Christmas Playlist - Hour 2

I go a bit more classic in sound this hour. There's some great sounds in this group!

Let It Snow - Kathy Troccoli/A Sentimental Christmas
Zune Amazon
-A CD well worth the wait. Amazing voice, great arrangements and amazing parings. This is just a nice easy listening jazz version of this Christmas classic. Sit back & enjoy.

Let There Be Peace on Earth - Vince Gill/The Purpose of Christmas
This came as a set with the book of the same name by Rick Warren. I found it at a local Christian bookstore.
-Sweet. Not over produced. Very simple so you can hear the beauty of the song. I love that his daughter joins him for this one!

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day - Bryan Duncan/Christmas is Jesus
Amazon
- Love the piano feel to this one. Again, I love the fact that it isn't sung like he has something to prove. It feels like a man & a piano singing carols with friend @ home!

Sleighride - Jane Monheit/The Season
Amazon
- Great jazz! From production to the amazing ease with with her voice floats over the riffs - this is good listening! I highly recommend the 2 disc set & get a few music videos you can play at your next holiday party!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Coldplay/Sounds of the Season:The NBC Holiday Collection (Also on Maybe This Christmas)
Amazon
- Hey, it's Chris Martin & Coldplay. Beautiful but not sappy. Gotta love it!

This Christmas - Jane Monheit/The Season
Amazon
- Nice love song sung beautifully. She makes it seem effortless!

Caroling, Caroling - Nat King Cole/The Christmas Song
Amazon
-A Christmas Classic sung by a musical legend. It doesn't get much better than this!

Moonlight in Vermont - Jane Monheit/The Season
Amazon
- By the title it doesn't seem to be a Christmas song. But the picture painted by the lyrics is the typical Norman Rockwell Christmas! This is nice to play sitting by the fire with a loved one! (And THAT is a good Christmas.) I love songs that make me slow down every now and then during the holidays to just enjoy the moment.

The Man with the Bag - Jane Monheit/The Season
Amazon
- Another great jazz song that picks the pace back up a bit and showcases the amazing vocal talent of Jane. I always picture a Big Band/USO show scene from the movies with this one!

Merry Christmas, Darling - Jane Monheit/The Season
Amazon
- A Christmas love song. Helps me to focus on family and forget all of the business of the season for a while!

Christmas Waltz - Jane Monheit/The Season
Amazon
- Another traditional Christmas song. Just a nice cheery song that makes me smile.

Old Time Christmas - Randy Travis/An Old Time Christmas
amazon
-I got this off of a CD from my mom. She loves country music & I actually was into country music in the 70's & early 80's living in Oklahoma. So I am always reminded of those times when I hear songs like this. It is typical Randy Travis - there is no denying his voice.

Meet Me Under the Mistletoe- Randy Travis/An Old Time Christmas
amazon
-A fun invitation to smooch on your loved one during the holidays. (I actually realized in May that I never took down the mistletoe in my house. Maybe it was subliminal! LOL!)

Face of Love - Jewel/Joy-A Holiday Collection
Amazon
-A beautiful song by a beautiful voice. I actually downloaded the rest of the album while looking up this link, so you might be seeing a few more of her songs popping up! This lyrics are so beautiful to this song! It is a "meaning of the holiday" song in Jewel's easy style.

White Christmas - Kathy Troccoli/A Sentimental Christmas
Zune Amazon
-I have always loved the quality of Kathy's voice (the sultriness of it). She reminds me of one of those 1940's big band lead female singers always portrayed in the movies. (I have a thing for Big Bands I guess!) This is such an understated version of the classic. It is so not in your face! Love it!

Christmas Time is Here - Mercy Me/The Christmas Sessions
Amazon
-The group's version of that old Charlie Brown classic. It sounds less depressing when sung by Mercy Me! It is joyful and hopeful and everything that children believe Christmas to be!

Joseph's Lullaby - Mercy Me/The Christmas Sessions
Amazon
-There are lots of songs about Mary, but this is a great one about Joesph's viewpoint of those events so many years ago. I like that!

World Christmas - R. Kelly/Sounds of the Season/R & B Collection
The Sounds of the Seasons are CD's that Target puts out every year. I am sure you can find it there.
-We are not alone! A fun song! A bit different. It keeps you on your toes as it makes a couple of style & pace changes throughout. But fun.

Well, that's it for hour 2. Only 12 more to go!

Getting the Party Started-Holiday Playlist Hour 1

Well, Here it goes. Starting to bare my soul & probably let you in on way more than I bargained for by sharing my holiday play list & why I chose these particular songs/versions.


