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SIDE NOTE…I have to admit, summer this year was not so much fun for me. It was way too hot and yucky feeling out and since I rarely got to go to the pool, lake, or beach this year to cool off, I was just miserable outdoors. Summer time is fiscal year end time at work so it has  been pretty hectic; leaving me exhausted and overheated by the time I got home (due to NO A/C in the truck) after nearly an hour commute. My weekends just felt all rushed because I was trying to get everything done that I missed during the week .

Soccer practice has started back up again for Ladybug so back to being a Soccer Mom I have become. Trying to squeeze productive reading/writing time in while snapping quick shots of her in motion. Last night we had school orientation and met the new teachers. Now Little One is counting down the months to Fall ’11 when she can finally go to school like the big kids. Peanut will likely either take guitar lessons or do wrestling this fall and Little One wants to do gymnastics. As a working mother of 3 kids and a husband who works unpredictable construction hours (he’s an electrician), talk about some crazy chaos!

As I think about how the summer went, how we’re ending the summer (we failed to keep our planned family vacation this summer) , and what’s left to prepare for the school year (doing laundry and buying those last minute school supplies and groceries), I can’t help but wonder if I’ll be able to efficiently manage the family schedules, needs, and wants for all.

I mean, as much as I want to believe I could be one of those “super mom’s” we read about on other blogs or on TV who can do it all (cook, clean, tutor kids, bake goodies, exercise to stay slender, are super attentive to hubby, AND work all at the same time while toting their baby in a snuggly or breastfeeding their kid)  I’m no super mom…I’m just me, doing what I can, when I can.

BUT…I do want to make some changes in our daily routine to make things easier and happier for all.

• I need less chaotic (and loving, if that’s possible) mornings with the kids.
• I need Me  Time for meditation or exercise to get my day going.
• I need to figure out a better home maintenance plan so I’m not jamming it all into one day on the weekend.
• I need to stick to my guns and get those kids more active in cleaning around the house so hubby and I aren’t stressed out doing it all.
• I need to make sure that each kid gets their OWN night of activity so this mom can get to places unrushed and let the kid know it’s THEIR moment to shine without another sibling competing for attention.
• I need to do some better meal planning and freezer cooking to help on busy nights on the run.
• I need to take more pictures like I did when I was home with them (TONS of pictures were taken for each month of the year).
• I need to better plan for next year’s family vacation so we don’t have to miss it like we did this year.

So now that I’ve gotten that off my mind and recorded…I’m off to finish the last minute details. (Thank goodness I took tomorrow off!)

Do you find yourself pulled in multiple directions when the kids go back to school?

What are you doing differently this year?

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Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been cleaning out my inbox of wasted e-mail space. I spend so much time reading & deleting e-mails that I thought it was time to stop the e-mails that just clutter my inbox. Don’t get me wrong, there are some fabulous blogs and sites out there, but I have found my interests change from time to time. So for those I just don’t have the time I used to have for reading, I’ll likely just subscribe to the RSS version via my Google Reader.

Which brings us now to my neglected Google Reader you see above (btw – if you click the image above it will take you to the Yo Gabba Gabba CD/DVD Set giveaway I’m hosting – shameless plug in! lol)…It was past time to go through my insane list of unread posts. It’s always frightening when there’s 1000+ posts to read. There just isn’t time to read them all and it was time to revisit current tags and create new tags to categorize the feeds for easy perusals. And again, as time passes, categories like your interests sometimes change and no longer apply that well anymore (sometimes blogs change the type of concentrated content). This is also a good time to discover who’s moved on to new spaces or no longer writing anymore. For those that I originally found helpful (and obviously still find helpful) that no longer or rarely update, I’m bookmarking (we’ll revisit this list later) them in my favorites for future comebacks instead of keeping the feed in my reader.

Now tell me…how often do you revisit your email and RSS feed subscriptions?

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Because I’ll be attending the live show, I’ve been given the opportunity to give away a CD/DVD set to a lucky reader from Farrah’s Place.

I have the following as the prize pack:

• Yo Gabba Gabba!: Music is Awesome Volume 1 featuring songs from the Roots, Shins and others.
• The Nickelodeon DVD Yo Gabba Gabba!: Clubhouse released on June 15 featuring performances by musical guests Erykah Badu, The Killers, Jimmy Eat World and more.

Volume 2 releases August 24th at Target and it will feature hit songs from seasons 1, 2 and 3 including super music friends weezer, mgmt, jimmy eat world and songs from the show!

ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY…1 lucky US reader will receive the Music CD and DVD pack. I’m hosting this giveaway now through August 31. Winner will be randomly selected using random.org so be sure to leave a comment for each entry.

• MANDATORY: Leave a comment telling me if a live show will be coming to your town or nearby.
• Become an e-mail or RSS subscriber to Farrah’s Place. (leave another comment for this entry to count)
• Follow @farrah1230 on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway (leave the link in a new comment to the tweet for this entry to count)

FROM THE PRESS RELEASE…

Miami, FL (May 19, 2010)– Fresh off a triumphant sold-out tour debut, a headlining performance at The White House, a critically-acclaimed, chart-topping album, and an appearance at Coachella that garnered rave reviews from spectators and media alike, DJ Lance Rock and the cast of YO GABBA GABBA! are heading back on the road with YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY! to play to enthusiastic fans on a 60-city tour across North America.  Today’s hottest live show for families will make stops at top theaters, arenas and amphitheaters throughout North America, starting August 27 in Bethel, NY and ending in Dallas, TX on December 12.  YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY! is produced by S2BN Entertainment in association with Wildbrain Entertainment and The Magic Store.

Champions on the stage and in the community, the Gabba Gang will participate in various service projects aimed at building homes and hope in the cities they visit during their four month journey across North America.  In addition, $1 from every ticket sold during the 2010 YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE!: THERE’S A PARTY IN MY CITY North American tour will be donated to the Habitat for Humanity local affiliate in each tour city to further their homebuilding efforts.

Pre-sale tickets are available to American Express Cardmembers starting Thursday, May 20.  A special Gabba Tix pre-sale offer for members of the Gabba community will begin on Wednesday, May 26 at 10 a.m.  VIP packages with premium tickets and meet and greets will also be available.   For complete tour, ticket, and VIP package information, visit www.yogabbagabbalive.com.   Children under one year of age will be admitted free to sit on a parent’s lap.

To celebrate the North American tour and partnership, DJ Lance Rock and friends are inviting fans and Habitat for Humanity families to a dance party at Brooklyn Bowl on Thursday May, 20.

The state-of-the-art production features music, singing, dancing and animation.  The show is an interactive experience that offers audience members of all ages the opportunity to witness their favorite characters come to life.  Joining the characters on stage will be hip-hop legend Biz Markie to teach kids how to beat box with “Biz’s Beat of the Day”.  Special guests will join the party on stage for the Super Music Friends Show and Dancey Dance segments.

Released in October, 2009, YO GABBA GABBA!: MUSIC IS AWESOME Volume 1 topped kids and overall music charts at iTunes (#1 kids album), Amazon (top 5 kids album) and Target sales, which reached more than 40,000 copies in only 6 months since its release. YO GABBA GABBA!: MUSIC IS AWESOME was picked as one of 2009’s top holiday gifts for toddlers by both PARENTS magazine and the popular Mom web destination MomLogic.com.  YO GABBA GABBA!: MUSIC IS AWESOME Volume 2 will be released on iTunes and will hit shelves nationwide this September.

