Get ready to go Ba-nanas! The Rachel Zoe Project is back for Season 4. It premieres August 2nd on Bravo TV. Here’s a special sneak peek and, if you wait until the end, you can see adorable Baby Skyler.
Archives for June 2011
Swimmingly
June 17, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Daniel and Annabel are enrolled in summer swimming lessons and it’s been great. They go twice a week for 8 sessions. This is the first year they have done a group lesson. Daniel started the ISR (Infant Survival Classes) when he was only 18 months old. There was a lot of screaming and crying involved, but he did learn to float and swim to safety. It was pretty amazing.
Annabel never “took” to the ISR lessons which really means I didn’t finish the entire program with her. Daniel did a refresher course for a few weeks last summer, and since I had them both with me all day long, I just stopped her beginner lessons when Daniel stopped his refresher lessons. She really should have completed the entire thing. Bad Mama.
This year I decided on group lessons because I want them both to learn to SWIM. I want them to learn the strokes and the kicks and the breathing. I also still have the issue of keeping them together and finding a place to teach both their skill levels at the same time. (Believe me, I know ISR is an AMAZING course and I still would highly recommend it to anyone with younger kids.)
The group lessons take place in an indoor pool so there is no worry of weather issues and I don’t have to slather on sunscreen. First there was a rocky start with Annabel. She has diva moments when she gets pouty and grumpy. (We are also in the stage of “nap” versus “no nap.” And when “no nap” wins, she’s a bit of a mess at the pool. Sorry, patient swim teacher.) But she is now starting to kick her legs and blow bubbles and float like a champ. Daniel is swimming to the teacher and swimming back to the wall all by himself. He is starting to learn some basic strokes and if we do another session this summer, I can see him really excelling. He loves it so much that he smiles the entire lesson. It’s a joy to see.
Plus, they have really cool bathing suits. Thanks, Grandma.
The Glee Project
June 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment
If you are a fan of the Fox mega hit Glee, like I am, then you MUST check out The Glee Project.
It’s a cool new series that airs Sunday nights on Oxygen and I have no idea why Fox did not pick this show up. The Glee Project focuses on finding a new character for the mega hit Glee and there was a massive audition process (similar to American Idol) to narrow the kids down to a lucky twelve. What’s super cool is that Glee‘s own executive producer, casting director, choreographer, and vocal coach are all involved in The Glee Project. Each week the twelve contestants will go head to head in singing, dancing, and acting competitions for the chance to win a dream role on Glee. (There will also be Glee cast members who come on each week as mentors. This week was Darren Criss who plays Blaine. Of course the girls, and some of the guys, went crazy.)
They could not have picked 12 more different kids as finalists. Which is really great. I’m already hooked and have my personal favorites. I love geeky Cameron, sassy Emily, and spunky Matheus. Here’s a sneak peek of the series so hopefully I can convince you to join me in the fun.
Hey, it’s summer. You need something new to watch, don’t you? Be a Gleek!
A Very Brady Night
June 13, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Here’s the story,
Of how I met Greg Brady.
Who was starring in a play in Jacksonville.
It was at a dinner theatre,
called Alhambra,
The awesome manager picked up the bill.
Here’s the story,
of how I met Greg Brady,
he actually looks very much the same.
He played Oscar,
in “The Odd Couple,”
The place was packed all due to his fame.
Before it all started we had buffet dinner,
it definitely could not be mistaken for lunch.
It was yummy,
and I got a photo key chain.
Then after the show we met Greg from The Brady Bunch.
From The Brady Bunch, The Brady Bunch.
That’s the way we met Greg from The Brady Bunch!
Disclaimer: I received complimentary tickets to see Barry Williams (aka Greg Brady) in “The Odd Couple” at Alhambra dinner theatre in Jacksonville, Florida. As always, all opinions are my own.
NKOTB(SB) in DC
June 7, 2011 by 4 Comments
I flew to Washington,DC this past weekend to meet my sister, Marsha, and our childhood BFF, Melissa, for one fun, EPIC night. It was the New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys concert. We were there for the New Kids.
