Rachel Rambach

Come Away With Me

2010-07-25T11:00:00.000-07:00

One of my voice students is working on this song, so I've had it in my head for the past few weeks. I've always loved Norah Jones, and even got to see her in concert several years ago. Unlike me, she's an amazing pianist; I rarely accompany myself on the piano or keyboard, but I gave it a go when I recorded this cover. Don't judge my playing too harshly...it was a quick first take and I just went with it!

<a href="http://rachelrambach.bandcamp.com/track/come-away-with-me">Come Away With Me by Rachel Rambach</a>

Come away with me in the night
Come away with me
And I will write you a song

Come away with me on a bus
Come away where they can't tempt us
With their lies

And I want to walk with you
On a cloudy day
In fields where the yellow grass grows knee-high
So won't you try to come?

Come away with me and we'll kiss
On a mountaintop
Come away with me
And I'll never stop loving you

And I want to wake up with the rain
Falling on a tin roof
While I'm safe there in your arms
So all I ask is for you
To come away with me in the night
Come away with me

Lately I haven't been too inspired to write anything new (aside from the children's songs that just come pouring out), which is why I've been posting so many covers. But I figure that since this is just kind of a side hobby, that is perfectly fine :)

Everybody {Ukulele Style}

2010-07-21T06:07:00.000-07:00

Please be kind, as this is my first attempt at covering a song on the ukulele. Also, I'm playing this Ingrid Michaelson song in the wrong key (it's too high) because I still have more chords to learn. I've had my uke sitting around since last summer, but just this week started making the effort to become relatively proficient. It's a fun little instrument, and a nice change of pace from the guitar. I'm thinking there are more uke videos in my future...

New Fans, New Friends

2010-07-20T20:08:00.000-07:00

While I was performing at Andiamo the other night, I noticed these three ladies come in and sit down. They looked like they were having a great time, singing along with me and drinking wine. Then they pulled out their cameras and started taking pictures of me, which made me wonder if they knew me somehow. I was super curious, so after my set, I walked over to say hello.

Before I could even introduce myself, Julie (the blond on the far right) said, "We heard you from the street and just had to come in and listen!" Well that's a compliment if I've ever heard one! As it turns out, Julie, Pam and Becky are sisters who were visiting Springfield from Wisconsin and Indiana. They were killing time before the ghost tour (yes, Springfield has a ghost tour), heard my voice coming from the speaker outside, and came in to hear the last hour of my set.

We chatted for quite a while, and then before they left, my mom took this picture of me and my new fan-friends. As much as I love having my family and friends at my shows, it's always fun to meet new people and hear that people enjoy my music without being obligated to do so :)

Collide

2010-07-12T20:49:00.000-07:00

Here's another one! This song reminds me of my first year of graduate school, during which Zach, who was a senior, and I started dating and spent all of our time together (when I wasn't in class...I think he took a total of 3 classes that entire year). It played on the radio constantly and has kind of stuck with me.

Fidelity

2010-07-12T07:18:00.000-07:00

This video was taken back in June, and I am just now getting around to editing and posting. Oops! The setting: Andiamo, a little cafe in downtown Springfield. I'm playing there again this Friday at 5 pm. I've been so focused on the release of my new children's CD, Time to Sing Hello, that it will be nice to sing some adult tunes again.

Wonderwall

2010-06-21T13:50:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I lied back in March when I said I was going to start posting here regularly. But now that summer is here (officially, today!) and school is out, I'm going to make an even better effort. No really, I am.

I thought it might be fun to post live covers as I record them on my new toy, the Fender Passport 500 Pro. I'm making a concerted effort to branch out when it comes to the songs I perform live, and this one was a suggestion from my brother. I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner; this was a favorite of mine when it first came out back in the 90s.

