We saw the 'Biebs' in concert! Cue the SCREAMS!!!

 Yes my household is a music loving household. All types of music can be heard from our ipods.
From Fleetwood Mac to Flo Rida.
From Johnny Cash to Johnny Rotten
From New Kids on the Block (hey, I relive my youth once in a while) to Justin Bieber!

I sat in front of two computers, four months ago and anxiously awaited while the hourglass spun in circles.
Would they be sold out?
Would I be able to figure out the Ticketmaster Captcha?
Are the $50 dollar seats going to be in the nosebleed section? spoiler alert.....Yes they were!

Hourglass stopped spinning

"GIRLS, WE ARE GOING TO SEE JUSTIN BIEBER IN CONCERT"

The hoops I had to jump through to get these tickets........

too many hoops to count!

Pre-Sale to American Express cardholders only- No problem!

Yes Problem- We don't have an AMEX

Call my parents, they'll surely have one- they don't

Sign up for one online, Genius!- Card will arrive in the next 2-4 weeks, WTF?? I NEED IT NOW! 

Call my parents back asking for advice- Go to grocery store and buy AMEX gift card?!?!

GENIUS PARENTS I HAVE! WAIT, NO, Not enough time!!!

Tell parents you love them, but you have to hang up now and contrive a plan- Dad says "hold on, call your Aunt! She may have one, and you can pay her back." GENIUS AGAIN!

Best Aunt in the world, can I have your AMEX # to purchase some tickets to see the Biebs in concert?- YES? I LOVE YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Tickets Purchased!

'Upper Concourse' Section 316......Code Name for 'NOSEBLEED'
But in all honesty, my girls and I don't complain. Justin Bieber the size of an ant is better than no Bieber at all.

My Co-Worker/BFF also jumped through the same hoops that morning, and was able to buy tickets for herself and her three girls.

Then our boss, who, in case he is reading this is THE BEST BOSS EVER, found out we were going and used his Marriott Reward points to get us each a Hotel Room.

CAN YOU SAY          

COMPLETE AND UDDER(OR IS IT utter??) AWESOMENESS??!!!

When checking into a hotel that is full of Justin Bieber fans from all over California, what do you do first?

You leave your teen daughters in the hotel room with your five year old while they get all decked out in homemade t-shirts, and makeup (teens, not 5 year old! No makeup for her yet. This isn't Toddlers and Tiaras)

You tell them you are going to 'check out the Hotel and go for a little walk', then you grab your husband (who only came because he happened to have the next day off. No ticket for him. He was going to lounge at the bar while I have my ear screamed in by crazed lunatic teenagers) 

You call your BFF who is staying a floor below you;even though the B*TCHY girl at the front desk swore you were on the same floor. Uhhhh, when did 21 and 20 become the same number?

.......and you wind up here

We checked out the Hotel......on our way to the outdoor bar. These parents deserve a drink before heading into the treacherous land of Maniac Bieber Fans!
By the way, we could hear the screams from the Staples Center while sitting at the bar. The screams of girls that thought if they showed up early they'd catch a glimpse of JB hoppin out of his tinted windowed, chrome car!
"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH JUSTIN WE LOVE YOU AHHHHHHHHHH EEEEEEEEEEE"

Bartender, can you make that a double?

Time to go!

Blurry action shot of the girls jumping in the hall on the way down. 

All in all it was a great experience

Oh, wait let me rewind. 

A word of advice

Five year olds get tired waiting 2 hours for someone to show up on a stage. 

Five year olds don't care about concerts

They only care about Hotel Pools and jumping on Hotel Beds

Five year olds grab your hand midway through the FIRST SONG and yell in your ear

"Can I go to the Hotel with Daddy? I'm tired!"

Five year olds make teenagers say 

"OHHHHHH MYYYYY GOOODDDDDDDDDD! She is wasting a ticket! We so could have brought one of our friends"

To which mom replies-

"We are NOT even going to go there!"

and for once.......they zipped their lips, and didn't go there. :)

Daddy saved the day.Thank goodness he came, thank goodness he was 2 seconds away having a tray of sliders and a beer at the ESPN Sports Bar! Thank goodness his night was made by having two moms try to pick him up because he looked 'lonely'.

Thank goodness he had an excuse of "Oh, I'm waiting for my wife and daughters inside the concert"

Thank goodness that excuse turned out not to be a lie, because one minute later he was actually needed.

