Ding-a-ling-along-ding-dong-Ding!



Count Down w/us!

 Day 5 of the "25 Days of Christmas" is one of the main reasons I decided to participate.  I really...dearly... freakishly... LOVE Christmas music! Two months ago, while everyone else was doin' the Monster Mash, I was ready to listen to my jingly-jolly favorites, but figured someone would check me in to the Athens Lunatic Asylum if I tried.  Thankfully, it's December - and I can listen to as many *ho**ho**ho*s and *ding* *dong* *dings* as I please!

To get my Christmas music fix, I tune in to 93.3 WLZT-Columbus the entire length of every single workday.  Their playlist is extremely long with tons of variety, the DJs have vibrant personalities, and they give away tons of prizes throughout the holiday season.  (Last year, I won tickets to see Mariah Carey!)


As for favorite songs, "Sleigh Ride" by the Ronettes is THE one. It must be the Ronettes version. Must. Fast-paced, retro, and fun, it makes me want to go frolic in the snow! I have it set as my ring tone, and lucky for you, I found a less-than-decent video with decent sound quality on Youtube. Please, listen. And feel free to get up, dance around, and smile - it's a totally normal response to this super happy holiday tune!



The following songs round out my top 10 Christmas tunes list:
2. Wham! - Last Christmas
3. Carpenters - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
4. Vince Guarauldi - Christmastime is Here (aka Charlie Brown Christmas) 
5. Burl Ives - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
6. Bruce Springsteen - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
7. Elvis Presley - Here Comes Santa Claus
8. Michael Buble - Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
9. Jackson 5 - Santa Claus is Comin' to Town
10. Carrie Underwood - Do You Hear What I Hear?

Mariah Carey's version of "Christmastime is Here" - ya know - the Charlie Brown tune - is absolutely amazing, and can be purchased on itunes from her newest album, "Merry Christmas II You".

I'm going to sign off with a fantastic video of my family singing a classic tune originally released by the Dixie Cups in 1964 and later recorded by the Ronettes. Enjoy my fam's version of "Chapel of Love", performed last week on Thanksgiving Day!

Dear Kanye

R.I.P. College Dropout Bear

Is there a celebrity you would like to write a letter to?  Do it, then link up at Mama Kat's!

"Power" artwork and bear graphics, google.com; Lyrics by Kanye West.

My Birthday Billboard #1's

In honor of my 27th birthday that is TOMORROW, I'm digging up some Billboard archives and listing the 27 songs that were #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on my birthday, from the years 1983 thru 2010. 

Do you remember these?

1983 - "Islands in the Stream" - Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
1984 - "Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)" - Billy Ocean
1985 - "Part-time Lover" - Stevie Wonder
1986 - "True Colors" - Cyndi Lauper

1987 - "I Think we're Alone Now" - Tiffany
1988 - "Kokomo" - the Beach Boys
1989 - "Listen to your Heart" - Roxette
1990 - "Ice Ice Baby" - Vanilla Ice

1991 - "Cream" - Prince & the New Power Generation
1992 - "End of the Road" - Boyz II Men
1993 - "I'd Do Anything for Love (but I Won't do That)" - Meatloaf
1994 - "I'll Make Love to You" - Boyz II Men

1995 - "Fantasy" - Mariah Carey
1996 - "No Diggity" - Blackstreet feat. Dr. Dre
1997 - "Candle in the Wind" - Elton John
1998 - "The First Night" - Monica
1999 - "Smooth" - Santana feat. Rob Thomas
2000 - "Come on Over" - Christina Aguilera

2001 - "Family Affair" - Mary J Blige

2002 - "Lose Yourself" - Eminem
2003 - "Baby Boy" - Beyonce feat. Sean Paul
2004 - "My Boo" - Usher & Alicia Keyes

2005 - "Gold Digger" - Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx

2006 - "My Love" - Justin Timberlake feat. T.I.

2007 - "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" - Soulja Boy Tell 'em
2008 - "Whatever You Like" - T.I.
2009 - "Fireflies" - Owl City

and... this year, the #1 Billboard Hot 100 song is...

