NKOTBSB, Baby!

Ok, this post has been a long time in coming. Much like me waiting something like 15 yrs to see New Kids on the Block in concert. Like everything in my life, it all eventually works out in the end.

So most may remember how excited I was when I got my tickets for this concert. If not, please revisit this post. Ever since I saw NKOTBSB on Dancing with the Stars I knew I had to go. I knew hubby would probably not like it but he'd get me the tickets. If it couldn't be done I was prepared to be heart broken and understanding. Lucky for me that he was able to pull it off.

So the day of the concert dawned. The night before that witch Fate slapped me with massive migraine that still wasn't gone by morning. I threw everything I had at that headache with little results. I told Rach not to worry nothing was keeping me from this concert and definitely not the mother of all migraines.

By mid morning at my place crap was hitting the fan. Thankfully, for once, it didn't involve me. I won't go into it but it was bad y'all. So I hurried myself up to get out by noon. Rach and I had already planned on making the most out of this concert day by spending as much BFF time as we could beg, borrow, or steal.

Once I got to her place the comedy of errors and the blind leading the blind commenced. We both thought the TRE (it's a train from Ft Worth to Dallas) would be running. By the time we walked from the station we were dropped off at to the other one in downtown Ft Worth I'd already discovered I had left the envelope with the tickets in it on her couch. Pretty sure this occurred when she handed me something to put in my purse. At least we weren't on our way to Dallas or in Dallas when this was discovered. So, she called her hubby and he brought the tickets. Maybe 10 minutes later we discovered the TRE didn't run on Sundays except for special events and apparently concerts weren't one of them. So, Rach called her hubby once again. God love him, he drove us to Dallas and dropped us off. It was like 3pm or so when we got there.

Now begins the real blind leading the blind. Neither of us are really familiar with the area around the American Airlines Center (AAC). We whipped out our so called smart phones to find a restraunt. I think we circled the block several times looking for an El Fenix we never found. Then it appeared like an angel from heaven, or not, Hooters! We made the mutual decision that we were tired of walking and dripping buckets of sweat just to find sustenance. Hooters it was. Neither of us was disappointed. We ordered waters, a Shiner for me, and a Coke for her. Rach even braved a taste of my beer. I so should've snapped a pic of the face she made. Rach ordrered mild wings and I ordered a bleu cheese burger. Both were delish. Though I took her word on the wings, I'm not a wings gal. Then we decided on dessert. I had the key lime pie and she had cheese cake. We sampled each others desserts. I practically devoured mine. We had such a blast just sitting there eating and chatting. I don't think it'd have mattered if the food wasn't to our liking. We were out of the heat. We were hanging out. It was like the old days before we were married and had kids.

At about 5:30 pm we paid our bill and tipped the waitress. Both of us were shocked just how close we were to the AAC. Damn smart phone gps map walking navagation! Anyways, once there we commenced waiting in line to be let in. We had read that it would open 1hr before the event. That was 6:30pm. So there we stood chatting and melting but happy to be there. Then a miracle happened, the doors to the AAC opened about 20 minutes earlier than expected! Cool air rushed out to greet us. As I handed the tickets to the checker I held my breath and was prepared to hand her my letter from Stub Hub should there be a problem. The words, "Thank you have a fun time!" came out of her mouth. YES! Next mission, find a bathroom! Neither Rach nor I used the bathroom at Hooters. Rach started to but immediately deemed it unuseable. After washing my hands and face I began applying my lip stain, eye shadow and pinching my cheeks. I think I saw Rach giggle a bit at my girlyness. I even offered to share my make up. (Yeah, I know all about not sharing make up) She turned me down. I laughed and told her it felt like high school all over again.

There was a stop at the souvenir stand to buy shirts. Practically had to twist Rach's arm to get her to pick her one. She was all like, I only want a shirt and they are pricey. Told her, "I told you to pick what you wanted. So?" Yeah, she and I can be kinda pushy to each other when we know the other can't get something but we can get it for them. After that it was off to find our seats.

More comedy of errors, we sat in the wrong section. To be fair, they weren't well marked and we were pointed there. Once we were alerted to the error we apologized and went to find our seats, again. Turns out, our seats were better than where we started out. I am telling you I had no idea the seats were that good. The seating chart online did not do it justice at all.

We hadn't been in our seats long before two more girls sat down. They were 20 somethings and asked us if we were there for New Kids or Backstreet Boys. I giggled thinking that should be obvious but answered New Kids just to be polite. They were even kind enough to snap a pic of us in our seats. Hell, we were snapping pics left and right.

