Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! Get The Sillies Out!

YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! GET THE SILLIES OUT!

 

Tour at Aronoff Center for 2 Performances on January 10th

 

 

 

 

So, what do you do when you quit your job and become a SAHM?  Apparently you jump at the opportunity to go to the Yo Gabba Gabba Live show.  For real.

 

Do you have little ones that love Yo Gabba Gabba? 

 

Did you know that the show will be here in less than 2 weeks? 

 

All of the details are below.

 

The sillies are crazy little creatures that live inside of us and need to be shaken out! DJ Lance Rock and everyone’s favorite cast of colorful characters are calling all fans in Cincinnati to get ready to jump, shake and shimmy them out at the new live tour Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out!.

 

 

 

Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out! will have two performances in Cincinnati at the Aronoff Center for the Arts - Procter & Gamble Hall on Thursday, January 10th. CLICK HERE for ticket information for the shows (3:00 PM and 6:00PM).

 

Tickets start at $26. VIP Party packages are available as well which include a ticket in the first 15 Rows, a pass to "Get the Sillies Out" in the private VIP room featuring a super fun party with the Gabba Gang (costumed characters) and more.

 

Children under 1 year old do not require a paid ticket to sit on a parent's lap.

 

 

 

Yo Gabba Gabba! is an award-winning, live-action television series and live stage show whose unconventional formula has created a triple stacked fan base, making it one of the most popular entertainment properties among preschoolers, parents and indie music lovers alike. The television show, now in its fourth season, airs several times a day on Nick Jr.

 

 

 

For a complete list of tour dates, cities and show times, and a preview of the show, visit www.yogabbagabbalive.com.

 

Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out! marks the third tour for the successful Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE! concert series. The first tour, Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: There’s a Party in My City!, launched with a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and a performance at the White House in 2010. Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE! 2010 tour played to sold out venues in 60 cities. Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: It’s Time to Dance! enjoyed repeat success in 2011, energizing audiences across North America at over 120 shows.

 

Disclosure: Yes, I am going to this show with the kids.  Yes, I am receiving some free tickets.  Yes, I am promoting it in exchange for aforementioned tickets.  But, yes, I do like Yo Gabba Gabba or I wouldn't promote it for said tickets because I wouldn't want to attend.  More on why I like Yo Gabba Gabba in a future post, but let's just leave you with the fact that one of their songs gets my kids to try new foods...every time.

 

Merry Christmas Eve

     

Are You Snow Ready?

 

We may or may not get snow this week.  I've heard rain, freezing rain, slight snow, a foot of snow.  Hmmm....

 

What I do know is that the tiny dusting that basically looked like I sprinkled a bit of powdered sugar on the lawn had the kids going CRAZY.  The snow NEVER came to our house last year so by August the kids were already asking about playing in the snow.

 

However, until today I had not yet checked to make sure everyone has snow gear.  I had it all ready last year, and again, the snow never came.  As I heard the possibility of snow mentioned again this morning on the weather I thought I better dig out what I have and take inventory for the season.

 

Luckily everyone has snow pants (many thanks to the neighborhood boys for handing down), coats, mittens, hats, scarves, etc.  Boots?  Short one pair.  So I'll check with the neighbor first, but then head out later if they are still needed. 

 

There's no way I'm going to tell the oldest that she can't go out if it snows, because I forgot to get her boots!

 

I'm hoping for lots of snow.  Inches and inches.  You?

 

 

 

Dear Santa...Bring Wine

 

 

I thought I knew what I wanted for Christmas.  Other than your typical health and happiness.  But something's happened this week and I have to quickly update my Santa requests. 

 

Dear Santa,

 

It's me...Tricia.  Um...sorry it's last minute, but I need to adjust my wish list for Christmas.  I really hope I'm on the nice list and it's not too late.  I'm going to need a few things in 2013 for a new adventure...bon-bons, yoga pants, pony tail holders, more craft supplies and...patience.  Yep, LOTS of patience.

 

Love,

Tricia

 

Yes, I'm being stereotypical, but I'm trying to find humor in this.  Because 2013 just might be the hardest year of my life.  See, I've just gotten a new job...likely the most challenging one I'll ever have...

 

Stay-At-Home-Mom...aka the SAHM.

 

What the heck have I signed myself up for?  I'm sure someday soon I'll be telling myself "Remember, you asked for this!!"  So, better yet...

 

 

Dear Santa,

 

Bring wine. 

Cases...and cases.

Preferably Pinot Noir, but anything red will do! 

 

XXXOOO

 

 

Here's What I Told My Kindergartener about CT

 

Friday was my day off last week.  I was home with my kids.  And they drove me crazy.  We rushed to swim lessons.  Charlotte threw a fit about her new swim instructor. 

 

There were tears. 

 

Afterwards, I got all four of us dressed and there was a snack issue with Stella.

