My Resolution

In 2012, I vow to live more like a Kardashian. I will not leave the house unless I am in FULL hair and make-up, including fake eyelashes and foundation applied with a putty knife. I will pretend to be bothered when the paparazzi take my picture, though I will discretely pose so that they get my best side.

I will make sure that my mom always wears sequins and has enough make-up on for a small country. And when she starts to look her age, I will tell her that she needs a face lift.

I will also wear skin-tight unflattering clothes, like the dress you see below.

I will always make an effort to wear something leopard print, even if it's just my underwear.

I will help others by writing books about my ridiculous life. I will NOT donate any of the profits from my book(s) to charity. I will think about helping those less fortunate by giving them makeovers and ONE free item from my Kardashian Kollection at Sears (on sale now at Sears locations everywhere).

I vow to make as many new sex tapes, with random dudes, as I can.

I also vow to find new and exciting ways to show off my giant ass.

Finally, I will try my best to take over the world by changing the spelling of all words that start with c, to a k. For example: I kan't wait for 2012. It's going to be a khaotic year, I hope our shows don't get kancelled. I kan't even bear the thought of that. It would be krazy!

Happy New Year!

Shopping for Others?

Why is it when you're out shopping for others, you find the cutest things for yourself? Does this ever happen to you?

I found this cute coat at Old Navy. Have no fear, it will be mine once it's marked down after Christmas. It will have a nice home in my closet.

Or this cute hat at Talbots Outlet.

Alas, I had to put both back on the rack and walk out empty handed. Although, it has gotten me excited for the after Christmas sales.

How are you doing with your shopping?

MommyParties sponsored Oral-B Pro-Health for Me

*This post was written by Kelly, a Part-time contributor on this blog*

I recently hosted an Oral-B Pro-Health FOR ME party. My party pack was geared toward the 8+ group. This worked out for me with a teenage daughter and her friends, most of whom are wearing braces. Oral health is even more important when wearing braces. The kids really liked the toothpaste. It's minty without being overpowering. One step closer to using regular minty toothpaste. Crest Pro-Health FOR ME toothpaste is now my daughter's favorite toothpaste.

In my party kit I also received a few toothbrushes for the younger children and these were perfect for our friends siblings. Also included, the movie Cars 2, popcorn and popcorn holders. These were great for the younger ones. They watched the movie and ate popcorn, while the Moms and teens chatted in the kitchen. We talked about healthy foods vs not-so healthy foods. We also talked a little about foods to stay away from when you have braces.

Harry and Brennan played the game of yucky mouth vs healthy mouth as our guests were arriving. This game helped get the younger kids talking about what you should and shouldn't eat to stay healthy and to have a healthy mouth.

Everyone enjoyed going home with a goodie bag of their own.

Each bag contained:

An Oral-B toothbrush

A full size tube of Crest Pro-Health FOR ME toothpaste

A sample of Cars Gummies multivitamins

A package of Floss Picks

A balloon

An information sheet for the parents about the different Oral-B Stages products

Coupons for future product purchases.

If you're on twitter you can follow Oral-B and Crest and MommyParties

Facebook can follow here Oral-B, Crest, MommyParties

*Disclosure: I received a party kit containing everything pictured above to host my Mommy Party. All opinions are my own.*

Radio City Christmas Spectacular Starring the Rockettes Review and Giveaway

*This giveaway has ended. Thank you to all who entered*

And the winner is:

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:13Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Anonymous said...

Have never seen the Rockettes!Think it's about time!!!
SheilaV
sheilavieth@xxxx

December 14, 2011 12:30 PM

For those of you who didn't win, and would like to purchase tickets, be sure to check out the link to discount tickets below.

Thursday night I had the pleasure of seeing the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Rockettes at the Wang Theater. This was my first time seeing the Rockettes. I can only think of one word for the show: phenomenal! It was, without a doubt, the best show that I've ever seen. Every number that they did I thought to myself, "this one is my favorite." Then they'd do another number and I'd think, "oh wait, THIS is my favorite part." I said that to every number that they did. I know I'm gushing, but it really was that good.

Here's a little bit about the show:

This holiday season, THE RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR® starring THE WORLD-FAMOUS ROCKETTES® returns to Boston… and if you’ve never seen it before, this is DEFINITELY the year to go! Playing the City Performing Arts Center-Wang Theatre Friday December 2^nd – Wednesday, Dec 28^th!

