote. And wrote.

Most of it was meh and bleh and yaaaawwwnnn inspiring.

But I was writing.

And that's all that matters to me, right now.

Today shall find me and my hubby at a cruise on Lake Michigan at a sort-of pre-game party before tonight's Bears game. Gotta love that man. He has quite the ability to win stuff on radio phone-in contests. :)

Let's just hope this off-the-charts wind doesn't make everyone seasick...

Falling Quickly Into "Like" with Glen Hansard...

Ever have an unexpectedly, profoundly moving experience?

Last night, I was privileged enough to be a part of a small group of local bloggers that got to meet and talk with Glen Hansard before his beautifully intimate concert at the Shedd Aquarium's oceanarium.

In the 600 seconds I was sitting at the table with him and 3 others, just chatting and laughing, I fell madly in Like with Glen. His heart, depth and kindness is obvious and evident in his music, but in person? It positively shines through his blue eyes and contagious smile. We learned about his Chicago connections and early performances in Chicago's pubs like Schuba's, Uncommon Ground and Gunther Murphy's. He talked with the tenderest concern for the dolphins and belugas that were in the enclosure behind the space he was going to perform in; he worried that they were disturbed by the volume and frequency of his music. Wendy reassured him that these animals are used to daily shows with way more noise than he would produce. After chatting and laughing and being completely charmed by Glen, we said goodby and were escorted out to await the show.

 Wendy, Hope, Glen, Katie and I just hanging out like the new BFF's we totally are...

I have been to many concerts in my life but I can honestly say that I cannot remember a single one that was nearly as touching as last night's was. His music is lovely on video and recording but to watch him Live is quite a profound experience. Glen was fully invested in every single song and played them as though it was the first and last time he'd ever sing them. He engaged the audience on a personal level so that everyone felt as though he was singing directly to them (though we all know he was singing directly to me...). It seemed as though he held nothing back; emotionally or physically.

I don't feel as though I'm doing justice to his performance with these small words on this small blog, but trust me when I say that I would, IN A HEARTBEAT, see Glen Hansard in concert anytime. In fact, upon arriving home last night, I immediately looked to see if he was performing in Chicago again before he leaves. He is. And... it's sold out... This is a bummer but I am so happy for everyone who will be able to attend tonight. Truly: you're in for a beautiful performance.

Just a tidbit of his version of "Get Up Stand Up" before I put the video camera down. I like to WATCH, not record... (Sorry for my background vocals!)

His tour continues across North America for most of the fall and then ends in Europe in December. There are still tickets available according to his site but I have a feeling that this new album (which is freaking AMAZING) will sell out most concerts so get if you want tickets, act fast!

*Thank you MasterCard for the ticket! Though the ticket and chance to meet Glen Hansard were provided by MasterCard, I was not compensated or obligated to write about this in any way. See more MasterCard Priceless Experiences here... Thank you also to Hope Bertram from Digital Megaphone for including me in on this opportunity! You rock my world. :)

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

No offense to my boys, but I sure do love being a mom to a little girl...
Is there anything cuter than a 5 year old who writes in her DIARY (no joke) about having a crush on Justin Bieber?
I am finally starting to see this "resemblance" that everyone raves about, which is an honor because my daughter is stunningly beautiful...

