Friday Lovin' Music

I had no idea I was such a Beyonce' fan but I can't get over how fun this video is:


It took watching it numerous times to realize that it's part of a really great initiative.


I just saw Feist on Wednesday night and she was amazing!!!  I was also blown away by the girls singing along with her- their vocals are crazy good.


I keep forgetting to bring non Zumba music with me in the car so I've been listening to the radio more often and this song plays non stop.  I can see it getting on my nerves soon but right now I think it's sweet!


I just can't get over how amazing this song is, how incredible her voice is and how powerful it feels.  It's just so personal and I feel kind of like a voyeur for listening to it.  Here is an amazing live version too.

Have a wonderful weekend!!!  Tonight we're going out for Sushi, edamame, and red bean ice cream!

one track mind

I have so much I want to blog... I know I say that ALL the time!!  I have photos and stories and just nonsense to occupy this space but I have been obsessed... like truly obsessed with watching this video non stop.


They move like liquid, like liquid!  I'm in awe!!

I am also in awe of this video:


It's so interesting to see the different styles of dance side by side- both amazing and beautiful in their own way.

And I've been dancing up a storm in my living room.  Who would have thought that it would be so hard to find adult classes!  I've been calling up dance studios but I guess since it's the summer it's a little slower.  I just want to go take class after class.  In the meantime I'll just keep playing Aaliyah and Missy and dance in the privacy of my own house.

Inspiration!! Dance!

I want to talk about inspiration!!  For years and years I would spend an obscene amount of time online just staring at photos, blogs, website layouts, knitting projects, recipes, etc.  I would look and look and look for hours thinking that I was soaking in ALL this inspiration but I wouldn't complete a single task.  I still look online and check blogs basking in what others are doing and the majority of the time I do think- "Oh, I'm not creative enough to do that" or "I'm not talented enough to get to that point".

But now, I'm trying to think a bit differently.  When I look up dance videos and see people going nuts and just busting loose I try not to think, "I'm way too old for that, my body simply can't move that way" instead I push the couch and coffee table out of the way and go at it.

Here are some videos that inspire me like crazy.









I have so many more favorites but I'll save them for another post.  Right now I need to take advantage of Jbear's nap and pretend I'm one of Justin Timberlake's back up dancers!!


This week I'm going to be talking a lot about my inspiration- photographers, blogs (and bloggers), style and more.  I hope you'll join me and divulge what inspires you!

My Jazz Shoes Are So Excited!

I just read this on Mighty Girl's blog and I knew I was going to be inspired.  She posted this video and I just knew I had to start!



Matt Cutts talks about 30 day projects and I feel like this is right up my alley.  Yes yes I am still working my way through my 30 days before my 30th birthday list (which was in fact 4 days ago) but I am jumping on this now.  I also kind of like that it's the 1st of the month when I'm starting this.

Okay, so a little over a month ago I posted this.  I wrote a lot but was also kind of vague.  So here it is: I want to dance... plain and simple.  I love going out and dancing but what I really want to do is performance dancing.  I used to dance when I was younger and although I wasn't very good I still loved it.  My love would come back in tiny bursts, especially when I had the opportunity to photograph a dance theatre group's dress rehearsal.  My two loves combined- dance and photography.  I didn't have the dedication or the discipline to continue but now I definitely realize the mistake I made in stopping.  However, I'm trying to focus on the whole "it's never too late" theory.

So, along with looking for dance classes to take in the area I am vowing to give myself at least 10 minutes a day to just dance.  It can be in the form of a dance class or just busting a move in my living room while the Jbear naps.  I hope this all leads somewhere but for now I just want to dance!!

Joel is doing a 30 day project too- he will be shooting film for 30 days.  While he was out, shooting with our Canon A-1, I rolled up the rug and danced along to this song:



and this one

If you gave yourself 30 days to do something you've always wanted to do, what would it be?  