Concert time! Well almost, first came the first opening act. Some forgettable girl named Ashlyne Huff. Snooze fest. Intermission for stage reset then came the second opening act, Jordain Sparks. OMG! She was amazing! Even I had underestimated her. That girl can sing and put on a show! Another intermission to reset the stage. 

FINALLY! After what seemed like forever! It was NKOTBSB time! I'll probably gloss over all these details cause OMG were they flippin AWESOME! Plus, it was like a dream. I mean I was there and some things are crystal clear but others are remembered through a haze of excitement.

I mean I loved, ok still do, NKOTB! I liked Backstreet Boys. I was way more excited over NKOTB than BSB but was I ever pleasantly amazed! I cannot tell you what order songs were sung in. All I can tell you is that once they took the stage it was nearly pandemonium! Screams so loud I am sure someone must've passed out. As a super group they were superb! Separately just as entertaining! Both groups never had a dull moment. The concert had smooth transitions throughout. From NKOTBSB to start with to NKOTB to BSB then back to NKOTBSB. I knew most all the songs with exception to couple of the BSB songs. During one BSB song they brought 4 girls on stage and OMG how I wished it coulda been me but still....SO SO AWESOME! Then of course was the encore! Both groups performing separately and then together. OR was it the other way around? Either way, AWESOME! At one point they performed there mash up as duel, so to speak (I don't know what you officially call that). Probably not a question for the Backstreet Boys, but both groups definitely still got it! At the end they were all wearing Mavs jerseys and I so wish my phone hadn't died so I coulda got a pic of that! Also, Donnie, threw two shirts into the crowd. One was that Mavs jersey. Damn! I wished it was me who got it but it was tossed at the end of the cat walk stage. *sigh*

Our seats, not that we actually sat in them during the concert, were so great we could see the sweat dripping off them! We were so close to the stage and speakers, plus I've heard that AAC is one of the loudest places, that hearing after the concert was damn near impossible. Our voices? What voices? Not ashamed to say we sang, danced, and screamed like we were teens! I'm pretty sure I yelled DONNIE! When he was right in front of us. Even decided that AJ guy from BSB was almost as sexy as Donnie. Rach decided she needed a bad boy to go along with her Joey! Does it seem strange for two thirty somethings to be talking like this? Well, maybe not and if so, pretty sure neither of us cares. 

This was the BEST concert I've ever, EVER been to! For Rach, it was her first and I'm probably being a bit cocky when I say she may never top this experience, ever! The next day was full on recovery mode. We got back to her house bout 1am ish. I got home just before 2 am. She couldn't hear or talk. I had a raspy thing going on and hearing out of right ear was non existent. My back took several days to get back to normal. Something bout all that screaming, singing, and jumping around...who knew thirty somethings probably should take it easy on that stuff...NOT! 

That's pretty much it, or as best as I can recall and relate.

Please enjoy the pics below =) Took as many as I could before stupid ph died. I so shoulda taken my camera.

Me at Hooters

Rach at Hooters

Us Posing in front of stage (wrong section but didn't know it at the time)

Rach in front of stage 

Me in front of stage

Our view of the Catwalk (by now we were in our correct section/seats)

Us in our seats

Our view of the Main Stage

Jordain Sparks

1 of 2 screens above stage on each side

OMG!! THERE THEY ARE!! NKOTBSB, BABY!!!

NKOTBSB Rockin the Main Stage

NKOTBSB Rockin the Catwalk

DONNIE!!! (NKOTB) So Uber Sexy!!

BSB Rockin the Catwalk

AJ McLean and Howie Dorough (Thanks to albalass for letting me know about Howie)

AJ the BSB "Bad Boy" 

Nick Carter (Thanks again to albalass for clueing me in)

DONNIE!!!

Took Theses The Next Day

Front of My Shirt

Back of My Shirt

Writer's Workshop ~ Challenging? Yes!

Linking up with Mama Kat and her Pretty Much World Famous Writer's Workshop.

The Prompts:

1.) Describe a memorable first date.
2.) Write about a child you find inspiring.
3.) What do you find most challenging about blogging?
4.) Name a pet peeve you have about how other parents raise their kids. Go on…stir the pot.
5.) We often spend time and energy talking about people in our lives we don’t see enough of. Describe a person in your life you are in contact with often. What does he/she mean to you?
6.) If you could thank your mom for anything, what would it be? Create a video thanking her for something.

I'm going with Prompt 3: What do you find most challenging about blogging?

Where to start? 

First, let's start with time. I have 3 kids. Squeezing in me time that usually includes blogging (either writing or reading or both) is difficult. It requires me to make sure all kids are happy and occupied or I blog around them. Blogging around them means I start and then leave it for a bit coming back to it when I have yet another free moment. Blogging in the morning or evening when they are not awake is whole other issue. My son sleeps in our room on a pallet in the floor. That pallet? Just happens to be right in front of my desktop computer. Thus, no computer while he's sleeping. Hubby does have a lap top but I rarely get to use it when the kids are asleep. Cause he's using it for his ebay stuff or whatever.