...and hysterical. What a room, eh? Embassy Suites, Downtown Chicago for our American Girl's weekend trip, courtesy of the Kenmore Live Studios and Embassy Suites. The room was A.Maz.Ing.
And the American Girl package was pretty darn sweet, too. Corinne's eyes nearly popped when she saw the sugary loot we were going to plow through on our Girls Only trip. We munched all night and even ate Snickers bars in bed while watching Tangled... I was greatly disappointed with her doll, though. She just passed out in her new doll bed. So we froze her underwear; It's the law of a slumber party.
You have no idea how many pictures I own of my children and I doing this very shot...
I hadn't even had a glass of wine. I let her slap that maroon paint on my fingernails without even flinching. I deserve a medal.
Not bad, though. Especially since she's only 5 and was giggling the entire time.
My fish.
Though the American Girl store is way overpriced, IMHO, the restaurant was well priced. The sweet service and extra touches covered up the somewhat mediocre food and outrageously expensive doll accessories. We couldn't get her doll's ears pierced with our free coupon because, well, her doll isn't a "real" American Girl. Ahem. She's FIVE. I am not buying a $120 doll for a 5 year old. She was cool with it, though.
The chocolate mousse fully made up for the lack of holes in her doll's head.
Yes. That is a tank top. In February. On the train with the guitar playing 20-somethings who kept talking about how "unique" and "creative" they were which is why they dropped out of college to pursue a Mushroom Jazz band (I am positive that I heard that incorrectly) and why it's ok that they're living in their parents' basements while they pick up some hours working in construction. I'll betcha their parents aren't quite so enthusiastic about it... ;)

If you can swing it, do it. A weekend away. A night at a hotel or a campground or someone's house who is out of town to have a sleepover with one child at a time, doing silly games and talking and spoiling him or her just a bit. They feel so special and you'll never forget it.

I feel like such a Gear Head...

...But in a GOOD way because I adored "my" Chevy Traverse that was on loan for a week and nearly wept when the meanies came back to reclaim it. :( Corinne actually DID protest when she realized that she could no longer watch Ice Age with headphones in the 5 minute ride to ballet...

Between checking out the Chevy Traverse, attending the Chicago Auto Show and then test driving the Chevy Volt, I must appear to be really automotive-savvy.The Volt! Drives like a regular car but is mostly electric!! This car may not be big enough to be a large "family car" but it's fabulous for commuters or families with only 1 or 2 children. There were tons of cool features (keyless, comfortable, attractive, safety precautions) but the best point of it, in my opinion, is the main feature:

You plug it in.

