One Tree Hill

You know, it's nice to realize that there is a sort of  poetry to real life, or that reality can be just as beautiful and meaningful as art.

Josh and I are taking a leap of faith and moving to California in a just a few weeks. It's where we have always wanted to end up, and this time seems like the best time. No kids, no mortgage, all healthy... why not? Even though it's probably one of the safest risks we could ever take, it's still scary.

Will I get a job? Will it be a good job? Will we ever be able to buy a house? Why do we have so many pets again?

It's exciting, terrifying, and oh, so bittersweet. I haven't really talked about it much on the internet or with people, so sometimes it still feels like a secret. Job-wise, I haven't wanted to tell the fans of the Davis County Fair, because I feel like the Davis County Fair is an entity unto itself... my own little baby that needs to float off and grow on it's own. My extreme loyalty made deciding to leave the fair very difficult. I'm less than two weeks away from my last day at the fair and my thoughts still swarm with worries about who will actually come to the concert, will the new person remember this, will the t-shirts get done on time, blah, blah, blah. Believe it or not, I have been working on detaching myself, and the awesomeness of things to come really outshines my worries. I want the fair to go on, and not skip a beat. I don't want anyone (you know, besides the people who NEED to know) to know that I'm gone... I want them to judge the fair on the fair's own merits. I hope it can be seamless, and I hope the fair fans will stay loyal, and that the fair will continue to get better.

Yes, I'm going on about an EVENT. Yes, I think of it like a freaking person. If that ain't love and dedication... then I'm just koo koo bananas. :)

And now for my personal poetry.

You probably know that my absolute favorite show of ALL time is, "One Tree Hill." I love it with all my heart. This was the last season (9 seasons... HOLLA) and I pretty much cried throughout the last several episodes. The series finale was just last week, and let me tell you- it was perfect. So perfect. Everything tied together, they had awesome throw backs, a whole lotta love, and such great music!

And just tonight I realized, "One Tree Hill" has been with me throughout all of my Utah years. And man, do those years encompass A LOT. So many stages of my life. And the show went through a similar transformation. The first few seasons were in high school, then they skipped the college years, then they even skipped some more time. They grew up and got married, and so did I. Their careers grew, and so has mine. And now I'm leaving and moving on, just as my favorite show/security blanket is ending. It really is just perfect!

At the end of the last episode, I cried... hard. I have never cried that hard about anything fictional in my life. But I felt it! Happiness, sadness, peace... all rolled into one big ball of mush. Ahhhhh, it feels good to get those kind of tears out. And then you stop and think, "I'm crying about a TV SHOW." And then Josh, hugged me and told me it was okay. He knows how much it has meant to me, and he didn't even laugh at me. I've always been touched by art in a deep way. Live concerts make me tear up, books make me cry, and even commercials can get my goat. Well, TV is art too my friends.

For me, "One Tree Hill" inspired me to improve my relationships, live each moment to the fullest, and to ultimately fight for my dreams. And here I go!

And let's be real... it's going to be AWESOME!

Can't Nobody Hold Me Down!

People have often commented on how positive I am and how happy I seem all the time. Lately, I feel like I am really trying to use the power of this positive energy for good in my life. Reading Jillian's "Unlimited" probably helped. :) Also, my quest for fabulous things has also inspired me to try and harness all the positive energy that I can towards my goal. I keep picturing what I want to happen, and not focusing on what I don't want, what I am afraid of, or even on "Plan B." So far, I think my mom might think I'm a little nutty, but I think it's working! Well, I let you know when I really find out. ;)

I have also felt the oppression of being surrounded by so much negative lately. My work place is ooooozing with negativity (extra ooo's needed!), and the world in general can just blow sometimes.

I'M OVER IT! 


Josh and I went to this Asian/sushi restaurant across the street from our house recently, and it is GOOD! It is totally affordable and delicious! We've been there twice in the last week! Last night I was like, "I've gotta write a review for this place!"

