A Trip to Disney with No Kids

Today my husband and I traveled down to Orlando, Florida with out the kids. It's business (wink, wink) for my husband. We left drippy and cold Massachusetts to come to sunny, warm Florida. Oh did I mention we have no kids. My mother is nice enough to watch them for a whole week for me. My mother is awesome.

My girls were thrilled to go to grandma's house, but they would have loved to come with us down here. I would have actually loved to have taken them, but to be honest I don't want them to miss school unless absolutely necessary. Last year they missed three days to go to Disney and they had so much homework to take on the trip and then when they got home they totally melted down. So yes we had a great trip but then I was dealing with two drama queens. Anyway we will be taking them in April as we are Vacation Club members (totally recommend this by the way).

My husband really is on business it just doesn't start until Wednesday. We get to go to Hollywood Studios tomorrow. I love Hollywood Studios. It is my favorite Disney Park. Will blog about it tomorrow.

Cirque du Freak: The Vampire Assistant

Well I just got back from the movies with my 12 year old. We went to see Cirque du Freak: The Vampire Assistant with 4 of her friends. I was the only mom. They were awesome and had the best time. They were so cute getting their ICEEs, popcorn and candy even though it was the day after Halloween. None of them remembered to bring their candy. Well my daughter did because I told her there was no way I was paying for candy not after the haul she got last night.

They picked their seats and giggled through the previews and then were as good as gold through the movie. It was a good movie not Emmy winning or anything, but it greatly entertained five 12 year old girls.

For moms who don't know anything about this movie it's about a boy named Darren not sure the age, but I'm thinking middle school. He's a fairly happy kid popular and gets good grades the only thing is his best friend, Steve, is a trouble maker. They end up going to see this Cirque de Freak show that has come to town. Steve recognizes one of the Freaks as a Vampire and he wants to be one as he has a crummy life. Darren is much more interested in the Vampire's pet spider. Anyway Darren ends up stealing the spider and when Steve finds out he gets bit by her and in order to save Steve's life from the spider bit Darren makes a deal with the Vampire to become his assistant in exchange for the antidote. Darren is then forced to leave home and his family to go live with the Cirque as he is now a freak.

We meet some very interesting characters in this and some of them may be disturbing to some children. I looked away a few times. Sensitive children should not see this. But the majority was fine and the fight scenes were not all that bad. There were definitely some very funny scenes that had the girls really laughing. I do feel this movie is for older tweens. I did not take my 8 year old and I'm glad I didn't she would not have liked it. She'll probably see it when it comes out on DVD, but there really is a difference between seeing a movie in the theater and in your own home.

I would definitely recommend this movie for kids who are really into the vampire thing. It gives a different take than you see in Twilight. The girls truly loved it and left the theater hoping for a sequel and had plans to read all the books as soon as possible. The Cirque du Freak books are written by Darren Shan and definitely worth checking out. There are 12 in all. The first 3 now come in a special movie edition. This is on my daughters Christmas list now. That's what I love about movies based on books especially a series of books. There's more to discover and I love anything that will get my daughter to read.

Happy Crazy Halloween!

Yeah Halloween is here today. My kids love it and I have always thought it was fun. I mean think about it for one night you get to dress up in a costume of your choosing and be someone else and people give you free candy. How could this not be a sweet deal.

Well tonight was a little different for me. My oldest daughter was invited to a party in which they would go trick or treating. She was so excited to be going with all her friends. This is the first year she had ever gone with out me or my husband and I wonder if it will be her last. I mean when are they too old to go trick or treating. The girl across the street from us is 14 and I don't think she's gone out in the last 3 years. It's sad to see them grow out of this.

Anyway I dropped my daughter off at her friends and preceded to twist my ankle in a hole that was covered with leaves. Not fun. Luckily it seems okay just a little sore but none the less a real pain in the you know what. I returned home to find my youngest almost ready to go out and trick or treat. She was a ninja this year and she karate chopped all the way down the street to collect her candy. She loves this costume.

Well we went for an hour and she made out like a bandit. The people in my neighborhood gave out the best candy. She was so tired. I offered to let her keep going, but she said she was good.

Now we're home I'm starving and all we have to eat is chocolate and skittles. This may seem like a fabulous meal to my 8 year old, but not me. I'm about to get my oldest at her party and then I think some form of take out may be in order. Possibly a bottle of wine as well to enjoy with my husband once we tuck our fairy and ninja into bed.

I hope everyone out there had a very safe and happy Halloween.

My Tween and Makeup

Tonight we were invited to a Halloween party at my youngest daughters friends house. Well my youngest daughter wore her cute ninja costume but my oldest daughter didn't feel like wearing hers. However when she came down stairs I noticed she was wearing blush and eyeshadow. It wasn't dark or anything like that, but it took me a little by surprise. I mean I know she has makeup I've even bought her some for fun, but up to this point she has really only used it for dance recitals, Halloween costumes, and when her friends come over to do makeovers. I didn't make a big deal or anything as I said she was using it in a tasteful way.

So this leads me to wonder is she too young to wear it? Should I just let it go for now? Her school doesn't allow makeup to be worn so she would only be wearing it out with her friends. I'm thinking it's okay as long as she only uses a little. In fact at the party tonight several of the mothers complimented her on the way she used it and how pretty she looked.

I guess I'm just going to play it by ear and see how things go. As long as she doesn't abuse it. Luckily she hasn't gone goth on me. No black. Oh and she doesn't like mascara. It always freaks her out when I would put it on her for a dance recital. So there won't be those real black eyes staring back at me.