You are no longer 100% dependent on gasoline. The emissions you emit are practically non-existent! If a new sedan type car is what you are looking for, I highly recommend that you check out the Volt.

~~~

I am not a gearhead. This was quite evident the instant I wandered onto the floor and exclaimed to Barb, "Oh look! I like THAT car!"

"Yeah. That's because it's a PORSCHE, Trace."

Aha. Yes. I knew that. Still, have you seen a Porsche? Quite snazzy.

"Ooh! Then how about this one?!?"How about this one, Barb? Can I pull of the Christie Brinkley look?If I drape myself across the Camaro, do you think I'll look like a car model?!?

Hmmm. I'm sorry to say, but I think that THIS car is more my style. Isn't it CUTE?!? A little Fiat! And I just wanted to cuddle it and squeeze it help it build a leaning tower of tires!!

Actually, THIS is what I want for my birthday. This or the Traverse, ok honey?

Since you Asked.

I had Grand Plans for Sunday night. I had planned on spending an hour or two with a glass of wine, sitting at the table and quietly writing up the next two weeks of school work. Instead, we spent it at my parents' house where I happily did a jigsaw puzzle with my mom and dad, chatting and laughing over a glass of Creme Soda. Sometimes unplanned plans are the best ones of all...

So here I sit, on Monday MORNING without a plan in the world for school today. Ah well. It'll be a checklist day of pages and reviews and such. No biggie. Especially since I am EXHAUSTED from our weekend!

"What did you do, Tracey? Why are you so EXHAUSTED?!?"

Glad you asked.

Saturday morning found me literally rolling Justin from bed to travel into Chicago for a Mom Date. I had tickets to MacBeth at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater* on Navy Pier.I exist! In a photograph!!

I am STILL THERE! With my Son!!

We were so excited to see these when we drove into the Navy Pier circle:
Native Chief in Chicago smiling even though his land is now covered in asphalt. Really? Do we really think he'd be cheerful? Especially when he's decapitated and made from frozen water?

Captain America is looking PISSED! It's no surprise as they haven't yet given him the horny things for his head. (Heh. Horny Things. I am sooooo going to let that lie. Heh heh)

Apparently it was also the Snow Days in Chicago and, had I known how cool it would be, I might have dragged the whole family to see it. I highly recommend this FREE event for all families next year. We were utterly amazed! I wonder what they do with the sculptures post-event? I'd assume they're still in place at Navy Pier. Wouldn't you? Destroying them seems kinda cruel...
We settled into our seats at the lovely Chicago Shakespeare Theater and I gave Justin another run-down of the play's storyline. He was ready for it and just happy to be out with only me. (Awwww.... He still likes me!) The initial battle and first few scenes were AWESOME. Incredible percussion, lighting and prop usage had me actually smiling in the dark. Not so much for Justin. He finally leaned over and said "I have NO CLUE what's going on!" I continued to try and keep him updated but somewhere around Lady MacBeth's breakdown Justin shook his head and said "Never mind. I don't want to know anymore."

Sigh. I guess MacBeth was just a touch too complicated for his first Shakespeare. I blame myself. I think Romeo and Juliet would have been an easier storyline to follow for him. Or maybe A Midsummer's Night Dream. The thing is, I LOVE Shakespeare! I love the rhythm and plots and crazy language that could take hours to truly dissect. I even took a Shakespeare class in college just for KICKS, even though it didn't count towards any degree.

Ah, me. (heh) Perhaps in a few years we can try again? In the meantime, you can go see MacBeth for free at my giveaway because I ADORED this show. If you've never been to Shakespeare, here's your chance to try it out!

After the play we decided to go to Justin's all-time favorite restaurant for what he declares is the BEST STEAK IN THE WORLD. What restaurant holds this title of high esteem?

TGI Friday's.

:)

I made that kid's day and we ate at Friday's all by ourselves and he ordered a steak WELL DONE (because pink is apparently disgusting when you're 11) and we talked and laughed and watched the NHL All Stars draft and he said that he didn't mind that MacBeth was "weird" because we got to do something together.

And I smiled and was happy and glowing inside because my pre-teen still likes his mom.


"But Tracey!" you say. "That's only Saturday! That couldn't possibly exhaust you! What else did you do? Tell me! Tell me!! I MUST KNOW!! I am obsessed by your life!!"

Good Lord. Take a CHILL. PILL. I'm getting there. Damn.

Stalker.

Cracks her knuckles....

On Sunday I woke up to the sound of children laughing and a husband making breakfast. I nearly wept at the sheer magic that that sentence held while I SHOWERED (Holy moly) and then Pat and I dropped the kids off at my parents (Ta-ta!) so that we could go see Cirque du Soleil: Dralion!!

Awe. Some.

