Monster High Dolls Make Us Happy

I have been taking photos of Goddess' Monster High dolls since she first got them. Here are just a few.

My Crazy Brownies. Can you find Goddess in this picture of crazies?

Body Archer UnBoxing Video

The kids and I so far have used it to stretch before we work out. We love it and I even use it when I sit at my desk. It is very comfortable and you get an all over stretch. More video coming as we learn more exercises and uses for the Body Archer. Two friends are coming over this weekend and we are going to have them use it and get their opinion as well.  You are only as young as your spine, so stretch daily.

Stock Up On Your Beach and Pool Side Reads! THIS IS A MUST

The 411 by Maria:

Well now...this book is right up there as one of the best of the year, so far for me.  We are only in April and I am putting that out there. Yes, this is a must read. Completely different, fast, and like nothing I have ever read before.

Here is my description of this book. It starts out like this.. Mia is beyond beautiful and about to turn 18, something she has been looking forward to her whole life (contrary to what the synopsis above says).  She has heard that her auction price is higher than anyone ever in the history of the registry and should provide her with a wonderful suitor who will become her husband. When her sister storms in with news that rocks Mia's world and the fantasy bubble she has been living in, Mia tries to escape the life that her parents, government and country have established for woman since the onset of the registry.

OK...well...let me start by telling you that I am excited for someone I know to read this book because I long to discuss it. As I described it to my girlfriend Clary she was like "whoooooa this sounds like a good book." Maybe it was my excitement and enthusiasm but I think it was the storyline.

The world that author Shannon Stokes creates scares the bejesus out of me.  Imagine living in a world where the dowry on our heads is based on our beauty, our family benefits from our sale and our husband owns us. Where woman and men are slaves to the government. Where the woman are treated as if they have zero power yet they are the ones with the power because without them, their families wouldn't do survive.

The story felt apocalyptic to me in a sense that the world had a new normal. I loved every single page. Read this book and hit me up, I want to talk to you.

Great first book Shannon, you are a breath of fresh air.
 

Busy, Busy Few WEEKS!!!

In the words of Janice from Friends, "Oh     my      GOD!!!!" The past few weeks have been excruciating in the sense that I am just going through the motions of life but there has not been a second that I had nothing to do, remember, think about or sleep on. Everything has been crazy and out of control, you know that feeling like you are going 150 miles an hour and life is just passing you by? Well, that is how it has felt for me.

Life is always busy and that's OK but man, oh manischewitz.

Goddess birthday is this weekend while it is the smallest ever (2 girls + Goddess and 3 cousins), I am having it here which means creating organized crafts based on Goddess' ideas. She wants a Monster High/Craft party. Not a bad idea since I like both of these things too but when money is a factor, well, you know...

Got a great price on cake pops and cupcakes after doing some price comparison shopping between the local baker moms in town. Not sure about your town, but we have a ton of great bakers who bake for cash!

Her party plan looks something like this except her name is in the black square area.

It was fun and easy to create and she was thrilled.

Before Goddess' party I was writing and taking photos for the Mayors Race going on in my town because I run a website and Facebook page for my town since they lost their paper. I also was a substitute lunch lady for 5 days the end of March and trying to meet with the organizations in town to find out what events they have coming up. ALL of this for zero salary BTW...Work my butt off now if I can generate an income. The website has advertising and I charge 8 dollars a week for local companies to advertise but only bill every 3 months and mostly use the advertisers services so really handing the money right back to them. Can someone kick me in the ass now!?

More about Goddess's party coming soon. So much coming soon, now if I only had time to write it.

Planet Ocean Is A Visual Spectacle - ON DVD and Blu-ray April 19th

We LOVED everything about this documentary. Visually it is off the hook (that BTW means it was very, very good). Goddess was more interested in the plankton's which she said looks nothing like Plankton from Sponge Bob and she always wondered what one looked like. 

Personally I loved the aerial views of some of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.  

This movie is not only stunning but a lesson in respecting the ocean, waters and sea life that inhabit it.

  BTW...Josh Duhamel is the narrator of the DVD/Blu-Ray not this chick! While she has a lovely voice, I was happy to hear Josh in this educational trip about the Ocean!

Goddess usually has an Earth Day party with her friends around this time of year but this year we will celebrate alone due to our schedules but will be handing this over to her teacher to view with the class when they celebrate Earth Day in school.  It is better than any documentary I watched in school and I think her class will love it!

Goddess 8th Birthday Labor of Love

Over the past few weeks I have been in the process of creating a Monster High Doll House for my Goddess as an 8th birthday gift even recruiting Teach to assist on the bigger part of the job. We purchased a used Hannah Montana Beach House and have been working whenever we can on transforming it into a one of a kind Monster High Doll House that Goddess hopefully we love.

Here is the first piece I did. This was a green, plastic dresser piece that belonged to Goddess' God sister J when she was a little girl. We think it was from one of the Barbie houses back in the day, she is 15 now.

All I did was spray paint it with primer, give it a coat of black and while it was drying, dust it with some glitter. We added a gem as embellishment and Goddess loved it, claiming it for Frankie Stein!

