New Sounds of Christmas

It seems that life has been a whirlwind lately, and I am halfway getting excited about Christmas. Don't get me wrong - Christmas is my very favorite holiday, followed directly by Thanksgiving.  This year has just been a weird year for me as far as the holidays are concerned.

The main reason is that the lease on my townhouse is up right after the holidays are over, and while I would LOVE to pull out all of my Christmas decorations (and they are plentiful), I have to be realistic and be okay with the fact that it would make a whole lot more sense to pack up the rest my things than upack a million ornaments just to put them back again.

So, while I don't get to have my wonderful full-sized tree this year, Comanche and I did finally get a tree - even though it looks like it may be.....um, of the "Charlie Brown Pine" variety?

Oh well, it looks great on my table and we can plant it!

Either way, one thing that really does help my spirit during this stressful packing time is the music that you usually only get to hear this time of year!  Check these out, y'all!  Maybe you'll even discover a new Christmas hit to add to your playlists!

Be Born In Me - Francesca Battistelli

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A Baby Changes Everything - Faith Hill

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Mary's Boy Child - TobyMac ft. Jamie Grace

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Winter Song - Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson

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Until next time,

Vocalism At Its Best

If you are a fairly regular reader, you know that there is a major fan of dance reality shows around these parts.  You may also know that music is something that absolutely rocks my face off, and I just have such a surpreme appreciation for the arts.  Music moves me, inspires me, motivates me, and overall just makes my life better!

So, I'm not sure if you are aware but there are just as many awesome singing reality shows on TV right now as there are dancing shows (like one of my faves, Dancing With The Stars - GO J.R. MARTINEZ!!!).  One show that really highlights amazing vocal ability is The Sing Off.  I've taken quite the liking to this show since the amazing vocal group "Committed" won last season!  What I love the most about the show is that the vocalists are responsible not only for singing the lyrics but also the musical parts too!  Seriously - there is such as thing as a vocal percussionist!  (Making drums and bass-lines with your voice).  Since I'm in a giving mood, I thought I'd blow your mind with some ridiculous vocals!

Enjoy and turn up those speakers - prepare to be amazed!!!

First up is all-girl group Delilah with their rendition of Lil' Wayne's "How To Love."

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Next up is last season's Committed with Maroon 5's "This Love."

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Finally, enjoy these two selections by The Pentatonix! They're on this season of The Sing Off and they are phenomenal!

First up is their rendition of some famous Britney Spears songs!

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Last but absolutely not least is my favorite performance of the season, Kanye West's "Love Lockdown," and I will let you see the judges' reactions because they're awesome!

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If that doesn't get your feet tapping and your hands clapping, I really don't know what will. I got so pumped up after watching that last performance especially - I feel like you just have to give it up for talent like that! They're my pick to win this season! Enjoy, Peeps!

Until next time,

I Feel Like Being Inspired

If you are like me, you know that sometimes you get so stressed out in life that you forget what it feels like to be inspired.  It's easy to get down or to feel so worn out that you need a little extra push to get you moving!

 
Since I feel like being inspired, I want to inspire all of you!  I saw the first video re-circulating on facebook, so I wanted to share it here.  These stories remind us that everyone can make it in this world - we all have a chance to achieve greatness.  We just have to keep trying...keep persevering!

So here's to you, Peeps!  Here's to me!  Here's to being inspired by greatness!  Let's go change the world!


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If you are crying after these, I am sorry.  Actually, I'm not.  Stories like these move people - they are designed to bring you to a new level and to make you aspire to be more than you are. That is the purpose, and I hope we each take the opportunity to be more like J-Mac or Team Hoyt today and every day.

Until next time,

Just In Case You Want To Follow Along

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I've never ever wanted to be one of "those people."  You know the kind - their conversation consists of one thing, and it's always the same old thing.  It's not that you don't care about their kids' neverending sagas or their parents being crazy.  It's not that you wish any ill-will on their big special day or their impending baby - it's just that it's hard sometimes to get just as excited as they do when you're not in the same situation. 