I hadn't been to see any Cirque show since I was pregnant with Justin and it is just as amazing today as it was then. I can NOT figure out how people can be so in TUNE with each other!! How long does one work on a 30 second section before it's flawless? Everyone from the actors and acrobats to the light men and musicians must be 100% in sync for this to be pulled off so well. If you've never seen a Cirque show, I recommend making it a "Must Do". It's an experience unlike anything you've ever had and ALL live. You just don't see that anymore!

Patrick and I were giddy without kids in tow so we drove through fancy-schmancy neighborhoods and pretended to be looking for houses by pulling the listing sheets and holding our jaws up when the "reduced prices" were still close to 1 mill. Isn't there an economic crisis going on?? I'm sure we totally fooled the home owners into believing we were actual clients as we cruised around in our 1998 Grand Prix with a dent in the front bumper.

We then gorged on enchiladas at On The Border and felt completely stuffed with our meals which is why we ordered chocolate turtle empanadas with ice cream to share. Obviously.

I am still recovering from that calorie overload!

I then had to break the weekend down for my Mom and Dad over a puzzle with too many brown and boring horses and not enough butterflies. We straggled home around 10:00 pm and crashed into a cozy heap on the couch. A whole mess of arms and legs and pigtails and cuddly bears...

And that is why I am unprepared for Monday's lessons at 7:30 in the morning. And that is why I am not going to fret over their school work but will continue to digest that Mexican food with a cup of HOT Coffee as I browse a few blogs and read a few emails....

...Since you asked.


* I still have 4 tickets for a giveaway! NO ENTRIES!!

A fun little video...

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Read my post all about Legoland at The Chicago Moms!

Absolute, Complete and Unadulterated Joy!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I'm still picking the glitter, I mean, fairy dust, out of my hair but it was sooooo worth it!

The Princesses will be at the United Center until September 12th. Check out the savings code here or go to the United Center's website for more information.

Thank you Feld Entertainment for really making some dreams come true!

Consider Cleveland...part 3

Just catching up on my Cleveland adventures? Read Part 1 and Part 2 ....


After spending a bit of time and money in A Christmas Story museum and gift shop (my kids loved their Little Orphan Annie Decoder rings!), the air was heating up and we were beginning to wilt. We enjoyed a light lunch at Grumpy's Cafe, and then headed to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Rain Forest. I was prepared for an ordinary zoo. I was surprised to find myself, well, Surprised!

Though we didn't get to check out the entire zoo, we did get to WALK through the new elephant habitat that is still under construction. (how cool is that? I was IN an exhibit. And I wasn't the main attraction or anything!) Once finished, the African Elephant Crossing will cover 5 acres of wooded land, hills to strengthen leg muscles, indoor/outdoor bed options, and an education center. Expected to be open around May of 2011, it is an exhibit that will be well worth the wait!

Another unique feature of the Metroparks Zoo was their giraffe exhibit and feeding experience. For $2 a person, you can feed the giraffes by hand! As you can see below, I had a moderately good time doing just that...

Ok, ok. It ROCKED. It was so incredibly cool to have these enormous and gentle creatures seeking me out and searching for food! And it was EXTREMELY difficult to resist the urge to pet their heads!
Sigh... Such a cool activity. Definitely worth the cost.

Sadly, we got rained out of the concert in the park so we raced ourselves into the Botanical Gardens for a dinner inside. I am SO glad it rained because I might have missed this stop on the tour had the concert continued...BEAUTIFUL. The Cleveland Botanical Garden is just lovely! I wish I had more pictures but my batteries weren't cooperating at this point. You'll just have to take my word for it that the layout and exhibits are really well done. This is a relaxing way to spend a few hours, checking out the butterflies and hiding behind the flora and fauna.
Anyone growing up in Chicago has been to the Art Institute of Chicago. It's beautiful, without a doubt. But I must confess that I had never been to an art museum in a different city! Ever. For someone who loves art, that strikes me as odd. Thankfully, I no longer fit into that because the tour included a choice of any of the beautiful museums in Cleveland's University Circle.

We chose the Cleveland Museum of Art, and I was blown away by the quality of the museum.
My boys would love to check out their Medieval section. Devoted to armory, weaponry, tapestry and all other types of craftsmanship from the Middle Ages; it was stunning!

(Admission to the museum's permanent collection is always free!)

