Hey Ya'll: Country Music Concert and Wardrobe

Hey ya'll! (Pun Intended)

Over the weekend, I got to "cash in", if you will, on a Christmas gift my dad gave me. Let me just give you a little background.

Growing up, country music was always a part of my house. And not just country music. We grew up listening to The Beatles, Journey, Boston, The Eagles, etc. But there was always a fair amount of Garth, George and Shania and I've grown up with a love for country music. That's just kind of all there is to it.

So this Christmas, as everyone finished throwing away the last of the wrapping paper and thinking thoughts of Christmas breakfast, my dad, with a wink, told me to go look in the tree (yes, in the tree) because he "thought" there might be one more gift left. As I opened it up, attached to an iTunes gift card, were tickets to go see Lady Antebellum with my dad. Just me and him.

So, aside from my love of music, my crush on Charles Kelley, getting to watch Jana Kramer and Kip Moore open and the badass Tshirt my dad bought me, you KNOW I died over the wardrobe and makeup. Even my dad could tell. Walking out of the arena he said, "Okay, so what did you think of the clothes and makeup?" launching me into a session of gushing I'm not sure he was prepared for. But anyway. Just look.

Hillary Scott had several costume changes, but this one was one of my favorites. Peacock feathers?! Sequins? I'm not sure what's not to love. Her makeup looks great too. Not too chizzled out but her features were still defined on stage. Props to her stylist and MUA. The guys were comfortable but very put together. (As opposed to their opening act, Kip Moore. I didn't love his get up at all...especially the cut off Fender tee. I'm a Gibson girl, anyway. ha.) As far as music went though, Kip sounded great and really surprised me when he went out to sing "Hey Pretty Girl" on a stool, acoustic, by himself. The amp seemingly failed him, though, when his guitar lost power after the first count of eight, and his band tried to jump in to help him. Kip held his hand behind him, as if to tell his band to "hold off" and sang acoustic without his guitar. After "Hey Pretty Girl" he, in an effort to appease the crowd after his technical malfunction, sang "Stand By Me" acoustic, once again without his band.

One of my favorite moments of the show was when Charles stopped the band right before the last chorus of "It Ain't Pretty" to talk about how beautiful the arena looked with everyone's cell phones lighting up the crowd. He said it was one of the best parts of their tour, and then Hillary finished the last, and quite powerful, verse and chorus. There is a gorgeous acoustic version here.

Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of Jana Kramer but she was wearing some great skinnies (black leather, it looked like from afar) and a loose, almost billowy top in a dark red/purple color. She topped it off with a single, long chain, golden key pendant. Her bracelets were silver cuffs that she wore high on her forearm so as not to hit against her guitar, especially when she played along with the band during her single, Whiskey. Take a listen here. Her makeup was simple but gorgeous. Light smokey eye and a mauve lip.

I thought all around Lady A sounded phenomenal and looked just as great. Their encore included "Need You Now" and an awesome cover of "Wake Me Up" and "Cups". You can see a terrible and ghetto iPhone video here but if I were you I would skip to :40. Though the quality isn't great, you definitely get a feel for it. We left on a musical high.

If you want to check out the review from the Salt Lake Tribune, you can find it here.

Bottom line, it was a great concert with my awesome dad!

And for good measure, don't we look great? These photos courtosey of MY ghetto iPhone!

Now go listen to some country music.

-L

Where I've Been

I was recently asked where I've been.

I don't really know. I mean, I'm a working mom. I'm a student. I'm doing the best I can, really. And blogging, for me, is something I do just for me. I love to write and I love the things I write about. But this blog isn't something that I do because I have to. So sometimes I live my life for a few weeks and go without writing. And that's okay. I'm still here. And if there are certain things you want to hear about, leave me a comment about it and I'll get on it.

Sometimes we just live, ya know? We get up and go to work. We get home and realize we'd better find something for dinner. We bathe the babies and read stories and sing songs and say prayers. We finally have a quiet house and we start laundry and we do dishes and we sit down with a text book. We think about how someone ought to mop the floor but it's past midnight already so we go to bed and we do it all over again the next day. And somehow in there we try to date our spouse or go to the grocery store. We try to stop and play a game on the floor with the babies or teach them that they need to clean their room. We remind the little one not to pee pee in her panties and we tell the older one what a good big brother he his. We try to pack the preschool back pack or remember to wash the sheets..or if we're really crazy we try to stop and put gas in the car.