I think that positive thinking in any area of your life, can lead to good ju-ju in other areas of your life! Maybe like a "pay it forward" mentality-- benefits others and yourself.

So, today, I signed up for YELP! And I wrote a raving review about Imperial Asian Cuisine & Sushi Bar, and I plan on sharing the love to some of my other favorite places. Negative opinions tend to vocalized more frequently and more loudly, than happy, content ones, so here's to spreading the love!

And on that note...

-M

Have I Found You... Flightless Bird...

So, this blog has turned into my own personal book club. I'll have to shake it up pretty soon. But in the meantime... welcome to BOOK CLUB!

So, I read "Matched" and the day I finished it my cousin brought me "Crossed" and then I finished that the other night. BAM! I think it took me less than two weeks for those books-- pretty good for a busy gal! :)

"Matched" is the first book in the series written by Ally Condie, who also happens to live in Utah. Let me just say-- OBVIOUSLY I liked these books since I read through them so fast. That is always the sign of a good one for me. If I can't get into it, I hardly ever go back to it. I used the lyrics to a song from the first "Twilight" movie as the title to this blog, because as I was thinking about these books, I kept referring back to "Twilight." I also read all of those books super-fast... ooey-gooey romance with a crazy back story ALWAYS gets me. And it is totally the same thing with "Matched" and "Crossed!" "Matched" is just like "Twilight" in the sense that it is very much about building the love story (stories?) and teasing you with conspiracy and a great back story. My mom did not read past the first "Twilight" because of all the lovey-cheese that was pervasive throughout the book. I didn't let that hold me back. That being said, I don't think my mom would like "Matched." It's all from the 17-year old Cassia's perspective, which is a key reason why I stayed sucked in. The unveiling of the story is gradual, and it's almost as if the reader learns new information as the main character learns it. It definitely makes you stay up 'til your eyes close, because as you end each chapter you think, "What is going to happen next??"

See... cheese! Just eat it up. :) 

Now, this book ALSO reminds me of "Hunger Games." All of the people in The Society are very controlled by Society. Food portions, length of exercise, careers, recreation time, even when you die-- are all controlled and monitored by The Society. You learn as you read that after "The Warming" people decided to get rid of cancer, limit "footprints," and just maximize everything. This book is very dystopian, but the people in the world aren't as miserable as they seem to be in "The Hunger Games." Anyway-- even just that part of the story is very interesting, hence the "Twilight" reference! I loved reading about the vampire/werewolf history, and in "The Hunger Games" I thought the districts and all that stuff was fascinating. Way to suck you in to a mooshy-gooshy love story! I'm sold!

Yes, the colors of the books relate to the story!!! 

And then "Crossed" follows the Twilight novels in similar fashion-- it is more action-centered, with the quest for love propelling the action. OH! And did I mention the love triangle?? There is one, and I'm not sure who I'm rooting for. I was mosdef Team Edward... but this one is a little tricky. And now after finishing "Crossed" I don't know what to think!

I definitely recommend these books. They are a fun read, and can be quick depending on how late you stay up reading them. ;) There are lots of fun supporting characters, and the themes of the books make you really think about the things we take for granted. Things that you would never think you would need to take for granted! Writing with a pencil or pen?? Painting? Reading any poem or any book you want? In The Society, they simplified EVERYTHING and chose 100 poems, 100 books, 100 paintings, and 100 songs. Everything else was incinerated... except some stuff was able to stick around. You'll find out!!!

The last book in the series won't be released until November. Laaaaame. But that's what you get for NOT waiting for a series to end before reading all of the books.

ENJOY!
~M

Take a Look, It's in a(n)... iPod...

I finished LISTENING to ''Unlimited" by Jillian Michaels the other day. This was all thanks to my mama's Christmas gift to me of a three month audible.com membership. She is ADDICTED to Audible, so why shouldn't I be?