I want to be clear - I don't get aggravated with people who do this because I've done it myself from time to time.  I just decided that I'd like to set a goal for myself and that goal is this:  I don't want to force my wedding day to be the most important day of everybody's lives.  Yes, it will be the most important day of my life.  Yes, planning is stressful.  Yes, it's a big.freaking.deal.  But, people have other things going on, so my personal policy for all of my readers is this:  if you want to know about my wedding, ask me what's going on with the planning.  If you don't, that's cool too. 

This brings me to my latest struggle - I've been wanting to journal my journey of sorts down the aisle, and I wasn't sure how to accomplish this.  Originally, I thought I'd just write about the big day here, but then I realized that there are some folks who probably aren't that interested in weddings, so I didn't want to alienate anyone who chooses to read my blog.  Yes, I could argue that it is my blog and I can do what I want - rest assured, this is true - but I try to be courteous and respectful in my everyday life and my blog is an extension of that.

So, what's the solution?  For me, it was to create a wedding planning blog where I can write about the excitement and joy and frustration and pain that will go into my journey.  That way, if you want to read about it, you can, but you're not bombarded with it here!  Plus, I thought it would be a better way to keep it all seperate and organized so when I want to revisit it, I can do so.  Without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to my wedding planning blog:

If you would like to check out With This Wing, you can visit my page by clicking HERE.

*Disclaimer: I chose not to continue anonymity on With This Wing because it is really hard to do, and my family wants to read about the wedding.  So, if you choose to stalk me or my man, I will hunt you down.  You've been warned.  ;) 

Until next time,

When Tragedy Strikes...Pray

I know there are some of you who saw the title to this post and had to have assumed it was going to be about my Redskins losing to the daggum Eagles.  Trust me, there was some major praying after the horrific event that was today's game.  I really wish things had gone another way, but this post is of a much more serious nature.

I don't know if you guys saw this in the news today, but I felt compelled to share.  I may be a girl who loves to watch a lot of different things on television, though racing is not one of them.  But, I am a girl who has experienced the death of someone very close to me because of a car accident and in a very unfortunate series of events, another family is having to deal with that situation on this very day.


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Today, during his "normal" workday in an Indy car race in Las Vegas, 33-year-old British driver Dan Wheldon was involved in a 15-car pileup that ultimately resulted in his passing.  In the video clip above, Dan's car was the one that went airborne.  He is survived by an industry and all of his colleagues, as well as his wife, Susie, and his two sons - Sebastian (2) and Oliver (7 months).  It will indefinitely be a very difficult road for all of them, especially since it was an accident that occurred on television and will most certainly be replayed hundreds of times in the coming weeks.

This tragedy had not yet happened when I left church this morning, but being as this is a Sunday and faith is needed when times are hard, I felt it might be good to ask for a massive prayer request for this family.  I ask each of you to include them in your prayer list as their hearts and minds are full of sorrow and grief today.  I hope the video clip inspires you to dig down deep and hug the ones close to you - you never know when a normal day could go horribly wrong.

In the spirit of faith, here is a Song of Sunday to get your minds right for the coming week - it definitely did that for me today, and it was the first time we sang this at our church.  I was very impressed with the message and felt it was ultimately fitting after today's events.

Here is "Never Once" by Matt Redman.


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Until next time,

In Case You Need Uplifting

Just to start your week off in the right fashion, I thought I'd share my favorite of the songs we sang at church yesterday.  It truly does have a powerful message, and sometimes, I find that is exactly what you need to cleanse your mind and heart in order to start a brand new week.

I found this song especially moving, simply because I've been so incredibly busy lately.  I've found it very difficult to just stop and slow down for a minute.  Don't get me wrong - I love being busy.  It beats the alternative any day of the week, but one thing I constantly struggle with is balance.  I need to continually practice the balancing act that is life.  You are supposed to work hard, but you also need to take time to relish in the moments life presents to you, and that's something I need to be better about.

So, to those of you who are like me, and forget the simple truth about who gives you the strength to handle all of life's challenges, and through whose teachings you can learn to find balance, this song's for you.  Happy Monday, everyone!


