Healed & Girls Night

You may have heard me mention Muse & it's lead singer Matt before. Well yesterday I saw a blog post about a gossip magazine running a story with a picture of Matt on a "date" with Kate Hudson.

How could he have forgotten he was mine... See Shannon Hale even said so. After posting the story on Facebook I had friends offering their condolences and even offering cookies & ice cream. Ok maybe I asked for the cookies, but I was just joking. But my sister in law Alison was so sweet she asked her mom to make me THE BEST COOKIES in the world. They are called Monster Cookies....
See how the love of my friends & monster cookies can make everything better! (sorry for the lack of makeup) But I think if you have friends who make you feel better when your fake rocker boyfriend starts dating someone else you are lucky indeed!

Friday was the Father & Sons camp out so with William & Russ gone Debbie & Gracie came over for a girls night/sleepover. After dinner I painted Gracie's nails.

See how happy/excited she is! And man I look so white next to her, well probably anyone.

Then Gracie painted my nails

And Debbie's nails as well...
Still excited!

She is telling Debbie she can't move, she needs to hold still.

After Gracie went to bed Debbie & I watched Leap Year. Debbie had not seen it after it was over Debbie said "It is like P.S. I Love You but he does not die at the end." Matthew + Ireland = Swoon!

Also I would just like to say that Gracie said to Russ when he came over "this is Connie she is my bestest friend." Victory!!!

I belong to MUSE

I love that the first post I ever did on my blog was about Muse. It shows just how present the band has been in my life since I first heard New Born 8 years ago. I decided the day before the concert that I wanted to make a Muse shirt. I knew I wanted the bands silhouette like on this posters. I also wanted to tell Muse how I felt about them. The first time I listened to the Resistance I came to a song called "I Belong To You" toward the end of the song Matt sings the words "I belong, I belong to you alone" every time I hear that I sing in my head "I belong, I belong to Muse alone". Now although I had a list of some of my favorite phrases from lyrics I liked (Look to the stars Let hope burn in your eyes Remember when we used to shine And had no fear or sense of time Now its time for changing And cleansing everything Destroy the spineless Everything about you is so easy to love Why cant we see That when we bleed we bleed the same You should make a stand Stand up for what you believe And tonight we can truly say Together were invincible Your souls unbreakable Don’t waste your time or time will waste you And faith It drives me away But it turns me on Like a strangers love I'll wait a thousand years Just to see you smile again Love is our resistance I want to satisfy the undisclosed desires in your heart There’s sunshine trapped in our hearts It could rise again I belong to you)

it was just always obvious what I would say. And thanks to Mimi for coming up with the idea of putting the lyrics like the logo so people would know I was saying I belong to MUSE.

I made a shirt for Debbie too, I had to put her MUSE up higher since I forgot to put the cardboard under and it bleed through. I had a girl come up and ask where we got our shirts, I thought that was a pretty big complement. Oh and Debbie picked her lyrics as well, which made me happy because Bliss is an old favorite of mine.

We owe a big thank you to Shelby & Amber (Britt's friends) who went early and sort of got in line. We were able to get really close to the stage on Chris's side.

Oh Matt how I love you.

And I can't lie I loved Chris's shinny blue suit.

Chris & Dom spinning.
Closer look.
The only shot of Dom I got.

Matt came over to our side!!!
I stole this picture and I don't remember who to give credit but...

I wanted to tell how Russ & I popped one of the balloons and covered us all in confetti! I pulled out my sharp marker and I think you can even see me bending down getting ready to jump and get the balloon.

Ticket with confetti from the show!!

And the setlist that Britt got.

The show was amazing, I wish I had pictures to show all the lights and awesome effects. I found a pretty good video for you to get a taste.

Seven ~ Feb 22nd

We took a train from London to Paris, to be honest I did not even notice when we went under the ocean.

One of the first things we saw in Paris was a Muse poster. Mimi tried to point it out to me while we were walking to our hostel pulling our luggage along. Thankfully they were all over the place.

After dropping our luggage off at our hostel (since we could not check in yet) we headed over to the Louvre. We were only in Paris Monday and Tuesday and the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays.

