Last weekend - I grew another age older, another year wiser (so I hope) and another size bigger! I had a fabulous birthday weekend. On Friday, at work, my co-workers brought in a ton of amazing treats and celebrated my birthday. After work, some of my girlfriends took me out to one of my favorite sushi bars - Koban. They surprised me with a cake and a nice Michael Kors cross body bag. It had been a while since I had seen some of my girlfriends, so it was nice to get together and celebrate.

On Saturday, I decided I was going to take the day and treat myself. I did a whole day manicure, pedicure, facials, and relaxation. I felt absolutely rejuvenated. That evening, my wonderful husband took my out to dinner and gave me my birthday gift. He had bought me the Rayban Sunglasses I had been wanting, so I was absolutely thrilled about that. Later on, we met up with some friends for drinks. Yet again, they surprised me with another cake and more gifts! My amazing friends know me so well. They bought me workout apparel - just what I have been looking for and needing. So as of Sunday, I decided the celebrating was over and that it was time for me to get my act together. I put on my brand new workout clothes and promotional pedometer and went for a 10 mile walk in Belmont Park, through the trails and back home. It felt absolutely wonderful, though I do admit, I was a bit sore the next morning. I guess that is the repercussion for eating all that birthday cake!

I cannot believe that tomorrow is March!!

March is my birthday month. I prefer to say "birthday month" instead of "the month in which my birthday falls on just one day" because, HEY, it's more fun! Who wouldn't want to celebrate all month long, especially when your birthday month has 31 days? With that being said, March is going to bring lots of exciting news for the Motivators family, yes Laurie, it is not all about Ali. We will welcome the O'Shea's second baby girl, as well as the Nick's twin baby girls. Lots of girls and certainly lots of babies that I am honored to be sharing my birthday month with.

Now, with that being said, March is also famous for being Laurie's birthday which happens to fall on St. Patty's Day (or the day before my birthday). No matter where you live, chances are there will be some kind of festival, parade, party, or plain old day where people run around the streets wearing green and taking obscene amounts of Irish car bombs.

Whether you are hosting a party with your friends at home, own a bar or restaurant that wants to get involved in the St. Patty's Day spirit, or are trying to just have a good time hoping for free swag (INSERT: ME), Motivators has tons of St. Patty Day or green branded items to choose from.

Since I will hopefully be celebrating my birthday at an all day festival on Sunday, I was thinking of sporting these rubberized sunglasses and handing them out to my friends and the people I meet along the way. Looking for ideas as to what they should say and figured my super creative and trustworthy blog readers would be the best place to start.

So, tell me how I should brand the sunglasses... and who knows, maybe I will choose your suggestion and send you a pair! 

PS - Check out the image below for my silly idea. "St. Ali's Day" has a nice ring to it...right? I think I need your help!

Today happens to be my 31st Birthday. Besides being Mike Piazza's NY Mets number, the amount of flavors at Baskin-Robbins and the starting pro bowl Jets cornerback (Antonio Cromartie), there really isn't too much going on with 31. I guess after the big 3-0 being able to walk upright without back pain is a positive :)!

So the other day, I was looking through some of my retail happy birthday emails. Let me take a Zach Morris in a tough situation for a second (my 80's friends will get this), this is an awesome way to show your customers you are remembered. I purchased a very nice watch from a very nice salesperson almost seven years ago and I still get cards and emails every single birthday.

OK time in. I came across one from NFL.com. Normally they send tons of emails, so they are usually quickly deleted. Not this time. Their marketing department hit a homerun on this email.

As much as I tried to delete it I couldn't. I wanted it. It was glorious. A brand new green, perfectly-sewn jersey. WITH MY NAME! The picture is below but I had to have one. Now I don't have to worry about salary cap casualties or who's being traded or retiring. I'll always be a Jet fan and I can prove it!

Another hectic yet fun weekend. Saturday consisted of visits to Kohl's, Target, and the supermarket (a test of endurance for anyone this time of year). I followed up my shopping spree with a relaxing massage and pedicure thanks to my amazing sales team's generosity from last holiday season.

Sunday, baked a cake for my brother's birthday; chocolate with buttercream frosting if anyone was wondering. As I started to decorate it, I remembered that I don't own any decorating tips/bags/accessories of my own (always just used Mom's) and that this cake was going to look pretty boring. So I hollered at Bill that I would like to go to the local baking store, Grandma's Kitchen, to pick up some supplies.

About three minutes later, there was a box on the counter and a smiling William standing next to me. To my surprise, he already got me a deluxe decorating kit! It came with every tip you could think of: bags, attachments, food coloring, spatula and a stem for making flowers. How thoughtful?! It was a perfect addition to my other custom kitchen items, and I cannot wait to learn how to do more fancy decorating!

This coming weekend is my niece's birthday party; maybe I'll make some cupcakes! 

It's hard to believe that the first text message was delivered 20 years ago today, but it's true! On Dec. 3, 1992, Neil Papworth typed "Merry Christmas" and clicked send.

Since then, the technology has become a must-have for anyone with a cell phone. And thank goodness -- just think about all the times you've needed to get in touch with someone, but couldn't make a phone call! Indeed, mobile messaging has become a big part of our lives.

But get this: ABC News reports that "in 2012, there is building evidence that text messaging is past its peak." Why? As smartphone ownership continues to increase, email, instant messaging, iMessage and other services have become popular replacements.

Do you still send text messages? If not, what do you use instead?