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Until next time,

SURPRISE! It's Friday!

And thus, you must enjoy this hilarious and adorable video.  Go on.  Do it.  Turn your speakers up a wee bit.  You.are.welcome.


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Happy Weekend, Peeps!

Until next time,

Songs of Sunday - Special Edition

9/11 - We will never forget...

I still remember where I was ten years ago today.  I was a high school student standing in the student lounge of our local community college with my friends in Governor's School.  We were huddled together watching the tragic events of the morning unfolding on the televisions there.  We stood in silence - in disbelief - most of us with our hands on our heads or on our mouths.  The horror pumped through all of our veins as our heart rates increased with each passing moment.

With those memories in mind, it was appropriate that the ten year anniversary of 9/11 fell on a Sunday.  In church today, we had a wonderful tribute and we lifted the victims' families and friends up in prayer together and individually.  We sang songs about reaching out to complete strangers because Christ's compassion doesn't play favorites - about expanding our scopes to include all the people of the world as our neighbors.

I've been pretty busy the past week, but I wanted to share a couple of the songs that we sang in church today to get your week started off right.

Matthew West - My Own Little World

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Matt Redman - We Could Change The World

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It's been an amazing albeit bittersweet day for me - Comanche and I have been hanging out with friends watching football (my Redskins and his Cowboys - I know, it's insanity), eating steaks we grilled, and having fellowship with our church family.  We know how lucky we are and therefore, we must continue to be mindful of those folks who are hurting today.  If you can spare five minutes, lift them up, everyone!  It'll be worth it!

Until next time,

THE HAPPIEST POST OF MY LIFE

Okay, there is going to be limited verbiage.  I'm going to let the video and the pictures do the talking.

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So, I will apologize for the fact that I look absolutely HORRID in this video - I had bawled my face off with sheer bliss and makeup reapplication apparently never occurred to me.  For that, I am truly sorry, but I guess it can be forgiven since I was clearly high on love while this video was filmed!

So, needless to say, last night was amazing and I am greatly looking forward to spending THE.REST.OF.MY.LIFE with this man, and I am absolutely the LUCKIEST girl I know! 

He could have any woman in the world that he wanted.  Even as the ring sits on my finger, I still can't believe he chose me.

Okay, okay, you didn't think I would actually leave you hanging without seeing the most incredibly amazing gorgeous drool-worthy insane beautiful ring in the whole wide world, did you?  Come on, now, you know I'm not that mean. 

What do I love about this ring?

Let's do this in list form, because we all know that's how I roll.

1.  It was chosen by Comanche with absolutely no guidance from me or anyone else.  (Dang, he did good!)

2.  It really reflects my sassy, sentimental, and girly personality.

3.  Comanche used what I call the "lucky stone."  The lucky stone is the diamond that my darling PaPa (whom I lost last year to Alzheimer's) gave to my Grandma.  He picked it out for her, and she wore it for my whole life.  They were married for almost 59 years!  Also, the diamond once fell out of her setting when she was at a craft fair, and she didn't realize it until she got home.  After calling them frantically, she asked if she could take all of their trash home (hoping and praying that someone had swept it up).  After going through industrial-sized bag after industrial-sized bag, she found her diamond.  In the bottom.  Of the very.last.bag.  So, I call it the lucky stone, and I was honored and privileged to have her want to pass it along to me!

4.  It was designed by a pro.  Seriously.  You may know this guy:


Neil Lane, meet my peeps.  Peeps, meet Neil Lane.

 5.  Most important reason ever - because my Comanche gave it to me as a symbol of the fact that he wants me to be his wife.  There is no greater honor that I've ever achieved and I am so incredibly blessed to call him my future husband.  If he would have given me a bread tie or a popsicle stick, I would have been just as thrilled because the symbolism would have been the same.  I will say that this symbol is amazing, though, and I find that I will need to invest in more sunglasses.  ;) 

I love this man, I love this man, I love this man.