This year’s show features brand-new scenes and songs, spectacular new sets, dazzling new costumes, an amazing 50-foot LED screen, and an unforgettable new finale! You’ll marvel at the incredible precision dancing of The Rockettes® in beloved scenes like the legendary “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers” and the stunning reenactment of the first Christmas in the “Living Nativity.” An you’ll adore the new number “Christmas in New York,” featuring a chorus of Broadway-style singers and a life-sized double-decker bus! This year, through new technology and jaw-dropping new special effects, Christmas becomes more magical than ever before!

Are you ready for the best part? One lucky reader will win a four pack of tickets to the Wednesday, December 28th, 5:00 PM performance PLUS a meet & greet before the show!

If you'd like to purchase tickets, at a 25% discount, here's how:

How to Buy Tickets at 25% off*:
1. Log onto: www.citicenter.org/radiocity

2. Select a NON Peak Performance between Sat, Dec 7^th – Dec 28^th for your 25% off discount:

12/2/2011 at 8 pm	12/16/2011 at 2 pm, 5 pm
12/3/2011 at 11 am, 2 pm, 5 pm, 8 pm	12/17/2011 at 11 am, 2 pm, 5 pm, 8 pm
12/4/2011 at 12 pm, 3 pm, 6 pm	12/18/2011 at 12 pm, 3 pm, 6 pm
12/7/2011 at 2 pm	12/20/2011 at 2 pm, 7:30 pm
12/8/2011 at 2 pm, 7:30 pm	12/21/2011 at 2 pm, 7:30 pm
12/9/2011 at 2 pm, 5 pm, 8 pm	12/22/2011 at 5 pm, 8 pm
12/10/2011 at 11 am, 2 pm, 5 pm, 8 pm	12/23/2011 at 2 pm, 5 pm, 8 pm
12/11/2011 at 12 pm, 3 pm, 6 pm	12/26/2011 at 2 pm, 5 pm
12/13/2011 at 7:30 pm	12/27/2011 at 2 pm, 5 pm
12/14/2011 at 2 pm, 7:30 pm	12/28/2011 at 2 pm, 5 pm
12/15/2011 at 2 pm, 7:30 pm

Bolded Performances = Peak Pricing/no Discount

3. Enter Promo Code: ROXMOM11
*Offer is not valid for Gold Circle - $130 seats, for which there are no discounts. There is a 8 ticket limit on this event.
Pricing Peak Non-Peak
Orchestra (Pit & Rows A-D): $130.00 $130.00
Orchestra (Rows E-O center): $99.00 $89.00
Orchestra (Rows E-O sides, P-EE): $83.00 $73.00

Mezzanine: $83.00 $73.00

Balcony (Rows E-J): $83.00 $73.00
Balcony (Rows K-S): $74.00 $64.00
Balcony (Rows T-Z): $58.00 $48.00
Balcony (Rows AA-FF): $29.00 $25.00

Prices include a $3.00 Facility Fee.

To win, simply leave your first name, last initial and email address.

*Giveaway ends Thursday, December 15 at 11:59 PM*

Disclosure: I received four tickets to the show to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own.

Disney on Ice (Boston)-Treasure Trove Giveaway

**This giveaway has ended. Thank you to all who entered. I wish I could give you ALL tickets!**


And the winner is...

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:10Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Kevin said...

Kevin C.

bossbruin24@yahoo.com

Reilly and Connor would be wicked happy!

December 8, 2011 7:06 PM

____________________________________________________________________

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of attending Disney on Ice-Toy Story. It was such a great event. Anything that Disney does is first rate.

This year the show is called Treasure Trove. Here's a little bit about it:

Get tangled up in Disney’s 50^th animated feature with Rapunzel and Flynn and enter the worlds of your other favorite Disney princesses –Tiana, Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Mulan and of course, the one who started it all, Snow White. Ahoy, Mateys! Set sail with Peter Pan, the always sassy Tinker Bell and the cantankerous Captain Hook and his pirate pals on an adventure beyond Never Land! Trek the wilds of Africa with Simba, Nala, Pumbaa and Timon as they discover the true meaning of the ‘Circle of Life.’ Tick-Tock! Tick-Tock! Don’t be late to a very important date with Alice and the Mad Hatter as they march with the Queen of Hearts’ Army Of Cards. Be sure to see this show full of memories guaranteed to last a lifetime.