Today is gonna be the day
That they're gonna throw it back to you
By now you should've somehow
Realized what you gotta do
I don't believe that anybody
Feels the way I do about you now

Backbeat the word was on the street
That the fire in your heart is out
I'm sure you've heard it all before
But you never really had a doubt
I don't believe that anybody feels
The way I do about you now

And all the roads we have to walk along are winding
And all the lights that lead us there are blinding
There are many things that I would
Like to say to you
I don't know how

Because maybe
You're gonna be the one who saves me
And after all
You're my wonderwall

Today was gonna be the day
But they'll never throw it back to you
By now you should've somehow
Realized what you're not to do
I don't believe that anybody
Feels the way I do
About you now

And all the roads that lead to you were winding
And all the lights that light the way are blinding
There are many things that I would like to say to you
I don't know how

I said maybe
You're gonna be the one who saves me
And after all
You're my wonderwall

I said maybe
You're gonna be the one who saves me
And after all.
You're my wonderwall

Said maybe
You're gonna be the one that saves me
You're gonna be the one that saves me
You're gonna be the one that saves me

There are about 100 other songs I'd love to cover, so why not add a few more to the list? Let me know if you have any suggestions. I'm open to pretty much anything.

Ringing in Spring

2010-03-18T06:20:00.000-07:00

I've purposely been avoiding this blog for the last few months, mostly because I knew it needed a new look but I just didn't have the time or energy. This week I finally got around to it, and although it is still a work in progress, I am much happier with the look now. I'm also much more motivated to post here than I've been thus far in 2010!

Words cannot express how excited I am that tomorrow is the LAST day of winter. I absolutely loathe this season, and have been counting down the days until spring since, oh, January 1. There's no better way to ring in spring than to spend the weekend in Chicago, doing fun things like going to see the Bulls play (my first NBA game ever!), shopping, eating out, and watching Zach receive his 2009 "Agent of the Year" award at his company's annual banquet on Saturday night.

This spring is going to be a good one. In addition to our Chicago trip, I'll be spending the last week in March in St. Louis, recording a CD (my first real, live recording studio experience). Then the following week, Zach and I are heading to San Antonio for his company's rewards vacation. Not to mention the fact that the school year is winding down, with only a few weeks left before glorious summer vacation.

Life is good.

Whiteout

2010-01-01T12:30:00.000-08:00

This song was inspired by the snow falling outside my window earlier this week. It was so peaceful, especially since I knew I had nowhere to go. May be the beginnings of a Christmas album...

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://rachelrambach.bandcamp.com/track/whiteout"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Whiteout by Rachel Rambach&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

There isn’t anywhere, I have to go.
So let’s stay home, and watch the snow,
Fallin’, like I fell in love with you.

There isn’t anyplace, I have to be.
And you, you’re sitting next to me,
Smilin’, as our eyes enjoy the view.

White out, so bright out,
And all that I can see,
Is the snow, watchin’ it blow,
Knowing you’re in love with me.
I’m warm and cozy in this sweater,
But your arms are even better.
In this white out, let’s hide out,
Just stay.

I don’t have no plans tonight,
The air is cold, the lights are bright,
Twinklin’, through the snow that’s coming down.

I don’t have no friends to see,
‘Cause you’re right here, that’s all I need,
Chillin’, like the white stuff on the ground.

CHORUS (2x)

You Sure Were Fine, 2009

2009-12-31T08:21:00.000-08:00

We rang in 2009 at a friend's party in Chicago (as pictured above). It was fun, but I'm happy to say that we are staying in Springfield this New Year's Eve. No long drive home the morning after! We're going out for dinner, stopping by a neighbor's party, and then meeting up with my brother & co. downtown for the countdown to 2010.

But before we get to all of that, here's my second annual survey of the previous year (you can read the first one here).

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
I became a puppy mommy! Also, I opened a home studio for lessons and music therapy, wrote music for a children's DVD, and presented at both a national and state conference in the same week.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
One of my best friends, Jill, had a beautiful baby boy.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My grandma passed away in October.

5. What countries did you visit?
Unfortunately, none. Our trip to Mexico was postponed when we bought our new house earlier than planned.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Hmm...I have just about anything I could want already! But if I'm being greedy, I'd love new kitchen countertops and a master bath makeover.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
No one day stands out to me. The whole year was amazing and there are too many memorable moments to list.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Hands down, presenting at the national music therapy conference in San Diego. I overcame my fear of public speaking and discovered that I actually enjoyed it.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Same answer as last year. My lack of domesticity, especially in the kitchen. I am just too lazy/unmotivated/tired to actually cook after a long day of work. Hopefully this will change in 2010!