 

There were tears.

 

We dropped Stella off for school and came home.  Henry didn't want to take a nap.

 

There were tears.

 

I got a shower, entertained the kids and cleaned up the house a bit.  I finally turned on the computer at about 2:45 PM and saw the headlines.  Anything I thought about blogging about seemed trivial.

 

There were tears.

 

Neighborhood girlfriends came over from 3:00-5:00 for the witching a Happy Hour.  We drank, we ate, we drank, we talked, we were in shock.

 

There were tears.

 

Everyone left.  Dinner with the neighbors helped take thoughts away from so much sadness.  But then after bedtime I finally sat down and watched some of the news.

 

There were tears.

 

I filled the rest of my weekend with happy things...a birthday party, a massage, a holiday party, Church School Christmas celebration, a jazzed up Nutcracker performance and gathering everyone in the car in their pjs tonight to drive around the neighborhood and look at the lights.

 

But what will tomorrow bring?  When my kindergartener goes back to school?  What will she hear from the older grade schoolers at daycare?  What will she hear on the bus?  And at recess?

 

As I glanced at Facebook this afternoon, everyone was either preparing their kids or asking for advice on how to, or giving advice on what worked.  And questioning, how old was still too young to know anything??  And then it hit me...I had to tell her something.  My Stella would freak out if she heard anything from anyone else first. 

 

So I did what most did, asked for advice on my own blog FB page.  There's lots of great comments over there from very smart moms.  I thank you.  And the key is, you have to do what's right for your kid and your child's age.  You know them best.

 

Here are the key points I told my 5 1/2 year old kindergartener:

 

1. Something very sad happened.

 

2. A school far, far away had a bad event on Friday.

 

3. I was telling her about it just in case she heard something on Monday from someone.  I didn't want her confused or scared.

 

4. A very bad man hurt some of the children at the school.

 

5. Stella's daycare and school are always locked and she is very safe.

 

Here's when she walked me through how I have to put in a code for our daycare and also be buzzed in the door at her school.  She said something (I don't remember exactly) that told me she assumed the school in CT wasn't locked.  I didn't correct her, I just moved on.

 

6. Mom and dad and all her teachers will keep her safe.

 

She told me I forgot about her bus driver.  She then asked what happened to the bad man.  I sad that the police got him.  I left out all other details.  She asked where the kids went.  I told her to the fire station.  Again, no other details.  Just that they were hurt.

 

7. This is not something to discuss with Charlotte and Henry.

 

8.  This is not something for her to tell other kids.  It's up to mommies and daddies to talk about this kind of stuff.  Other kids may not know.  It might scare other kids to not hear it from their own mom or dad. (she nodded)

 

9.  If a kid starts telling her something she doesn't want to hear, just say "I don't want to hear this" and go tell a teacher.

 

10.  If she has any questions about anything she hears, she should talk to me after school.

 

Then I stated once more that this was a private conversation.  And again, something not to be talked about with her friends.  I compared it to her vagina.  For real.  Something fine to talk about at home, but not something we talk about openly.  She got it.  She finally said, "Well, what if I just forget about it?  Wouldn't that be best?"  And then walked away.

 

She did come back a bit later and said she was feeling a little scared.  So I just reassured her again and she hasn't mentioned anything else.

 

Not a conversation I wanted to have or even planned to have.  But I agree with so many other mothers, I want her to hear anything from us first.  That way if she does hear something tomorrow she feels clued in and not taken by surprise...which she does not do well with. at. all.

 

Now, if she comes home tomorrow and asks if kids were really killed?  Shot?  Did teachers die??  I have no clue how I'll answer her.

 

How did you handle all of this with your children?  And how old are they?

   

Free Printable Santa Claus Letter Template

 

At our house St. Nick fills our stockings the night of December 5th.  Google "St. Nick" if you've never heard of this tradition.  I've narrowed it down to a German/Catholic thing.  We also tell our kids that St. Nick is one of Santa Claus' helpers.  We actually leave the kids' Christmas wish list out for St. Nick to deliver back to Santa Claus. 

 

Totally selfish on my part.

 

Why?

 

Because I want final wish-list-choices to be made in early December.  No last minute changes on what-I-really-want-Santa-Claus-to-bring.  We make sure the kids list 5-6 items and remind them that Santa only brings one gift each in our house, so not all items are guaranteed. 

 

This year, behavior has been a little up and down lately.  Henry is currently the repeat biter at school, Stella is impatient and whiny, and Charlotte...well, Charlotte is Charlotte.  She even told us that her stocking was going to be empty because she wasn't nice lately.

 

So we also had St. Nick deliver some letters from Santa Claus (not a norm for us).  Instead of reprimanding each kid for their misbehaviors, Santa made a list for each kid of all of the good behaviors he enjoys watching.  We went for the positive reinforcement angle.

