Lana Del Awesome

Disclaimer : I listened to everything I could find of hers and fell in love with it. Then I watched SNL and although I will never pay to see her live, Kuddos to the unbelievable engineers and producers who created these fantastic tracks!

I like music that sounds different from the same old top 40 you hear on the radio or in Target. I search iTunes and read music blogs and try to keep my music eclectic. I came upon this woman, Lana Del Rey.

Mixture of electronic, blues music. With dark and haunting lyrics. Beautifully different.

Mat Kearney & Owl City

I Love going to Concerts, especially when I have an awesome date like my brother Andy! He loves Owl City as much as I do and he loves his concerts all the lights and drum rifts its a fabulous time. Maggie got to stay home with the grandparents!

Mat Kearney was fabulous! I love his voice and his live style is very similar to Jason Mraz which means he interacts with the crowd and is a great performer. I love his song 'Undeniable'

Fun lights and great music - The whole experience of a concert is the best! I love when your heart is beating with the drum and you can real the vibrations coming up from the floor.

While he sang 'Fire and Rain' he came into the crowd and began to walk towards us. This is him as he approached me... he came up and hugged me and then did the side hug as he sang which I was singing with the crowd, he put the mic in front me and we sang together! It was fun and definitely a memorable concert moment. I am now an ever bigger fan of his.

And last and certainly not least - Adam Young AKA Owl City! Vibrant, colorful, musically awesome and a wonderful concert! Second time seeing him and won't be the last!

I loved the songs 'Angeles' and 'Lonely Lullaby'

And as always 'Fireflies' & 'Vanilla Twilight'

Can't wait till the next show.

Rolling in the DEEP

From home to Autism Matters every morning takes about 35 minutes. Morning radio is okay but usually boring and I typically turn it off and hit shuffle on the iPod. Maggie can be quite vocal about what she likes and what she doesn't care for. Recently I have learned that she really likes Bob Dylan... And this lovely lady... the talented Adele.

This morning though was different, Adele's song 'Rolling in the Deep' came on and Maggie started to sway back and forth in her seat, her own type of dancing, and all of a sudden the sound "Dee" pops out of her mouth.

I was shocked!

I waited and she still danced and then the chorus came up again and she said "Deep"!

Clear as day!

It was wonderful and I started singing to the song which she loved and for approximately 4 minutes she was delighted with herself and her accomplishment, rightfully so!

Summer Mix

I have been going slightly crazy on iTunes and finding music that I like, that the kiddo likes... and I have been finding all sorts of great new stuff and a few classics that are awesome. I like a lot of different music and I will listen to almost anything So I will share with you...

Country Lane - Telekinesis

Skip the Charades - Cold War Kids

Battery Kinzie - Fleet Foxes

Faster - Matt Nathanson

Rest - Parts & Labor

Keep On Tryin' - Poco

Half Of Something Else - The Airborne Toxic Event

Underneath the Sycamore - Death Cab for Cutie

Eyes - Peter Bjorn and John

Just a Friend - Booker T. Jones

Chapel Song - We Are Augustines

Mary - Patty Griffin

Dirt Road Anthem - Jason Aldean

&

All Things Bright And Beautiful album by Owl City!

Eclectic, Upbeat, & Great summer BBQ songs. I am usually not much of a country fan but I do like the 'Anthem' song.. it's different. And less than four weeks till I see Owl City in Concert! I am so excited :)

Christmas in May... Sure

Is it normal to have Christmas songs stuck in your head... in May? I personally don't think so. It's not as though I went to target and they were playing holiday songs over the PA system. I haven't attended 10 school holiday programs or turned on the radio to 24/7 Christmas songs. I really don't have a reasonable explanation of why I want to listen to Christmas music or have certain songs in my head. On a side note, I love how you can't say Christmas, it's 'Holiday' as to not offend, even though half the traditional songs have the word 'Christmas' if not in the title, in the song... just my personal ranting...

On the upside of this weird craving, I have found a bunch of music I really like. SO because it's the season for giving, I will share with you, my gift to you :-)

It's Christmas Time - Jules Larson

Joy to the World - Seabird

Auld Lang Syne - Keri Noble

Applesauce vs. Sour Cream - The LeeVees

(technically a Chanukah song...)

