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February Mix

2012-02-06T05:30:00.000-08:00

Friends, I'm not doing too well. It looks like I have Mono, and am still feeling pretty crummy. The doctor I've been seeing is concerned about some of my test results and wants me to seek further advice. It's time for me to figure out these health issues and so I will be away from this blog for the rest of the month.

Before I say farewell for February I wanted to leave you with this really lovely soundtrack to enjoy. It's filled with some songs I just can't get over; The Greatest Thing That Never Happened by Jessie Baylin, How Bad We Need Each Other by Marc Scibilia, Little Talks by Of Monsters And Men, and Dangers of Love by Emily West.

Here's the complete tracklist. Enjoy!
1. The Greatest Thing That Never Happened - Jessie Baylin
2. How Bad We Need Each Other - Marc Scibilia [not available yet, I'll let you know when it is!]
3. Simple Song - The Shins
4. Little Talks - Of Monsters And Men
5. Milk-Heavy, Pollen-Eyed - Laura Gibson
6. Dangers of Love - Emily West
7. Emmylou - First Aid Kit
8. Little Darlin' - Landon Pigg
9. Terrified - Among Savages
10. Change The Sheets - Kathleen Edwards
11. Firefly - Ed Sheeran
12. Night Owls - Dry the River
13. Scar - Lucy Rose
14. Home Again - Michael Kiwanuka
15. Nevermind - Annie Williams
16. White Days - The Lighthouse and the Whaler
17. Freakish - Matt Pryor
18. Wake Up Alone - Amy Winehouse
19. I Won't Give Up - Jason Mraz
20. Heavy Heart - Madi Diaz

P.S. due to my absence from the blog this month, there will be no giveaway, but perhaps a double giveaway in March :)

P.P.S. this month's cover picture is from a recent luncheon I helped with for the youth of our church. I thought this raspberry sorbet course was so pretty.

down and out in Burbank.

2012-02-02T09:59:00.000-08:00

Hi friends, I'm just checking in to say I'm sorry that the February mix isn't up and streaming. I've had a sick Lily all week and now today when she is finally better and back to school, I've caught the horrible nastiness she had.

Can I just say, I am SO READY for spring. This winter has been rough for our family. Lots of sickness, lots of nastiness.

So, now I'm going to take a warm bath, get back in bed and finish catching up on Downton Abbey.

I'll be back soon!

music as fuel.

2012-01-27T09:23:00.000-08:00

today I've got another to-do list full of household chores:

+ vacuum

+ dusting

+ dishes

+ laundry

+ clean out the fridge

+ de-clutter my craft area

the only way I can get through this list is with some great new music.

the music is my fuel.

I'll be listening to these brand new albums:

1. Human Again by Ingrid Michaelson

2. La Grande by Laura Gibson

3. Little Spark by Jessie Baylin

Happy Weekending!

today's to-do's:

2012-01-25T12:09:00.000-08:00

+ ~~dishes~~
+ fold laundry
+ ~~make bed~~
+ ~~pay bills~~
+ get dressed
+ ~~make sure Madeline finishes color wheel project for Cosmo~~
+ text mia-maids
+ make dinner
+ send Happy Anniversary card to Uncle Gordon & Aunt Julie

Better get crackin'!

P.S. Number five on my list is a daily struggle. I just want to stay in my jammies all day if I'm not leaving my house. Must work on this!

five gratefuls.

2012-01-20T08:38:00.000-08:00

I've been away from the computer for the past few days and it's been nice. My daughter, Madeline, has an online math class and she's been using the computer a lot to catch up on her work, which means I haven't had the opportunity to sit here and blog. Sometimes a little break is much needed.

Plus, we've been hammered with crazy winter weather. On Wednesday, it snowed and snowed all day, giving us about 7" of white stuff, but then it turned into freezing rain and all day yesterday it blanketed the snow with ice. Needless to say, school has been canceled. We are taking full advantage of this four day weekend by watching movies in our jammies, playing Farkle, having fun in the snow, and being together as a family. I love it.

I'm grateful today because:

+ being a blueberry farmer means that Brandon isn't too busy today to take the kids sledding.

+ a list of simple household chores is waiting for me and it makes me work.

+ I don't have any reason to leave my warm, cozy home.

+ after I finish my housework, I plan on snuggling by the fire with the book I'm reading while the kids go sledding.

+ when I look outside it looks like a winter wonderland, and that is one of my most favorite things.

Stay warm + safe this weekend!

Get Real Friday!

2012-01-13T11:47:00.000-08:00

That conversation about blogging we had yesterday was really nice. I appreciate each of you who took the time to share your thoughts. I do feel renewed and like the enchantment of blogging is inching it's way back into my heart.

Today, I wanted to share some things with you that I love right now.
Things that examine real life.

+ Like this video above of the swoon worthy Marc Scibilia. While you become engrossed in his gorgeous, scruffy voice and handsomeness, something very funny and real happens...has something to do with his dog, it appears. I love that they kept right on filming and he just laughed and tried his best to keep on singing. So real.

+ This post about Marriage and Facebook on the new to me blog, A Blog About Love.

+ A blog that I discovered recently from a Facebook friend and have been reading through. It's both heartbreaking and triumphant to read through the struggles this family has faced. This post in particular really touched me.

+ On Twitter yesterday, I saw a link to this post. I love it's no nonsense real-ness. I find it refreshing.

Hope you have a great weekend!

thinking and thinking and thinking...

2012-01-12T12:08:00.000-08:00

This is a post that I've been wanting to write for many months [maybe years?], but for some reason haven't been able to put into words exactly. Until today. My hope is to convey my thoughts about blogging without offending anyone. That's not what this post is about.

I'm not as in love with blogging as I once was. This month will mark five years of blogging for me. Honestly, that's about 4 years 9 months longer than I imagined when I created Passionista. In January 2007, what inspired me to start writing here was reading the words and thoughts of other women/mothers/passionate people and realizing that I may have a voice as well, and maybe there are people who want to read me.

What I didn't realize in the beginning is how much I would enjoy writing out my thoughts, learning about myself in the process and how important connecting with others would be. I've met some amazing people who inspire me with their daily prose. Some of the people I admire I've had the pleasure of meeting in person, a couple have become close friends, and others I hope to meet someday.

The component I have loved most about blogging is the connection to people outside my own home, yet somehow I've become a bit jaded, perhaps even cynical about the world of blogging. As blogging has grown more and more into a world of moneymaking, advertising, sponsoring and etc., etc., etc., I have felt less and less compelled to make connections with the authors I read. Trust me when I say, that I am not judging, for I, myself have partnered with Amazon to make a few cents off of purchases made from links I provide. I also know how much work it takes to seek sponsorships, provide recommendations and form posts to share. It all takes time, and why not get paid to do it? Especially if it enables a mother to stay at home with her family.

For the record, I am not against monetizing.
For the record, I recognize my own responsibility in connecting with those whose writing I admire.
And lets get real, I certainly realize that this web space of mine IS NOT the most inspiring or creative [and I thank you for reading anyways :]

For the record, I am an advocate of keeping our blogs true to ourselves.
Working to maintain something real and of value. For ourselves and for our readers.

Over the past several months, I've been deleting my google reader subscriptions that no longer inspire me and replacing them with blogs that touch my heart, speak to my soul, and offer something beautiful, not just to look at, but beauty to think about. And I am making an effort to reach out to some of them everyday. We all know it's impossible to comment on every post we read, but perhaps we can try a little harder to do a little better. I want the people whose work I admire to know that they are important to little ol' me, and I am grateful for the comments and emails I receive which help me remember that someone out there appreciates my effort too.

Now I have less and less of the 'read this blog because thousands of others are doing it too' and more and more of the 'I can't wait to read all of the thought provoking things this writer is sharing'. And this is leading me to more happiness and more of the I LOVE BLOGGING, BLOGGING IS COOL feelings that I felt in the beginning.

So I would like to occasionally share some of the blogs/posts that make me feel this way.
Maybe you will find a new one to love as well. Stay tuned for that!

So, here's to another five years [maybe?]

I would love to hear your thoughts on blogging as well!

la grande.

2012-01-11T11:44:00.000-08:00

anxiously awaiting this new release from laura gibson. january 24th.
want a first listen? thanks NPR!

it's really really fantastic.

image by Parker Fitzgerald via NPR

five gratefuls: the Ethan edition.

2012-01-10T01:28:00.000-08:00

it's late. my computer says it's 1:14am.
i'm up doing research on celiac disease.
i feel fairly confident that Ethan has it, or something akin to it.
it's been a long journey, and we haven't reached our destination yet.

but i am feeling grateful anyways:

+ to live in a time when research and information is helping to improve the lives of those with food allergies/sensitivities.

+ that Ethan is patient and strong, understanding and reasonable.

+ for moments of peace when i feel like "we can do this."

+ for broccoli. he has a picky palate, and the list of foods he can and will eat is small, but the kid loves broccoli. hallelujah!

+ for a loving Heavenly Father who I can feel guiding me and helping me piece this puzzle together.

I am grateful.

January Mix Winner.

2012-01-06T09:20:00.000-08:00

I've got some projects to tackle this weekend, as well as a couple of basketball games to attend. Should be a great weekend!

This month's mix goes to:

#4 - NaDell

Congratulations NaDell! Please email me [passionistapresents at gmail dot com] your address and I will get your mix in the mail on Monday.

Hope your weekend is great!

January Mix

2012-01-03T10:36:00.000-08:00

It's a brand new year, full of promise. Such a good feeling, right?
I love starting each month with a new mix.
This one is full of songs from my favorite albums of 2011.
Even some albums that didn't make my top ten, but were great nonetheless.
I hope you enjoy it!

1. Oh My! - Lex Land
2. Spare Change - Ingrid Michaelson
3. Rest In The Bed - Laura Marling
4. Saturday Morning - Rachael Yamagata
5. Oh Louise - Korey Dane
6. Wake Up Dreaming - Stephanie Mabey [FREE!]
7. Games People Play - Lissie
8. Love Love Love - Of Monsters And Men
9. White Apple - Blind Pilot
10. Fathers Be Kind - Ivan & Alyosha
11. Midnight Serenade - Katie Herzig
12. Don't Blame Love - Trent Dabbs
13. Kindness - Ryan Adams
14. Down In The Valley - The Head and The Heart
15. Home - Jenny O
16. Forget Me Not - The Civil Wars
17. Learning to Ride - Caitlin Rose
18. Green Aisles - Real Estate
19. Feathers - Jack and White
20. I Found a Boy - Adele

Want a chance to win this mix?
Just comment once on this post by 9am Friday, January 5th.
A winner will be announced on Friday!

Good Luck and Enjoy!

My favorites of 2011.

2011-12-30T15:24:00.000-08:00

10. Loomer - Korey Dane. This album isn't just a favorite of mine. It's my current favorite. Just discovered it the day after Christmas, and it quickly took it's place on my top ten. I love every track and will be getting lots of new year playtime out of this album. Fave tracks: Mother Father, To Mona, Oh Louise, and The New Year [of course.]

9. Fathers Be Kind - Ivan & Alyosha. I'm kicking myself that I haven't seen this band live yet. They've been nearby a few times and I've missed them. This is my new years resolution for 2012: To see Ivan & Alyosha in concert. This is just a five track EP, but I love it so much, and I can't wait for a full length album to be released. Hopefully this year :) Fave tracks: I Was Born To Love Her, Everything is Burning, and Fathers Be Kind.

8. Ashes & Fire - Ryan Adams. This album will forever and always remind me of the month of October 2011 when I was glued to the couch night and day sewing beads onto Madeline's homecoming dress. Funny how music can do that. It can be the most powerful time capsule, keeping a time and place for safe keeping. Fave tracks: Come Home, Ashes & Fire, Save Me, and Kindness.

7. Southerner - Trent Dabbs. A few times throughout the year I've thought that maybe this album wouldn't be on my top ten. It came out clear back in the very beginning of the year and lots of great albums have been released since, but every time I go back to this album, it holds on strong. So many great songs on this album. Dabbs is a serious talent. Fave tracks: Leave to See, Don't Blame Love, Catch Me Up To Speed, and Can I Cross Your Mind.

6. The Waking Sleep - Katie Herzig. I have Lindsay to thank for introducing me to Katie years ago. She's become one of my very favorite artists and it never fails that her music connects with me. Her voice is unique and has a quirkiness that I love. I've seen her live twice and she's just as wonderful on stage. This album is a ton of fun, filled to the brim with gems. My favorites are: Free My Mind, Oh My Darlin', Wasting Time, and Midnight Serenade.

5. We Are The Tide - Blind Pilot. The second I heard the title track from this album I knew it would be on my top ten. It's seriously one of my all time favorite albums now. This band is also on my list of bands to see. I actually had tickets to see them earlier this month in Seattle but the show ended up being when I was in the depths of strep throat and missed the show. SO SAD! I will see them though. Fave tracks: Always, We Are the Tide, The Colored Night, and White Apple.

4. The Head and the Heart - The Head and the Heart. Another amazing album from a band I'm anxious to see live. My brother saw them open for Death Cab and said they were so awesome. [sigh.] This album is the epitome of awesome indie music. From start to finish, this band delivers. I love every track, but here's the creme de la creme: Cats and Dogs, Coeur d'Alene, Down in the Valley, Honey Come Home, and Winter Song.

3. Chesapeake - Rachael Yamagata. She will always be a favorite of mine, and hopefully I will get the chance to see her live in my lifetime. [I need to move to a cooler town where artists like Rachael desire to visit!] This album is a refreshing delivery from her. Less dark than her last album and at times, even upbeat and happy. Rachael's raspy voice is as perfect and hoarse as always. Fave tracks: Even If I Don't, Saturday Morning, You Won't Let Me, and Full On. [Please listen to these songs, you won't regret it.]

