Pre-Halloween Fabulousness

Saturday

The week ended with a Bang. After working the Stars game I rushed home quickly and got into my Dorothy costume (complete with red glitter Chucks and all).

I then headed to to Halloween Parade/Block Party on Cedar Springs. (This is always held the Saturday before Halloween...you know the "girls" need a whole day to get ready. lol) It was getting late and parking was sooo frustrating but I finally found a place. I'm soo glad I didn't give up and go home. :) I didn't take as many pictures I would have liked...but some of the most fabulous and fierce costumes I saw when I was still driving around for a spot. :(

My friend Seth (in chaps) met me and we headed to the Round Up Saloon. The place was completely packed and completely fun!!! After making our way back from the bar we found a great place to look out on the dancefloor.

Where else can you see ...


Pac Man dancing with a ghost?

Pinocchio getting down to Britney?

Or two Mormon Boys Two-Stepping???? Um I'm gonna say not alot of places. lol

Such a great time. And Michael even showed up after working Edgefest which was an added bonus. But much too soon the lights though did come on (sigh) and we headed into out into the street and ran into some more friends.

It was one of my favorite nights of the year in Dallas for sure! We headed back to Seth's and a few hours later I was up, showered and ready to head to Texas Stadium (glitter still kinda everywhere) to work the Cowboys NOON game! They did end up winning (yay) and I crashed pretty quick after...soo tired but TOTALLY worth it!

Thanks Seth for coming with! I (heart) Halloween and can't wait for tomorrow night!!

much love (and be safe) :)

*Note to those planning on being winged creatures for the night (yes I made this tragic mistake once and I apologize to all those I hit back in 2001 @ The Red Jacket on Halloween.)...Wings are pretty but SOOOO NOT COOL in CROWDS...can't tell you how many times I was knocked in the head.)

But wait! There's more... to the great week I had...

So one of my favorite things to do is to see concerts, shows, gigs...basically any and all LIVE MUSIC. My top list of people/groups to see in person are (in no particular order):

Dave Matthews Band
Kenny Chesney
Better Than Ezra
Jason Mraz
Matt Nathanson
Buckcherry
Matchbox Twenty
Flogging Molly

If I'm in town (or the town that they happen to be in) I will see them. You might scoff at this list but I don't care (as this is MY blog) and I do not push the music I like on others. (hence the beauty of the earphones) I like what I like and you like what you like.

Besides digging their talent, the energy that they give off to the crowd and that the crowd gives back is why I go. I LOVE it when (almost) everyone's on their feet singing along. When this happens, I know that they're doing something right. (yes, I'm envious and wish I was in a band but that's besides the point lol)

Anyways, my most excellent week continued with me being lucky enough to see to of the artists on my list.


Thursday

Although I despise the the complete corporate-ness of the Nokia Theatre, I headed there anyways and paid a ridiculous amount for parking (which reminds me I need to get that darn sticker off my window). I got inside and to my seat (on the 3rd row) and was already smiling because I knew I would be enjoying the next couple of hours. Jason Mraz took the stage and as he began to sing the first song my being was filled with happiness. Dude is amazingly talented and funny and not bad on the eyes either. ;) He's also not afraid to drift off in the middle of one of his songs and do a bit of a "cover" and then back. (I love the cover song.)

For over 5 years I've had great and slightly random memories when it comes to seeing this man do his thing. :) The first time I saw him was back in 2003 when he opened for Johnny Lang (good show). But the next time was during halftime of SuperBowl XXXVIII in 2004. (Yes I missed the Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake wardrobe malfunction.) Back in 2005, I got the pleasure of actually meeting him when he opened for Alanis Morissette at the Bass Hall. Super nice guy (hugs, autographs, pictures)...I'm sure it had nothing to do with the 2 hot girls (that got his attention on the streets of downtown Ft. Worth) I was with. ;) Anyways, each and every time I've seen him has been a good one. :)
Thanks MR. A-Z.

And the hits just keep on comin'...

