I’ve partnered with Fidelity & MEFA for this post in support of the U.Fund Dreams Tour. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

 I scream, You scream, We all scream for, Ice Cream!

Summer and ice cream. Can you think of a more perfect union? Well, if your family loves music, ice cream, and fun you won’t want to miss WGBH’s FunFest this weekend, sponsored in part by MEFA and Fidelity Investments. Get all the details below:

When: Saturday, July 12, 10am-4pm (rain or shine!)

Where: WGBH Studios, One Guest Street, Boston, MA 02135

What: The FunFest will be full of music, ice cream, performances, face painting and interactive games. Are you excited yet? You’ll want to make sure you stop by the Massachusetts Educational Financial Authority (MEFA) U. Funds Dreams Tour tent and give your kids the opportunity to live out their dreams. What’s a Dreams Tent? It’s where your child and their dreams unite! Does your child have aspirations to be the next President? Astronaut? Musician? Watch their dreams come to life in front of a real green screen complete with props, and leave with valuable information about saving for college along with a takeaway of your child in front of a background of their choice! The dreams tent does not disappoint!

Who: Some of your favorite kids characters like Curious George, Arthur, and Clifford The Big Red Dog! You’ll leave with a happy belly after stopping by some of the vendors including Ben & Jerry’s, Friendly’s, J.P. Licks, Nesquik, and Roxy’s Gourmet Grilled Cheese!!

Will we see you there? Click here for more information about tickets and parking.

WGBH enriches people’s lives through programs and services that educate, inspire, and entertain, fostering citizenship and culture, the joy of learning, and the power of diverse perspectives.

With the end of another school year upon us (we’re counting down the final TWO days of school) it’s been fun to look through the projects, pictures and poems my daughter created over the year in 2^nd grade. Along with a special book of poetry and projects learning about her Jamaican and Colombian heritage was a packet asking her what she wanted to be when she grew up. I’ve asked her over the years what she wanted to be when she grows up and she hasn’t been shy about her varying desires.

“Mommy, I want to be a Police Officer like Daddy and help people. I also want to be a Teacher. Oh and I love music, and Michael Jackson is my favorite artist, and I want to be on the Disney channel and be a singer and dancer. Mommy – why aren’t there any female Presidents? I think I could do that too.”

Do I want my baby girl to grow up? Sometimes…but not really. Am I looking forward to seeing the woman and advocate she will be when she grows up? Absolutely. Listening to her speak of her future gives me butterflies. I’ve always encouraged her to be creative and engage in diverse activities so she has a well-rounded childhood. Did I tell you she’s running a triathlon at MIT next month? I don’t want any opportunity to be out of her reach – and if I’m able I want to provide her with varying experiences to show her all that the world has to offer.

Growing up as the youngest of four children I don’t remember having conversations with my Mother about my future or career. I wasn’t encouraged to think about the future or college, I knew I had greatness within me, but didn’t know how to tap into it. I completed college applications on my own, didn’t receive any monetary support for college, and actually didn’t participate in sports my senior year of high school so I could save for college. I still remember moving into my dorm room 11 years ago with less than $20 in my bank account. My future didn’t seem very bright at that time, and I wish with the support of my Mother we could have planned for my college journey.

My College Graduation

As I think about my daughter entering 3^rd grade in the Fall (yikes!) and eventually graduating high school and moving onto college – it makes me quite nervous! As a single Mom who isn’t yet 30 I’m still building my life, and figuring out where the road will take me – but my daughter’s education is a priority because I don’t want her to have any barriers accessing higher education as I did. But I can’t plan for her future alone, which is why I’m thrilled that the U.Funds Dream Tour and their Dream Tents will be engaging with families around Massachusetts this summer and fall and getting them excited about seeing their dreams come to life and saving for college.

I had the opportunity to stop by the Dreams Tent this past weekend and was so impressed at the valuable information for both kids and families and the interactive displays for kids. The most exciting part for my daughter was being in front of a green screen decked out in rockstar attire. Given that she has big dreams of being a singer and dancer she was able to pose and see her picture printed on top of a concert background. She was able to see her dreams come to life which was great and also brought up how she can pursue her dreams – and we both know that education is key.

The U.Fund Dreams Tour is just the beginning and a great way to get your kids involved with their future. MEFA’s Ufund is a Massachusetts 529 college-investing plan, tax-advantaged savings plan managed by Fidelity. MEFA is a dynamic local non-profit state authority working to make higher education more accessible and affordable.

