I'm Going To The GRAMMYs!!! #PricelessSurprises

Checking Twitter like I always do when I wake up... Seeing a tweet that I'm going to The Grammys... = @priceless #PricelessSurprises
— Xenia (@RaisedByCulture) January 16, 2014

@RaisedByCulture We're surprising MasterCard cardholders – DM us to find out more! #PricelessSurprises
— Priceless (@priceless) January 16, 2014

That happened 9 days ago.  SURPRISE!  MasterCard is sending me and a friend to The GRAMMYs!!!  It didn't sink in till the next night when I got all the details that I am going!!!  And the MasterCard Pre-GRAMMY Reception and Official GRAMMY Celebration After Party!  There is literally a hundred things you need to do to get ready.  The first was finding a +1.  I wanted to invite a good friend because hello-once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity but when I reached out to my select circle, I got every excuse in the book.  Can't take the day off work, starting a new job, I don't have money, I live too far...  What a reality check.  So I asked a new friend.  It's something I've done a lot recently.  (It was in line with my theme word for 2014 - free. More on that later.)

Next, you work on finding a dress.  I wanted edgy for me (not Lady Gaga's definition of edgy) - I thought being plus-size, on a budget and with only a week till the big show would make it hard.  I was ready to be stressed out over a dress but by the power of the internet, I found one online and prayed to the fashion gods that it would be in stock at a local store.  When I saw it hanging on the rack, I swear the ceiling of the store opened up, the sun shined in and angels began singing.  Or maybe that happened when I tried it on.  I can't remember.  I ran to pay and skipped out of the store.  After that I figured everything else would come easy.  Wrong!  I was in search of a few bracelets and a big ring because I pretty much hate earrings and necklaces in my crochety old age.  I wasn't even excited when I found them at like the third store, I was just relieved that I didn't have to keep searching.

After all that, I focused on shoes which I already had but had to convince my husband to customize. I should've done that last because it is freakin' crazy to score a makeup appointment on a Sunday morning and Chris would've been a sure thing.  It was a small miracle I got one.  Thank you beauty gods.

Here's a sneak peek at my shoes - I'll reveal my whole outfit tomorrow!

I got lazy and ditched getting my eyebrows and nails done.  The reality is, the prep work is exhausting for a low maintenance girl like me and I'm just ready to get my party on tomorrow!  Music gods, please let Beyonce & Jay Z be the secret performance.  It would be amazing.

I can't take pictures during the actual show but follow me on Instagram for reception and after party fun!

Who do you think will win Record Of The Year at the 56th GRAMMYs?  

• Daft Punk & Pharrell Williams
• Imagine Dragons
• Lorde
• Bruno Mars
• Robin Thicke Featuring T.I. & Pharrell Williams

Starting GRAMMY Night, MasterCard will have exciting news for their cardholders...
I am proof positive that dreams come true.  Thank you MasterCard!

Justin Timberlake: The 20/20 Experience is Seamless. #JT2020

There is a 2 year period in my life before I met my husband that I call my eat love pray journey (I plan on talking about this often, in the future, stay tuned).  I went to a lot of concerts, traveled, had my own place and ultimately --- found myself.  One of the concerts I got dragged to was the Justified & Stripped tour.  My younger brother and sister were both huge Christina Aguilera fans and my sister loved Justin Timberlake since 'N Sync.  They gave me their version of a makeover which I thought I looked like an older, broker Christina without the wild makeup and hair extensions.  I had no idea what I was getting into!  The show did not disappoint, it was so full of life and I became an instant Justin Timberlake fan.  Electric, sexy, young - things I want to feel at 37 years old.  Could an older, now married Justin Timberlake maintain the electric, sexy and young?  YES!!

I'll be honest, I was not into Suit & Tie.  I thought it didn't fit.  But when Justin performed Pusher Love Girl at The Grammys - I was all over that song.  And on the 11th when The 20/20 Experience was available to stream for FREE - I got why Suit & Tie fit.  You have to listen to the whole album from start to finish for the songs to make sense.  It is seamless.  While I am nostalgic, I didn't expect the same Justin sound, the grown up JT has aged well, right alongside me.  This cd shows that he cares about his same fans by growing and changing with them.

So when I heard The 20/20 Experience was going to be $7 at Walmart - I got it on release day!  The special promotion price ends on March 24th so jump on it!  You can order The 20/20 Experience on Walmart.com

Justin Timberlake + Chocolate Covered Strawberries were on the menu!

I love how Justin Timberlake's cd looks like an old vinyl record!

Track list - it looks short but the songs are long.

Pusher Love Girl hands down is one of my favorite JT songs.  It ranks up there with Cry Me a River, My Love & Dead and Gone.

Inspired by the cd and kicking up feelings of romance - I made ribeye steaks, mashed potatoes with fresh mushroom gravy and steamed veggies for dinner.  Followed by those chocolate covered strawberries.  Too bad a full tummy put my husband to sleep!


Get Social with Justin Timberlake:  @jtimberlake on Twitter / Justin Timberlake on Facebook
Get Social with Walmart:  @Walmart on Twitter / Walmart on Facebook

Disclosure:  I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and #JT2020 #cbias #SocialFabric All thoughts are my own.