Music for your Monday

I have a current obsession and it stems from a childhood obsession. Today, you are going to learn some of the quirks that are Tati.

As a little girl, like 3 or 4, my favorite movie was What About Bob? I loved Bill Murray. Love love loved him. So much that I called him Uncle Bob. I like to think that I was clever enough to come up with the Uncle title on my own, but I have a feeling that my parents helped it giving Bill Murray this awesome title. Whenever I saw Bill Murray in a movie, I was watching Uncle Bob. To this day, I like to pretend that Bill Murray and I have some connection because he was obviously a part of my childhood. I can only hope that someday, my children will have as great a sense of humor as I did.

[Side note: A few years ago, I started hearing these outrageous stories about interactions people had with Bill Murray. The best part about them is as he is leaving he always says, "No one will ever believe you." They are quite hilarious. There are also stories about him just being a good man. Anyway, this only has added to my love for Uncle Bob. I just went to look for my computer of a picture of me and Bill Murray to add to this post - Proof of how much I feel like he is a part of my life.]

Wes Anderson loves Bill Murray maybe as much as I do, which has lead me to watch a few of his films. And I love the ones I have seen. Bill Murray doesn't always play a very big role, but he makes an appearance in each of Wes Anderson's movies. You know who else I have discovered thanks to the genius of Wes Anderson?

Jason Schwartzman.

He is the current obsession I mentioned at the beginning. He is such a quirky actor, in the very best way! I see him and I have to smile. You know what is even better than his face?! His voice.

And now, here is where the music part comes in.  Jason Schwartzman is ever so talented. He is one of those ultimate triple threats. Actor. Musician. Funny man. I think he would be a pretty good model too, but that is just me :) I married the handsomest man there is (see previous post), but I still have some big screen crushes and Mr. Schwartzman is on the top of my list.

I mean, come on, right?!

His music is fantastic. He used to be the drummer for Phantom Planet, but has since created a solo-project - Coconut Records. I love love love Coconut Records. It is definitely quirky, but oh-so-happy! It is all I have been listening to for a good month now.

So here is a playlist just for you! Love it and let me know just how much you love it!

I hope Jason Schwartzman's awesome tunes help you ease into a new week.

"Clouds" Choir

Last night, Ashton and I went to the Mall of America and sang in the "Clouds" Choir.  This was something I had been looking forward to for at least three weeks.

The "Clouds" Choir shirts.

I have mentioned Zach Sobiech a few times before, the first time being almost exactly a year ago.  His song has touched my heart and has left an impact on the hearts of all who have listened to it.

Cancer does has this strange way of bonding you to anyone else who has come in contact with it.  I never met Zach, but I feel like I knew him.  As I watched his parents talk with reporters and then address the crowd of 5,000, I so badly wanted to hug them.  For nearly all of 2012, I felt a small portion of the pain they live with everyday.  I watched my baby brother fight for his life and I am thankful everyday that he was able to make it out strong.  I am thankful that my brother, as of December 9th, will have been cancer free for one entire year.  The Sobiech's didn't get to see that with their Zach and it breaks my heart.

There were so many people there.         I will forever and always be Porter strong.

So my voice (and tears) joined in with thousands of others as we sang for Zach.

I fell down, down, down

Into this dark and lonely hole

There was no one there to care about me anymore

And I needed a way to climb and grab a hold of the edge

You were sitting there holding a rope

And we'll go up, up, up

But I'll fly a little higher

Go up in the clouds because the view's a little nicer

Up here, my dear

It won't be long now, it won't be long now

When we get back on land

Well I'll never get my chance

Be ready to live and it'll be ripped right out my hands

And maybe someday we'll take a little ride

Go up, up, up and everything will be just fine

We'll go up, up, up

But I'll fly a little higher

Go up in the clouds because the view's a little nicer

Up here, my dear

It won't be long now, it won't be long now

If only, I had a little bit more time

If only, I had a little bit more time with you

We could go up, up, up

Then take that little ride

We'll site there holdin' hands

And everything will be just right

And maybe someday I'll see you again

We'll float up in the clouds and we'll never see the end

We'll go up, up, up

But I'll fly a little higher

Go up in the clouds because the view's a little nice

Up here, my dear

It won't be long now, it won't be long now

The official video from KS95 can be watched here.

My video is here.  I apologize for how shaky it is. 1. I was very emotional. 2.  We were three stories up and I am terrified of heights.

Buzzfeed did an very neat article about the event and that is here.

Being there was truly special.  I wish I had recorded our first "practice" round of singing because it was my favorite one.  After we sang it the first time, I think even the radio hosts who were putting on the whole event were in awe at how emotional and beautiful it sounded.