It was great to actually have the voice of Jillian reading her book to me, rather then just my own inner voice. Jillian definitely has a way to get you pumped up, fired up, mad in a motivating way, and then feeling reflective, all in the same moment. I really enjoyed this book for several reasons:

#1: Working it Out- Throughout the book there are sections where you get to answer Jillian's tough questions to really get at your own inner answers, dreams, problems, etc. Unfortunately, as I was "reading" I was usually driving, therefore I could not be writing. But on her website you can access all of the "Working it Out" pages, which I have done, and am continuing to do.
#2: I really enjoyed all of Jillian's examples. She has LOTS of great examples from her time on "The Biggest Loser" and also from her personal life. These really help drive  her principles and lessons home.
#3: She mosdef keeps it real. She admits her faults, and that is still working on a lot of the things she preaches about in the book. She admits that this will be HARD, but totally worth it. I like that honesty/humility in an author, especially one who has experienced so much success and has such a hot bod.

Jillian definitely asks tough questions and really forces you to dig deep. I would recommend reading this book when you are really ready to be motivated and face some of your demons. I might even listen to certain chapters again as I continue going through the "Working it Out" pages. I truly enjoyed this book and will continue to use it as a personal resource. Jillian uses a lot of quotes from Khalil Gibran's "The Prophet," so I think I'm going to have to read that book now, too! All in all, I highly recommend this book!

And now I am reading "Matched" by Ally Condie, thanks to a recommendation from my lovely cousin, who always recommends so many great books. I just started the book on Saturday and I am HOOKED! I can't wait to snuggle up in my bed and read it. Pretty sure that's what I am going to do right now...

Au Revoir!
M

I did it all for the...

I seriously am trying to make a conscious effort to exercise more (thanks to my new Gold's Gym membership!), but this just made me laugh. It's exactly how I feel some days. Thank you, Postsecret!

And on that note, I'm off to the gym!

Love,
M

I can see your halo (halo) halo...

Well, this is kind of a fab follow up post to my last one. I just wanted to give a big shout out and congrats to Beyonce and Jay-Z for their new arrival! A baby girl named Blue Ivy Carter. Josh can't stop saying it over and over... he's not sure if he likes it. I like it! :)

Congrats to the mama, and the new big poppa! 

Hip Hop Has Saved My Life

I thought of this idea as I was jamming to the new Kanye West/Jay-Z CD, "Watch the Throne." (Which, by the way, is an AWESOME album. I highly recommend it.)

I really think that people sell rap and hip-hop music short. Many don't give it a chance, because they can't see past the bumping bass. But for me, that's what draws me in. I love the beat, I love the words, and I love the emotion behind it all.

In my recent musings, there is one lesson in particular that has really stood out to me. I don't care who you're talking about, but it seems that all rappers know how to give respect, where respect is due. They honor the memory of fallen friends and fallen heroes.

My latest example is Michael Jackson. Since his death, several people have sung/rapped about him, by throwing one liner shout outs. I think that in the "Watch the Throne" album there are at least three homages to the King of Pop. So, I LOVE Michael Jackson. But not everyone does. Not everyone can see thru or see past the drama, the craziness. Would I expect an MJ shout out from Jay-Z? Or even Kanye? Honestly, no. That's why I've definitely noticed it.

In "Welcome to the Jungle," Jay-Z raps,

"I'm a tortured soul, I live in disguise.                 Rest in peace to the leader of the Jackson 5." 

And how many rap songs reference grandma, 2-Pac, Notorious B.I.G, mamas, and more? SO MANY.

One of my all-time jams is Kayne West's, "Hey Mama." Below is his live Grammy performance (awesome), but definitely check out the album version-- it's a little more rockin, but still full of soul.



And guess what? His mom was still alive when he wrote and recorded this song! You do not have to be dead to get props and respect. And guess who else he mentions in this song? MJ. :)

I feel like so many people are quick to judge others,celebrity or non-celebrity... and it bugs me. People may be different from you, doing different things than you, but everybody deserves respect. Show a little love, and it will go a long way.