It had been a long day... We headed back to our gorgeous rooms at the Crowne Plaza Cleveland City Centre. Since our group was getting along so well, we decided to head out and walk to the local night life at the East Fourth Street Entertainment District. It was literally 3 blocks from the hotel! The cobbled street and criss-crossed lights lent an automatic party atmosphere. I was ready to kick back and have a blast.

And we DID! We hit a few of the smaller bars and tried some fancy drinks but myself and 2 others ended up at the perfect fit for us: Flannery's. Big but cozy and great service with drinks I can pronounce adds up to a happy Tracey...

Thursday morning had us boarding our bus to return to Chicago. One final stop found us being QUITE surprised by the gourmet meal provided...

Above you see Ja'Vonne of the Traveling Eye, Howard of VideoTwist Productions, Me!, Barb aka Weaselmama, journalists Chasse and Dominic enjoying the most delicious gourmet meal I've eaten in QUITE a long time at The Toledo Zoo. We stopped there on our way home and I must say that it was much bigger and more beautiful than I'd have imagined! Their children's zoo was a lovely addition and I adore the way that you can get twisted around in the pathways between old exhibits and new. Thank you for your hospitality, Toledo Zoo!


Stephanie and Jennifer of Second City Soiree, and Bonnie from the Traveling Eye
(I had to edit out our other travelers because of a minor that was traveling with her journalist father. Hello back there Jodi!)

To sum it up, Cleveland really surprised me. I am so excited to know that there is a "new" and fun travel destination so close to home. The people from Positively Cleveland who were our tour guides and all of those who worked together so that we could experience the best of the city and its surrounding area did a fabulous job! Thank you again, and I can't wait to go back!!


If you liked any of the activities that we did on our trip, then stay tuned for an exciting giveaway that I am putting together.... I can't divulge any details just yet, but it's gonna be a good one!

Consider Cleveland...part 2

Part 1 is here...
There weren't many things that I didn't like on our whiplash tour of Cleveland. But I do regret that while we visited the historical West Side Market to stroll through their aisles of traditions and selections, we had just eaten breakfast and weren't able to bring anything that would spoil on the bus! I mean, the cakes and pastries looked divine! And don't even get me STARTED on the cheeses and sausages that had to be left behind their glass cases...

I sullenly climbed back on our bus after having sampled only a few free white cherries and delicious canteloupe. We were headed to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame and I had built it up in my head as some place I absolutely couldn't wait to visit. But to be honest, I was a bit worried that I had elevated it up too high...

Thankfully, the museum didn't disappoint! The layout and feeling of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is so incredible. And don't get it wrong; it's a MUSEUM, not some kitschy building with silly posters and blaring music. The walls and air around you are filled with invaluable artifacts from the beginnings of Rock, Jazz, Blues and other influences that have brought us to the artists of today. No era or style is left out and each is explored and examined with the respect that is due to what has been one of the most historically defining centuries of all time. I now know exactly where I want to take Patrick when we go back to Cleveland! (I'm planning on a birthday surprise weekend. It's ok - he rarely reads this site.*) I fully intend on spending the entire day there, reading every plaque, watching all of the videos and shows (over 5 hours throughout the museum!) and browsing through their song banks (thousands of songs from every artist you could ever imagine). I absolutely, 1000% recommend visiting The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And I cannot WAIT to investigate their online and on-site educational programs for children which incorporate Rock music into a variety of educational topics. You don't have to tell me more than once that children learn best when they have more than one type of media to utilize! Look for more on Rock music as education on my homeschooling blog this year.MY generation! Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Nine Inch Nails, Alice in Chains, Peter Gabriel, Counting Crows, Black Crowes... My glee was palpable through each timeline exhibit. I cannot fully convey the magnitude of information that is available...
(Cameras are not allowed in the museum except where noted or for the press. Many of the artifacts are on loan or are sensitive to light. Please remember to leave your cameras in the car or to check them before entering the exhibits!)

I was really bummed to leave without investigating more in depth, but, without a doubt, I'll be back soon. Since I knew what the next stop was on our trip, I didn't mind not being able to scour through Janis Joplin's exhibit just then...