Daddy to the rescue. 

YES, they went back to the room and jumped on the beds! He is a big kid too!

What an AMAZING time with my family.

The next morning we raided the Executive Lounge for all of the free snacks.Thanks Boss....again......for being an Elite Member! We love free snacks!

We were exhausted, but hubby still drove us through Hollywood to 'see the sights'
Sights being Homeless and Graffiti, but Hey, I got my Hollywood sign Picture.

Lessons learned

• If you are going to sit in front of your computer for AMEX presale tickets. Make sure you actually have an American Express. 
• Don't think your homemade purple t-shirts from Michaels are going to be 'Super Original'- They AREN'T! I can't even tell you how many homemade purple t-shirts we saw! And Justin didn't even take the time to come find my girls and compliment them on their iron on skills.
• If your five year old states to you beforehand that she is SUPER excited about the Hotel, but the concert 'Uhhhh, not too much Mama'- Believe her! Don't waste the money on the ticket. She will have just as much fun in the pool or jumping on the bed with Daddy.
• Find the Bar! Find the Bar at the Hotel, and then when you get into the arena, find that bar too. Smile at the Bartender, slam your hand down on the counter and say "I think this Mama deserves a Margarita"
• Most important lesson learned- HAVE FUN! Because I did! 
• Upper Concourse means............             UPPER CONCOURSE!!!   SUPER DUPER UPPER!

I would like to publicly apologize for.............

I have been a bad blogger.
I have been a bad blog reader.
I have been a bad blog comment leaver (yes it makes sense)


Why?

Because summer has been BUSY for me.

But I have not been bad at this:

Daughters 14th Birthday 'ROOM MAKEOVER'
I want to live in her room.

I have also not been bad at this:

Jello Shot Cantaloupes!
Healthy yet, 'FUN'

I have also been pretty good at this:

Sittin on the boat, relaxing, reading 50 Shades!

This has kept me pretty busy also:

Teachin my 15 1/2 year old how to drive.
'Keep Both Hands on the WHEEL!'

Havin a little fun too:

Surprised my older girls with a Demi Lovato concert at our local fair.
Then Fried Foods, Picture Booth Photos and Expensive rides afterwards!

Threw a graduation party for my son, and was busy hiding the booze from his friends:

No, I don't normally keep bottles of Tequila in my room, but when my grandpa comes over to me saying "Hey, that tall, loud one over there was sneakin in your booze" - Well, I had to start hiding! and taking keys away.

Summer also makes time for camping:

Hubby had a fishing tournament during our first scheduled camping trip. So it was Mama and the kids!
Girl Power! Started the fire, even had to put a plastic bag over my hand to unclog the sewer in the camper. Ugghhhhh!

An intertube, and the evening ocean!Entertaining for hours.

Daddy and his little buddy! Doing some night fishing in the surf.

Time for some unwinding with a margarita.

Just registered my youngest for Kindergarten. My older girls for their High School Classes. Working, BBQ'ing with family.
My 20th High School Reunion
School Shopping
Working
Checking on 18 year old son to make sure he is making good future choices - "What do you mean  you are going to hold off on taking some classes at the Junior College? Extending your summer a bit? WHAT?O.K. we will discuss this later! Yes,I love you too"
Getting mad at oldest teen daughter for trying to pull a fast one on us. - "Don't try to fool the masters little dear! Your dad and I were teens once too." 
My fourteen year old suddenly having the attitude of a prima donna! - "Who are  you? Where did you come from?"
My five year old wanting mommy to 'play with me.' every single second. - I am not sure how much more Littlest Pet Shop scenarios I can handle. 


I have been busy with just plain ol' family time. And it has felt good! It has been soothing, relaxing, fun! I love my kids! I love my husband, and right now, I am kinda lovin my life in general.

But school is starting soon, back to the old grind. Carpools, busy days, etc.

I will be back to blogging too, but right now, sunshine, beach, kids, husband and margaritas are taking precedence.

Cheers!

Here's to hoping that everyone has been having an AWESOME summer!

Screw This!!What do you mean I don't get to live my life as a Post? I don't want to be just a 'Draft'!!!!!!

I was going through my posts, and realized 'WOW' I have alot of drafts.

Some I cannot even remember titling, starting, or thinking of - Was I drunk blogging?? Who Knows!

Anyway, so instead of going back, trying to actually add to these posts, I am just going to list the titles.