Quote of the Week:

Sunny days wouldn't be special, if it wasn't for rain

Joy wouldn't feel so good, if it wasn't for pain.       -50 Cent, "Many Men"

It's in a book... "The Good Thief"

So, I pretty much finished "The Good Thief" the day after I initially started my book club blogging! This book has a lot of build up, but it is DEFINITELY worth it! Once you get in, you should not give up, because the story ties itself up in the craziest bow you've ever seen.

Found this book in the recommended section of the library!

The story is about an orphan, Ren, who gets adopted by a thief, Benjamin Nab, and his partner in crime, Tom. [I'm laughing to myself... because in this case, he really is his PIC!] Benjamin is GREAT at coming up with colorful and surprisingly believable stories to get himself out of every jam they come upon. He tells a great tale to be able to adopt Ren in the first place, and you almost believe that they are brothers. Almost.

Benjamin and Tom use Ren to help them in their schemes to steal and earn money. Ren is very honest and would sometimes rather be back at the orphanage. Pretty much until about the last fourth of the book, I figured that the reader does not find out where Ren really came from, because how could anyone really know-- especially in that period of time. He was pushed through the gate at the orphanage, in a little basket, and was left in the rain. The only unique thing about him is that he was missing a hand, and no one knew why.

So many robberies later, the reader gets to the GOOD stuff. You find out that these guys are the occasional gravediggers, and on the first night that Ren helps them, one of the bodies is NOT DEAD. And the author did such a great job of painting this picture. I was FREAKED OUT! This un-dead character actually turns out to be one of  the soft spots of this book, despite his crusty exterior.

The story is set in New England, several years after the Revolutionary War. I thought this was a very interesting setting, and added to my interest in the book. There are a handful of interesting supporting characters, and my favorite is the landlady that they happen upon. She made me laugh out loud, and is also a real warm spot in the book. Ren definitely deserves all of the love and care that she gives him.

Overall, I don't think that everyone would enjoy this book. It is a little hard to get into, but I am glad that I finished it. It is kind of a dark tale, but ends on a very bright note. The characters are colorful and the story is a little creepy, but the author does a great job at depicting all of the details that make this novel rich and entertaining.

Let me know if you've read it or if you're going to!

M

Sailing

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

I've had a bout of inspiration. 

I hope it lasts! 

Spying on someone, I got the inspiration to travel! Josh and I have always talked about the traveling we want to do-- Disney Cruise, travel through Europe... and of course visit all of the Disney theme parks. My ultimate would also be to go on a Mediterranean cruise... oh, someday! 

But seeing someone else, in our same time in life, travel through Europe really reminded me-- we need to do this! We need to do this before we can't do this! 

What's one of things I want to do while in Europe? Be able to speak more French then I currently do! Fluently is definitely a goal, but a lofty one. I wouldn't neccessarily want to be able to strike up a conversation with a stranger, but I would like to be able to say, "Hey, Josh, this is what that sign says..." You know, be all handy like that. 

SO! Here are my BIG goals for 2012: 

LEARN FRENCH. Use my free library hookups and just do it! 

EXERCISE. Seriously, this is getting ridiculous. Just do it! 

And continue to work hard at achieving my career goals! I am woman hear me roar. :D

Picture a Christmas

Take a Look... It's in a Book!

I have decided that since I am not in a book club and I like to read what I want to read, I'll have my own book club here. Win win! I have recently realized that I need to read for my own sanity. Sometimes reality is overwhelming, and non-fiction books, reality tv, and real life just don't help. Life can just get a little too non-fiction. ;) I love to escape into another world, and I often like to do it through television shows or movies, but there is something about reading a book that take me to a different place. I am able to fully relax and check in to another world. I love it! 

And so, in the past few months, I have read several books: 

Everything on a Waffle, by Polly Horvath: My cousin recommended this book to me, and she was right- I loved it! It's a very cute story that keeps you interested the entire time. I love all of the characters, especially the main girl. There are also recipes at the end of each chapter. Fun! This book is  a real treat! 