If I Were You by Lisa Renee Jones Left Me Dying For Book 2

The 411 by Maria:

Oh I wish this was not part of a series. It ended and I NEED more.  Book 2 Being Me doesn't come out until June and it will be a long wait for me.

I read this in 2 days and was unhappy when it ended. Not because the ending sucked but because it was over and there was no definitive ending. 

Sara worries over a journal that she believes to be her friends. The words haunt her. When she finds out that these are the words of a woman neither of them know but were from journals in a storage unit her friend purchased she decides to find out more about the woman Rebecca by taking a job at her employment agency. Why would Rebecca store things without coming back for them? Why is she not at work? 

Sara, Chris and Mark were interesting characters to say the least. I love the little touch of mystery and as a non mystery fan that excites me. 

Lisa has created an thrilling, fast paced, edgy story that has been completely enthralled in these lives. I also want to know what happened to Rebecca.  Will Sara finally understand her boss? Is Chris all he seems? Who was the guy in the storage unit? Ugh..I have so many questions and the story is a complete cliff hanger.  Maybe wait for them all to be released before diving in or leave yourself chomping at the bit like me.

Funny Family Friendly Movie for Movie Night! REVIEW

The 411 by Maria:

Now that I have cleared away the tears, I can talk about the movie even though my throat hurts. It wasn't a sad movie by any means just a very sweet, loving movie about family. 

I am a huge fan the actors in this movie, I have loved Bette since The Divine Miss M (one of my favorite albums) and Billy Crystal, well there's Monsters Inc but more than that he's Billy Friggin Crystal. City Slickers is one of my favorite comedies.  After that we have Marisa Tomei (Different World and My Cousin Vinny) and little Bailee Madison who has turned into a beautiful young lady!

In Parental Guidance, Phil and Alice Simmons (Tom Everett and Marisa Tomei) are flying out because Tom's product is being recognized. They haven't been on vacation in years and talk of leaving one set of their parents in charge of the kids while they are away.  Artie and Diane (Alice's parents) agree to watch the kids much to Alice's surprise. Artie was recently laid off of his much loved sports announcing job. Their different parenting styles surface early on and Alice has a hard time leaving.  When she finally leaves the grandparents in charge much mayhem ensues and the comedy is mixed with magical moments between the grandparents and the children. It is a great movie for the entire family.

Parental Guidance is a wonderful look at two generations different parenting styles and the effects as such. As parents we think we are doing things so much better than our parents generation but when it comes down to it, are we? Our childhoods were filled with imagination and wonder yet our children are now used to helicopter parents who micromanage their every move. There were some moments in the movie that really had me thinking that our parents generation knew what they were doing. There is a moment when Billy Crystal's Artie goes to spank his grandson in front of many, many people and he talks about how the only thing kids don't hear now a days is the word "NO". Like the audience in the movie, I was nodding my head as well.

I especially loved the ending with Philip Phillips "HOME" playing during the credits that included family photos of the cast and crew. Great touch to a wonderful movie.

A Turtles Tale 2 Sammy's Escape From Paradise

The 411 by Maria:


We loved the first one Sammy's Adventures you can see our review here .

Goddess and I were happy to see Sammy all grown up and his buddy Ray helping their hachling grandchildren including Ricky and Ellen from the nest to the sea. Sea Gulls galore are on a mission to catch as many hatchling as they can but but he and the turtles end up trapped on a boat until the turtles help one of the sea gulls escape. The boat takes the turtles to a beautiful underwater hotel where all kinds of sea life is living, trapped behind massive glass structures keeping them from their loved ones until Ricky, Ellen and some friends help them and everyone else escape. 

The movie definitely has a great message about family, friends, and working together.  I loved how squid, birds, turtles, sharks, etc all worked together for the sake of one mission making me think that we as people, could master much more if we worked toward one common goal.

The movie is extremely colorful and the animation is exquisite. Watch with your family!

Easter Bonnet Contest

This week I attended my towns Easter Egg Hunt. While we didn't partake in the Easter Bonnet Contest, next year, we are hoping to at least get an honorable mention.

Here are some of the winning hats.

The Winning hat went to the only boy and his Dinosaur inspired bonnet

Bubbles Are A Sign Of Spring In My House

I love spending time outdoors and especially when the kids are in the running around in the fresh air unplugged and using their imagination. We found some awesome smelly bubbles, these smelled of bubble gum and I got them so long ago, I have no idea where. We can tell you that they don't taste as good as they smell. Goddess found out after sucking one bubble in while chasing it around the deck. "I seriously (btw, everything is seriously), thought they would taste good!"

Never Too Young To Save

Handsome's stash that he allows us to see. The rest is saved in a special place

My kids love saving their money. They have been getting $1.00 a week from their grandpa since they were born. He sends them a dollar each with my lovingly cut coupons and they love getting them. They take turns opening the envelope knowing that there will be dollars in there with their names on them love, grandpa.  They save their money. I was also a good saver never spending my money gifts from family.  As much as they save, we haven't really gone beyond the few piggy banks they have but I think it is time they learn a better budgeting plan. Hopefully this will help them later in life never be in debt.