Can you believe it?!? Ralphie's house, guys. RALPHIE'S HOUSE. I? Was there. I? Met this guy...
... who used to carry his blankie around the set and had quite the difficulty putting his arms down. Ian Petrella, aka "Randy" from A Christmas Story walked in just as Barb and I were posing and shrieking. I'm not a celebrity freak, but it was a bit of a thrill to put a real face to the movie image. Of course, I'm sure he was blown away by Barb and me. After all, nothing says "maturity" like mock-licking a leg-lamp... ...or being shocked at where Schwartz's mom thinks my son learned to say "Fudge"."Probably from his Father." NEVER!
Obviously, I have no shame. Folks, we were absolute nerds. We giggled and shouted and acted like right old fools. But this movie and the house are ICONIC. It's a media connection that everyone can relate to because everyone has seen it repeatedly. And everyone LOVES it! A Christmas Story House is definitely worth the $8 for admission. Don't forget to check out the museum and gift shop across the street. My kids got their very own Little Orphan Annie Decoder rings.

One would think that after all of that, we would have come to the end of the tour. One would be mistaken to assume that for we were only halfway through our second day! I know what you're thinking,

"Well? What did you do? Where did you go? Why didn't you invite ME? The waiting is agony! Adoring your blog from my computer screen is something I do every day but I am so in awe of you that I can't bring myself to comment!**"

I'm sorry, my friends. Overwhelming adoration or not, I think that a Neverending Post just won't be as cool as a Neverending Story. But here's a teaser for Part 3...

"Que es esto?"

*I'm sure that I have now guaranteed that Patrick will read my blog....

**That may be a slight exaggeration. The author claims no responsibility for a small distortion of how much you adore her as she has had only one cup of coffee and needs to get the kids up and dressed for a family reunion/birthday party in the pouring rain... You're jealous; admit it.

Consider Cleveland... part 1

Ok. So the economy's kind of icky and most of us are a little less affluent than we were a year or two ago. We can agree on this, no? My kids would love to go on a plane ride to Florida or Hawaii, but there isn't a chance in the world that we can afford that! However, life is about living and living includes experiences and experiences can be found closer to home than we realize.

I was honored to be invited by the cvb of Cleveland, Ohio to participate in a promotional tour of their city. "Positively Cleveland" managed to pack in a week's worth of activities in just 3 days and though my feet are revolting against those 3 days of shoes on pavement, my mind is simply overwhelmed. My travel-mate for the week was Barb, aka Weaselmama. You might remember her from my trip to Galena, IL. We managed to ride in a car for 3 hours and all weekend on that trip, so I knew we could travel together without killing each other (always a good feature in a friend). When the words "Cedar Point" came up, I knew she was the perfect choice. I mean, if I'm going to the "roller-coaster capital of the world", I want someone who actually likes to ride roller coasters.

And ride them, we did. Amazingly enough, no one threw up as we were hustled from one thrilling heart-stopper to the next for 5 hours straight. The best ride, in my opinion: The Millennium Force (though the Maverick was a close second with it's never-ending twists and dips). The Millennium Force actually had me feeling light-headed on its first drop. Which meant that I simply had to convince our group to ride it again, just before we left. Let me tell you, it didn't require any arm-twisting to make that wish come true!

I sleepily stumbled into my hotel room that the Crowne Plaza Cleveland City Centre provided for us all. Their extra little touches (chocolates on the bed beside a personalized letter reminding me of the ammenities they provided)were definitely noted prior to passing out from exhaustion, but it wasn't until the next morning as I was drinking my gourmet cup of coffee that I managed to peer through the curtains and be amazed at the views before me...Stunning. This shot doesn't even begin to do it justice. The proximity of the hotel is such that we were able to walk to the arena, the downtown square, Lake Erie and the East Fourth Street district. I was so enthralled by the quiet beauty of the Cleveland morning that I got myself up and moving an hour early just to sit on the bench beside the street and watch the city come to life. Had I known how busy we would be that day, I might have stayed in bed a tad longer...


Part 2 will follow soon!

Note to self: Remember the sunscreen

I was given free admission for my family this weekend to Raging Waves in Yorkville Illinois. Despite the temp being in the mid-low 70's and the wind that whipped with gusto across the plains, we had a blast!



We arrived early and were the first ones into the enormous wave pool. Just moments later, Corinne turned around and ran straight back to me; "It's FREEZING!"