For more info on the show click here.

Once again, the fine folks at Disney are offering one of my readers a family 4 pack to their Monday, December 26th, 7:00 PM show.

*Giveaway ends Wednesday, December 14 at 9:00 PM*

If you'd like to purchase tickets visit Ticketmaster.

To enter, leave your first name, last initial and email address. Good luck!

If you'd like to increase your chances of winning tickets, visit these other fine blogs to enter.

The Coupon Goddess

Masshole Mommy

Charlene Chronicles

Disclosure: I was given a four pack of tickets to take my family to the show. All opinions are my own.

The Season of Giving

If you're interested in reading my post on holiday giving from last year, click here.

I know that money is tight for everyone, especially this time of year. I'm lucky in the fact that I'm a shopping addict and I can't resist a good deal. This results in me shopping all year long for things that I put away for the holidays. This works out especially well when I want to give to charity. I have a pretty decent stash in my gift closet.

Here are some of the charities that I've either donated to or heard good things about:

Toys For Tots-I love that they have so many drop off locations. Oh and if you drop off inside the mall, there's usually a gentlemen or two in their Marine uniforms.

Christmas in the City-They are a 100% volunteer organization. Jake Kennedy and his family and coworkers work VERY hard to pull off a very big party, complete with a gift for every child, every year. They do wonderful things for local children.

Room to Grow-I haven't had the pleasure of working with Room to Grow...yet. I will make it a priority after the new year. They help families by giving them needed supplies AND support for children up to age three.

DOVE-stands for DOmestic Violence Ended. They offer counseling, support and emergency shelter. I love to give to DOVE. When women flee an abusive relationship, they often go to the shelter with nothing but the clothes on their back.

Globe Santa-Since 1956, Globe Santa has been The Boston Globe's annual appeal for needy children in Greater Boston. The Globe Santa Fund collects donations from the general public to purchase holiday gifts for underprivileged children.

If you're looking for something in your own neighborhood to contribute to, check with your local house of worship. They often have families that you can "adopt" for the holidays.

What are some of your favorite charities to give to? Feel free to leave the link to the charity in the comment section.

TMI Tuesday

It's TMI Tuesday. I'm warning you now, it's not for the faint of heart. Don't blame me if you can't handle it. You've been warned.

I have an iceberg* pimple on my chin.

*Iceberg pimples are the ones that are hardly visible to others. They're mostly under the skin and they really hurt.

Hiking at Blue Hills

This may come as a surprise to you but I'm a really outdoorsy kind of girl. When I say outdoorsy, I mean strolling around Derby Street Shoppes.

On the rare occasion that I want to be outdoors in nature I take my niece and nephews hiking at Blue Hills in Milton/Canton.

My 15 year old niece is kind enough to take turns with me carrying the backpack and she walks next to me. The boys take off and run up the mountain. Literally run. Then they argue about who has to wait for the "slow poke" Auntie Laura. Meanwhile, I'm about 1/2 mile behind them barfing up a lung from exertion. I'm grossly out of shape.

Next to the trail side museum at Blue Hills they have a few animals on display. The first one is that we see is a River Otter. That little guy loves to perform for people. They also have turtles, a couple of snowy owls, deer, turkey vultures and ducks that you can feed.

Three days after we went hiking, Harry couldn't stop talking about it. He and Brennan loved running down the hill that you see above. It doesn't look like much but walking down it was pretty intense, just ask my thighs.

In closing, if you see a blonde woman, in her early 40's, huffing, puffing and chugging her way up the mountain, don't be alarmed, it's just me.

Hangin' With The Goddess

Last night my friend Melanie, aka The Coupon Goddess, had a little get-together at her house. As a blogger and a couponer, she gets lots of merchandise for free, or close to it. After donating a lot of it, she decided to share some with friends. She invited some of us over for a night of snacks, sangria and goodies.

Melanie filled several bags with candles, cleaning products and other goodies. We each picked a bag, yankee swap style, opened it, and if we didn't like the bag we chose, we swapped with one of the other girls.

It was a great night with friends, old and new.

Some of my favorite people were there...

Melanie, of course

I think she was covering her face at something I said (or did)

Kelly, Kelly & Cindy

I was thrilled with my goody bag filled with (among other things) candles.