Porter is just 3 days away from being cancer free and every day I am reminded how blessed we are to still have him, that he is strong, that he has adjusted to life as an amputee, that he smiles a lot, that he drives, that he has a job, that he is halfway through his senior year, that he is preparing for a mission, that he is living life like any 17 year old boy should.  Those 9 tough months we spent at the hospital seem like so long ago, but my life will never be the same because of them.

Throwback Thursday: Our first dance

Today was a long day.  Probably one of the longer ones I have had for years.  We had parent teacher conferences from 3:00 to 8:30.  I thought we were done at 8...let me tell you how disappointing it was to hear I still had another half hour at school!

Anyway, I got home and Ashton immediately left to play some church basketball.  I decided I needed a nice long shower to unwind.

I had some nice, calming music on when the song from our first dance started playing.  Overwhelmed by Tim McMorris.  I can't believe it has been more than 4 months since Ashton and I were married.  That day still consumes most of my thoughts.  It was a dream come true type of day.

 "There's something in your smile that gives me strength to carry on."

"Oh, I've dreamt that a time like this would come fulfill my life."

"From the first time I saw you
I knew that you’d be mine
And from the first glance you gave
My world it slowed, you stopped the time

And in that moment I could see all of the things that we would be
You were the girl I was waiting for, that’d I’d ask to marry me

Like the beauty of the sun you light my life so I can see
You make me laugh and show me how, just how good this life can be
And in our moments filled with joy, is where I live, where I am free
Lay in my arms, I’ll hold you tight, just like you like, continually

And I am, overwhelmed, by you
Am, over come with joy
You've, taken me higher, and shown me what love can doWhere would I go, or be, without you

I could sing a thousand songs about you still that would not do
There’s a million tiny things that make the things that you do, you
I wouldn't trade our time together, wouldn't trade for anything
Cause nothing else here in the world can bring the happiness you bring

And I am, overwhelmed, by you
Am, over come with joy
You've, taken me higher, and shown me what love can do
Where would I go, or be, without you"

The words to the song so perfectly describe my love for Ashton.  Sometimes, I am convinced that I feel so much more than the normal person.  It isn't unusual for me to talk about how things make my heart feel.  From the time I met Ashton, my heart knew and that love quickly consumed me.  It overwhelmed me in the most amazing way.  I love how this song captures the overwhelming feeling of true love.

We are still learning about each other and I am continually amazed at how made for each other we are.

MFEO

Throwback Thursday: When my dad wrote me a wedding song

My sweet dad wrote a song for our wedding.  I know that I have seen a video of it, but I can't remember where so for now, here is the recording he made of it.

He performed it at the reception and it was one of my favorite things from the whole day.  This song is a treasure I will listen to forever and ever.

And since I don't have a video of him singing, enjoy this video of him dancing, because it is amazing.

Or you can just love the pictures of him learning the wobble.

So much goodness.  And these are just a few of the many reason I love my dad.

Music for Monday

Monday is here...again.  Mondays are the longest day of the week.  I often go to bed Sunday with a little anxiety in my heart, not sure that I am ready for the To Do list back at work.

I can tell you that each day feels different in my classroom.  My students need some time to get back in focus after a weekend.  This often turns Monday into a day of fighting behaviors and reminding students of what our expectations are at school.

So to make Mondays better, I have found a song of the week.I love music, but I don't listen to just any one, two, or three genres.  I will play my crooners and then jump to some hip hop.  I have a weakness for boy bands and my heart melts for Usher, Brian McKnight and the likes.  I appreciate musical geniuses like John Mayer and Jason Mraz (my first real love).  I can't get enough of Tristan Prettyman's unique voice.  I often go back to my high school days with the sounds of Taking Back Sunday and Starting Line.  My latin hips move to anything by Pitbull, my latin heart swoons to the voice of Carlos Gardel and my summer in Mexico introduced me to the Mexican telanovela-turned-pop group RBD.  I must tell you though, you will never find any country music on my blog.

Today, I will introduce you to How the Day Sounds by Greg Laswell.  I heard this song a few weeks ago with my mom at TJ Maxx (so thank you TJ Maxx!).  It wasn't loud enough for me to Shazam the song so I stood under a speaker and tried to write down anything I could hear.  Luckily, that was enough for me to pull up the lyrics.  It is a feel good song that is perfect for any Monday.  You can find it on my Music for Monday playlist just to the right of this post.

pandora appreciation

Sometimes I get sick of my music - like I have heard everything millions of times before and I am too cheap to buy new music.  Thank heaven for Pandora!

My current favorite station is "Next to You", a song sung by my favorites Chris Brown and Justin Bieber.  It plays all of my favorites and I am so happy with it!  Sometimes it throws in some Backstreet Boys and *NSync goodness and that just always makes my day.  Not even kidding, on my drive home from school today, it started playing O-Town.   It's been a long time since I have heard them (like middle school I think).  There is some Jesse McCartney, every version of every JB song, Chris Brown's greatests, and even some of Rio's soundtrack.  This station introduces me to some absolutely wonderful new music.  Just a few weeks ago I heard Cody Simpson.  Shoot!  I had to go out and buy his CD right away.