DATE	CITY	VENUE	ON SALE
Friday, August 27, 2010	Bethel, NY	Bethel Woods	May 22, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010	Bristow, VA	Jiffy Lube Live	June 4, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010	Philadelphia, PA	Mann Center for the Performing Arts	June 4, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010	Gilford, NH	Meadowbrook US Cellular Pavilion	May 28, 2010
Thursday, September 02, 2010	Albany, NY	Times Union Center	June 5, 2010
Friday, September 03, 2010	Buffalo, NY	Artpark	June 5, 2010
Saturday, September 04, 2010	Toronto, ON	Molson Canadian Amphitheatre	May 27, 2010
Sunday, September 05, 2010	Montreal, QC	Place des Arts	June 5, 2010
Wednesday, September 08, 2010	Edmonton, AL	Northern Jubilee	June 5, 2010
Thursday, September 09, 2010	Calgary, AL	Southern Jubilee	June 5, 2010
Saturday, September 11, 2010	Vancouver, BC	Queen Elizabeth Theatre	June 5, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010	Vancouver, BC	Queen Elizabeth Theatre	June 5, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010	Regina, SK	Brandt Centre	June 5, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010	Winnipeg, MB	MTS Centre Theatre	June 5, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010	London, ON	John Labatt Centre	May 27, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010	Ottawa, ON	Scotiabank Place	May 27, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010	Rochester, NY	Auditorium Theatre	June 5, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010	Burlington, VT	Flynn Theatre	May 28, 2010
Friday, September 24, 2010	Portland, ME	Merrill Auditorium	June 4, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010	Boston, MA	Wang Theatre	June 4, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010	Boston, MA	Wang Theatre	June 4, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010	Providence, RI	Providence PAC	June 5, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010	Wallingford, CT	Oakdale Theatre	June 4, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010	Pittsburgh, PA	Benedum Center for the Performing Arts	June 4, 2010
Saturday, October 02, 2010	New York, NY	Radio City Music Hall	June 4, 2010
Sunday, October 03, 2010	New York, NY	Radio City Music Hall	June 4, 2010
Tuesday, October 05, 2010	Hershey, PA	Hershey Theater	June 4, 2010
Wednesday, October 06, 2010	Cleveland, OH	State Theatre at PlayhouseSquare	June 4, 2010
Friday, October 08, 2010	Detroit, MI	Fox Theatre	June 4, 2010
Saturday, October 09, 2010	Chicago, IL	Chicago Theatre	June 4, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010	Chicago, IL	Chicago Theatre	June 4, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010	Louisville, KY	The Palace Theatre	June 9, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010	Indianapolis, IN	Murat Theatre	June 5, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010	Richmond, VA	Landmark Theater	June 4, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010	Greensboro, NC	War Memorial Auditorium	June 4, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010	Charlotte, NC	Ovens Auditorium	June 4, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010	Chattanooga, TN	Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium	June 4, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010	Huntsville, AL	Von Braun Center	June 4, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010	Nashville, TN	Jackson Hall – Tennessee PAC	June 4, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010	Atlanta, GA	Fox Theatre	June 18, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010	Atlanta, GA	Fox Theatre	June 18, 2010
Wednesday, October 27, 2010	Jacksonville, FL	Moran Theatre at Times Union Center	June 4, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010	Kissimmee, FL	Silver Spurs Arena	June 7, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010	Tampa, FL	St. Pete Times Forum	June 5, 2010
Sunday, October 31, 2010	Miami, FL	AmericanAirlines Arena	June 18, 2010
Tuesday, November 02, 2010	Columbia, SC	Township Auditorium	June 4, 2010
Wednesday, November 03, 2010	Knoxville, TN	Tennessee Theatre	June 4, 2010
Friday, November 05, 2010	Tulsa, OK	BOK Center	June 26, 2010
Saturday, November 06, 2010	Kansas City, MO	The Midland	June 4, 2010
Sunday, November 07, 2010	Denver, CO	1st Bank Center	June 5, 2010
Tuesday, November 09, 2010	Salt Lake City, UT	The E Center	June 5, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010	Spokane, WA	INB Performing Arts Center	June 5, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010	Seattle, WA	Tacoma Dome	June 5, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010	Portland, OR	Memorial Coliseum	June 5, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010	Eugene, OR	Hult Center	June 5, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010	Sacramento, CA	Memorial Auditorium	June 4, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010	San Francisco, CA	Bill Graham Civic Auditorium	June 4, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010	San Francisco, CA	Bill Graham Civic Auditorium	June 4, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010	Los Angeles, CA	Nokia Theater	June 4, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010	Los Angeles, CA	Nokia Theater	June 4, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010	San Diego, CA	San Diego Sports Arena	June 4, 2010
Saturday, December 04, 2010	Phoenix, AZ	Dodge Theater	June 7, 2010
Sunday, December 05, 2010	Phoenix, AZ	Dodge Theater	June 7, 2010
Tuesday, December 07, 2010	El Paso, TX	Abraham Chavez Theater	June 4, 2010
Thursday, December 09, 2010	San Antonio, TX	Freeman Coliseum	June 4, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010	Houston, TX	Hobby Center	June 4, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010	Austin, TX	Cedar Park Center	June 4, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010	Dallas, TX

Dr Pepper Arena

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The Friends 4 Ever Bracelet Kit from Alex Toys allows kids to show the world that they are so important to each other that they share and wear their imaginative bracelet masterpieces everywhere they go! A super-stocked craft kit for best friends, the Friends 4 Ever Bracelet Kit includes 4 color-coded foam looms, which allow kids to make 2 distinct bracelet styles in 8 funky patterns; 22 colors of floss; funky beads for adding special accents; and a beading needle, making it easy for kids to create unique friendship bracelets in no time. Plus, this fabulous Friends 4 Ever Bracelet Kit is the friendship kit that features a convenient, take-me-anywhere storage suitcase with handle for on-the-go fun that friends will love. The newest and trendiest way to make bracelets, the Friends 4 Ever Bracelet Kit from Alex Toys is the ultimate jewelry kit for kids that have already decided that they are “BFF’s!” Instructions included.