• What is a 'Good' Mom? What is a 'Good' Kid? - This was going to be a long, rambly post. How as parents we all have different opinions, views, thoughts, ideas for what is the best way to raise our children. But as long as there is happiness, love, and NO abuse, then everything is all good. I was also going to go write from the viewpoint of the children also. What defines a 'good kid'? I have some friends, who have kids the same age as mine. When we have our girls night happy hour, it can sometimes turn into a Child Bragging night! I just want to drink and eat hot wings ladies. My children are AWESOME! I will brag to my parents about them. Grandparents care!! Friends?? We just want a rum and coke! I had many other reasons for this post, but it turned so jumbled, that I gave up. I will go back to this post one day, but I need to gather my thoughts better. 
• Untitled - Picture of Husband eating??? But not showing his face, only fork full of food. Perhaps it was going to be a recipe post??
• 
  
• Untitled - Picture of a pile of clothing tags. I was going to write a post about how sometimes I tear tags off my new clothes, then stuff them in weird places, as opposed to tossing in the trash can. I cleaned out my closet, and seriously, SERIOUSLY.....You would not believe this pile of hidden tags. Is there a reality show for people with this issue? O.K. I will be honest, sometimes I go shopping when I shouldn't. Like the day after my husband and I have a talk on budgeting, savings, and retirement. So, I tear tags off,hide them, and say 'Oh, this old thing, I've had this'. Honey, if you are reading this, I know that you know I do this. It's one of the cute things you love about me.......right?? Honey??

• I don't like change! Well, sometimes I do....but mostly I don't! -Started to write about how I have had the same doctor since I was 12.Also, the same dentist since I was 5. He is now 102 years old I think, but I still trust him drilling my teeth. I don't like change people!
• Untitled -Picture of my cat. Does anyone really care? Probably why I scrapped that one.
• Are Men and Women meant to be together?   - this one must have been after a fight with hubby. The fight had me pondering being a lesbian. I really don't ever fight with my girlfriends.......
• Woop Woop!! - Not quite sure. This draft had no body to the post. Maybe Margaritas brought on this title.
• Untitled - Picture of my wine glass in front of fire pit in backyard. Hmmm, was I going to 'brag about how I am relaxing by the fire, with a glass of wine, hanging with my wonderful husband, enjoying the beautiful evening'??? Noooo, that is what Facebook is for. Giving minute by minute, second by second play by plays, about how wonderful your husband/life/kids/dinner/coffee/insert any word, is or are! Uggh, Facebook braggers BUG ME! Maybe that was going to be the post, a joking, ridiculing of the FB (Facebrook Braggers)!!! WHO CARES HOW WARM YOUR COFFEE IS! WHO CARES! O.K., they bug me, but sometimes I do it. Not gonna lie! ;)
• The only thing I begged my parents for when I was young, was clothes- Boring title. I think I was going to write about all of the F'ing things that kids need want these days!
• JUSTIN BIEBER We are coming for you! - Yes my followers, I bought Justin Bieber tickets!Yes I went into work late last week so that I could sit in front of, not one, but two computers, multi mousing, waiting for the clock to change to 12 noon. The time that pre-sale tickets for the Biebs went on sale to American Express card holders. Yes, I called my Aunt to use her AMEX, as we only have VISA. YES I GOT THE TICKETS. JUSTIN BIEBER, in October at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. YES, MY GIRLS WERE ECSTATIC!! ........................................ I'm  a bit psyched also, not gonna lie. Don't judge the poor kid, until you see his movie. Even my husband was a 'hater' but we duct taped him to the couch, rented the movie, and forced his eyes open. At the end he said, and I quote - "O.K., I'll give it to him. That kid is talented.Pretty cool how he is close to his mom and grandparents too!"
• When I have a car, I am NEVER going to be home - long story, but my friend and I were able to read texts back and forth between her 15 year old son, and my 15 year old daughter. Both of whom wound up in the same drivers ed class. O.K., not long story. He had his phone taken away, used his grandmas phone all weekend while he was texting my daughter. Then left grandmas, did NOT erase the texts, and the grandma brought the phone over and let us read the texts. Nothin juicy, nothin bad, nothin worth putting anyone on restriction for. THANK GOD! I was reading it, with one eye open, the other eye cringing. You never know with kids and their texting. It brings on courage with words. The most hilarious, downright laugh out loud, you've got to be kidding me, pile of words?  The back and forth conversation they had about when they get their licenses/cars. -

'When I get my car, I am soooo NEVER going to be home'

'Me too! I can't wait'

'I'll be able to do whatever I want, whenever I want'

'I know, it's going to be so cool! I'm never going to be stuck here.'