2. 21 - Adele. She is amazing. On the album. In concert. If I could be gifted any voice on the planet, it would be hers. To be able to sing like that! When my mom and I went to her show in Portland this summer I wasn't expecting her to be so funny as well. She was hilarious, and her laugh...I don't think I'll ever forget that. This album has one of the best songs ever written. Someone Like You. I never tire of that song, even if the radio plays it 30 times a day. It's simply amazing.

1. Barton Hollow - The Civil Wars. This album is just hard to beat. Joy and John create magic on these songs and when I saw them in concert in June, I was blown away. That was one of the most special shows I've ever been to, and these songs are meant to be heard in a dark little club with the audience singing along. Such a spectacular album from top to bottom and I can't wait to see what they do next. Best of the best: 20 years, C'est la Mort, Poison & Wine, Barton Hollow, Girl With the Red Balloon, and Forget Me Not.

Wishing you a Happy New Year
and a blessed 2012!

*Most of these albums are available on AmazonMP3 for $5 or less. Purchasing through these amazon links helps support Passionista Presents. Thank you for your support!
** P.S. The new January playlist will be posted on Monday, and all of these artists will be featured!
***P.P.S. Want to see my list from 2010? Click here.

Christmas Rewind.

2011-12-29T11:19:00.000-08:00

Annual gingerbread making was the grandest ever this year. 11 kids, 10 houses, and one gingerbread train. Grammy Tami outdid herself this year, and once again she buffed the table so we could get the beautiful reflection of our gingerbread village.

Wrapping presents has always been a favorite of mine. Even as a little girl, I loved it. This year, I used yarn to make cute pom poms and simple bows for gift toppers. The adorable fox tags are from here.

One of our favorite traditions is placing the star atop Grandma Shirley's tree. This year her tree was the B-I-G-G-E-S-T ever. An insanely fat tree. The only way to place a star on a tree so big is to use a pulley system and a child. Every year, we harness up one of the ~~vulnerable~~ small children and send them flying in the air to set the vintage star on top. It is the BEST tradition.

Once the star is placed, we get serious and dress the children in robes, head wraps and shawls and we act out the nativity, complete with angels on the staircase and songs for all to sing along with. This year, Lily was Mary and she did a fine job being great with child.

There were some themes this year throughout our gift giving. Scarves, sweaters, and things with an electric motor. Ethan and Lily love their new red electric scooters and Madeline is happy to now have her first car. Santa was good to us.

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas. We sure did. This year was one of my favorites in recent memory. I've concluded that it was because:

a: I decided to just let a few projects sit and wait for Christmas to be over. [like our annual Christmas card, which will now be New Years cards :]
b: We were able to attend church on Sunday morning and listen to beautiful music. This made the day perfect.

Now, we are just enjoying the last few days of Winter break. We've seen two excellent movies: War Horse and The Adventures of Tin Tin. We are also making plans for New Years and setting goals for 2012.

I'm hoping to get back here tomorrow to share my favorite albums of 2011. Stay tuned!

Mindy Gledhill, a Holiday Concert.

2011-12-19T10:44:00.000-08:00

Well friends, that was a fun weekend! The show turned out great and I'm pretty sure everyone who came enjoyed the show. If you were there, THANK YOU for coming! If you weren't able to make it but helped spread the word, THANK YOU for supporting the show!

Mindy was magical and gorgeous and sounded as amazing as ever. She really is a special person. She is always positive, kind, and she is so good at designing a set. That was ALL her. I am grateful that she trekked all the way up here to give us such a great show.

Spencer Harrison [go 'like' his fan page!] opened for her and he was charming and so so talented. I am looking forward to hearing more from the projects he's working on. I'll definitely be sharing more about him in the future!

It was also so fun to have Mallary's Bakery there at the concert selling her cupcakes. They were flying off the table like crazy. I'm telling you, best. cupcakes. ever.

Thanks again for all the love and support.

I am really focusing on getting ready for Christmas now, so posting may be light this week.

If I don't make it back here before Christmas,

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

*image via Mindy

five gratefuls.

2011-12-17T08:44:00.000-08:00

Today my heart is full and I am grateful:

+ for this family picture. This photo showed up in my inbox last night from my brother in law and I am calling this our Christmas miracle. This holiday season has been the weirdest, most stressful, frustrating one yet. This photo was taken the day after Thanksgiving and I remember having a really bad attitude about it because Brandon was busy that day setting up our Christmas tree lot and it just wasn't the ideal day. We didn't really coordinate what we were wearing and it was cold and we were all just kind of grumpy. But, it was one of the rare moments when we have all been together in the daylight and is the ONLY picture we will have available to send in our Christmas cards. Trust me, I am learning a big lesson right now. Be grateful for the NOW.

+ for the kindest, most honest, generous, intelligent, wise and thoughtful friends a girl could ask for. As I have stated above, I've been in a bit of a funk. Getting sick, feeling stretched too thin, being stressed and behind in Christmas preparations means that I've been negative. But, I'm telling you that I have the most amazing friends. Women who give me wise advice, make me feel special, and remind me what this beautiful season is all about. I am so blessed to know such amazing women. And thinking of them brings tears to my eyes.

+ for the support that has been shown to me throughout this journey of concert promoting. Having people believe in what you are doing is huge. And I am grateful.

+ for my husband. Our relationship has never been perfect [whose is?], but he is perfect for ME. He tells me I'm beautiful when I feel crummy, he brings me treats when I'm feeling down, he offers to help even when he has so much responsibility of his own, he works harder than anyone I know, he never complains about how hard he has to work, and he loves me unconditionally. Even when I'm grumpy. He is my hero.

+ for my children and for Pauline. I don't talk a lot about my children here because they desire some privacy and they read my blog occasionally. But, I want you and them to know, how much they mean to me. They make me laugh when I need it most, they forgive me when I snap at them, they give me hugs when I look like I could use one, and they teach me so very much. Pauline has been one of the greatest blessings in our lives. She is a good to the core person, who cares about others and who is so kind, thoughtful and polite. Her manners make us look like heathens. And I love her. She will always be a part of our family even when she goes back to Belgium. I hope to visit there someday and hug her mother, who I adore without even speaking with [she doesn't speak English.] I am just so grateful to share my life and home with these six people. I am the luckiest.

Please share what YOU are grateful for today!

Please, join us!

2011-12-16T09:14:00.000-08:00

Hello all! Have you seen this Mindy Gledhill video for her song "Winter Moon"? You should gather your children around and watch it. I promise they'll love it. My kids do.

Have you seen the countdown on my sidebar? The concert is TOMORROW! Mindy will be here in the Tri-Cities to share her new Christmas music with us, and I suspect a few of the favorites from her Anchor album.

Did you know she's bringing a band with her? She'll be backed by bass, guitar, and drums. So don't miss this show!

Tickets are still available online at the advanced rate of $15/seat, but only until noon tomorrow! After that, tickets will be available at the door as well, for $20/seat. This show will be a wonderful family friendly event, so grab the kids and come to the show. OR, if you are feeling frazzled, then get a babysitter and grab your significant other and make it a dinner and a show kind of date. Mindy has a special gift of encouraging romance, and this will be a great way to spend some fun time together. Get your tickets!

Finally, I want to thank all of you who have supported my shows and have purchased tickets. It really means so much to me and has been a fun journey. This will be my last show. I think it's appropriate. I started with Mindy, and I'm ending with Mindy. Mindy has become a friend and she is absolutely one of the most kind, genuine and lovely women I've ever had the chance to meet. I adore her, and can't wait to see her tomorrow. 

Thank you for all your love and support!

Lots of love,
Marilyn

five gratefuls.

2011-12-14T12:05:00.000-08:00

Today I'm grateful:

+ for all the Christmas music I've been practicing. Playing the piano is truly therapy for me and I've had a lot of practicing to do. Some of the music has been duets with a friend who plays cello, and that feels like heaven to me.

+ for the snow that is predicted to fall tonight. I hope it's a white winter wonderland when we wake up tomorrow morning.

+ for kind and thoughtful friends who support me and encourage me.

+ for teenage girls who make me laugh and who are [mostly :] enjoyable to be around.

+ for the modern conveniences that make my life so easy and wonderful. a warm home, a working car, antibiotics, delicious food. the things that we may take for granted on a daily basis, but that so many throughout the world are without.

What are YOU grateful for today?

2012 Calendar.

2011-12-13T14:33:00.000-08:00

Back in October, I signed up for a homemade Holiday Gift Swap. I was excited and had tons of ideas running through my brain. Embroidered pillows, yarn wreaths, re-purposed wool sweaters, etc. Lots of fun ideas I probably discovered on Pinterest. But I procrastinated the creating process. And then I got sick. For 9 days. So there was no embroidered pillows, or wool sweater anythings being made.

Plus, my deadline for when the gifts were expected to ship was past. Then, a little tender mercy. An idea to turn my favorite Instagram shots into a cute calendar. So, I spent a day designing it, and converting the files to be sent to the printer. In the end, I was really happy with the results. All my swap friends should have received their packages, and so I'm sharing the results with you.

This is a 5x7 calendar, unbound, so that individual pages can be displayed. They can be framed, or hung all in a row from twine, or hung on the wall with a silver binder clip.

Guess what, friends?
It's even available to purchase in my Etsy shop.
The shop that has been sitting empty for over 4 years.
It's empty no longer.
There's one item available to purchase.
A 5x7 Instagram calendar.

Need a fun gift idea?
How about a 2012 Instagram calendar!

Mallary's Bakery.

2011-12-12T09:54:00.000-08:00

Friends, when I find something I love very much I have to share it with you. This discovery may only benefit the locals, but it's worth sharing regardless.

Mallary's Bakery.

At the Kennewick Ranch & Home, where we have our Christmas tree lot, there is a kiosk that sells flavored popcorn, homemade fudge, and other delicious treats made by Killian Korn [another local favorite!] and right now, you can also purchase the most scrumptious cupcakes from Mallary. These are the best cupcakes I've ever eaten. Ever. I dream about her cream cheese frosting.

Last week, Brandon brought me one of Mallary's egg nog cupcakes with egg nog buttercream frosting. So yummy. And then he brought me three more flavors on Friday night: triple chocolate [which I didn't get to taste because one of the children got to it first, but they said it was so good], chocolate peppermint, and chocolate with brown sugar cream cheese frosting. Again, that cream cheese frosting stole the show!

Then, last night, we were all watching White Christmas when Brandon came home with a Pumpkin Spice Cupcake with Clove Cream Cheese Frosting. That was the most delicious combination yet.

I'm bound and determined to try every one of her flavors, despite the effects on my waistline. I love supporting someone local who is obviously talented and passioniate about what she does. I've yet to meet Mallary, but I hope to catch her at the kiosk some time this week and tell her thanks for making such delicious cupcakes!

Please go get some cupcakes from Mallary.
And "like" her on Facebook.
You can also order online!

P.S. Did you see that countdown on the sidebar? Only 5 days left until the Mindy Gledhill concert. Get your tickets TODAY!

five gratefuls.

2011-12-08T08:27:00.000-08:00

Today I am grateful:

+ to be a mother. during those 9 days where I was sick, I mostly stayed in my room, trying to keep away from the children so that I didn't infect them, and frankly because I just felt too awful to do anything. I missed giving them hugs and kisses, and cooking them dinner. Our Christmas tree needed decorations and when I was too sick to do it, Ethan and Lily excitedly volunteered. They did the whole thing, start to finish. When I walk by the tree and see the slightly uneven decorations, and imperfectness, it reminds me of how grateful I am to be back amongst them, and resuming my role as mother.

+ for my husband. December is always a crazy month for us because Brandon is so busy with our Christmas tree lot. He works so hard, in the cold. It's tough physical labor and he spends many hours away from home. I miss him during this month, but am so grateful to have such a hard working provider as my companion.

+ for beautiful videos like this one that remind us of why we celebrate Christmas. The Spirit of Christ.

+ for checking things off my to-do list. I've got a busy day and lots to do and I'm just grateful to feel well enough to do it.

+ that tonight all four of the girls will join me and my mom to go see Beauty & The Beast at a local high school. We are replacing our traditional Nutcracker with this performance and I am excited for the change. Sometimes it's nice to switch up the traditions. [Plus, the girls have had a hard time the last couple of years not giggling a little too loudly when the male dancers take to the stage in their...ahem...revealing tights. Yes, a change will do us good :]

P.S. Have you purchased your tickets to the Mindy Gledhill show? Only 9 days!!

Get your tickets!

2011-12-07T08:13:00.000-08:00

Friends, there are just 10 days left until the Mindy Gledhill show. Be sure to get your tickets!
With every show, I hear afterwards someone tell me, "Oh, I wish I would have known about that show!"

Please, help spread the word so NO ONE misses out on this holiday cheer!

Buy your tickets HERE!

December Mix Winner.

2011-12-06T08:09:00.000-08:00

Friends, I've had a rough week and a half. I've been pretty sick with a nasty case of strep throat. Today though, I think I can finally see a light at the end of this dark tunnel. I've been on the antibiotics for three days solid now and this morning I didn't feel like death, so that means I must be getting better. Today the trick will be trying not to do TOO much. I have to remember to rest and take it easy or tomorrow may find me back in bed all day.

Luckily, I have an amazing husband and wonderful children who have mostly fended for themselves. And I have a couple of good friends who brought in dinner, and my wonderful mother and mother-in-law helped me out as well. I am grateful for such special people in my life.

Throughout this sickness, I've been lucky enough to read your kind comments on the December mix and they helped cheer me up along the way. Thank you!!

I used random.org to help me pick this month's mix winner...

#4 - Rae, who said "what an incredible mix. my husband used to work retail, so I have to find Christmas music that wasn't played on a 45 minute repeat at the mall. you've totally helped me out!"

I hear ya Rae. I've been listening to our local Christmas radio station here and there, and it is pretty sad actually. Not only do they play the same 14 songs over and over, they also play this ridiculous song that mimics The 12 Days of Christmas but instead sings about the 12 pains of Christmas. Pathetic! Aren't we supposed to be celebrating Christmas and all that is wonderful about it? This is my favorite time of year and I wish everyone, everywhere could feel the Joy of the Season and remember the Reason.