Second, let's talk about topics? I simply almost never can blog every day because I do not always have something I believe is worthy enough to post. Or sometimes, thanks to the time thing, I know what I want to post but can't because of time.

Example: I've been wanting to blog for days about my NKOTBSB concert experience but haven't been able to. Everything I want to say is all jumbled up and then when I do have the time suddenly all that info is gone. Plus in regards to this I have pics I want to share and have yet to get them from my stupid phone to the computer or to my blogger thing.

Third, there's really no third. Or maybe there was and it just got lost in the jumbledness (that's probably not a word but deal with it, lol) that is my brain. I want to be one of those super awesome bloggers talk about/look up to but really, I don't see that happening anytime soon. I'm happy to post as I can. I'm not gonna lie, I love when I post and it gets good feed back. Either in the form of comments, tweets, or facebook. 

So there you have it. My blogging challenge. What's yours?

Vlog Talk ~ A Song for My 20s

Ok, so I'm linking up with Elena from Mommy Is In Timeout, Jessica from My Time As Mom, & Kate from Mommy Monologues. For their weely....






This Week The Topics Are:


1. A song that best describes your early 20s/college years…tell us about it.

2. Introduce your pets (submitted by Crunchy Navy Wife)
3. Your favorite outfit and why (submitted by Mama Wants This)

First off...  Missed y'all the last, what is it 2wks? Anyways, I'm back this week. YAY!


So, I chose 1: A song that best describes your early 20s/college years.

By 1998 I had been married going on 2 years. We had no kids and we both worked our tails off. By the time I was 23 we added Sean to our family. Below is my Vlog on my song choice.

I love how YouTube finds the worst pic to freeze on. Makes me wonder why any one watches me. =P

Savage Garden  ~ Truly, Madly, Deeply

I'm Sorry, did you say something?

Linking up with the most wonderous Mama Kat Writer's Workshop.

The Prompts:

1.) List 10 things you wish you could say to strangers who share unsolicited advice about your parenting skills.
2.) Write a poem inspired by a picture you took last week. Share both!
3.) Create a bucket list of 50 things you want to do this summer (with or without the kids!)
4.) A country you would like to visit.
5.) What is something you could stand to learn from your significant other?
6.) Getting kids dressed? Cooking dinner? Bed time? Create a video that describes the most difficult part of the day for you.

Let's be honest here, we're all human, right? Well, most of us anyways. We all agree there are days our kids could be better and there are days we could be better. But at the end of the day if I still have the same three kids I started out with (or more if I'm sitting/entertaining others) then I think it's a good day. Even if said day ended up with me practically shoving my kids in bed and tying them down for good measure. (totally joking, in case anyone wonders)

I think I speak for most all parents especially those of special needs types that what you may misbehaving may actually be something more. So you really shouldn't say anything cause you have no flippin clue what is goin on. I know have a son who is ADHD/Bipolar/ODD makes me see things differently than I otherwise might. So when I see kids misbehaving, I don't usually feel the need to comment unless those kids are in danger or endangering others.

So, without further ado, 10 things you wish you could say to strangers who share unsolicited advice about your parenting skills.

10) Who died and made you boss of me? 

9) WOW! You are so smart, please go run the country or something.

8) Are you a parent? Cause seriously, you have no clue!

7) Why thank you, they're my little heathen devils and I love em like that!

6) So happy I could make your day and give you something else to gripe about!

5)  Awesome! Now I know what I'm doing wrong. Thanks for sharing.

4) So, you're a kids fashion expert, too?

3) No, my mother didn't teach me anything at all. My daddy taught me to take no crap from anyone!

2) Is that your kid over there hanging off the shelf?

1) Please for the love of God, if you have a complaint tell it to my face rather than rudely stating it as you pass me. Otherwise, follow this rule: If you cannot say something nice do not say anything at all. 

Writer's Workshop ~ Get Over It

Linking up with Mama Kat and her Pretty Much Would Famous Writer's Workshop.

The Prompts:

1.) Last week you chose a 6 word memoir to share…this week elaborate. Tell us the story or thought process behind the sentence you wrote.
2.) Write a dramatic synopsis of a memorable day in your life, as if it was a movie or TV series.
3.) Describe what you think your life would be like if you had never had kids.
4.) In honor of the “white” after Memorial Day rule, name a fashion rule that you either break or enforce.
5.) Share a memorable road trip story!