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Aside from the swine flu, bronchitis, and a particularly nasty case of laryngitis...nope, none.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Our new house! I love every square foot of it.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Same answer as last year. Definitely Zach's. He puts up with all of my momentary outbursts and complaining, and he loves me even at my very worst.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Jon Gosselin's. I watched "Jon & Kate + 8" way before it became popular, and seeing him turn into such a d-bag was a little more than disappointing.

14. Where did most of your money go?
HOUSE, HOUSE, and more HOUSE. Last year it was the wedding, this year it was down payments, new flooring, painters, furniture, etc. etc. But I don't regret one cent of it.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
All of the great publicity my music therapy work received this past year. Radio, television, newspaper, magazines...it was so exciting to see my profession be acknowledged so publicly.

16. What songs will always remind you of 2009?
"You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift, "I Gotta Feeling" by The Black Eyed Peas, and anything by Kelly Clarkson or Lady Gaga.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier. Life gets better every year!
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner. I'm back into my daily gym routine.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer. More clients and more projects.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Same answer as last year. Cooking. And keeping in touch with my friends. I've been really bad at that.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Less worrying. I worry about everything, and it always turns out ok. It's such a waste of time.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With our families. It was wonderful and exhausting, as usual.

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
I fall in love with Zach a little more each day. This year, I also fell in love with a tiny golden retriever puppy named Sadie.

23. How many one-night stands?
None, obviously.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
This year's new additions included Dexter, Californication, and 30 Rock.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is a strong word. There might be one or two people I dislike more now than before, but I'm not going to name any names.

26. What was the best book you read?
I loved Julie & Julia and The Four-Hour Work Week.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Hands down, Allison Weiss. I love her songs, and her DIY approach to her music career has really inspired me.

28. What did you want and get?
The perfect house and the perfect puppy. Oh, and an iPhone.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I loved "Up in the Air" and think it's definitely Oscar material. George Clooney is awesome.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned twenty-six. My parents threw a birthday party for me at The Corkscrew and then we went to the Alamo for drinks.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not much at all. It was a ridiculously great year. But maybe a shorter winter? I hate cold weather.

33. What kept you sane?
Having a garage to park in for the first time in my life! Words cannot describe the joy in my heart now that I no longer have to scrape my windshield on icy mornings. Also: summer vacation, family, my macbook, DVR, and whatever else I'm forgetting.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you admire the most?
I loved when Beyonce gave Taylor Swift the microphone during her speech at the VMAs after Kanye West interrupted Taylor's acceptance speech.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Probably health care.

36. Who did you miss?
Friends and family that live far away.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Does Sadie count? She's not a person, but she is the best!

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
The same lesson I learned in 2008 was only reinforced this year. Hard work pays off.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Do what you have to do so that someday, it's up to you."
What You Have to Do, by me!

On the Radio

2009-11-19T06:07:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to have made it to the airwaves, and on my favorite radio station, no less! I had the honor of writing two original songs based on two families' stories of how they were impacted by the Children's Miracle Network and St. John's Children's Hospital, here in Springfield. The songs were interweaved with those stories, and played for the first time this morning during the Radiothon.

It is so amazing, as a musician, to use what I have for good causes like this. My goal as a singer/songwriter is not to become rich and famous; I just want to play my music and have people listen and enjoy it. And I jump at the chance to be involved in anything that benefits other people (after all, I am a music therapist!) so the opportunity to be involved with the Radiothon is pretty amazing.

I'll be manning the phones as a volunteer during the last few hours of the Radiothon, on Saturday afternoon. And if you get a chance to listen (either live or online), I will be interviewed at 12:45 CST. Can't wait to be in the middle of all the action!

Does That Make Me Crazy?

2009-10-04T04:55:00.000-07:00

Probably...