Until next time,

Kasey & Vienna...I Have To Go There

Okay, the intention of my blog is NEVER to be mean, cruel, or judgmental, but sometimes....well, I'm not above it.  There are certain things that just have to be laughed at, and if you watched last night's episode of Bachelor Pad, you already know because you've already laughed at this.

Okay, what do you get when you combine this fine fellow

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with this dazzling young lady?

Fraggle Rock rocked the most, yes?

Well, you definitely get this - especially when you know Muppets and Fraggles love a good mushy musical opportunity.  What can I say?  Haters gonna hate.  And I am a def Kasienna hater.


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And apparently, so is Kirk...and the rest of the Bachelor Pad contestants.  High-larious.  And this is just one reason why Kirk is the hottest guy on the show.



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Until next time,

Oh, Anderson Cooper...

As someone who works in television media, I can tell you that news can be really tough - more often than not there are terrible stories to report on and it can become a gray and dreary world if you constantly focus on the negative. 

Every now and again, though, there are stories that are so utterly ridiculous that you can't help but shake your head and laugh, and one of the most recent stories in the headlines absolutely fit the bill!  Have you heard the one about Gerard Depardieu's public urination on a plane?  I mean, really???

Now, imagine that your program chooses to cover this sort of news and you are the unlucky victim who has to report on it - I can only imagine how difficult that would be, and that is the purpose of today's post.  Anderson Cooper, whom I adore, had to perform the light-hearted humor segment, The Ridiculist, on his show Anderson 360, and the topic of the day was none other than Gerard Depardieu.

Please sit back and enjoy Anderson absolutely losing it for the first time in his career over the absolutely ridiculous puns (and boy were there ever a lot of puns) and this absolutely ridiculous situation.  I'm so glad that he's got a new daytime show coming on in September on ABC - down to earth, adorable, and straight up hilarious in this video - cue the giggles!



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Happy Weekend, everyone!

Until next time,

The Gang's All Here

Sorry for the delay in checking in, Peeps, but this week has been a full one at the Casa de Chicken Wing.  You see, my sweet friends (whom I'm indebted to for the rest of my life for introducing me to and setting me up on a blind date with Comanche) went to the beach and were going to board their sweet dog, Lily.  I was having none of that, because - let's face it.  When it comes to dogs, there is always a party going on over here.

CiCi, MuChi, Wilkie, and Lily have been conducting their own three-ring circus, and it's been quite entertaining, to say the least.  It's been a large amount of time since I've witnessed wrestling to rival these four, and so I had to take a little video to show you the hilarity that has been going down on a daily basis this week.

Okay, let me set up the backstory here, so the video will make a little bit more sense.  First, you have the wild child in my house, Wilkie.  While I absolutely love the stuffing out of him, he is the red-headed stepchild of the family because he has the attention span of a gnat, and he has what I call Dory-syndrome (you know, Dory, from Finding Nemo).  Like his fishy counterpart, he can be scolded or warned not to do something, and after a half-a-second rebound rate, he's right back to doing the same.exact.thing.  It's a good thing he's cute, because the only way I could tolerate that behavior for a long stretch of time is if Ellen Degeneres was around - what?  She's funny.

Next, you have CiCi, who has to decide whether she really, really, really wants to play or not.  Why, you ask?  Because Wilkie beats the crap out of her.  I don't know if he just dials in to the fact that she's a pomeranian, too, but she is the target of his playtime energy bursts 99.9% of the time.

Then, there's Lily, the new girl in town.  She began her interaction with the others as the one who would only join in the game once the others turned their backs.  Now, she's gotten her confidence up and she's ready to come off the sidelines!  (She's the light-colored dog in the video).

Finally, you have The Mooch.  He is the cutest darn thing, but he takes MAJOR issue to what he considers to be violence.  I mean, if someone hugs me too hard, or if Comanche and I are dancing in the living room and he dips me to prove that he could hold his own on one of my favorite dancing shows, MuChi flips his lid.  He automatically assumes that I'm hurt and he must express his despair.  Throughout this video, you will hear crying.  That's my son.  The rest of them are having a ball, and he's boo-hooing, "Can't we all just get alooong?!?!?"

