Every time we go to Indianapolis, I demand that we visit the most magnificent store on earth. It's easy to find because there is a ray of light that constantly shines down on it and angels hover in the parking lot singing a glorious tune.

SuperTarget.

It. Is. AMAZING.

Many of those of you who are Pittsburghers may not know what I'm talking about. This I know. I know that you were deprived of all things wondrous and Target until relatively recently, and you most certainly haven't seen The Other Level of Target.

Imagine, if you will, a full grocery store inside a Target. Including a booze aisle. Ahem.

I KNOW.

Such a thing really does exist. It just doesn't exist here in Pittsburgh. I hold out hope that some day it will spread our way. The recent opening of the Target in South Hills Village Mall is most certainly a step in the right direction.

There is a produce section.

And there is a much more extensive grocery department than we've previously seen at a Target in Pittsburgh. Look! Crema de Coco!

There's just more of pretty much everything grocery-related.

We visited the new store with a gift card in hand, prepared to buy some Easter groceries thanks to the fine folks at Target who asked me to visit.

I visited all right.

I spent a lot more than the gift card I was given. WHOOPS. But, hey! At least I managed to buy everything I needed to get ready for Easter! Eggs, vinegar, candy, green beans, lettuce, more candy, did I mention that I bought candy? Look, I bought a lot of candy. It's a pretty, shiny new store, so I have to give up all of my money if I go there. I might as well give up my money in exchange for chocolate.

How would you like to keep your money the next time you visit Target? In celebration of the opening of new Upper St. Clair/South Hills Village store, I have a gift card for one of you. $75. Spend it however you please. If you would like to win it, all you have to do is leave a comment telling me your favorite thing you've ever bought at Target. Mine is a grey wool coat that I bought three years ago for a whopping $7. (THIS IS WHY I LOVE YOU, TARGET.)

I'll draw a winner at 10:00 pm on March 30. Good luck!

We totally cheated. Back at the beginning of the month we were invited to a preview of the movie, and of course we went. OF COURSE WE DID.

The movie is a DreamWorks film and it's exactly what you would expect of DreamWorks. It's adorable with some fantastic characters. Not to give anything away, but I SAW GUY FIRST. BACK OFF. Ahem. The premise of the movie is that The Croods are the last cave people on Earth. They've out-survived everyone because they are masters of playing it safe. But then there comes a point where playing it safe is no longer the best option, so they adventure into a whole new world full of magic and mayhem.

I'm stopping there with the plot stuff. I wouldn't want to ruin it for you. Seriously. It's a great movie, along the lines of Madagascar. There's plenty of over-the-heads-of-babes humor for the more "mature" members of the audience, but there's also plenty of silly stuff for the kids. Alexis has spent the past few weeks repeating a little ditty from the movie.

Dun-dun-duuuunn!

Seriously. She and I both have been saying that and cracking up for two weeks now. We're really very proud of ourselves.

Anyway.

The movie is adorable and funny and it's definitely a good way to spend some time with the kids. If you're looking to avoid the crappy weather this Easter weekend, go see it.

To celebrate the release of The Croods, I have a movie poster and a stuffed Belt (the adorable sloth from the movie) available for one lucky winner. Just leave me a comment with your favorite character from a DreamWorks movie and you'll be entered. I'll pick a winner on 3/30 at 10:00 pm.

I have a love hate relationship with Whole Foods. I LOVE how many fantastically priced vegetarian options are there. I HATE that I can't pick which things to buy. I LOVE the the prepared foods section goes on for miles. I HATE that I can't pick which things to buy.

See, this is part of why the vegetarian thing works for me. I usually don't have to make decisions. Only at Whole Foods, man. Only there.

Another reason I love/hate Whole Foods has to do with a little email I received from them last week. It was an offer to host a giveaway for several Whole Foods gift cards and a prepared Easter dinner. I was all, "Pshaw! Easter is forever away!"

YOU GUYS. EASTER IS THIS WEEK.