As a special gift to you, my readers, I am also adding my favorite Vintage Christmas Music playlist to the sidebar. It's called Christmas Cheer and it always cheers me up.

I hope that you enjoy it!

December Mix

2011-12-01T06:52:00.000-08:00

How about a new holiday mix? Sounds good.
This mix starts out a bit unconventional with a Fleet Foxes cover by Kina Grannis. But 'White Winter Hymnal' fits nicely here, I think. There's an abundance of good Christmas music out there that feels very indie singer/songwriter. I've gathered some of my favorites and mixed em up for you. I hope you enjoy it!

P.S. If you want to re-visit any of my previous 2011 mixes, you can listen to them here. Or, if you want to check out last year's Christmas mix, click here.

1. White Winter Hymnal - Kina Grannis
2. The Christmas Waltz - She & Him
3. I Saw Three Ships - The Lower Lights
4. Headed Home - Folk Angel
5. Love Is Christmas - Sara Bareilles
6. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree - Schuyler Fisk
7. Holy, Holy, Holy - Sufjan Stevens
8. Frosty the Snowman - Zee Avi
9. Winter Moon - Mindy Gledhill
10. In The Morning - Jack Johnson
11. Christmas After All - Maria Taylor
12. More Than I Asked For - Joy Williams
13. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Tift Merritt
14. That Spirit of Christmas - Dustin Christensen [free download from Dustin!]
15. Jingle Bell Rock - Rogue Wave
16. O Come O Come Emmanuel - The Civil Wars [free on iTunes this week!]
17. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Matt Wertz
18. Winter Storm - Joshua James
19. In The Bleak Midwinter - The Lower Lights
20. Joy To The World - Sarah Sample
21. The Heart of Christmas - Matthew West
22. With Wondering Awe - Debra Fotheringham
23. Silent Night - Meaghan Smith
24. My Dear Acquaintance (A Happy New Year) - Regina Spektor [free on Amazon!]

Want to win this mix?
Comment once on this post by 9am Monday, December 5th.
A winner will be announced on Monday.

* This month's cover art is a picture I took recently of my favorite vintage ornament. It's a keepsake that was my grandmothers and I love it. It's very fragile and someday it might break, but I will always have this picture.

Good Luck and Enjoy!

Passionista Presents: Mindy Gledhill

2011-11-30T17:09:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to welcome back Mindy Gledhill for a holiday concert.
The show is in just 17 days, so please grab your tickets soon and help spread the word.
Feel free to post this artwork on your blog, facebook page, etc. and tell your friends and family.

Hope to see you there!
Get your tickets HERE.

*beautiful artwork designed by Lindsay Stoyan
*photography by Jefra Starr Linn

Right now...

2011-11-29T08:19:00.000-08:00

+ the house is dark, lit only by the warm glow of our Christmas tree and a bit of light coming through the windows.
+ I'm the only one home, and I'm listening to the She & Him Christmas album, which is so chill and relaxing. [~~Hurry! It's only $1.99 right now~~. ** edit: when I looked it up this morning the link said $1.99, but now it says $5. Still a great deal :]
+ I've got a million and one ideas floating around in my head for homemade Christmas gifts. So many pretty things I want to make.
+ I'm feeling grateful about our Christmas tree lot. Unfortunately, the spot we had on Clearwater and Kellogg has not worked out, and the kind guys at Ranch & Home have found space for us back at their Kennewick store. If you need a fresh cut tree, please come visit us in their parking lot along Grandridge!
+ I'm excited about going to a movie with a friend tonight. Today is her birthday and it's a tradition of ours to grab dinner and a movie.
+ I'm hoping you are all as excited as I am about the upcoming Mindy Gledhill concert. I'm hoping to have tickets available to purchase tomorrow!

Make today a lovely day!

five gratefuls.

2011-11-24T10:20:00.000-08:00

Today, my heart is full and I am grateful for my many blessings.

+ I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life, for the atonement and the miracle of forgiveness, for the knowledge that I am a daughter of God, and the comforting gift of eternal families.

+ I am grateful for the six people I share my home with; my husband Brandon who is my best friend, my four wonderful children who teach me so much, and for Pauline, my newest daughter, who I love with all my heart.

+ I am grateful that my husband has a good job that provides for us, for a warm home, plenty of food, a working car, and clothes to wear. I realize that many are less fortunate and I recognize what a blessing it is to have these things.

+ I am grateful for the opportunity to serve others. Everyday we are given opportunities to reach beyond ourselves and I believe this gives us tremendous perspective.

+ I am grateful for extended family and friends who love and support me and who provide excellent examples of charity.

~To my American readers, I hope your Thanksgiving holiday is happy!

~And to my foreign readers, Have a Wonderful Weekend!

*image from The Black Apple's new card set, which I think is perfection.

life according to my iPhone.

2011-11-23T14:26:00.000-08:00

Last week was probably the most stressful week of my life. Our school district hosted Missoula Children's Theater and I was asked to be the accompanist for the play, The Jungle Book. It was actually really quite rewarding to sit in those rehearsals and watch all those kids learn a complete one hour play in just 4 days. Plus, Lily was cast as Hathi the elephant. But, the music was difficult and I felt overwhelmed. In the end, it turned out well and I'm grateful for the experience.

Yesterday I pulled out all the Christmas movies so that we are ready for this holiday weekend. As I type, the children are watching Eloise at Christmastime, which is one of our favorites. Tonight we are going to play games at my parents home. Tomorrow we will eat plenty of delicious food with both sides of our family and I am grateful for Thanksgiving and for the opportunity we have to count our many blessings.

I've been ordering all my Instagram shots from Postal Pix over the last month. Yesterday, I put them up on a wall in my kitchen and I'm kind of in love with it. All of my favorite pictures, lined up, so that I can see them all day. It's brilliant.

Today, at Cosmetology, Madeline asked her teacher to cut her some bangs.

She's not convinced that it looks good, but I love it. Change is good.

Other life highlights:

+ We recently bought a new board game to play as a family. Quelf. We love it. We played it Sunday evening and we were rolling on the floor laughing. Especially when Pauline had to pretend to be a cowboy, riding an ostrich, prancing around a beached whale while giving a stirring monologue. In French. IT WAS HILARIOUS. And I will never forget that moment.

+ Have I mentioned that we absolutely adore and love Pauline? Whenever I think about her leaving in June, I get tears in my eyes. Ok, I have to stop thinking about it. She is a wonderful addition to our family and I am so very grateful she is here with us.

+ Brandon is on his way home from Portland right now with a trailer full of Christmas trees. Due to a brand new restaurant in our usual tree lot location, we are selling trees somewhere else. For you locals, it's on the corner of Clearwater and Kellogg, and Brandon will be out there starting Friday. So please come visit us there when you need a tree.

39.

2011-11-21T09:21:00.000-08:00

Today, my sweetheart turns 39. Hard to believe.
Today, I'm going to spoil him and make him feel special.
We are going to breakfast together in a few minutes.
And tonight I will make him his favorite dinner.
And give him lots of kisses.

Happy Birthday, my love.

Today I'm happy about...

2011-11-14T11:20:00.000-08:00

...this album that will be available to download on Friday! I've already pre-ordered it and received three preview tracks. They are exactly what I needed this past weekend, and I will wear them out this week as I ~~anxiously~~ patiently await the full album. The Lower Lights Christmas album can be pre-ordered here. Please check it out!

Winter Moon - Winner!

2011-11-14T11:12:00.000-08:00

For this giveaway, rather than use random.org, I printed off each of the entries and placed them in a bowl. The name we pulled out of the bowl for the Winter Moon album is...

Chablis, who said "I'm DYING to get my hands on this album! I've only been waiting to buy it because I know I won't be able to stop listening to it and I'm trying to be good about waiting until after Thanksgiving to pull out the Christmas music!"

Congratulations, Chablis! Please email me [passionistapresents at gmail dot com] your physical address so that I can get your album in the mail!

If you didn't win, you can get the album at these various links:
+ actual CD and album artwork
+ Winter Moon mp3 download at Amazon
+ also available on iTunes

Infinite love.

2011-11-10T08:34:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it feels strange to share personal information here where I also share my musical interests, but ultimately, this is my little space o' internet and it reflects me on any given day. Today my heart is full, and I feel the need to share something personal.

I know that I am a child of God, a daughter of a Heavenly Father who loves me. I feel His infinite love, especially on a day like today where my aching heart has been comforted and prayers have been answered. I've had some minor struggles these past few days, nothing earth shattering or life altering, but issues weighing on my heart. It's just typical life struggles; stress, responsibilities, feeling stretched too thin, parenting issues, feeling unsure of how to handle a situation, etc. Like I said, nothing earth shattering, but more of an overwhelmed feeling in my heart.

Yesterday was one of those days where I just wanted it to end. It was a doozy. But, I said a prayer to my Heavenly Father while driving to town, essentially to escape for just an hour and to think and ponder. Almost instantly, I began to feel more at peace, I began to receive ideas and thoughts that helped me figure out a difficult situation. Honestly, I didn't really recognize these little tender mercies until later last night after the evening was winding down, and even more so this morning I can see His hand in lightening my burdens.

A difficult situation still lies before me, all of the many responsibilities and commitments I have still exist, but today, I feel peace and unconditional love from my Father in Heaven. I cannot deny that He is there, ready to assist me when I will submit to Him. This experience has reminded me that I must rely on Him, I must ask for His help. And He will help me. He knows me. He loves me with an infinite love that I cannot even comprehend.

And He loves you too.

*free image download available here
**this talk is inspiration for my soul, and I highly encourage you to read it

Winter Moon - Giveaway.

2011-11-09T11:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I announced the save the date for the upcoming Mindy Gledhill concert and today I'm giving away her Christmas album, Winter Moon. I love Mindy's charming take on Christmas classics like 'The Christmas Waltz' and 'Silent Night', but it's her original work that is truly special. The title track 'Winter Moon' is the perfect tune to put on after the children are tucked into bed and snuggle with your love in front of a toasty fire.

My favorite from the album is 'Little Soldier' and it's message that mothers everywhere will surely connect with; growing children and the feeling that time is slipping by too quickly. It's a beautiful song. I also really love her medley of 'Patapan/O Come, O Come Emmanuel'.

Mindy has kindly sent me a Winter Moon album to give away.
Here are the multiple ways to enter [please leave a separate comment for each],
and giveaway guidelines:

+ one entry for commenting on this post
+ one entry for following Passionista Presents on the sidebar
+ one entry for liking Passionista Presents on Facebook
+ one entry for spreading the word about this giveaway [Tweet it, blog it, or Facebook it!]
+ one entry for liking Mindy Gledhill on Facebook

That's 5 ways to win!

The entry deadline is 9am Friday, November 11th.

Good Luck Friends!

Save the Date:

2011-11-08T13:41:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to share that Mindy Gledhill WILL be coming back to the Tri-Cities to share the new music from her Christmas album, Winter Moon. So mark your calendars, tell your family, and invite your friends. You won't want to miss this show! More details will be shared here over the next couple of weeks, and tickets will be available to purchase soon.

P.S. Be sure to check back tomorrow for a fun giveaway!

*image taken by Jeffra Starr Linn

five gratefuls.

2011-11-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

At times, life can be painful. It can be hard and frustrating. Today I'm feeling heart heavy. This feeling at the start of the day isn't the best way to start, right? Right! I've learned that the best way to combat that heavy heart feeling is to count your blessings, because there is a lot to be grateful for.

I am grateful...

+ that I live in such a beautiful place where I get to see the sunrise over the refuge

+ to have a warm home filled with six other wonderful people who depend on me

+ to know that I am a daughter of God

+ that each day is a fresh slate, where we can try, try again

+ for beautiful music that soothes my soul

What are you grateful for today?

November Mix Winner.

2011-11-04T09:58:00.000-07:00

I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend. We don't have a lot planned, just a basketball game and a birthday dinner at a favorite restaurant. I'm planning on working on a couple of fun projects and indulging in some delicious hazelnut hot cocoa.

This month's mix winner is...

#15 - Heidi Kay!!!

I'll get your mix in your pretty little hands very soon!

Have a wonderful weekend!

November Mix.

2011-11-01T06:59:00.000-07:00

I can't begin to tell you how happy I am that November is here. It's one of my favorites. We have lots of birthdays to celebrate in November, I can officially begin listening to Christmas music, Thanksgiving, cold days and warm fires... what's not to love?

This month's mix is beautiful. Filled with slowed down gems, it's perfect for a season of hibernating in your cozy home. Of course, there are a couple of up-tempo tunes to keep you listening. But it's the gorgeous ballads like the new wedding version of 'Flightless Bird, American Mouth' that have really captured my heart. I hope you enjoy it!

1. Flightless Bird, American Mouth [wedding version] - Iron & Wine feat. Marketa Irglova [will be available to purchase next week!]
2. Full On - Rachael Yamagata
3. All This Talk of Dreaming is Fine and Sweet - Lex Land
4. The Colored Night - Blind Pilot
5. Up With The Birds - Coldplay
6. The Circle Married The Line - Feist
7. Blue Spotted Tail - Fleet Foxes
8. Come Home - Ryan Adam
9. Atlas Hands - Benjamin Francis Leftwich
10. Melancholy Astronautic Man - Allie Moss
11. Old Pine - Ben Howard
12. Can I Cross Your Mind - Trent Dabbs
13. Honey Come Home - The Head and the Heart
14. It's Real - Real Estate
15. Desire - Mates of State
16. Don't You Think It's Time - Bob Evans
17. Old House - Dustin Christensen
18. Be My Love - Emily Riddle
19. I Get To Be The One - JJ Heller
20. Turtledove - Sarah Bowman

Want to win this mix?
Just comment once on this post
by 9am Friday, November 4th.

Good Luck and Enjoy!

P.S. This month's cover picture is one I took on a rainy morning where I could finally begin to feel cozy fall in the air.

Happy Haunting!