I was so excited with all of the great stuff that I got that I decided to roll around in tissue paper.

I'm not sure I'll ever be invited back to Melanie's house.

I'll Take That 'Aunt of the Year' Award Now

A few weeks back I got into a little scuffle with my 7 year old nephew, Harry. Harry's a very good kid and is usually well behaved. He does have his moments though. When those moments come around, he does something that Kelly and I have dubbed "The Ugly Face Cry." His face scrunches up and his mouth opens and his eyes water. It's not pretty. One of these days I'll get a picture of it. Then I'll use it to blackmail him into giving me a hug when he's in high school.

Anyway, a few weeks back I brought over a jump rope that I received at a blogging event. I only had one so, of course, he and his brother fought over it. Oh, and I'm pretty sure that there are about 8 jump ropes in the garage from their older sister. But, I digress, the boys were fighting over the jump rope, yet again, that's when "Mean Auntie Laura" came to play. I yelled at them both to "stop it and give me the jump rope!" Brennan quickly obliged and went on his merry way. Harry was holding firm. He wanted that jump rope and he wasn't letting go. I said to him, "give me the jump rope RIGHT NOW" in my scariest voice. His response? "NO!" It was like he slapped me in the face! You don't say no to "Mean Auntie Laura." It has never been done. That's when I got all mature on his a** and said this: "You're being a real jerk right now." Yes, I said that to my 7 year old nephew. His response, "No, YOU'RE a jerk."

At that point I knew that I had to walk away. I yanked the jump rope out of his hands and gave myself a time out. He did the same. We apologized to each other about 15 minutes later. And we lived happily ever after.

The end.

5 Tips for Shopping on Black Friday

For those of you who haven't taken part in the spectacle this is Black Friday, I wanted to share some tips that I use to get through the day:

1. Hydrate: Pack a bottle of water in your purse. The stores and malls can get hot and your adrenaline will be pumping from those great deals you'll be getting.
2. Pack a snack. Throw a banana or some granola in your purse. Those register lines can get long and you don't want to get cranky from low blood sugar.
3. Bring the flyers. Some stores try to pull the old bait and switch. If you have the flyer with you, you can be sure that you're getting the deal you were expecting.
4. Split your list. If a friend or family member is going to Target and you're going to Wal-Mart, pick things up on each other's lists.
5. Leave your coat in the car! I can't stress this enough. The malls are especially hot this time of year. If you wear a big coat, you'll have to carry it around with you plus all of your bags.

Happy shopping!

Thanksgiving: My Least Favorite Holiday

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Thanksgiving, it's just my least favorite of all the holidays.

There's just nothing to do. Except eat. And eat we do. In years past I would eat so much that I would feel sick. Ick, I hate that feeling.

I enjoy spending time with family, but I do that whether it's a holiday or not.

I also don't need a day to be thankful for things. I'm thankful everyday for everyone and everything in my life. Every night as my head hits the pillow I think about how lucky I am to have so much. Not material things, but a great family and friends and good health and happiness. I know that I'm fortunate. Not just on a Thursday in November, but every single day.

I find that I look forward to Thanksgiving being over. I look forward to a four day weekend. I look forward to Black Friday. I look forward to sleeping in the day after Black Friday. And I look forward to another year of things to be thankful for.

"Go The F**k To Sleep" Review & Giveaway

***This giveaway has closed. Thank you for all who entered***

And the winner is:

Ida Mae said...

awesome!! was saying this tonight!
Ida C.
ida_mai at hotmail dot com

YAY!! Congratulations Ida Mae!!

Last night, my friend Kelly and I went to a book reading/signing at The Boston Globe. We were excited to hear the book being read by the author, Adam Mansbach.

This is, without a doubt, one of the funniest books I've ever read. As a caregiver of children, I've said this to myself many, many times. Of course I would never say it out loud, but thinking it is an entirely different story. I'm sure every parent has said this to themselves on many occasions as well.

This is my favorite page from the book:

"The eagles who soar through the sky are at rest

And the creatures who crawl, run, and creep

I know you're not thirsty. That's bullsh*t. Stop lying.

Lie the f**k down, my darling, and sleep."

How would you like to win a signed copy? Well, it's your lucky day. I'm giving one away!

Just leave a comment with your first name, last initial and email address by Wednesday, November 23.

Good luck!

Fossils Vacation

The Fossils just got back from a two-week cruise around the Caribbean. They do this cruise with their friends every year.