That's where I've been.

But now, can we talk about how much I love this song by Bette--which is the name for the one man band that is Bethany Joy Lenz. Check it out here, and it's also available on iTunes. It's a great mix of jazz, old soul, and I can taste country in it too. And her voice is great.

I also love her cover of We Belong when she was with the band Everly. And who can forget her and Tyler Hiltons cover of Stars Go Blue? One Tree Hill, anyone?! #dontyoujudgeme

I have some Birchbox and Wardrobe Wednesday love coming your way soon. So just sit tight and we'll be back to business soon.

-L

Guest Post: Lewis Harmon-The Day My Wife Cried Watching ESPN

Hi, everyone! L, here. Happy 4th of July!! I'm excited about today because of more than just the fireworks, Cherry Coke and BBQ's. Today is the first (of hopefully many) posts from a guest author and friend of mine.  Look forward to more posts from my mystery pal, and share the love.

-L

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The Day My Wife Cried After Watching ESPN

I’m a sports junkie and I love my country.  I’m not alone in those two categories I’m sure.  There’s nothing better than watching a baseball game on the 4^th of July and the accompanying fireworks show after the game.  You get all patriotic seeing the red, white and blue of our country’s colors contrasted against the green of the grass field and the straight white lines painted on the infield diamond.  Better than that though is the way our country takes time to honor our service men and women.  Last year I was at a major league stadium for the 4^th and they paraded out several young military recruits to the field and swore them in for duty with a huge American flag spread over the field for a back drop. Man, that’ll get ya. 

I’ve watched my fair share (and then some) of ESPN and other sports programming over the years.  My wife is the best and she tolerates my sports enthusiasm. Most of the time she just “tunes out” basically whenever I “tune in” to the nightly highlights of some over priced athlete slamming a game winning home run or drilling an incredible 3 point shot at the buzzer to win the game.

But this time it was different when Sports Center came on.  I caught my wife shed a few tears as she peaked away from reading her latest novel.  What you say?  How could this happen?  Was it the book she was reading?  No it was a great video piece put together by the folks at ESPN about military service men and women “coming home” set to the sounds of recording artist Daughtry’s “Coming Home”.  Wow, if that piece doesn’t pull some emotion out of you for these great people who serve our country and the love their families have for them, I need to check your pulse, or better yet check to see if you have a soul.  Not sure how that last one’s done, but anyway you get the idea.

See the video “Going Home" here. It’s a tribute to our military, and the folks who put together the ESPN front row blog produced it. I think you’ll like it.

Like Daughtry sings, “be careful what you wish for, you might just get it all…”  Our country is blessed by the selfless service given by our service men and women. They give it all so we can have it all. 

Yeah, that was the day my wife, who once called the great Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter, "Jeret Deter", cried after watching Sports Center.  A few tears might have leaked out of the crevices of my eyes too…

What a country!  Happy 4^th of July!

-Lewis Harmon

Stella

I walked into my room today, and I saw the same thing I see every time I walk in there.

But it was kind of different today.

Everyone, meet Stella.

When I first asked for a guitar, I was about 15 years old. I think that my parents probably thought it was a phase or that I wouldn't stick with it, but they bought it for me anyway. She's no Gibson, but I love her, and I wouldn't trade my guitar for the world. She's pulled me through a lot over the years.

That being said, Stella and I have drifted apart a bit the last few months. I've looked up at the wall and seen my guitar, and I've thought about playing, but I've been in a funk, and it hasn't felt right. It hasn't felt the same.

But tonight, feeling inspired for the first time in a while, specifically by a particular song, I dusted her off (literally...she had a layer of dust...) and we hung out for a few hours. Like I said, she's been on the wall for a few months now, so the after a tuning session (or four) that one particular song turned into several.

So now, with fresh callouses and a clearer head, I can't help but think that I'm pretty grateful for that song, and the subsequent followers. I'm glad she's quick to forgive and pick back up where we left off. Maybe Stella and I sent a little light tonight.