I seriously had no idea until I read that email. Thank goodness for the reminder, but GAH! for the reminder!

If you were too busy complaining about the lame weather to notice that we're already knocking on April's door like I was, good news! You might be able to get out of preparing Easter dinner! Whole Foods Prepared Foods department has got you covered. They've got a complete Easter meal all lined up. There is information about it here. Basically, you give them some money and they give you a fully cooked meal. Put another way, you give them some money and they give you time.

TIME.

No slaving in the kitchen for hours, no running around to pick up groceries, no nothing. You just pick up a fully cooked meal and use your extra time to enjoy your family and friends.

Or ... if you happen to live in Pittsburgh and can make it to any of the Pittsburgh stores, you can keep your time and your money. Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite Easter tradition and you will be entered to win an Easter Dinner.

I'll select a winner at random on Wednesday, March 27th at 10:00 pm. Winners will be notified by email, so make sure you enter your address in the appropriate field on the comment form.

Oh! And! AND! I'll be picking one winner for the Easter Dinner, but I'll also be picking five more winners. Whole Foods has graciously offered up (5) $15 gift cards, meaning that there will be six winners total. You have to be able to get to a Pittsburgh store to pick up your prize, so keep that in mind as you enter.

Good luck!

Which, of course, means I was more than happy to attend opening night of Sister Act at the Benedum. It's a Broadway adaptation of the movie which is in Pittsburgh through February 10th.

Sister Act is in virtually every way a stage adaptation of the movie. It follows the exact same story line, but adds in more musical numbers, more dancing, and WAY more sequins. In fact, I hope you weren't looking to buy sequins any time soon because I'm pretty sure every last one of them was used for the final number of the show.

The music is what makes the show work, especially the numbers that evoke a disco vibe. There are a ton of subtle jokes which, admittedly, flew right over my head because I did not grow up Catholic. Judging on the reactions of the others in the audience, the jokes were hilarious, if you've got the life context to follow them. And if you don't? It's OK because the subtle mannerisms of some of the nuns is plenty to keep you laughing.

For example, Sister Mary Patrick, who is second from the left in the front row, kept me in stitches for much of the show.

Another great performance was Eddie, the awkward but loveable cop who falls for Deloris. Oh, and HOLLA! He is played by Pittsburgh native E. Clayton Cornelius. Gotta love when Pittsburghers get to stop by home while touring with a Broadway show.

All in all, it's a fun show. It probably becomes even more fun if you grew up listening to nuns warning against hairy palms and the such.

Ahem.

Thanks to the Cultural Trust for hooking me up with a pair of tickets for the show.

Sorry. I have a problem with the caps lock key. Apparently.

ANYWAY.

Yo Gabba Gabba Live is on its way to Pittsburgh and I have four tickets for the 6:30 performance available for one of you. The details about the Pittsburgh shows are:

Yo Gabba Gabba! LIVE!: Get the Sillies Out! will have two performances in Pittsburgh at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, January 11th. CLICK HERE for ticket information for the shows (3:30 PM and 6:30PM). Tickets start at $29.25. VIP Party packages are available as well which include a ticket in the first 15 Rows, a pass to "Get the Sillies Out" in the private VIP room featuring a super fun party with the Gabba Gang (costumed characters) and more. Children under 1 year old do not require a paid ticket to sit on a parent's lap.

If you'd like to win the tickets, all you need to do is leave a comment telling me your favorite Yo Gabba Gabba character. I promise not to judge you for your answer. Much.

I'm on Team Foofa. Definitely.

You can get bonus entries for posting to Facebook about this giveaway or for tweeting about it. If you decide to go for the bonus entries, please leave an additional comment telling me that you did it. That means you can have up to three entries total--one for a comment, one for a Facebook post, and one for tweeting.

I'll close the sweepstakes on January 1st, so get cracking. Good luck!

We have no standards when it comes to going to the movies. We hit a matinee and we really don't care what the movie is about. As long as it is appropriate for the eyes of the six-year old, we're good with it.