My daughter’s education is an investment in herself and her future. I never want her to stop learning or stop growing and I hope through saving for her college education at an early age will truly provide her with the support she needs to dream BIG.

Speaking of dreaming big, one of our favorite books to read is a great book called “Grace for President” by Kelly S. DiPucchio which talks about one determined young girl who is upset there haven’t been any female Presidents and runs a Presidential campaign in her school – and wins! It’s a powerful educational book to read with my daughter that reinforces my desire for her to think and dream BIG and I want to offer this book to one lucky reader – enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I first heard about Uber coming to Boston early last year, and to be honest I was a bit skeptical. I wasn’t sure how it would be any more convenient than using a cab, and initially didn’t think much about it. As their presence grew in Boston, I decided to take a chance and sign up and a year later our car-free family loves Uber! We use the service at least twice a week and have been tremendously impressed with the convenience of using Uber Boston!

My kiddo and I have lived just outside of Boston, in Cambridge for the past five years. It’s a diverse city with tons of family friendly activities and a great public school system. We moved here from a few towns over not just so my daughter could have a great education but because of the accessibility. We’ve been a car-free family for about four years now, and primarily use the bus and train to get around. We live right along the Minuteman Bikeway and can walk to the local train station and local shops in just under 10 minutes. We can easily take the train into Boston and go shopping along Boylston Street, catch a movie downtown or go ice skating in Boston Common. While living car-free is pretty easy in Cambridge, we cannot always rely on the public transportation system and/or it doesn’t go to where we are travelling.

What we enjoy most about using Uber is the ease – no need to stand outside trying to hail a cab or worry about going to the ATM to get cash. Simply download the app on your smartphone, connect a credit card and you are good to go! I don’t know about you, but I’m terrible about carrying around cash with me, and the times I would try to get a cab I would be denied because they refused to accept credit cards. When I’ve got a cranky hungry kid, who needs to go to the bathroom, the last thing I want to hear is that I need to travel to the ATM to get cash. That just wasn’t working for me! Once you’ve downloaded the app you can enter your pickup location and choose which of their high-quality services you’d like to use:

UberX: Low cost – Base fare $2.25 – Seats up to 4 – Toyota Camry, Nissan Accord etc.

UberBlack: The Original Uber – Base fare $7 – Seats up to 4 Lincoln Town Car, Mercedes-Benz E350 etc.

UberSUV: Room for Everyone – Base fare $14 – Seats up to 6 – Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon etc.

 At various times I’ve used all three services, but we use UberX primarily because of the price – it’s often cheaper than a regular cab and I can usually have a driver arrive in under 10 minutes! Once you’ve booked your car, you get a text letting you know they are on the way (including the driver’s name) and a text when they’ve arrived at the pickup location. Even better? In the Uber app you can see a small photo, name and license plate number of your driver. It’s super helpful at night or when you’re in a crowded place.

New as of today, Thursday, May 8, Uber has added another service, UberXL to Boston, with seating up to six people, its ideal for transporting large groups with the same convenience, safety, and ease of Uber at an affordable price. How does UberXL differ from UberSUV? Two things: the price point and the cars. UberXL is essentially an extended version of UberX consisting of vehicles like Honda Pilots and Toyota Siennas. This is the perfect option for larger families who may not need the glam factor that comes along with the UberSUV.

Why do we love using Uber?

• Customer Service: Every driver I’ve had has been off the charts friendly, often opening the doors for us and helping load groceries in the car.
• Convenience: With a couple of clicks I can book a car, and can choose the right service to fit my needs at the time. No more waiting for a bus in the winter time or carrying cash!
• Affordability: With prices of UberX comparable to those of taxis – you’ll be impressed with how affordable using Uber is.

It really has set my mind at ease knowing I can rely on Uber and on amazing customer service! With the launch of UberXL today, I’m sharing a special  discount code: $30 off your first ride! If you’ve been wanting to try Uber or need an alternative to a cab, please sign up with Uber Boston today! Simply download the Uber app on your iPhone, Android or Blackberry and use the code “SingleMomsJourney” or visit https://www.uber.com/go/SingleMomsJourney.

Uber really does have you covered and with UberXL the possibilities are endless! 