No More Dead Dogs, by Gordon Korman: As you can tell, I was on a little bit of a young adult book kick. The basic premise of this story is that the boy in the story is tired of reading books where the dog dies. I thought that was hilarious, and true, so I picked this book up at the library. Another cute, fun story, with colorful characters. There is one part I want to give away, but I won't... Let's just say it involves Julia Roberts and made me happy as a clam! 

The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows: Most everyone I know has read this book, and they have all loved it and raved about it. I sincerely can't help but do the same. I loved every minute of reading this book. I love how it is written in letters, and just sucks you right in. The characters are all very charming, likeable, and funny. I definitely laughed out loud while I read this one. The story is also very serious and has many interesting historical insights. And I was sad when I finished! I wished there was more to read... If you haven't read this, do it! 

And right now I'm reading "The Good Thief" by Hannah Tinti. I haven't finished it quite yet, but I'm close, so I don't have a complete review. All I can say is, this book is crazy! It is all over the place, but I really want to find out what happens to the main boy. I definitely think the last half is better than the first half... I have been reading it a lot more because it has finally gotten exciting. Maybe with this one, I'll do a little more in depth review! 

Til next time!

M

Do Ya Thang

Just a brief update... I'm sure I have loads to blog about, but I'm never sure what is really important or interesting enough to share. But I was looking over what I last posted, and decided this blog needs to hang on a positive note for a minute!

I had the privilege of attending the International Association of Fairs & Expos Annual Convention in Las Vegas this past week. It is always a grand time, and my hubby even got to come! Best vacation ever folks! And one thing that we kept noticing-- how nice everyone was in Vegas! The servers were all excellent, helpful, and nice. They did not give us a sideways look when we told them we were sharing one entree. All of the people, the random people, chatted on the elevator, or looked you in the eye and said "Hello" while they opened the door for you. So great! I'm sure everyone is pretty happy there for their own reason. I even told Josh, "I wonder what brings all of these people to Las Vegas." I'm sure no one would expect us to have so much fun there, and everyone keeps asking, "So what did you do??" We had a great time! Explored new hotels, and new to us hotels, had fabulous food, and more. And while we did it, we had a great time because everyone was so friendly and courteous. I love that feeling. It just makes you want to pass it on and share the good vibes.

And we had oh, so many excellent customer service experiences at various eating establishments. Our food adventures will be posted on www.spicethat.blogspot.com SOON! With pictures! We came prepared. :)

HAPPY SATURDAY!
M

At the Crystals/Aria

Treat Me Nice

I have a problem. And it concerns customer service. I know the economy sucks and people are getting whatever jobs they can, but I believe that customer service is seriously lacking because of it. Customer service jobs are often not highly paid positions, and therefore attract anyone in need of a job-- people lovers or not. 

I love good customer service and I am passionate about good customer service. I love giving it, and recently I have realized that I love receiving it. When you get served by an awesome waiter, or speak with someone very helpful on the phone, your day is brighter and you feel lighter. You can tell when someone would rather be talking to Darth Vadar then to you, and that just makes me irritated. Do you understand that I am part of the reason you have a job? Your welcome. Now stop having that sassy/sleepy/annoyed tone in your voice. Even if you are having a bad day, you can fake it, but you choose not to. Recent bad customer experiences have caused Josh and I to swear off Chili's and Mimi's Cafe. We're pretty easy going people, but if you treat us badly, we take the hint, and never grace you with our presence again. 

Customer services is essential to the success of a business. Look at Disney and In-N-Out-- always on top of the leader board in all aspects, and I believe it all stems back to their customer service. People are happy to see you, happy to help you, happy to go the extra mile. When someone makes you feel special, you thank them by rewarding them. You can reward them with a tip, your loyalty, your endorsement... all of those things lead to happy employees, more business, more money, and more stability. What a happy cycle! 

Dealing with customers is not easy. Everyone knows this-- we've all been on the receiving end of an unrelenting customer, been in the same room as one, or perhaps we have been one! Because customer service is floundering, people think they have to be mean to be heard, or to get what they want. Threats work well, too. I am here to say that nice people, who communicate in a mature fashion, often get more than those with the whiny tantrum. Who wants to reward someone being indignant and belittling? A manager, who just wants you to go away. It is much more valuable to voice your concern in a calm manner, which will lead it to be taken more seriously, and perhaps incur a positive change within an organization. 

