Music Monday, Top Party Songs of 2015

Only a few days left of 2015, and it's the last Music Monday of the year. We've had some great music this year, let's take a look at some of the top songs of 2015. Go ahead and clear some space because you're gonna want to get up and move to these! All of these have been in the top 10 this year, and they all make me feel good, and that's how we should all end this year... Feelin' good!


Shut Up and Dance!

Fun New Christmas Songs for 2015

Christmas is coming up on us fast. Do you have all your shopping done? I certainly don't! But, I have started taking advantage of some cooler weather with some holiday baking, and the house is all decked out for the Yuletide season. And of course, I've got Christmas music playing! Here's a few of the fun new Christmas songs that I'm enjoying on this Music Monday.

This one is from an all star group calling themselves Band of Merrymakers. There's so many people in it, it's sorta like a Where's Waldo...How many singers do you recognize in this song? "Snow Snow Snow" Was that Mark McGrath!

Easy Peppermint Bark Recipe, Perfect for the Holiday Rush.

I love cooking and baking with McCormick, so when they asked me to share a Christmas recipe with you, I was thrilled to do so. This is a sponsored post, but all opinions expressed are my own.

The Winter Holidays and baking seem to go hand in hand. Along with the fun of eating all the sweets and treats of the holidays, is the fun of baking them. My grandmother taught me to bake when I was very young, and it was always something I looked forward to doing with her. When I had my daughters, I wanted to pass on the holiday tradition of spending time together in the kitchen. We always set aside 1 day in the season to bake cookies, and cakes, and other little treats. We put on some good music to dance around the kitchen, as we laugh and sing and stir and laugh, followed by the traditional licking of the spoon...because how else would you know if it will be good or not! ;)

With both girls in College, scheduling our day has become a little harder, and is often right before Christmas, but I often need some sweet treats before then for various events, food days at work, girls night, etc..., so I always like to have a few recipes that are easy to throw together. This Peppermint Bark recipe from McCormick is perfect for this.

The first thing you need to do is smash some peppermint candies. (You'll need about 1/2 cup crushed.) This is really a lot of fun, and I'm thinking it could be great for stress relief. I put my candies in a plastic bag and gave them some good whacks with my meat tenderizer (the smooth side.)

Happy Hanukkah Music Monday

I don't celebrate Hanukkah, but for those of you that do, I hope your holidays are filled with love and cheer. For today's Music Monday, a fun funky song to celebrate the eight days of Hanukkah. Here's Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings with 8 Days of Hanukkah.



Have a joyous week!

Women Strike, Kick, Punch Canvas to Create Art with a Voice

This semester, I took a Women's Self Defense Class. To say that this class was empowering is an understatement.  Every woman in the class grew in confidence, and inner strength through this experience. In the class we learned to use the tools we have, to be aware, and most importantly...to use our voices.

On the last day of class, we created a piece of art by striking the canvas with our painted body parts, (fists, feet, knees, elbows, etc...) adding important words, and adding a little bling to emphasize the impact. It was a fun project that I am happy to have shared with a wonderful group of strong beautiful women.

Here's a couple views of it.

Michael Phillip Cash's Holiday Extravaganza Giveaway -ENDED


Michael Phillip Cash’s  Holiday Extravaganza  Presented by:
Co-Hosted:For Life After
Co-Hosted: This Mama’s Life


Thank you to the numerous bloggers who are promoting this giveaway!

Carole P. Roman's Holiday Giveaway- ENDED


Carole P. Roman’s Awesome Holiday Giveaway Presented by:
Co-Hosted:For Life After
Co-Hosted: This Mama’s Life

Thank you to the numerous bloggers who are promoting this giveaway!

I absolutely love traveling and experiencing different cultures, lifestyles, and food. I believe the best way to find peace in our world is to better understand one another and to help our children appreciate world cultures. That's why I'm happy to help promote this Kindle Fire, Cultural Book Series, and Try the World Food Giveaway from Carole P. Roman.

Carole P. Roman's Awesome Holiday Giveaway- ENDED

Carole P. Roman’s Awesome Holiday Giveaway Presented by:
Co-Hosted:For Life After
Co-Hosted: This Mama’s Life


This time of year, we focus so much on finding the perfect gift. As a long time book lover, I truly believe the gift of reading is the best gift you can give a child, but of course, giving a Kindle is not too shabby either! The only thing better would be to give a kindle...that you won. Find out more about a great book series for your young reader, and enter to win a Kindle Fire and more in this awesome holiday giveaway.

