Magic Happens

Earlier this month I posted a video of a musical arrangement that Jon Schmidt did with Taylor Swift's Love Story and Coldplay's Viva La Vida mashed together. I fell in love with it immediately and couldn't stop listening to it nor could I stop watching it. I didn't think it could be topped but I believe that he has just proven me wrong.

Last weekend I received an email announcing that he was going to release a different version because permissions to sell Love Story Meets Viva La Vida (click to watch) hadn't gone as planned. As I was reading the email I though it was to say it had already been released and much to my dismay, they said it would release today. What a tease! Ha!

Sooooo...I've been waiting all week for this video and it was definitely worth the wait. Phenomenal is all I can say to describe it. Not only is the arrangement amazing but just watching how much heart they put into the song and to see how much fun they have doing it, is inspiring. I especially think the little bootie shake at the piano was fun!

Thanks to you Jon, and your friends, for amazing music that can make a girl smile at the end of a very difficult week! I hope there is more to come....



Now, if I could only play the piano so I can have some of that fun....I guess it's never too late, something to shoot for.

Mirror Mirror On The Wall

Oh my goodness! Someone needs to peel me off of the ceiling!! I love love love scary movies and I hadn't seen one in a while. I mean a really scary movie. Those ones where you are watching and you can feel in every being of your body that something scary will happen. You put your feet up and underneath a blanket, you stop breathing, you can't blink or look away, and you feel like your heart is going to thump out of your throat and you have no idea you probably just wet yourself! No matter how much you try and prepare yourself, you are scared shitless and scream like a little girl when it happens!! Yeps! That is what I call a gooooood scary movie!

My heart is STILL beating hard after watching Mirrors. I just happened to be flipping the channels and the title caught my eye because just yesterday I started to write a piece about mirrors. Ironic? Who knows, but I thought what the hell! I surely was not disappointed! Kiefer Sutherland did an amazing job, which I expected. I've not seen a film/series that he was in that I didn't like.

Anyway, watch this clip. It in itself is scary as hell! Then go watch the movie. In the dark. No, you can't turn on a night light!!



Can't say that I care to look in any mirrors anytime soon....

What Are You Gonna Do?

I stumbled upon this group about a year or so ago and have enjoyed them ever since. The song that caught my attention originally is called This Is Your Life. (click the song title to listen). Their songs stick with me because of their vocals, but mainly because of the meaning behind their songs. A lot of life lessons to be learned by listening to them, especially in This Is Your Life.

The other song that I've repeatedly played as of late is called Dare You To Move. It urges you to get back on your feet after being knocked down. Bad things happen. No one can prevent that. It's how you deal with it afterwords that matters. Do you lay down and let the sand get kicked in your eyes or do you get up and move in a better direction? It's your choice. There's always a choice, difficult as it may be.



I dare you to move....

Introducing...

I know that I said I would no longer post my digital scrapbooking layouts here, but this one is an exception.

I'd like to introduce to you Callaghan, my baby nephew that was born on July 28, 2009. He is the little surprise that I was told about at Christmas by his sister wearing the "big sister" t-shirt :)

I can't wait to see him. I wish he didn't live all the way in Arizona.

Chasing Pavements

I've always loved this song because it pulls at my heartstrings. It's happy. It's sad. It's powerful.

Not to mention that the video is amazing. I love the creative sidewalk play. It's unique and something that kind of sticks with me...



Should I give up, or should I just keep chasing pavements?

A Story About Love

Every once in a while I like to watch a good love story but I don't dwell on them like I used to. They get kind of depressing after a while so I gravitate towards comedies, action, or scary movies. However, a movie that has caught my eye is 500 Days of Summer, which technically it's not a love story, it's a story about love, so I'm good.

One of my favourite actresses is in this, Zooey Deschanel, which is one of the reasons I'd like to see this. I first saw her in Failure to Launch where she played a quirky roommate and then in Bridge to Terabithia she played Ms. Edmunds, a super sweet teacher. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw her in the 3 part T.V. series, Tin Man, back in 2007, and then she played in Yes Man. She always seems to play these out of the box charachters and she just makes me laugh. I guess that's why I like her so much.


The other thing that caught my eye, was the artwork for the movie's cover. Wow! I'm going to have to figure out how to replicate this using my own pictures. I really don't think it will be that difficult, it just might take a bit of time. No, probably a lot of time, but that's ok, it will be worth the time spent. I better start taking pictures now to fill it up...lol!






















Here is the trailer. I can't help but laugh at the part that goes like this::

(Day 8)
Tom: In college they used to call me perfectly adequate Hanson.
Summer: They used to call me anal girl. (Tom spits out his champagne...LOL) I was very neat...and organized.