Perhaps for her 13th birthday, which is just around the corner, I'll take her to the clinique counter at Macy's and have them do her colors and show her how to apply correctly. Honestly I'm not a huge makeup girl myself. If she's going to use it I want her to use it in a way that makes it look natural. I hate it when I see tween girls walking around with gobs of makeup on their pretty little faces. I always want to wash them off and tell them less is more. Makeup is suppose to highlight your natural beauty. In the end I'm sure my daughter doesn't need to wear makeup, but it makes her feel a little more grown up by wearing it. One more step closer to becoming a teenager. Yikes.

Vampire Diaries and My Tween

Well my 12 year old has been obsessed with vampires ever since she saw Twilight last year. She fell in love with the love story and Edward. She sees vampires in a very romantic light. I always laugh because I remember the scarier movies when I was younger. Interview with a Vampire scared me to death. Yes, they were good looking, but the movie itself freaked me out. She won't be seeing that for several more years. She has asked to see Interview with a Vampire and she was rewarded with a resounding no.

I have however allowed her to watch the new show on the CW called The Vampire Diaries and she loves it. She can not wait for it to come on and all her friends are watching it as well. This show is based on a series of books written by L.J. Smith. They were originally 4 books in the series until last year when she released another book called The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Nightfall The original 4 books have been condensed into 2 books. The first titled The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle and the other The Vampire Diaries: The Fury and Dark Reunion The interesting thing to note about these books is that they were originally published in 1991 several years before Twilight was published. I wanted to make note of that because there are some people who believe the story copies Twilight. Not the case. It's just another story about a human girl falling for a vampire. I personally feel they are very different stories. My daughter feels the more vampire stories the better.

The story focuses on a teenage human girl named Elena who has lost her parents and is in a very sad place and trying to get her life back to normal. Next enter a brooding vampire named Stefan who is as good a vampire as you can be. He only drinks blood from animals similar to Edward in Twilight. They have an immediate connection because of Elena's resemblance to a woman named Katherine from Stefan's past. Next enter the evil brother Damon. He's just a fun loving bad vampire. This begins a fabulous love triangle. My daughter is completely hooked. She loves Romeo and Juliet type stories and this one totally fits the bill.

Her and her friends actually like the evil vampire Damon more than Stefan. He is a very entertaining character. You never know what he's going to do. They find the show very "intense" at least that is the new word they are using to describe it. I'm enjoying the show as well. Hey, whats wrong with cute brooding vampires? Nothing as far as I can tell.

I do want to note that this show would not be for every tween. My daughter is 12 going on 13 so she is on the older side of tweendome (not sure this is a word, but I'm going with it). I watch this show with her and if I feel it is getting inappropriate I will fast forward as we watch it on the DVR. As of this time it has not gone to far. Damon is an evil vampire though and you do get him biting humans so if your tween wants to watch this they need to know there is some blood. This doesn't seem to bother my daughter and her friends. They are more interested in the love story. My thought if your daughter or yourself is into vampires give it a try. You may want to check it out yourself first just to be sure. Every tween is different but vampires are definitely the in thing right now.

What's For Dinner?

Okay this is the question that makes me crazy. Everyday I pick my kids up from school and as soon as they're in the car they ask. What's for Dinner? Because I'm starving. Well I tell you what I make them a nice lunch everyday. Why are they starving?

Apparently dinner is the most important part of their day. Personally by the time dinner rolls around I'm done. I usually don't want to cook. My lovely children however are looking for gourmet meals. This is especially true of my oldest daughter. She usually wants chicken and broccoli fettuccine or calzones or broccoli cheese soup. Now I like all of these meals my self. They are just a lot of work. Personally my favorite night is take out night or sandwich night. I see no problem with sandwich night. It's easy. I like easy. Is there something wrong with easy?

Of course the worst is when I'm making something that one child loves and the other doesn't. Sometimes I even have to make two meals. Like tonight. My oldest wanted broccoli cheese soup. She just got her braces tightened so her mouth is sore. I get it I understand so she is getting soup. This is a problem though because my younger daughter won't touch this with a ten foot spoon. So she is getting Perdue nuggets, fries and carrots. It's just aggravating because I don't like making multiple meals yet I do it. I'm such a push over.

Well at least I know what's for dinner tonight. Now I have to deal with what's for dinner tomorrow.

My Daughter the Orthodontist?

That's right my daughter is 12 and has decided she's going to be an orthodontist. What has brought her to this decision you may ask. Well I find the whole thing very entertaining so let me enlighten you.

She has braces and has had them for almost a full year at this point. We just came back from getting them tightened and she informs me that she is going to be an orthodontist. This has been going on for the past few months so I've been going along with it. Hey why not she can be anything she wants and they usually make good money. So why has she chosen this path?

Her reasoning behind this is that her orthodontist only works from 10 to 5. Nice hours. I know that I'd like to have them. He also makes about $5000.00 per child sometimes more and his office is always packed. It's like a revolving door one child goes out and another child goes in. Oh and to put an exclamation point on it he must be the happiest guy I have ever seen. She notices this. The man talks constantly. He gives all the kids nicknames and jokes around with them and why shouldn't he. Life is good.

So what does all this mean. It means that my daughter wants a job where she'll be happy, have decent hours and make lots of money. Oh and we shouldn't forget that having lots of money will mean she will be able to buy her dream car. A red convertible mustang.

All I have to say is go for it. If that's really what you want. She has the grades for it so far and the drive as well. So in like 12 years or so (I have no idea how long it takes) she could be an orthodontist. So you go girl.