Music Monday, Where They From

Wow! It's Cyber Monday and almost December! With everything going on in November, I feel like I lost a whole month, but for as bad as November was for me, I know December is going to be just fabulous! It's a new week, and almost a new month, so let's get a fresh start with some new music.

I was so thrilled to see the return of Missy Elliott at the SuperBowl earlier this year, and I'm even more thrilled to see she got back in the studio to rock some new tracks for us. This is her newest single guaranteed to get stuck in your head. I love all the retro styles in the video, and how about those cool marionettes of Missy and Pharrell?! Some little creepy cool lookalikes with string dance moves. As always Missy hits us with her impossible to replicate lyrics, so while I'm bobbin my head to the beat I won't be singing along to this one. Here's Where They From by Missy Eliott featuring Pharell.


Have a Super awesome week!

Nonni's Biscotti Seasonal Flavors Giveaway

Nonni's Biscotti has 4 seasonal flavors available now. I got to try 2 of them, and you can enter to win 2 boxes of Nonni's Biscotti in this giveaway.

Let me tell you, I am a fan of Nonni's Foods. I've tried quite a few of their products and I've always been happy, but Nonni's has truly outdone themselves with this Gingerbread Biscotti! It is AH-MAZING! It is the best biscotti ever! The only bad side was that everyone else in the house loved them too, so the box was gone in a day. The family wanted them for snacks, dessert, breakfast, heck, they'd probably eat them for dinner, if I'd let them.

Music Monday, Better When I'm Dancin'

Happy Monday! It's Thanksgiving week, and despite a very difficult last few weeks, I still have a lot to be thankful for. With my little brother's sudden death, I'm reminded of just how short life is and how important the connections we make in life are. I'm so grateful for family, friends, and co-workers that have supported me in so many ways through this very difficult time. I still have moments of sadness, but I have so many more reasons to smile, and I certainly feel better when I'm dancing!

This Music Monday song is Meghan Trainor's "Better When I'm Dancin'"



"We Love Disney" Music Review

I love Disney and, of course, I love music, so I was so excited to get to hear the new "We Love Disney" album. This album is a really cool collection of some of our favorite Disney songs performed by some of the hottest artists in music.


Music Monday, Songs for Dogs

It's Monday, the beginning of what will hopefully, be a great new week in a great new month. I'm excited for this week because I will be heading to Atlanta for BarkWorld Expo. Yay! BarkWorld
Expo has so many great speakers and brands that all love pets. I adore the pets in my life, so I can't wait to talk to like minded people and fellow bloggers. So, with pets on my mind, let's do Music Monday with songs for the dogs!



Shark Rocket Powerhead Vacuum Review

I usually don't get excited about anything to do with cleaning. I know some people pride themselves on having a take off your shoes don't mess up the carpets, eat off the floor, sparkling clean, everything in its place kind of house, but that just ain't me. When it comes to cleaning, I need it to be easy and quick so I can get on with everything else in my life that I truly enjoy so much more than scrubbing floors and cleaning rugs! This is exactly why I love my new Shark Rocket Powerhead vacuum; it gets the job done right, fast, and easy, so I can get back to enjoying life.

Shark sent me the Shark Rocket Powerhead vacuum to review, and I'm excited to tell you all about it. This Shark is so pretty that you'd probably want it for it's looks alone, but let me tell you all the other reasons you'll want to put this Shark Rocket Powerhead on your holiday wish list.

Adele Debuts New Single With First Music Video Filmed in IMAX

When I hear IMAX, I think wide angle shots to fit more on the screen, but IMAX is so much more than that. IMAX cameras captures images at resolutions up to 18k which is about 100 times the resolution of our home HDTVs. Now, I don't know much about the technology, but I do know that IMAX cameras capture amazing images with brilliant detail. This beauty can be seen in the first music video to ever be filmed in IMAX; Hello by Adele.

I'm excited to hear something new from Adele, and I can't wait to hear more from her album 25 when it releases on November 20 (pre-order). Hello is not only a visually stunning video, it is a stunningly beautiful song with a chorus that is already running laps around my head, and I'm loving it!

