Typical Suburban Family

Red carpet event followed by live performance by Laughing Pizza to be held in the Aquarium’s Oceans Ballroom

ATLANTA (January 18, 2012)— Georgia Aquarium and family-favorite musical group, Atlanta’s own Laughing Pizza, invite families to the grand Oceans Ballroom for a one-time, VIP family film premiere Saturday, Feb. 4 at 11:00 a.m. The award-winning band and world’s largest aquarium are teaming up for the world premiere of “Laughing Pizza: The Concert Movie” as well as a live performance by Laughing Pizza after the screening.

Beginning at 11:00 a.m., guests will get the “red carpet treatment” with photographs, a VIP screening of Laughing Pizza: The Concert Movie, spectacular views into the world’s largest aquatic habitat, Ocean Voyager, as well as views into the charismatic beluga whale habitat from within the grand Oceans Ballroom. After the VIP screening, Laughing Pizza will perform a few of their hits and give guests the opportunity to meet Billy, Lisa and Emily, up close and in person!

Laughing Pizza is a real family band that writes and performs all original pop-music for families. Their music videos can be seen every day in more than 18 million homes on PBS stations and TV On-Demand channels around the country. This mom, dad and daughter trio travel across the nation performing at theatres, museums, music  festivals, nightclubs, schools, and other venues – including the White House (with Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers).

Lisa and Billy are both classically trained musicians and former music teachers with a history of success in the grown-up music business – including a #1 Billboard Dance Hit and a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell. Emily, their 15-year-old daughter, plays multiple instruments including flute, drums, guitar, piano, and bass – and co-writes all of the Laughing Pizza songs with her parents. Together they create fun, inspiring (and educational) music for the whole family! Their live performances are energetic, interactive, dance-filled shows that get kids and parents up and moving, and they have a loyal following all across the country.

There are two ticket options for families to purchase. VIP Red Carpet Premiere tickets include admission to the film, live performance by Laughing Pizza, meet and greet with the band, and red carpet festivities. VIP Red Carpet Premiere tickets are $15 (Children under 1 years old are free). For an even more spectacular experience, guests can upgrade their tickets to the VIP Red Carpet Premiere Plus ticket, which includes admission to the premiere and its events, as well as admission to the Aquarium and the 3:30 p.m. showing of AT&T Dolphin Tales. VIP Red Carpet Premiere Plus tickets are $34.95 for adults and $28.95 for children. Children under 3 years old only need a film pass, as they are admitted to the Aquarium for free.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.laughingpizza.com. For more information on Georgia Aquarium’s conservation efforts, visit www.georgiaaquarium.org or call 404-581-4000.

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ABOUT GEORGIA AQUARIUM

Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, Georgia, is the world’s largest with more than 10 million gallons of water and the largest collection of aquatic animals. The mission of Georgia Aquarium is to be an entertaining, educational and scientific institution featuring exhibits and programs of the highest standards; offering engaging and exciting guest experiences promoting the conservation of aquatic biodiversity throughout the world. Georgia Aquarium is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. For additional information, visit www.georgiaaquarium.org

Shortly before Christmas, one of Jim’s co-workers received some devastating news about his 6 year old daughter, Beatrice.   She was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumor known as “Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma”.  This news came as quite a shock, since Beatrice was an active and healthy 6-year old only days before the diagnosis.  Immediately following the diagnosis, she was hospitalized and began a series of rigorous treatments at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Scottish Rite.  After a difficult month of treatments and rehabilitation, Beatrice is finally back home with her family, but this strong little girl still has a long, tough battle ahead of her.

Taken directly from her blog…..

Beatrice was diagnosed with DIPG, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a rare, aggressive and almost always terminal form of brain cancer. The diagnosis was made on December 17, 2011. We took her to the local ER because we thought she was dehydrated with the flu. That’s how fast and sneaky the symptoms are. We had no idea she had a tumor. The situation was so bad that I was air lifted in a helicopter to a local children’s hospital within 90 minutes of our initial ER visit and she had to have an emergency tube put into her brain to prevent stroke. If I’d put her to bed instead of calling the doctor, like I seriously considered, I don’t know what would have happened that night.

Four weeks of hospital care and physical rehabilitation and she’s still not 100%. As of today Bea can walk but not run. She can’t walk up stairs by herself. Her balance is off. Her short term memory isn’t 100% either, which frustrates her because she’s very smart and usually loves to talk about her day. She can recall with prompting but without is difficult.

She is undergoing radiation and our hope is that all of these life skills will come back with healing and therapy.

However, this terrible disease that she has always comes back, sometimes very, very quickly. It could be weeks, months or a couple of years with just the radiation.

