A Little Game

Do you know who this band is? 

Image 

As this band has overtaken the preschool set and currently sits #2 on Billboard's Kids Album charts. Their short catchy little ditties have the ability to permeate one's brain and get kids off their feet, hip, hop & popping about. 

The Fresh Beat Band  seems to be everywhere: 

on TV, 

the radio, 

nearly selling out a  national tour.

Try as I might to hate them, 

I

just 

cannot. 

I like the Fresh Beats! 

There, it's out in the big old blogosphere. 

I Like the Fresh Beat Band,

Actually I should elaborate on that point. 

I LIKE the Fresh Beat Bands Music. 

They seem to be popping out more tunes then Taylor Swift! Is it just me or are those lyricist on to something? With that being said, 

how about a little game of Fresh Beat or Not? 

The rules are simple. 

There are ten sample selections of lyrics. The game is to decpiher whether they are  a Fresh Beat song or that from the Grammy class of 2012. 

Guess whom these lyrics belong. Get out your pens and paper. 

Answers will be revealed at the bottom of the page. 

Let's Play!

Quote 1:

If you're feeling kinda stuck and you just can't shake it.

You need a fresh new plan but you just can't make it.

Well don't give up, nuh, just don't you quit,

C'mon let loose, and do a banana split.

Fresh Beat or Not?

Quote 2:

He got that Super Bass

Boom Badoom Boom

Boom Badoom Boom Bass

Yeah that's that super bass.

Fresh Beat or Not?

Quote 3:

Throw your soul through every open door

Count your blessings to find what you look for
Turn my sorrow into treasured gold

Fresh Beat or Not? 

Quote 4: 

I jump up like the sun 

Cause a new adventure has just begun

I can barely wait to lace up my shoes

Morning's like a smile I can't refuse

Fresh Beat or Not? 

Quote 5: 

Get yourself on the dance floor right now

Get your music on

I know you know how

Let the rhythm take over your two feet.

Fresh Beat or Not? 

Quote 6:

You don't have to feel like a waste of space

You're original cannot be replaced

If you only knew what the future holds

After a hurricane comes a rainbow

Fresh Beat or Not?

Quote 7:

Turn up the lights in here, baby.

Extra bright. I want y'all to see this. 

Turn up the lights in here, baby. 

Fresh Beat or Not?

Quote 8:

Your the smile that makes time fly by

You make me laugh

You don't have to try

Fresh Beat or Not?

Quote 9: 
Just shoot for the stars
If it feels right
And aim for my heart

If you feel like

Fresh Beat or Not? 

Quote Ten:

Hey Girls, Shout it out

Put your Hands up

Put your Hands up

Fresh Beat or Not? 

That was 10. 

Are you ready for those results? 

1. Fresh Beat

2. Not 

3. Not

4. Fresh Beat

Just Another Perfect Day 

5. Fresh Beat

Music Keeps Me Moving

6. Not

7. Not

8. Fresh Beat

9. Not

10. Fresh Beat

Nicki Minaj! 

Katy Perry! 

And the Queen of the Grammy 2012 Adele too!

Yup, I went there. 

So how did you do? 

They are a catchy little group, right? I bet you even enjoyed it a bit too. 

Linking up with Yeah Write for my weekly punishment!

Where's the Party?

Growing up, did you like school?

Does the thought of returning to see those folks stir up emotion? 

Good?

Bad?

Indifference?

Rachel at Totally Ovar It asked us Listicle participants to weigh either the pros or cons of attending one's school reunion. 

First hand experience from attending my ten year has led me to realize my list of pros for attending another class reunion has all but disappeared, and this comes from a gal who had a fairly okay time during high school. Attending my reunion did help my sister, whom as former class President, better prepare for her own ten year reunion two years later. She learned what NOT to do from the crappy evening that ensued, and from my own experience I can share the 

Ten Ways to Prevent One's Class Reunion from Turning 

into a Lame Ass party. 

1. Pick a Good Location
Unless it's a prom or a wedding, most people are not up for a random Friday night in a cheesy ballroom.

2. Pick an appropriate sized location.
To piggy back #1, having an over sized, ornate venue only half filled makes for a rather sad and depressing site.

3. Set the site to encourage communication
A wedding reception it is not, so steer clear of large formal tables and chairs. Such an environment prevents easy communication which is the exact opposite motivation for the evening. High small tables, food stations throughout the room, a bar all encourage guests to get up and move.

4. Have decent food
One does not want a sit down four course dinner at a class reunion.  Offer a wide variety of appetizers and snack type food and spread them out throughout the site.

5. Make sure there's a Bar
Sounds rather self explanatory to me.
Nicely staffed and stacked. Liquor makes people talk, share, and laugh freely. It also makes them slur words, get overly touchy, and emotional, so make sure to have good bartenders too.

6. Use Social Media
Attempting to swirl up classmates from the great divide has just gotten easier through Facebook and other social networking sites. Using them to encourage attendance is an easy way to expand the guest list.

