Los Angeles Exhibit Manufacturers That Know Where It's At

I love searching for and finding successful companies. I feel like it's hard to have it all: great products, and outstanding team, and competitive pricing. Expo-3 has it all and I could not be more excited about it.

These Los Angeles exhibit manufacturers know what it takes to turn heads and make an imprint. This is an international company and can help you out no matter where you are located. They know that a successful exhibit incorporates a strong design and a solid marketing foundation. Whether you are looking for a trade show exhibit, a showroom display, or a museum display, they can help you out!

If you want results, check them out. You will see why I am so excited! Enjoy your weekend :)

Spring Fling Cake

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups shredded zucchini (finely)
5 eggs
1 1/4 cups sugar
14 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sour cream
1 tbsp vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 pinch salt
3/4 cup cream cheese (room temperature)
14 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 pt strawberry (cleaned stemmed and sliced)
4 kiwi fruit (peeled and sliced)
2 mango (peeled and sliced)
1 pt blueberry or blackberries
apricot jam (apricotglaze optional, thinned with a bit of warm water optional)

Directions:


Preheat oven to 350°F.
Grease and flour a 10 inch cake pan.  

Cake: In a large mixing bowl, combine shredded zucchini, eggs, sugar, oil, sour cream, and vanilla.  Combine the DRY ingredients in another bowl; then add to zucchini mixture.  Batter will be rather wet and easy to pour. Pour batter into prepared cake pan and bake for 50-70 minutes.  Cool on rack 10 minutes, then remove cake from pan. (Note: The cake can be made a day prior and refrigerated).

Frosting: Whip cream cheese with butter until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing until combined.  In another bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff, then fold the whipped cream and 1/2 t vanilla into the frosting mixture.

Assemble Cake: Cut cooled cake in half lengthwise (creating two layers). You can cut the cake into three layers if desired.

Spread frosting over the first layer, add a layer of fruit (repeat if you are making a three-layer cake).  Put on the top layer and frost. The sides of the cake are not frosted.

Arrange fruit in circles (or your preferred design) over entire top of the cake, slightly overlapping the fruit. Spread apricot glaze over fruit with a pastry brush if desired.

Spring Fashion Trend - Printed Shoes

Spring is the best time to bring out your bright and fun side. It’s the best season to play around with styles and colors that best suit your happy vibe. As the weather starts to give out a little warmth, it is now time to keep those knee high boots away and bring out your colorful pumps, bamboo shoes, strappy sandals. Wedge boots in colorful and printed designs are still in for the season so you still get to keep them until summer.

2013 fashion trend gives emphasis on shoes with metallic accents, chunky heels, eye catchy heels, strappy boots and prints. My personal favorite among these trends is the printed shoes because of its artistic inspirations and colorful style. People now are only limited by their creativity and imagination when it comes to shoes and it’s nice to see something that can light up anybody’s mood anytime of the day.

Floral prints never get out style every spring. It’s like a celebration of life as the flowers starts to bloom again. Aside from that, floral prints always appeal to the ladies and never fail to give an extra dainty and girly look.

Shop for a pair of Ankle tied Wedges in floral prints and flatter your feet with this comfortable and light footwear. This is best worn with spring dresses and looks great during lunch dates or even at the work place. 

Soothing My Skin With Facials Orange County Style

My skin has been through the wringer during these past winter months. Even my moisturizer isn't keeping up. I have decided that I needed to start treating my skin at a spa. So I headed out in search of soothing my skin with facials Orange County style. I headed over to the Cloud Mover Day Spa for a well deserved facial. My skin was dying to be re-hydrated and rejuvenated.

I decided to choose the HB Facial that would last 45 minutes. The HB Facial was a great way to take a break from my every day routine and deeply cleanse my skin. I was able to get an analysis of my skin, as well I enjoyed an aromatherapy massage . My skin felt so moisturized and wonderful. I made sure that before I left the spa that I made a couple more appointments for more facials. I learned how important it was  to take care of your skin. To learn more on how often you should get a facial check out my link here for great answers to all your questions you might have.

Tips for Shopping a Farmers Market

Ready to shop at a farmers market? Find handy tips for what to bring with you to the farmers market, how to get the best deals, and how to find the freshest produce at farmers markets.

Farmers Market Checklist


Before you go:

Bring reusable bags. Tuck a few reusable shopping bags (with handles) into a pocket; merchants sometimes run out. And you'll be helping the environment.