This week's #MusicMonday pick is Hello performed by Adele and beautifully directed by Xavier Dolan.

How Adults Can Color To Relieve Stress with Adult Coloring Books

Isn't it funny how some things are such a big part of our childhood, but as adults we don't make any time for them? Why is it that we think we're too old for some things? Couldn't we have just as much fun with them as adults, as we did as a child? In fact, some things may be even more beneficial to us as adults. With all the responsibilities that come with adulthood, we could use a little usefulness to help us relax.

This is where adult coloring books come in; as a child we colored in school, we colored with friends, we colored to pass the time. We colored in books, we colored worksheets, some of us even colored on the wall, (oops, sorry mom!)

Coloring was so important to us, so why then should we stop?! The answer is, we shouldn't! We need creative outputs like adult coloring books.

Coloring is actually very beneficial to adults. It helps to relieve stress and anxiety, while improving motor skills and critical thinking. Coloring in an adult coloring book can help you practice mindfulness by being more in the moment. Coloring has even been used successfully in behavioral therapy. Plus, it's just plain fun!

Music Monday, Let Your True Colors Shine

It's Monday and that means music. This week, a look back at music history. On this day in music history in 1986 this song hit #1 and became an anthem for everyone to have the courage to be who they want to be.  Start your week off with this song reminder, that your true self is always your best self, so go out there and let your true colors shine!

Music Monday, Karaoke Songs To Avoid

One of my favorite clubs on Bourbon Street in New Orleans is Cats Meow. Cats Meow is a Karaoke Bar with a bouncing off the walls energy like no other karaoke bar I know. This is the best place to jump on stage and become a star for a moment, or just watch others and join in on the crowd sing along.  But, be warned if you are going on stage, some songs are better for karaoke than others! My observations this weekend have shown the following songs as guaranteed failures for most non-professionals.

It seems like this one would be an easy song to get right. It's certainly slow enough to hit the lyrics, but with enough pace to keep the audience involved, but every time it was performed, the group would forget to sing after the first chorus. Here's Shania Twain.


Wordless Wednesday, Outdoors With My Dog

I have 2 dogs and they each have their own personality. Dawson, the Black Lab, loves to swim, but Mr. Dublin, my Aussiedor, he is happiest when he is exploring outdoors. Whether it's running through tall grass, or creeping behind the shed, our backyard gives him plenty to explore!
Let's explore over here.

Music Monday, Songs for My 90's Girl.

It's Music Monday, and it's my daughter's birthday so a little sampling of some of her favorite music when she was growing up. Happy Birthday, Princess! Let's get the party started!


It Happened To Me, I Didn't Ask For It

I felt so ashamed when it happened to me. I'd rather people think I was "that kind of girl," a "slut," "easy," as long as they didn't find out that I was really just stupid and weak. I would rather just pretend nothing had happened at all, that everything was okay; I was just a normal girl, and somehow I convinced myself that what happened was normal, too. Boys were supposed to chase girls, girls were supposed to be caught, and sometimes love meant doing things you didn't want to. That's all this was, it was love, and love was what I was asking for.

I was 11. He was 14 and I thought it was love. He had been my boyfriend for almost a year, and all the other girls told me how lucky I was because he was "so cute".  I really just liked hanging out with him, watching TV, skateboarding, listening to music; it was just fun. I loved our time together and hated when we were apart. After a few months together, his friends started teasing him and asking us when we were going to "do it". Anytime they saw us together, they made sounds and hand gestures taunting him to "go all the way". We had made out before with some kissing, but that was it and I was happy with that, but with his friends teasing him he was soon pressuring me for more. When he wanted to go further, I would giggle and push him away, make a game of letting him chase me, anything to change the subject and keep the kisses as enough.

Music Monday, Easy to Read to Songs and Put on the Breaks...What. Is. That?

Everyone is talking about the Emmy's today, and normally I would be too, but sometimes you have to prioritize things, so watching an award show didn't make it on the top of my list last night. My top priority was doing my Anatomy and Physiology exam; believe me I wish I was watching an award show instead. The exam was more chemistry than anything, but it should get better from here, and the good thing is I had some good music on that helped me focus. Here's a few things I'm listening to when studying this week and one that I'm not sure that I even like but it is quite interesting...