So, we’re looking into clinical trials and have found a few that are promising. The purpose of this blog is two-fold. One to tell her story from my point of view, the mom. Some stories are going to be full of heartache and aren’t going to be easy to read. Others will be uplifting. That’s the ups and downs of having a child with a terminal illness. I’m hoping, praying, thinking, whatever it takes… to erradicate this disease from her body. It may sound insane but I would love for someone to tell me that it’s chronic, not terminal. That would be music to my ears.

They currently have some fundraising efforts going on:

1. An Art Shop on Etsy: www.helenzigafineart.etsy.com – Buy original artworks by Beatrice and her mom. Bea is also selling custom drawings. Buy one of those and you can ask her to draw something for you!

2. Donations: www.sweetbeafund.blogspot.com – This is a new blog that they’ve started that is a fundraising site and a journal. The donations can be paid via Paypal. The account is a not-for-profit so the percentage taken from donations is very low.

3. Fundraisers: There are 2 fundraisers that are being worked on by friends of ours in Marietta. The dates and details are not yet available. One is a Zumbathon and the other will be a night of dining at Red Sky. There could be others and we will keep you posted on those as they come up.

If there are any other ways you can help this family, please consider doing so.  Does your business donate a percentage of proceeds to a non-profit?  Consider this one.

I don’t personally know this little girl, but Jim knows his father.  I can’t imagine what they are going through and how their lives have been turned upside down without warning.  Please head over to their blog and follow the updates on Sweet Bea and help spread the word about their fundraising efforts.

See some of the world’s most popular Monster Jam® Monster Trucks and meet their drivers for FREE all in preparation for the Jan. 14 Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam show at the Georgia Dome

When &Where : 

See Monster Magic at Brandsmart:

Thursday, January 12, 2012 from 3-7PM
4000 Mt Zion Pkwy | Stockbridge, GA 30236
Brandsmart Phone: 770-389-6100

See Advance Auto Parts Grinder at Advance Auto Parts:

Friday, January 13, 2012 from 2-6 PM
1660 N Roberts Rd NW | Kennesaw, GA 30144
Advance Auto Parks Phone: 770-428-3414

See War Wizard at Advance Auto Parts:

Friday, January 13, 2012 from 2-6 PM
295 Glynn St | Fayetteville, GA 30214
Advance Auto Parks Phone: 770-461-0162

See Black Stallion at Advance Auto Parts:

Friday, January 13, 2012 from 2-6 PM
3426 Clairmont Rd NE | Atlanta, GA 30319
Advance Auto Parts Phone: 404-636-3304

See Gunslinger at Academy Sports & Outdoors:

Friday, January 13, 2012 from 4-7PM
1585 Scenic Hwy | Snellville, GA 30078
Academy Sports and Outdoor Phone: (770) 736-4009

See Grave Digger Legend at Little Ceaesars:

Friday, January 13, 2012 from 4-8PM
7951 Villa Rica Hwy, Ste #125 | Dallas, GA 30132
Little Caesars Phone: 770-456-0992

See Batman at Metro PCS:

Friday, January 13, 2012 from 11:30AM-3:30PM
2680 Cobb Parkway NW | Kennesaw, GA 30152
Metro PCS Phone: (770) 256-3533

Photo Opportunities:          World famous Monster Trucks, Drivers and Fans

Media Contact:        To schedule an interview with a driver or team member contact: Sue Rodman, mPRessionsPR, sue@mpressionspr.com, 404-784-5650

About Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam^®: Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam^® is the world’s premier monster truck series that performs to over 4 million fans annually at the world’s most prominent arenas and stadiums.  Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam^® shows consist of three main elements – the all-access pre-show Party in the Pits, and the main event which consists of Racing and the fan-favorite Freestyle competition. Feld Motor Sports, promoter and producer of the Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam^® Tour, owns and distributes more than 10,000 truckloads of dirt around the world.  For more info., go to www.monsterjam.com

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not the most patient person.  In addition, I am a planner.  Put these two characteristics together with a pregnancy and you can only imagine how difficult it is for me to wait the normal 18-20 weeks for gender determination.

Add Christmas on top of that with my 18 week ultrasound being scheduled for December 27th.  To me that was unacceptable.  I didn’t want to find out 2 days after Christmas what we were having.  I wanted to be able to share the news on and before Christmas with our loved ones.

I started my research on 2D and 3D ultrasound locations in the Atlanta area and decided to schedule with Stork Vision, Atlanta.  I contacted them to schedule an appointment and the staff was very friendly and quick to respond.  Their location was very convenient in the heart of Buckhead Atlanta (numerous locations across the US).

We decided to bring the boys with us to the ultrasound since they’ve been so excited about the baby.  Ryan asks me daily if the baby is wiggling and moving.  They both hug and kiss the baby all the time.  If they come up and hug me and I say “Thanks buddy.  That was so sweet.” I receive a response such as “Momma.  That hug wasn’t for you.  It’s for our baby.”  Oh, geez.  Sorry boys!

