I started this blog with one daughter, kept it up with the other, to spend time together doing something we enjoyed.
However, things change and people evolve. My daughters are older, busier, and not as interested in writing.
From now on this blog will be mostly mom with occasional contributions from my daughters and maybe even my husband.
Nothing else will change. We'll still focus on sharing fun places to go, fun things to do, and more, and we would  still love to hear your views too

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Theater Thursday - Current and Upcoming Broadway(and Off Broadway) Shows Covered at BroadwayCon 2020

One of the most fun parts of BroadwayCon is getting a closer look at both current and upcoming Broadway shows with Spotlight Panels and having the opportunity to listen to the songs from some of those shows and more with First Look.

This year's current Broadway show panels included:


Jagged Little Pill

Moulin Rouge

Dear Evan Hansen

Beetlejuice

Hadestown

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child



This year's upcoming Broadway show panels included:

Six
Mrs. Doubtfire

This year's First Look was better than ever and covered even more shows than ever even a pair of Off Broadway shows.

It included the following current shows:

Hadestown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6F7IHsb0o8

Jagged Little Pill
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcuKoFmc0Cs
It included the following upcoming Broadway shows: 

Mrs. Doubtfire
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA64E9Q4Sho

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCkXClzvmL4

Company
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7k0qn0TBMA

Sing Street
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1S4fVgy1sg
The Girl From North Country
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llj5IFpyRb0

and

Caroline or Change
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R1qc_oekco
Off Broadway was represented by : 

The currently running:

Emojiland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU6xUEkQQ9k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATTMY0-uYG4
As well as the upcoming:
Between the Lines
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4foArumm8sI
The show panels were interesting and informative. The performances were amazing!  It looks like it's going to be another awesome Broadway season!

Tune in Sunday for this week's Sunday Scoop and tune in Monday for a wrap-up of this year's BroadwayCon.

Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Where-To-Go Wednesday - Looking Back at BroadwayCon 2020

Today kicks off our annual BroadwayCon coverage which will continue tomorrow and Monday. We were given complimentary tickets to BroadwayCon for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

What: BroadwayCon

Where: Hilton Midtown 
            1335 Avenue of the Americas
            New York, New York

Who: All ages

When: This year's event took place from Saturday January 24 - Sunday June 26

BroadwayCon takes place over three (3) days in January. It is the largest gathering of those who work on Broadway or in Broadway related fields and the fans. If you love Broadway, you definitely want to make it to BroadwayCon at least once. 

If you didn't make it to this year's BroadwayCon here is what you missed:

1) Performances by some of Broadway's most popular stars like

Britton Smith

Leslie Margherita

Taylor Iman Jones

2) Broadway Panels on interesting topics like:


Conversations with Broadway Stage Managers

The Next Generation of Broadway Playwrights

What Does Diversity in Theatre Actually Mean

For the Long Run: Off Broadway Shows

and more


3) Live Podcast Recordings like:


Deep Dive Live with Cast Members and Crew from Come From Away

Feinsteins 54 Below with Jelani Remy

Breaking Broadway with Kerry Butler and Sierra Boggess

Producer's Perspective with Alex Brightman

and more

4) The BroadwayCon Museum which this year featured designs by women like those for: 

Six
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
Bring It On

and more
5) The Marketplace where you could:

Learn about current or upcoming shows

Purchase Broadway merchandise

Sign up for Broadway related classes

or even

Register to Vote

and more


Tune in to tomorrow for Theater Thursday  where we will be talking about this year's BroadwayCon show panels , and for even more about BroadwayCon and/or to sign up for updates so you don't miss next year's BroadwayCon, visit www.broadwaycon.com.

