When is the last time you were this excited about underpants?

When MiniMac approached the transition from wearing pull ups to little boy underwear, we were told to employ severe ardency about this transition. I promise you, on the verge of parenthood, no one told you that someday you would expound enthusiastically about tiny children's underwear emblazoned with Mickey Mouse or Thomas the Train. Ever. And I also promise you, when you were making the child, you aren't gleefully dreaming of this type of family activity. 

But when this landmark moment is about to occur in your home, you take the advice of wiser, veteran parents and you roll out the pomp, circumstance, and almost schedule a parade for "Big Boy Underpants Day."

The night before the big day, we let MiniMac select the inaugural pair. Lightening McQueen it is. And after our good-night routine, off to bed he goes. 

The next morning, we are sound asleep when a tiny voice approximately four inches from JohnnyMac's face says, "Daddy, it is morning time. You need to wake up." Note, it is about before 6 am. It is not time to rise evidenced by the fact that even the sun was still asleep. So we tuck him into bed with us and hope for a miracle 20 minute delay in starting the day. 

When we got up soon after, I took him downstairs. In the sunlit filled kitchen I break into a giant smile. My son, in the middle of the night, got out of bed and pulled his new Lightening McQueen underpants on. OVER his pajamas. And went back to bed. 

Unbridled earnestness and enthusiasm are so common in children. Sometimes it is nice to recall what that is like. On occasion, adults forget how this feels or we are too busy to make room for it.  Who would have known that a tiny pair of Lightening McQueen underpants would serve as such a great reminder. 
__________


And speaking of enthusiasm over underpinnings, the Let's Get into our Fancy Pants Giveaway had such a great response, I reached out to Ms. J at Cosabella and inquired if we could give away not one but two sets. She, being as fabulous as she is, agreed.  Congratulations to Susan Erickson and ChristieJolu. You are both getting into your own set of Fancy Pants. Please email me and I will put you in touch with Ms. J at Cosabella. Cheers and have a gorgeous Tuesday.

I see London, I see France

Let's get into our fancy pants.   

What about a giveaway within a giveaway? It can be done, right? You already know about the chocolate kiss with the best cupid ever, Jimmy Choo. But you might need something to go with that bag.

Fabulous Cosabella, is a designer of high end women's apparel and lingerie. Designed in Miami and manufactured in Italy, the options are gorgeous. How do I know? Because I have items from the new AIRE collection. And I am especially fond of the hotpants. What is not to love about hotpants? And who knows hot better than Miami and Italy? Exactly. 

And the AIRE collection is made of the thinnest, lightest material. FABULOUS. And no lines because those went out with legwarmers. (Legwarmers are out...right?)  I love them for being gorgeous and comfortable.

So let's have a little pre-Valentines treat. This is where the sexy undergarments come in. I am partnering with Cosabella to give one reader a bra and panty set from their new collection. 

Simply follow my blog and leave a comment. Contest ends on Monday.  

And men, you are not excluded. If you have a special dame in your life, consider this as leverage should you be inclined to spend all day this Sunday watching pre-game, game, and post-game analysis of the SuperBowl.

In the interim, visit Cosabella's site for a bevy of other lovely items. They are adding a delicious discount to readers as well. Now through February 28, 2010, anyone that purchases $100 on shop.cosabella.com will receive $20 off their purchase.  Enter Code: AIRELAUNCH. 

Good luck and here's to some new fancy pants in your future. 


Dear FCC: Cosabella and I have a relationship of mutual consent and a pre-nup. But yes, they did ask me to share my views in exchange for some Cosabella goodness. Opinions above are volunteered not paid for however.

Jimmy Choo and cocktails too...

Is singing Happy Blog Birthday to yourself as much fun as having a party? Non. So, let's have a soiree as today my blog celebrates its birthday. Cocktails? Certainly. Ass-shaking music? Would you expect anything less? Oh, and the party favor at this bash is delicious.

The past year of blogging has been amazing for me and the hidden surprise of all of the great people I would "meet" through this process has been phenomenal. Thank you seems inadequate for the tremendous interest and support but thank you. Very, very much.

And when I get love, I give love.

So as a way of celebrating, I am hosting a giveaway. I wanted to send wine but given the bevy of state regulations on shipping alcohol, my initial plan was foiled. So I had to brainstorm.

I am a handbag aficionada. Mine stand like gorgeous toy soldiers on all the upper shelves of our closet. A recent "closet policy" was suggested to me  which would include "one in, one out." He whom suggested this knows it will never be fully adopted. But I can, in a narrow beam of light, see his point.

I bought this fabulous chocolate brown Jimmy Choo Ramona bag to add to my collection. Jimmy Choo, I heart you. 

And as a token of appreciation for everyone who has joined me for the past year and my blatant love of couture, this bag is going to find a new home.

Dames, might you be interested in a little Jimmy Choo? And Gentlemen, don't consider yourself excluded, you might have someone in mind that would love this as a gift. Call it a fabulous Valentine. 

Whomever is selected from the magic hat, you can revel in its gorgeousness, you can tote it on your arm or you can sell it and give the money to charity. Your choice. 

Are you game? 

Contest begins today and ends 2.10.2010. 

First entry: You have to be a follower of my blog and leave a comment.

