4/15/13 Boston

I talk a lot, I think that shows in my blogging also. I generally have a lot to say to anyone that will listen. So, when words fail me, it's never a good thing. 

Yesterday was a terrible day for my city. Never do you wake up and think, today is the day something terrible will hapen in Boston. In fact, Marathon Monday is such an amazing day for us here. It's a state holiday, Patriots Day; celebrating the start of the Revolutionary War. It's the first day of Spring Break for school kids. It's basically our mark of Spring. That morning is filled with promise and hope whether you are running the marathon or not. The fact that someone took that all away from us yesterday, is unthinkable. 

I am very sad today. I am sad for the loss of lives, one of the three dead was an 8 year old boy from my neighborhood. I am sad for the injured. I am sad for the witnesses. I am sad for my city and our loss of comfort and safety.  

Today is a day that Boston is holding their children and loved ones a little bit closer. It is a day we are taking pictures of our beautiful home on lovely Spring days. It is a forced day of extreme appreciation for all we have. 

Boston will mourn for a long time, in fact, we will never be the same, But this is more then a city, it is a tight community. We will be there for eachother, to talk, to listen, to learn. We will pool our collective sadness for the good of us all. 

Boston will pull through. 

Drool Baby Expo...Giveaway!

 Can you believe it is already May? I can't, in part because that means Arya is going to be 7 months old.  Last year at this time I was pregnant with her and one of the most fun things I got to do as a pregnant mama was attend the Drool Baby Expo. There are definitely perks to living in a city (or even within driving distance), events like Drool being one of them. Now that I have another infant, Drool is still very relevant to me and my life. 

So, what is a baby expo?

"The Drool Baby Expo is modeled after smaller, upscale expo-style events produced by Big City Moms in New York, and Magic Beans is collaborating with Big City Moms to produce Drool, which aims to give new and expectant parents in the Boston-area the opportunity to meet with the people behind all of the most crave-worthy baby brands. It’s also a fantastic networking opportunity, and will feature spa services, prizes, and a sumptuous gift bag."

Basically that means all of the best, latest and greatest in the world of baby goods will all be in one room. Have a stroller addiction? Do you keep buying diaper bags even though you have 4 already? Looking for organic baby food that is so yummy you want to eat it? Drool is the place for you. That is just if you have an infant already. If you are an expectant mama, Drool is pretty much Nirvana. As a blogger I am privy to lots of great products, I get things first before the public, I pride myself on being on the cutting edge of what is available. That being said, in the time between my first baby and my second baby a million and one better baby products were invented. Last year at Drool I got to try out the best in the world of all double strollers which totally helped me decided which was the right one for me. 

Ok so you go to Drool to see the greatest and chat with companies. What else? Well many of the companies and Magic Beans themselves offer really great discounts on products bought during the event. That's a huge perk. See something you loved, why not buy it that night and get it for cheaper then retail? Yes please.  Even better then a discount is the huge raffle. Companies are literally giving away their top of the line goodies and you have a chance to win. 

If all of that isn't enough to entice you into going...there will be cupcakes :)

Drool Baby Expo at The Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts (in Boston's trendy South End) from 5:30pm-9pm on Tuesday, May 15th

Buy Tickets to Drool Baby Expo

I would definitely love to see Boston mamas there! I'm very excited to be giving away a set of VIP tickets to Drool! (which are totally already sold out) 

VIP guests ($60 value per ticket) get special early entry time of 4:30pm, plus a super-premium gift bag, a $25 gift card to Magic Beans, and complimentary spa services, food & beverages, access to exclusive discounts and free raffle prize entries. 

Win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Peter Pan 360, Wow!

Last night we were given the opportunity to see Peter Pan 360 at Boston City Hall Plaza, I jumped at the chance of course. Although I love theatre, I had no idea what to expect from this experience.

The Tent!

The production itself takes place inside of a huge tent that is set up on Boston City Hall Plaza. The tent is part of the 360 experience, which means there are amazing projections all around. When Peter Pan and Tinkerbell take Wendy, John and Michael on their first flight from London (400 miles of a virtual 1904 London)  to Neverland ( "Second star to the right, then straight on 'til morning") children and adults alike are taken on a wondrous journey. The 12 projectors give 360 degree views and  along with the flying characters makes you feel as though you are flying right along with them. Coraline actually lifted her hands into the air, exclaiming "weeee".  With a round center stage, seats all around, there is no "bad" seat in this production. Everyone gets the same amazing experience.

The show itself is based on the original book by J. M. Barrie, not the cartoon version some are so familiar with. For some, this may press the bounds of what is suitable for children, every parent is different. I had no problem with the shows content for my 2 year old daughter. There are sword fights, cannon battles, yelling, death and the very sassy Tinkerbell calls Peter a "silly ass" numerous times. I will say however that never did I feel it was in anyway gratuitous, those proclamations go right in line with Tinkerbells character. My daughter was slightly scared when the Pirates came and went, recognizing they were bad guys from the ominous music. She also found Tick Tock the Crocodile frightening each time he appeared.

Coraline reluctantly meets the crocodile

Crocodile and Nana the dog were both sophisticated, human operated, puppets. They were really awesome to see on stage and behind the scenes. Nana made from old blankets, operated by a puppeteer on stage but you totally forget that he is there. The personality the puppeteers are able to instil in their characters is very neat. Tick Tock is a large crocodile run by two puppeteers. He is made from things you would find in a closet, the majority of his frame made from coat hangers, he is adorned with socks, neckties and clothes pins.

The casting of this show was fantastic! Tinkerbell was definitely a favorite among everyone. To me, she looked like a cute punk rock girl complete with boots, messy hair and mannerisms. Peter Pan was very much the boy who never wants to grow up. Hook was both frightening and funny.

Coraline meeting the puppeteer and Mrs. Darling

I would recommend that anyone and everyone go to see this show! Whether or not you have children, you will thoroughly enjoy this experience. It is awe inspiring, wondrous and amazing. They have truly captured everything that J.M.Barrie intended Peter Pan to be, making us all feel as though we are children flying through the sky. From fairies, to mermaids, pirates and indians, I am thrilled that my daughter go to take a journey into the imagination of this show.

Peter Pan 360 is at Boston City Hall Plaza now through December 31th!

Buy Tickets at PeterPanTheShow.com or at 1-888-772-6849 Boston City Hall Plaza Box Office

Tickets from $35-$100

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