 

I'm happy to report that they started fighting over the St. Nick gifts 15 minutes after opening stockings instead of immediately.  That's progress, right?

 

Oh, and Christmas morning?  Stockings are empty.  They only get filled once each season!

 

Kim at seven thirty three created the awesome Santa Claus stationary that I used.  She has it as a free download on her website.  Download the PDF, save it and then type your letter right on it.  Or have Santa leave a handwritten "thanks" for your cookies this year!

   

Shillito's Elves Ticket Giveaway

  I really enjoyed taking my kids to see the Shillito's Elves at Newport on the Levee.   And yesterday I gave away a 4-pack of tickets on my Facebook page.   Today?   Two more tickets to give away.   Comment below to enter and I'll pick a winner around 10:00 tonight.   Then I'll get the tickets in the mail tomorrow.   Tickets are good through December 23rd.   And, no, my goal for the blog is not to turn it into a giveaway and review-only blog. I've just come across some great opportunities lately. And it's been fantastic filler while I'm planning the re-design!      

Remote Control Helicopter is the Perfect Holiday Gift

 

About a week ago, I received an awesome package in the mail from Xenon Project.

Check out their website, because helicopters are not their only products...

They have boats, airplanes, tanks, cars, trucks, oh my!

This Mini Gyro RC Helicopter was ours to test.

The only thing bad about it?

The weather.

It has been too gloomy, rainy, and windy to give it a whirl outside.

See it up there above the stockings?

Luckily, "indoor play" is listed on the box.

So Andy charged it up and flew it all around the house.

And he enjoyed flying it straight at me.

On the website, it states for ages 7+.

So I considered giving it to my young nephew for Christmas.

However, upon arrival the box states ages 14+.

And after the hubs played around with it?

The box is probably right.

Although tons of fun and easy for my husband to get the hang of after a bit,

we're going to wait on handing it over to the nephew.

It seemed to handle crashing ok, but not sure how many it would withstand.

Or maybe my husband just wants to keep it.

Because it really entertained the kids.

Don't you want one?

This would make a really fun gift.

If you order any product before the end of the year,

Xenon Project will give you 10% off 

with the discount code Take10. 

And their prices right now are great!

Better than I just saw at Target, Meijer, etc.

Features

• Miniature helicopter
• Fun for all ages
• Gyro system for precision movement and flight
• Gyro system also provides stable hovering
• Trim Control
• Great for indoor play
• Travel-friendly (charge from transmitter)
• Also called the S107G

In the Box

• S107 Helicopter
• 3 Channel Radio Controller
• USB Charger
• Extra Tail Blade

Disclosure: I was sent this helicopter to review and all opinions are my own!  Thanks Xenon Project.

And congrats to Kim who won the Christmas Saengerfestival tickets!

 

Cincinnati Saengerfestival Ticket Giveaway

 

As part of the Shillito's Elves tour I took last weekend, I received tickets to the upcoming Cincinnati Saengerfestival.  The what?  Exactly.  That's what I asked myself as well and quickly googled it when I got home.  There is a lot of information on the Saengerfestival website, but it boils down to this...your ticket gets you into numerous choir events at awesome locations on the date of your ticket. 

 

In their own words:

 

"Cincinnati is known as the birthplace of Saengerfest. Cincinnati has not hosted Saengerfest since 1952. It is time to bring this Festival Back. The Christmas Saengerfest promises to be the biggest annual choral festival in the region in years to come."

 

Check out the list of choirs and locations...as well as the times.

 

Ticket Giveaway!

 

I already have plans that Friday and Saturday, so I'm passing along the tickets to you!  If you are interested in a 4-pack for either day, leave a comment below telling me your favorite thing to do this holiday season.  AND add the date you can attend, December 14 or December 15.

 

Through random.org, I'll draw 2 lucky winners sometime this Sunday night.  If I do not hear from the winners by noon on Monday, I'll pick new winners.  This is time sensitive since the concert is coming up quickly.

 

Now, this is also my first giveaway...let's see if anyone even responds!  HA!  Maybe the odds will be in your favor...

 

 

Disclosure: Tickets were given to me from American Legacy Tours.  I am not able to attend myself, so I'm giving them all away!

 

Shillito's Elves at Newport on the Levee this Season

Last Saturday morning I got the opportunity to meet up with some other Cincinnati bloggers and check out Santa's Workshop with the kids at Newport on the Levee.

 

First stop?  The Shillito's Elves.  If you are local, you may remember this from years ago.  They had a long history here, but disappeared in the eighties and changed hands a few times.  Now they have been restored and are back in action to delight you this holiday season.