Have cash on hand. Credit cards and checks aren't always accepted.

Dress for comfort. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for the weather.

Pack a cooler. If you live far away, or plan to be at the market for awhile, bring a cooler for produce. Consider a wheeled cart or travel bag for bulk shopping.

Go early… Find out the market's hours and plan to arrive at opening time to ensure the best selection. Smartphone app Locavore and website localharvest.org provide market locations and seasonal hours.

…Or go late. Great deals are often available around closing. Many vendors will lower their price rather than haul their wares home. However, some may be sold out.


While there:
Don't buy the first thing you see. Make a lap to compare quality and prices.
Make your heavy purchases last.

Make Your Own Craft Clay

Level of Difficulty: Moderate

This craft clay is easy to make, but requires the use of the stove, make sure children are supervised when making this craft!

Here's what you'll need...

• 1 box baking soda (about 2 cups)
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 11/2 cups water
• Sauce pan
• Bowl
• Spoon
• Plastic wrap 

Here's how you make it...

1. Mix all the ingredients in a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring consistently, until it is too thick to stir with a spoon. 

2. Cool for 15 minutes, or until the dough is cool enough to touch. Knead it for about 5 minutes, or until smooth. Keep dough wrapped in plastic. 

Once you have molded it, it will take 1-2 days for the clay to dry. The length of time depends on how thick your craft is: If it is a flat ornament, it may only take 1 day, if it is thick it will take much longer. This clay can be painted with either Tempera or acrylic craft paints. 

My Son Loves Basketball Trading Cards

My son is a sports fanatic, but his passion goes the furthest for basketball. Can you imagine his excitement with the official start of "March Madness" today? He has his bracket all filled out and has already started tuning in to some of the games that were played today. Who do you think is going to win this huge NCAA tournament?

His basketball collection is really growing. He has autographed basketballs, jerseys of his favorite players from several different teams, and basketball trading cards. He loves going through them and seeing what players he has and how their seasons are going. There are some rookie cards that he has that are extremely talented players now. 

Fun Punch Party Recipes

Punch Recipes

When I have hosted parties in the past, I like to have a variety of drinks on hand.  

I usually put out some soda, beer, and some wine,

but by far, having a big bowl of punch is always the most popular thing at the party!

Jen’s Favorite Punch

2 BOTTLES OF GINGER ALE (2 LITER)

1 BOTTLE OF SPRITE OR SIERRA MIST OR 7UP (2 LITER)

1 HALF GALLON OF PINEAPPLE JUICE

APP. 1 LITER OF BACARDI RUM

1 JAR OF MARASCHINO CHERRIES (POUR IN CHERRIES AND JUICE)

Mix all ingredients in a large punch bowl.  I also put an ice ring in this. I use pink lemonade made from frozen concentrate for it.  Just make the lemonade according to the directions on the can.  I put slices of oranges, lemons and limes in the ice ring.

 

Sparkling Fruit Punch

1 CAN (16 OZ) PINEAPPLE JUICE, CHILLED

1 BOTTLE (1 QT) CRANBERRY JUICE COCKTAIL, CHILLED

1 CAN (6 OZ) FROZEN LEMONADE CONCENTRATE, THAWED

1 BOTTLE (1 QT) CLUB SODA, CHILLED

1 PINT VODKA

Combine pineapple juice, cranberry juice and thawed lemonade in a punch bowl. Pour in club soda and vodka. Garnish with lemon slices. Makes 3 1⁄2 quarts.

Party On Punch

1 CAN (46 OZ) PINEAPPLE PINK GRAPEFRUIT JUICE DRINK

1 CAN (5 OZ) FROZEN LIMEADE, THAWED

1 QUART GINGER ALE, CHILLED

1 PINT VODKA

1 LIME, THINLY SLICED

Combine juice drink and limeade in a punch bowl. Pour in ginger ale and vodka. Float fresh fruit on top.

Fruit Punch

1 CAN (46 OZ) HAWAIIAN PUNCH

1 CAN (6 OZ) LEMONADE CONCENTRATE, THAWED

1 CAN (6 OZ) ORANGE JUICE CONCENTRATE, THAWED

1 PINT VODKA 1 ORANGE SLICED

Combine all of the above and chill two hours. Pour over ice in a punch bowl. Float fresh fruit on top.

