Me and Ubisoft, Ubisoft and Me

I totally forgot to tell you guys about my new friends at Ubisoft.

That is me and a Raving Rabbid.

My new friends make video games (probably why we are so close). I finally got a chance to meet them at BlogHer in New York.

We spent the entire time playing a video game where magical creatures frolic and can earn accessories.

I made the mistake of telling my daughter about this video game. She wanted me to run out and buy her one right away. Of course 1) it hasn't been released yet and 2) I can't remember the name, but I assure you (and Claudia) that it was awesome and she is going to love it.

These are the same people that make Just Dance 2 (you know, the one that hosted the MamaPop v. Cool Mom Picks dance off at BlogHer '10?).

Ubisoft makes a ton of awesome games including "Press Your Luck" (Big Money, no Whammies!) a crazy Dragon game for the Nintendo DS that my son stole from me and several games for Wii and PlayStation 3 that my husband ran off with.

He didn't really run off. He just put them somewhere in our house that I don't know about.

This was one of them.

This was another one.

Anyway, I'll be back with more on these games and more about Ubisoft once one of my family members decided to let me play.

* * *

I was selected by Ubisoft and Clever Girls Collective to be part of the Ubisoft Champions social media program. I am compensated for my participation in this program, but my reviews are solely my own and represent my honest opinions. Ubisoft and Clever Girls Collective promote Blog With Integrity.

Do Witches Make Fishes?

Do Witches Make Fishes?






My friend Jason Mayo, who is a really great person wrote a lovely children's book called Do Witches Make Fishes? Not only does this make a perfect Halloween gift, but all proceeds from the sale of this book go to The Garden Of Dreams Foundation.

Please consider helping out a worthy cause and getting a wonderful book at the same time.

BUY THE BOOK

What Makes Me Happy Now

The DivaCup has a Happiness Blog Project and they wanted to know how my view of happiness has evolved over time.

What makes me happy now that I am older?

It is sort of a loaded question isn't it? It reminds me that I am, in fact, older.

I'm not old. I'm only 37. But I'm not 16 anymore. I'm not 21 anymore. I'll never be 30 again. Sometimes I get random back pains and my eyesight is going to hell in a handbasket. I don't heal as quickly as I used to. I cannot subsist on 5 hours of sleep a night and gravity has started doing what it does to my body.

That being said, there are some really wonderful things that go along with being a grown up.

I don't have a curfew anymore.

I can afford good beer, the mid-priced olive oil and the soft toiler paper.

I never have to go to middle school again.

What makes me happy now that I am older? Some of the things are the same. Chocolate ice cream still makes me happy. I continue to love football games. Even though I am a parent, I will inevitably be deeply amused by a little kid saying a curse word. I have never stopped loving to sing - opera, folk, choral music, karaoke, whatever. It all brings me joy. I have always loved reading a good book on the beach. My friends and family still make me happy. I have never stopped liking commission checks. I savor the moment when the airplane wheels first leave the ground. I love finding the perfect pair of jeans - the ones that fit just right.

The most shocking thing of all is that I still enjoy going to loud ass heavy metal concerts all these years later. I thought I would grow out of that, but no, they still make me happy.

There are new things too. I love going out to dinner at a nice restaurant and eating whatever is on the chef's menu. Years ago this would have freaked me out. I used to be such a picky eater. Now I will try anything once.

Except snake.

I love the feeling I get when I just took a really great picture.



Since my twins were born I have learned to love silence. I don't get to experience it very often, but I can now get great pleasure out of my moments of peace.

The last thing, the thing that snuck up on me is writing. Writing used to be something I did to pass classes. I wrote because I had to. I have always loved words, and I was giddy the first time I opened up a thesaurus. Now I write for pleasure, as an exercise, for release and because I think that with my words I can make other people happy.

I guess I am a pretty easy target. Many things make me happy.

You want to know what makes me happy now? All of these things and the word "Zamboni".

Part of bringing happiness to your life is simplifying things so you can enjoy it to

the fullest. What makes you happy? How has your view of happiness evolved

over time? The DivaCup offers a simple, worry free, eco-solution to women

worldwide every month. Not a tampon, not a pad, finally a better way!

www.divacup.com. The DivaCup is donating $100 to Choralis

in the honor of "Sarah and the Goon Squad".