Additional entry love:

1. Post the giveaway with a link back to my blog. Leave me your post link.

2. Become a Facebook Fan.  It is this easy. 
3. Tweetle-dee-dee about the giveaway on Twitter. You can find me at: @dearjennymac.

Good luck to everyone. Thank you for coming to the party and celebrating my blog's first birthday.  And thank you SO MUCH for a great year. Have a fabulous day. I will certainly be celebrating with a cocktail tonight. 

And for the love of all things holy, I only wish Jimmy Choo or Tamara Mellon asked me to do this.

Pour some blogger on me...

Blogs are like a bomb, baby come and get it on.

Happy Monday BlogWorld. And this Monday is a great one. Let's have a cocktail turned 8 months old last week which is celebratory on its own accord. But we have had a big couple of days around here for additional reasons. So we are pulling out our heels and hangbags to celebrate and have a proper toast.There is no way for me to truly demonstrate my gratitude to my readers.
Or to demonstrate my gratitude for even being able to say "my readers". It is an overwhelming feeling of awesome and excitement to be on the blog road with you. And I am love love loving the ride.

Saturday, Let's have a cocktail welcomed its 30,000th visitor. And I have you to thank.

And a month or so ago one of my previous posts caught the attention of an editor from Woman's World Magazine. I received a wonderful email asking if I would be willing to be interviewed about the post. I was honored. Are you kidding me ? I couldn't say OF COURSE any quicker. The October 12 issue which includes my tiny interview came out this weekend. Page 41 in the You deserve the best column. My heart filled with a number of emotions seeing my blog name in big girl print. In a major weekly magazine. FILLED I tell you.

And in separate serendipitous moment, I have been invited to be an ongoing contributor to Woman's World Magazine's blog.

So you see, I feel like celebrating. And I want to celebrate with you. Thank you so much for your support, your comments, your emails, and your willingness to not only have a cocktail with me, but to join me in the ride.

I feel like you are the most interesting and diverse group of people I have ever hosted at a cocktail party. And from all corners of the map. And each of you brings something unique, real, and worthwhile to the soiree. Thank you friends for contributing so much to this process.

And to celebrate with you, I am taking one of you to lunch. Simply leave a comment from now through Friday and tell me your favorite place to have a mid-day nosh.

On Saturday morning I will pick one of your fabulous names at random from my magic hat. What is the prize? A $20.00 gift card to the restaurant you picked. And then you are off to your favorite spot. Just a small way for me to share the blog love.

I wish I could join you but enjoy a bite (and maybe a sip) on me and know I am toasting you all from Atlanta. Here is to all of us that are writing, reading, and responding to one another.

A thousand rays of gratitude,
JennyMac
PS: If I can't get a giftcard to your venue easily, I have a great back up plan.

Me love you long time

Cel-e-brate...good times..come on.

Wait. Those are two different songs.

But I am celebrating.
And you are the reason.
Ergo, me love you long time.

Yesterday afternoon, my tiny blog welcomed its 20,000th visitor. And since it is mathematically possible but not probable for all 20,000 of those visits to be my Mom, I think you had something to do with it.

And when I get love, I give love.

So I am doing a 20 for 20K celebratory blog- love giveaway.

In honor of this really special landmark for Let's have a cocktail, I am sending one of my great readers a $20 gift card to Starbucks.


Just leave a comment between now and Friday, and then I will pick a name from my magic hat.

And since I will be sitting in Seattle at that time enjoying big fun with my family and friends, I naturally chose a hometown hero: Starbucks. If you don't have a Starbucks nearby, or in the event you don't like coffee, fear not. I've got you covered.

Thank you to every one of you who makes the time to read my blog. Visitors welcome.

Have an amazing day.

A bar by any other name

Last time I was in Seattle visiting my family, I left my Mom's downtown office and spied a bar called "The Honey Pot." While it isn't offensive, mind you, I do think it lacks a little, well, panache. Now honey pot could refer to your nether region, your good stuff. But it is also what one company calls their mobile sh*tters. (eg: port-o-johns)

And once you know that, "Honey Pot" just loses any saucy allure it may have held.

So in the event you wanted more where this came from, and in the spirit of TGIF, here are the worst actual bar names I have heard and their location. Oh yes, I know some of them are a play on words, trust me. But really? That's the best you could do?

Pink Taco: LA

Whiskey Dix: Winnipeg

Happy Cock: Japan

Post Coitus: Japan

Labia: Tokyo

Manhole: Chicago (gay bar)

Dog and Sphincter: England

The Cock: Manhattan

The Wet Spot: Houston

Spread Eagle: Bury, England

The Quiet Woman: York, England (The logo is a woman carrying her severed head. And yes, perhaps this is the only way you will be sure she will be quiet.)

Cheers. And by all means, if you are savvy to additional names, tell all.



And all the fabulous commenters from Tuesday were placed in a magic hat from the finest of milliner's this morning. Thanks for celebrating my 6 month half-a-birthday-blog-o-versary.

The IHC Overnight giveaway winner is the wonderful AmyK at Life's Not a Cruise. One night off compliments of JennyMac. Congratulations.

PS: Someone asked me if I work there. No. I WISH. I would give away rooms galore and be on permanent vacation. I just know fab when I see it, and wanted to share it. Have a great weekend.