Wordless Wednesday, Family of Raccoons

We came across this group of raccoons near a local store. It looks like Rocket is recruiting some friends.



Music Monday, Elle King is My Latest Obsession

I have been crazy busy lately, between work, blog, school, and enjoying life I feel like I'm doing something all the time! With holidays getting closer, there is no sign of it slowing down anytime soon. Soon there will be decorating, baking, shopping, and end of year work, and...exams! Eek! At least I've got plenty of good music to get through it all!

While I've been doing anatomy homework this weekend I've been obsessing on this new for me music find. Hubby knew I'd like her and boy is he right! Elle King has been getting me through this cell osmosis stuff. Thanks hubs, for this find. Here's a couple songs from Elle King for Music Monday.

This first song is Ex's and Oh's by Elle King. It has a little bit more of a pop sound than her other songs, but it still has that grit and soul.

So far this song is my favorite. This video is Elle King's live performance of Last Damn Night, a great song to remind us that our lives are short so we need to live them to the fullest!


Want to hear more from Elle King? The album, Love Stuff is free with Amazon Prime.



What music are you into right now?

The Visit by M Night Shyamalan, A Chiller Worth Seeing Even if You're Not a Horror Fan

The Visit is probably the most surprisingly good movie of the year. Unfortunately, most people will probably be too scared to ever go see it. But, if you can get past your initial fear of horror movies, and the super creepy trailers, you'll find it well worth the watch.

M. Night Shyamalan's The Visit is certainly creepy, and it has moments that will make you jump, but it's not your typical cheesy give you nightmares kind of scary movie. The Visit has depth, a compelling story, and one of those great twists that M. Night Shyamalan is known for.

Vampire Party Recipes, Supernatural Quiz, and Blu-ray Giveaway

Labor Day has past so Summer is officially over and Autumn is here. That means it's time to start thinking about Fall festivities including all the fun of spooky Halloween ghouls, monsters, goblins, and vampires. Speaking of vampires, I've got a fun giveaway for you and some fun recipes for a vampire party. How's Vampire Virgin Sangria sound?! Get the recipe card below.

Season 6 of Vampire Diaries and season 2 of The Originals are now available on Blu-ray. 1 winner will will win one of them. Take the "Could You Be a Supernatural?" quiz and find out how to enter to win below.

Snacking Healthier With Savings At Publix and a Cash Giveaway

I love to snack. A little bit here, a little bit there. I like to eat snacks throughout the day; crunchy, salty, sweet, I like it all! When I started to try to eat healthier, I thought I would have to give up my favorite snacks and give up my snacking style. I was so happy to find out that I didn't have to eat only 3 meals a day, and that eating something every few hours can actually help my metabolism and help me to manage my hunger.

The key to doing this right and being healthier is to make healthier choices, and watch my snack portions. The good thing for me is many of my favorite snacks actually are healthier options when I pay attention to the serving size on the label. If I watch how much I'm having, make sure to also eat fruits and vegetables, I don't have to give up any of my favorite snacks! And, I can find my favorite snacks with savings at Publix.
Make sure to get your coupon for the Snack Share Save event and enter to win $15 in my giveaway below.

Grateful Scarves Are Fun Fashion!

I may have a slight addiction to accessories. It started with shoes, then bags and hats, now I've added scarves. I love scarves that are unique and colorful. I especially like scarves with skulls, so when I was asked to review this awesome colorful scarf with skeletons on it, I said "absolutely yes!".

This dancing skeletons scarf is part of a collection of scarves featuring Jerry Garcia's artwork. This year is the 50th anniversary of Grateful Dead. The Grateful Dead scarves from Grateful Girls are great way to honor this iconic American band. Each scarf is beautifully made with lively designs that represent the band. They are good for both Dead Heads and non-fans that are looking for a fashionable touch of color.

Music Monday, VMA Edition

I know many people don't like Miley Cyrus, but I do. I like that she is okay in her own skin and is aware of injustice in the world and speaks her mind for what she thinks is right. She gets silly and has fun. I say good for her! I was happy to see her host the MTV Video Music Awards. Plus, I love unicorns, rainbows, and glitter!
Now let's get some music on here to get our week started! Here's Macklemore and Ryan Lewis with Downtown. I think this song will soon be everywhere especially with that awesome performance on the VMAs!