Friday

I won't spend to much time on him since I did devote another posting back in March to Matt Nathanson. But I will say, he put on another great show that had me smiling, singing, laughing and rockin' all the way through. He got a much deserved upgrade (this time he was headlining the large room at the HOB) since the last time he was here. It was very cool to see alot of new fans come to the show as well. (I'm sure he's thanking VH1 constantly these days)

You know it was a good show when you're walking home and can't help but have one of the songs playing in your head. :)

much love

Maybe I'm Selfish, but I like to feel Good.

Monday

It's true about what they say about helping others. It makes you feel good...Well at least this has my experience.

Monday night I volunteered at Crossroads Community Services in Downtown Dallas. Here's basically what this is:

• Crossroads Community Services is the mission outreach of First United Methodist Church. (my church)
• Crossroads serves a variety of people with different needs, but their focus is on the working poor and homeless prevention.
• The mission of CCS is to enrich the lives of our neighbors-in-need by compassionately providing ongoing tangible support and the strategic skills necessary to enjoy sustained economic success

Anyways, my job for the night was to help with intake. Which means that I would be helping the families get into the system. (getting all their info, birth certificates, proof of employment, residence, etc.) A lot of the families that come to Crossroads speak little or no English. I (try) to speak a little Spanish (I am by no means fluent...sorry...HALF of my family...I'm so embarrassed. lol) so I thought I could be most helpful in this position.

I got off to a pretty rough start with the first family, but by the end of the night, I was ready to help more families. In all we helped 15 families get food and clothes. (They are eligible to come once a month for food, and once every 2 months for clothing.) As of now they are only set up to being open one night a month (for those who can't get to the center during the day). Hopefully, this will continue to be a success and might have the potential of being open one night a week. :)

It was good.

Here's the link if you'd like to find out more:

http://www.ccsdallas.org/

OR! If you'd like to donate clothes (in huge need of men's jeans, coats, sweaters, etc) shoes, toiletries or anything else let me know and I will either point you in the right direction or come to you myself to get the stuff. If that's not you're thing, you can even make an online donation by clicking here :)

much love

La-la-la-la-la-la tonight

Last week was pretty much one of the my top 10 weeks of the year. Here's how it started...

Sunday
At about 9 o'clock I suddenly became 9 years old again. That's right my cousin Kellie and I headed over to the American Airlines Center to the NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK concert. That's right I said it. No shame here. We were there back in 1990 at Texas Stadium. 5 hours of girls screaming. This time around I'm pretty sure many of the same girls were there...just slightly older...and definitely of drinking age. (I wish I had taken pictures of the girls, the neon, the crimped hair, and homemade T-shirts...all FABULOUS!) lol

The Kids Grown Men hit the stage and they looked good...really good. Sounded great. They put on a great show that brought back memories and created even more.

Remember when we said, girl, please don't go,


And how Id be loving you forever,


Taught you bout hangin' tough as long as you got the right stuff,


Didn't we, girls, ooh, didn't we, girls, aah?



Well, I guess, its a brandnew day after all Every time we hear the curtain call, See the girls with the curls in the hair, The buttons and the pins and the loud fanfares. Tonight, tonight.


Remember when we traveled round the world, There were a lot of people and girls, Fan mail from everywhere showed us how you care, Didn't it, girls, ooh, didn't it, girls, aah?


Well, I guess, its a brandnew day after all Every time we hear the curtain call, See the girls with the curls in the hair, The buttons and the pins and the loud fanfares. Tonight, tonight.


La-la-la-la-la-la tonight, la-la-la-la-la-la tonight. Tonight, tonight

*Forgive me for all the pics, but I'll have you know I started with 153 and edited down to 76.

much love

Tis Done!

So at lunch I went out and exercised my right to vote. There was a huge turn out (apparently for the last 3 days at the place I happened to go) and it was kinda cool to witness and be a part of. I hope you do the same. I was definitely thinking of Mykey (and the rest of the boys and girls fighting for and representing our country) today....Taking advantage of this privilege is the least I could do. I now wish I had the power of not hearing anymore political stuff in the media. I'm done. The mute button (in my head) is on until after Nov. 4th.