2011-10-31T09:34:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful weekend filled with family fun and celebrating. Tonight, we will do more of the same. Ethan and Lily chose the easiest, most cost effective [FREE!] costumes this year, and I couldn't be happier. We already had everything needed for them to be a math loving nerd, and a cute cowgirl. No stress, just fun! Just the way I like Halloween!

I hope you have a FUN and SAFE Halloween!

P.S. The post below was a sweet surprise from my daughter Jocelyn. While I was taking a Sunday nap yesterday, she hacked into my blog and surprised me with that heartwarming post. I am grateful to have such loving children. Even if she did choose a couple of really unflattering pictures :)

Mom.

2011-10-30T15:21:00.000-07:00

My mom does sooo much for me and our whole family. She deserves a spotlight.

My mom is amazing and I love her.

she cares for everybody
she loves unconditionally
she listens
she cleans like Cinderella
she has a great sense of humor
she sacrifices so much
she forgives and forgets
she is beautiful
she has a strong and growing testimony of our church
she is dependable
she is always their
she is the best mom a daughter could have!

When something needs to be done, she does it. And she does it to her full potential. She is my living and shining example. I look up to her every day.

I love you mom!!!

Love Jocelyn.

two recipes.

2011-10-28T10:21:00.000-07:00

Life these last couple of weeks has been a bit different around here. There's been homecoming and head colds, sports practices and games. We've been going so many different directions. Sitting down to dinner as a family has been difficult. I've made a few new recipes, two that were hits, and a couple that were fails. I'll share the two we LOVED.

Minestrone Soup - I've always enjoyed minestrone but had never made it from scratch. This recipe is perfect. Not a thing I would change about it. It's hearty and flavorful, and I made an extra large batch so we ate it as leftovers for a couple of days. My kids balked at the peas and zuchinni, but once they tried it, they realized it was delicious.

Chicken & Sausage with Risotto Style Orzo - I've made this recipe twice now, and it is one of the most satisfying meals. I suggest watching this video which really helped me to successfully prepare the risotto style orzo. I used boneless chicken thighs the first time and chicken breasts the second time and the thighs were much more tender and flavorful than the breasts. Definitely use the thighs! I was able to find Herb de Provence locally at in the bulk spice section at Yokes, and it really adds dimension to the flavor. This is a great recipe to double and serve when you have guests over.

We've got a fun weekend ahead starting with our 7th annual family pumpkin carving tonight where we will eat Taco Soup + cornbread before carving, and then tomorrow is our school Trunk or Treat. I hope you have a lovely weekend as well!

P.S. I've got the November playlist to share next week as well as some exciting news and giveaways!

three albums.

2011-10-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

I've been listening to this week...

Mylo Xyloto - Coldplay. Coldplay has created some of the best albums of my generation, and demonstrate creativity with each one, constantly reinventing themselves, never sounding old or repetitive. I've seen them in concert, and it was one of the most entertaining, creatively inspiring shows I've been to. Plus, they sounded amazing. I'm already smitten with this album and have been listening to it a lot this week. My favorite tracks: Hurts Like Heaven, Charlie Brown, Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall, UFO, and Up With The Birds.

Ashes & Fire - Ryan Adams. Over the years, I've enjoyed a few of Ryan Adams songs, but much of his music was harder guitar rock than I'm fond of. This album, however, is pleasantly mellower and moodier. I like it so much. Especially the track, Come Home.

Ella for Lovers - Ella Fitzgerald. I know this last one probably seems like a segment of "One of These Things Doesn't Belong" but whenever the fall gets cold + cozy, I feel a yearning for some Ella. This has been playing on repeat all day today. She just has the most special of voices. If you don't own any Ella Fitzgerald yet, this is a great place to start, with 16 of Ella's best recordings. It's oh so lovely.

five gratefuls.

2011-10-26T13:10:00.000-07:00

I recently felt so inspired by this post and knew it was exactly what I needed in my life. I grabbed a journal I already had and started writing just five things each day that I am grateful for. What a difference it has made. And now, my motto is "five gratefuls a day keeps the blues away!" Plus, it's a great exercise in seeing the everyday.

Here's a look at the list today:

+ a cup of cocoa w/ whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon

+ a visit w/ my brother

+ Rachael Yamagata's new album

+ discovering a child's grades have improved

+ a couple of concerts to look forward to

What are you grateful for today?

something.

2011-10-25T11:35:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been over a week since I last posted. Sorry about that. I've been dealing with a stubborn head cold and when I'm sick, I just don't think about blogging. Today I was going to post some exciting news, and a giveaway, but it didn't feel right today.

Today is a heavy day because a lovely woman has lost her 4 year battle to breast cancer. A wife, and mother of three, only 36 years old. And although I didn't know her well personally, I have followed her journey from the beginning. Her father is Ethan's teacher at the middle school, her son is one of Ethan's fellow students. I know she will be missed, but she has left a loving legacy of faith, and service, and endurance.

Today, I wanted to post something.

Last week while I was feeling really crummy, I snuggled into my bed and turned on my favorite movie, "You've Got Mail." That movie makes me so happy. It makes me smile, it makes me cry. And this time when I watched it, there was a line that struck me like it never had before, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it...

"Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life. Well, valuable, but small. And sometimes I wonder... do I do it because I like it? Or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book... when shouldn't it be the other way around?"

Today, I wanted to post something.

+image

big weekend.

2011-10-17T09:55:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was filled with excitement as it was Homecoming weekend. There were spirit filled events every evening of the week leading up to the big game and the big dance. I spent much of the week beading this beautiful dress that Grandma Shirley created. 24 hours of beading, actually. I'm pretty sure my mother-in-law had that many hours or more into the dress as well. It was an effort of love. And this dress will be a family heirloom now, that can be worn by sisters and passed on to future children. It turned out beautiful, and Madeline felt like a princess wearing it. She looked beautiful as well, and we as her parents, were pleased that she felt it important to wear a modest gown that wasn't revealing.

Her date was her good friend and pal, Damien, and this group of eight kids are some of the best I know. I thought the girls looked especially beautiful dressed modestly, and the handsome boys acted like gentlemen, escorting their dates to the car and opening the door for them. It's refreshing, don't you think, to see youth who have standards and who don't give in to the pressures of our world today?

After the dance, the kids came to our home where I had fresh-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookies and milk waiting for them. They watched a movie until they all couldn't keep their eyes open any longer. These are a great group of kids!

*photos via our good friends, The Rodriguez Family

Rachael Yamagata.

2011-10-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

Chesapeake - Rachael Yamagata.

Oh my, I am in love with this album.
After Rachael's last album, which I had mixed feelings about, I worried that one of my all time favorites was no longer on my "it-list." You see, most of that album was gorgeous, but there were a couple of songs riddled with much-too-foul of language for me. You can read my review here.

BUT, she has redeemed herself, and created such a heart breakingly beautiful album, that even has a little fun sometimes.
While I'm bead-bead-beading away over here, this is what I'll be listening to.
Over and over again.

Top tracks [for now]:
Even If I Don't [featured on this month's mix, track 13]
The Way It Seems To Go
I Don't Want to Be Your Mother
Full On
Dealbreaker
and my very very favorite, You Won't Let Me [beautiful!]

I truly do believe that Rachael is one of the most underrated artists in the music business today. Her songwriting is wicked good.

October Mix Winner.

2011-10-10T13:03:00.000-07:00

Right now, it's a cozy, rainy day outside and I've got a roast in the crock pot to make Beef & Barley soup for tonight's dinner. Homecoming is this Saturday and all this week is spirit week. Grandma Shirley has spent hours sewing Madeline's dress and for the next few days I will be in the thick of beading the dress. It will take me many hours and I'm not sure how much time I'll have to blog. Posting may be spotty!

So in the meantime, I'm happy to announce this month's mix winner...

#13- Sarajolie!!

Congrats Sarah!
I will get you mix in the mail later this week!

See you all back here soon!

Weekly Menu.

2011-10-07T08:40:00.000-07:00

honey lime enchiladas w/ Spanish coleslaw - On Sunday we had a Mexican feast at my mom + dad's home with all of our family and there was so much delicious food. I posted this for last Friday, but this recipe was so great that I made it again to take to my parent's house. We ate the same meal on Friday and Sunday. These enchiladas are that good. Definitely a new favorite recipe here.

sausage, potato and kale soup w/ whole wheat dinner rolls - I saw this recipe on Monday over at Pioneer Woman and it just sounded soooo good. This time of year, I could eat soup every night of the week. My family on the other hand, would get mighty tired of it. But, they enjoyed this soup very much. I should mention that I didn't use kale though. I wanted to, and next time I'm going to, but I didn't have any. I just added what I had in my pantry and that was corn. My family likes corn.

creamy chicken vegetable soup with wild rice & spinach salad - On Tuesday evening, I hosted bunco at our home and while my family all went different directions, I was cooking for my friends. I've made this soup before and it is delicious. Filled with veggies, shredded chicken, a creamy base and wild rice, it is very satisfying. Served with my favorite spinach salad and some bread, it's a perfect fall meal.

leftover night - Wednesday we had soup and enchiladas leftover from the previous nights. I LOVE leftover night.

roasted red pepper and basil pesto pasta w/ tossed green salad [pictured above] - Last night I tried a new recipe that we all LOVED. I have had a jar of roasted red peppers sitting in my pantry for a while and really wanted to use it up. I searched Pinterest for a red pepper pasta and found the perfect recipe. This pasta was creamy and full of flavor. I added grilled chicken for extra protein and didn't tell my kids what was in the sauce until after they tasted it and said they loved it. I got quite the look from Ethan when I told him the sauce was made from red bell peppers. Made my night!

chicken and sausage orzo w/ balsamic parmesan roasted cauliflower -Tonight I'm going to try a couple more new recipes and I'll let you know how they turn out. Both of these recipes look delicious and nutritious.

homemade pizza - Tomorrow night we've got a fun evening of bowling as a family. Before we go, we'll enjoy a favorite dinner of ours, homemade pizza. Not sure yet what kind it will be. We like pepperoni/pineapple, chicken pesto, and veggie combination.

Have a happy weekend!

three albums.

2011-10-06T19:09:00.000-07:00

really great new music these past two weeks:

Metals - Feist. It's been a long wait for this album. Worth the wait? I think so. Feist's music is so unique that sometimes it takes a few listens to really fall in love with it. So that's what I've been doing this week. Truly listening and giving it a chance. The album is quickly growing on me. The tracks I'm loving the most are 'Graveyard', 'How Come You Never Go There', and 'The Circle Married the Line', which has the most beautifully lush instrumentation. It's a gorgeous song.

The Whole Love [Deluxe Version] - Wilco. Another epic album from the rock darlings who can make music from 2011 sound like music from 1975. I don't love every track on this album, but there are a handful that I think are so great. My favorites are 'Sunloathe', 'Black Moon', 'Open Mind', 'Capitol City', and the iTunes bonus track 'Sometimes It Happens'.

Highway Lines - Dustin Christensen. I've been really looking forward to this album release. Way back when The Lower Lights performed here, I heard talk about this album-in-the-works. Dustin is such a talented songwriter with a velvety good voice. Plus, he's such a nice guy. Please click over and listen to this piece of art. You can preview the album entirely before you buy. And then after you do you'll want to add it to your library. I especially love the tracks 'Fix Me Up', 'Broken Circus', 'Long Way Back', 'Old House' and 'Space'. Support an independent musician and fill your evenings with gorgeous music.

October 2011.

2011-10-03T11:15:00.000-07:00

Let's talk about how great October is. The days begin to cool, the leaves change to gorgeous, and the reminder of holiday traditions fill our minds. This month we will hold our annual taco soup/pumpkin carving night with my family and we are already excited about it.

October is the best month. A great mix should accompany such a stellar month, at least, that's what I believe. I think this is a fine combination of mellow, fall-ish songs and a few tunes that keep you motivated to clean house or go for a run, and especially perfect for a road trip.

1. We Are the Tide - Blind Pilot
2. When Love Breaks Down - Kate Walsh
3. Bloom - The Paper Kites
4. Winter Song - The Head and the Heart
5. Oh My Darlin' - Katie Herzig
6. Raindrops On the Kitchen Floor - Mason Jennings [free!]
7. Capitol City - Wilco
8. Some Friend You Are - Ivan & Alyosha
9. It's Time - Imagine Dragons
10. East Harlem - Beirut
11. Shadow - Gringo Star
12. Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People
13. Even If I Don't - Rachael Yamagata
14. Something For You - WIM
15. Clementine - Sarah Jaffe
16. Lazy Days - Josh Rouse & The Long Vacations
17. Sooner Or Later (Love Will Break Your Heart) - Ryan Tanner
18. One Mistake - Sarah Sample
19. Maybe I Know - Alessi's Ark
20. All Through the Night - Tyler Ramsey

To win a mix:
Comment once on this post before 9am Monday, October 10th.

Good Luck + Enjoy!

P.S. As always, if you miss a past mix, you can listen to them here.

* This month's cover picture is from the recent Sarah Sample houseboat concert. After the seats were set up and before the guests arrived, I took a picture of the river to capture what a gorgeous and perfect day it was on the river.

Weekly Menu.

2011-09-30T09:52:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all your feedback and tips on my menu planning post. I love your ideas and hope to implement a few of them in our home, especially more crock pot meals and early day preparation.