10 People or Things That Deserve a Rose #FlashbackFriday

I originally created this list back in 2010 from a writing prompt as part of another post. It's funny to me to see how much has changed, but even more so, to see how much is still the same. The phone I was using at the time had a sliding keyboard on it and my baby girl had just turned 16 and was really struggling in school. Now, of course, my phone is touch screen, my oldest has a B.A. in Psychology, my youngest is a licensed massage therapist, and I still love them like crazy!  I would still hand out all these roses. Who or what would you give a rose to?

Provide roses to the 10 people or items in your life that you would like to continue a relationship with. (kinda like The Bachelor, which I don't watch, but I get the idea)

1. The first rose goes to the love of my life, my hubbybear. You are the only person I can tolerate for any real long length of time, so it must be destiny. ♪ I've looked for you forever and a day♪ (Kathy Mattea)

Relax and Enjoy Trying, 5 Tips For Trying To Conceive

The other day someone told me that she went to the hospital for one thing and they told her she was pregnant. When they told her the news she responded,"You must have checked the wrong uterus! I can't be pregnant." Why was it such a surprise? She already has kids so you would think by now she would've figured out how it happens.

But, for many people pregnancy is a surprise. They aren't thinking about getting pregnant, they're just enjoying the intimate time with their partner and Bam! Pregnant! So, why does it happen so easily for some while others seem to be trying so hard to get pregnant and just can't? Well, for many it is a matter of stress. Stress takes a huge toll on the body and reduces the likelihood of conceiving. While reducing your stress isn't a guarantee of getting pregnant, it is a great place to start. Here's my best tips to reduce stress while trying to get pregnant to increase your odds of conceiving.

Almost Wordless Wednesday, Back To School Pancakes

Yesterday was the first day of school, but not in our house. This was the first time since 1998 that we didn't have all the excitement of back to school day. There was no buying new supplies, no figuring out what to wear, no excitement at the end of the day with all the details of the new friends in class. None of it; it was just another day. sigh.

So, no back to school pics, but...Red Velvet Pancakes!


Mmmmm Who needs school projects and fundraisers anyway?!

Blue Man Group Tickets Giveaway, Enter To Win #DareToLive

When I went to New York City last month, I got to go see Blue Man Group. The show was tons of fun! It was so much fun that I think everyone should go to a Blue Man Group show. While I can't send everyone, I can send 1 person plus 3 of their friends with this giveaway. Read on to find out how you can enter to win 4 tickets to Blue Man Group.

Simple Steps For Pet Owners To Prepare For Natural Disaster

This Sunday is the 10 year anniversary of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Hurricane Katrina left 600,000 pets deceased or homeless. In fact,many of the people that didn't evacuate stayed because they didn't know what to do with their pets.

If you love your pets like I do, the last thing you want to do is leave them behind if there is an emergency. If you don't have a plan for your pets, please create one.  Pledge to not leave your pet behind at aspca.org/disasterprep  Our pets rely on us to take care of them, so let's do all we can.

Here's some simple steps to be prepared for natural disaster so you can save your pets lives and your own.

Lucas Films and HP Join Forces To Celebrate Star Wars and Art with Art Awakens!

With the new Star Wars movie coming out in December and the announcement at at D23 that Disney will have a huge Star Wars Land addition to the parks, it seems like everyone is all abuzz about Star Wars. I know my house is super excited about it all. I can't wait to see the new movies and ride the new rides. If only I could use my Jedi mind tricks to make it all happen a little sooner...

If you have a Star Wars fan that is also an artist, you are going to love this. This is where Star Wars, art and the forces for good all come together!

Straight Outta Compton Is More Than Just a Movie About Rappers, It's a Story of Perseverance

When I went to see Straight Outta Compton, the new movie about Rap group NWA, I knew it would be an interesting piece of music history, but I had no idea how exciting and motivating it would be. This is not just a movie about rap, this is a movie about perseverance. Even if you're not a fan of "Gangsta Rap", you can still enjoy this movie.


First, let me tell you that Straight Outta Compton is 147 minutes long, that's right almost 2 and a half hours, but... it doesn't feel like it at all! When it ended I was really disappointed that it was over. Now, that could be the nerd in me that needed to know more about Dr. Dre and the rest of NWA, because I certainly went home and did more research, but even my husband said that it didn't seem like that long. It moves fast through the rise of NWA, the challenges they faced, and ultimately ends with Dr. Dre walking away from Death Row records. It is a movie full of drama, and of course hard hitting beats, and I loved it!