Words of Wisdom

2009-10-02T07:46:00.000-07:00

My brain has been a little overwhelmed by life this week; therefore, this blog post is brought to you by the author of an email my mom just forwarded to me. I get a lot of these (mostly from my mom), but I really liked this particular one, penned by 90-year-old Regina Brett of Cleveland, Ohio. The email reads as follows:

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life has taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Maybe someday I will write my own list of life lessons I've learned. But that day is not today, so instead I just bolded a few of my favorites from good old Mrs. Brett. What would you add to the list?

10 Things I Did This Weekend

2009-09-27T18:05:00.000-07:00

1. Listened to three brothers complain about each other during their piano lessons.
2. Went to happy hour for the first time in...apparently, too long to even remember.
3. Ate dinner at Thai Kitchen with my in-laws. The norm.
4. Watched a particularly disturbing episode of "Hoarders". That show scares me.
5. Had my guitar restrung and bought my students' music for Festival.
6. Worked on my new song some more.
7. Saw "Twilight" finally. Still have yet to read the books.
8. Went to church.
9. Cleaned and organized the bathroom in between loads of laundry.
10. Wrote this while impatiently waiting for the return of Dexter.

I know, you're probably jealous of my exciting and glamorous life. I keep telling all of my friends, just move back to Springfield and you too can live the dream!

The Three F's

2009-09-23T06:47:00.000-07:00

Two posts in two days...look at this! Hopefully I can keep it up, though I'm not making any promises. On the agenda today is the Three F's, so without further ado:

F #1: Facebook

I have been a bit of a social media and all-around internet junkie lately (okay, even more so than usual) and just yesterday, created a Facebook page for my music. Sooooo, you might as well go ahead and become a fan.

F #2: Followers

And while you're at it, why not follow this blog? you can do that in the left-hand sidebar below. That way I'll know that people are actually reading, which is further motivation for more frequent posts. Yeaa!!

F #3: Friends

So now that you are a Facebook fan and a follower of this blog, we should probably be friends in real or virtual life, too. If you live in Springfield or know me from college, chances are that we are already friends, or at least acquaintances. If we've never met, go ahead and introduce yourself via the comments section of the blog, my Facebook page, or email. I can't wait to meet you!

Back to Basics

2009-09-22T08:34:00.001-07:00

Sooo....I made the switch to Tumblr back in July, and really liked it at first. The idea of short, frequent posts was appealing, and for a while, I got into sharing links, pictures and quotes in this format.

But I never really lost that "lonely kid on the playground" feeling. Tumblr has its own community, and even assigns popularity numbers (cleverly called Tumblarity) based on how many followers you have, the number of posts you write and reblog, etc. My Tumblarity was pretty pathetic, and aside from that, Tumblr and I just didn't click. I was over it.

So I'm back at Blogger, where I feel very loved. Hope you'll continue reading, and I'm sure to be better about posting now that I have reunited with my favorite blogging platform.

Did I Really Just Make a YouTube Video?

2009-08-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, yes I did.

Brand New

2009-07-10T06:29:00.000-07:00

My favorite self-written song yet, I think. I love the guitar accompaniment, which is saying a lot since usually I bore myself with my unoriginal strumming. Based on actual events :)

<a href="http://rachelrambach.bandcamp.com/track/brand-new">Brand New by Rachel Rambach</a>

My alarm clock rings,
And the birdie sings,
I roll out of bed
And do the same old morning things.

Get into the car,
Can’t believe I’ve made it quite this far,
I’m not gonna shoot an ace, but I can hope to
Come in under par.

I’m just getting through the day
So I can get to the night,
When I’m with you, got nothing to do,
That’s when I feel all right,

My problems seem to slip away,
And somehow it’s okay
When I crawl into bed with you
I know I’ll wake up brand new.

Yea, I’m a mess,
Could be worse, I guess
At least I’m coming home
Please baby, strip me of this stress.

I drink a glass of wine,
While you tell me I’ll be fine.
Eventually things will change
But I’d appreciate a sign.