Ruby Red Sparkle

1 PINT RASPBERRY SHERBET

1 CAN (12 OZ) PINK LEMONADE FROZEN CONCENTRATE, THAWED

1 FIFTH ROSE WINE, CHILLED

1 FIFTH SPARKLING BURGUNDY, CHILLED

1 SLICED LEMON

Combine all ingredients in a punch bowl. Mix well and chill. Before serving, top with spoons of raspberry sherbet and garnish with lemon slices.

Ice Ring

Fill ring mold half full with water or fruit juice. Freeze. Arrange fruit on ice and freeze until fruit adheres to ice. Fill mold with water or juice to top and freeze again. To unmold, dip mold in hot water until ring slips out easily. Float in punch bowl.

Kegel Exercise Instructions

For Ben Wa Balls, Kegel Eggs, Orgasmic Balls and Luna Beads

Kegel balls, are small weighted devices that can help strengthen a woman's vaginal and pelvic floor muscles. Strong pelvic floor muscles help prevent urinary and fecal incontinence. Many women begin doing kegel exercises without props, then move on to using vaginal balls or eggs to increase resistance and make the exercises more challenging. Other women use kegel balls for vaginal stimulation or to increase arousal. There are four basic exercises you can do with kegel balls.

Step 1 - Isolate your pubococcygeus (PC) muscle. This is the muscle your kegel ball exercises will work. Move as if you were trying to stop your urine mid-stream. The muscle you contract is the PC muscle. This is the motion you'll be making as you perform the exercises. It feels like squeezing or pulling the pelvic floor muscles up toward the lower back. Alternately, you can find this muscle by placing a finger in your vagina and squeezing down until you feel the PC muscle tighten.

Step 2 - Insert the kegel balls. Find a comfortable, relaxed position, such as sitting or standing, and gently push the balls into your vaginal opening. Stop just as they're completely in, don't press them to the back of the vagina or up near the cervix. Close your legs to help keep them in place as you position yourself for your exercises.

Step 3 - Perform the sitting exercise. Sit with your legs still closed. Isolate the PC muscle and use it to try to move the balls back and forth. If initially you can't move the balls back and forth, focus on squeezing the balls and holding it for a few seconds, then relaxing for a few seconds.

Step 4 - Perform the standing exercise. The standing exercise uses the weight of the balls and the force of gravity to make you work your PC muscle. Stand and position your feet shoulder-width apart. Use your PC muscle to hold the balls in your vagina. If you stop contracting your PC muscle, the balls will fall out. Perform this exercise three times per day, working each time to hold the balls in place longer.

Step 5 - Perform the squatting exercise. The squatting exercise combines elements of both the sitting and standing exercises. Place your feet as wide apart as you can. Bend your knees slightly to move into an easy squat. Use your PC muscle to both hold the kegel balls in place and move them back and forth. Move into a deeper squat to make the exercise more challenging.

Step 6 - Use the balls during routine activities. This is similar to the standing exercise. Use your PC muscle to hold the balls in place while you do housework, go for a brief walk or take a shower. Make sure you're strong enough to hold the balls in place so they don't fall out at potentially embarrassing moments.

Step 7 - Remove the kegel balls relaxing and letting them fall out or if they don’t fall out, by sweeping a finger into the vagina, behind the first ball and gently pulling downward. Wash with Shine foaming today cleanser. Rinse well and wipe with a soft lint free towel.

Kameleon JewelPops Make Jewelry Fun

I love to dress up an ordinary outfit with fun, stylish jewelry. One of my favorits lines of jewelry is Kameleon Jewelry because it's interchangeable, so I can wear one piece HUNDREDS of different ways. Their line of jewelry that includes rings, pendants (shown above), earrings, necklaces, pins, bracelets, sunglasses and more.

The jewelry is interchangeable because you are able to buy Kameleon JewelPops to put in each jewelry piece. The pendant shown above has a beautiful pink JewelPop in it. These JewelPops fit in any Kameleon piece and are super easy to change. There are a TON of different colors, materials, and designs available. No matter what your style is, you can find the perfect Pops to fit your taste.

Summer Shoes!

I know, it's still March, but summer IS coming, and I love it!  Being barefoot, toes in the sand, dipping in the pool.  My feet love summer.  No socks, no nothing.  Until this year.  UGH!  I am plagued with foot problems.  I've had three foot surgeries.  Bunion twice on one foot, another bone fix surgery on the other, broken bones, and my latest bane, plantar fasciitis.  Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the thick tissue on the bottom of the foot. This tissue is called the plantar fascia. It connects the heel bone to the toes and creates the arch of the foot.  