Back To School Snack Tips and Sweet Treat Giveaway

Can you believe it's Back to School time already?! It seems like Summer just started! Now it's time for all the excitement of new clothes, school supplies, and lunchboxes. But have you thought about what snacks you're going to put into those lunchboxes?

School days can be long and we all need energy to get through them so we need snacks and fun treats. Sara Lee Snacks and Entenmann's Little Bites are perfect for this. Get some tips on Back to School and enter to win in this awesome Back to School Giveaway!

Nearly Wordless Wednesday, That Time I met WWE Diva Natalya

That time I met WWE's Natalya...


KidzVuz had a Back to School event last month in NYC. It was alot of fun, especially meeting this awesome Diva. She was super sweet! Hubby didn't get to go, so she autographed a picture for him.

I only wish I could spend more time chatting to her. Nattie, if you ever have time for coffee...We live in the same city! :)

Review of Riddle Cube the Game, Challenging and Fun #EducationalInsights

Our family loves to play board games, but sometimes we just get so busy, we aren't always together long enough to sit down and play a game. Since we were all together this weekend to celebrate my youngest daughter's birthday, it was a great time to try out a new game that I got in my Sweet Suite box. We played Riddle Cube the Game from Educational Insights, and we had some good laughs.

Riddle Cube the Game is a race to see who can create a shape with their "riddle cube" the fastest.

If you're looking for an interactive game for the whole family, or you want something that your child can use to develop creative skills and hand eye coordination, Riddle Cube may be the perfect thing for you.

5 Songs To Relax With. #MusicMonday

My second summer semester class is done! Sociology: Social Problems was a great class and the professor was great, but taking a 16 week class in only 6 weeks was crazy! It was a ton of work and in the middle of it, I went to NYC for BlogHer and Blogger Bash, and I had to write 16 performance evaluations at work...Phew! I'm glad that's all done! Now, I can just relax...well, until next week when Fall Semester starts...but until then, let's chill out with some good music.

Here's 5 songs to relax with.

First up, a great reminder that we can get through it all, because "every little thing's gonna be alright". Here's 3 Little Birds by Bob Marley.

Delicious Strawberry Coconut and Banana Coconut Muffin Recipe

I absolutely love coconut! So when I saw a recipe for Blueberry Coconut Muffins on my package of unsweetened coconut flakes, I got super excited. Not because I wanted to make that recipe exactly, but because it gave me an idea for another kind of Coconut muffin...Banana Coconut Muffins! Now, doesn't that just sound yummy?! Oh, they were!!


After making these, I thought 'well, why not try Strawberry Coconut Muffins?'

And, you know what?! They were even better!

Wordless Wednesday, My Dog the Explorer

My dog, Dublin is happiest when he is exploring. Look at that face! That is one happy dog! He loves wandering the back yard, digging behind the shed, chasing lizards, and just seeing what we can find together.
Here's some of the things we found.

Celebrating 50 Years: Dead Heads, Stories...of The Grateful Dead #MusicMonday

It's Music Monday, what better time to talk about the 50th anniversary of one of America's most iconic bands: The Grateful Dead. Now, I've never been what one might call a "Dead Head", but I do enjoy some of their music and I absolutely appreciate the impact that they've head on the music industry and American culture.

I was recently sent a book for review that is about the Grateful Dead but it is not your typical bio book. Dead Heads Stories From Fellow Artists, Friends and Followers of The Grateful Dead is from author Linda Kelly. As the title suggests this book tells about The Grateful Dead from the viewpoint of people that were there.


As I said, I'm not a Dead Head myself, and I never had the chance to see The Dead perform, though after reading this book I really wish I had! This book has such personal stories of people that were inspired and moved by The Grateful Dead, and funny stories of the first time. It is a glimpse into the 60s from the people that lived it and it is really quite interesting!

Songs Are More Than Just Something to Tap Our Toes To, They Tell Our Story. #MickRock

Music inspires us and drives us. It takes us back to a special time. It makes us laugh, makes us cry, and of course, it makes us dance! Sometimes its just silly and fun but music always rocks my world! I always like to learn more about the artists that create the music so I'm happy to be sponsored by Ovation TV's new show and I think I'm going to learn a lot!

