Really, Really Worth Seeing

Last night was the Michael Buble concert.

---Sigh---

How can I explain to you what it is like to see him perform LIVE, in person?

First, I must provide you with this disclaimer: Honestly truly, I have no inappropriate feelings for Buble. The man can wear a suit, I will give him that. And he is terribly charming. (He opened the show talking about his fiance. It was adorable.) But my sole and only interest in him is:

Hearing Him Sing, because he can really sing. His voice makes you melt. And I am not exaggerating. Listening to him sing = you turning into a puddle. Have you heard one of his songs on the radio or own one of his CD's perhaps? He's good. But hearing him live? His voice is in another league all together. It's absolutely indescribable.

This was the view from my seat:

My friend was a tad closer. This was taken from her phone.

This friend, who shall remain nameless (and is not in one of the pictures above so don't try to guess her identity), grabbed him/his hand as he walked through the audience and made it on the jumbotron for the entire Sprint Center to witness. Good times.

So, now, I am wondering how I can make it to one of these shows to hear him again:

6/27/10 Omaha, NE- Qwest Center
6/29/10 Indianapolis, IN- Conseco Fieldhouse
6/30/10 Columbus, OH- Nationwide Arena
7/2/10 Uncasville, CT- Mohegan Sun Arena
7/3/10 Uncasville, CT- Mohegan Sun Arena
7/4/10 Uncasville, CT- Mohegan Sun Arena
7/6/10 Richmond, VA- Richmond Coliseum
7/7/10 Norfolk, VA- Constant Convocation Center
7/9/10 Raleigh, NC- RBC Center
7/10/10 Charlotte, NC- Time Warner Cable Arena
7/11/10 Jacksonville, FL- Veterans Memorial Arena
7/13/10 Pensacola, FL- Civic Center
7/14/10 New Orleans, LA- New Orleans Arena
7/16/10 Houston, TX- Toyota Center
7/17/10 San Antonio, TX- AT&T Center
7/18/10 Dallas, TX- American Airlines Center
8/24/10 Sacramento, CA- Arco Arena
8/27/10 San Diego, CA- Sports Arena
8/28/10 Las Vegas, NV- MGM Grand

Anyone up for a road trip?

Worth Seeing

Adorable. Hilarious.
Highly entertaining. Laughed out loud. (A lot.)

World Cup Soccer

Is anyone else loving World Cup Soccer?

We are cheering for the US and Portugal. I never knew watching (professional) soccer could be so exciting!

Spin Pin

Have you heard of Goody's Spin Pins? I picked some up at CVS last week (Target was out.)

Here is a close up shot.
Basically you twirl your hair into and bun and then "screw" these in. One through the top - one through the bottom. They go in really easily. And then the bun is pretty much set like concrete.

This is my hair 12 hours after (and no make up.)

Let me add: Today I went shopping and tried on many clothes. Bun survived. Went to the water park. Spent half the time on the lazy river and half the time with my hair squished against a lounge chair. Bun survived.

Lastly, it was a HOT HOT HUMID day. You can see that the bun held. (Although some of my shorter layers did not fair as well. What can I say, it was a long day.)

Highly highly recommend.

Can you believe it?

Several new posts on the private blog:

Baptism, birthdays, March, and April.

Happy Father's Day

My husband is a really great dad.


Happy Father's Day to you.

When it Rains

Last night while driving to dinner, we got (another) crazy rainstorm.
A downpour the likes you've never seen, complete with thunder,lightening and torrents of rain. We were literally dripping wet once we got in the restaurant.
With wet clothes and wet hair, we froze in the air conditioned restaurant.
We ate.

We drove home.
The power was out.
No power = no working garage door.
Managed to get inside.
No lights.
No air conditioning.
No alarm.
Little sleep.
Until 3:330am.
We've got power.

Our basement flooded.
We were supposed to have our basement floors sealed today.
Can't seal concrete with an inch of water on it.
Had to use the wet-vac to clean up the water.

I dyed my hair.
It is black.
Not on purpose.
(At least it's not brassy red.)

My sister called.
She found the sweater I wanted but was sold out.
It's not sold out.
She's mailing it to me.

It's fun when one happy thing can rule out lots of annoying things.

36 is the New Black

Today I am officially closer to 40 than 30. I'm not complaining.

Summer Game Update

Up until yesterday, our contribution to the game has been completely one-sided, in the privacy of our own car spotting as many Volkswagens as we can and lovingly tapping each other in the arm. My 1st son is really the king of it, he's fast.