Silent Night - Sara Ramirez

Let it snow - Ben Rector

It Snowed - Meaghan Smith

Christmas for Cowboys - Jars of Clay

It's Been Christmas Here - Blondfire

Come All Ye Faithful - Justin Mcroberts

Pick me up Karmin

I need a little pick me up on this dragging month known as April. It's the 20th, Easter is this weekend and it is currently snowing! Snowing!!! I am not a fan of this Mother Nature - why do you hate Minnesota?!? Were Nice! Monday I drove to class only to find out it was cancelled - which seems to be another notch on my didn't go as planned list (which is growing in length every minute)

So I took to youtube! Because nothing makes me smile for a moment more than a funny video! You can't help but laugh! especially when it involves cute cats. But then I came across something Awesome! I am a huge fan of creative people who share their genius and I get to reap the rewards of fresh new and different. That top 40 stuff gets old quick!

The group is called KARMIN and if you wish to enjoy click here!

Owl City

Is this not the look of pure surprise and excitement???

Picture it, Owatonna, October 2010, the coolest sister ever surprising her baby brother with concert tickets to see his favorite band 'Owl City' for his birthday!

(sorry channeling my inner sophia, golden girls...)

I couldn't have made this more special if I tried. Halloween night in Owatonna, Adam young AKA Owl City's home town, last concert in North America for 2010, first major concert in his hometown and at his alma matter Owatonna High School. It was magical. It was emotional. It was a tremendous reflection of how far Adam has come and we were able to share in this incredible evening. Ah... and to top it off the weather was beautiful. Not a flake in sight.

I have to pat myself on the back for this one! But Andy had no idea where I was taking him. His guessing was good and all of his suggestions would have made for a good time but when he figured it out - OH Excitement and Joy and squeals of anticipation for what was to come!

Forgive my photos, they're from my phone - But You can tell we are about 10 ft from Adam and second row of screaming fans. We were mostly surrounded by normal calm music loving individuals, there was however a small cluster of obnoxious girls screaming for Adam (Hello, your 15 - statutory rape ?!?!!!! he's not that into you) I think they were 70% there for Adam 30% music.... Which is a shame because after the Beiber screaming let up his live performance was incredible. The Sound beautifully mixed. The lights a successful effect. I wasn't sure how the "bubble gum techno" - "melodic electronic" would translate LIVE....

But it worked! On stage was a violinist, cellist, keyboard/backup singer, electric guitar, drums, full percussion section complete with xylophone, drum machines and beat boxes. Adam played electric guitar and 2 keyboard set-ups that were obviously run through some modifying outboard equipment... but enough about my sound and execution break down - that is really only for sound geeks :)

OK so borrowed this pic - but it did look just like this :) It was intense at moments it felt like a techno dance club and your heart was thumping in your chest at other moments the combination of strings and light piano was more like a recital, In a good way.

Adam is kinda like 1 part Emo Chic, 1 part Hippy flower smelling love & light, 2 parts Nerd - emphasis on computers, 2 parts talented all rolled into this really awesome combination that is OWL CITY

I highly recommend the show and can't wait to see him again!

Random - combination of everything of the last few months - Your Welcome

This really isn't in any specific order but just random photo's of this summer.

To begin with, of course, Maggie riding Horses!

Such a happy kiddo, so small on this magnificent giant creature.

My crush - this really isn't a new event of this summer I've had a thing for him for 4 seasons of the Tudors but I thought I'd include him anyways - Oh Henry Cavill

(Is it just me but... look at this picture then look at the picture of me to your left we look good together.)

I was driving on a major highway in the cities and saw this....

HAHAHAAAA - Had to take a pic.

Once again, Henry Cavill - I just can't wait for your next project - sense Tudors ended I've missed you

Temps in the high 90's even 100s is normal for AZ - but this MN people! 99 is ridiculous and with 90% humidity - shoot me now... I'm glad those days of summer are behind us.