I love so many different kinds of music. I like unique sounds, and songs that tell a story. I especially like learning the story behind a song. The songs on my playlist tell stories, some inspiring some just funny.
I chose many of these songs because they hold a special memory, or they inspire me to live more fully. Lady Marmalade by Patti Labelle reminds me of being a little girl so proud of myself for knowing french that I would run around and say it all the time "voulez vous coucher avec moi?". I knew it meant "will you sleep with me?" but with childhood innocence I thought it meant to have a slumber party. It makes me laugh now to think of it.

A Lot Has Changed Since 1975, Isn't It Time Our Summer Meals Program Changed Too? #NoKidHungry


A lot has changed since 1975—our televisions, our phones, our cars, our hair, I'm no longer running around in just a diaper—but there’s one thing that hasn’t been updated in the past 40 years... 

Our nation’s summer meals program. 

This year, Congress has the opportunity to make improvements that could ensure more than the current one out of six children who qualify for free or reduced-priced meals during the school year have access to the food they need during the summer months. 

Best Moments From Sweet Suite and Blogger Bash 2015! #BBNYC

Years ago, I was at at a little party in a hotel suite in NYC with cupcakes, wine and a few toys. It was called Sweet Suite. Over the years, Sweet Suite has grown from a small event decorating wine glasses in a hotel room to a huge event with all the hottest new toys, and now for the second year in a row it is the kick off event to Blogger Bash. And, what a bash it is!

Blogger Bash 2015 was so much fun from Sweet Suite to the Canadian Lentil Carnival themed closing party. Here's a few of my favorite moments.

Music Monday, Start Your Week With New Music

It's Monday and what better way to get our week started than with some good music! This week, I've got some new songs for you to check out. Now get up and dance!

♫♪I can't feel my face when I'm with you...♪♫

Wherever You Are, It is Exactly Where You Should Be.

Have you ever had a moment where you thought ‘this is right where I’m supposed to be’?  I had one of those moments last week at a yoga session at BlogHer15 in NYC. Things were not going as planned, but suddenly; I knew things were going just as they should.

With this trip to New York, I was juggling 2 blogging conferences, and multiple events. Because everything was so tightly planned, and in various locations, I unfortunately had to say no to some things, and I had resigned myself to being okay with that. In previous years, I had run myself into the ground trying to “do it all”, and I wasn’t going to do that again. Everything was planned just right, and then, it happened…



Scooby Doo and Kiss Rock and Roll Mystery Giveaway! #ScoobyDoo

I love Scooby Doo, Rock-n-Roll, and giveaways; so a Scooby Doo Kiss Giveaway is AWESOME! one reader will win Scooby Doo and Kiss Rock and Roll Mystery on Blu-Ray+DVD+Digital HD. It's easy to enter to win!


Getting Gorgeous 2015 in NYC Was Fun and Relaxing! #GettingGorgeous

Last week, while I was in New York City, I had the chance to attend the Getting Gorgeous event. Getting Gorgeous is an event for bloggers to learn about some new products in a relaxing party atmosphere. It's a great event to connect with other bloggers, have a few laughs, get your nails done, get a makeover, or get a much needed massage. I did. It was awesome!

Some of the highlights of the event were:

Best Corned Beef Sandwich Ever!

This is seriously the best corned beef sandwich that I have ever had! And, I've had A LOT of corned beef sandwiches! I traveled to Cleveland, Ohio and made it my mission to get one of their famed corned beef sandwiches, and I am so glad I did! This sandwich was so amazingly good that 3 weeks later, I'm still thinking about it!
Corned Beef Sandwich from Lenny & Corky's Deli

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Comic-Con 2015 Reel.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens will be here in December, and like most everyone else, I can't wait to see it! For now, we'll have to be happy with the teaser videos. This is the latest reel released at Comic-Con. Oh my gosh! This is so exciting!

Minions Movie Is A Rockin' Good Prequel! #Beedo #MinionsMovie

Those little yellow guys that we met and fell in love with in the Despicable Me films are back! And, in a movie all about them! Minions Movie is full of fun, giggles, E-eevil plots, musical grooves, and, of course, bananas!
Minions Movie gives us the story of the minions from their time as single cells in the ocean where they follow the biggest most evil fish, through their evolution to land dwelling henchmen. They journey through time always looking for the next master to serve. Without a proper master they are lost, so 3 minions set out on a boat to find the most despicable evil villain and finally save their tribe with a proper master.