Here's a run down of what we're eating this week:

individual chicken pot pies and homemade applesauce w/ a green salad - Sundays are a great day for me to make a big, nice meal. Some Sundays it doesn't happen, but this time of year, I definitely feel the urge to cook more. This recipe is one of the best in my recipe box. My children feel so special when they have their very own pot pie sitting in front of them. It's a bit of a process to make this meal, but it's one that I enjoy because it's such a great recipe. When I get to the part where I make the roux, and all of a sudden the mixture turns into a beautiful, creamy texture, I feel like a real chef. Silly, I know. I used Danyelle's adaptation of Ina's recipe and added a few cooked and chopped potatoes to make it heartier. Brandon likes heartier. I don't really have a recipe for my applesauce, I just core, peel, and slice apples [whatever we may have on the farm] and boil them for 10-15 minutes in about an inch of water, covered, then use my hand immersion blender to give them a rough chop. [I like it kind of chunky.] Then season to taste with sugar and cinnamon. It's a fast, easy side dish great for this time of year.

chili and cornbread w/ honey butter - Monday felt like Autumn and this meal was the perfect comfort food. Plus, we had a blood drive yesterday and we've been trying to eat high iron foods to prepare. Red meat and beans. Perfect. I tried the Pioneer Woman's chili recipe and it turned out excellent [we just ate it in bowls, not a frito bag :] and used this cornbread recipe because it was touted as being moist. It wasn't moist enough for me. I'm still on the search for a really moist cornbread recipe. If you know of one, please share :)

meatloaf and mashed potatoes w/ a tossed salad - Tuesday had even more of a chill in the air and more comfort food high in iron was on the menu. Meatloaf can sound like a gross idea, and even while cooking, it's not very appetizing, but I really like this recipe. I had made it once before, and tried it again, this time using real Panko breadcrumbs and it was delicious. I made sure to buy very lean ground beef so that there wasn't a lot of fat and grease to deal with. The mashed potatoes are the Big Martha recipe, which is rich and decadent, but once in a while, rich and decadent is nice, right? One thing I do differently than the recipe is leave the potato skins on. Our family likes it that way. We also had a green tossed salad loaded with veggies to balance out the meal.

cashew chicken and brown rice w/ steamed broccoli - Wednesdays are a bit of a busy day for us because I teach piano after school and then we all have meetings at the church in the evening. Add in sports practices and homework and it's just a crazy day. This Martha Stewart cashew chicken recipe is a quick and simple recipe that my family really likes and can be prepared in just 30 minutes. I found it via Stephmodo last year and it's become a regular in our meal rotation. The recipe uses hoisin sauce which is easy to find at any grocery store usually in the aisle with Asian ingredients like soy sauce. We prefer brown rice to white so that's what we serve the dish with. Our family has a love/hate relationship with broccoli. A few of us love it, a couple of us hate it. Yeah, the haters weren't thrilled with this side dish. I discovered a new phrase this week on a Facebook thread that is my new dinner time motto, "Come to the table, have a look, the first complainer is the next meal's cook!" LOVE it!

leftovers night - Last night I didn't get home from the blood drive until after 8:00pm, and had been there since midday. I decided it would be a leftover day. We still had gobs of chili, and some cashew chicken and rice leftover as well. Just keepin' it real. Sometimes we have to be flexible :)

honey lime enchiladas and spanish coleslaw w/ corn black bean salad - Tonight we are going to a Mexican potluck where some friends are gathering to say goodbye to a couple of favorite people who are moving away. Here's what I'm taking to the potluck: This enchilada recipe is another Caroline recipe from the Zupas blog and it looks delicious. Honey + lime + enchiladas = yummy. The spanish coleslaw is an old favorite of mine because the vinegar and lime juice pair so well with cabbage and cilantro. It's a really easy, and refreshing side dish with any Mexican entree. Another great side dish I'm making is this salad. I've made it once before, and it was awesome. Corn, black beans, avocado, tomatoes and lime go together very very well.

potato, corn and ham chowder w/ dinner rolls - Tomorrow night, we will have one of our favorite soups. I make this soup often this time of year because everyone likes it, it's creamy and comforting, + it's simple. Perfect for a Saturday evening where we are all going different directions. You can view the recipe here and even click on the image to save and print it for your own recipe box.

** This week I did a little retail therapy and purchased a few cute things from this shop, which is working to raise money for a mother named Sharlie. She is battling Cystic Fibrosis and is waiting for a lung AND heart transplant. The blogging community is coming together to help her with medical costs and you can help too. I picked up this and this and this printable of a cute menu planner to print each week and hang on my fridge. Awesome!

three albums.

2011-09-28T00:05:00.000-07:00

1. We Are The Tide - Blind Pilot.
I really can't imagine anyone not falling in love with this album. I sure did. On the first listen. It's my favorite release of 2011 so far. My favorite track is the title track, but the album builds so strongly through each song that it's really not even fair to pinpoint one. Just download it, listen to it, and you'll love it.

2. The Waking Sleep - Katie Herzig.
This album is pure fun, full of really interesting sounds. Sometimes almost sounding experimental. I think it's super happy music. My favorite track is 'Oh My Darlin'"and it's chock full of beautiful strings and a catchy melody. It's just perfect.

3. Peppermint Radio - Kate Walsh. Now, you'll have to bear with me on this one. I know that I posted about this album before, and even put it on my favorite albums of 2010 list, but I recently listened to it over and over while driving to Utah and pretty much fell in love with it all over again. It snuck it's way back into my heart and I can't stop thinking about these songs. The concept behind the album is that Kate chose songs that influenced her and shaped her into the artist she is today. It's an album of covers, and it's simply mesmerizing. The song that plays in my head everyday is 'When Love Breaks Down'. This is the ideal album for a rainy day.

Menu Planning.

2011-09-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I posted an Instagram picture linked to my Twitter and Facebook account that showed my dinner menu for the next two weeks. The feedback and comments I received about that picture totally caught me off guard, and I suddenly realized that for most mom's, whether a stay at home mom, or a work away from home mom, planning dinners is a big issue. I mean, I already knew it was an issue for me, which is why I decided a few months ago that planning ahead is the only solution.

I'm guessing that the same struggles I was having in the dinner department are the same that most mom's have:
1. What can I make for dinner that my family will eat?
2. Do I have the ingredients to make _______?
3. Now that I've decided to make _______, do I have enough time to prepare it?
4. Is it a balanced meal?
5. Are we getting enough variety in our diet?

Before I started menu planning, I would get a phone call from Brandon around 2:30-3:00 asking me what was for dinner. It would always stress me out, because it put me on the spot and made me flustered because I realized I hadn't properly planned. Then, I would hastily decide on something only to find that either I didn't have all the ingredients, or somebody would complain about my choice. "Mom, why do we have to have _____?" or "We are having _______ AGAIN?" or "I don't like ______!"

Frankly, I hated cooking dinner. I dreaded it.
Then I overheard a friend talking about menu planning and how it had changed her life.
I decided then and there that I needed to make changes.
So, I went home, pulled out some pretty paper, and started planning two weeks at a time.
I haven't stopped and now I can actually say that I enjoy planning, shopping for, and cooking dinner.

Now if a family member wants to know what's for dinner, they can just go to the fridge, read the posted menu and see for themselves. Every now and then, one of my pickier children will still contest a dinner choice but I've made it clear that if I'm the one cooking the meals, I get to decide what it will be. They just have to deal with it. For the most part, I think they have come to appreciate that dinner is on the table every night and have learned to be grateful.

I have had a couple of requests to share some favorite recipes and I think it's a great idea. One of the first places that I turned to when I started menu planning was Stephmodo's blog because she often posts a weekly menu. I've been inspired by her dedication to providing well balanced, healthy meals that were made from real food. Following in her example, I will start sharing our weekly menus on [most] Friday's, along with links to the recipe's I'm using when available.

Before menu planning, we rarely sat around the dining table together, and the kids would sit up to the island while Brandon and I sat wherever. Now, we eat every dinner at the table and it has made a significant difference in our family. We often linger at the table even after the meal is over chatting before everyone goes their different directions. It makes me so happy.

I'd love to hear what works for you, please share!

*I've received a few requests for the Individual Chicken Pot Pie recipe from the picture above. We love love love this recipe that Danyelle posted, and this time I added some potatoes to the pies, which was really really good!

Rewind.

2011-09-26T02:21:00.000-07:00

I somehow let August come and go without blogging the details of Madeline's Sweet 16 party. Let's rewind.

Planning a party for teenagers can be tricky. You can't be too childish or they think it's not fun, and you can't be too serious or they think it's not fun. There needs to be competition because guys thrive on it. So we decided on a backyard carnival theme and it went over fairly well. Madeline was worried that her friends wouldn't want to play any of the games, but for the most part they did. It helps when you throw in fun things like an egg throw, balloons + darts, and arm wrestling. Guys like those kinds of things. Those boys went through 10 dozen eggs in a matter of a few minutes, tossing them at a large board painted with a clown design.

They did NOT want to do the photo booth, however.
Oh, well.

We set up several stations around the backyard and decorated with lights and bunting.
+ there was a cupcake walk, featuring coconut cupcakes made by Danyelle, that were both delicious and adorable, decorated with little mustache picks that Lindsay made.
+ we had a basketball hoop in back so that they could shoot hoops
+ balloons and darts
+ egg toss at a large clown painted on a board [put up a tarp under and around for easy cleanup!]
+ arm wrestling

The other element to a great party is food.
We had the following:
+ popcorn machine
+ snow cone machine
+ cotton candy machine
+ Italian cream sodas
+ a candy table
+ and a delicious chocolate peanut butter cake made by Alicia, decorated with the bunting design.

It was a ton of work, but also so much fun to watch all the kids enjoy celebrating Madeline's 16th birthday.
We'll be planning another one next year when Jocelyn turns 16.
She's already counting down the days.

**All of the photos were taken by my sweet sister in law, Melanie.

Sarah Sample on a Houseboat.

2011-09-24T01:46:00.000-07:00

I know it's been a few days since this show, but the following day, I got hit by a yucky flu/head cold and pretty much didn't want to even think about blogging. I think I get sick after every show. It's a lot of stress, folks. [read: please buy your tickets early :]

But, it's always worth the work and the stress when friends/strangers come together to listen to beautiful music. This concert on a houseboat idea came to me quite some time ago when I saw pictures of the houseboats that our friends rent out. They are beautiful, and luxurious, and perfect for a small gathering. I knew that the top deck would be the ideal place to set up chairs and it was.

Sarah and her sister Kate Graves were excited to play on this boat and their music suited the evening perfectly. We couldn't have asked for more perfect weather. The water was like glass, and the weather was warm as the evening started. It did get quite chilly on the boat though once the sun went down, and if I ever do another houseboat show, I will provide blankets for snuggling into.

There was a magical point in the evening when we approached the Blue Bridge [see photo above] and Sarah stopped singing and asked us all to hold our breath and make a wish as we passed under the bridge. It. Was. So. Awesome. A moment I will never, ever forget. All of us, on a boat, making wishes together, under the stars. So amazing.

This concert was a special one, and I am thankful to all those who purchased tickets and who helped me out with the details to make the evening a success.

My next show is already scheduled for Saturday, December 17th.
A Christmas concert.
Details to come soon.
It's gonna be a great one.

Join us.

2011-09-19T07:59:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow night is shaping up to be a gorgeous September evening. The weather looks like it will be perfect. The gorgeous River Ranch Houseboat is ready and waiting for guests to board, and the lovely Sarah Sample is scheduled to share her beautiful music with us.

After each concert I've done, I hear people say, "Oh, I wish I would have known about that show, I would have loved to come." Don't let this happen to you and your friends.

+ Gather your girlfriends for a special and unique Girls Night Out.
+ Surprise your spouse with a romantic concert cruise.
+ Invite your parents for an evening of great music.
+ Grab your teens and share some culture and art with them.

Get Your Tickets Here!

It's going to be fabulous!

Utah.

2011-09-15T09:48:00.000-07:00

Photos from our long weekend in Utah:

1. Our first order of business while in Utah was Temple Square. We wanted to help Pauline understand a bit more about our faith and our heritage. I could visit Temple Square every day and never tire of it. It's so beautiful, well taken care of, and peaceful. The Christus is an especially reverent spot to visit. I love this picture of Ethan and Lily in front of the statue of Christ because they look so small and little and I am reminded of what precious gifts they are.

2. The Wasatch 100 mile Endurance Run was the reason we traveled to Utah. Brandon has wanted to compete in this race for some time, but because of the popularity of the race, you have to be drawn in a lottery to secure a spot. This year, his name was drawn. This was his toughest race yet, by far. He said this race made all other 100 milers he's done look like child's play, which is saying a lot considering he's ran in Alaska in February pulling a 35 pound sled. The trails were so technical and rocky causing some serious ankle issues and by the time he finished, his ankle was so swollen we had to cut off his compression socks in order to remove them. I've never seen him in so much pain. The altitude was another issue. For us lowlanders who live at 400 feet above sea level, this race was tough, with altitudes hovering mostly around 8000-10,000 feet. He had a rough time. But he is NOT a quitter. He finished with just minutes to spare before the time cut-off and got his belt buckle. He's still trying to decide if he would ever do this race again.

3. We were lucky enough to catch The Lower Lights in concert while in SLC. We loved the show and it was good to see all the wonderful musicians who make up the group. They performed a few new songs from their most recent recording, which makes me excited for their upcoming album because their new material was fantastic. Pauline loved the show as well, and said she didn't want it to end.

4. It's always amazing to visit the Tabernacle on Temple Square and to think about what a special building that is. The organ, the painted wood pews, the architecture.

5. The reflection pool at Temple Square. One of my favorite spots.

6. Pauline's father is an architect and she enjoyed the beautiful structures on Temple Square.

7. After recently participating in a local pioneer trek experience, Ethan really appreciated anything having to do with the pioneers.

8. One of the most special parts about visiting Temple Square was meeting with some sister missionaries who took us on a tour of the grounds. One of our tour guides was Sister Renard who is from Belgium, and who speaks French, and was able to help Pauline understand more about Temple Square. It was a treat for me to walk around and listen to them speaking French. The other sister was from Hong Kong and she was a sweetheart. One funny thing that happened while we were in the Conference Center was when she was telling Lily and me about President Hinckley's vision for the center and how he wanted there to be no obstruction of the guests views of the Prophet. She asked Lily what she thought was holding up the massive ceiling in the Conference Center, and Lily, with the most serious of answers said, "Faith?" We got quite a chuckle from that.