Nintendo Enthused

When I signed up to be a Nintendo Enthusiast I had no idea it would be so cool.

Last week I got a package from Fed Ex. I had no idea what it was.

It was this.

I had no idea what it was.

A huge copy of "Pride and Prejudice"?

Oh, it was huge. See it here next to a regulation length pencil.

I love the novel, but... weird. But wait! This was no book. It was a clever packaging. This was awesome in a box.

With slightly larger than average cat.

With two slightly larger than average cats.

My cats love this for some reason.

Anyway. The DS was awesome, but it was so much more than that. Here is what I was expecting:

I was so happy about this. I've been reading e-books for years. I probably started reading books on my Palm Pilot in 2000, maybe even 1999. From there I eventually moved on to e-reader on my iPhone, to kindle on my iPhone, to an actual Kindle.

When I found out Nintendo was releasing the "game" "100 Classic Books" I thought it would be a fantastic way to finally get around to reading all of those classics that I haven't read yet.

This is no joke. I've been on a quest to read classic literature. Since The Goon Squad was born I've read "Moby Dick", "Pride and Prejudice", "Anna Karenina", "Wuthering Heights", "A Tale of Two Cities", "Emma", "Crime and Punishment", "The Metamorphosis", "Dune", "Lolita", "A Light in August", "Ulysses" and "Heart of Darkness". This allows me to do that and make it fun.

The thing is that I thought they were going to send me the game and I would have to fight my children to use their DSs.

But Nintendo and Brand About Town had my back.

I had no need to worry. They send me a special DS. This is no DS Lite - oh no. This is a DSiXL.

Plus this one is red. Or purple. Whatever. I love it.

But that isn't the coolest part. Check this out:

Cool huh?

I am going to start with "War and Peace".

Now you see why I am enthused.

Sarah Reviews Wolf Trap's Children's Theatre-in-the-Woods

This morning I took The Goon Squad to Wolf Trap to see the Maryland Youth Ballet do a performance of "Caroline Goes to the Zoo".

Outdoor theatre is a fantastic way to introduce your kids to the arts, and my kids really enjoyed watching other kids performing. We especially enjoyed the question answer period at the end when the children got to ask the dancers questions and it came out that the Maryland Youth Ballet had a "Men's Program". My son was very excited that there were men in ballet and male ballet teachers.

I've been telling him for years that ballet isn't just for girls and now he finally believes me.

It was a cool venue.

I was fairly disappointed in the other parents. People were coming in during the entire performance and talking. At least five people showed up so late that the show was already over, but the dancers were good and it was a cute show.

Some people stayed for a puppet show, but as much as we would have enjoyed it, there were 45 minutes between shows and it was just too much time for my kids to sit still in the heat, with the bugs, with no food or drink.

We'll go back, but next time I will come prepared. They say no food or drink, but 80% of the other parents had snacks in their bags and their kids were doing really well. Check it out, but wait for a day where it is under 90 degrees.

Photography is not allowed (not that it stopped the other mothers) so pictures courtesy of Wolf Trap.

‘DC Cupcakes’ Sister Blog Contest

Do you like cupcakes? Do you have a sister? Would you like $500?

TLC has the contest for you.

It is easy - TLC would love to hear about strong sister relationships.

If you have a great memory of you and your sister together, write a blog post about it, follow @TLC and tweet a link to the post with the hashtags #DCcupcakes and #TLCsisters by July 23, 2010, and you’ll be entered into our sister blog contest. The best entry... will receive a $500 VISA gift card — great for a present for (or maybe even a visit to) that wonderful sister!

So go! Enter! Win money! Tell them I sent you.

Okay, you don't have to tell them I sent you, but if you win the $500 you should at least buy me a drink. Or a DC cupcake.

[photo: TLC]

Look What I Can Do!

In my life long quest to make everything I like to do all part of the same thing, look what I made for my friend Kim for BlogHer.

Cool, huh?

If you find her at BlogHer she will probably grace you with one - assuming you use your manners.

It was my very first order in my new line of business. I am very proud.

Of course, my second order was me stepping up one level.



SARAH AND THE GOON SQUAD CORKSCREWS!

I know. Now I can drink wine when I travel too!

Fear not. I still have plenty of beer openers left over if you are in need. I will have those too.

I can also sell not beverage related items, I just haven't had a reason to do so yet.

Wait until you see what I got for Draft Day Suit.