The appointment was scheduled and now we just had to wait impatiently patiently for the day to arrive.

The best part was that we kept the secret from most people that we were finding out early what we were having.  We wanted to make it a surprise for Christmas for the grandparents!  So mum was the word for now.

We arrived the day of the ultrasound with two very excited little boys and a nervous mommy and daddy.  We didn’t care either way what we were having, but it’s always such big news you can’t help but be a little nervous to hear what they say!

The facility was very nice; quiet and comfortable.  The ultrasound room was perfect for the boys with two large couches and a large TV for them to be able to see the baby.  The tech was amazing and super friendly and energetic!  She kept the boys engaged the entire time.

We got a lot of great photos of our new little one.

We listened to the baby’s heartbeat which was strong around 150.  This was Ryan’s favorite part and asked several times to listen to it again (which the tech was kind enough to do for him).

And then came the part we had been waiting for……

To purchase a custom announcement, card or invitation, please visit my Etsy store.

Again, we would have been happy with either a boy or a girl, but how fun to be having a little girl since we already have two boys! Ryan was just as thrilled and said “See I told you it was a sister.” to which Owen responds “No it’s still a brother.”

Owen’s already coming around to the idea of a baby sister though and loves to find things that are pink and girly and will tell me “Here. This is for baby sister.”

We couldn’t wait to share our news, but we had to keep it semi-secret for a bit longer.  I made cute little cards (similar to the one above) and shipped them off to the grandparents.  Most of them also received some pink and/or purple yarn to crochet/knit little blankets and hats and headbands for us.  My mom and Jim’s grandmother always make us the greatest baby blankets which both Ryan and Owen still use. We also gave some yarn and a crocheting needle to Jim’s dad and told him he better learn in the next 5 months!  Of course, we were kidding, but he seemed to get a kick out of the request.

That was our fun way of telling them the news for Christmas.  Of course, my mom called approximately 3 minutes after receiving her package and the news.  She was beyond excited and almost in tears.  She was so surprised to hear since we had told her we wouldn’t know for another few weeks.  The excitement in her voice was worth the wait and the keeping of the secret for as long as we had to.

We’ve already received several little pink outfits and toys from friends and Jim’s co-workers.  It’s been so fun to see pink around the house!  Next up…. the baby room and more clothes shopping!  I can’t wait!

Disclaimer:  I received a complimentary 2D ultrasound in exchange for writing about my experience.  All opinions are my own and I would definitely use them again!

Were you the winner of the Disney’s Phineas & Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever Giveaway!?

If not, you can still purchase tickets!

Performance Dates are December 17^th, 4PM & 7PM and December 18^th, 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM.  The added shows are on the 17th which is a Saturday evening.  I can’t think of a better date night out with the kiddos.  It’s something they’ll remember for years to come!

Purchase your tickets now!

Second Date Added Due to Overwhelming Popular Demand:  Performances Added on Saturday, December 17 at 4:00PM & 7:00PM at Philips Arena

We will be attending the 7PM show on Saturday and that’s all the boys are talking about.  They.cannot.wait!

Live shows are so much fun.  The whole experience is just so different from TV and movies.  They really feel like they are seeing the real Phineas & Ferb.

Performance Dates are December 17^th, 4PM & 7PM and December 18^th, 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM.  The added shows are on the 17th which is a Saturday evening.  I can’t think of a better date night out with the kiddos.  It’s something they’ll remember for years to come!

View a three-minute segment on the making of Phineas and Ferb: THE BEST LIVE TOUR EVER!

Purchase your tickets now!

And don’t forget to enter my giveaway to win 4 free tickets to the 7PM show on Saturday. The giveaway ends tomorrow so don’t delay!

What is your favorite Phineas & Ferb episode?

Birthday’s around the holiday season are tough.  Everyone is always so busy with holiday parties, shopping, decorating, family time, Santa visits, etc.  It’s hard to find a perfect time to schedule a birthday party to not conflict with these celebrations.

Ryan doesn’t turn 5 until the 18th, but since that is so close to Christmas, I typically try to schedule his party earlier in the month before too much of the craziness is in full swing.

We had a blast!  The kids swam and played on the slide; they splashed and chased each other in the water.

Some adults (aka daddy) went off the diving board a few times while others enjoyed just hanging in the water.

We sang a little “happy birthday to Ryan”; ate some cupcakes; rehydrated with juice; and then we hit the pool again.

What a great day for a special little 5 year old super hero!

To plan your own Super Hero party you can use some of the ideas from ours! Or you can purchase custom printables (water bottle labels, cupcake toppers) and invitations from my Etsy shop!

Second Date Added Due to Overwhelming Popular Demand

Performances Added on Saturday, December 17 at 4:00PM & 7:00PM at Philips Arena

Due to tremendous public response, Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever! will continue to entertain audiences in Atlanta! Performances have been added on Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 4:00pm and 7:00pm at Philips Arena. The beloved characters from Disney Channel’s animated series embark on a bold escape from the television screen to a live action adventure – right in Atlanta!