CHORUS

You’re next to me, you keep me sane,
You’re the reason I’m still on this train
No telling what tomorrow brings
(Like dreams come true or diamond rings)
When I wake up to the song that the birdie sings:

CHORUS

By Your Side

2009-07-09T04:50:00.000-07:00

This is probably the most mellow song I've written so far. Not to be confused by Ben Harper's "By My Side" though that is one of my favorites. I may still play around with the lyrics a little.

<a href="http://rachelrambach.bandcamp.com/track/by-your-side">By Your Side by Rachel Rambach</a>

I still remember that night,
When you reached out your hand
You said come with me.
I hesitated and you reached out even farther
You said come with me.
You told me don’t worry, ‘cause I’ll be
By your side,
By your side.

I could have gone anywhere,
Done anything that I wanted
But I’m here with you.
I could have left anytime, escaped with no warning
But I’m here with you.
And that’s where I wanna be:
By your side,
By your side.

Because it doesn’t feel the same way without you,
Well, I’m guessing, ‘cause I haven’t tried.
And my hands would get cold if you took yours away,
So don’t.
Promise you’ll stay,
By my side.

You had a smile on your face
When you reached for my hand
And said stay with me.
You had a ring, got down on one knee
And said stay with me.
Was there ever a doubt I would be
By your side,
By your side.

CHORUS

By your side is where I’ll be
Where there’s you, there’s always me.
By your side.

CHORUS

Half-Full Girl

2009-07-07T20:56:00.000-07:00

The idea for this song popped into my head last week, so I went ahead and wrote it. The title refers to the "glass is half-full vs. half-empty" outlook on life. Although I can't say I always see life from the half-full perspective, I'm trying :)

<a href="http://rachelrambach.bandcamp.com/track/half-full-girl">Half-Full Girl by Rachel Rambach</a>

Yellow sunshine, clear blue skies.
After all the rain, what a nice surprise.
Open blinds and windows up,
Pour out the water in my half-empty cup.

‘Cause I’m more of a half-full girl, you see,
Don’t know why I let those showers get to me,
But now I’m trading in my umbrella for a pair of shades
I’m gonna need ‘em ‘cause the future’s bringing brighter days

I’m ready for this life, and what it’s got in store for me.
Don’t want to fall asleep and miss one single thing.
I’m ready for the feeling that my time has come,
But for now, all I’m gonna do is sing.

Drink my coffee, feel that high.
Watch the storm clouds keep on rolling by.
Count my blessings one by one,
And thank the Lord for all that He has done.

Like making me this half-full girl you see,
Who won’t let the small things in life get to me.
‘Cause I’ve traded in my umbrella for a pair of shades
I’m gonna need ‘em ‘cause the future’s bringing brighter days

I’m ready for this life, and what it’s got in store for me.
Don’t want to fall asleep and miss one single thing.
I’m ready for the feeling that my time has come,
But for now, all I’m gonna do is sing.

I’m gonna sing for my supper,
Gonna sing for my rent.
Gonna sing to have the life for which I know that I was meant.
I’m gonna sing until I’ve run out
Of the words and melodies
Because this life’s the only one I’ve got, and this day is mine to seize

I’ll always be a half-full girl, you see,
I’ll never let those showers get to me,
‘Cause I’ve traded in my umbrella for a pair of shades
And I need ‘em each and every single day

I’m ready for this life, and what it’s got in store for me.
Don’t want to fall asleep and miss one single thing.
I’m ready for the feeling that my time has come,
But for now, all I’m gonna do is sing.
But for now, all I’m gonna do is sing.

This One Time, at Bandcamp...

2009-07-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

So, I just discovered the coolest music-sharing site ever. Seriously, like, EVER. Well, ok, I didn't discover it. Actually, Allison Weiss (who is kind of my hero) found it first and tweeted about it today, and it seemed worth checking out. The site is called Bandcamp and it allows you to upload your music, which people can then listen to and download either for free or for a price set by you. It takes care of the technical stuff and transactions for you, yet doesn't take a cut of your sales. It also allows you to personalize your page's design, colors, and background. Click on "music" in the menu at the top of this page to see what I mean. And while you're there, you may as well download my album, My First Try. You have no excuse not to: it's free, guys.