I'm not sure why, but I am always in charge of uploading their pictures when they get back. Actually I do know why; they have no idea how to do it.

The pictures that they take are literally interchangeable from year to year.

I do love looking at the photos though. Here are a few winners:

There are always at least 3 photos of the ship.

This time was no exception.

The elevators. Always good to get a picture of those.

I think this is the ceiling.

I'm guessing that this is the moon.

People (that they may or may not know) swimming.

Thankfully, this year they only took 37 pictures. Oh, and there is not one picture of the two of them together. The Big Guy asked, "How would we get a picture of the two of us when one of us is always the one taking the pictures?" Fossils, can't live with 'em. End of story.

Happy Birthday Bryce!

Today my nephew, Bryce, turns 16. This is a milestone. He's the oldest grandson/nephew in the family. Since he also reads my blog religiously, I thought I'd give him a shout-out.

Dear Bryce,

In honor of your birthday I wanted to share a few things with you that you might not know.

1. When your Mom was a few months pregnant with you we took a trip to Sanibel Island, Florida. As Mom and I were swimming in the pool we decided to play a game of "who can hold their breath the longest." She won the first couple of games before we realized that it probably wasn't a good idea to withhold oxygen from the fetus (you). Sorry about that.
2. Mom gained A LOT of weight when she was pregnant with you. I mean A LOT. We're talking 'outgrown your maternity clothes' a lot.
3. You were born with a full head of hair. I don't think you ever lost a strand of it.
4. A few days after you got home from the hospital your big sister couldn't keep her hands off of you. Mom had to yell at her, which prompted her to grab her Barbie guitar and make up a song. It went like this: "I don't like my mother, she's so mean. Oh Bryce-ee, oh Bryce-ee cockadoodledoo." I'm surprised it never made it to the Billboard charts.
5. I fell madly in love with you the moment I laid eyes on you.

I was going to use this post to list all of the things I love about you, but there are just too many.

I wish you nothing but happiness as you continue your journey into adulthood.

Love,

Auntie Laura

P.S. Here are some pictures of you that I love.

Wahlburgers

There's a new burger joint in Hingham. If you live in the area, you know what I'm talking about. Wahlburgers. Co-owned by the Wahlberg brothers, Donnie, Mark(aka Mahhky Mahhk), chef Paul and family friend Ed St. Croix.

Wahlburgers has been getting a lot of attention lately. They just opened this week with a star-studded event to benefit The Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation. Hingham turned into Hollywood for a night. Sadly, I was not invited to the event, but judging from the photos in the media, a good time was had by all.

I went for lunch today with my friend Melanie and her friend Cindy. I was excited to try one of their burgers and I was hoping to go at a time when it wouldn't be too crowded. We walked right in and got a seat in the bar area. There are a couple of long tables there and it's communal seating. Some people might be turned off by that. I actually like it. It gives you a chance to interact with people. I enjoyed chatting with the couple that was at our table. I looked at the end of our table and I saw a girl that I went to high school with (Hi CJ!). It's such a small world.

Okay, down to the nitty gritty. I had the Original Burger. It was really good. The meat was fresh as were the toppings. It was cooked to perfection. The burgers are the perfect size for me. Sometimes when I order a burger in other restaurants I get the "meat sweats" halfway through. It's just too big to finish. Some men with a big appetite might find their burgers a little small though.

I wasn't super hungry, so I didn't order any fries or tots. Melanie had the sweet potato tots and Cindy had the regular tots. I sampled both and they were yummy!

I was pleasantly surprised by the prices. I expected it to be well over $10 for a burger, however, the burger that I ordered was $6.50.

The decor of Wahlburgers is very cool, hip and contemporary. They have several large screen televisions above the bar. A couple are tuned into sports channels and one plays clips from the movies that Donnie and Mark have starred in. On the ceiling in another section of the restaurant is written all of the names of the movies that they've been in.

They also have a beautiful outdoor seating area with a fireplace. I can't wait to go back and sit outside near the fire.

Wahlburgers has a full liquor license and they have some specialty drinks that sounded yummy (Mississippi Mud Pie Frappe). I only wish that I liked alcohol.

I will definitely be going back to Wahlburgers. I can't wait to try some other burgers on their menu.

Have you been? Let me know what you thought?

This was not a sponsored post.