I was told by my doctor NO MORE BARE FEET!  Pfffffffft.  I am not a happy camper.  I was told that I needed to wear shoes at ALL times.  I resisted for a long time.  But, then I found the right shows and hallelujah!  It was actually by accident.  I was at a local store and the lady asked what I was looking for.  I was looking at some Born shoes and she asked why.  I've never had anyone ask my why?  I said I wanted good arch support.  She told me Born doesn't have good arch support, but that Merrells did.  

I slipped on a pair and instantly felt an improvement! They were slip on clogs and I figure I just got really lucky, and then I knew summer was coming, and I can't wear these all year!  So I ordered a pair of sandals and felt the same magic!  If you have any foot issues, try them out and let me know if it helps!

Massages In Orange County

I had started a challenge with a few other couples and have been really hitting the gym hard. My goal is not to only loose a little weight but to also tone and firm a few places on my body. I have been running the treadmill, using the elliptical, and riding the exercise bike. My body was not used to this sort of work out regimen so my muscles have been pretty sore.

I have been scheduling some regular massages in Orange County to keep my body feeling more relaxed and less tense. Getting a massage in Orange County doesn't have to take all day. You can schedule yourself a nice thirty minute massage over your lunch hour and return to work feeling refreshed. I like to schedule my massages at least once a month. Not only am I pampering myself but my body as well. How much time do you have for a massage? Do you have thirty minutes, sixty minutes or ninety minutes?

When I am not going to Orange County for a massage, I like to try to treat my sore muscles at home with a nice warm bath. Some other things I use are Epsom Salt, Muscle Therapy Gel and Inflammation Relief. All these things can be bought at your CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens or check out the link to Earth Wise Vitamins.

Cable or No Cable?

So, my son and I had an interesting discussion today.  Tv or no tv?  Personally, I could completely live without tv.  I never ever turn it on if no one is home, unless it's to watch a movie I've rented.  But, my husband LOVES tv.  We have the ultimate supreme grand daddy of cable packages with almost every conceivable add on.  Irritating really.  LOL!  But, I have my vices, cough cough Sephora, cough cough, and tv is his.

My son laughed and said, "But you watch a lot of tv"  Well, yes, but only because my husband does and it's time spent together either way.  So, I've learned to love a few shows.  My favorites are Blue Bloods, which is a fairly realistic television police drama about a law enforcement family living in New York City.  It's probably the most realistic police show I've ever seen.

I also love Family Guy, American Dad and Dance Moms.  LOL!  I love raw smart aleck humor that makes me not think about real life for a few minutes.  Is your family a tv family or a no tv family?

Start making memories with custom designed rings!

Let's picture this scenario... You and your boyfriend have been dating for two years, you have discussed taking the relationship to the next level. You have had several encounters where he has been with or met your parents on several different occasions. You are all comfortable being around each other, and have discussed marriage with your parents.

Now that you and your boyfriend have sat down and discussed getting married. You want to find an engagement ring that is unique and one of a kind, but you don't know what your options are. I have just the place for you to shop, Simone & Son will help you start making memories with custom designed rings for your wedding. Simone & Son will help you create the engagement ring of your dreams on the budget that suits your needs.

Now that you have your rings taken care of, you can start planning the rest of the wedding. Where are you going to get married? In your church or his? Maybe you already go to church together, maybe you don't go to church at all. Are you planning an indoor or outdoor wedding? Maybe a big wedding isn't for you and you are going to plan a destination wedding? Bahamas maybe? Virgin Islands? Maybe even Las Vegas? What ever you are thinking, why not let a wedding planner help you with the stress of the wedding?

Photo Editing Made Easy

I have always been fascinated by photography.   I had an earlier post about cameras I liked, but now I want to share some of my photo editing secrets.  Sometimes even the best camera doesn't come out with a nice photo, but photo editing can fix a LOT.  More than you could imagine!  And you don't need to be a pro to know how to do it.  By using an online photo software program, that is free, you can make amazing pictures, fix problems related to lighting and enhance lighting, shadows, blemishes, red eye and more!

While there are several places that you can edit photos online, my favorite is Ribbet, formerly known as Piknik.  You simply upload your photo and start playing!  You can crop, resize, color, add text, and more.  My favorite one ever though is "auto fix"  It really does almost everything you need it to do!  With just a couple clicks, look how much you can change the original photo.

All I did to this photo was adjust the exposure, highlights and shadows, and add a black vignette border.  It went from a pretty much unusable photo that would normally get deleted to a very cool looking sports photo!  Go play and see what you can do!