You just have to laugh at this. I remember thinking the same thing. Car=Freedom!

Boy is she going to be in for a surprise! But I will let her keep living this fantasy life. Until she gets her license in December. Her Dad and I will be responsible for squashing, breaking, and then stomping on, setting fire too, and burying that fantasy. The only thing your car and license will be used for is running to the store to grab milk and toilet paper when we run out. Oh, that, and taking your younger sister to school. No more car pool to the High School for Mama. Daughter has her license fantasy, I have mine! MINE WINS!

There you go! Posts that never made it!

Have a great day, I'm off to work.

Yum Honey! Some of these recipes you find on Pinterest are the Bomb!

I don't mean to brag but...........

O.K.
A bit random
Another post that never made it.
Limb broke off of plant.
Mom and daughter tried to tape limb back on to plant,so dad would not notice.
Plant being special to dad and all, because mom gave plant to dad when they were first dating.


Note to self.
You cannot tape a limb back onto a plant, tree or bush.

Partying with my parents on a Saturday Night! 'Woop Woop!!'

I love to do nice things for people. It is just me! I wish I was rich, so I could do LOTS and LOTS of nice things, but I am not rich. But I make up for it with heartfelt love.

My mom is obsessed LOVES a band, The White Buffalo. The lead singer is a bit of a Hottie! In that  long haired, bearded, ruggedy kind of way.
Some of their music is played on the show, The Sons of Anarchy. Are you a fan?  WE ARE!!!!!!!
It is a show about a motorcycle gang. Violence, mild nudity, cussing, all the right stuff, ya know?!

My mama had wanted to see The White Buffalo up in Santa Cruz, which is where my brother lives near. But due to not feeling well around that time, she did not want to make the trip up there. And that was their last California show. Insert HUGE, GIGANTIC SAD FACE HERE!

UNTIL....................

A few months later...............

I logged onto Facebook one morning...........

and someone had posted something about The White Buffalo playing at the Belly Up.........

I SCREAMED OUT LOUD!!

LITERALLY 

OUT 

LOUD!!

MY MOM WAS GOING TO BE SOOOO EXCITED! A LOCAL SHOW!!!!

Got online, bought the tickets, surprised my mom.

Her reaction was a little somethin like this-

"Oh My God! No, No, Are you serious? Holy Sh*t!! Oh my gosh, No, Oh J.R., Oh my, Nooooo!!!

Ahhhhhh

Ahhhhhhh

I get to see Jake!!! In person! Oh MY GOD!! Noo

Oh, shit, Oh shit!! Oh God!! 

Ohhh

Ahhhhhhh!

Thank you honey!! 

Oh, Thank you!!!"

~then teary eyes~

And I have done my job! 

The show was this past Saturday.

My hubby and I

My mom and dad

A double date with my parents.

Want to know the best part?

We ate at a Restaurant before the concert that is attached to the club. My dad went out to put something in the car, and came back in and said 

"I think the lead singer is outside"

"Oh, are you serious. Oh , Oh, Oh my god! Should we go out there? Oh, Gosh!............"

The old teenager in me that was sometimes embarrassed of my mom's sometimes outgoing, exuberant personality started to resurface. 

But only for one second! 


I punched that snotty, bratty, moody, no good teenage J.R. straight in the nose! 

Knocked her out cold!
No place for her anymore!

Grabbed my moms hand and said 

"Come on! You may never get this chance again!"

And there he was!
Jake Smith

With his little son, wife, and what I assume to be his parents or in-laws.

My mom was starstruck!

We tried to act all cool, nonchalant, un-stalkerish. Like we were just goin for a stroll outside. My mom played it off pretty good! Acting 'surprised' to see him standing there.


 "I surprised my mom with tickets, she loves you. Can you pleeeeasssse take a picture with my mom?"

He said "sure"

Put his arm around her and smiled.

DAM! 

"Umm, you both have your eyes closed. Let me take another one"

* No way was I gonna have my mom holding dear to her heart a 'NOT PERFECT' photo!

My mom is beautiful, and had the most sincere, happy grin on her face!

Can you say perfect night?

I love my parents more than the world!