2010 - "Like a G6" - Far East Movement -

which is totally disappointing...(thanks a LOT for the horrible birthday song, BILLBOARD!) I even stuck this on my iPod in an effort to try to "feel its rhythm", or whatever, but IT AIN'T HAPPENIN'.  Not even on the treadmill. Which is surprising, because almost anything can keep me moving on the treadmill. This song makes me cringe - worse than Cream by Prince & the NPG.

My dear husband, when you read this, I know you're going to want to listen to "Like a G6" and dissect the rhetorical pedagogy that is used in the lyrics. Er.. something. But please... PLEASE spare your wife the mortification. It's horrible! I am ashamed! Kesha is WAY better, just take my word for it!!!

I can honestly say that I enjoy listening to just about every song on my list of birthday #1's... but the top three would have to be Fantasy by miss Mariah, Smooth because I love Rob Thomas a ton and a half, and Gold Digger - not because I can relate or anything, but because I love Kanye West's music!

Last night my hubs and I watched Woody Allen's "You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger" at the small theatre in town.  Tonight, we're going to freeze our faces off at the last Ohio Bobcat home football game of the season.  Which will be the last Ohio Bobcat football game I ever attend at Peden Stadium in Athens. I already predict that I will be a little emotional when the game is over! When I moved to Athens, I was a die-hard MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD fan that wanted absolutely nothing to do with the Bobcats.  I gave them a chance.  And now, I love 'em.  I'm gonna miss them!  GO CATS!

I hope you all are having a wild and wonderful Friday-eve. Join me on my Birthday tomorrow - I have an extra special post planned, and I definitely want you to stop by!

My childhood obsessions

Back in the early 90's, my cute little french braided, teased-banged, rosy cheeked, purple stirrup pant-wearing self was obsessed with the following stuff:

Lisa Frank (not surprising):

My favorite was Panda Painter, I was an "official member" (whatever that meant) of the Lisa Frank Club, and I totally wish I still had some Lisa Frank stationery now! I can still taste the lemon fruit dip that was a featured recipe in an issue of the Lisa Frank newsletter (confectionary sugar, lemon juice, plain yogurt, i made it every day!) I remember the $50 rainbow-striped sweater that I obsessed over when LF came out with a clothing line. Ohhh... Lisa Frank. How I miss you!

Twinkies (a little strange for me, but I hadn't made it into the Chocolate phase yet):

I couldn't stop eating these things!  It all came to an abrupt end, though, when the asbestos-laced Twinkie recall hit the news.  That's when I first learned how inconvenient food recalls can be!

Beavis & Butthead (strange obsession for a cute little girl with french braided hair):

I watched the show religiously. "Buuut it's a cartooooon!" I would say to my friends' parents, who disapproved of the show and were probably terrified of me, the straight A student who seemed like the perfect influence but really destroyed their childrens' lives by introducing them to the ultra-vulgar animated series.  My mom  let me watch it, but didn't really like it at all - she disliked it enough to make me feel guilty about what I was doing. Sometimes I would sneak off to grandma's house to watch it, so mom wouldn't have to hear the never-ended "uhhh huh huh huh"'s and all of the craps, asses, bungholes, and cornholios.  Sidenote: this past summer, I finally sold my copy of "Beavis and Butthead Do America" at a yardsale I had back in my hometown.  One of my old friends stopped by, saw it on sale for $2, and almost cried - and died.  She couldn't believe I was parting with it! Heh Heh-Heh

Meatloaf (the singer, not the food - and this is the strangest obsession of all!)
"I Would Do Anything For Love" was my favorite song in 4th grade.  My dad was a Meatloaf fan, I thought my dad was cool, so I became a Meatloaf fan, too.  I still know all of the lyrics to every track on the Bat Out of Hell II album.  I'll never forget the MTV Top 20 Video Countdown back in those days - it was always a battle between Dr. Dre's "Let Me Ride", Salt-n-Pepa's "Shoop", Aerosmith's "Crazy", and Meatloaf's 7 minute long video, for the #1 spot.  Man, whatever happened to music videos actually being aired on MTV?