Most of you know how Mimi loves to say I look like Zooey, I even made a joke about it in my count down to Europe post. And right before we left she posted a video of Zooey singing Dream a Little Dream of Me & saying when in Paris I needed to do my makeup like her. So I think it is funny that this above picture Mimi thinks I look like Zooey & it is in Paris. Full Circle

Chelsea still wasn't feeling well and we were all a little tired so we didn't stay in the Louvre all that long. We got some lunch the girls told me that I needed to wear my black coat because my white coat & red head band just made me look to sweet & pure, and we were going to get targeted. We went back to the hostel to check in & yes it was a hostel but we had our own room & bathroom we just now had bunk beds & no tv. Mimi was not impressed with Paris that is until we went to see the Eiffel tower, than Mimi had a change of heart.

Look proof I was there.

After we walked down by the Eiffel tower we then walked through the park to find a place to eat dinner. We had onion soup & I had a tomato salad that was so good.

While we had been in London Chelsea got the Phoenix song Napoleon Says stuck in her head because it says "Napoleon Says take off your coat your long johns off too"(we didn't like wearing coats & long johns). Then when we were in Paris looking at the Eiffel Tower Chelsea asked if I saw the video of Phoenix playing where we were. I said no I saw the one of them playing on a bus then getting off right in front of the Eiffel Tower, which she hadn't seen. So here they both are for everyone to enjoy.

Creation

As anyone who reads this blog regularly knows I have a special love for the band Travis. In the booklet for their album The Invisible Band under special thanks it says, "And to you for getting this record. These songs belong to you now." They understand that when you create something that the reaction of that creation is going to be different for each person. Each of us have had different experiences in our lives to make us react differently to art.

When I was a senior in high school I took an art class, a painting class to be exact. Which I loved, of course I was never really good but it was something I enjoyed doing. After high school I continued to paint in my room and stick the paintings in my closet. One day while looking for hangers my mom found my paintings and looked at them. When I came home my mom told me she found my paintings and how much she loved one in particular. It was of a field of grass with a barbwire fence and a blue sky. Sometime later when we were remodeling my moms kitchen we were talking about colors and what she wanted to paint. She brought out my painting and said she wanted me to paint it on her wall. Although I was flattered that my mom had wanted me to do that I refused. It was scary to think about having to see people react to my painting. I think we argued about it for about a month and I don't really remember what persuaded me to change my mind probably a combination of my mother & sister.

Soon after I painted the mural in our dining room we had a bridal shower for my friend Lindsey. I was very uncomfortable as there were going to be a lot of people coming and I would have to watch all of their reactions to the painting. But I kept thinking about my mom and how happy it made her and my nephew Bryant who loved it. He would run along the wall and rub his hand along it like he was feeling the grass. That was enough for me to be happy that I painted it, but I still would always watch to see how others responded.

It is hard to create things and even harder to share those creations. But how glad I am for those who are brave enough to pour their hearts and soul into something and than share it.
In this video Fran Healy from Travis talks about how to write a song. He says "Good songs come from the space between thoughts....it should just come out of darkness and it is light" If you crack open Stephenie Meyer's book New Moon and turn to the acknowledgements you will see "Thank you to the talented musicians who inspire me, particularly the band Muse-there are emotions, scenes, and plot threads in this novel that were born form Muse songs...also...Travis... have been instrumental in staving off the writer's block." When I then think about the many people (particularly women) who have been inspired by Stephenie, it would seem to me that inspiration is like fire, it spreads. Alright when I wrote that I was not thinking about the scriptures in Matthew (chapter 5: 14 - 16) 14 Ye are the a light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your a light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
But it is kind of perfect and when you think about it as a candle it works the same if someone lights their candle (or receives inspiration from your creation) it does not take away your light it spreads & creates more light.
Last year a member of the Presidency of my church President Dieter F. Uchtdorf was addressing the women of the church at a conference for us. In his talk entitled Happiness, Your Heritage He talked about "The work of creation" and said...
Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty.
You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us. The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.
The more you trust and rely upon the Spirit, the greater your capacity to create. That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny in the life to come. Sisters, trust and rely on the Spirit. As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around you but also the world within you.
I believe truth is universal and those who seek truth can find it everywhere, a song, a poem, a book, a leader, a teacher or a friend. I wanted to thank all those who are brave enough to create and share their creations. You inspire me and make we want to be brave as well.

French Lessons

Reasons I want to learn French


This may also be the reason I want to learn to disco dance.

I don't listen to Jack very much anymore but I still do think he is adorable with his surfer ways.


Fran may only be singing a French name the one time, but it still gets me and counts.


Don't worry he sings more French words in this one.


Maybe the above songs made me start listening to full length French songs. I was listening to them in the car and Debbie said "I can't understand what they are saying."