Then, I realized while driving my husband's car - a Volkswagen - that we have been allowing others the pleasure of playing the game too.
Our contributions so far:

June 10th, 7:45pm, Rockhurst parking lot: Me + daughter driving our Volkswagen spot son punching his father in the arm saying, "White one."

June 10th 8:58pm, Target parking lot: My husband with windows rolled down spies a gray one and shouts to kids, "Gray one." Gray driver sees us and shouts, "White one."

I love this game. It gives me a ridiculous amount of glee. I feel like I have an great inside joke with complete strangers.

Reviews

Redboxed (yes, I am turning nouns that into verbs these says) these movies this week:

Leap Year was cute. Faint Praise.

I loved Queen Victoria. I wept.

I already have a few books about Queen Victoria on hold at the library.

New to Me

Have you already heard of this musical: Razia's Shadow?

I was introduced to it a few days ago through my 13 year old, who found out about it from her best friend, who found out about it from a really hip techie guy she babysits for. (Be sure to tell Eric I called him hip, okay Mer?)

Really, really cool. I was listening it on my run today. My favorite track (today) is "The Missing Piece." Give it a chance, I think you will be taken over too.

Another Skirt

That I made. (or helped make.)
You might not be able to see in the picture, but in person this skirt makes me look oh so svelte. Even the fashionista (who was in town visiting) loved it. Also, allow me to point out a tucked in shirt.

Official Game of Summer

Is anyone else playing?

Decisions. Decisions.

I have been agonizing on how to spend my Mother's Day gift. You may recall: a gift card to Anthropologie.

Especially since my last order was fairly disastrous:



I kept the navy Claudine tee (left.) The Secured Corsage (middle) and Around the World dress (right) were returned. Both didn't fit.

So. Should I risk it all on one item? I have, after all, been dreaming of owning this since I first laid eyes on it:

It seems like a lot to spend on one dress. Even if the dress is perfection.

So today, with another round of mark downs and free shipping, I made this online purchase:



I hope I will love them when they arrive. (Fingers crossed the dress goes on sale soon.)

I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading!

"I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library." (yes another Pride and Prejudice quote.)

Nearly every book I read is checked out from the library. Purchasing all the books I read would not only be expensive but take up way too much space in my home.

So, it is rare that I read a book I want to own. Let alone TWO in one week. And both non-fiction, nay, self improvement.

I loved this book by Jordan Christy - "How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World."

"The great thing about living with class, style and grace is that it has nothing tot do with wealth. Being classy is an attitude and outlook on life; the art of gracefulness is how we have and act when no one is watching; being stylish is how we present ourselves to others."

Yes, this book is targeted to post high school age women, not necessarily a middle aged mom. I still thought it was great and found myself wanting to highlight large sections of the text. I wish I could but a copy for every graduating female. It is about having decorum, class, self respect, and being happy. I plan on reading many sections with my teenager.

My favorite of the two books was "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin.

"I had everything I could possibly want - yet I was failing to appreciate it. Bogged down in petty complaints and passing crises, weary of struggling with my own nature, I too often failed to comprehend the splendor of what I had. I didn't want to keep taking these days for granted."

"I didn't want to reject my life. I wanted to change my life without changing my life, by finding more happiness in my own kitchen. I knew I wouldn't discover happiness in a faraway place or in unusual circumstances; it was right here, right now."

I loved Rubin's 12 month plan. Her goals were fascinating. The insights were, well, insightful. I was amazed over and over by her incredible self discovery - how much she knew about herself and learned about herself in the process.

I honestly thought I would get bored of this book. (As I do with so many non-fiction books. After about 200 pages, I find myself skimming. There, I admitted it. I am not part of the intelligentsia. But I bet you already figured that out.)

I myself am not currently planning a 12 month project. But it did get me thinking. A lot. It brought to mind this fantastic talk by Julie Beck, our General Relief Society President at this year's BYU Women's Conference. (see a summary here .) What is Essential? What is necessary? What is nice to do? I have also been enjoying reading my cousin's professional blog, to be luminous. She is a life coach and I have really enjoyed her posts. Bottom line, I feel like I am getting free therapy and it is a good thing. Because who doesn't want to be more happy?

Next on the reading agenda?

A little more self improvement:

Currently reading with the kids:
Waiting, not so patiently for this:

Conversation with my Teenager

I was driving in the car the other day with my oldest daughter. We were talking about the many talented singers in the world.

"What would it be like to sing like Kristen Chenoweth?" she said.

"Could you imagine being able to sing like Idina Menzel?" she asked.


Then with a smile, "What would it be like to sing as well as Miley Cyrus?"

"Oh wait. I do," she finished.

Hilarious.