Mascara Musts

Whether you walk around in full stage makeup or stick to the bare essentials, mascara is pretty much a staple in every woman's makeup bag. With all the different brands, formulations and brushes there is a little something for everyone.

If you are like me and have very fine sparse lashes, wearing false eyelashes is easy to do and can be very natural looking. The newest versions don't even require glue. They come with a pre applied adhesive strip. The key to great lash application is starting with a good base. Wash your face well with a gentle cleanser like Purity Made Simple by Philosophy. Gently washing away and oil is key to the adhesive sticking well. The next important step is putting your eyelashes on before your eye makeup. The glue will stick better than it will over shadow. Next apply shadow as desired then coat with a bit if mascara to make your own lashes blend in better.

If you opt for the mascara only route but still want fullness, coat lashes with mascara, and while still wet, tap a bit of powder onto lashes to thicken and boost them up, then finish with another coat of mascara.

If you have oily skin, opt for waterproof mascara. You won't get the raccoon look that way!   

Facials Orange County

I can hardly wait for warmer weather, and my skin is equally excited! I try to keep my face moisturized, but with cooler and drier weather my skin dries out really fast. I decided that it was time to re hydrate my skin facials Orange County delivers the moisture my skin so desperately needs. I love the HB Facial that lasts 45 minutes. My skin feels great when they are all done and has a wonderful glow.

Getting a facial should be as important as getting your hair cut every 4-6 weeks. Cleansing your skin and maintaining is the ultimate anti-aging treatment that you can do for your skin. I like to schedule my facials about every six weeks, that way my skin stays radiant, even toned, and resilient. Another tip for good skin is drinking lots of water and getting a good nights rest. How many hours of sleep do you get a night? I usually get 8 hours of sleep and I like to drink almost a gallon of water a day! Now I make frequent trips to Ulta to make sure I have enough moisturizer. I also make my own facial scrub to keep my skin exfoliated, head on over to my other blog and check it out!

Dance Competition Season

Whether you are a fan of the show Dance Moms on Lifetime or not, it is definitely dance competition season in the real world.   While there are competitions all year round, most dance studios start classes in the fall and go to 1-4 competitions in the spring.  My daughter's first one is this coming weekend and I am so excited.

Life as a real dance mom isn't quite as glamorous, or as drama filled, as it is on tv.  We aren't nearly as catty, nor is our life as scripted as theirs.  Nor do we have that much money!  While dance is an expensive hobby, many dancers work at the studio helping out with younger girls' classes to help pay their tuition bills.  Having your child work to pay for their own sport/hobby/whatever is always a good idea.   My daughter has learned to appreciate what she has all the more since she is vested in it.  

Our studio usually does three competitions a year, but this year, my daughter will be in a fourth competition at nationals in California.  It's her first trip anywhere with out me and although it makes me really nervous, I am very excited for her to go on this grand adventure!

Prom 2013 Trends

Prom is just around the corner. Are you ready? Here's some hot trends that you will be seeing this prom season.

Assymmetrical necklines. This trend has been seen on runways and is in it's very early stages. As Spring progesses, it will be popping up more and more.

Long prom dresses. I feel like this changes from year to year, but this year long is glam, and glam is in. The mermaid and trumpet styles are super flattering and I love the jewels that really make this dress pop!

 Taylor Swift is rocking this next trend. Can you guess what it is? If you said messy updo, you got it! This effortless look is all the rage this Spring. Imperfections equal perfection.

A short dress with a chiffon overlay is something that I've never seen before this season. This is a super fun and unique look that plays with texture. The great thing about this? You don't freeze in a short dress if it's chilly, yet you can show off your gorgeous prom shoes!

If you don't have red lipstick, please go and get some! This is a must-have in all make-up bags. This trend is not just for prom, but for everyday wear. You can pair it with a more natural eye as illustrated to really make the lips pop, or play it up with a dramatic smokey eye to really be bold. 

What are you favorite Spring Prom Trends for 2013? Any that you're not a fan of? 

Banned Phrases!

Lake Superior State University compiled its annual "List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness" for 2013. The list, which was first launched in 1976, accepts nominations for banned words year-round.