I’m no wine connoisseur, but over the years I’ve become quite fond of a nice sweet glass of wine. Even though more than two glasses has me dozing off, wine is my drink of choice and perfect around the holidays. I’ve always wanted to attend a wine tasting and awaken my palate to different flavors, as I’ve been drinking the same wine for years! Change is hard!! This past Sunday, thanks to the Boston Bloggers group I had the opportunity to experience some great wine at Dante Restaurant in Cambridge hosted by the folks at Boston based 90+ Cellars wine.

The event was a kick-off to the holidays and highlighted eight 90+ Cellars wines and pairing suggestions. As someone who hasn’t ever considered pairing wine with specific foods, I found their tips really helpful and gave me a new perspective on wine! My two favorite wines that I tasted were the smooth Riesling and bubbly Prosecco. As I think about upcoming holiday celebrations their Prosecco is definitely one I’d like to invite to the party!

In addition to the great atmosphere, yummy bites, and great wine I had the opportunity to meet a few people from 90+ Cellars including Brett Vankoski, Vice President and Co-Founder, Jeannie Hannigan, Marketing Manager, and Adjovi Koene, Regional Account Manager. All were so friendly and engaging and helped me better understand why 90+ Cellars wine is so great – in addition to the taste! Buying wine can be overwhelming and the price tags on some can be quite intimidating. 90+ Cellars believes that great wine shouldn’t leave your pockets empty – you can have great quality wine at an affordable price! Their motto (which is so fitting) is that their wine has a Saturday night taste with a Tuesday night price! Amazing!!! I don’t know about you but with the holidays coming up and expenses with raising a daughter – money is tight. But that doesn’t mean I should have to sacrifice some good bubbly, especially around the holidays!

About 90+ Cellars: It’s been our goal to seek out, bottle and deliver fine wine that costs you less money.  The landscape has changed, but our mission has not. We partner with highly respected wineries around the globe to provide you with wine that will keep more dollars in your pocket and impress the pants off your friends. Great Wine. Anytime. 

Oh and did I mention they have a wine club? Wine….delivered to your door? I’m so hooked!! With 56 varieties of wine listed on their site ranging from $12 – $30 there is something for everyone, that won’t break the bank! So this holiday season (or anytime) consider choosing 90+ Cellars wine and have some great wine at a great price!

Suggestions from 90+ Cellars on how to pair some of their wines!

Disclosure: No compensation was received for writing this post. I’m a fan of 90+ Cellars and wanted to share their goodness with my readers!

****Congratulations to Robert Loranger!!!****

With Halloween now over, it’s only a matter of time before Christmas will be knocking on the door. I’m not quite ready to accept this truth, even though I’ve already begun Christmas shopping! Along with the hustle and bustle of Christmas comes an important tradition in our house – watching A Christmas Story. The day long marathon still excites me and the jokes never get stale – it’s a classic movie that will never go out of style. We are a musical family and are delighted that A Christmas Story, The Musical is coming to the Citi Wang Theatre this holiday season! What a special opportunity to see all your favorite movie characters come to life on stage!

About A Christmas Story, The Musical:

Celebrate the holidays with this cherished story that will entertain the whole family with this heart-warming classic tale! The story from a cherished movie classic that has enchanted millions is now a musical spectacular. The story takes place in 1940’s Indiana, where a bespectacled boy named Ralphie has a big imagination and one wish for Christmas—a Red Ryder BB Gun. A kooky leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a cranky department store Santa, and a triple dog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the obstacles that stand between Ralphie and his Christmas dream. Co-produced by the film’s original Ralphie, Peter Billingsley, A Christmas Story, The Musical is musical comedy entertainment that captures a simpler time in America with delicious with and a heart of gold.

Scenes from A Christmas Story, The Musical

A Christmas Story, The Musical plays at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre Wednesday, November 20 – Sunday, December 8 for 27 performances: Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 7:30 pm; matinees on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 2:00 pm, and Sundays at 1:00 pm and 6:30 pm. Note, press opening is Thursday, November 21 at 7:30 pm.  Tickets are priced at $45.00 – $125.00; all prices include a $3.75 facility fee per ticket and are on sale now. Visit www.citicenter.org or call (866) 348-9738 for more information.  Groups of 10 or may reserve tickets now by contacting Citi Performing Arts Center Group Sales at (617) 532-1116 or groupsales@citicenter.org.

Experience A Christmas Story in a new and exciting way this holiday season! Use the code LEGLAMP to save 15% on your tickets or enter my giveaway for a pack of four tickets to the show on Wednesday, November 20 at 7:30 pm using the widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good Luck & Happy Start to the Holiday Season!