And that is how it came to pass that we saw The Odd Life of Timothy Green in the theater. It was an appropriately-rated movie that Alexis thought seemed worth watching. Which, by the way,  she labels any movie with a semi-cute poster "worth watching". She's fun like that.

I didn't know much about the movie going in, which is probably why I ended up SOBBING LIKE A LITTLE BABY through much of it. And by sobbing I really do mean sobbing. It's one of those "good cry" sorts of movies. If you let reality go and just follow along with the story of the young couple who can't conceive, it will be an emotional roller coaster that just plain feels good at the end of it all.

The movie centers around that young childless couple and how a magical little boy entered their lives and taught them that perfect isn't what they think. Sometimes perfect is accompanied by disappointment and stress and it doesn't look like what you think it will look like, but it's still perfect. It's an odd life that is so very right.

There are a number of underlying emotional landmines all through the movie. There's the infertility ones which are obvious, but there are also some tied to adoption issues and good old-fashioned parenting. I think you have to set all of that aside to truly enjoy the movie. It is full of magic and has a message of hope, so let it be the movie it sets out to be and leave your baggage in the closet.

At the end of it all, I loved The Odd Life of Timothy Green. Alexis did as well, although she loved it for entirely different reasons from me. She loved the notion of burying wishes in the garden and having them come true, and I do believe she has a bit of a crush on the little boy who plays Timothy. I didn't ask her for sure because I prefer to pretend she's still that little toddler who has no idea that sometimes boys are cute.

Ahem.

Anyway, I have a 2-disk combo pack up for grabs. It has both the Blu-ray and DVD of The Odd Life of Timothy Green. All you have to do to win is tell me what characteristic you would wish for in a child. For example, I would say empathy. I happen to think empathy is the most powerful emotion there is and our world would be a fantastic place if everyone showed a little empathy towards those around them.

The contest will end 12/4/2012, which just so happens to be the day that the Blu-ray and DVD are being released to stores.

The fine print: I was given a 2-disk combo pack of my very own for review purposes and NEENER NEENER! I got it before it was available in stores!

She's going to end up with a ton of LEGOs, I'm sure. Which, that's fine because she plays with the few that she has all of the time.

All of that is to say that we are fans of LEGOs. Of course. Who isn't, after all?

LEGO KidsFest is on its way back to town. We attended the last time it was in Pittsburgh, and it is exactly what you would expect -- Thousands and thousands and thousands of LEGOs. If you've got a LEGO fan or two in your house, it's worth stopping by. It will be in town November 30th through December 2nd. You can get your tickets here.

If Mr. Depp is there, be sure to tell him hi for me.

By that I mean I would much rather talk about layups and horsepower than shoes and handbags.

I'm not a tomboy, necessarily, but I'm DEFINITELY not a girly girl. My idea of shopping is to rush into the same stores that I always rush into and buy the same clothes that I always buy. I have six pair of the exact same jeans for that very reason. I also have a closet full of black, gray, blue, and white.

Do they make clothes in other colors? I'm not entirely sure.

Which is why it was a bit hilarious when I was invited to an event at The Limited. I hadn't been inside the store in years, but I was pretty sure they sell girl clothes there. As I walked into the newly opened Robinson store a few weeks ago, I found myself surrounded by ... fashion bloggers.

As the lone mommy blogger, I was definitely the Odd Man Out.

But, here's the thing. The clothes at The Limited? WERE CUTE. AND TOTALLY MY THING.

Whoddathunkit?

I found two sweaters that I *had* to own, as well as a dress (OMG! WHO AM I?) And! And! They weren't even black! Or gray! Or blue!

Well, OK, one of the sweaters was blue.

Regardless, I discovered something I had never realized -- the clothing at The Limited is excellent in quality and has a timeless look to it. There are trendy items, but they are carefully mixed with classics.

I am a Limited convert. It's true.