And that's it for my soapbox! Good customer service rocks. The end. :)

Thriller Night!

So, we had a bomb.com party on Saturday, and it was really a success because of all of the great people who came! I have to say, my inner party planner... well, I don't really keep it inside very well... had a lot of fun planning and scheming for this surprise occasion. And the nicest thing was everybody loved it! I used to throw parties like this ALL THE TIME at BYU- some could call them my glory days. My last summer living in P-town, I got all new roommates, and they said, "Hey! We heard from the girls upstairs that you throw the best dance parties!" My reputation precedes me. :)

Anywhooo, there was a lot of good Halloween loving going on at this par-tay. I had mucho help from my neighbor-- what a blessing! She helped turn our living room into a huge spider web and helped Josh believe that I would actually go to a haunted house (yeah, right). But boy, did I play it good. The funniest part about this whole thing... Josh does not like Halloween. Yeah, I know-- what?! And we're married? ;) I just have to say, I forget every year that he doesn't like Halloween, because I love it enough for the both of us. That would apply to all foods that have to do with pumpkin or pumpkin spice as well. I got ya covered, Joshy!

Josh's birthday is on November 2nd, and I really wanted to have a Halloween party. I was talking to my neighbor, who thought we should have a surprise party for Josh's b-day, but thought we should do it a few weeks beforehand so he wouldn't even suspect it. BAM!

Halloween Birthday Surpise Party= Josh's Birthday BOO-nanza! 

We live so far away, that I wanted to make sure that people came to show Josh their love by making the party totally worth it. I needed to have awesome tunes, a cool activity, and lots of fabulous food. Check, check, check. It all turned out so great, and Josh was SO HAPPY. That was the best part! 

We got to see the "Thriller" music video set to many new songs. Some of the favorites on our list were, "Loca" by Shakira, "Telephone" by Lady Gaga feat. Beyonce... and I heard Michael's sweet dance moves were on beat with almost every song. Classics never die. 

We played live action CLUE! Everyone rocked it-- my suspects hammed it up and the detectives were feverishly trying to figure out, who kidnapped Reese?! Well folks, it was Kris (the neighbor), at the Poop Patch, with the Bubble Gun. :)

I got ooodles of compliments about the food, which made me feel super good. I wanted to share some of the recipes with y'all. I have most of the recipes posted on my PINTEREST as well. Yes, I have a new addiction, and I LOVE IT. 

I got the most comments and compliments about Paula Deen's Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake. It turned out perfectly! And it was super easy... and it really did have two sticks of butter in it. I'm going to make this again fo sho, because I only got a few finger licks of it. :) 

Mmmmm...

For Josh's birthday cake, I made a Nutella Bundt Cake. Boy, does this guy love Nutella. And boy, was this cake GOOD. I am eating the leftovers at work today. HURRAH. 

I just covered mine with powdered sugar! 

We also had some old stand-bys: 

Cream Cheese with Jalepeno Jelly, eaten with crackers. I don't know why, but it is so good. I'm not even sure what else you would use Jalepeno Jelly for. Thanks to Miss T for providing the goods!

Lil' Smokies in Crescent Rolls. I love hot dogs... so what?!

Chili Cream Cheese Dip. I gotta say, the crock pot was EMPTY at the end of the night. You have one part cream cheese to one party chili... BAM! For this large crowd, I revised, and used two blocks of cream cheese, one big fat can of regular chili, one normal can of chunky chili, and one normal can of jalapeno chili. SPICE IT UP! 

Teri, my lover, also provided us with her Orange Meatballs. I heart them. RECIPE PLEASE! :) 

I just keep smiling when I think about the party. Thank you so much for coming!!! And I know that some people weren't able to make it, and we love you madly no matter what. 