Check out the list, below, followed by select comments from nominators:

• fiscal cliff - "Makes me want to throw someone over a real cliff"
• kick the can down the road - "I would definitely like to kick some cans of the human variety every time I hear politicians use this phrase to describe a circumstance that hasn't gone their way."
• double down - "The next time I see or hear the phrase, I am going to double over."
• job creators/creation - "One of the most overplayed buzz terms of the 2012 presidential campaign. Apparently 'lowering unemployment' doesn't have the same impact."
• passion/passionate - "Diabetes is not just Big Pharma's business, it's their passion! This or that actor is passionate! about some issue somewhere. A DC lobbyist is passionate! about passing (or blocking) some proposed law. My passion! is simple: Banish this phony-baloney word."
• YOLO (You Only Live Once) - "Just gives people, especially teens, a reason to do stupid things."
• spoiler alert - "Used as an obnoxious way to show one has trivial information and is about to use it, no matter what."
• bucket list - "Getting this phrase on the Banished Word List is on my bucket list!"
• trending - "I'm sick of chirpy entertainment commentators constantly informing us of what 'is trending right now.' I used to like a good trend until this."
• superfood - "It's food. It's either healthful or it's not. There is no 'super' involved."
• boneless wings - "Can we just call them chicken (pieces)?"
• guru - "Unless you're teaching transcendental meditation, Hinduism or Buddhism, please don't call yourself a guru just because you think you're an expert at something. It's silly and pretentious. Let other people call you that, if they must."

For these played-out words, the opening line of "Auld Lang Syne" is appropriate: "Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind." Are any of your favorites included? Tell us in the comments below.

Kelly Rutherford Shares Her Timeless Fashion Tip

Ever since I have started watching Gossip Girl, I haven't been able to stop. It's fun to fantasize and dream about life in the Upper East side, and to see Chase Crawford in action (oh my)! Fashion and style is a large part of the upper east side lifestyle and actress Kelly Rutherford, who plays Serena's Mom, Lilly, is a fashion icon. I have a hard time imagining her as someone other than Lilly, but she shared with US Magazine her timeless fashion tips: "Once a year, I'd go and buy a beautiful Hermes bag ... and I mix it with my J. Crew and Club Monaco [outfits]". She usually splurges on one or a few accessories, such as Orange County Jewelers, and then mixes and matches with what she has. She goes on to say, "I don't spend a lot of money on my everyday clothes."

Can you relate to Kelly? I definitely can, I too splurge on one item, usually a handbag of some sort or shoes, and then mix with cheaper clothing. I can't justify spending tons of money on every item of clothing I have so by treating myself to something really nice every few months, or years, satisfies my fashion tooth. 

Rihanna's Stay Video

The 24-year-old singer disrobes completely in an emotional music video that has touched listeners deeply.  "Stay" featuring crooner Mikky Ekko, who performed the song with Rihanna at Sunday's 55th Grammy Awards, primarily shows Rihanna's body submerged in bathtub water.

Rihanna is the most-liked Facebook user, with more than 66 million likes. A post on her page that announced the premiere of "Stay" raked in 30,000 likes within 20 minutes.  "Stay" is the second music video to debut from Rihanna's seventh studio album, Unapologetic. She previously unveiled her music video for "Diamonds" in November.

I have always been a big fan of pop music, and with Rihanna, it's either hit or miss for me.  I either love her songs or hate them.  Catchy hits like "SOS", while wonderful the first 5,000 times you hear it, get old after a bit.  Stay is a completely different direction for the singer, and I love it.  She's really starting to show a bit more depth and meaning in her songs as opposed to popping out catchy radio tunes.  I can't wait to see what she does next. 

Breaking Dawn Part 2

The countdown begins!  March 2nd!  Breaking Dawn comes out on DVD. Preorder today!  Now, I don't care if you are team Edward, team Jacob or just a Bella fan.  Here's where I am coming from on this issue...

I have a 15 year old daughter, and we have completely bonded over Twilight!  I grew up as a HUGE fan of reading anything I could get my hands on.  I would always rent out as many books as the library let me and head to my tree house.  When I was a teen, I fell in love with Vampire stories.  So, when Twilight came out and zoomed to popularity, I had to check it out.  Loved every page.  

That was a few years ago.  I tried a few times to get my daughter to read it and she didn't show any interest.  So I waited.  And waited.  And she finally started reading and LOVED it.  Right before Christmas, she was REALLY into the books, so we bonded!  (We are both totally team Edward...LOL)  Anyway, we did go and see the final movie in theaters, and now we've been waiting!  The video comes out on March 2nd!  We can't wait.  Find something to bond with your kids over and you'll be surprised at how much it improves your relationship!