A special thanks to the amazing Mama Kat for her awesome weekly writing prompts! Head over to Mama Kat's Losin it to get rid of writer's block! She is every blogger's knight in shining polka dots!

The Boys of Summer

"I'm at the Beach Week" post #2:

Here's a list of my most frequently played music by male artists this summer - I have a bizarrely wide variety of taste in music! When I hear these songs a decade from now, I will automatically be taken back to the summer of 2010:

Usher - "O.M.G."  (the song of the summer!)
Nas & Damian Marley - Distant Relatives (album)
Vampire Weekend - "Giving up the Gun"
Drake - "Find Your Love"
Erik Hassle - "Hurtful" (I can't wait to hear what's next from this guy)
B.O.B. - "Airplanes" (the sound of hip-hop is really changing!)
Eminem - Recovery (album) (I'm predicting a Grammy win)
Brandon Flowers - "Crossfire" (the Killers' leading frontman has gone solo!)
Kanye West - "Power" (love him or hate him, he's back!)
Michael Bolton - One World, One Love (album)  (Go ahead and laugh!  I've loved Michael ever since I was a little girl and I always will! haha...)

Hope you all are having a super awesome, sunny August day!  I would like to welcome everyone stopping by from Tuesday Tag-a-long, Tuesday Following, and Follow Me Back Tuesday! I always show my love for blog hops - just visit my blog hops page to see where I'm at each day of the week!

I'll be back tomorrow with another pre-scheduled blog post - I apologize for the simplicity of these things, but a girl's gotta vacation a little! :D  I will keep up with my new followers all week, so sit tight - I will visit your blogs as soon as I can! :)

As always, thanks for reading!
I'm linking up at Follow me Back Tuesday, Tagalong Tuesday, and Tuesday Following!

Friday Free-write (No.6) and Music Video Flashback

Wow! Friday again already?!?  NICE!
I have quite a few random things on my mind:

The NBA Draft was pretty interesting last night - if you know me, you know I love me some SPORTS! Patrick Patterson (University of Kentucky), from Huntington WV, was drafted 14th overall by the Houston Rockets and will play alongside Yao Ming.  I watched both him and O.J. Mayo play for Huntington High in the WV State Basketball Championship a few years ago - it was their senior year, the Civic Center was sold out, and they played an amazing game.  Everyone in the building knew both of them would become NBA superstars.  It's so great to see that it's worked out for both WV boys!  Marshall University's Hassan Whiteside, one of the leading shot-blockers in the NCAA in 2009-10, was drafted in the 2nd round, 33rd overall, by the Sacremento Kings.  Whiteside is super young (19) and probably not as mature as he needs to be for the NBA right at this point, but he will get there - I'm sure his game will improve immensely with experience.  I traveled to Huntington and watched the Herd this past winter, and you could tell that Whiteside was a giant - but a little less mature than the older players. Anyhoo, I can't wait to follow both Patterson and Whiteside in the NBA next season - Anyone from WV or Marshall University is near and dear to my heart!

My Mommy and Step-dad are coming to visit today thru tomorrow!  We're doing the typical family visit things - dinner out, maybe some tasty dessert or a good coffee somewhere, trotting around Ohio U's campus, taking pictures, then hitting up the Farmer's Market tomorrow.  Mom and I are also heading to the big Bath and Body Works Semi-Annual Sale - i've been holding off for her visit! 