Summer Playlist

For the past two years I've made birthday playlists.  It all started with wanting to hear "When I Think of You" on repeat on my 28th birthday.  I just wanted to dance all morning, but I had to take breaks because I was about 17 weeks pregnant.  I just started putting songs that I didn't mind listening to over and over again and songs that made me want to dance to or sing along to.  So I guess it's tradition now to make a Birthday mix each year.  Jbear and I listen to the mix I made last year all the time- he especially loves to shake his booty to "Daft Punk is Playing at My House" by LCD Soundsystem.  Here are the songs I have been listening to on repeat as of late.  I'm totally been inspired by my 90's birthday dance party as well as all the new music I've gotten this year and just some plain old favorites!!!  




My 29th birthday last year



2009


And no!!  I'm not ashamed that Mariah Carey's Fantasy is up there 2x or the fact that LaBouche's Be My Lover is on the list.  Nope, not ashamed at all.



Please, still be my friend!

it's a new day

Do you have friends that are so completely inspiring?  It's not how they portray their lives via photos or status updates but how they live and what they do (or maybe don't do).  I have so many people in my life who inspire me in different ways but so many times I don't do anything with it.  I get all pumped up and then... nothing.  Nothing at all.  I talk big but I feel like I might be living small.  Living simply is not the same as living small.  I live a simple life but it's not lived to it's full potential.  I shy away from opportunities and just talk and talk and talk.  I just don't DO.  And I need to because I really want to.  So I'm taking cues from my friends and grabbing everything I love about them to give my life some oomph.


My dear friend Kate is a stay at home mother and really knows how to spend the 24 hours we are given each day.  She cooks & bakes, does fun activities with her children and takes time to sit outside and enjoy the sunset.  She isn't on facebook and doesn't watch t.v.  Jodi is the friend that never says no- she is always up for an adventure.  She has rheumatoid arthritis and makes the most of the energy she has and has even started a portrait project bringing a voice to those who suffer from autoimmune diseases.  My friend Yvonne is a teacher and loves to travel.  She decided that she wanted to teach in Europe and has been working hard to make that happen.  In a month she is going to be moving to Germany to teach at a school in Berlin.  I could go on about all my friends but I want to get the part where I share how I've been motivated.


Today I am claiming my new day.  I called on Kim to help keep me on track with these new plans and I just can't describe how excited I am.  I am digging deep for the motivation I used to have and I am going to pull it all out- or else Kim might beat me up.  In time I will totally share but I just wanted to blurt this out.  Once I figure out how to put my ideas and plans into writing, I will.  I can say that I am going try my hardest to use my time more wisely, go after what I want and say YES a lot more!!!


So, this song played the other night when I was out celebrating my brother's birthday and it has definitely inspired me in a few ways.  I'm such a sucker for the 90's!!!

4 years!

photography by Angelica Glass

Happy 4 years, my love! Thank you for loving me and my horse teeth. I love you to pieces and pieces...

There is no doubt that we'll be dancing to this song tonight:

Dance Party Monday: Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

I'm out at sea while you read this hopefully sleeping in to the sounds of the ocean. But most likely my J boys and I will up and dancing to this song. I heard Home the summer I was pregnant with the Jbear and fell in love with it instantly! I got the entire album and played it on repeat. This version is slightly different from the album and it's what I listened to before I got their album Up From Below.

The lead singer Alexander Ebert released his solo album in March and it's so awesome.

I hope you all had a great weekend with bbq's and the promise of kick ass summer plans!!

Stay tuned for my first guest blogger- I am so excited!!!

singing, dancing and glee watching

I have so much to catch up on! When I saw Season 1 of Glee streaming on netflix I immediately put it in my queue. Oh my goodness, I knew I would LOVE the show! Even though it's fun to be able to watch an entire season at my leisure I kind of wish I watched it while it aired. I love every single character but my favorites are Artie and Kurt. I think the actor Chris Colfer who plays Kurt is so amazing, I absolutely love every single scene he is in. I kind of want to talk more about this show so expect lots more Glee chatter.

My new obsession led me to miss Dance Party Monday because every free moment was spent watching a new episode. This week so far has been chock full of dance parties in Jbears room. I don't know what is with this particular week but every song has got my boy dancing. Even if I just sing this song to him he will stop what he is doing and just start moving his feet.