*I did find it funny that I was not carded to vote, but 15 mins later at Walmart, I WAS carded when purchasing red glitter and glue for my Halloween costume. What a crazy world we live in. :)

much love

Nick & Noah and Sweet Caroline & Thomas

Saturday morning I saw Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. It tells the story of two kids from Jersey and one crazy Friday night in NYC in search of their favorite band. Along the way, they end up losing track of her intoxicated best friend. It's pretty cute and I loved the modern-ness (there's very few movies where the lead is the straight bass player of an all gay band. brilliant! lol) ...like any teen movie, there were a couple of awkward parts (sorry momma). lol

Michael Cera is completely adorable and I pretty much jump at the chance to see him in anything. Yeah it's kinda a crush, but it's ok. ;) HA!




Saturday night I went to the funn-est (probably not a word) wedding ever! (sorry to those who are reading who's wedding I was also guest at) This is a very huge statement for me as I'm not the biggest fan of "the wedding" in general. If I was ever to be involved in such a "traditional" sort of thing, I wouldn't mind if this is how it all went down. :)

The ceremony was at Prestonwood Baptist and it was quite lovely and I loved the color (fuchsia) Caroline chose for her brides maids. They all looked great and the chapel was pretty perfect. The grandparents and parents were sat to The Feather from Forrest Gump and they used another non-traditional song as the bride came down the aisle (Here With Us by Joy Williams) . Very cool. The song before the vows was a bit emotional for the two parties involved but when it was all said and done (and after a "Whoo HOO" yell from Caroline)...they left the chapel as Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Horner.


Thomas & Caroline know how to have fun fo sho'! The reception was at the Westin Stonebrair resort in Frisco, TX. (um super nice place).

Everything was orange/fuchsia and purple.


The cakes were fantastic. All you hockey fans, check out the grooms cake!


The wedding party came into the ballroom and on to the dancefloor in "starting line-up" fashion, each having their own intro music and nick names. Thomas took off his jacket reveal his vest made of a Dallas Stars jersey (awesome! later all the groomsmen revealed theirs as well). After the first dance, I knew that everyone in the place would not be sitting for long.


Dinner was excellent and included a Potatini bar. (mashed potatoes in a martini glass with everything you could think of to add to them)


After the cutting of the cake...


...everyone hit the dancefloor...and were dancin' fools ... for the next 3 or so hours! (I was one of said fools...OH! And so was my boss...AND there were glow necklaces/headbands!!!)


At one point, Thomas serenaded his Sweet Caroline (we heard several versions of this song throughout the night)...



After a circle around the couple, while One Love played, and where hugs were given, the night came to and end with a sidewalk full of bubbles as the happy couple drove off to begin their new life together.


Congratulations Thomas & Caroline!

much love

This Time of Year...

Well, there's a feeling in the air

Just like a Friday afternoon.
Yeah, you can go there if you want
Though it fades too soon.

So go on, let it be.
If there's a feeling coming over me,
Seems like it's always understood this time of year.

~This Time of Year lyrics by Better Than Ezra

October in Texas is a great time of year. The weather is (slightly) cooler...carmel apple cider at Starbucks is delicious...FC Dallas, Cowboys, Stars and Mavericks are all playing...I'm getting excited about Halloween...and the State Fair of Texas is in full effect!

Last Friday I got the pleasure of heading to the fair with my Momma, Aunt Stephanie, cousin Kellie, and Kellie's daughter Alizabeth.

We have been, are, and will always be a fair family.

Grandaddy worked at the gate and the Cotton Bowl for so many years.
(Hook 'em Horns)


Uncle Joe built and runs the Lumalusion.



Way way back Nana, Momma, Stephanie and even Kellie worked at a Cotton Candy stand.


We even have our own Bricks out there.

I am always filled with joy, great memories and amazing food! This year was no different. I love all the sights and sounds.




After stopping by to say hi to Joe...