If you are already a fan or are thinking it might be time to give The Limited a chance, I have a little something that might help. The Limited has graciously offered to let me host a giveaway for a $50.00 gift card. You can use it at the new Robinson location, or at any The Limited near you. (The Robinson store is gorgeous and the staff is absolutely fantastic, so I definitely recommend it.)

Want to win the $50 gift card? Fine. Leave me a comment below telling me your go-to color when it comes to clothing. For bonus entries, you can tweet or post on Facebook about this giveaway. Just leave an extra comment (or two) telling me that you did it.

So, that means you can have three entries.

But! If you've made a donation to Christmas Crazy, then you can make it four entries. Just leave a separate comment telling me that you've already donated (even if you just did it two seconds ago).

So, one entry for telling me your go-to color. You can have another entry if you tweet. You can have a third entry if you post to Facebook. Finally, you can have a fourth entry if you make a donation to Christmas Crazy. You need to create a separate comment for each entry.

The winner will be selected on November 18th at 9:00pm Eastern. Good luck!

Disclosure type stuff: The Limited sent me a really fantastic necklace that I *ADORE* and they gave me a gift card, but they didn't ask for anything in return. That's to say this "review" is all my words and all my thoughts and NEENER NEENER, nobody can tell me what to write.

I always have.

I'm a total sucker for pretty much every type of stage production under the sun. Musicals, dance performances, plays . . . it's all fantastic. I'm incredibly fortunate that Alexis enjoys going to shows as much as I do. She is very often my date.

Shhhh! Don't tell her, but she's going to be my date for Stomp later this week. She has absolutely no clue, which means her little head is going to explode from excitement.

If you have been thinking about going to see Stomp while it is in Pittsburgh, I have a little deal you might be interested in. I tend to screw this stuff up if I try to reword it, so I'm going to cheat and copy and past the information:

o    USE CODE FAMILYSTOMP TO ORDER A FAMILY FOUR PACK OF TICKETS FOR $100!

o    STOMP is explosive, provocative, sophisticated, sexy, utterly unique and appeals to audiences of all ages. The international percussion sensation has garnered an armful of awards and rave reviews, and has appeared on numerous national television shows. The eight-member troupe uses everything but conventional percussion instruments – matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo lighters, hubcaps – to fill the stage with magnificent rhythms. As USA Today says, “STOMP finds beautiful noises in the strangest places.” STOMP. See what all the noise is about.

Purchase tickets now at TrustArts.org and use promo code FAMILYSTOMP to access a Family Four Pack for $100.

Offer valid only on select seating for all performances. Not valid on previously purchased tickets or in conjunction with any other offer. Additional handling fees will apply at the time of purchase.

Hope to see you there!

Psst ... I was given a pair of tickets for Stomp, but was not otherwise compensated nor required to include anything in this post. I just like sharing this stuff when I know about it.

I'm going to do the lazy cut and paste thing so I don't screw the details up. Sorry about the dose of lazy, but I'd rather get it right than be creative. ;-)

Special offer - $100 Family Four Packs – only $25 per ticket! *

MARY POPPINS, October 16-21, 2012, Benedum Center

Tickets at 412-456-4800, trustarts.org and the Box Office at Theater Square

http://trustarts.culturaldistrict.org/production/32871

 MARY POPPINS is bringing its own brand of Broadway magic to theaters across the country, which has the New York Daily News calling it ‘a roof-raising, toe-tapping, high-flying extravaganza!’ Featuring the irresistible story and unforgettable songs from one of the most popular Disney films of all time, plus brand-new breathtaking dance numbers and spectacular stage-craft, MARY POPPINS is everything you could ever want in a hit Broadway show! So get swept up in the fun of this high-flying musical the New York Post gives 4 out of 4 stars and calls “a super hit!”

*Offer valid on First Tier seating for Tuesday, October 16 through Thursday, October 18 performances only. Not valid on previously purchased tickets or in conjunction with any other offer. Limit of 9 tickets per order.

 *Use promotional code SUGAR to order your tickets today!

Presented by: PNC BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA-PITTSBURGH

PNC BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA-PITTSBURGH is a presentation of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America.