Maybe its all the time I've spent watching Glee this past week because on top of dancing it's like karaoke central over here. There has actually been a lot of The Farmer in the Dell (even though I can't stand that song) going on but also:

Holiday- Weezer, Bad Romance- Lady Gaga, If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out- Cat Stevens. My poor son, I have a terrible voice! However, he does seem to enjoy my hip hopera version of The Itsty Bitsy Spider.

The sun finally decided to show up but it was so gray for so long. We were stuck indoors for way too long. I am still learning about where we live and what's available for toddlers. What do you guys do when it's so wet and gray outside? What do you do to keep yourself from going batty indoors?

Dance Party Monday: Keep The Car Running

I wish I knew a lot of newer songs to post on Dance Party Mondays but right now I am going through old playlists. Every morning I put on some music for Jbear and I to dance to. Sometimes it's not some rocking song it's more like music to sway to. For the past couple of days I've been putting on the playlist that Joel made for our hospital stay right before Jonah was born. This song has been playing on repeat during our dance parties.

Arcade Fire are just so so so good! The Suburbs gets played quite often in our car.

I hope you all had a great weekend! I am going to have to find different things to do this week because it's supposed to rain all week. My kid is obsessed with being outdoors now and my 45 minute blow out hair doesn't agree. I also have to find a bathing suit. Post baby bathing suit shopping... c'mon what's more fun than that?!!!!

So, today is the last day to vote! Thank you so much for voting for me and this blog of mine.

Dance Party Monday: Oblivious

There is no video to look at just a song that gets us moving! All I know is youtube but surely there must be another way to share music on a blog post without having to link to a video, especially when there is nothing to actually look at. Also, the lyrics are vague, and then pretty straightforward and then vague all over again. I have to admit that I don't really pay attention to the lyrics that often (unless it's Lisa Loeb's Stay- I know ALL the lyrics to that song). If the song sounds pretty or has a kick ass beat then I'm all over it.

I'm sad the weekend is over but I'm pumped for a new week. My boy slept in today so maybe that's why I'm feeling excited for the week. What gets you going on Monday mornings when you just want to pull the covers over your head?

on repeat

In the kitchen, putting away the dishes, listening to this song on repeat!

Dance Party Monday: You've Got To Set 'Em Up

I decided to put on a random mix and when this song came on I saw my baby boy start bouncing. These past few days he's been too busy walking to really care about dancing. But when he heard these beats I saw his booty bounce.

How was your weekend? Mine was pretty relaxed but super enjoyable! I was on a search for toddler jeggings but was defeated. I guess I was too late to the game and couldn't find them in J's size. Oh, I'm also trying a new way of eating. I've really been inspired by this lady and this post! Of course I would be lying if I said I wasn't in it for the weight loss but really I am ALWAYS so sluggish... all the time! I am not feeding my body well (my body knows no bounds when it comes to cupcake consumption) and I want to change that! I want to be an energetic mother and feel healthier. Game on!!!

Dance Party Monday: Rolling In The Deep

Oh my goodness, this song is so ridiculously good. I had heard of Adele a little while ago but was too caught up in what I was already listening to (probably non stop Feist) to pay attention to her music. Huge mistake on my part... huge! One day I decided to watch one of her videos (after reading an article about her) and was blown away. I clicked on Rolling In The Deep and just kept watching it over and over again. Then I realized that our friend Raz put that song on a mix he made for Joel's birthday and now the song gets played over and over and over in my car. Her voice is so amazing and she is seriously so pretty!!

I hope you all had a great weekend! Our time in Philly was amazing! I didn't use my camera to take many photos but I did use Joel's phone. Once he sends me those images I will post them here. I realize that I have a bunch of things I haven't posted yet so I'll probably be playing catch up this week.

Dance Party Monday: They are Back!

I just love The Strokes! I didn't get into them til a few years after everyone else but still, my love is strong. I am so excited that they have a new album out (but it was a gift for Joel so he's been listening to it more).

And this song never gets old for me! It was one of the songs that I clearly remember dancing to (like a lunatic, I might add) at our wedding!!!