So, enjoy, peeps - too much cute for one house, right?  I know you wish you were my roommate!



Absolutely adorable, right? Please excuse the excess of bottles on my coffee table waiting to be refilled by the Brita. Also, if you could look past the extreme mess and disarray - it turns out that four puppies want to play with all of the toys all of the time. (Who am I kidding - they all do that!)

Until next time,

Pray For These Tragedy Victims

I went back and forth over whether to show this video or not, but I wanted to give you a visual if you've not yet seen it in order to further the tenacity of your prayers for the victims and families of the victims of this horrific accident! {WARNING: THIS VIDEO IS VERY HARD TO WATCH.}

I'm not sure if you've heard of this yet, but tragedy struck the Sugarland concert at the Indiana State Fair this weekend when 60mph winds took down the stage, killing at least four people and injuring at least forty others.  I ask you to put these people on your prayer lists and to lift them up.


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Heavenly Father, please hold each and every person affected by this horrific accident in Your hands and lift them up during this very difficult time.  In Your Name, I pray.  Amen.

Until next time,

We Have A Winner!

Well, folks - it's official!  Last night produced a winner of So You Think You Can Dance Season 8, and I couldn't have been happier about America's selection!

A huge CONGRATULATIONS to Season 8 Winner Melanie Moore - she was deemed the original "beast" of this season, and she showcased insane talent in pretty much every number she danced in.  She not only is a brilliant technician, but she also brings a high level of performance and character awareness to her dancing, and that is a difficult skill to master - especially when you're only nineteen years old.

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This post is a tribute to her greatness, so I figured it would only be right to bring some of the numbers of hers that I loved best to all of you.  Dance fans, enjoy!

Melanie & partner Marko - "I Got You" - hiphop routine by Tabitha & Napoleon


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Melanie & partner Sasha - "Girl Power" - lyrical jazz routine by Sonya Tayeh


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Melanie & partner Neil - "Total Eclipse of the Heart" - contemporary routine by Mandy Moore


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And what would my blog be if I didn't give a tip of my hat to choreographer (and SYTYCD Season Two Runner Up) Travis Wall for this absolutely breathtaking concept piece?

Melanie & partner Marko - "Turn To Stone" - contemporary (WEEK ONE!!!) routine by Travis Wall


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Congratulations again to Melanie Moore on the big win - but also to all of the other Season 8 contestants - this is not the end of the road for you.  All of you possess something so magical and so special and it's now your time to share your light with the world!

And as a closing note, I must express my deepest thanks to Executive Producer, Nigel Lythgoe, and his team of dance soldiers for continuing this amazing program for eight seasons now. As someone who was enrolled in dance classes for fifteen years of her life, I know exactly what dance can do - the joy it can bring, the focus it cultivates, the athleticism and exercise that come as part of the process - dance NEEDS to be a constant in the world today. Kids and adults alike need to be able to get up and DANCE and make the world a better place, and I am so happy to see dance get the credit and attention it deserves.

From showcasing the world's most talented choreographers, to having judges on the panel who actually know how to properly critique a dancer (and consequently prepare them for the real world - professional dance is nothing if not cutthroat), and also creating a national holiday centered around dance (National Dance Day = July 31st, y'all!),  So You Think You Can Dance is a trailblazer in the industry! The show has proven results - contestants on this program book jobs, and as a dancer - that is always the goal.

Hats off to all of you!

Until next time,

Prepare To Laugh...And Be Uncomfortable

So, I don't know about you, but when I was growing up, there were certain people who were awesome to me, musically speaking.  One of those people who had the hits I loved to hear?

THIS GUY!

Yes, people, I love George Michael's songs, and I am not ashamed to say it!  So, imagine my delight when a musical sensation all of a sudden becomes hysterically funny and uncomfortable at the same time.  Yes, it can be done.  I came across this video today and I was literally tearing up I was laughing so hard.  I couldn't help but wonder what I would do if this guy randomly showed up with his mad sax skills and busted out some "Careless Whisper" circa 1984 (which may or may not be the year I was hatched born).

Check it out, y'all, and get your laugh on this Thursday morning!