Come on...you know you laughed too ;)

Second Home

I've posted here a few times with regards to digital scrapbooking and I realize that I'm hooked on it. Anytime I can get away I'm plugging at a layout or playing with techniques in Photoshop and I want to share what I create.

I've created a new blog dedicated just to digital scrapbooking. I did this for two reasons. One, for those of you who do read my blog and have no interest in digital scrapbooking won't get bored to tears by my multiple posts. Two, because I fear that if I didn't, this blog would become mostly about that and I don't want it to. This blog is for my rants and raves. I want it to continue to be full of my usual randomness and quirks.

This should be fun keeping up two blogs...what have I gotten myself into this time? LOL!

So if you're interested, head on over to Freckled Whimsy and check it out :)

Totally like whatever, you know?

I am so glad that I follow blogs where people post stuff that keeps me laughing! For one, I'm just lazy and it's easier when other people find the cool stuff. Two, it gives me something to babble on about here on my own blog and will hopefully also peak your attention and in turn, make YOU laugh too. That's a "two fer", as they say! We both win...hee hee! It's refreshing to know that sometimes being lazy pays off. (Yes, I'm kidding) :D

Diving head first back into digital scrapbooking has led me to some amazing blogs and one of them is Jessica Sprague's. She is an amazing designer and teacher. It's no surprise that she found and posted this video that is full of creativity! The typography is fantastic but its the poem and the reading of that makes me laugh!! The title of the poem is called Totally Like Whatever, You Know? by Taylor Mali. When I was younger (many many many many years ago..heh) my dad used to tease the heck out of me because I always said "whatever!!". He still does to this day, even though I don't say it nearly as much so this made me think of him.



At the end of the video it gives a website... www.taylormali.com. So of course I wanted to check it out since he is the author of the poem. Again, I was plesantly surprised. I love little quirky creative things and this one just made me giggle....a lot!!! Check out the site. Do you see all the links? Yeah...roll your mouse over each line and see what happens. Pay attention now. Did you see it? The words changed, right? Mr. Mali is a clever man to take each link and make an anagram out of each one!!! My favourites include: "Um, barely a strap on", "stop his whacker" (OMG...still giggling here...hee hee), and "softer squeaky delinquents"! I also thought it was pretty neat that as you scrolled over the links, his photo changed, like an animated video :)

There, I hope you have your giggle for the day now :)

A Little Piece of Happy

It doesn't take much to capture my attention when it comes to music. It's one of the constants that I hold on to every day. I mean, I even sleep with ear phones in, well one, anyway...LOL! However, every once in a while, when poking around the net, I run across something that not only catches me by surprise, but completely and utterly amazes me. Today I found that something and I cannot stop listening to it. There is just something about the arrangement and the fact that its only instrumental (piano and cello with a bit of percussion) that makes me smile as wide as the day is long. It even makes me want to get up and dance around the house!! :) It's just....happy, and I could use a little more happy in my life!

The arrangement/video is just over 8 minutes long, but it is so worth it. Give it a go and see if you like it and if you do, head over to Jon Schmidt's site where you can hear more! It indicates that the arrangement I've posted below will be available on mp3 soon on his site. I hope they hurry up!! :D

Jon Schmidt - Love Story Meets Viva La Vida

The Greatest

You always hear the term "soccer mom" but it's coming to light that I'm definitely becoming a "softball mom". It's all Zee talks about lately. I mean we can't even go to the grocery store with out her walking around practicing her pitching wind ups!

Her summer league ended already but her coach chose her to play in the All Star game, which was yesterday! We had to be there at 11a for her practice, the game began at 12:30p and was over at 2p. Even though her team lost, they played a hard game and gave it their all! An hour later they were holding skills competition for pitching, batting, and running. That lasted another two hours. Let's just say after 6 hours of sitting on metal bleachers, my butt was ready to go home. Literally! It was a really fun day though, for both Zee and myself!















(**Zee is in the black visor in front of the dude with the yellow shirt**)

Today she had her try outs for a competitive fast pitch team. I tell you what, those coaches worked those girls to the ground! Two and a half hours of hard work and not one of them showed any sign of giving up. It's amazing to see that much determination despite the heat and drills, on top of the pure sense of competition. I don't know how the coaches will decide who to choose as every girl did a great job. I am crossing every body part possible that she makes the team. I am incredibly proud of her no matter what happens because she put her all into it and kept a smile on her face!

Zee's passion and dedication to fast pitch always makes me think of one particular song. I know that it's more about a boy and his baseball, but its the same concept....determination to be the greatest at what you love most!

Kenny Rogers - The Greatest