1. Beam Me Up- Pink
2. Falls on Me- Fuel
3. Learning to Breathe- Switchfoot
4. From Where You Are- Lifehouse
5. Please Remember Me- Tim McGraw
6. In a Little While- U2
7. Words I Couldn't Say- Leighton Meester
8. World Spins Madly On- The Weepies
...

-L

Ellie's Playlist

Tonight was a rough night for the Hall babies; Adelle in particular. She has molars coming in and they're hurting her. She doesn't feel good at all. She points at her mouth and says, "Teeth. Owie." Well, all that and Ellie has attitude.

Needless to say, the "bedtime songs routine" lasted over an hour today. When Ellie heard her bedtime songs, she laid her little head on my shoulder and despite a sniffle here and there, she was quiet. But as soon as a song was over, she was sad again.

Thus, I was having to think quick on my feet (Literally...If I wasn't in the rocking chair, I was pacing the floor...) with song after song to sing and keep little Adelle from realizing that her mouth hurt so much. My little bug, from the time she was born, has been easily calmed by music. Maybe, even though she's more of a daddy's girl, she takes after her mamma just a bit.

Ellie-girl is now fast asleep. It was a sad night for my little bug, but one good thing has come from our rough night.

We have a new bedtime playlist, if you will.

And though it took about three or four rounds, the magical playlist works! We'll keep it. Let's just say, I definitely plan on making a CD (or six) to keep handy for the next time there are teething issues.

Sad Night Hall Baby Bedtime Playlist

1. At Last-Etta James

2. All The Way-Frank Sinatra

3. I Will Come To You-Hanson (The live version for this one! Definitely!)

4. Make You Feel My Love-Adele

5. Over the Rainbow-Eric Clapton

6. Love Me Tender-Elvis

7. Baby Mine-Alison Krauss

8. All My Loving-the Beatles

9. And So It Goes-Billy Joel

10. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye-Ella Fitzgerald

Maybe ya'll can copy the playlist and either put yourself or your grouchy babies to sleep. It worked at my house tonight.

Sleep well, everyone!
I know Ellie will!

-L

10 Life Lessons that Country Music Taught Me

Alright, everyone knows I love music. I love all kinds of music, but I have a special place in my heart for country music. You love it or you hate it, but I love it.

I have realized over the years that country music has taught me a lot. And you can trust me on this one, boys and girls. I know about "country". I grew up in Spanish Fork! I've got it down. I dated boys who drove big trucks, though I always preferred my dad's. I can hold my own in a Ford vs. GMC debate any day. I participated in many-a bon fire in someone's back yard, and I've been to more than my share of demolition derby's, rodeos, and county fairs (yes, the kind with the animals, not the carnival rides). I know that not only is Reams a local grocery store, but also a local western outfitter. I know what it means to "show a pig". I've definitely been slowed down in traffic because of a tractor. I can spot a pair of knockoff cowboy (er, girl) boots from a mile away, and though I was never a part of FFA, and though I grew up in a subdivision, I know what a Greenhand Ceremony is, and I would have refused... I can't think of anything that would ruin a manicure faster...just puttin' that out there.

But not all things country can be learned by living in the sticks. Some of it, we have to get from the radio!

Here, for your viewing pleasure, are some life lessons I've learned straight from country music:

1. If you can chew gum through an entire set, and get watches as gifts from Kid Rock, you might be as cool as Aaron Lewis.

2. I can be considered a country singer and have only 1/4 of my album actually sound "country". Isn't a steel guitar kind of a pre-req? That's okay. We all still love her. And if we stop, she'll maybe write a song about us and make us pseudo-famous!! Gah. Couldn't resist but I do love her.

3. You can trash your nation, your president AND the very fans who make you famous, and STILL be famous! I'm team Toby Keith, but regardless...Who can forget Wide Open Spaces?? And I'm fine with a cowboy taking me away....

...speaking of which...

4. From the beginning of country music, the "bad boy cowboy" has always been cool. Country music and tattoos? They go together like Johnny and June.

5. Country music taught me that opposites attract.

6. Country music also taught me that you don't have to wear a Stetson to be a cowboy.

7. Apparently, equal rights for women in the workforce applies to country music, too. Something tells me they'll be just fine, thankyouverymuch.