Live at the Corkscrew

2009-07-05T12:10:00.000-07:00

This picture may lead you to believe that I was performing in the fancy cheese section of a grocery store, but in actuality, I was performing in the fancy cheese section of the Corkscrew Wine Emporium. The Corkscrew hosts a wine tasting every Friday, and I got to provide the entertainment this week! I had an absolute blast - new venue, new friends, and new songs.

I also took this as an opportunity to experiment with recording myself live (at the suggestion of my friend and fellow musician Joe Frawley), and it turned out ok. Not great, just ok. I learned a lot about microphone placement, but I'm still scratching my head at GarageBand. I recorded the entire set as one track and had no problems separating and independently saving the first 14 songs, but after that, GB kept telling me that the file type wasn't supported when I tried to save the last 9 songs. If you have any advice or insight, let me know!

Anyway, I thought I'd share the recordings that did turn out, so here they are (in alphabetical rather than performance order). Feel free to listen...and keep in mind, this was my first try :)

1, 2, 3, 4
Be OK
Crazy
Don't Know Why
Giving Up
Half-Full Girl
I Want You
I Will
Life is Wonderful
Lucky
Second Chance Dance
The Best Day
The Best Days of Your Life
What You Have to Do

ETA: My genius of a husband solved the GB problem! I should have just asked him in the first place, I suppose. Oh well. Here are the last 9 songs in performance order.

Sweet Sweet Summer
Sensitive
Scared of Heights
You've Got a Friend
You Belong With Me
By Your Side
The First Day of My Life
My Life Would Suck Without You
Baby Girl

"Half-Full Girl" and "By Your Side" are my two newest. I literally wrote them two days before the gig, so they are far from perfect. But let me know what you think!

And So It Begins

2009-06-27T12:36:00.000-07:00

Wedding Season, that is. We are at the age where just about all of our friends are getting engaged or married, which means we have lots of celebrating to do. And gift-buying, and check-writing, and bridal party gear purchasing...but that's all part of the fun :)

We have three weddings to attend in the next two months, and the first is tonight. Our friends Anthony and Erica are tying the knot here in Springfield, so we don't have to travel far. Bonus! Actually, only one of the three weddings this summer is out of town, and even then, it's less than two hours away. We'll save the real traveling for January, when we go to New Jersey/New York for Dustin and Kristin's nuptials.

All of these weddings bring back fond memories of ours, which - unbelievably - was almost an entire year ago. It was the most perfect day ever, and I was telling Zach last night that I wish we could do it all over again, just once. Not all of the planning and hard work, of course; just the day itself. Everything was perfect and beautiful and fun. But I'll save the real reminiscing until August.

Anyway, we're excited about the first wedding of the summer. A great excuse to get dressed up, have a few glasses of wine, and remind ourselves that we've been there, done that.

Dad's Day

2009-06-21T18:58:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day! This is my dad and I. We spent the afternoon and evening together, and I got to eat his delicious spaghetti :) I am so lucky to have an amazing dad, stepdad, and father-in-law. Hope your Father's Day was spectacular.

Engaged!

2009-06-17T19:16:00.000-07:00

This is my little brother Josh and his FIANCEE, Jeni. They just got engaged during a trip to South Carolina (where they are moving next week) and this is their official engagement photo. I kid, I kid...they are two beautiful people, as displayed below:

Jeni just received her bachelors degree in nursing from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville.

Josh completed his bachelors degree in psychology at University of Illinois in Springfield.

They are moving to Columbia, South Carolina next week, where Josh is entering the graduate program in criminology at USC and Jeni will begin her nursing career. Exciting stuff! My mom is throwing an engagement/going-away party for them this weekend; one last party before the BIG party...the WEDDING! One of the eight that Zach and I will be attending in the next year or so. And those are just the ones we know about already. Good thing we both love celebrating the nuptials of our friends and families :)

Ballers

2009-06-13T23:30:00.000-07:00

I think Sadie has more skillz than me on the basketball court.