I’ve mentioned here before that I’m a big New Kids on the Block fan. A Blockhead. I’m on the older end of the fan spectrum. My sister is four years younger than me and Melissa is two. They were in junior high school and I was in high school when the New Kids were at their peek of boy band stardom. The boys were on every weekly cover of Teen Beat and Bop Magazine. We were so obsessed that we had the magazine subscriptions. We would jump up and down when the new issues arrived in the mail. Oh, look! There’s Jordan with his rat tail getting longer shooting some baskets. Or, there’s Donnie at a diner! What’s he ordering? Hash browns with ketchup? He loves ketchup too??!! Ahhhh!!!
OK, it wasn’t THAT bad, but we did have our scrapbooks. I was a Jordan girl. Marsha was Donnie. Melissa was Joey. It was perfect because we never fought over our future “boyfriends.” We saw them in concert at the gigantic Washington, DC stadium. We had amazing seats close to the stage. We had the time of our lives. We came early to stalk the tour buses but never met them.
We took a family trip to Boston that summer and OF COURSE Melissa had to come along too. The New Kids on the Block are from Boston!! We did the standard family tour of the city, but we just HAD to look for their homes. The only one we managed to find was Joey’s (score for Melissa!), but he wasn’t home. Boo. Melissa did meet Joey’s dad which was seriously the highlight of the trip. Melissa has that photo. I have the city tour photos. (Please note the awesomely long hair, fanny packs, Boston baseball caps and friendship bracelets. Oh, and the old school Budweiser Superfest T-shirt that I think I gave my sister. And, no, I don’t know why I thought it was cool to pose like that.)
When I left for college, the New Kid love started to dissipate. They broke up. The came back as NKOTB. I graduated from college and started my first radio job in New York City. I now had access to great tickets. The three of us went to an NKOTB club show and sat in the front row. They sang brand new songs. It wasn’t the same.
Then, Jordan and Joey had solo records. I was living in North Carolina and still working in radio. I was able to meet them backstage at two different festival concerts. (My sister came down for the weekend to meet Joey. Melissa is still bitter. Ha.) It was really weird to be in the same space as my teen idol. It was a thirty second “Hello and “I’m a big fan” and then they were gone. It was still so very cool. (Please note my short hair phase.)
Two years ago the New Kids on the Block came back together for their very first concert tour in years. The three of us went to the DC concert together and had the time of our lives. My sister was pregnant. The entire place was filled with Moms. It was hilarious. It was just so fun to relive those concert memories from 20 years ago.
Then, this year came the formation of NKOTBSB. Hey, I like the Backstreet Boys too (they have one of the Best Pop Songs. Ever.), but they are not the New Kids. We went to the concert for the New Kids. My sister was the super loyal one and wore her NKOTB T-shirt she bought at the last concert.
My sister wanted to stalk the tour buses again, but no sign of NKOTB at the venue loading dock. So we had dinner and drinks and headed to the show. It was just as fun as 20 years ago. We had great seats. The boys, um MEN, looked fantastic. They are all in terrific shape and their dance moves were sharp. Jordan’s voice still has that amazing falsetto and Donnie can still make any girl scream. Joey just had a baby and he was smiling from ear to ear the entire show. They sang all their hit songs. Melissa was the one taking the concert photos and it was no coincidence that every photo was of Joe.
OK, there was one of all their butts.
My husband asked if I would be embarrassed to write this blog post. To admit that I loved, and still love, the New Kids on the Block. I think that’s so funny. Like if I went to a Cure reunion concert I would be perceived as cool? Who knows. I’m not ashamed of loving pop music. The New Kids on the Block were the first boy band sensation cialis best price. All the other boy bands (Backstreet Boys, NSync, 98 Degrees, etc.) just followed their lead. And I know it’s not nerdy to say you love Justin Timberlake. He’s cool.
Well, so are Jordan, Jon, Joey, Danny, and Donnie. Keep hangin’ tough, guys. We’ll be loving you forever. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
Taylor Swift: “The Story Of Us” Music Video
June 1, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Here’s the latest video from Taylor Swift, “The Story of Us.” I really like this song and it appeals more to her pop fans. Big eyeglasses definitely make a lot of cameos in her videos. Enjoy!