9. A special treat for me and the kids was to meet up for lunch with Mindy and Courtney at Mindy's home. We ate delicious Thai food and chatted for a couple of hours. Both Mindy and Courtney speak French and so Pauline fit right in. The conversation with these wonderful women was fascinating, and when we left, Pauline said to me, "They were both charming." I completely agree.

10. The doors on the Salt Lake Temple are my favorite part of the building. [By the way, Madeline and Jocelyn aren't pictured in any of these pictures because they didn't go with us. It was decided that they would miss too much here at home. School, Volleyball, Cosmetology. They stayed with my parents and we missed them.]

11. Ethan and Lily looking at their reflections near the Temple.

Other highlights not pictured:
+ dinner at Cafe Rio [always delicious]
+ dinner at Zupas with cousin Jen and our dear friend Kristen. This was one of the highlights for us, as it has been many years since we have seen Kristen. We love you both! [We should have taken a picture!!]
+ dinner at Buca di Beppo
+ shopping
+ driving through Parley's Canyon to meet Brandon at an aid station. The kids asked me to pull over so they could grab a red rock as a souvenir.
+ driving alone through Park City in the wee hours of the morning, before dawn, to see Brandon at the Brighton aid station. An experience I will never forget.

I love going to Utah. The air feels cleaner, the mountain ranges are gorgeous, and visiting friends and family are the added perks of the trip. Pauline told us that she fell in love with Utah. We hope to return again in the Spring.

Happy list.

2011-09-14T09:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was kind of a crummy day. I was so tired, crabby, and emotional.
I went to bed at a decent time last night, and decided that today would be better.
Guess what? It is.

Just a few things making me happy today:

+ this photo that Ethan took on Saturday. We were in Midway, UT, sitting in the car during a thunderstorm, waiting for Brandon to finish his race. He was terribly bored. He had just got new green converse high tops, and I let him play with my phone. He snapped this photo, which I found later that night back in the hotel room. It made me so happy, and every time I see it, I feel happy. I think I will have it framed and hang it somewhere in our home. I call it 'Green on Green'.

+ some really awesome posts on my google reader this morning. Like this one, a precious tribute by my friend Lindsay to her beautiful mother. And this one, a fascinating post from Kelly about a quirky thing she discovered while in Denver. I can't wait to visit that city and find those pianos so that I can sit and play Beethoven's 'Moonlight Sonata.'

+ seriously awesome new music out this month. Like this and this and this. Right now I am listening to this, which makes me so very happy, and which you should totally listen to, because Ryan Tanner is amazing.

+ only 6 days until the Sarah Sample show on a houseboat. This night will be so special, and you don't want to miss it. I saw Sarah along with all The Lower Lighters at a special benefit concert while in Utah, and she is as charming as they come. So I hope you will join us. Listen to Sarah's album and get your tickets!

Friends, what's making you happy today?

September Mix Winner.

2011-09-12T09:21:00.000-07:00

We got home from Utah late last night and I would love to take some time to document all the fun we had, but my car is a disaster, and there is much unpacking to do. The blogging will have to wait until tomorrow.

For now, I will just announce the winner of the September mix...

#16 - Washington Rimmasch Family

Congrats! I'll get your mix over ASAP!

Wasatch.

2011-09-07T09:36:00.000-07:00

Today we are heading to Utah where Brandon will compete in the Wasatch 100 Endurance Run. The race begins early Friday morning and this will be one of the toughest races he's ever competed in. The elevation alone will give him a run for his money. But it is sure to be one of the most beautiful terrains he's raced in as well.

We are excited to take Pauline to Utah to show her those majestic mountains and beautiful Temple Square. It's going to be a fun adventure!

While I'm away, please consider joining us for the September 20th Sarah Sample show which will be on a beautiful houseboat floating the mighty Columbia River. Get your tickets HERE! It is going to be a fabulous evening, so please don't miss it!

P.S. Also, don't forget to enter this month's mix giveaway!

Lake Coeur d'Alene.

2011-09-06T14:10:00.000-07:00

We spent the Labor Day weekend up at Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho for a little Lott family reunion. It was a wonderful weekend, with gorgeous weather, fun with family, plenty of delicious food, and me taking lots of Instagram pictures. We found a gorgeous home that fit all 23 of us comfortably and was right on the lake with a private beach. It was perfect.

The kids took full advantage of the canoes, kayaks, and paddle boards...

...meanwhile, Brandon and me took advantage of the peaceful hammock.

The kids loved to hop in the hot tub to get warm.

Sunday night we were treated to a surprise fireworks display,

and we pretty much soaked up as much boating/jet-skiing/water time as we could.

For years, we've taken a break from harvest to go enjoy some quality time together, and I think we have finally found the perfect place to do it.

Hope your Labor Day was delightful too!

September Mix.

2011-09-02T02:01:00.000-07:00

Oh, lovely, warm September, I adore thee. With your pleasant days and chilly evenings, you have me wrapped around your pretty little finger...

This mix is probably my favorite of the year so far. Do I always say that? Well, this time it's true :)
I think it's the perfect mix to take advantage of the last of summer while beckoning a gorgeous autumn. There's a good mix of happy, shimmy-worthy tunes like Jack and White's "Double Trouble" and mellow serenades like Kate Walsh's cover of "Save A Prayer".

I hope you enjoy it!

1. Little Dreamer - Beth Rowley
2. Double Trouble - Jack and White
3. La Luna - Lucy Schwartz
4. Free My Mind - Katie Herzig
5. Changing - The Airborne Toxic Event
6. I Got Your Back - Andrew Simple
7. Holiday - Sarah Sample
8. 31 Days - Zee Avi
9. Inside These Lines - Trent Dabbs
10. Pocketknife - Ferraby Lionheart
11. Save A Prayer - Kate Walsh
12. Well Ok Honey - Jenny O
13. Sometimes - Leftover Cuties
14. Little One - Sophie Madeleine
15. This Could Kill Me - Amy Stroup
16. The Unknown - Athlete
17. Same Mistakes - Paper Aeroplanes
18. Undress The World - The Milk Carton Kids
19. If You Wanna Go - Joy Williams
20. Heart of Gold - Jeff LeBlanc

Here at Passionista Presents, I encourage you to purchase the music you find here and fall in love with. Support the artists. Show them the love. When you purchase music from the AmazonMP3 links, a very small percentage supports Passionista Presents, and I appreciate your support very much!

One mix will be given away to a lucky commenter.
Comment once on this post by 9am, Monday, September 12th.
Good Luck!

**P.S. if you are looking for past mixes check the left sidebar and click on 2011 mixes. Ta-da! You just hit the jackpot!

School.

2011-09-01T10:04:00.000-07:00

Jocelyn, Pauline, Ethan and Lily get their back to school picture taken in our front yard, while Madeline gets hers taken in front of her Cosmetology academy.

The last few weeks of summer wound down in a crazy spiral motion leaving me longing for school to begin again. A strange feeling for me because I am usually dreading the back to school day. I like my children home, but after a full, stressful week at fair, with four kids showing pigs, I was ready for routine, and hours of peace and quiet here at home.

The strangest part of yesterday was after all five children were dropped off at school, I had the peace and quiet I had longed for, but I also had acquired a sizable lump in my throat and tears welling up in my eyes. It may have been because I could sense the nerves in Ethan as he entered the middle school for the first time, and the nervousness in Pauline as she entered an American high school, as a foreign exchange student, or the excitement in Madeline as she went off to Cosmetology school. My kids are growing up, and it makes my tummy do flips.

***

Pauline - I can't imagine that we could have chosen a more perfect young lady to share our home with for the school year. She truly feels like one of our family, and we adore her. She is polite, kind, and helpful. She is teaching us French, little by little. At every meal, she shares new words with us, and giggles at our horrible French accent. She is lovely. She is 18, and already finished with high school in Belgium, but will go back to study at University and hopes to become a brain surgeon. Oh, did I mention she is smart?

Madeline - It's hard to believe she is already in 11th grade, a junior. She has big adventures ahead of her, I know it, and this year will be epic for her. She is only taking three classes at the high school this year, because she has started the Cosmetology program and spends her mornings there. I am so excited for her. She knows what she wants, and she's on her way to her future.

Jocelyn - This blond hair beauty is my ever steady child. She is calm and focused as she starts her 10th grade year. She is always willing to challenge herself, and she never gives up. She gets that from her dad. She would like to become a Pediatrician and I know she could do it.

Ethan - After a year of home/online schooling, he is excited and nervous to be back in public school with his friends. I was really nervous about sending him too, but I am confidant that he will do well. He has made a couple of really good friends and he has a renewed effort to do his best. He also has a really strict math teacher, which I think will do wonders for him.

Lily - What a little sweetheart she is. When I picked her up from her first day yesterday with a mile-wide grin on her face, she proclaimed that she had the "nicest teacher EVER!" She is always positive and kind and told me that the teacher sat her next to a little boy who is autistic. He had a rough first day, and I told her that I'm sure the teacher put her next to him because she knew that she was kind and patient and would help him. She really makes my heart swell.

At this moment...

2011-08-30T08:40:00.000-07:00

+ the children are giggling as Ethan plays peek-a-boo with Rosie. It's hilarious. Rosie stays on the couch, while Ethan hides behind and around it. Rosie gets frantic and excited as she waits for him to peek around the side. She pounces on him. We all laugh.

+ Pauline, our beloved foreign exchange student, is enjoying her toast and green tea. We love her so much already, and I am already sad at the thought of her leaving in ten months. We are making lots of plans to live these ten months to the fullest.

+ Jocelyn is enjoying her last day to sleep in. Tomorrow is our first day of school. This year, we are all ready and excited to go back.

+ I'm planning our back to school feast for this evening. We have a busy day of last minute preparations for the first day of school, so it will be easy, laid back, and just an enjoyable family meal. Nothing too fancy.

Passionista Presents: a Houseboat Concert with Sarah Sample

2011-08-29T09:04:00.000-07:00

If you were at my home in January listening to the wonderful Sarah Sample, then you already know what a special treat it is to hear her sing live. This show will be even more of a treat because we will listen to Sarah on a houseboat, floating the mighty Columbia River as the sun sets on a warm September evening.

Sounds like perfection, right?

I invite you to join us:

a Houseboat Concert on the mighty Columbia

featuring Sarah Sample with guest Kate Graves

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

The evening will begin at 6:30pm with a social hour where we invite you to board the beautiful houseboat, mingle with other concert guests, and enjoy delicious refreshments.

The boat will launch promptly at 7:30 and the show will begin at 7:45.

Seating is very limited so get your tickets early...

Mark your calendars, and don't miss what promises to be an enchanting evening of music on the water.

**Special thanks to my talented friend Lindsay for the beautiful concert artwork.

Sweet Sixteen.

2011-08-19T10:54:00.000-07:00

Last night we celebrated Madeline's 16th birthday in our backyard with all of her friends. It was loads of work, but so much fun. She's got a great group of friends. And so do I.

Friends and family came to my rescue and helped with so many details of the party. Danyelle and Lindsay collaborated to make these adorable + delicious cupcakes featuring a mustache [Madeline's favorite symbol!] and my cousin Alicia made an adorable cake, decorated in fondant bunting. Pictures were taken by my sister in law, Melanie, and I will share them sometime soon.

In the meantime, I am grateful to have such wonderful people in my life, grateful to have great children who have good friends, and grateful to have a supportive husband who helps hang lights and bunting in the heat.

** In other news, next week is a big, BIG week for us. We take our pigs to fair on Monday, the kids begin showing their pigs on Tuesday morning, and then on Tuesday afternoon, our foreign exchange student will arrive. We are so excited to meet her. She will get an interesting initiation to this American life while attending the county fair with us all week. Can't wait!!

Adele.

2011-08-11T09:19:00.000-07:00

Back in June, my mom and I were supposed to be headed to Portland to see Adele in concert, but just days before the show, we learned that her tour had been canceled due to illness. We waited and waited to hear if the canceled dates would be re-scheduled, and luckily they were. So, today is the day. We are heading south in just a few hours to hear her live. Finally.

Of course, I'll share my thoughts on the show when I return.
Have a great Thursday!

Sixteen.

2011-08-09T08:53:00.000-07:00

Dear Madeline,

Today we are celebrating sixteen years of being parents, sixteen years of having children, sixteen years with you. You have taught us so much about patience, and joy, and hard work, and unconditional love. We can't imagine life without you and in just a few short years, when you move away, the house will be a little more dull because you are a bright light here. Your jokes, your funny voices, and your laughter help make this home feel alive.

We believe in you. We believe that you have the strength to conquer whatever mountains lie in your path. Thank you for being who you are, for teaching us so much, and for being so patient with us.

We love you to the moon.
Love,
Mom and Dad

Trek 2011.

2011-08-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

We returned Saturday from our three day Pioneer trek excited to finally shower, but also sad to leave behind us one of the most powerful and challenging experiences we've ever had. I can't quite even put into words how greatly this trek impacted our family. There was intense heat, extreme dust, and big hills to push our handcart through, but what was really amazing were the friendships made, the faith strengthening, and the testimony building.

We learned so much, and we are so grateful to have had the opportunity to go. We are forever changed with a new appreciation for our ancestors who sacrificed so much for their faith.

There was also some fun had our there in that wilderness. Including dancing, squirt bottle fights, and stick pulling competitions. See Madeline up there in the turquoise and orange? She won a few stick-pull battles. You can read more about our trek in this article and view the slide show here.

*image via Kai-Huei Yau/Tri-City Herald

August Mix Winner.

2011-08-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

This month's mix goes to:

comment #6: Jaime

Congratulations Jaime.

Please e-mail me [ passionistapresents at gmail dot com] your address so that I can get your mix in the mail.

6+1=7

2011-08-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a whirlwind day. Besides lots of last minute preparations for our pioneer trek tomorrow, we received a phone call early in the morning asking us if we would be a host family for a foreign exchange student. We were informed that we needed to decide right away as the deadline was midnight. We were given a link to read the profiles of students available and asked to choose quickly.