Features

• Bracelet kit in a great suitcase that includes 4 color-coded looms, 22 colors of floss, beads, and beading needle
• Make 2 bracelet styles in 8 patterns
• Instructions included

WHERE TO BUY…The Alex Friends Forever Bracelet Kit can be found at Growing Tree Toys (they specialize in educational toys) for $24.95.

OUR THOUGHTS…When the kit arrived my 10 year old daughter and I were excited to try out a new craft project together. Because the kit I received was for a review and recommended for 8 and up, I told her to read the instructions and then try it out first. Not too long afterward, she came back with a  puzzled look and a bit of frustration. I read the instructions and thought, “oh this is easy, here’s all you have to do…” and then…my hands started cramping, threads were tangling over time, and the bracelet when “half-way” through looked NOTHING like the design it was supposed to be. I put it away for awhile and took it back out in hopes that it would be easier….I still couldn’t get it right and my daughter gave up.

This kit is perhaps better suited for the older pre-teen with a creative flair and patience.

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The game developers proudly state: “With Inner Quest you will find yourself immersed in an amazing journey that will help you decrease the wear and tear on your mind from the challenges and hassles of daily life by evoking the same emotions that you have while traveling on a sunny day, going on a picnic with the people you love, or while looking at the stars on a warm night”.

Featuring a hundred levels, arcade and relaxed modes, artistic level design and upbeat music, the Pure-Game-Play game invites the player to be delighted by a colorful audio visual experience.

OUR THOUGHTS…Inner Quest is very similar with the game Bejewled. No time limits which means time to enjoy flipping  icons to match up and “burst”. Easy game for all ages and one that will seem to force you from thinking about anything outside the game. A bit on the “cartoonish” side and the music can be cheesy if not somewhat annoying but overall the game was still fun. Would I play it again? Absolutely! Even if I have to turn the music down. For $5.95, Inner Quest is still a game I’d buy for the computer.

HOW MUCH & WHERE TO BUY…You buy Inner Quest from South Winds Games for 5.95.

I received this game to review as a member of the Game Review Network.

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It’s 2 Monday’s after the 4th of July…remember my Saturday post of panic from the past week of binging horror and my moment of freak out about the 4th of July BBQ? How did I do? Well…actually I didn’t do too bad. I was able to enjoy without “pigging out”.

Holiday Social Eating tips I kept in mind or did to get me through the 4th of July festivities (and this past weekend of family BBQing):

1. Drank plenty of water throughout the whole afternoon and evening.
2. Ate a healthy snack before the festivities so I wasn’t so hungry when I arrived.
3. Brought a healthy yet yummy side dish to complement the BBQ.
4. Ate the healthier items FIRST, THEN I enjoyed a LITTLE of the other yummy goods.
5. Got active with friends in the pool and badmitton with my daughter to keep myself busy.

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The past two weeks I exercised and did a great job at drinking 1/2 my weight in water. 3 weeks now of consistent exercise and my husband even noticed some changes in my body WITHOUT me asking him first. My hips and face are slimming down!!! YIPPEE!!!

What has my exercise activity been like for the past two weeks?

1. Treadmill and bike cardio
2. Toning w/ the trainer and treadmill for cardio afterwards – I even achieved 8 pull-ups when 2 weeks ago I could only do 4!
3. Resistance toning at home with dumbbells and exercise ball
4. Lap swimming
5. Resistance training in the pool
6. Walking at the park with the family

What did I learn about myself over the last two weeks?

1. I don’t sleep enough good sleep hours. I’m usually tired when I wake and drained feeling.
2. Mini-meals are easier during the workday hours because I planned the day with my lunch tote.
3. Evenings, work at home days, and weekends are tougher because I didn’t take the time to plan.
4. Writing my exercise activity, water intake, and meals for the day holds me more accountable.
5. Eating crap makes me feel like crap emotionally AND physically.
6. Exercising makes me feel AWESOME inside and out!

Today I’m actually starting the 10-day walk off a meal a day challenge in hopes of a boost with another mamavation mama. We’ll see how I do come next Monday…

WHAT’S THIS WEEK’S GOAL???
Continue drinking water, increase daily exercise time,
plan my dinners in advance with the family,
AND sleep earlier.

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