 

8. Because of country music, I've learned that if I don't like what I'm doing, just try and do something else. Sometimes it'll work, most of the time it won't. (*cough, Jewel, cough* And let's just encourage J. Simpson to stick to designing amazing shoes, yes? Darius? Carry on my friend. You got this.)

9. I know now that a rose, by any other name, will smell just as sweet. But if you play it differently, it'll be called a fiddle.

...and last, but certainly not least...

10. Country music taught me that anything is possible. It is, in fact, possible to defy gravity. It's just probably a bad idea.

-L

A Rainy Day Playlist

Today is one of those days.
You know, those ones.
And my mood matches the weather.

Which is odd because I actually love the rain. And typically, rainy weather makes me happy.
But today is gloomy. And just, blah.
And I'm just glad that today is almost over.
And I'm bound and determined to make tomorrow better than today.
Even if the weather stays gloomy.

Here's today's playlist:

1. Peace of Mind-Boston

2. I Almost Do-Taylor Swift

3. Roderigo-Seven Mary Three

4. The Chain-Three Days Grace

5. Watching Airplanes-Gary Allan

6. Again-Needtobreathe

7. Times Like These-Foo Fighters

8. Remember Everything-Five Finger Death Punch

9. Pass Slowly-Seether

10. Slow Dancing in a Burning Room-John Mayer

11. Second Chances-Shinedown

12. Boston-Augustana 

Here's to a sunny tomorrow, even if it rains!

-L

Story and a Song Saturday: Wedding and Anniversary Edition

This past Thursday was my 5th wedding anniversary.

This has been a very hard year for me, my family, and my marriage.

But we have made it, and we love each other, and that is what matters today.

And we have been taking things one day, sometimes one hour, at a time.

And right now, that is working for us.

And although some people feel that the "one day at a time" idea is irresponsible, or perhaps ineffective, I really don't care.

Because again, right now, that is working for us. 

This weekend, my husband took me on a little overnight getaway for our anniversary. We didn't have a lot of time, so we just went to the city and had a great few days. I'll tell my story in pictures this week.

First, we kissed our two sweet little loves goodbye, and we were on our way to the city. The hubs brought us a drink for the drive (with a straw for me, of course), and after only turning back for forgotten items once, we were off!

We checked into our lovely Bed and Breakfast, and the sweet lady at the front desk sent us to our room with the key and some divine chocolate chip cookies!

We walked into the suite, and it literally took my breath away. The floor was strewn with rose petals, drinks were chilling on ice, glasses were filled with chocolate kisses, chocolate covered strawberries were waiting for us by a box of cupcakes and the bed was up in a tree house!

After we checked in, we hurried to change clothes, and the hubs took me out to a fancy dinner.

When we got to the restaurant, I was already feeling like it was too much, in a good way. I have never been anywhere as fancy as he took me. Then we were walked to our table, and I realized there was a beautiful bouquet of hydrangas, roses and peonies (to name a few). I thought, "Wow, how pretty." Then I looked around and realized, ours was the only table with such an arrangement. My husband had called ahead and had it ready for me, with a card. A little gesture, yes. But I was almost brought to tears.

This is the view from our table. We watched the sun set behind the Salt Lake Temple as we ate dinner.

The dinner was amazing. There was a penne pasta dish that stole my heart. But the dessert was, in a word, divine. The following picture is JUST MY dessert. The hubs had his own. Yes there are two plates. Yes I ate it. And no, I'm not even sorry.

That night, we got back to our room, snuggled into our tree house bed to watch movies and room service brought us chips and salsa!

The next morning, there was a knock at our door, and when we answered it, an adorable breakfast was waiting for us.

After breakfast, we got massages in our room, watched more movies, and got packed up.

We left the Inn, went to get lunch, walked around the mall. By then, we couldn't wait to get back home and love on our kiddos!

It was such a great weekend. It was a much needed getaway full of surprises. My sweet hubs pulled out all the stops. I've never been treated or spoiled so much, and I couldn't believe it. It was hard not to worry about the prices or to feel undeserving (old habits die hard), but Daniel did a great job at reassuring me. Sometimes, it's okay.

The song this week is from my wedding video:

Hope you all had a weekend as great as mine!

-L