7. Bury the Hatchet
(Or at least for the night)
Gossiping and whispering is so, well....high school.
And aren't we so over that?
Suck it up for the evening, paste on a smile and be nice to everyone. Far more easier then being bitchy to some twit who was mean in fifth period Spanish ten years ago.
Kill 'em with kindness.

8. Talk it up
Isn't that why one attends a class reunion?
To have a reunion with members of the class, conversation is a must. Ask lots of questions, people generally love talking about themselves and listen. Surprises may be in store when life successes (and sometimes failures) are revealed throughout the night.

9. Dress Appropriately
Again, it's a reunion, not prom. Skip the formal attire.  Also, since all the guests have graduated the same year, chances are the ages are all rather similar. Skip the junior aisle for something more age appropriate.

10. Have Fun.
Even if the food sucks, the liquor is in short supply, and the venue seems more funeral then party, make it work! Chances are the person you are now, as an adult is far more self assured and interesting than that teen at graduation.

What do you think? Solid rules and did they apply for your reunion or did you not go? Have a story to share or reasons why?
 Feel free to link up!

Priorities

Traditionally, during the Lent, those forty days and nights leading up to Easter, one gives up something they value. My friend Aly, a soda fanatic, is giving up Mountain Dew and any other carbonated beverage, while my Mom is giving up carbs. I assume my sister Jeanna is giving up cake, cookies, and sweets, as is her usual. Up until early this morning I had intended to give up ice cream, just as I have every year since childhood.

Waking up before the girls this morning, I lay in my bed, eyes closed, letting my mind wander. During those minutes, I went over my plan for the day. First to the library, for our usual story hour, then I will venture to Church alone with the girls for the first time for Ash Wednesday services. I truly hope God has a sense of humor, as I do believe Moira may lose her crap when and if the priest attempts to put ashes on her head.

It was in those minutes I thought about how I spend my day, my usual every day. I will admit I became quite embarrassed as I calculated the amount of time I spent tweeting, blog hopping, Facebooking, pinteresting, and the like.

For all the time I spent on social networking sites, I am losing out on honest, real life socialization.

I am guilty of forgoing playing with my children on occasion for blogging. It abhors me to think of those moments when they ask to play and I respond, "One more minute!" while I'm pinning silly crafts on Pinterest.
Those conversations I could have had with Bry at night are instead missed will I tweet and read updates on facebook.

How much time do I authentically spend in the moment: playing? talking? interacting? really listening?

Not enough.

I can do better.

I will do better.

This year for Lent, I will be giving up my social networking dependence. Starting today, I will eliminate those moments I spend in front of the computer when my children are awake and instead actively become involved. Bye Bye morning twitter and Facebook! No more pinning in between preschool pick up and lunchtime. And maybe, just perhaps all those pins I have on my pin board for Kids will come in handy?

Ben & Jerry's your safe this year, as I'm giving up my bad mommy habits this year for Lent.

The Cleaner

What does your mother do for a job? 

My mom had always wanted to be "just a mom" and so upon graduating high school in the business track. She spent a few years as a secretary before marriage. Stay at home motherhood began a little over nine months later with the birth of me, and for the next fifteen or so years, she relished in that role. 

As stay at home motherhood became less of a full time position for her it became necessary for her to get a job. Without a professional degree and only a few years passed as a secretary, she was left to her own devices. After a not so nice few years being bullied at the local eye doctor's office, she decided to make it on her own.  Having a great report with children, she ran a daycare out of our home. After getting her fill of changing other children's crappy diapers, she took a turn into house cleaning full time. She has since become a pet sitter, house sitter, works at the childcare area at the local Y, and most recently procured a job at the local large chain grocery store.

Tired yet? 

One would think that her time as a house cleaner would be the catalyst to keep my own home meticulous. 

Nope. 

I hate cleaning. 

I never find myself motivated to clean. I never have been propelled to leave the couch to sweep the floor. Never has it been deemed a necessity to scrub the oven with a toothbrush or mop the hardwoods with Murphy oil soap & water. 

So in turn this week's topic for listicles chosen by Wendy of ten things you'd rather do then clean the house was simply too obtuse. 

I'd rather do anything then clean. 

I've decided to take this one and turn it about a bit. Consider it an ode to our cleaning lady, Denise. 

10 Things I'd be Willing to Give Up to Keep our Cleaning Lady

1. My gym membership 

2. Buying Organic

3. Bravo TV 

(GASP- no housewives or Top Chef!) 

4. Some of our cable stations
(really do we need nearly 1000 channels?)

5. Take out meals

6. My collection of Flip Flops 

7. Mo's nap

(yes, I went there)

8. Wawa
This probably would  be worse at 10 pm on any given weekday when I'm jonesing for some Ben & Jerry's. 

9. Facebook & Twitter

10. Pedicures

What would you rather be doing then housework? Feel free to join the link up!

Morning Surprise

I shouldn't have shared our secret.

Not that Bry and I have super powers.

Or that I'm that mom.

Nope. 

It's the one where I shared how we split the "disgusting" in our household:

Jackie = Team Poo, while Bry is Team = Puke. 

I should have known better then to divulge this information to the blogosphere. 

I should have kept my big mouth shut. 