I finally joined the 21st century and got a new phone this week.  I chose the Iphone, because every other Apple product i have is totally awesome and hasn't failed me one time.  Seriously, folks - I'm overwhelmed!  I went from this (go ahead and giggle!):

to this:

Which is quite a JUMP!  I didn't have a transition phone - you know, to baby step my way from the most basic flip phone that weighs 14 pounds to one of the top smart phones on the market - so you can imagine my excitement (and current state of feeling overwhelmed!)  I feel like I have POWER with this thing - It's amazing! haha 

Finally, a note on Eminem's new album (which sort of goes hand in hand with my video flashback.) Recovery, which was released on Monday, is super serious and in my opinion, some of his best music. There is a track on Recovery that everyone is RAAAVING about - it is called "No Love", featuring Lil' Wayne - and contains a sample of an older Dance/techno song from the early 90's (I'm talkin' Dance mix USA)  that I'm betting most of Eminem's younger fans have never heard.  For those of you who've heard this particular song (school dances and John Garobedian's Open House Party in the early-mid 1990's), you should enjoy this trip back in time. For those youngins who are loving this song and are wondering "who came UP with that awesome hook?" I present to you, "What is Love" by Haddaway (Aka the "Night at the Roxbury" song.)  Break out your cotton stirrup leggings and slouchy socks, because Here. We. GO!:

"Friday Five" - Steph's 5 Favorite Songs EVER

Today, I'm playing along with Beth over @ Just Me and My Life - here are my top five favorite songs EVER - the songs that inspire me the most and always make me feel "music happy" (in no particular order, because all are equally awesome):

Bright Lights (More Than You Think You Are)- MB20

This album was released in fall 2002 - my freshman year in College, and my first year living away from home, in the city of Huntington.  It sort of "spoke" to me in a way - I would also have to say that this album is my absolute favorite album of any artist - of all time :)

Always Be My Baby (Daydream)- Mariah Carey

Oh, the days of being a pre-teen... when I started discovering boys, Mariah was always there to explain everything about love.  I think this is one of the sweetest, cutest girly songs ever - and I loved when David Cook performed a cover of it on American Idol.

Spaceship (College Dropout) - Kanye West

"I've been workin' this graveshift, and I ain't made Sh*!,

I wish I could buy me a spaceship and fly... past the sky"

- Story of my life when it comes to being employed.  Isn't it everyone's? 

Rhythm Nation (Rhythm Nation 1814) - Janet Jackson

I was super young when I first heard this song - it opened my eyes up to the realities of the world we live in today, as well thinking critically about racial prejudice and being socially aware. I knew at a very young age that it wasn't right to be a close-minded.  Thank you, Miss Janet.

Ants Marching (Under the Table and Dreaming) - Dave Matthews Band

Who doesn't want to just get up, get happy, and dance around when this is played? 

It's my favorite DMB song of all time - since the age of 12.

And there you have it!  My favorite songs ever, included on almost all of my Ipod playlists - even if they don't match the playlist theme.  My must haves.  My forever loves.  My five favorite songs ever...


Many thanks to Beth - feel free to check out her blog and participate in Friday Five!




Happy FRIDAY!

Music Video Flashback Friday

On this day in 1997 - and the remainder of the summer of '97 - Grammy Award-winning "I'll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy (Sean "Diddy" Combs), Faith Evans, and 112 topped the Billboard charts. The song is in memory of rap artist Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace). Personally, I am a fan of hip hop, (although not as huge of a fan as my husband) and I have always liked this song. It meant a little more after I learned about Christopher Wallace's life by watching the 2009 biopic, "Notorious".
"I'll be Missing You" is a beautiful song, ain't no doubt about it - check out the video!

Glam Nation Tour Recap

It's about time that I fill you in on the concert I attended Monday night!  Adam Lambert's sold out "Glam Nation Tour" rolled into Columbus on 6/14, where lots of American Idol/Adam fans stood in a line that stretched across downtown C-bus for hours, waiting on Season 8's runner-up to "Strut" his stuff - and that's exactly what he did. 
The show was held at the Community Lifestyles Pavilion, which is a standing room only indoor/outdoor facility. All tickets were general admission, so it was "every Adam fan for him/herself".  My friend and I arrived at around 5:30, and hopped in line.  We chatted with a great group of Adam fans - all of which were middle-aged women who would happily leave their husbands and kids behind should Adam begin dating women and ask them to come on the road with him. Yes, seriously - women LOVE him.  I love him - but not like these women!  During the chit chat, I learned that Adam applies his eyeliner, then a layer of eye shadow over the liner, then another layer of eyeliner for staying power (one lady knew all of his makeup secrets - she read them in a British Magazine interview.)