Now, have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 

P.S. After rocking the crimson/black fake eyelashes on Saturday, I will be wearing fake eyelashes for every Halloween hereafter. They are HOT. 

P.P.S. I'll be posting party pics on Facebook!!! 

Friends Forever

I wrote this several weeks ago, intending it for blog publication... so here it is! Just spreading the love. And whilst you read this, I hope that you are singing, "Friends forever, always we'll be friends, talking 'bout friends forever..." from my beloved Saved by the Bell. (**If you don't know it, look it up!**)

I am grateful for good friends. I have so many good friends that I don't get to see very often. I think the beautiful thing about friendship is that it lasts over space and time.

 

I like that you don't have to see someone everyday in order for them to be qualified as your "best friend." I know that most of my friends see their other friends a lot more than they see me, but they still keep a special place for me in their heart. And they always make me feel that way. What a great thing!

 

As I've gotten older, I've realized how hard it can be to make friends. When you're a kid, it's easy! When you're an adult, I feel like it can be difficult to "click" with someone. It's harder to find that same connection that you have with some of your oldest friends, and that can be sad. You just don't get to take your favorite people with you wherever you go. Although, I wish this was the case. If my life was a sitcom, I would have a great cast of characters. :) You know who you are!

 

Lovey loves, 

M

I'm Alright

So tonight was AWESOME!

Worth every penny.

Every second was jam packed with awesomeness.

It was something I've been waiting for ALL SUMMER...

KENNY LOGGINS! 

No, I did not take this picture. :) 

If you didn't know that I LOVE KENNY LOGGINS... now you know. It's one of my many secrets, but one that I am not afraid to shout to the world. I do it in a high pitch slur... 'KENNYLOGGINS!' Just ask Josh or Teri, my sister-in-law. :)

I have my mom to thank for instilling this undying love for Kenny Loggins in me. I've been hearing his sweet tuneage since before I can remember, and I've held onto it into my adult years. 

While I was at BYU, Loggins & Messina performed at UVSC/UVU/whatever, and I bought two tickets and made Jason Jones come with me because he was the only one I could think of who would appreciate it. It was fabulous! But of course it was all Loggins & Messina songs, and everyone in the crowd would periodically yell "Danger Zone!" ... "Footloose!" 

In the past four years, Kenny has come nearby at least three times, and every time I couldn't go, due to whatever job I had at the time. LAME! And then I saw the schedule for the Davis Arts Council's SUMMER OF THE STARS and BOOM! I had plans for September 10th. 

Teri and I went this evening, and it was GREAT! He has a new band called Blue Sky Riders, comprised of good ol' Kenny and two awesome songwriters from Nashville. They are so good and the songs were beautiful-- great lyrics and great messages. What more can a girl ask for?

Then Kenny sang THE JAMS. Man, can that guy SING! His voice sounds just the same as his records, and just the same as it did years ago. He sang all of my favorites-- "Whenever I Call You Friend," "Conviction of the Heart," "I'm Alright," "Footloose," and "Forever." Did he sing "Danger Zone" you ask? Heck yea! And it was AWESOME! 

So the evening was already fabulous, but the guy next to us was HILARIOUS! He kept yelling "YEAH!" in the style of Lil Jon in Usher's "Yeah"... and this guy did not look like someone who would be doing that. We ended up dancing with him to "Footloose," he yelled 'ROCK ON' at the top of his lungs, and "FOREVER" during "Forever"-- oh man, I almost peed myself. I LOVE when people get passionate and excited at concerts-- that is what they are all about! Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one screaming, but I don't care. I sing along and cheer to my heart's content. But man, did this guy have me beat. In his Harley-Davidson shirt and scraggly beard, he was a Kenny Loggins fan through and through. 

And that is why I LOVE LIVE MUSIC and love Kenny Loggins more than I ever did before. He can play a guitar til it falls apart and riff with the best of 'em. 

Oh, and did I get a shirt? YOU KNOW IT! 

Worth every penny :)

Thought of the week:  

"Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand." ~Stevie Wonder. 

These are my confessions...