Why? 

I can feel the sand between my toes, as I head into the crisp, blue sea. The salty air hitting my face, as the sea gulls fly over head. I am someplace exotic, warm, and tropical. All my worries gone, as I wade deeper in the water. 

"Mom! Mommy! Mommy!" the voice sounds far away, perhaps out in the sea. 

"Hmm?" I ask, blocking the rays from my face. "what?"

"Mom! MAMA!" the voice louder, as I turn around and

open my eyes. 

Lying in my bed, cuddled between the sheets, I hear my name again. 

6:12 am. 

Leaving my paradise behind, I stumble across the hallway to Maeve's room. Her sweet voice calling my name again. 

Opening the door, the glow of her nightlight shines on her face. 

"What's going on Shine?" I ask, walking around to the side of the crib, when I see it. 

All of it has been overtaken. 

The sheets, 

the stuffed animals,

the pajamas, 

the crib slats, 

all covered in vomit. 

"Hi mom!" she says, reaching her arms up to me. Her pajamas and sleep sack covered in the same reddish hue. 

F**K ME, as I feel my dinner from the night before churning in my stomach.

Carefully picking her up from the confines of the vomit filled crib, I manage to supress my own vomit, as I disrobe her. Her face, hair, and hands have somehow managed to stay clean.

Yeah, thank you God!

So I slap some new pjs on her with the intention of sweeping her up and plopping her in my bed as Bry takes over. 

"Paci?"

Her baby blues look up to me.


Crap

Looking to the shelf where they lay, it's empty. 

Crap

My eyes scan the contaminated crib. 

Crap again

Among the small piles of regurgitated dinner, I see it. 

Crap to the fourth

"Paci!" she cries, nuzzling her head into my shoulder. She rolls her face towards me and says it again as our eyes meet, "Paci?"

Crapty Crap Crap!

I did not sign up for this. I'm TEAM POO! This is obviously vomit, so what the hell am I doing sticking my hand into a vomit filled crib grabbing a plastic paci that will eventually return to her mouth? 

Somehow, I manage to pick up, with only my fingertips the blue plastic sucker. Dangling it out front, as far from my nasal passages as possible, I head into the bathroom. Thinking the pressure from the spout will be enough to wash off the puke, I hold it under.

Wrong.

It's dried a bit, so I must actually, between gags, use my fingers to scrap off the dried puke, now reconstituted in the water to wet puke.

Yes, dried puke introduced to water now has become wet puke again* and like the go getter parent I am, I'm scrubbing it off into my recently cleaned bathroom sink.

*I just threw up in mouth a bit when I typed that sentence. 

Getting the paci back to acceptable cleanliness, I plop that baby in her mouth, and into our bedroom we roll.

Climbing into the bed, pulling the covers up over the toddler resting on my chest, I nudge sleeping Bry, hard.

"Maeve has puked all over." I say.

Hearing puke must have alerted his senses, because this is most awake I've ever seen him before seven am.

"You need to clean it up, " I mutter, as I close my eyes.

"Got it!" he says, wiping the sleep from his own eyes, as he heads out the door akin to a Zombie.

Not more then a minute later, he's awake, wide awake, as he pushes open the door again to say, "Oh my God Jac, what the f--k did she do? I don't even know where to start?"

"I'd get some paper towels and the spray downstairs." I say, closing my eyes again, readjusting the covers around Maeve and I.

He's Team Puke after all. I have every confidence he can figure out how to clean it up, while Maeve and I finish our nap. 

I do believe this post is "Yeah Write" worthy and so I"m linking up with that fabulous Erica.

Years

The sound of the snore occasionally makes it way down onto the first floor. The regular cadence indicating you are soundly asleep, something that left me nearly two hours ago. 

It's your thirty-fourth birthday, and as my first gift of the day I am letting you sleep for seven more minutes. 

Thank me later, by running out and getting me a cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese, while I navigate an mid morning bath with Moira and Maeve. Not our usual routine, but a birthday party later in the day (not for you) insists on cleanly children. 

Instead of a day filled with birthday revelry, you will be sitting in a big warehouse somewhere in Philadelphia attempting to win a new kitchen table and perhaps a rug for our living room. Your father would probably have laughed and shook his head to see his son at an auction. But alas, that's where you'll be. 

Racing home in early afternoon, you'll meet us and pile into the minivan to head to a Princess extravaganza. Not quite the romantic dinners of yesterday, but you will be with us, your three girls. 

It's your birthday, my love! We're celebrating the way a young family does, with handmade cards, gingerly wrapped presents and lots of laughter. 

While it might not be filled with the debauchery of our younger days, it is exactly the way I always had hoped, and I know you did too, in our home, with our children, and each other. 

Happy Birthday to my favorite! 

It's 9:00 am time to wake up. 

xoxo Jackie

Captured

In between the giggles of anticipation and the squeals of delight, they paused for a moment. 

It isn't every day, one sees the incomparable Laurie Berkner and her namesake band live in concert!

Linking up with the always fantastic duo of Galit & Alison for their Monthly photo link up:  

Memories Captured.