...we headed to the Food Pavilion where we shared gorditas and critter fritters (sounds terrible, but are SOOOOO good...the real irony is that my trainer, Lorraine and her husband make these to sell out there). As we headed out of there to the Midway so Alizabeth could get her "ride" on...I found a slippery spot and fell...right on my bum ankle! Hurt. Bad. The good thing was that I did not fall on Alizabeth (who was holding my hand) and I found out that chivalry really does still exist (even though I wouldn't let the guy help me up, as I was in some ridiculous pain). I shook it off and we (slowly) made our way to the Midway.


Alizabeth had a blast riding everything. It was such fun to watch her.

(She was kinda attached to me most of the night...not a bad feeling at all :)


Kellie and I rode my favorite ride the...


We even rode with Alizabeth a couple of times...it was tough, but this is by far my favorite shot of the night... Kellie and Alizabeth whizzing by on the Lady Bugs...


It was a great way to spend a Friday night. Oh did I mention Kellie's a dork? lol



much love

Weekly Randomness

Gooodbye, Love
So last week was the week of the rock-opera. It began by seeing The Who's TOMMY twice. It ended last Thursday when I went and saw the final Broadway performance of RENT. (it was filmed and shown at a few movie theaters around the country) So many emotions went through me. After 12 years and 5,124 performances, the curtain closed for good.

This has been so much a part of my life for the last, well I guess TWELVE years. (doh) A honestly can't tell you how many times I've seen this show. I do, however, remember the first time...it was New Year's Eve 1997 and my mom and I went and saw on it ON BROADWAY. It couldn't have been more perfect. (thanks Momma) The story of how it came to be and the show's story itself inspired me (way back when) to not take a single moment of this life for granted.

Forgive me as I share my favorite lyrics from the show:

The Heart May Freeze Or It Can Burn
The Pain Will Ease If I Can Learn

There Is No Future
There Is No Past
I Live This Moment
As My Last

There's Only Us
There's Only This
Forget Regret
Or Life Is Yours To Miss

No Other Road
No Other Way
No Day But Today

This (to me anyways) is exactly what Seizin' the Day is all about.

Next...


Saturday...Stars played and won...hardly anyone was there to see it.
Sunday...Cowboys played and lost...to the REDSKINS (grr)...and a TON of people saw it.


Monday... Mavs Media day. I love this day. Why you ask? Because this means that the NBA season is just around the corner (hazah!)...and I get to put mics on "the boys" (as i like to call them). :)


Monday night...I ventured over to the Palladium (aka used to be Gilley's) and saw The Swell Season. This band is headed up by the two leads in the movie (one of my favorites of last year) Once. (see it if you haven't already)

Besides that, they were great live. Some people/groups/band touch you in such a way that you're heart (and soul) is filled with goodness. This happened tonight. Glen Hansard is just so passionate about what he sings and the violinist kinda made my heart melt. He is also a big fan of the sing-a-long, and hence the audience joined in on most of the songs. (we didn't sound too terribly awful either lol) Loved it all! (really dark in there and i was pretty far back so the picture is not the greatest)



The "added bonus" was near the end of the set when they broke into an acoustic version of Justin Timberlake's "Cry Me a River". Brilliant! lol (this wasn't from Monday, but from the night before at ACL in Austin)

Tuesday...was a pretty chill night for me...but my sister-in-law, Pam, was in a pretty bad car accident. She's still in the hospital with a broken arm and a fractured neck bone...but other than that, looks like she's gonna be ok. SOOO thankful!

Wednesday...got some pictures from Iraq. My brother-in-law, Mikey, is stationed there (for those who don't know) for the second time. I love hearing from him or hearing that my sister, Nena, has heard from him. Take a look ...he's the shortest Mexican :) Hopefully he (and the rest) will come home SOON! ...

After watching the season premier of Pushing Daisies (still brilliant)...I headed out and did something pretty silly/dumb (which I won't go into here) but it did make things (that I already knew) quite clear. I also had a great phone conversation (pretty much venting about weird/stupid people) with a new friend. (what up Son of a Preacher Man!) :)

...life (in general) is still pretty good.

much love