This is my favorite, sweetest horse at the ranch - APOLLO. He is a Percheran Draft horse - BIG BOY, just look at maggie's hands compared to his head!

He is a gentle giant!

So this little event PISSED ME OFF! My family and I took two cars to go eat dinner at this awesome mexican food restaurant and we all left in my car excluding my dad - he stayed to pay the bill while we got maggie home. He was oblivious to the artwork on the side of the car and drove home. Well the rest of us noticed it right away - the word "ILLEGAL" was drawn with car paint on the window. We called the police and apparently their was a few of these events that were taking place at mexican specific places - coiniciding with a lot of illegal immigration friction - I'm not a policitian nor do I want to be one however this was an act of vandilism no matter how you feel on the issue.

(This one's for you Holly)

Just a quick shot of the hundreds of people in line at midnight to see Eclipse :) Yes - It was AWESOME!

Just a cool photo - sometimes I love my iphone the blurry people annoying, blurry landscape sometimes really cool!

Maggie on her horse - can you see her she's that tiny pink dot

She never holds on with her hands its all in her thighs - she has amazingly strong little legs.

I don't a have a ton of pics but this summer we road tripped to the coast and spent some time in South Carolina - Maggie was a real trooper! she slept a good amount of the time and when she was awake she was pleasant and happy only one minor diaper not aborbant enough moment but C'est La Vie. She loved the Beach and got to watch Nemo and Cars everyday which was her ideal vacation.

Andy and I went to a 'Beatles' Concert - actually the best one we've been too. (this is our 3rd) Before the show we spent sometime downtown which is filled with cool artwork and crazy people and great food. We went to this British Pub and had Fish n Chips. The Andy posed with Joe Mauer.... Kinda

We had awesome seats row 4 on the right side in front of 'Paul' - Fantastic!!!! So bummed this was blurry, but we had a great time! He's my favorite date.

New Shoes!!!! I was so excited to get these. Went to Journey's with a $5 coupon, the shoes I liked were 50 bucks Because she's no longer toddler size($35) - well I saw these awesome plaid and green shoes on %75 off plus coupon they were $14.99 !!!!!!!!!!

:)

Being a true fan is exhausting! So much jumping up and down and excitement. It tires this little extreme fan out.

But not too worry she's up and ready to cheer after a little nap.

It's just so exciting. I love my sports too - But I really love watching Maggie!

Random .... smiley brownies

I wish I had more photo's BUT I went to see LADY GAGA in concert and it was freakin awesome!!!!!!

My Equestrian Princess

We went to the Minnesota State Fair which is known for it's 'Miracle of Birth' - which is a lot of baby farm animals: cows, pigs, sheep, goats, bunnies, chicks and horses. This baby was only a few hours old sleeping under his mothers chin - SO Adorable!

This baby calf was In Love with the taste of Maggie's shoes. I think this calf thought salt lick and chew toy all in one - Yeah! And Maggie didn't mind at one point found it very funny.

We had a little incident only a few weeks ago where Maggie fell off one bed only to hit the edge of another and ready make a mark on her chest. Fortunately it healed quickly and only looked awful.

First Vikings game of the 2010 season!!!

Very exciting even though the Purple boys played awful. We were still excited and ready for football season.

It's been exciting, boring, long and interesting at times and mostly good however this was unacceptable. This was found at my mom's school, on monday Sep 13th, after a long rainy weekend. It is untraceable and the St. Louis Police Department can't rationalize a dead-end search and after all the media coverage of the intolerant and ignorant so called pastor in FL who threatened to burn scripture, nothing will be done to the person who actually DID burn Scripture.

I don't think it is a coincidence that the date says 9/11 - however I do believe the person who commited this awful act is of no faith and religion. They are responsible for their own actions.

And to end on an exciting evening, last friday I went to a twins game. My first at Target Field! which is awesome - so clean and modern and it has trees and is Eco-friendly and huge screen and fireworks and an awesome winning team :)

Ah well a little bit of this and a little bit of that - good, bad and ugly! It is what it is :) Nothing especially juicy but hey a little look into out little corner of the world.