Tales from the Crib: Music

When I finished the 30 for 30 challenge I asked what I should blog about next. My friend Gretchen mentioned posting mix tapes/ song lists. I have a whole journal dedicated to the mix tapes I used to make so I totally loved this idea. Now it's more playlists than mix tapes but I'm just going with it. I also decided I wanted to do some posts of J bear's favorite things and combined both ideas.

Jonah is a pretty chill kid but he obviously has his moments... like every single time I have to change his diaper. The only thing that seems to work is to sing to him. It's crazy how quickly his mood changes if anyone sings to him. He has a few favorite kid songs but so many are songs that Joel and I love ourselves. I knew that I never wanted to get stuck having to play an elmo sing a long or Farmer in the Dell ON REPEAT while driving back and forth to visit our families... seriously shoot me now if that ever happens. The girl I used to nanny LOVED "Yellow Submarine" so I started singing that song for Jonah when he was a teeny baby and now he loves it too!

Joel and I have gotten stuck singing that song on repeat very often but at least it's better than Farmer in the Dell (no offense to the farmer especially since I've been guilty of singing that song on a few occasions but it just irks me). Now that Jonah doesn't really nap in the car I needed something to keep him from going stir crazy in his car seat on trips to visit my family. I put together a driving mix just for him (just a shorter version of his 1st birthday party mix). This CD was so awesome when it was just Jbear and I in the car and he was just over every book I kept passing back to him. The second the 1st song begins it's like he is in a trance. This mix is on our checklist of things never to forget when we go on a trip.

blue stars- J's favorites and the songs I sing the most to him

green stars- the ones that get his little body moving (which is really just swaying side to side)

pink stars- my favorites to pick him up and dance to (not in the car obviously)

A lot of Beatles and Beach Boys but the kid knows what he likes!

Dance Party Monday: Oh Land!

I had heard of Oh Land due to my Pandora obsession and picked up her album while in Austin at Waterloo. She makes me feel like pop music doesn't have to always be a guilty pleasure!

It's 2pm in the afternoon and I totally feel hungover from our trip to Austin. Hungover from tacos, cupcakes, dr. pepper and jelly beans (yes jelly beans). My biggest souvenirs are the 7 lbs I gained in the 3.5 days we were away. Every bite was so worth it though!!! I need this dance party like you wouldn't believe!

Dance Party Monday: Weekend Sing Along

I wouldn't necessarily watch this video with any kids around, unless they are too young to ask about the lyrics. BUT it is an awesome song! And I was super excited when Joel's friend who deejayed on Saturday night played it. With the help of Joel's friends I threw a surprise party for him and it was such a fun night. I didn't bring my camera with me as not to make Joel suspicious but my friend Veronica took some photos so I'll hopefully post some soon.

I hope all your Mondays are starting off right!!

Dance Party Monday: Get On Groovin'

I had intentions of being a better blogger this weekend and actually bringing my camera out with me but... I failed miserably. Thank goodness Kim has one of those iphone dealies and snapped this photo of me busting my butt and gut to carry all my bags at the mall.

Please don't pay attention to the sweaty mess of a girl unable to carry all her bags and keep clothes on the hanger. But I'm trying to be a blogger... and bloggers post photos, right?

If you are on a strict budget don't go shopping with Kim because she is the most supportive shopper and believes that if I like it... I should own it. Or something like that. We cruised that mall like 2 women on a serious mission. When the time comes I will post the fruits of my labor.

A big huge ANYWAY... besides going shopping I have really been in the "Get Thee Body Movin'" mood and have been dancing like a mad woman in my bedroom. Last night this song got me groovin' like crazy so I thought I would share it with you this fine morning.

My Ribcage Hurts!!

I am not the most motivated person when it comes to exercise- but dancing... c'mon it's DANCING!!! So I enlisted Shakira as my very own personal trainer. She's kind of a showoff with her belly dancing moves but I am determined to match her (just with a more jiggly stretched marked belly... ummm was that too much?). Seriously, I worked up such a sweat with the first song and wanted to keep going. However, I've got plans today with my girl Kim- she's coming to visit me for the day, and I need to get ready for her arrival.