6.) Vlog: Summer is here and it’s time to hit the water…will you be jumping in with the kids? How do you feel about prancing around in your swimsuit?

Let's talk about swim suits and summer. I love summer and water fun. They just go hand in hand. Toss in some popsicle or snow cones and Oh My! Summer is a time for freedom to run rampant. Though as adults, we seem to lose some of the awesomeness that is summer. Generally, we just think there's stuff we need to do and really no time for fun. Sometimes, we just need to get over it.

The below Vlog is probably not my best and I talk more about the dreaded swim suits than summer fun, sorry bout that.

Vlog Talk ~ Annoying Much?!

Linking up with Jessica from My Time As Mom, Elena from Mommy is in Timeout, & Kate from Mommy Monologues for Vlog Talk!

The Prompts:

1.) A toy your child(ren) play with that drives you up the wall and why.

2.) Your favorite meal.

3.) How you met your spouse/significant other (inspired by A Mommy in the City)

If you do prompt 3 you can also link it up with Project Marriage like I did.

For more information on VlogTalk or to have the prompts emailed directly to you go here.

The weekly #VlogTalk Twitter chat is Tuesday June 7th from 6pm to 7pm PST. Hope to chat with you there (until I get sent to #twitterjail).

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Let's talking annoying toys.

For the record the toys in my Vlog are my kids current annoying toys. The King of Annoying Toys goes to that long ago retired (forcibly retired) musical baby rattle (played classical and lit up)  Sean had. We called it the Chucky Rattle. This rattle would go off all by itself without Sean shaking it. It got lost in our living room and took me weeks to find and retire it.

WARNING! In the video these toys look cute and harmless. Don't be fooled! Just imagine these critters running amok all over the place all day long!

Yes, I did forget to say why these critters are annoying but I think you get the point. If not, reread above, replay video at least 100 times, and then picture these things in your house taking over!

Hopelessly Klutzy

Once again linking up with Mama Kat's Pretty Much World Famous Writer's Workshop.


3.) Describe a talent or flaw that seems to be in your genes.


Well, I don't have much in scientific proof to support the theory that I have a Hopeless Klutz gene. I don't think it's a flaw, just a unique view of the world. Talent, well it could be that. The kind of talent that requires no effort at all.


I don't know anyone else in my family that came before me that shares in my klutzyness. I do think that I have passed it to the youngest of my three kids. 


Let's just look at a list of things I have done or happened to me.


~ Way back in 1st grade played dodge ball. Got hit in the nose with a ball cause to slow in ducking. (really I was just that bad at the game). FFW to Senior Game Day in HS. Dodge Ball does me in again.  Once again, hit in nose, by QB of our football team, at least I'm pretty sure it was.


~ Once  I got my hair stuck in a hand crank car window. 


~ Hit myself in my own head w/my own car door.


~ Walked into a wall at school. (No I wasn't drunk)


~ Almost daily I run into something in the house. This morning, it was the fan in my room. 


That's just the list of stuff that came immediately to mind.


My Meggie is 4. I see her do these kinds of things all the time. I cannot tell you how many walls she's walked into. She has got the Klutz gene. Yet to be determined if it's the hopeless variety. I'm sure Meggie has had other klutz moments but right now as I type this I just have hit a blank. 


I was hoping to finish this with a little wit and humor but alas I find I cannot.


I'm sure when Rach reads this she'll be nodding her head in agreement with the above statements. Pretty sure she probably has even better examples.

Growing Up & the Tooth Fairy

So, I'm sitting outside enjoying watching Meggie play. As I watch her, I kinda wish I could just keep her this age a little longer.

I got to thiking bout this after Bridgette lost a front tooth last night. See, every time Bridge loses a tooth, Meg asks when she's gonna start losing her teeth. I realized this morning that it's a lot closer than it seems.

I'm pretty sure the actual reason she wants to lose her baby teeth is that she wants a visit from the Tooth Fairy.

Now, our Tooth Fairy never pays more than a $1.50 a tooth. The least she pays is $0.50. It's all very precise. Takes into account what tooth was lost, how it was lost, how traumatic was it (dentist maybe), and how much change is on the Tooth Fairy at the time.

I get that, I do. I get that since getting her piggy bank she's busting a gut to fill it.

At same time I'm wishing Meggie didn't want to grow up so fast, Bridge is growing up way fast. Sean, too. When did they all get so big? Needing me just a little less every day.

The Tooth Fairy is not the beginning of growing up. I just think it's the most notable mile stone and sign that they are.

It all is just too much for me to put into words right now. And it all started with Bridge losing her first front tooth. Her telling me hard it was to talk with that tooth missing. Then Meg asking when she was gonna lose her baby teeth.

*le sigh*