making progress

Scrapbooks really are all about documenting life from a certain perspective, right? This concept rang true for me while I was contemplating what I could do to customize my cover with drawings and cut-outs, and it was easy for me to think of a way to make this idea unique to me because of one of my little personality quirks. Since I was in the third grade I have wished for glasses, and by the time I finished college, I had begun collecting a tiny arsenal of fun frames with plastic lenses (it was also great timing because the hipster movement was just beginning). So I took to my magazines and started clipping! I can't wait to see how this theme develops as I finish the cover and add the final touches to the pages,

moon-pie-a-palooza

Imagine an idyllic country trail of rolling hills...

that leads to all-you-can drink RC Cola products
(yes, I will help myself to another Sun Drop)

and all-you-can eat Moon Pies
(don't mind if I do)!

 

 

 

Last Saturday my big sis and I participated in Bell Buckle, TN's 18th Annual  RC Cola and Moon Pie Festival's 10 mile run.  Can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday morning!  It was so special to have that 2+ hours to amble along chatting about life, laughing about old memories, smelling the sweet summer scents of the country and attempting a jog every now and then.
 

The race kicked off the festival, which featured bluegrass, barbecue, clogging, games, crafts...cutting of the world's largest moon pie!!  So if you missed the festivities this year, go ahead and mark your calendars for next year.  This is another great free, fun-for-the-whole-family event you don't want to miss!

*the world's like a science and I'm like a secret

I do not even have words to begin expressing my gratitude to Sarah for this special gift. I so enjoyed the beautiful setting, the talented entertainment, but, most of all, I treasured this special time with my dear friend. Her selflessness continues to astound me and I hope to be more like her each day God gives me. 

But if you checked this post to hear about the concert and not read mushy stuff about me and Say... Here ya go: First of all, M. Ward. Seriously talented dude whom I could listen to and look at for days on end. Second, Zooey D. is even more petite in person than she appears on screen. The voice, personality, and look was all there... the girl is super talented! Next, instruments were flying all across the stage! Ok, not literally flying, but there were as many as 6 different instruments being played at any one time and almost everyone exchanged or swapped instruments in between songs. Cray! Lastly, background vocalists. Let's just say one of them had really long arms and really flat affect. 

In sum, it was a stellar night. Pick up She & Him on iTunes by getting any of their albums (Volumes 1-3), or if you want to beat the rush and get in the holiday spirit, download their Christmas album. Check out one of the singles from their new album *here*

and it moves us all

Take every single thing you have heard about the stage performance of The Lion King: every description of the stellar singing, the captivating dancing, the creative costume design, and the breathtaking set and animal presentation… formulate in your mind what an incredible experience that must be. Then, once you have your head wrapped around that, multiply it times infinity and let your brain explode.

The anticipation was almost more than my sister, Candice, and I could handle. Our dinner conversation was sprinkled with questions like, “I wonder if they’ll perform ‘I Just Can’t Wait to be King?’” and “What do you think all the animals will look like?” I was so excited that, when we were walking into the lobby, I realized I forgot the tickets in the backseat of the car and had to send a valet back to retrieve them.  Both Candice and I compulsively checked our cell phones every 45 seconds while we sat in our seats, eagerly anticipating the moment when the lights would dim and a long awaited hush would fall across the crowd.

And then it happened.

When the darkness was broken by the solitary spotlight, every eye in the room was drawn to Rafiki, who immediately sent goose bumps cascading over every living creature in the room with the beginning chant to “Circle of Life.” As she was progressively joined by other singers, the curtain lifted, a bright golden sun began to rise in the center of the stage. And as the first giraffe gracefully glided into view, I started crying. Just as I was overwhelmed with emotion, the stage soon became overwhelmed with birds, elephants, antelopes, cheetahs, and, of course, lions. After the presentation of Simba, the anthem ended and the crowd, for lack of a more appropriate word, roared.

I could sequence letter after letter in attempts to describe the happenings of that glorious experience, but I would fail to create a single word that did the moments within the show justice. In many ways, it was a childhood dream come true and the manifestation of an innocent imagination’s hopes. I am so grateful to have shared the magical evening with Candice and thankful to our mom for giving us those tickets as such a special gift.

let the countdown begin...

In T minus 5 days, Late Bloomer will be released on iTunes!  The (obsessed to infinity) Lunchbox Buddies cannot wait for this digital release of Emily Shackelton's debut album.  We got our hands on the CD release of this work and thankfully, come June 4th, we can stop taking that extra spin around the block...for the 30th time...solely to have a listen "one more time" before parking.  Seriously, it was becoming a problem.   

 

This project has been a long time coming for Emily.  You may remember us offering a sneak peak of one of the album's stunners Come Out here.  Rest assured, no one is pulling a "movie trailer" on you.  You know, where you go see a movie because the trailer is just so-oh good that you can't stand it, but then about 15 minutes in you suddenly realize you've already seen the best this movie has to offer...in the 1 minute trailer.  Well, this is not that.  This whole album is the real deal!  We literally wish we could pick a favorite track, but there is a concrete refusal to lean on one or two singles.  Instead the tracks are fiercely independent with stand alone street cred in their piercingly intimate themes and meticulously distinct production.  Yet somehow organically those distinctions collectively unify the songs into a breathtaking body of work.

 

Follow Emily on Twitter and friend her on Facebook...you don't want to miss the things blossoming for this Late Bloomer.

rollin' on the river

The luxury of longer "after work" hours pre-sunset, Memorial Day plans involving outdoor activities and bbq, the smell of fresh cut grass...summer is in the air!  I kicked summer off last weekend Funny Hill style at Coosa River Fest.  We trekked down to Wetumpka, AL to enjoy 3 days of camping, paddling and bluegrass.  Highlights included drizzly day boating, late night bonfire chats, words of wisdom from The River Warrior, and Hot Rod Todd winning the grand prize raffle and taking home a kayak!!!  

Rolling, rolling, rolling on the river

If you come down to the river

Bet you gonna find some people who live

You don't have to worry 'cause you have no money

People on the river are happy to give

with love,

"'My child, the troubles and temptations of your life are beginning, and may be many; but you can overcome and outlive them all, if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that of your earthly one. The more you love and trust Him, the nearer you will feel to Him, and the less you will depend on human power and wisdom. His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken from you, but may become the source of lifelong peace, happiness, and strength. Believe this heartily, and go to God with all your little cared, and hopes, and sins, and sorrows, as freely and confidingly as you come to your mother.'

Jo's only answer was to hold her mother close, and, in the silence which followed, the sincerest prayer she had ever prayed left her heart, without words; for in that sad, yet happy hour, she had learned not only bitterness of remorse and despair, but the sweetness of self-denial and self-control; and, led by her mother's hand, she had drawn nearer to the Friend who welcomes every child with a love stronger than that of any father, tenderer than that of any mother. " Little Women