As I jam to USHER, baby, I am buying this little nugget for our poochie:


CUTE! I thought to myself, why spend $10 on a BORING tag at Pet Smart, when I can get something cute on etsy.com. BAM! Great idea! Alas, I was wanting to get a more expensive one, but Dave Ramsey did not approve. But I think this one is super cute!

We are also getting a new collar and leash for Miss Reese, so that we can have more control over her, without choking her. She is growing FAST, but she is a lot of fun. At the fair she even got to jump in the pool for American Diving Dogs, and the head guy was impressed by her. Folks, we may have a future champion on our hands. :)

Since I am confessing... I must confess that I cannot have mismatching collar/leash colors. I can't do it. Also, I had to make sure the dog tag color coordinated well with the collar and leash I ordered today. Seriously, if we weren't matchy matchy up in here, it would irritate me to no end. So, don't worry! We are all coordinated, and I even have plans for future collars when she grows out of this current one. HAHA!

While I was staring at the screen, choosing between two dog tags, Josh commented, "Wow, you are really interested in this stuff." It's what I do, baby. It's what I do. :)

In other news... I'm sure I will make a fair post, but check out this FLASH MOB VIDEO! Yup, my fair flash mob dreams came true, and it was amazing. I also had some professional video taken of it, so that will be shared shortly!!

Enjoy!

This is How We Do It

Wanna know what I'm up to this week?? Wanna know what pays the bills over here in the metropolis of Syracuse, UT?

Check out WWW.DAVISFAIR.COM!

Yeah, we're pretty pimp, and pretty controversial. Who knew a Mormon girl like me could shake up Davis County?! Imma be all over the morning news shows and radio this week, so check it out!!!

Oh, and like us on FACEBOOK at www.facebook.com/daviscountyfair!

Just another shameless plug. ;)

Imma Do Whatever

My blog post title comes from Rihanna's song "Hard" -- a serious hard-rockin jam-- and it's what I thought of for my QUOTE OF THE WEEK! 
I saw someone else do this on their blog, and now Imma be a copy machine. :)

Without further ado... the quote of the week:

‎"If for a while the harder you try, the harder it gets, take heart. So it has been with the best people who ever lived."                        — Jeffrey R. Holland

Dreams Are My Reality...

Well, I can't hide my love any longer. I LOVE AMES from this season of the Bachelorette!

SWOONAGE!

I was truly yelling at my laptop while Ashley was NOT choosing Ames at the rose ceremony last week, even though I knew it was inevitable. They barely ever touched, and you could just tell that she was not feeling the passion. But I was! When they were under the pictured magnolia tree, he made my heart skip a beat when he said the following:

"It’s the best when the ordinary is extraordinary, I think. There’s this Italian Renaissance way of being romantic: they call it ‘sprezzatura’. It is where you try to be as romantic as possible - but through your ordinary life. There’s so much more magic in the ordinary. Life isn’t all fireworks. Romantic things come from inside you.”

Hello!!! Thanks for the inspiration, Ames. Even Mr. Hatch liked what he said. :)

What he said really resonated with me. We've kind of been feeling the blahs (even with our new puppy-- deets coming soon!), and I have definitely been wanting to break out of this Utah shell for a while.

The ordinary is extraordinary... or at least it can be if we make it. That is my goal friends!

Also, "SPREZZATURA?!" Swoon! How easy is it to be boring and unromantic after being married for three years, let alone eternity?? What a refreshing, and much needed thought. I just love these romantic ideas, these grand thoughts of life. I hate getting stuck in the mundane rituals.

At the end, when he was sitting in the car, even though my heart was broken, I loved how he talked about having life adventures. What a unique guy!! I was like, JOSH! LET'S HAVE LIFE ADVENTURES!!! And so we shall, friends. And you'll probably be invited to a few!!!

And so, it is with a heavy heart that I say farewell to Ames, although I am intrigued to see him in Bachelor Pad 2...cuz y'all know I will be watching that!

To making the ordinary extraordinary... CHEERS!