Imagine

Totally random post...but I love this.

If you don't watch the show Glee you are missing out. I don't care if you think I'm lame for watching it b/c it's awesome and believe it is your loss if you don't. :) Also I fully accept my nerdiness when it comes to musicals or musical shows. Anyway this was one of my favorite moments on the show. Maybe b/c I love the song "Imagine" or maybe b/c I like the concept of togetherness in this scene.

If you don't watch the show the Glee club is about to have a competition and one of the schools they are going against is a deaf school. They have a practice scrimmage and this is what comes out of it...

*Special thanks to John Lennon for bringing this song to our lives.
-youtube removed the video, here's the song though

Free Music Friday 10 - Where Are You Christmas? Oh that's right, you're here now, how I've missed you!

My favorite time of year is upon us!!! Those of us in TX might not have realized this quite yet, considering that it was 70 something degrees out today, but don't worry, I am delighting enough in the start of the CHRISTMAS SEASON for all of us. A big event happened today...wait for it...I GOT MY VERY FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE!!! This brings me one step closer to being a real grown up...hmm...that's a little scary. Anyway, in honor of the event, I wanted to follow through on my tease from Tuesday and provide Christmas songs for today's FMF. These are just three of my favorites that I play on repeat for about four straight weeks, but don't be shocked to see this become a trend over the next few weeks, combined with a little of whatever I'm loving at the time of course. Hope everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving and enjoys their Christmas preparations as much as I am!

*Disclaimer - Videos do not always provide as much entertainment as the song. Might I recommend the following...listen to the song and open up another browser. Enjoy my amazing musical taste while you work, or facebook (let's be honest), or whatever it is you do. The end.


Garth Brooks - Baby Jesus is Born


Mariah Carey - Joy to the World
Live Version:

Recorded Version: (yes it's good enough to get put on here twice)


Baby It's Cold Outside - SO many versions of this song have been done (the one in Elf is a personal fav.) but I decided to go with the original


Pictures of the tree and Tacky Christmas to come.

I FREAKING LOVE CHRISTMAS!!!

When I Count All My Blessings, I Get a Smile on my Face – 2nd Addition

This time last year I was brand new to the blogging world and one of my very first entries was about what I was thankful for at the time. Looking back at that blog, I feel blessed to say I am thankful for those exact same things this year. But just saying that would make for a boring blog, so this year I’m taking a different route. I am going to try and list the big (and some of the little) events or things that happened since last Thanksgiving that have been a blessing…

*Christmases at home
*A friend who understands that New Year’s Eve on the couch with take out Chinese is perfectly okay
*Progressive dinners with my amazing group of friends
*Tacky Christmas
*Being a Battle of the Books coach, and the kiddos on last years team and this years team who bring me so much joy
*Yearly trip to the rodeo
*The blisters on my feet and the pain in my legs from running b/c it reminds me that I am able to keep doing what I love
*Pedicures
*Afternoon Delight softball
*Family and friends who encouraged me to do something scary and try a new job this year
*Kids that invite me to their birthday parties
*Kids that come watch my softball games
*My kindergarten class, particularly two kids that I will never forget all my life (A & J)
*Cowtown (the race)
*Fort Worth (the city)
*Hole in the wall restaurants
*Friends that are foodies
*FW Running Company and their training group that gives me people to run with…finally!
*5 stage birthday bashes
*Cupcakes
*A church that I love
*A pastor that I am friends with
*People who love, and understand, and will talk about hockey (they are rare!)
*Trips to the ranch
*Yearly visit to Colonial
*Seeing George Straight live
*Getting to go to the first event ever at the new Cowboys Stadium
*My amazing trip to Europe
*Getting to go to Europe with one of my favorite traveling companions and all the happy memories we’ll have forever from those two weeks
*Mother/daughter trips
*Swimming with dolphins
*River trips
*Friends who are willing to help me move
*The most eventful summer of my life
*A support system that got me through the month of August
*Being a part of one of my best friend’s weddings
*Patience (particularly when it is people being patient with me)
*My new job, I love it more than I could ever explain
*The people I work with
*Seeing Paul McCartney live
*Singing Hey Jude at the top of my lungs with my dear friend and PAUL FREAKIN’ McCARTNEY (that is his real name fyi)
*New friends
*How much my friends make me laugh
*Parents who help me out so much and never ask for anything in return
*The girls in my small group
*Friends that listen to and care about my updates
*Forgiveness
*Finally getting to sit in a suite at AAC
*Stars hockey
*Being able to go see the sport I love so much in person, and often
*So Is Your Face kickball
*Music, especially discovering new bands/songs
*Pandora Radio and friends who have introduced me to so much new music
*Seeing U2 live
*Being able to move around and read and watch tv and get on my computer for however long I want
*Weekend breakfasts
*TCU’s perfect season that has made fall so much fun
*My third grade class that makes me happy to go to work every day
*Getting to go to Wisconsin for Christmas with family
*That I can make a list like this

I could keep going I know, but I will stop there b/c I doubt anyone besides my mom (love you mom) has even made it to this point. But, I will say I live a blessed life and I am most thankful for the people in it that make it so wonderful. Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving today and takes some time to think about what it is you are thankful for as well.

