Mystere by Cirque du Soleil

Whether you’re headed there on vacation or to attend a convention, you need to save a night in Las Vegas for taking in a show by Cirque du Soleil! Not sure which one you should see? (There’s 6 you know) They’ve got you covered — their website offers a handy little test of sorts to help match up your likings to the ideal Cirque show for you to enjoy.  I was told “Mystere” was the show for me, and they were right!

As a guest of Cirque du Soleil, I was so excited to get 2 tickets that were just rows back from the stage. My mom drove 7 hours to join me and we both agreed it was well worth the drive! Our girls night out became an adventure with “Baby” full of twists, twirls, bounces and feats of amazing skill and strength.

Having never seen a Cirque du Soleil performance before, I found myself completely immersed in the abundance of activity happening not only on center stage but in the wings and even within the audience.  While I loved being so close to the stage that you could experience the expressions and emotions on the performers faces, I think seats near the rear of the theatre would also have been ideal and allowed you to absorb the show in its entirety without having to look up and around. So i guess that could mean that there really isn’t a bad seat in the house!

While us girls had an absolutely amazing evening, I found myself wishing at times that my husband and my kids (pre teen and teen) could be there to take in the mind blowing acrobatics. If you are struggling to find a “family friendly” activity in Vegas (hard to do these days),  this would be an ideal show for the entire family to enjoy.

There were so many performances within the show that took my breath away, but I think I was most amazed at the incredicle duo who in their absolutely stellar display of strength and mastery of their muscular abilities left my own muscles aching just imaging what they must be feeling as they twisted and turned and moved with incredible grace and awe! (I don’t want to ruin it for you!)

I could have watched them perform for hours and hours but alas, the show did have to come to an end. We went to the 9:30 Saturday night showing and it let out just in time for us to stroll out and watch the Treasure Island Pirate Show in front of the hotel.

I highly recommend you stop by Cirque du Soleil and get tickets to Mystere. You won’t be disappointed!

Dotting on Danielle!

The fascination with Blue Man Group started years ago at the ad agency Dahlin Smith White (later known at Euro RSCG DSW Partners) where my husband worked. Those shiny blue men became part of an ad campaign for one of their clients and my intrigue was unleashed.  And that made it impossible to turn down Blair Williams (of WP Pretty Link Plugin) when he called with the invitation to join a somewhat random group of 10 people as guests of Partner Fusion and the Blue Man Group while we were all in town for BlogWorldExpo 2009.

I arrived a bit early at the Venetian Hotel and should have taken advantage of the time by trying out the drums and musical escapades in the gift shop pre show.  The shop was the hot spot after the show with everyone wanting souveniers and to play some of the coveted instruments. Great photo op I might add! Don’t forget your camera.

While I was expecting a “show”, I think “experience” is a much more applicable term for the Blue Man performance. Not having been to one of their shows, I should have been tipped off by the attendees in the first several rows sporting their newly donned plastic ponchos. I have to admit that as we were being seated I felt a tinge of jealousy that “they” got ponchos and we were simply escorted to the last row. (so the tickets were free, should I complain?) Little did I know, we were actually in some of the best seats in the theatre.  Back is definitely where its at for this show!

You’ll love the full view from the back as the action is not just taking place on the stage but throughout the entire theatre. When the Blue Men  started interacting with the audience, I was again so glad we were near the back. Silly me!  I can’t tell you how my heart pitter pattered as Mr Blue Man came right up to us and studied Danielle (sitting next to me) and I … and studied us some more….then watched as he plucked Danielle, not I, to come up on stage and join the trio as part of the show. She was awesome and I’m sure she’ll forever have fond memories of the banana tasting pudding sludge mixture in the chinese takeout box she received as a parting gift.  I’ll leave that pudding mixture up to your imagination but it’s a great part of the show.

Not wanting to spoil the experience – trust me when I say “You need to see them!” An absolutely awesome evening spent with 9 others that together, we’ll always have a great laugh as we reminisce of banana pudding, Blog World Expo and the Blue Man Group. Definitely take advantage of seeing them when you’re in Vegas the next time. Maybe you’ll be the next one walking away with the take out box!

At Affiliate Summit West 2009 I had the pleasure of sharing my lunch table with Rick Calvert, CEO and Co-Founder of BlogWorldExpo. He inspired me to get working on a blog for my new “career” serving on our school district’s Governing Board. A little leary of publishing my thoughts of my service to my community with the many rules and regulations hanging over elected school board members, I quietly pushed aside that desire to pen the trials and triumphs of running for a public office as a wife and mother of 5.

Now, 9 months later, I am ready to really get going on my personal business blog of mompreneurship and juggling clients, community and children. I’ve got so much to learn and keep up on, on a daily basis. I need to sharpen my saw and get a kickstart for extra motivation. Conventions are a great way to do that.

Ever since that meeting, I keep reflecting on the many opportunities and thoughts that Rick shared and after reviewing their web site today and class offerings, I have to firmly agree that attending BlogWorldExpo is one of those must-attends for keeping up with the latest advances in the quickly evolving world of blogging. Check out these stats*!

• Over 12 million American adults currently maintain a blog
• More than 147 million Americans use the Internet
• Over 57 million Americans read blogs
• 1.7 million American adults list making money as one of the reasons they blog
• 89% of companies surveyed say they think blogs will be more important in the next five years
• 9% of internet users say they have created blogs
• 6% of the entire US adult population has created a blog
• Technorati is currently tracking over 70 million blogs
• over 120 thousand blogs are created every day
• There are over 1.4 million new blog posts every day
• 22 of the 100 most popular websites in the world are blogs
• 37% of blog readers began reading blogs in 2005 or 2006
• 51% of blog readers shop online
• Blog readers average 23 hours online each week

 There is no time like the present. Its time to seize the day and sign up to attend BlogWorldExpo. Early bird pricing ends soon so don’t wait!

And you’ll get to also personally meet a large number of exhibitors  including Affiliate Summit and  ClickBooth,

(*stats from blogworldexpo.com website)

See Bonnie. See Bonnie do the unimaginable. See Bonnie build a blog that is for nothing more than blogging.  Should be fun! With a hubby and lots of kids, a few pets and more, the words to be penned will lead us thru the ups and downs of homework, housework, work work, and trying not to work.

Come join the fun and See Bonnie. See Bonnie Blog. Blog Bonnie Blog.  Oh… I already am! Yeah!