 

The scenes were fun to check out.  Two were restored in 2010, but now there are quite a few more...I didn't count them all!  But they start with the Elves receiving your letter to Santa, lead you through the workshop (building toys and painting them) and then the toys are packed in crates and finally end up on Santa's sleigh.  There is also a weather-watching scene where the Elves are keeping an eye on things around the globe. 

 

My kids enjoyed it and giggled a bit here and there.  Particularly at one Elf who kept painting another Elf instead of a toy!

 

 

My pictures of this part aren't the greatest because I was juggling the three kids with no stroller, my iPad (afraid I'd drop my "real" camera), my fourth kid dad, a way-too-heavy bag, etc.  So you must go see it for yourself.

 

Then we went over to the Lego Train Display section.  Extremely cool and creative.  You can see Charlotte checking out Santa and his reindeer below. 

 

You actually want to start your tour here because there is an area to write your letter to Santa.  Then you can go over to the Elves display and put your letter in the mailbox! 

 

It even had a drive-in movie theater and it was actually playing The Polar Express!

 

Charlotte insisted on this photo to end the morning:

 

Afterwards we headed to Dewey's for lunch.  It was definitely worth the trip down to the Levee.  Tickets are $7/person and children three and under are free.  Your ticket gets you admission to the Lego Train Display, the Elves scenes from Santa's Workshop, viewing of a Dickens Village (also impressive) AND a 30-minute pass to Gameworks for video games.

 

For hours and directions, visit the Santa's Workshop website.

 

Many, many thanks to my new bloggy friend Andi for connecting me to 365Cincinnati who invited me on this tour.  My family loved it!

   

An Update on the Future of Take 10

 

 

This picture has nothing to do with the post below,

but the kids enjoyed having Papa Kenny in town!

   

Back in October, I wrote a post about what I discovered at a blog conference and made myself a to-do list.  I can honestly say I am actually moving forward with most of it.  And that's why my blog posts have been so scattered lately.  The time I normally spend writing posts, I've dedicated to figuring out the future of this blog.  So here's an update:

 

1. I love this blog and I want to keep doing it.  I love connecting people to ideas, recipes, crafts, other websites and resources and each other.  It's my bucket filler.

 

2. I am now addicted to Instagram.  Thanks me and elna.  I totally blame you.

 

3. I had a blog assessment completed by Jackie from Monkey Do Project. (Side notes...check out Monkey Do and help if you can...every contribution matters!  She also has a blog and a website for parents 35 and up.  AND she started the Project Purse Club.  She is a social media guru!) So the assessment gave me a LOT to think about.

 

4. I had Kim from seven thirty three update some of my buttons (added Instagram and Twitter).  And she is still awesome and fast!

 

5. I signed up with Hostgator.

 

6. I'm moving to Wordpress.  But I'm not doing it myself.  Kat from Kat's Cafe has been a huge help so far and her patience should earn her a reward.  Because I've only had a MILLION questions and scenarios to run by her.

 

7. I've been researching how to start an LLC.  That's not fun. 

 

8. I had a meeting set up with an accountant, but Henry's 104 fever came first.  So I have to reschedule that one.

 

9. I got a box of Way Better Snacks in the mail, a pie from Frisch's, a remote control helicopter from Xenon Project (post coming soon) and a free tour of the Shillito's Elves with other Cincinnati bloggers (also coming soon).  So this is starting to be more fun than I imagined to interact with others and enjoy some free things.  And soon give away some stuff to my readers as well!

 

10. I've gotten new readers and Facebook fans.  Long rant on Facebook starting...now.  If my posts are not showing up on Facebook for you (and you want them to), then you need to change that!  Seriously, Facebook has really changed that area.  If you don't "like" a post or comment ever from a "page", then that page stops showing up for you in your Newsfeed.  I realized this on my own personal page...I stopped getting blog updates from others I read.  As soon as I started "liking" a post or two or commenting, they showed up again.  And to be honest, PR people that look to work with you, look at your numbers first.  I don't want people to "like" my page if they don't plan to read or interact, BUT if you don't already use Facebook for Take 10 and plan to...do it!  It will help me get more opportunities to share with you.

 

I am so thankful for all of you, my readers.  Without you, this journey would be lonely.  Thanks for sticking around and who knows what 2013 will bring!

 

Now off to my day job...

 

8th Annual Christmas Cookie Exchange

This afternoon I hosted my 8th Annual Christmas Cookie Exchange.  Last year I posted my Top Ten Tips for having a great cookie exchange.  And they still hold true.  I had about 20 women over and it seemed to be another success.

 

 

I made my grandmother's melt-away cookie recipe.

 

Today I served Chicken Noodle Soup and Potato Soup along with some turkey roll-ups (I cheated and got the sandwiches at Costco) and other appetizers.  But the biggest hit was the Amaretto Slush. 

 

 

There were tons of other goodies as well!

 

  Do you participate in a Cookie Exchange?   What's your favorite holiday cookie?