I love to host a party, so when my dear friend Karen said that it was time for her annual lobster birthday party, I offered my house as the venue because I have more room, and then she can sit back and enjoy the party instead of hosting.  The theme is LOBSTER, which can be expensive, so everyone is chipping in $10 each for their dinner...a small price to pay!  We live near Jordan Lobster Farms in Island Park, NY, where we can get the freshest, just steamed lobster in minutes!  In addition to the lobster, we are hoping for some live music.  While still in negotiations, with our musician friend Jahsticks, it looks like he will be there to make the party a very special day! Jahsticks may play solo or he may bring his band, but his reggae, rock beat will really make for a special day. 

So, here is to Karen, who inspires us to always have fun and listen to the music of life.  Happy Birthday my friend!  I think this party is going to be awesome!  

If she were alive today, she'd be 86-years-old.  But none of us will ever see an aged Marilyn Monroe; she died at a devastatingly young 36.

Today, the beautiful and talented actress lives on in our hearts as a true icon, perhaps Hollywood's biggest legend.  With that said, it's no surprise that some of today's hottest celebrities have chosen to pay tribute to Monroe.  Let's take a look at how the stars have chosen to remember Monroe!

1. Lady Gaga
   
   Just after midnight on June 1, 2012, Lady Gaga took to Twitter and posted a black and white shot of herself with Monroe's signature look:  barrel curls and bold lips. "#HappyBirthdayMarilyn They'll never take our blonde hair and lipstick," Gaga wrote.
   
   
   
2. Brad Pitt
   
   News broke early this morning that Brad Pitt and pal Andrew Dominik will be collaborating on an upcoming Monroe biopic entitled "Blonde."  Sound familiar to 2011's "My Week with Marilyn?" Not to worry; according to Indiewire, "Unlike the slice-of-a-life take of the Michelle Williams starring 'My Week With Marilyn,' 'Blonde' is expected to be much bigger in scope."
   
   
3. Grauman's Chinese Theater
   
   One of Monroe's favorite theaters, Grauman's Chinese, will host a Marilyn Monroe Film Festival beginning today, June 1.  Movies to be screened include "Some Like it Hot," "No Business like Show Business," and "How to Marry a Millionaire," among others.  Attendees can also expect to receive fun film industry giveaways. The festivities will run through Thursday, June 7.
   
   
4. "Live" Marilyn Monroe Concert
   
   Yesterday, rumors surrounding a Monroe hologram concert hit the web.  The Hollywood Reporter reports that a "'live' Marilyn Monroe concert is being planned to take place before year's end with the working title 'Virtual Marilyn Live -- A Musical Celebration of the Birth of the Pop Icon.'"  The show, which will utilize the same technology used at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival to bring Tupac Shakur back to life, will feature a projected Monroe performing alongside current day musicians.
   
   

Other celebrities who have paid tribute to Monroe's life and style include Lindsay Lohan, Kelly Osbourne, and Taylor Swift.

Memorial Day Weekend marks the start of summer for most people. For my family and I, it is a time to celebrate my mother's birthday. This year I am extending my memorial day by a few days to spend some quality time with mama Barbero up in PA. We have a weekend planned full of riding quads, chootin' guns and many more hill-billy adventures.  Last two years we have celebrated her birthday at our friends track at Breezewoods Proving Grounds.  It is always an amazing time, because Memorial Day Weekend at the tracks is the start of the Out Law Races. Everyone comes out for a good time.  I'm so excited, I'm sure papa Barbero has some elaborate BBQ planned.  Just look at what he did last year, he is on the left!

I am officially 28! Being that my birthday was on a Saturday (love when that happens) I had an entire birthday weekend! The highlight was going to the Knicks vs. Pacers on Friday night at MSG! It was nice walking around the city a little bit and grabbing some food beforehand. The stadium was packed, our seats were perfect,  and the Knicks played really well. I got my stadium hot dog, (my favorite part) and was very happy...until...the crowd behind the basket took out their custom imprinted noisemakers that MSG gave them. I have never caught a t-shirt, been on camera, won a prize...why wasn't I given a promotional Fan-Ta-Stick?! Bill did explain that they give it to the people behing the basket as a noise distraction, but still, I wanted one! All in all it was a great time, 28 is going to be great!

Today marks a very special occasion... It's Brodie's fourth birthday! So what does that mean? Well for humans it means it's time to celebrate - take out the birthday hats and cake, and party it up. For dogs, not so much.

My poor little pup just doesn't seem to get the significance of this day. All he knows is that I'm really excited about something and he's not quite sure what or why. He wags his tail as I pet him and wish him a happy birthday, cocking his head to the side, trying desperately to understand what I'm saying. And then he sees his nemesis: the birthday hat.

I try not to be one of those pet parents who tortures her dog with funny hats and costumes, but on his birthday I make an exception. I have pictures from every March 15th of Brodie in a birthday hat or crown of some sort and the subsequent removal and destruction of said hat or crown.

For a dog with issues, he's a pretty good sport about tolerating this process... for about 30 seconds. He's completely miserable, but he tolerates it. So that part is really just for me. And then the good stuff comes.

This morning I served him breakfast sprinkled with parmesan cheese, followed by bits of pupperoni and string cheese. This dog has some kind of sixth sense for cheese - he could be on the other side of my apartment fast asleep when I grab cheese - any kind of cheese - and he runs over to be at my side before I even have a chance to close the refrigerator door. It's quite impressive actually.

That was this morning before work. Tonight for dinner instead of his regular dog food, I'll make him a cheeseburger, stick a candle in it, and sing happy birthday to him. Of course he doesn't care about the candle or the fact that I make him "speak" to blow it out... but the burger he thoroughly enjoys. And then another one of his favorites for dessert: ice cream!

So yes, I torture poor Brodie with hats and pictures on his birthday, but if he could talk I bet he'd say it's worth it :) As I tell him all the time... it's a *tough life* for a Brodie dog...