Now that I am talking about Cody Simpson, I have to tell you about some of my favorite lyrics because they make me so incredibly happy.  I often start giggling as I listen to them!

"She's right behind me like the pocket on the back of my pants." - Cody Simpson, Crazy But True.  Clever and absolutely had me cracking up the first time I heard it.

"You're like my favorite song on the radio, radio, radio, radio.  I could listen to you all day.  You're like a music video, video, vi vi video. I could look at you all day.  You make me do my two-step all day.  You keep me lookin' fly for you all day.  So you should be my girlfriend all day.  We are like a hit on my radio, radio." - Cody Simpson, All Day.  So much goodness in this one.  Seriously.  Two-step all day.  Look fly all day?! YES!

"Halo. Halo.  I'm not saying hi.  Baby there's a ring above your head." - Cody Simpson, Angel.  Cute.

"You're the breeze, cruising down my coast.  You're the jam, baby, I'm the toast.  It's so sweet when we're together." - Cody Simpson, Angel.  Definitely sweet.


There are so many other lyrics out there that just crack me up, mostly because I love them so much!  Let me find you a few more.

"I won't ever ever let you down like a seesaw let you down. You know why? Cause we ain't in the playground no more baby." - Justin Bieber, Bigger.

"I used to tweet you, and text you, and call you, and hit you on Facebook all the time...We were on iChat all night long." - Justin Bieber, Baby (Acoustic Version)

"No teachers around to see us dancing close.  I'm telling you, your parents will never know.  Before the lights go up and the music turns off, now's the perfect time for me to taste your lipgloss."  Justin Bieber - First Dance.  This one sort of grosses me out, but hilarious.  Oh first kisses.  Oh prom.  Ohhhh boys.


I've thought of others, but I am going to just love on J Biebs and Cody for now :)

returning to pooh corner

Return to Pooh Corner came out in 1994.  I would like to call in a cd of lullaby like songs sung by Kenny Loggins.  I was 6 years old when this amazing cd came out and I remember loving it, so I decided to start playing it in class while we are calming down, writing in journals, reading independently, etc...Well, to my surprise I remember every single word to every song on the cd and I LOVE IT.  I have found myself listening to it outside of school, like right now for example.

It is amazing where smells and music can take you.  I thank my mother for having such great taste in music as I was growing up :)

I looked through all old pictures on my computer and this is probably the only one where I am close to six years old.  It is also a gem of a picture and I am positive it has never been posted for the internet to see (probably for good reason too)...

Big shirts or a vest and underwear...we were a well dressed bunch of girls.  Can't you just hear, "Winnie the Pooh doesn't know what to do, got a honey jar stuck on his nose." or "Why are there so many songs about rainbows and what's on the other side?" or how about "Look and see her, how she sparkles, it's the last unicorn! I'm Alive!" and "to-ra-loo-ra".

I will close with:

Somewhere out there, beneath the pale moonlight.  Someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight...

is it that time of year?

I was just putting new music on my ipod and was surprised at how tempted I was to put on Christmas music.  Normally, I focus on one holiday at a time, meaning that I don't listen to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving.  Maybe, just maybe, this year I will let it come a little sooner?  It will definitely have to wait until after Halloween, but...

I think I just might.

it takes some good to make it hurt

I've been listening to a lot of Jason Mraz these days - just going back to my basics and I love it. Thanks to his Life is Wonderful for the title of this blog. Listen to it. It'll change your life and it is probably one of his only songs where the lyrics make sense. :)


I have been meaning to mention this for awhile. The terrible tragedy that has happened in Haiti. It hurts my heart so much. Watching the news is hard and heartbreaking. Everyone wants to and is trying to help and I am so grateful for the service that everyone is willing to give. It's amazing how the world can come together so quickly. On Monday I found out that my little 11 year old sister spent her Saturday raising money for Haiti through a lemonade stand. She learned and felt something that she will carry with her forever. What an example she is to me.


My best friend just called me. Lauren Stevenson is getting married on April 23rd. I couldn't be more excited for her. Dilemma - this is also the day I graduate from BYU. Tragic. But she has found the love of her life and I love that. Lauren has been with me through all high school drama - or maybe I have been with her through all her drama. haha We would write notes to each other and all they ever had was lyrics on them. So weird! We would spend Friday nights for hours at Killer Pizza from Mars. I loved those days...I just realized that there were four of us that did everything together. Kelly, John, Lauren and Me. I am officially the last single one. Hey, no pressure.

To add to this - I found TWO gray hairs in one sitting tonight. I am only 21...TWO GRAY HAIRS! This has to be some joke. And my hair is it's natural, really really dark color so the gray POPS right out at you. Awww lovely.