It's my Friday, which means...Free Music Friday 9!

Okay so since today is the last day of my work week I decided we needed some music to celebrate the occassion. I'm still going to try and put actual music up Friday (I'm not promising anything but considering it IS the official start of the Christmas season it may or may not be Christmas themed).

Anyway, so I discovered a new band this week that I just ADORE. My friend who is having a baby in TWO WEEKS had a video of her maternity photos put to one of their songs so I immediately began searching for who they were and what other music I could find. They are called Secrets in Stereo and I am enjoying their stuff immensily, hope you do too. I'm sure this won't be the last time they appear here.

PS - They don't have actual videos so just listen..

Happy


Not Today (get through the talking b/c I HAD to go with the accoustic version b/c it's too good not to include it this way)


(In case you don't have patience or time)



Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Free Music Friday 8

My taste in music is very broad. I will pretty much listen to anything. Some I like a lot more than others but most of it depends on my mood. Here are some songs on my "Recently Added" playlist on my ipod to illustrate my point:

Augustana - Twenty Years (loving them right now)


Breaking Benjamin - I Will Not Bow (hockey music)


James Carr - The Dark End of the Street (b/c who doesn't need a little good soul music?)


Uncle Kracker - Smile (yes, I'm a little embarrased to share this, but oh well, it puts me in a good mood)


PS - I wanted to put up Sublime's "What I Got" just to bring it back a bit but no clean versions available on YouTube, and trying to keep the blog clean people. So, I'll leave you with this "lovin' is what I got, I said remember that.."

More to come at a later date.

Happy Weekend (or Thanksgiving Break to ever other teacher besides those in my district)!!!

TCU 11-0??? Got a good feeling it's our year!

Month 4 of 12 - Simple Life and I'll Be Okay

So this is a little bit late. Mainly because I had written about 5 things prior to tonight on what has gone on this month. This is a combination of being extremely busy but also feeling like I didn't have anything all that significant occur this past month. When I sat down to add some points to my list I remembered a bit more than I expected. However, I still think the biggest thing I have gotten out of this month is a lot of questions. So, guess I'm seeing what's coming up. Here's what I have for now!

*Making salt dough maps with 22 third graders makes one huge, but fun, mess
*Projects such as these go much better with third graders than Kindergartners
*My heart is so happy whenever my old Kinder kiddos come and give me hugs, gosh I miss that
*I should have remembered that one of my favorite things about fall is the start of ultimate Frisbee every weekend with my friends
*I REALLY like challenging, thought provoking conversations right now.
*Hearing someone say what they ACTUALLY think can be really refreshing
*Favorite musical discovery – Avettt Brothers
*I still hate Halloween
*Tacky Christmas planning will never cease to be entertaining and full of laughter
*I love simple, yet somehow manage to make things complex
*I like the song Smalltown USA and sometimes wish it was how I grew up
*Mental Health Days (MHD’s) are definitely needed and I’m thankful for good friends who are willing to share them with me
*I love getting to know new friends from work, especially when those new friends appreciate hole in the wall restaurants as much as I do
*Bear wrestling is another activity that is not acceptable in public
*Love, love, love little league football games, thankful that my kids invite me to them
*”Why Bad Things Happen to Good People” by Harold Kushner is really making me think (goes along with the whole challenging conversations thing) – not finished with it yet so can’t say much more right now
*Third graders singing in a school program with little practice can quickly turn into a train wreck, but they are still adorable
*Diary of a Wimpy Kid is one of the funniest books I have ever read
*Shopping for tacky Christmas sweaters is an adventure, a hilarious adventure though
*I take for granted being able to do things like go to work, read/watch tv/sit at the computer longer than 10 minutes
*Scramble is the most freaking addictive iphone app ever. I'm determined to become good at it.
*That should be an interesting challenge for someone who is not good at spelling.
*Watching your college football team have the perfect season is pretty awesome

Free Music Friday ... on a Tuesday

Missed a few FMF's ... going to try and make up for it this week, especially because I have found a whole bunch of new songs I love.

Here are the two most played right now:

Augustana - Fire (live version b/c I think it's always better to have something to watch, but the album version is amazing, so go listen to that too)



Taylor Swift - Jump then Fall (big surprise that I like a Taylor Swift song right? Anyway the girl is a genius and rereleased her album with some new songs, which I quickly purchased, here's my favorite)



Try to post a few more later...