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Tips for Tuesday - Books: Love Lettering & The Lookalike

We may have been given complimentary copies of one or more of the books mentioned below for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

Books: Love Lettering and The Lookalike


See the source image

Mom - Today I am recommending two books. The first book I am recommending is Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn. Meg is good at picking up signs and she often hides messages in the custom lettered designs she prepares in her job. When she hides the word "mistake" in Reid's wedding invitations, he tracks her down to find out how she knew his marriage wasn't going to work out. She convinces him to go out looking for signs with her, and they begin to develop a friendship and maybe even more. However, there are still things about Reid that Meg doesn't know. Things that could destroy both their lives. This is a charming and delightful story. The relationship between Meg and Reid is so sweet and touching. It is so believable the way their relationship slowly builds. It is much more realistic than the love at first sight or hate at first site that happens so often in fiction, but less often in real life. These characters will stay in your heart even after you have finished reading this book. 

Image result for the look alike erica spindler


Mom - The second book I am recommending is The Look-Alike by Erica Spindler. Coming home from her college library one night, Sienna discovered a murdered girl dressed in the exact same coat she was wearing. Shortly after she was sent to London allegedly to get away from her  mentally ill mother's delusions.Years later, Sienna returns home, she finds that she may have been the intended murder victim and her life may still be in danger. This hair-raising book has a lot of twists and turns. Every time, you think you've figured out exactly what is going on, it takes a spin and veers off in another direction. Although the ending is not a complete surprise, it is not completely predictable either. There are a lot of different ways the story could go, and you will not be sure exactly which path it will take until you get there.

And that's Mom's view. Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

Monday, January 27, 2020

Giveaway: Win a bunch of great prizes in the Great Valentines Day Giveaway!

All opinions expressed herein are my own!
Here is a great brought you courtesy of one of our fellow bloggers. Enter to win a lot of great prizes!


Make Valentine's Day 2020 your favorite day of the year! Your main objective this year is to tell (or show) your loved ones how much you care for them and how much you appreciate having them in your lives. You can do this by buying them a truly special gift, going on an adventure/family outing, or with a loving note or message. Whatever way you choose to do it, make sure it is heartfelt and will be a lasting memory for years to come!

Welcome to the Great Valentine's Day Giveaway

& Prizes Event at Mommy's Playbook!


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ENTER TO WIN a “You Tickle My Heart” TickleMe Plant Gift Box! You and your loved one can grow a unique alternative to roses this Valentine's Day! Did you know the TickleMe Plant actually closes its leaves when you touch it or blow on the leaves? It's true! Just blow it a kiss and watch The TickleMe Plant close its’ frond-like leaves. I bet red roses can't do that!

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Winning Moves Classic Games and Family Favorites

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Enter to Win teh Great Valentine's Day Giveaway & Prizes Event at Mommy's Playbook
ENTER TO WIN!
ALL OF THE PRIZES LISTED ABOVE
ONE WINNER TAKES ALL!!!!!
The giveaway is open US Only, 18+
The giveaway ends 2/10 at 1159 pm est
Be sure to come back daily for more chances to win.


Mommy’s Playbook Giveaway Rules: This giveaway is Sponsored by all of the brands listed within the giveaway article and hosted by Mommy’s Playbook. Victoria and/or Mommy’s Playbook, Participating bloggers, are not responsible for prize fulfillment. By entering this giveaway you are giving the giveaway host and/or event sponsor permission to retain your email address for future communication, you may choose to opt-out of such communications at any time. This giveaway is not sponsored or endorsed by any social media outlet including, but not limited to, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest. Please contact Victoria (at) MommysPlaybook.com regarding any questions you have pertaining to this giveaway.

A More Theater Monday Monthly Mashup for January, 2019 Forbidden Broadway and Romeo & Bernadette

We were given complimentary tickets to Forbidden broadway for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.


What: Forbidden Broadway

Where: York Theater
             619 Lexington Ave.
             New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 13 and Up

When: Through February 16, 2020


           

Me - My topic for this month is Forbidden Broadway. Although my mother and sister had previously seen this show at the Triad Theater, I recently had the opportunity to see the show for the first time when it moved to the York Theatre to continue its run. It is a good show. It is really funny. I like that it spoofs Broadway shows. I love spoofs, and I love Broadway shows. I was familiar with all the shows covered in this show although I hadn't seen all of them. You don't have to know a lot about the shows being parodied, but it helps to know at least a little about them to get full enjoyment out of this show. Most of the show covered were Broadway shows that ran this season, but not all of them first opened this season or even ran this season at all. I really liked one skit in which they mentioned a bunch of shows that closed fairly quickly. It brought back memories for me because I had seen a lot of those shows. I also liked a skit about how everything has to be turned into a musical these days. That is so true! If you love theater and you need a good laugh go see this show!

