Today I had a List. You know the type, that all encompassing List of a million and one things that I had put off doing all week but needed to finally tackle today?!. Banking, shopping, laundry, cleaning, etc…. all the things I don’t particularly love doing but really feel good about when they’re all done. This List had become LONG and I actually woke up this morning feeling stressed (not a good way to start the day). But then, as I started to break it down and began checking things off I realized that I would survive. Suddenly – as I was just finishing cleaning my house and feeling a little tired and worn down, my husband texted me these pictures he took of a pretty flowering tree he thought I’d like that were blooming outside his office. It made my day and reminded me that it’s all about the little and simple things in life that make me happy … flowering trees, clean kitchens and bathrooms, food in the fridge, etc… I needed that. We all need those reminders sometimes.
One of my favorite bands is a group called THE WEEPIES. I love their quiet strong lyrics and tunes and they have a really great song that I’ve been humming a lot called “A Simple Life”. Next time you’re on iTunes, Pandora, or Spotify – check it out.
Enjoy some Beautiful Simplicity today!
I found this youtube music/video (not by The Weepies, but the images are pretty and you can hear the song):
You guessed it – GREASE! Auditions were this week at my son’s school for the Spring musical production of it and we’ve been listening to the soundtrack non-stop. These songs have brought back so many fun memories of when this movie first came out and I was about the same age Cole is now. Crazy – I feel old. What I totally didn’t realize was how much of the story went completely OVER my head! Needless to say they’re toning it down for this Jr. High production. Anyway, Cole has been practicing the songs and it’s been fun because I still know all the words and moves, though I’d never for a minute take my act outside in public. That’s why I admire Cole so much. He’s always been a fearless performer, something I never have been, and he also has an incredible singing voice (something I definitely don’t have). Mark and I swear he was born in the wrong decade because he’s a bonafide “crooner”. That being said, it was an obvious fit for his first choice of songs to be “Beauty School Drop Out” when he made the call back. Of course now that is all I can sing as well, so I thought I’d leave you with a little Frankie Avalon of your own… (you’re welcome).
It is common knowledge in my family that when it’s Halloween time I will be busy watching all my favorite old Halloween movies, tuning into my favorite “ghostie” shows, and basically embracing the spookiness of the season! I had the chance to watch “The Nightmare Before Christmas” last night, and tonight it’s “Beetlejuice” (we’re getting our Tim Burton fix these days). Hands down, however, is my favorite Halloween movie of all – “Hocus Pocus”. It’s a classic in my book, though my boys and Mark hate the movie. Oh well, it’s all about me right now. Here’s a little sneak peek of one of Bette Midler’s best scenes … rent it if you can. It’s fun! Happy Spookin’!
I’m being sentimental today, so forgive me a little while I indulge. Twenty years ago I married my very best friend in the world. It’s been a wonderful journey and I wouldn’t want to travel these crazy roads with anyone but him. Happy Anniversary, Mark! By the way – it’s frightening to me how young we looked back then! I don’t feel that old. :0)
I’m loving this song right now. It’s absolutely beautiful! Enjoy ~
Look at this cake! Can you feel anything but happy when you see it?! My neighbor, the talented Isabel, age 12 (yes, you saw that right – TWELVE YEARS OLD!) made this gorgeous cake and shared some with us! She comes from a very talented cooking family so I’m not shocked that she could tackle such a magnificent feat as this Tye-Dye Cake with fondant flowers! I had to sit and marvel at it when I saw it – the colors, the textures, the yummy sugary smell …. its a little slice of heaven.
I’m not sure what recipe Isabel used (and she’s a very busy girl so I haven’t had the opportunity to ask her), but I did a little google search and found some recipes for making Tye-Dye cakes HERE and fondant flowers HERE that I thought might be a good place to start. What a perfect cake for a birthday party! I’ve got to remember that for the next birthday I bake for. Anyway, if you make one please send me a picture! I’d love to see how yours turns out.
OH, and you can’t eat Tye-Dye cake without listening to the KING … Bob Marley
I love Hawaiian music, old and new. It’s calming and I find that it is the best type of music for me to listen to while I create my art, especially if I’m feeling a little stressed or just needing an island ‘fix’.
We have a lot of Hawaiian music in our library, but I tend to get bored fast and need to often shake it up a bit, which is why I LOVE PANDORA!!!! Can I say that again – I LOVE PANDORA! (That’s two ‘links’ in case you missed the first one). My husband got me hooked on it a few years ago and it’s my favorite place to go when I’ve burned myself out on my itunes playlists. If you don’t know about Pandora I suggest you check it out. It’s a life-savor for music lovers, especially impatient and wide-ranging music lovers like me. I’ve made ‘radio stations’ for everything from Ingrid Michaelson, English Beat, Earth Wind & Fire, Prince, The Weepies, Devon Sproule, Christmas, to – you got it – Hawaiian stations. No matter what I’m in the mood for I can be sure to get a great range of music on Pandora.
Today I was feeling a little “island-y” so I turned to my old standby, Hawaiian music. If you have Pandora, or plan on signing up after reading this post :0) , here are my favorite Hawaiian Stations to set up: Hawaiian Radio, Ukulele Benny Radio, Ukulele Lady Radio, and Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole.
I leave you now with a little Hawaiian music for you to chill out to. The first is Bruddah IZ when he performed on the Hot Hawaiian Nights show, the second is the band Kaukahi (the guy with the long hair, Walt Keale, is a friend of ours). Feel free to do a little hula if you like!
Have a wonderful weekend – ALOHA!
I saw Janelle Monae in concert when she opened for Adele at the Hollywood Bowl. She is an AMAZING performer – so much fun and such a creative artist! I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t followed anything that’s happening in music, and music truly is the thing I need to keep in my world while I’m trying to create. Lucky for me, my adorable husband knows when I need to get a new “anthem”! He introduced me to Janelle’s song “Tightrope” (love the beat and the words), and I’m addicted to it!
Check it out and get up and dance! Too much work isn’t good for the soul! :0)
(youtube isn’t letting me embedd this video into this post, so just click on the picture above and it’ll take you to the youtube site to watch the video. It’s worth it!)
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