A Quick Trip To the Baby Store and Bam! I Was Pregnant!


It seems like I've always known that I wanted to be a mother. From an early age I was playing with dolls, taking care of my siblings, and then I went on to babysitting for neighbors. I was always good with children, and I knew someday I would have my own.

Once we finally realized that we more than just friends, it all seemed to move so fast. We were engaged after 2 weeks of "going together", and soon we would find ourselves on the baby aisle on every trip to the grocery store just admiring all the many baby items. We would talk about our plans for a big family and how fun it would be to have a baby to buy all these toys and clothes and stuffed animals for. We talked about names, and nursery colors, we started putting aside stuffed animals for our future children, we both wanted a baby of our own to love and spending time in the baby sections of stores became one of our favorite things to do.

Free Ice Cream Giveaway, Enter To Win!

July is Ice Cream month so what better way to celebrate than with a free ice cream giveaway! I love a nice cold ice cream cone on a hot summer day, and I love to do giveaways, so I figured, why not giveaway ice cream!

One lucky person will win a $10 Carvel Ice Cream gift card. All you have to do is enter to win! Just complete the simple form and you are entered.

Music Monday, Country Dance Party

I hope everyone had a safe and happy weekend. I know it was too short...it always is! The good news is there is always another one waiting for us at the end of the week. We just have to get through the week, so let's get it started right with some music.

Today, we're going with a Country theme. I enjoy rockin' to some good Country music, so this should be fun. Are you ready? Get your boots on and let's dance! Go ahead Shake it for me!


Is Your Child Prepared For a Disaster? #GetReady #SocialGoodMoms

What would you do if disaster strikes and your child is not with you? Does your child know where to go? Who to contact? Do you have a plan? This what Save The Children wants you to think about. They want to help you and your family to Get Ready. Get Safe.

This year is the 10th anniversary of the Hurricane Katrina disaster so it's a good time to talk about ways to make sure we stay connected to our children if we get separated.

Did you know that 5000 children were separated from their parents after Katrina? It took 7 months to connect the last child with her parents! Can you imagine how stressful and scary that must have been
for both the parents and the children?!

So how can you be better prepared?

Music Monday, Let's Have a Fun Week!

It's Music Monday! Let's kick off this week with some fun music to get us up and moving!

First up is Bitch, I'm Madonna. This is a fun video with lots of celebrities celebrating the phenom that is Madonna. I loved reviewing Madonna's newest album, so I'm excited to see videos starting to come out for these songs.



Inside Out is A Smart Romp Of Emotions

Everyone is talking about Disney's new movie, Inside Out and with good reason; it is a smart movie with a good story and memorable characters. But, if you've been hoping for this to be the movie you need to give you a break from your 3 year old's continuous replay of Frozen in sing along mode, I think you might be a little disappointed.

Inside Out is really a lesson in psychology and brain function told from the perspective of the primary emotions inside the head of a tweenage girl; Riley. Riley grew up playing hockey, and having silly times with her parents in Minnesota. When her dad gets a new job, they have to move to San Francisco, and everything changes. This is when "Joy", the leading emotion in Riley's head, is engulfed with the challenge of keeping Riley from spiraling into depression as "Sadness" touches Riley's once happy memories and turns them sad. This could jeopardize all the important things that are so important to Riley's personality, and could change her forever.

Sugar Free, Aspartame Free Mints From PUR, Save $10 With Coupon

I try to eat as clean as I can, though I do cheat every once in awhile. Even when I treat myself a little, I still make sure to avoid certain chemicals. One of these chemicals is aspartame it is often used as a sugar substitute, but research has shown some very negative side effects to it, so I'd rather choose more natural sugar substitutes.

In the past, I've told you about PUR Gum, and how great it is for a sugar free gum option without aspartame. Now, I'm excited that there is a sugar free mint without aspartame. PUR Mints are so good! They come in multiple flavors and are sweetened with Xylitol which is a natural sweetener that has 40% less calories than sugar. Xylitol has positive benefits, too such as helping to increase saliva and reduce plaque. With these benefits, I can feel good about giving PUR Mints to my family.