We discussed it as a family and decided it would be a special opportunity to welcome someone into our home and add a new family member for 10 months. We have filled out all of the paperwork, had the home visit, taken the family pictures, and written the welcome letter all in less than 24 hours. We are so excited. Ever since I was a young girl, I've wished to experience a foreign exchange student. I've heard both the good and the bad experiences, so I'm not going into this naive, and am ready for whatever awaits.

We have been having so much fun going over the information about our student who will be arriving in just about 3 weeks. She will be joining us from Belgium, speaks French [+ Dutch, I think] but has respectable English skills and shares a birthday with me.

For 10 months, we will be a family of SEVEN living in this house and we are thrilled!

August Mix.

2011-07-29T01:16:00.000-07:00

This months cover art is a photo I took with Instagram while traveling through the Palouse Valley. I think it looks like the epitome of a summer day, and right now we're in the thick of summer, when the days are long, and the nights are pleasant. August will be a full and busy month for us. Next week, we will attend a four day pioneer trek, and afterward, come home to celebrate Madeline's 16th birthday [freakin' out over here!]. Then there is a concert or two to attend, county fair week to endure, and before we know it, the last day of August and the first day of school will be upon us. We'll do our best to make the most of it. This mix will see us through the rest of summer.

1. Living For Someone - Ivan & Alyosha
2. The Book of Morris Johnson - Zee Avi
3. The Sea of Atlas - Sleeping At Last
4. Raggedy Man - Haley Bonar
5. Under Streetlights - Brooke Annibale
6. You're The One That I Want - Angus & Julia Stone
7. The Sun Always Reminds Me Of You - Marissa Nadler
8. Cathedrals - Jump, Little Children
9. All My Wishes - Jenny O
10. Spanish Song Bird - Keren Ann
11. Love Out Of Lust - Lykke Li
12. Rainiest Day of Summer - Elizabeth & The Catapult
13. I've Got This Friend - The Civil Wars
14. Wonder Why - Vetiver [free today!]
15. The Storm - Elenowen
16. Pacific Coast Eyes - Graham Colton
17. Keep Me - Secret Players Society
18. To Be With You - The Honey Trees
19. Disaster - Kopecky Family Band
20. Dark Turn of Mind - Gillian Welch

Want to win this mix?
Comment once on this post before 9am, Monday, August 8th.
A winner will be announced on the 8th.

Good Luck + Enjoy!

* Passionista Presents receives a small percentage on all music purchased through AmazonMP3 links. Thanks for your support!

Rosie.

2011-07-22T13:42:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all of you who commented, e-mailed, and called to offer us your love and support. We are doing well, though we talk daily about how much we miss Sammie. Losing her left a really big hole in our hearts, but we are grateful for the year we had with her.

Rosie is pretty lost without her sister. Even though we have shown her lots of attention, extra walks, and a lot more indoor time with us, she still seems sad and depressed. With Sammie, she would run and play, and they would wrestle all day. When they were sleepy, they would curl up together and snuggle.

Now, even when she is indoors with us, she whimpers and whines and is pretty mopey. She doesn't run and play much, and is eating less. Even Brandon, who doesn't feel the same attachment to these dogs as the rest of us, can sense her sadness and loneliness.

So, my question to you, dear readers, is do you have any ideas about how we can help ease this transition for Rosie? Anything that we should be doing? or is it just something that will take time?

Berries.

2011-07-21T08:12:00.000-07:00

U-Pick update: Today, Tomorrow, and Saturday are the last days to come out and pick blueberries.

Hours are 8am-5pm, and then the U-pick will be closed for the year. Hurry on out!

Sammie.

2011-07-18T08:55:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was a hard one for our family. Our sweet little Sammie somehow got into rat poison [we don't have any, so we're not sure how] and we had to put her down. It was the most heartbreaking thing, and I can't quite seem to stop the tears.

Probably one of the hardest things about the situation is that for $1500-$2000 we could have tried to save her. But she was really suffering and that kind of money is hard to justify, even for our beloved pet. I really don't like those kinds of moral dilemmas. I second guess myself every time I look outside and see Rosie all alone, whimpering because she misses her sister. They were two peas in a pod, they went together everywhere. They were never apart.

We're trying to remain optimistic that at least we still have sweet little Rosie, but the loss of Sammie still feels really huge. I know that there are many facing much more tragic things than losing a dog, but for our family, right now, the pain is real.

My last memory of her is those big brown eyes staring up at us as they put her gently to sleep.
I really, really miss her. So much.

I keep reminding myself something that a wise uncle told us,
"To take away the pain, you would have to take away the love."

Celebrating.

2011-07-06T16:47:00.000-07:00

Happy July friends!
If you're a fellow American reading this, I hope you had a wonderful Independence Day.
We celebrated all weekend long and had a blast!
If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram [my username is marilynlott], then some of these photos might look familiar.
Here's a recap of what's been keeping us busy and happy...

1. We started the weekend by taking our puppies to the park and were lucky enough to spot this gorgeous and patriotic vessel waiting for passengers.
2. The weather this past weekend was perfection. Warm, but not too warm. Just perfect.
3. We made a few stops for Slurpees. There's a 7-11 in a nearby town with 4 Slurpee machines, a total of 12 flavors. It's totally rad.
4. Thanks to the sun, a few new freckles have appeared. Keep em' coming!
5. We are in full fledged blueberry harvest and the U-Pick has been super busy. Have you visited yet?
6. The guys in our family are pyro-maniacs and put on a pretty impressive [sometimes scary + dangerous] fireworks display.
7 + 8. Watching little ones wander around waving sparklers made me question why we are so eager to put a flaming stick in their hands...
9. We fired up the pit and roasted S'mores with family and friends.
10. On Monday morning, I rose early to drive Jocelyn and her cousin across the state to attend EFY, a youth church camp. As I drove through the valleys and the mountain ranges, I felt a swell of gratitude in my heart to live in this blessed and beautiful country. God Bless America!

I'm pretty sure posting will be light for a bit as we attend a family reunion this weekend, and then a camping/white water rafting retreat next week. Lots of fun ahead, and I'll be sure to post pictures when I return.

Happy July!

P.S. I do have some music suggestions piling up that I will share eventually as well!

The Civil Wars. In Concert.

2011-07-01T12:46:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday evening Brandon and I traveled north to meet my brother Mitch in Spokane to see The Civil Wars. For me, it was a much anticipated evening. I had bought tickets to see them a couple days earlier in Seattle at my all-time favorite venue, but when Mitch texted me asking me to go see the band in Spokane with him, I quickly sold those dreamy seats near the stage, because seeing shows with Mitch is pretty fun.

Before the show, fans lined up outside the venue and were treated to a lovely visit from Joy Williams. She shook hands, and signed autographs as she made her way down the long line. When she got to Mitch, he charmed her with his quick wit, and made her laugh. She asked his name. I will never forget that moment.

Opening the show was Rayland Baxter, a new to me indie singer/songwriter. He prepped us well for the show with his beautiful acoustic tunes and comedic tales of Canada's refusal to let a singer with a "past" enter their country.

This show turned out to be the one to be at. Just like all of their previous shows, it was sold out to an adoring crowd, who gathered in the understated A Club. I've heard about Joy Williams and John Paul White's striking on-stage chemistry, and it was mesmerizing for sure. They are both married, but not to each other. It sort of plays tricks with your mind, because they clearly adore performing together. I concluded that they were meant to sing with one another, something like musical soul mates.

The duo seemed genuinely touched by the audiences energetic approval, and I was proud of eastern Washington for knowing every word, and so eagerly applauding the talented couple. I know they felt the love and will return to our often neglected side of the state.

The highlights for me were:

+ watching the beautiful Joy effortlessly dance and sway to the music
+ being taken by John Paul's mysterious and rugged good looks
+ a particularly awesome Barton Hollow rendition. I wished they played it twice it was so good.
+ the magnetic chemistry between the two on stage
+ their cover of Billie Jean
+ when they played their [admittedly] only happy tune, I've Got This Friend
+ sharing the stair well with them after the show as they figured out where they were supposed to be, gave me a chance to tell them how much I enjoyed the show.

The Civil Wars were such gracious and generous entertainers that Mitch, Brandon and I were completely enamored by them. Mitch and I have been texting back and forth all week commenting on the strength of the band and hoping to catch them live again someday soon!

**image

Blueberries.

2011-06-30T11:53:00.000-07:00

Just in time for the 4th of July, the blueberries are ripe and ready. These warm days have ripened the berries enough to [finally] be picked, which means that the ever popular U-pick can begin. TOMORROW!
Here's the details:

Applegate Farms Organic Blueberry U-Pick 

Beginning Friday July 1st the U-pick will be open Monday -Saturday from 8am-5pm [including July 4th], through the month of July or until the patch is picked.

The farm is located at 1052 Lake Rd, Burbank, WA on the corner of Lake Rd and HWY 124.
The U-pick will be along HWY 124 and will be well marked. [click this link to see a map]

The cost for U-pick is $3/per pound, or if you'd rather we pick for you, the cost is $4/per pound.
We provide the picking buckets and a bag to take your berries in, but feel free to bring a bucket or box for transportation if you prefer. Picking berries is a fun family activity that children really enjoy.

So come on out and taste the best blueberries around!

For your viewing pleasure...

2011-06-27T16:28:00.000-07:00

Saturday night Brandon and I traveled to Spokane and joined my brother Mitch to [finally] see The Civil Wars. The show was so amazing, I've yet to find the words to express how happy it made me. My review [and maybe Mitch's] will be posted soon, but in the meantime, please watch this NPR Tiny Desk Concert they recently created.

Oh my, they are incredible!

** Not sure why the embed code isn't showing video, only audio... so to watch them click here.

July Mix Winner.

2011-06-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

We've been listening to this mix almost non-stop. It's really fun to shimmy and shake to in the car. And we've spent a lot of time in the car lately.

I'm so excited to announce today's winner! She's been entering every month for quite some time, and today random.org picked HER number, #12...

My sweet cyber friend, from across the pond, Naomi!

Congrats friend. I already have your address, so I'm popping your mix in the mail today. Hope it gets to you real speedy like :)

What we're reading.

2011-06-22T07:39:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month, the lamp on our television went out. Brandon and I decided not to rush in replacing it. I can't begin to tell you how nice it is having no television in our living area. We've replaced TV watching with reading.

It's awesome, I tell you.

Here's what we're all reading right now...

[Left to right.]

Marilyn: Wish You Well by David Baldacci. I'm just beginning this book for our July bookclub. It's my pick for the club, so I hope it's a good one.
Jocelyn: Matched by Ally Condie. This was the book our club read last month, and I enjoyed it. Jocelyn is enjoying it too, plus it's a clean, wholesome read for teens.
Ethan: Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Ethan enjoys old fashioned stories. He's got pretty good taste.
Madeline: Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. When I heard about this series, I knew Madeline would like it. I've started this one as well and will finish it when she gets done. I think it's a fascinating premise. Dystopian societies are all the rage these days :)
Lily: Horse Diaries: Elska by Catherine Hapka. Lily has developed a fascination with horses so when I saw this series, I knew she would love it. She is already finished with this first book and is anxiously waiting for book two to arrive any day now.
Brandon: See Dane Run by Dane Rauschenberg. He recently met this inspiring runner at a book signing and is pacing himself [excuse the pun] through this true life story of a man who ran 52 marathons in 52 weeks.

Have you read any great books lately?

P.S. You can find me on Goodreads, right here.

A Summer Dance Party Mix.

2011-06-21T16:34:00.000-07:00

As a gift to you on this Summer solstice, I've posted my next mix a wee bit early. You see, a few days ago, Danyelle posted this picture on Instagram of her little nugget Audrey during a mid-day dance party. I pretty much think this picture is the best thing ever, and I felt inspired to create a mix filled with nothing but songs with dance-able beats. Not annoying songs that parents can't wait to change, but ones that everyone will enjoy. The ones that make me want to snap my fingers, clap my hands, and shake, shake, shake. I recycled some of my favorite tunes from the past few years and mixed them with some new ones. It's a happy bunch of tunes.

My hope is that families all over will be turning the music up and grooving with each other on these warm Summer days.

Happy Summer!

1. Modern Love - Matt Nathanson
2. Nectar Doux - Stars of Leo [I bought this lovely album here, which isn't listed, but perhaps you could message the shop to ask if there are more albums available:]
3. Fools Gold - Katie Herzig
4. 5 Years Time - Noah and The Whale
5. Melody - Kate Earl
6. Rumour Has It - Adele
7. Jungle Drum - Emiliana Torrini
8. Brand New Start - Little Joy
9. Diggin' In The Sand - Josh Rouse [FREE on Noisetrade]
10. Grain of Salt - The Morning Benders
11. New Soul - Yael Naim
12. Sunsets - Tamarama
13. Roll With The Punches - Lenka
14. Anna Sun - Walk The Moon
15. Sunshine - Matt Costa
16. Mushaboom - Feist
17. The Lucky Ones - Tim Myers
18. I Do Adore - Mindy Gledhill
19. Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae
20. Free - Donavon Frankenreiter
21. Be OK - Ingrid Michaelson
22. Sing - She & Him

One mix will go to a lucky commenter. If you want to enter the drawing, just comment once on this post before 9am, Monday, June 27th. I will announce the winner on Monday.

Good luck + enjoy!

Relay. For Life.

2011-06-16T08:25:00.000-07:00

This is my cousin Melanie.
We call her Mel.
She is a wife.
Mother of three.
Nurse.
Super strong woman.

And now a breast cancer patient.
She knows this road well, unfortunately, because her sister Kim has fought breast cancer too. Three times. We have another amazing cousin, Heidi, who has fought this horrible disease as well. These women inspire me, because through their fight, they've kept their heads up, positive attitude intact, and moved forward. I love them, and my heart swells to think of the legacy of strength they are creating for our family.

I imagine, that if you are reading this, you've been affected by cancer in some way as well.
Right now, our family is rooting for several family and friends who are fighting some form of this dreaded disease. So this weekend, I am joining a group of local women in the Relay for Life. The relay begins tomorrow evening and will continue through the night into Saturday morning.

