Local Authors of Basie and Paisley Read to Children

I’m a huge fan of the books Basie and Paisley! I got to review them a while back and do a giveaway.  The illustrations are darling and the story is both entertaining for the child as well as for the parent.

If you get a chance to go to this event, you won’t be disappointed!

Saturday, March 13, 2010
2p.m.-3p.m.
FREE

Little Monsters
16 W. Flint St.
Lake Orion
248-814-8697

Help Team Detroit Win! #DETChevySXSW

I’m a huge supporter of Detroit.

I’m always trying to help out the underdog and Detroit seems to be one of those places that people  think negatively about and I have been on a mission, along with others, since I moved here a year ago from CA, to turn the negative persona that Detroit possesses to the rest of the world.

I started this blog because there were so many fun, family events going on in Metro Detroit and I wanted to gather as many as I could to share them online. I have gathered events, worked with local retailers and businesses to do giveaways and participated and organized charity events  to help local Detroit.

The people of Metro Detroit are some of the most wonderful, passionate people I have ever met.  They are full of determination, entrepreneurship and loyalty.

There are a group of four influencers that were chosen to represent Detroit in an interactive verses real world challenge… the  2010 Chevy SXSW Road Trip Challenge.  They are traveling from Detroit to Austin, TX to attend SXSW, a social media conference and on the way they are competing against other states by completing challenges and earning points.  In the end, the team with the most points wins!

Team Detroit HAS to win!

You can help!  Here is what you can do to help Team Detroit win:

(1)  Follow the team hashtag, #DETChevySXSW, and check out some of the things they are doing while on the road.

(2) Tweet and Retweet using their team hashtag LIKE MAD starting on Monday, March 8th.  There are supporting agencies tracking the volume of tweets for each team hashtag.  The higher the number, the better.  Your participation is critical. They cannot win without us.

(3) Write a cool blog post about why Detroit deserves to win the challenge, tag it #DETChevySXSW and share it with your network.

What do you get out of this?

(1)  They have tons of awesome sponsors that have given them cool stuff to give away on their trip.  They have sweet t-shirts from Ann Arbor T-Shirt Company, Detroit Pistons tickets courtesy of Fist of Detroit, delicious Biggby Coffee, a wine tasting at Vintner’s Cellar and many other prizes.  If you pay attention to their hashtag and follow their blog, you just might win something!

(2)  If their team does their job and completes the challenges, and we support all their efforts with blog posts and tweets, they’ll get to throw an epic tweetup in Detroit.  When I say this will be an epic event, I’m absolutely serious.  Big. Deal. Tweetup.

Mom 2 Mom Sales in Canton and Livonia

There are two Mom 2 Mom sales going on in Wayne County.  These sales are a great place to find clothing, shoes, toys, stroller and so much more!

Saturday, March 13, 2010
8:30 a.m.-noon
$1/admission
West Middle School
44401 Ann Arbor Trail
Plymouth

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Saturday, March 13, 2010
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
FREE admission
Franklin High School
3100 Joy Road
Livonia
313-399-6723

Retail Therapy Package Extended by Popular Demand!

The Village of Rochester Hills and the Royal Park Hotel announced today that they will extend the exclusive Retail Therapy Package offer until the end of March. Priced at just $179 per night, the package includes: Royal Executive King accommodations and two martinis in The Commons Lounge at the Royal Park Hotel; a $50 gift card and a savings bag full of great offers from the Village of Rochester Hills; and a complimentary make-up application with a  beauty Advisor at Parisian.

The bundled offer is perfect for a little “play-cation”, a romantic night for two, or even some quality time with the girls.

This shop and stay experience offers style, luxury, and unparalleled service with the complimentary shuttle to and from the Village provided by the Royal Park Hotel upon request at the concierge desk. “We’re extending the offer into the month of March because of the overwhelmingly positive response we received in February,” said Village Marketing Manager, Jessica Presner. “People can take a mini vacation to re-energize without the hassles of travel,” she said.

The Royal Park Hotel is a four-star, four-diamond hotel, located just a few minutes away from the Village of Rochester Hills. All Royal Park rooms are furnished with oversize California king beds, luxurious linens featuring wonderfully warm and sumptuous Egyptian cotton, down duvets, and huge down-stuffed pillows. Guests can enjoy The Commons Lounge with live entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights, and wake-up to complimentary morning coffee and newspapers in front of the fireplace in the elegant library each morning. For more information or to make a reservation call (248)652-2600.

Book Your Reservation For This Swanky Event!

Where:

A swanky soiree at Meadow Brook Hall.

What:

• Live Jazz by band “Bird on a Wire”
• Dancing
• Tours of Meadow Brook Hall
• Tarot Card/Palm Reader (popular in the 20’s)
• Live dance demonstration of the Charleston and other 20’s style dances.
• Strolling Dinner

The Menu

• Hot D’oeuvres and a vegetable and cheese display
• A carvery station with Roast Breast of Lavender and Honey Scented Turkey with cranberry mayonnaise, dijon mustard and petite dinner rolls
• A salad station with baby spinach with a hot bacon dressing and Waldorf salad
• Whipped potato martini station with sweet Yukon Gold potatoes.  Includes diced bacon, beef bordelaise, sauteed mushrooms, roasted corn, shredded sharp cheddar, cream fraiche and brown sugar.
• Champagne Bar
• Pound Cake Bar with old fashioned pound cake with raspberry and hot fudge served a la mode with hand scouped vanilla ice cream.
• Coffee Bar
• A 20’s signature style drink from the bar, which is included.

