• Review

    #FindNewRoads With Chevrolet and Listen To Your Mother

    This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Chevrolet’s sponsorship of the Listen to Your Mother Show, but opinions are my own. I have written at length about LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER here, naturally, because it’s a huge part of my life. (Especially this week, OMG the Chicago show is in five days and wheeeeee!) The 32-city national series of shows that feature local writers reading their original essays about the “beauty, the beast, and the barely rested that is motherhood” is an extremely impactful experience no matter if you’re in the audience, a member of the cast, or a member of the production team. The stories…

  • Childhood Memories,  Review

    This Month, #NetflixKids Celebrates The Totally Tubular!

    I am a member of the Netflix Stream Team and will be happily sharing monthly tips and stories about how my family uses Netflix on a regular basis. (Okay, that’s an understatement. I should say CONSTANTLY. We use Netflix CONSTANTLY.) As a member of the Stream Team I was provided with a Roku and a voucher to apply towards my Netflix account. This month’s theme on the Netflix blog is “Totally Tubular #TBT”, and I am ALL OVER IT. I wouldn’t say I live in the past, but I really enjoy looking back whenever possible, especially to my teen years which were very happy ones for me indeed. (I’m one…

  • Review

    Confirmed: Watching “MythBusters” On Netflix Streaming Can Make You Be All Scientific.

    I am a member of the Netflix Stream Team and will be happily sharing monthly tips and stories about how my family uses Netflix on a regular basis. (Okay, that’s an understatement. I should say CONSTANTLY. We use Netflix CONSTANTLY.) As a member of the Stream Team I was provided with a Roku and a voucher to apply towards my Netflix account. March’s Netflix Theme for families is “Science Fair Greats”, and although my family is way beyond needing to go to the store at 10:00 p.m. because somebody forgot to let us know that they needed styrofoam balls and paint and posterboard and all of that other stuff, one…

  • Review

    There’s No “I” In Team Or Stream Team. (But There IS An “I” In Netflix.)

    I am a new member of the Netflix Stream Team and will be happily sharing monthly tips and stories about how my family uses Netflix on a regular basis. (Okay, that’s an understatement. I should say CONSTANTLY. We use Netflix CONSTANTLY.) As a member of the Stream Team I was provided with a Roku and a voucher to apply towards my Netflix account. We got rid of our satellite over the summer. There was great relief that came from not having those bills anymore, but at the same time it was pretty painful—and still is sometimes, especially when I can’t watch things like my beloved “Today Show”. Or awards shows.…

  • Review

    “Young Frankenstein” At Drury Lane: Herr Doktor Is In!

    I received two complimentary tickets to Drury Lane’s production of “Young Frankenstein” and although I wasn’t required to write about it, I know the folks there appreciate that I did! Pictures furnished by Drury Lane; all words and opinions are mine. It’s very hard for me to believe that “Young Frankenstein”, the movie written by (and starring) Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks, is forty years old this year. The movie is a classic, and still just as relevant and funny now in the 21st century as it was back in the day. I remember seeing the movie for the first time as a teenager back in the 80’s when my…

  • Food,  Review

    Eat Clean, Eat Simple With Good Food Made Simple!

    This is a sponsored post about the “Eat Clean, Eat Simple” campaign from Good Food Made Simple and in conjunction with The Motherhood. All opinions are my own. I have written a few times over the past couple of years about how, although I adore food and it’s much easier to just eat whatever I want without thinking about it, it’s becoming more and more important that I pay attention, not only for me, but for Jim and the boys. It’s not that I don’t have good intentions, but it’s difficult to take the time—and it does take time—to think about maintaining proper eating habits. One thing I have going…

  • Best Thing Ever,  Family Fun,  Fun in Chicago,  Review

    Blue Man Group Chicago: Indescribably Fun

    Let me just get this out of the way: I have seen Blue Man Group Chicago more times than any other show in my life. Jim and I have been in the audience so many times that I honestly cannot remember how many times that has been anymore. To say that we love the show would be a vast understatement. Now that you know that little bit of trivia, it should be no surprise to you that when the Marketing Manager for Blue Man Group Chicago contacted me to ask whether I would be interested in some free tickets in exchange for a blog post about the show, I wasted…

  • Review

    The Day I Was An OnStar Advisor

    Okay, if I must be honest I was actually SITTING NEXT TO an OnStar Advisor. (Two of them, actually.) That said, I did have a moment in the sun as I provided a “major” assist during a call. I’ll get to that momentarily. Disclosure: Last month I was a guest of OnStar when I visited their headquarters in Detroit. They provided my transportation, accommodations, and food while I learned all about the company. I was not required to write anything about it but chose to do so because the experience–and the company–was completely awesome. I visited the OnStar Call Center that’s located outside of Detroit in Warren, Michigan along with…

  • Friends,  Review

    OnStar Immersion!

    I have used lots of words on this here blog talking (err, writing) about how much I love OnStar and all of the technology that goes with it. It’s always a treat when I get to borrow a car from General Motors and have a week or so to press that little blue OnStar button for directions and other assistance. That’s why I was thrilled to be invited, with a group of other bloggers, to experience an OnStar Immersion Experience in Detroit last month. (Disclosure: OnStar provided my transportation, food, and accommodations for the weekend trip without requiring anything from me: I’m writing this post because I want to, and,…

  • Review

    Minted Holiday Cards For 2013: Crowdsourcing At Its Coolest!

    A few days ago I wrote about how I need to begin thinking about the holiday cards I’m going to send this year. The World Wide Web has made things so much easier for people like me who prefer a custom design of some sort over just picking up a couple of boxes of cards at the store. (Not judging: nothing wrong with doing it that way, either!) Just like magic, I received an email from the folks at Minted, asking me to check out their website and 2013 holiday card collection (Disclosure: and write about it in exchange for a credit towards the purchase of my holiday cards!). I…