 




We were given free tickets to Romeo & Bernadette for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.


What: Romeo & Bernadette 

Where: Mezzanine Theatre - ART/NY
             502 W. 53rd St.
             New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 13 and Up

When: Through February 16, 2020
            



Mom - My topic for this month is Romeo & Bernadette. Romeo & Bernadette is a musical satire of Romeo and Juliet currently being presented by AMAS Musical Theatre at the Mezzanine Theatre - ART/NY. In this show, Romeo is transported to modern day New York to search for his Juliet and thinks he finds her in a Mafia don's loudmouthed spoiled daughter. The show has an extremely entertaining plot and is full of greatly amusing characters. It is a very funny show and will keep you laughing throughout. The songs were adapted from classical Italian melodies which doesn't seem like it would work it all for a show of this type, but rather seems like it would make the show more of a heavy drama. However, that is not the case at all. The new songs created for the melodies fit the music so perfectly and yet are so brilliantly and hysterically written that they only add to the hilarity of the show. They are not only fun to listen to during the course of the show, you might even want to hear them again.  All in all, this show is just a joyous escapade from beginning to end. You won't want to miss it!



Photo credits: All Forbidden Broadway production photos by Carol Rosegg
                       All Romeo & Bernadette production photos by Russ Rowland

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Online Homeschool Science Classes

This post is sponsored by College Prep Science. 
Just because you decide to homeschool your kids doesn't make you an expert on every subject.
For instance, if science isn't your strong suit, why not have your child's science lessons prepared by
a veteran science teacher.

Greg Landry’s academy of online homeschool science classes for 6th-grade through 12th-grade students offers the expertise of a former college professor/homeschool science teacher with 20+ years of teaching experience and the convenience of not having to leave home. Professor Landry offers: 
  • “College prep” online classes for students who will likely be college science majors
  • “Life prep” online classes for students who likely won’t be college science majors or likely won’t attend college
- Biology - College Prep (9th-12th) - Two Semester Class
- Life Prep Biology (8th-12th) - Two Semester Class
- Chemistry - College Prep (10th-12th) - Two Semester Class
- Life Prep Chemistry (9th-12th) - Two Semester Class
- Life Prep Physics (9th-12th) - Two Semester Class
- Human Anatomy & Physiology (9th-12th) - Two Semester Class
- Pre-Anatomy & Physiology (6th-9th) - One Semester Class
- Pre-Chemistry (6th-9th) - - One Semester Class
- Pre-Biology (6th-9th) - One Semester Class
- Pre-Physics (6th-9th) - One Semester Class
- ACT Prep Bootcamp (8th-12th)
Professor Landry says, “The depth, breadth, and pedagogy of many college-prep Biology, Chemistry and Physics classes leaves many "non-science" students frustrated, uninterested, and ultimately learning very little. I find that students in this situation often miss the big picture and they don't have an overall understanding of the subject matter that is so critical in these sciences. They can't see the forest because they're lost in the trees. Our "life prep" classes are basic high school level classes, enable students to see the forest, and will allow them to learn science through the lens of their God-given interests and talents.”
In the words of a homeschool parent…
"Greg, ...what you did for our daughter will have far-reaching effects. You showed her that learning can be enjoyable..."
Thankful in Indiana
Jim H.
These online homeschool science classes also include lab experiments and graded lab reports in Professor Landry’s virtual homeschool science laboratory. Students attend class weekly (either live or by recording), turn-in homework, and are tested on a regular basis. These classes are all-inclusive and provide students with an enjoyable, comprehensive science experience.
​Homeschool dad, scientist, and former college professor, Greg Landry, offers live, online homeschool science classes, Homeschool ACT Prep Bootcamp, the Homeschool Mom’s Science Podcast, in-person two-day science lab intensives nationwide, freebies for homeschool moms, and student-produced homeschool print publications.