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Absolutely hilarious!  Happy Day!

Until next time,

Fun For Friday!

Okay, so my cousin posted the link to this video today and I thought it was equal parts adorable and hilarious and I wanted to share it with all of you!  As you probably have been able to deduce by the obsession I have with my furbabies, I believe dogs make the world a better place.  There is no better feeling than coming home and having furry creatures bark, wag their tails, and spin in circles - just because you came home!

Meet Carrie the golden retriever from Chile! She is a sassy little thing - look at those hips go! I think that Dancing With The Stars or So You Think You Can Dance should totally have her and her person, Jose, on their shows as special guests! She is obviously a very smart, spirited, and talented girl!


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Happy Friday, everyone!!!

Until next time,

A Smile Or Two

Okay, I don't know about y'all but I love music.  I also love to laugh.  When those two things are combined, I am one happy Chicken Wing.  In case you're still feeling like you haven't made it over the mid-week hump, here are the two masters of musical hilarity, Justin Timberlake and Jimmy Fallon, with not just The History of Rap, but also with The History of Rap - The Sequel.  Pure awesome.

The History of Rap

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The History of Rap - The Sequel

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Until next time,

Music And Bling

"Music and bling, music and bling, these are two of my favorite things..."  Now, that's a tune that should catch on quickly, and while an unlikely combination for some folks, I happen to love all things music and most things bling!

Let's start with the shiny stuff - I just have to give a shout-out to Nick Lachey, who recently wed his longtime girlfriend, Vanessa Minnillo.  And, by the looks of things, "he LOVED it so he put a ring on it."  I mean, put on your Ray Bans, folks because the new Mrs. Lachey's left hand is currently blinding innocent bystanders all across California (and his ring isn't too shabby either)!

Kiss my Asscher cut, Batman!

Okay, now that I've picked my jaw up off the floor, I'm now going to admit that there has been a song that has been permanently lodged in my brain since the first time I heard it and I am hoping that by sharing it with all of you, it will set me free of my constantly singing, "Craaaazy girl, don't you know that I love you?"  I mean, I'm starting to get strange looks from girls thinking I'm simultaneously calling them mentally unstable and professing my feelings for them.  This = not a good look for the workplace.

So, without further ado, enjoy "Crazy Girl" from the Eli Young Band.  (Sidenote:  I love it because Comanche often jokes with me and calls me silly woman.  He also says, "you're so crazy, babydoll" a lot.  Should I be getting a message here?)


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Enjoy folks, and sorry if it gets stuck in your heads, too!  (But not that sorry, because it's such a great song!)


Until next time,

Songs To Get You Going

I had a lot of positive response to my "Songs of Sunday" post so I thought I'd do a follow-up post with even more musical goodness for my Peeps.  You know, because I really love you and all and I want you to have the encouragement you need to make it a good week!

Some of these are songs we sing at my amazing church and others are ones I've heard on Spirit FM. (Sidenote:  I really never imagined that I'd end up liking this station as much as I do, but when your normal stations are playing the ever-loving-poo out of songs you used to like same songs over and over again, it's a really refreshing break).

Kristian Stanfill - Always

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I'm proud to post this next group because they got their start at a local university and they are pretty incredible - the way they harmonize with one another and have matched their vocals up until they're pitch-perfect is ridiculous!  Here are Anthem Lights with "Can't Get Over You."


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Building 429 - Listen To The Sound

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Sidewalk Prophets - You Love Me Anyway

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Matthew West - Strong Enough

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I hope you find some inspiration in these messages - I think they're beautiful and uplifting and that's what I love about Sundays....I get the good stuff that I need to cope with any week that's thrown at me!  Naturally, I wouldn't want anything less for my Peeps!

Until next time,

Another Song of Sunday

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First can I say that you know I adore that picture! Chickens singing? Sign me up! Here is another beautiful song to bring a message of hope to your week.  Beautiful voice all around and I absolutely love the note she hits at the end! Talk about getting chills and an amazing message at the same time!

Natalie Grant - Your Great Name

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Until next time,