Winter Break

So I know that it has been too long since my last post.

Here are the reasons for my absence:

Finishing up finals here....



Getting ready to start going to school here this semester....



Playing this with my family...



Spending a lot of time with these cute girls...





Celebrating Texas' First White Christmas since 1926!!






And reading these....





And also working on the crafts for my contest winners... They are so cute!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season and there is more to come soon!

Love at First Listen

Today I was driving in my car and decided to listen to some music. At the moment, I have a limited number of Cd's in my car (just trying to get rid of the clutter in there), but one of the three that I did have in there was the Format's EP cd.


(by the way... i think that nate(on the left) looks like ben stiller)

So I listened to it.. I clapped my hands and stomped my feet.. and just thought back to my first time listening to this band. It truly was... Love at First Listen

It was the fall of 2003 and a band that I LOVE who is no longer a band, Something Corporate, was on a tour of the US.



Tragically, Dallas was not one of the listed cities on their tour. At the time, my friend Kari was working as a nurse in Phoenix, a city that WAS listed on their tour dates. So having the luxury of flight benefits that I miss so much, I asked if she would want to go to the concert with me. She said yes and I headed to Arizona for a roughly 24 hour trip.


I had so much fun with Kari before the concert and we even got to go to my FAVORITE restaurant before the show which only added to the perfect night... Baja Fresh!




The concert took place on October 29th, 2003 at the Marquee Theater in Tempe Arizona ( I had to search all over the internet to find the date and the venue and was sooo happy when I did)




My goal before the concert was to buy a Cd of a band that was opening for Something Corporate so that I would have an idea of what they sounded like and maybe even learn a couple of songs that I could sing along to. And that band was .. Mae



And I loved them too... still do.. actually been listening A LOT to their new stuff. So I was happy to see them.

I was not happy, however, that we had to sit through a local band's set.. The Format.. that I'd never heard of.. when all I wanted was to see Mae and Something Corporate.

Well, The Format came out and started singing On Your Porch. I remember looking at Kari and just thinking... WOW!! They were incredible!!



I totally kicked myself for judging this band that I had never heard of who I had no idea would knock my socks off!


Needless to say, I fell in love right then and there. And I honestly believe that I love them SOO much because of the way things happened. If I had high expectations of them or not been in their hometown I might not love them as much. Just hearing everyone sing along and really get into the music was really amazing. And when they sang the song The First Single there are some clapping parts that fans know to clap at. It was really cool to see so many hands go up and clap at the same times... just made it really fun to be there.



(there weren't this many people, but this is what it felt like)


So that's how I started listening to The Format...




And that's why I love them so much. Unfortunately, they are no longer a band :( which is really tragic. But the good news is... Nate from the Format started a new band... with the singer of the Steel Train.. whom i alsoLOVE... called fun



And their music really lives up to their name... so fun!

Anyway, just thought I would share the story of me and The Format... a band I will forever be a fan of.

The Gift that Gave

So a little bit ago I signed up on my aunt's blog when she posted "The Gift That Keeps Giving" post... fully knowing that she would blow me out of the water with what she would create..

And I was correct...

I received a text from her when I pulled into Utah on my way to Idaho for my Ashton Family Reunion telling me that it was on it's way to me. So I was very excited to have it waiting for me when I got home. I called my mom after the week long reunion and she asked if she could open it up because SHE wanted to know what was inside. So i did have an idea of what was there... but I had NO idea how much work she put into it.

Ann managed to combine my favorite things... scrapbooks and my NIECES!!! She did a whole book of the cute girls with lots of room for additional photos...

I've taken some pictures but they won't do it justice to the amount of pages and cuteness.





Some of the extra pages to add to






Man I love those girls!




So this post is not only to THANK my Aunt Ann for the amazing book, but to also inform those who signed up for my post that you will not receiving anything as awesome as this.

But her gift has sparked my desire to get my gift out. So it's in the works and also.. not that I think that many people read this.. but I do still have two spots left if anyone is interested.

Thanks again Aunt Ann... I have such great aunts to aspire to be like and you are on the top of the list... you're the best! LOVE YOU!!

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

I saw this on my friend's blog and wanted to play along. I don't think 3 people will respond so makes it easier for me! hehe I've also seen it where 5 people get a surprise so in the unlikely event that I do get 5 comments I'll be happy to send the other two sometime as well.


So, here's how it works: the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive, at some point during the year a handmade gift from me. What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise! The catch is that you must participate as well. Before you leave your comment, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going (or copy and paste like I did). Then come back, let me know you're going to play and sit back and anticipate the arrival of your gift!

Just the thought of receiving something in the mail that isn't a bill is delightful!

Come and play!

Now, remember "ya get what ya get and ya don't throw a fit".

And don't get your hopes up too high... i come from a crafty family but that can be deceiving

I'm a Cheater!

So i cheated and stole this from someone's blog... I just thought it would be fun to do. I have lots of stuff to write about my holidays so that is soon to come. Enjoy!

Rules: Answer questions with one word.
1. Where is your cell phone? Pocket
2. Where is your significant other? Somewhere!
3. Your hair color? Brown
4. Your mother? Kind
5. Your father? Funny
6. Your favorite thing? Music
7. Your dream last night? Twins
8. Your dream/goal? Education
9. The room you’re in? Family
10. Your hobby? Reading
11. Your fear? BIRDS
12. Where do you want to be in six years? Mother
13. Where were you last night? Bed
14. What you’re not? Blogger
15. One of your wish list items? Tuition
16. Where you grew up? Texas
17. The last thing you did? Laundry
18. What are you wearing? Glasses
19. Your T.V.? Movie
20. Your pet? Penny
21. Your computer? Laptop
22. Your mood? Hopeful
23. Missing someone? Lots
24. Your car? Dugan
25. Something you’re not wearing? Socks
26. Favorite store? Funky
27. Your Summer? Idaho
28. Love someone? Tons
29. Your favorite color? Green
30. When is the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? Shuttle

Guess what!

It's been awhile

Lots of things have happened that I haven't been able to pick what to blog about... but i did want to document this...



There's more to come I promise Aunt Ann :)