Such a sweet video


Monogrenade


I am so happy to add Muse to my list, sigh. Muse, I do I belong to you.

Depeche Muse

Over at MuseWiki it says about the song Map of the Problematique "It bears similarity with the music of Depeche Mode especially "Enjoy The Silence"." I never picked up on it before but I like Depeche Mode, thanks to my older brother Brett. Maybe that is why I like Map of the Problematitque so much.



What do you guys think?

Wait I forgot while I was listening to Violator I found another one...Well it won't let me post it here so here is the link. It is Waiting For The Night, it sounds a lot like the song Matt Bellamy helped compose for The International soundtrack.

Weekend Getaway

Debbie & I decided Thursday night to take a road trip to Utah for a few reasons but the main one for me was Shannon Hale's book signing. On her blog Shannon wrote,

Next Saturday, June 13, at 5 pm, is the release party for the actor and the
housewife! The King's English, of course, is hosting here in Salt Lake City,
Utah. There will be karaoke and pie. And books. What more could anyone
desire?

And in another post wrote...

I'll give a book to the awesome person who dons the most fabulous apron.

Some might wonder why I would want to drive to Utah for a book signing, well really what more could I desire than pie, aprons, & karaoke? I really don't ask for more out of life? Awhile back I saw pictures from Shannon's Austenland release party on her blog and I have always been sad that I missed it. Doesn't it just look like so much fun? I didn't want to have the same regret.

If you don't know Debbie let me just tell you she is amazingly talented with almost anything crafty. I knew she was going to want to make her own apron and that she would need it to be the best. The only thing she asked for help was an opinion so I went over and gave my opinion on fabric/color choices. When I picked Debbie up Friday morning I saw her apron and words can not describe the cuteness of her apron and the geniusness of Debbie.

I have always loved a good road trip and it was fun to have so much uninterrupted time to laugh, talk & sing with Debbie.

Highlights from the road...

While pulling out of a gas station in Panguitch Utah I started to freak out because this truck was driving and a dog was on the roof. We actually ended up following the truck and the dog got down on the tool box but would get back up on the roof. Nearly causing me to have a heart attack. Mimi maybe you should not look, but I did see the dog made it safely home.

Then in a few miles a cop was slowing traffic down as there was a cattle drive going on.

This guy wanted to take the easy road.
The signing was on Saturday at King's English book store.

Highlights from the signing...

Mr. Darcy wearing an apron

See how cute her apron is she made it the night before with out a pattern. Isn't she the cutest.

Shannon was a riot the whole time but I really loved the story about how some Nuns either emailed or wrote her I want to say emailed something along the lines of them being the wives of their lord but also having crushes on Mr. Darcy/Colin Firth & that they loved her book Austenland. They also gave The Actor and The Housewife a thumbs up! The funny thing is I saw the Nuns at Project Book Babe, Mimi even checked them in. Shannon had gotten them tickets. See my friends from Hobo Skate also got to meet them. (I stole this picture from facebook)

Debbie's apron was one of the finalist and she won a DVD of Nacho Libre signed by the the writers/director.

Then of course we had pie and sang karaoke after Shannon & her husband Dean sang Islands in the Stream. If you have read the book you will understand why. There was a pretty long line so we stayed and sang our heart or lungs out. We were having a lot of fun with the girl in charge who was Shannon's sister and just as nice as could be. Debbie & I had a lot of fun singing I will Survive with her.

After our lungs gave out we got in line to get our books signed. Where I met some lovely ladies who are also twilight fans and we tried to convince them to finish reading The Mortal Instruments series. They also know my good friend Jenny Whipple. It was fun to chat with them.

Then it was our turn to see Shannon, She got up from the table and came and gave us hugs calling us her Arizona friends. We talked about Project Book Babe, I asked her about why she picked the name Bellamy. It was so nice to see her again, I am glad we made the trip. Later that night when we got back I opened my books to see what she wrote...

How cute is she? I just love that Shannon Hale!!!


Highlights of the ride home...

We got stuck in traffic out of Flagstaff and while crawling up a hill Debbie said if she was a vampire she would just pick up the car and run us over the hills.

Speaking of Italy and things we stole...We were driving and Muse came on I can't remember which song but as we were saying how we are excited for New Moon a Yellow 911 Porsche went zooming by.

Edit...you can see picture of Debbie & I singing with Shannon's sister on her blog here.