When:

March 19, 2010  from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $65 per person and include everything listed above (dinner, drinks and entertainment). Reservations are required. You will be provided with the secret entrance and password when you call 248-364-6263 to make your reservation. Visit www.meadowbrookhall.org  for more information.

Disclosure: Tickets for this event are being  provided to me for this event. Hopefully I’ll see you there!

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

It’s so important that we read to our children and Dr. Seuss made reading fun by creating books that peek the creative inspiration of children everywhere with quirky characters, having silly names, doing even sillier things.

The Commerce Township Community Library is hosting a fun, FREE event today from 6:30-8 p.m. to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s Birthday.  All ages are welcome to the event which will have crafts, games and activities related to Dr. Seuss’s books.

Commerce Township Community Library
2869 N. Pontiac Trail
248-669-8108
www.commercelibrary.info

Partake in a Swanky Soiree at Meadow Brook Hall

I don’t know what it is about Meadow Brook Hall, but the magic seems to come alive when entering the home, once inhabited by Matilda Wilson Dodge and Alfred Wilson and their children.

It could be the intriguing history or the magnificant surroundings one encounters while in the 88,000 square foot mansion.  Whatever it may be, it will leave you wanting more!

You are invited to a swanky soiree at Meadow Brook Hall on March 19. Upon revealing the password, patrons will be granted access to the Speakeasy at a secret entrance that will be disclosed at the time of their reservation.

Patrons will partake in bootleg beverages and a 1920s inspired strolling dinner, while being entertained by the jazz group “Birds on Wire.” In keeping with the 1920s tradition, guests will also have the opportunity to get their palms or tarot cards read. Also included in the evening will be touring and a live performance of the famed flapper dance the Charleston.

A mini exhibit from the archives of Meadow Brook Hall will be on display that evening. Guests will also have an opportunity to learn about prohibition in Michigan and how it affected every level of society including the Dodge-Wilson family.

The evening begins at 7pm and runs until 10pm. Tickets are $65 per person and include dinner, drinks and entertainment. Reservations are required. The secret entrance and password will be revealed when you call 248-364-6263 to make your reservation. For more information on upcoming events at The Hall visit meadowbrookhall.org.

It was “Party Time” on Ice at the Palace

It was one party after another at Disney on Ice “Let’s Celebrate” at the Palace of Auburn Hills!

The Disney characters celebrated Christmas, an Un-Birthday, Valentine’s Day, Halloween and more!  My daughters (ages 3 1/2 and 6) were glued to their seats!

A few suggestions:

• Eat before the show.  A bucket of popcorn and two lemonades in keepsakes cups: $32
• Remember parking is $10
• Buy a few goodies at the Disney Store and hide them in your purse.  When the kids see all the merchandise for sale that is WAY overpriced, pull a goodie out of your “stash” that cost you a fraction of the price of what is sold at the event.
• It’s not freezing.  Dress as you normally would.  Princess dresses optional.
• Get a potty break in before the show starts…you don’t want to miss anything!  There is an intermission, but everybody else is scrambling to grab food and a potty break as well.
• Have fun!  Our entire family enjoyed the show!

Tickets for Disney On Ice presents Let’s Celebrate! are available at the Palace of Auburn Hills Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, The Palace Locker Room Stores and www.ticketmaster.com. To order tickets by phone, call 1-800-745-3000.

Show dates/times: Wednesday, Feb. 24 and Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 26 at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 27 at 11:30 a.m.; 3:30 p.m.; and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 28 at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Tickets start at $15. All seats are reserved. For group rates and information, call 248-377-8638.

Disclosure: Disney on Ice tickets were provided to me for review. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and mine alone and are not influenced in any way by anyone.

Oakland County Parks Hosts Name That Playground Contest!

I’m ready for the sun to shine, the birds to sing and the green grass to tickle my toes.  Cabin fever has set in and all I can think about is packing a picnic and heading to the park with my girls.  This is one of our favorite Spring and Summer pastimes living in Metro Detroit.

Oakland County Parks is hosting a Playground Naming Contest for children age 12 or younger.

Kids are invited to submit a creative and original name for the new universally-accessible playscape opening this summer at Waterford Oaks County Park. Michigan’s landscape is the theme of the nearly 13,000-square-foot structure featuring simulated rock, water and fossil characteristics indicative of the Great Lakes State.

Applications for the Oakland County Parks Playground Naming Contest must be submitted by Monday, March 15.

The winner will receive a prize package valued at more than $200, which includes one week of outdoor day camp and an Oakland County Parks annual vehicle permit. The winner will also be invited to attend the grand opening of the playground on July 7.

Entry forms can be found at DestinationOakland.com and should be mailed to: Oakland County Parks, Playground Naming Contest, 2800 Watkins Lake Road, Waterford MI 48328 or submitted via e-mail to Becky Stepp at steppr@oakgov.com.

Disney on Ice Starts Tomorrow!

My family and I will be attending the premier of Disney on Ice “Let’s Celebrate” this Wednesday, February 24,2010.  This will be the fourth Disney on Ice  performance that we have attended and the second at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

We started going when my oldest was around 3 yrs old and now she is 6 and she still loves it!

Tickets for Disney On Ice presents Let’s Celebrate! are available at the Palace of Auburn Hills Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, The Palace Locker Room Stores and www.ticketmaster.com. To order tickets by phone, call 1-800-745-3000.

Show dates/times: Wednesday, Feb. 24 and Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 26 at 11 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 27 at 11:30 a.m.; 3:30 p.m.; and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 28 at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Tickets start at $15. All seats are reserved. For group rates and information, call 248-377-8638.

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