I am walking for all of those I know who've lost their lives to cancer.
I'm walking for those who have survived.
I'm walking for Mel, and Diana, and Clara, and a few others that are currently fighting.

If you would like to donate to our relay groups fund raising efforts, go here. Any amount is appreciated. I, personally, would be honored to walk on behalf of those YOU know who've faced this disease. Comment on this post with their name [or email me if you'd rather] and I will write their name on my shirt. I will walk as long as my feet will allow me, with a place in my heart for every person who hears the words "You have cancer."

P.S. Karen is the ringleader of this group and she is AMAZING. Always giving her full effort to a great cause. She has been auctioning off donated items these past couple of weeks and although the last day is tomorrow you can still get in on the action if you like!

Currently Listening:

2011-06-14T12:04:00.000-07:00

I've been a bit bored with the new releases these last couple of weeks and Bon Iver's new album won't be available until next Tuesday [Yay! listen to the entire album here] and so I've been revisiting some older albums that I've neglected. Today I'm listening to Keren Ann's 2003 album 'Not Going Anywhere' which I've featured on mixes in the past.

Keren is an Israeli born singer/songwriter/composer/producer who plays guitar, clarinet, and piano. So much talent. She is based largely in Paris, Tel Aviv, and New York City and I love her French influence the most. She may be one of the best kept secrets and I adore her beautiful, delicate melodies. She has a new album that was released in March, but of all her albums, 'Not Going Anywhere' is my favorite. I especially love that it's stacked full with 17 tracks, 11 in English, and 6 in French.

My favorite tracks: 'Not Going Anywhere', 'Right Now & Right Here', 'End of May', 'Spanish Song Bird', 'By The Cathedral', 'Sit In the Sun', and 'Jardin d'hiver'.

P.S. if you live in the Seattle area, she will be playing at The Triple Door [my favorite venue] this Friday.

Summer break.

2011-06-13T14:33:00.000-07:00

+ I'm taking a moment to write down some of my thoughts today.
+ Our last day of school was Thursday and now we are in full fledge summer mode.
+ My children are growing up too quickly.
+ Madeline will be a junior this fall, she started drivers ed last week, and I'm planning her upcoming 16th birthday. Oh. My. Goodness.
+ Jocelyn has started summer basketball and will be practicing hard for the next couple of weeks playing in tournaments and going to basketball camp.
+ Ethan still has a bit of work to do for his online schooling before the Friday deadline, and he's also participating in a summer basketball camp this week.
+ Lily just had her last softball game on Saturday and she is the tiniest player on the team [that's her in the #2 uniform.] She will start 4th grade this fall and is so excited to find out who her teacher will be.

I've gone through a roller coaster of emotions these last few months.
I go back and forth on decisions that need to be made.
I'm feeling very much in limbo lately.

But one thing is for certain...
I love these kids.
I love being their mother.
And I've been given the wonderful opportunity to teach them what they need to know.

Reading this article this week,
To remind myself.

June Mix Winner.

2011-06-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

Thank you for all of your comments on the June mix. I am so glad you love the mix.

This month's mix goes to...

#4 - Lacey

Congratulations! Please email me [lomaril at aol dot com] your address so I can get your mix in the mail.

It's the last week of school and things are a bit crazy around here, so I may not get a chance to check in here again this week. Take care and thanks for reading :)

June Mix.

2011-06-02T10:03:00.000-07:00

This month's mix is filled with songs that remind me of a warm summer evening.
Turn them on.
Turn them up.
Then snuggle with someone you love!

June 2011- 

1. Don't Break My Heart - Destry
2. Human Beings - Matt Pond PA
3. Love You Good - Trent Dabbs + Amy Stroup
4. Stay Young, Go Dancing - Death Cab for Cutie
5. Calgary - Bon Iver
6. Tonight You Belong To Me - Eddie Vedder + Cat Power
7. Vibe So Hot - Priscilla Ahn
8. Dance To The Morning Light - Slow Club
9. Do What You Have To - Jeremy Lister
10. Battery Kinzie - Fleet Foxes
11. Blue Skies Again - Jessica Lea Mayfield
12. Easier Tonight - Matt Wertz
13. Wide-Eyed, Legless - Laura Veirs
14. Yeah Yeah - Sam Means
15. Close Watch - Agnes Obel
16. I Miss You When You're Gone - Matthew Barber
17. Loving You Tonight - Andrew Allen
18. Blinded By Love - Lenka
19. After Tonight - Justin Nozuka
20. Lovesong - Adele

Want to win a mix?
Comment once on this post, by 9am Wednesday, June 8th.
Winner will be announced Wednesday!

Good Luck + Enjoy!

* Passionista Presents receives a small percentage on all music purchased through AmazonMP3 links. Thanks for your support!

Truth.

2011-06-01T13:48:00.000-07:00

+ my mind isn't quite ready to leave the story of Jane Eyre. Bronte's novel has secured it's place as my favorite work of fiction. I finished the book yesterday morning, and then watched all four hours of the BBC adaptation last night. Pretty much the best story ever.

And as I read, I understood why so many people love Jane. She is surely a heroine. Her strength is in her faith, in her ability to forgive, in her commitment to be true to her beliefs, and in her self-respect. One of my favorite lines from the book, which was also highlighted in a recent talk given at the General Young Women's meeting is this:

“I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself. I will keep the law given by God. … Laws and principles are not for the times when there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this. … If at my individual convenience I might break them, what would be their worth? They have a worth—so I have always believed. … Preconceived opinions, foregone determinations, are all I have at this hour to stand by: there I plant my foot.”

The more I think about the lessons in this story, the more I treasure it.
I'm ready to pick it back up and start again.

P.S. The new June Mix will be up and streaming tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Jane Eyre.

2011-05-27T07:35:00.000-07:00

One of the most difficult things for me about reading a great book is the constant struggle between needing to get things done and wanting to keep reading. Right now, I am reading Jane Eyre. I've never read it before, but it has been on my list for some time.

Why did I wait so long to read it?
I can hardly pry myself away from this story.

Now you know what I will be doing this Memorial Day Weekend.

P.S. It also makes me want to watch every film version ever made.

*image

Help Clara.

2011-05-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

Friends, for the past three days I have joined many others in focusing our thoughts and prayers on this little girl and her family. This is 2 year old Clara and she has a big fight ahead of her. On Monday, she was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer. Thanks to Facebook, we've been able to receive daily updates on her prognosis and test results. The cancer has spread to other parts of her body. Please, keep the Woodward family in your thoughts and prayers and donate here if you can.

I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father who is aware of every one of us. I also know that prayer can bring about mighty miracles. Hope is a gift.

*image

Santa Barbara.

2011-05-23T09:08:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Brandon left to run a 100 mile race in Santa Barbara. A race that he has been waiting three years to run, but due to forest fires, and other complications, the race has been postponed each year. Finally, this years race was on schedule. The plan was that he would leave before me for the pre-race meeting, begin the race early Friday morning, and I would leave Saturday to watch him finish that afternoon. Neither of us had any idea that this race would be one of his most successful, and result in a [cash award winning!] 3rd place finish. He actually finished the race 15 minutes before I ever stepped on the plane, with a finish time of 23 hours 45 minutes.

Although I was bummed to miss him crossing the finish line, it meant that we had more time to spend exploring the Santa Barbara area. Our favorite parts of Santa Barbara were the hills he raced in. The beautiful vistas, and gorgeous wildflowers we discovered while driving through the winding canyons were definitely the highlight.

I forgot my camera, and had to rely on my iPhone camera. [Boo!]
Left to right, starting at the top:

+ my early morning flight to California included a little stop over in Seattle. On the flight over, we had gorgeous views of Mt. Rainier, as well as Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Hood. I'll never forget seeing all those mountain tops.
+ we drove up and down the Pacific Coast Highway, stopping along the way to walk on the beach and take pictures of playful dolphins.
+ Hey California, you look beautiful in the Spring!
+ one evening, we drove up into the Santa Barbara hills to eat at one of the most interesting and unforgettable restaurants we've ever seen. The Cold Springs Tavern is an old stagecoach stop and features rustic, lamp-lit dining. The food was delicious and the setting was beautiful and cozy.
+ one of the gorgeous vistas on the way back down into Santa Barbara.
+ the breathtaking bridge we had to stop and take a picture of.
+ we pretty much fell in love with Pinkberry while there. Can you guess whose dish is whose?
+ the reason he runs. This is his favorite belt buckle to date.
+ we walked up and down main street in Santa Barbara trying to decide where to eat our first night there. When we travel, eating is one of the highlights and we wanted to make sure we made the best decision. We decided on Blush, and both agree it was the best meal we've ever had. He ordered the grilled Filet Mignon, and raved over it. I ordered the special for the evening; an oven baked Sea Bass with wild mushroom risotto on a bed of butternut squash puree. It. Was. To. Die. For.
+ our cozy lamp-lit table at Cold Springs Tavern.

It was a short little three day trip, but we had fun just relaxing and taking in the beauty of the Santa Barbara area.

Happy list.

2011-05-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

+ I love this wall of peonies via Suann's pin via Oh Happy Day . I want to visit France in May just to see these beautiful piles of peonies. In related news, my own peony bush is coming along nicely. Should be in bloom very soon.

+ Today is a MUCH needed no school day for us, and although we will be busy going here and there, the forecast is 80 degrees. This makes me so so happy.

+ Madeline has really been struggling in her Geometry class so I hired a tutor to help her pass the class. In just two weeks, her grade has improved from an F to a B-. The best money I've ever spent.

+ I recently downloaded a new [free] list making app on my phone that is making life so much easier for me. I make a lot of lists, usually on paper, but have found that somewhere throughout my day, I misplace the list. This app allows me to use my phone, which I always have on me, and lets me check off the things I've completed. Checking off is my favorite part!

+ We grilled up our first burgers of the season, and for me, that always feels like the start of summer.

+ Today when I watched Courtney's vlog [highly entertaining!], she mentioned her favorite music. I listened carefully, and I'm pretty sure she's listening to my 2008 November's Chill mix that I gave her. That made me happy. Plus, that's a great mix. **Listen HERE.

What's making you happy today?

So far...

2011-05-18T13:11:00.000-07:00

We're not even in June yet, and already my list of favorite 2011 albums is pretty stacked.
I've got nine albums on my list.
You know what that means, right?

Come December I'm gonna have to be really discriminating in order to pick just 10.

Left to right, starting at the top:

Southerner - Trent Dabbs. I come back to this album all the time. Every song is terrific, and Dabbs has set the bar high for "best of" lists. Fave tracks: 'Leave To See', 'Catch Me Up To Speed', and 'Me & God'.

Fathers Be Kind EP - Ivan & Alyosha. I recently texted my brother that this band is hands down my favorite discovery of 2011. I have every song they've released and I love every single one. Please, go give them a listen. Fave tracks: 'I Was Born To Love Her', 'Everything is Burning' [maybe the prettiest song ever, also track 3 on the May mix], and 'Fathers Be Kind'. This NPR tiny desk concert is still one of my favorite videos too.

The Head and the Heart - The Head and the Heart. Just watch this Conan performance and you'll know why I love them. 1. they look like Seattle. [a really good thing] 2. they combine guys and girl voices. 3. they include hand clapping. Hand clapping is my favorite. Fave tracks: 'Lost In My Mind', 'Cats and Dogs', and 'Honey Come Home.'

Augustana - Augustana. On occasion, my brother Mitch and I agree on great music. Band of Horses, Coldplay, and Augustana. This newest release is, in my opinion, their very best. Every track is excellent and I listened to this album over and over while driving to and from Utah. Brandon and I both think it has a very 80's U2 feel. I may join Mitch to see them live in June. [can I come with you Mitch?] Fave tracks: 'On The Other Side', 'Counting Stars', and 'Just Stay Here Tonight'.

Weights & Wings - Matt Wertz. When Matt sings love songs, he creates magic. Like on the song 'Easier Tonight.' That's my favorite track. But he's also great at making you want to move, like on the song 'Everything Will Be Alright.

Lovestrong - Christina Perri. Ever since I heard her voice on SYTYCD, and saw her perform her hit 'Jar of Hearts', I've been a fan. Now she's released a full length album and it's full of more great songs with beautiful melodies and heart wrenching lyrics. Fave tracks: 'Arms', 'Penguin' and 'Bang Bang Bang'.

Barton Hollow - The Civil Wars. I've got two exciting concerts on the horizon. This is one of them. I'll be seeing this amazing duo at my favorite venue, The Triple Door in Seattle, and I CAN'T WAIT! This album has taken the music scene by a storm and for good reason. It's a gorgeous album laced with haunting melodies and beautiful harmonies. Fave tracks: honestly, I can't pick one because they are all so amazing!

21 - Adele. This is the other exciting concert I'm going to. Me and my mom will head to Portland on June 3rd to witness her awesomeness LIVE. The concert sold out in minutes so I'm feeling super lucky to have tickets. This album is just stellar from track one to the last note. Fave tracks: 'Someone Like You', 'Rolling In The Deep' and 'Turning Tables'.

Helplessness Blues - Fleet Foxes. I had tickets to see the Fleet Foxes on the 3rd, but sadly had to sell them because my mommy duties take priority. Lily had a play that night, and although I would never have missed her play the leading female role, I wondered all night how the show was going. I asked the person who bought the tickets to please, kindly report back about how the show was, and here is what she said "The three-way harmonies were even more striking in person than on the albums. You can just feel the talent oozing from every member of Fleet Foxes." That's what I had hoped to experience, so they are still on my list of 'must see' shows. This album will have to suffice in the meantime, which isn't too shabby. The Fleet Foxes brand of shared vocals and roaming guitar is something special. Fave tracks: 'The Cascades' [instrumental gorgeousness], 'Helplessness Blues', 'Montezuma', and 'Blue Spotted Tail'.

Hope you find a favorite here too!