Produced by Feld Entertainment, Disney’s Phineas and Ferb: The Best LIVE Tour Ever! brings Phineas, Ferb, Candace, Isabella, Baljeet, Buford and friends to the stage as they make the most of the last day of summer by building an invention bigger, better and more amazing than ever. And, before you can wonder, “Hey, Where’s Perry?” the beloved pet platypus shifts to his secret double life as Agent P to foil another one of Dr. Doofenshmirtz’s evil plans. Musical madness abounds in an escapade so awesome that even Candace can’t help but join the hilarious hijinks. It’s the ultimate end to summer vacation, so seize the day ‘cause Phineas and Ferb are gonna do it all.

We couldn’t be more thrilled to be going to one of these added performances.  Both boys love Phineas and Ferb and they thoroughly enjoy live performances at Philips Arena.  To top it off, it is Ryan’s 5th birthday weekend so this couldn’t have happened at a more perfect time.  He is telling all of his friends at school that we are going to see Phineas and Ferb Live for his birthday; he’s so proud!

Performance Dates are December 17^th, 4PM & 7PM and December 18^th, 12:30PM, 3:30PM, 6:30PM.  The added shows are on the 17th which is a Saturday evening.  I can’t think of a better date night out with the kiddos.  It’s something they’ll remember for years to come!

View a three-minute segment on the making of Phineas and Ferb: THE BEST LIVE TOUR EVER!

Purchase your tickets now!

Now for the giveaway!!  The giveaway is for the 7:00PM show on Saturday, December 17 in Atlanta, GA (no exceptions).

Entering is easy!

1.  Subscribe to this blog via email or Google Friend Connect.  If you already do then just leave a comment stating so!

2.  Follow @myhellodesigns on twitter and tweet about this giveaway: “I entered to win. You can too! Phineas & Ferb Live tickets from @myhellodesigns: http://tinyurl.com/bmh8kek #giveaway” (This can be done three times daily and each time you tweet be sure to leave a comment for an additional entry.)

3.  Share this post on facebook.  (This can be done three times daily and each time you tweet be sure to leave a comment for an additional entry.)

4.  Like Typical Suburban Family (My Hello Designs) on facebook.

That gives you a lot of different options for entering! And don’t forget that for each entry you do, please leave a separate comment for each. If you already do any of the above, just leave a comment stating that you do. Giveaway will end Tuesday, December 13 at midnight. I will be selecting a winner via random.org and posting the winner on December 14. Winner will have 12 hours to contact me or I will select a new winner.

Disclaimer: I did not receive any monetary compensation for promoting this event. I received a four free tickets to the show.  All opinions are my own.

Want more chances to win?  Enter on these Atlanta area blogs too:

• Cumming Local – End Dec 11, 2011
• Coupons Are Great – End Dec 11, 2011
• Ashley’s Ramdom Blog – End Dec 13, 2011
• Atlanta with Kid – Ends Dec 13, 2011
• Marvelous Mommy – Ends Dec 14, 2011
• Macaroni Kid (Buckhead / Brookhaven) – Ends Dec 13

Yes, this is the view from my foyer.

A big ol’ Santa bottom.

His bright red suit stands 12 feet tall on our front porch roof.  It casts quite the red shadow throughout our house when the sun shines on it.  And it lights up our foyer when it glows at night.

In case you were wondering, this year we went straight up tacky.  Sorry neighbors.  We’ve got white littles, colored lights, inflatables, a wire snowman, candy candy lights and Christmas bulb lights lining the driveway.

It’s simply a sight to see.  Nobody can say we’re not in the Christmas spirit though!

The boys had a blast trick-or-treating this year.  They were so into their costumes and they both knew the drill when it came to Halloween night.

We rushed home from school, ate dinner and got into costumes.  We were ringing doorbells in no time!

Both boys ran as fast as they could from house to house to house to house.  They had a blast!

The best part of trick-or-treating is our neighborhood.  We have such a great ‘hood and everyone gets into the holidays.  Some were a little scarier than others and the there were a few houses the boys refused to go to because of the scary music and scary stuff at them.

Along our route we managed to pick up numerous neighborhood kids and our group became quite large.  So fun!!  Our neighbors are great and the kids are all around the same age.

After our pumpkins were filled with candy we headed home to hand out candy ourselves.  The boys had just as much fun doing this as they did collecting their own candy!

They would peek through the windows waiting for the kids to come and then jump up and down as they would pick the treats to give each one.  Ryan would always comment on their costumes and would always prompt them to say “thank you” after he placed candy in their bags.  Too bad he couldn’t always remember the “thank you’s” as he did the trick-or-treating!