I wish I could do more for them!


I will leave you with a little video of the encore song. The 'Yeaaaaaaaah' at the very end is mom.
The 'Whoooooo' is from margarita induced me.
I did not know anything about them until my mom turned me onto their music.
I LOVE THEM now!

This is a remake of an old song. See the original below.

To have been at this concert, and see all of these guys on one stage.

WOW!

Drunken Lullabies with Flogging Molly

YAY! We are going to see Flogging Molly in concert tonight at the House of Blues!

It was a Christmas present from me to my husband. Great thing about buying your mate concert tickets, is that you get to enjoy it too! Not to shabby!

Well, before we head to downtown San Diego, sway our hands or jump up and down to an AWESOME band, I must first take care of my mommy duties-

• Go to work, get off early so I can come home plan my outfit
• Daughter springs on me that she needs to buy her friend a Birthday present. It is her BEST Friend, so this can't just be some re-gifted item I pull out from my re-gift stockpile. Uggh, off to get her a gift card. 'Oh mom, also can I run into the craft store. I want to buy some poster board to make her a giant card'- FYI, homemade GIANT cards are really in right now. Anyone else with teens dealing with this? 
• Tell both the older girls to please straighten up a bit while we are gone. Don't forget whose dish night it is, and be good for Mema and Papa when they get here.
• Deal with finding out why a charge is on my credit card statement from February 15th in Yuma Arizona. Husband looking into it, while I try to get ready! Husband yelling at me upstairs while I am still trying to decide on what to wear 'Babe, when did you go on that girls trip to the river? Obviously not February right? Wasn't it July or August?Babe come downstairs, did you go to Da Boys Pizza when you went to the river?You spent $9.03 cents, right? Why would they be charging it now? Did they ever originally charge you the first time? Where are our files?'  Ugggghhhh!!!!
• I run downstairs to go over statements real quick, listen in as he calls Da Boyz Pizza, where they explain to him the glitch in their system, yada yada, blah blah. All is taken care of. Thank God!
• I run back upstairs
• Doorbell rings.I run back downstairs My dad is here to take the older girls out to dinner, while my mom is going to come up in a bit to watch my 5 year old. Usually the older girls can watch the five year old, but for nights where it may be a long one, I have my parents come up. They live down the street. 'Girrrrrllllls, Papa is here to take you to dinner'
• I run back upstairs to look for my black bandeau strapless bra. My fifteen year old stole borrowed it! DAM! Now she is gone at a restaurant, so 2 of my outfit choices are done. I text her to ask 'hey, did you take my bra?'  "Ooops" she says!
• Thirteen year old chimes in from the background. 'You can borrow mine mom!' Bless her tiny 32AA little heart!  
• SHIT!!!! SHIT!!!!! SHIT!! I forgot to put my pants in the dryer! Look at clock! I need a cider!
• Run back downstairs, grab a cider and start guzzling. Unfortunately, rather than calm me, it'll probably make me burpy. Oh well,guzzle away........GUZZLE GUZZLE!! 
• Outfit! O.K. Outfit............ Green, off the shoulder shirt? Black tank with jeans? UGGHHH!!
• Husband asking me if he can just run to Roberto's and grab a burrito while I get ready? He can't wait to get downtown, he is hungry now. Then he starts shootin out the questions. 'O.K., doors open at 6:30, but there are 3 bands before Flogging Molly comes out. If we get there too early we will just be standing. Plus I doubt you want to be right at the front of the stage right? I mean there will be a mosh pit. Remember what happened last time?'
• Decide to not get there too early, and NOT be upfront at the stage. 
• Husband just got home with burrito, my five year old is waiting for me to wipe her butt (yes, sometimes I still wipe her if I am around. Gotta get her clean!) And I still need to decide on what to wear. 
• Pray that my dryer starts working in warp speed, work out the gas bubbles that gulping this cider has caused me, put on some lip gloss, and be on our way. 
• Ahhhh, Breathe!!! 

I will post again tomorrow, about how the show went.

I am soooo excited

and 

I left you with a video.

If you like Flogging Molly.....Great!

If not, don't watch the video

Or if you are like me, and you do LOVE Flogging Molly, but are usually to pre-occupied, lazy, and impatient to click on video links.....well, then, I feel you. I get it! I am the same way!

Hopefully I will have my own video by the end of the night! 

Woo Hoo!

Mama and Daddy deserve a fun night tonight!