She quickly got over her shivers when we found the squirting structure and kiddie slides. No fear.

And I am SO glad that I brought swim shirts for each of them. They dried off really quickly to keep them warmer. Also, since I am a brilliant mother who forgot that just because you aren't HOT doesn't mean you won't get BURNED, each of us was sporting some red epidermis that evening. Parenting FAIL.
My fish. Or shark. Whichever is more adept at being in any water at any time. He even rode the wedgie making speed slide! At 49", Evan was big enough for all of the water slides. What a great surprise for him!

He also spent hours in the wave pool. As in, hours and hours and hours...
Only picture of my eldest who was NOT amused that the wind was frigid and the water chilly. He did go in the lazy river 2 or 3 times and on the big family slide with all of us once. THAT was a blast! And it was Corinne's favorite activity. "We did it all together, Mommy! As a family!" It was my favorite too. I liked it even better than the Cyclone (one of those big old bowl things that shoots you around and makes your stomach drop).

I do wish that water parks weren't so dang expensive, though. The price for my family to get in on a regular day would have been about $140 at the gate.* Wow. I mean, I know that it is comparable to a day at Noah's Ark in WI, Six Flags in Gurnee, or Magic Waters in Rockford. And I know that we saved a load of money on gas by having it so close to home, but it's just a big chunk of change for our family right now. I do appreciate the fact that the park allows you to exit and re-enter very easily so that you can have lunch outside the park and then come back for more. Had we been paying our own way, that is the route we would have taken. Also, pay attention for coupons and package deals to save money.

That said, if you are looking for a fun activity, close to home this summer, Raging Waves is absolutely a blast. And it's CLEAN, too!

*If you are a family of 4 or more, you can purchase the Summer Family Fun package for $124 which includes 4 all day admissions, 4 tube rentals and 4 meal tickets. A fabulous deal but it's available online ONLY though, so plan ahead!!

Hey, see that Nickelodeon button over there? To the right and at the top? Yeah, that one. Why don't you click on it and then vote for yours truly at the Parents Picks awards? Here, to save you time, you don't even need to scroll upwards... Every day's a new chance to vote!

I is a rock star

And I have pics to prove it. After all, only rock stars get to drive in a car ALL BY THEMSELVES into Chicago, right?

Hey, when you drive 3 kids in a van without a stereo or cd player, getting the chance to drive all alone is something to blog about. I don't apologize for this. Nor do I apologize to the other drivers on I90 at about 6:00 tonight who got to witness me rocking out to Pink Floyd and Blind Melon. They were graced to see a verrrrrry happy mama who was rockin a hot red shirt with MATCHING LIPSTICK. Lipstick, guys. Lip.Stick. On MY LIPS. That matched my shirt. Which was red.*See? Red lipstick (sort of. Almost wiped off from that red DRINK that the mixologist *** made for us!)
One of my favorite people! I love going to blogger gatherings, especially when Cynthia, aka the Napwarden is there!
I told you I was a rockstar. I got to meet and HUG Kristen Chase, aka The Mominatrix. She and I are now likethis. She loved me so much, she even gave me a book!****Brandie won the free appliance!!! And her washing machine had JUST konked out on her, so YAY BRANDIE!!! Took this pic of me and Miss Lori for my niece and nephew who are big PBS fans!
And only a rock star would get invited to a fabulous blogger gathering hosted by Kenmore, right? That MUST be the reason they gifted me***** with so much amazing swag!The envelope held a special surprise for me and Corinne. I can't wait to explain to her that the certificate says that she and I can stay at the Embassy Suites in downtown Chicago for one night with an American Girl slumber party special!! She will FLIP OUT!

Thank you to Kenmore, Kristen Chase and Embassy Suites for the night out! Had a great time and can't wait to get my apron out to make some cookies!!



*I honestly could go on for hours about this amazing feat. I decided to spare you.**

** Yes, that paragraph WAS me sparing you. Believe it or not, that actually IS an edited version of the absolute joy that this here gal is still basking in from being alone in a vehicle with music. Ahhhh....

***Mixologist - a bartender who makes really, really fancy drinks. I wonder if he needed a special license for that? Never did ask, but it was really tasty...

**** So what if everyone else got a book, too? I truly think she meant it when she said "It's SO nice to meet you!" Because that's what people say to REAL rock stars!

***** FINE. Everyone got that swag. Because we are ALL rock stars. We're MOMS. That's pretty damn amazing in its own right.

Yes, yes, yes, FTC. I was given these products to check out for free. I'll let you know if that status ever changes, m'kay?