Once inside the Pavilion, we rushed up the stairs to the upper level - I can never see over others' heads when i'm in the floor - it has something to do with that whole 'being short' thing.  We found our places and pretty much stood in the same spot for three hours... lots of fans were fighting for a closer view, but like my friend repeatedly said to every person around her - "Ya Snooze, Ya Lose" (which made me laugh every single time for some reason.) 

Allison Iraheta, the cute red-head from AI Season 8 (who placed 3rd) opened the show.  She is a total firecracker on stage - so much better than she was on American Idol!  Orianthi was also part of the opening act (you may remember her as the blond lead guitarist in Michael Jackson's This is It.)  Both artists rocked it out, but nothing compared to Adam...

Adam's set featured tons of fog and seizure-inducing laser light effects, along with a bunch of other "Glam" stuff (surprise, surprise!).  He ran through his entire album, For Your Entertainment, with the exception of two songs, and even squeezed in that eastern-inspired version of "Ring of Fire" that everyone either REALLY loved - or REALLY hated - when he performed it on American Idol (honestly, he scared me with that AI performance.)  GLAMberts sang along to every single song, but skipped the really high notes - which Adam hit right on every single time.  I especially loved his dramatic, slower performances.  He's really great at entertaining, and by the end of the concert I had a newfound respect for him.  I didn't get great photos - my concert photos always look like a big flaming, glowing ball of crap - but I have some great memories!

The most surprising - and oddly satisfying - thing about the whole concert was the audience.  I assumed that everyone attending the concert would have glittered and glammed it up with black hair, lots of leather, tons of sequins, face paint, you get the idea.  Umm, NO?  There were only a few Adam lookalikes in the crowd, which mostly consisted (and when i say "mostly", i mean like, 95% or more) of your average adult - no funky costumes, just a few thousand people who love American Idol and adore everything about Adam. I am very grateful that I was a part of the Columbus Audience, and I look forward to watching Adam (and Allison, and Orianthi) succeed and fill larger venues in the future.  Glam Nation Tour = Lots of positive energy and GREAT fun!

Music Video Flashback Friday

On this day in 1985, Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" topped the billboard charts. This was the first U.S. # single for the brit rock/pop band. I'm pretty sure you've heard it, and if you're like me, you LOVE when it makes a surprising appearance on the radio! Enjoy a corny 80's video for an awesome 80's song:

"Welcome to your life, there's no turning back..."

Flashback Friday - 1996

I asked Todd to pick a year, any year, off the top of his head...

1996 it is!

In the week of June 4th, 1996, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony topped the Billboard charts with "Tha Crossroads". This song also earned a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

Now, it's time to take a little trip back... back to the days when MTV still played music videos, and this video was always #1 on the Top-20 Countdown. Good times, good times...

Flashback Friday - Special Playlist!

I'm heading back to my hometown in Webster County, WV this weekend. In honor of my trip to "almost heaven", I made a playlist of nothin' but country music. This was based on the responses I received from FB friends when i posted the question, "What's your favorite country song?"


So, press play and enjoy while you're playing around on the internet!

Video Flashback Friday

On this day in 1994, "I Swear" by All-4-One topped the Billboard Charts. The track was originally written for and performed by country music artist John Michael Montgomery, but was later covered by the California-based R&B group. It topped the charts for 11 straight weeks during the summer of 1994. It was named by the ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) as one of the greatest love songs of the 20th century. Ahh... takes me back to 4th Grade school dances!

Video Flashback Friday

Ashanti's "Foolish" topped the Billboard Charts in May 2002. What's so significant about May 2002, you ask? I graduated from Webster County High School. So here's to all the '02 grads, and anyone who happens to be Ashanti fans (hellooo??? are you still out there?) I'm still a fan! And now, I'm in the mood to watch "John Tucker Must Die"!)