I love music you can dance to and this first hour is all about getting me up & motivated. So I picked songs that do just that - at least for me!

Green Christmas -Bare Naked Ladies/Dr. Suess's How the Grinch Stole Christmas Soundtrack
Zune Amazon
- Some of the music in this reminds me of my alarm clock. So I thought it was appropriate to start the day with this one.

Boogie Woogie Santa Clause - Brian Setzer Orchestra/Christmas Comes Alive
itunes amazon
-A Little Brian Setzer makes the day better! If it sounds familiar - think back to the "Stray Cats". Yeah, it's that guy!

Santa Clause is Back in Town - Elvis Presley/Christmas Peace
Rhapsody Amazon
-It's Elvis! It's Classic. Enough said.

Step Into Christmas - Elton John/Elton John's Christmas Party
Amazon
-It's Elton John, and I love Elton John. The only negative is that you can really hear a quality difference in the recording compared to others, but crank it up and step away!

I Wish Everyday Could Be Like Christmas - Bon Jovi/A Very Special Christmas
Itunes Amazon
-Who doesn't LOVE Bon Jovi?!?!? (This one's for you Donna! LOL!) As someone who grew up listening to the band and going to their concerts, I always add some Bon Jovi into every mix! Thank goodness they did this Christmas album!

O Come, All Ye Faithful - Faith Hill/Joy to the World
Itunes Amazon
-A good version of the original hymn. Beautifully sung.

Christmas Here with You - The Four Tops/Give Love on Christmas Day
I actually found this in the bargain bin @ Target. But you might be able to find it elsewhere.
-Classic, old school motown.

Christmasy - Brian Wilson/What I Really Want for Christmas
ITunes Amazon
-Two words: BEACH MUSIC. This is Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, so the sound is very familiar. But having grown up on the beaches of the Gulf Coast, the Beach Boys sound runs through me like blood!

The Man with All the Toys - Brian Wilson/What I Really Want for Christmas
ITunes Amazon
- Again Beach Music! But I can also hear this one sung by Frankie Avalon and the crowd in some Christmas Beach Blanket movie! Just good clean fun! Try some of those 60's dance moves to this one!

On Christmas Day - Brian Wilson/What I Really Want for Christmas
ITunes Amazon
-Just a nice sweet song done as only Brian Wilson can do it.

Oh Santa - Mariah Carey/Merry Christmas II You
ITunes Zune Amazon
-Love the energy of this one from her newly released Christmas CD! Definitely dancing music. I'm thinking about adding it to my cardio mix for the month of December!

Santa Baby - Madonna/A Very Special Christmas
Itunes Amazon
-As one who grew up with Madonna (singing all of her songs and yes, even dressing like her) I had to add this one in. The original by Ertha Kitt is also amazing & I have it in my collection as well. A cute version of the materialism we get to see in full force at the holidays!

Little Saint Nick - Brian Wilson/What I Really Want for Christmas
ITunes Amazon
-I love Santa songs. Add a true Beach Boys sound and I'm hooked!

What I Really Want for Christmas - Brian Wilson/What I Really Want for Christmas
ITunes Amazon
-A nice song, easy to listen to! Classic Beach Boys harmonies & sweet sentiments.

Nutcracker Suite/Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies - Del Rey/??
I think I got this from a my space page.
-What I love about this arrangement is that it's not syrup-y sweet. Yes I love the ballet & the "Nutcracker Suite" and look forward to taking Little Bit to see them soon. But this has a dirty, gritty indie rock sound that just kicks butt. It makes you want to get up and do something! Another one I might add to my cardio mix for December.

Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town - Faith Hill/Joy to the World
Itunes Amazon
-Again a good fun classic Santa song. (I have to admit I do have another version of this song much later in my mix, because I couldn't decide between the two!)

Run Rudolph, Run - Chuck Berry/??
Rhapsody Amazon
- Classic Rock N Roll by one of the best. It's hard to sit still for this one!

My Gift to You - Alexander O'Neal/Give Love on Christmas Day
I actually found this in the bargain bin @ Target. But you might be able to find it elsewhere.
-Nice & easy. I like the sentiment.

Well, that's it for hour one. Stay tuned for the next installment. And prepare to delve even deeper into my brain!

My Schizophrenic Holiday Playlist

Well, it's that time of year & I'm really looking forward to the holidays this year! My Christmas/Anniversary gift shopping is all done and I've already started listening to Christmas Music. YES! I am one of those people! But I can only do it because I have over 14 hours of non-repetitive music in my play list. I can only handle "Jingle Bells" so many times a day, you know? It has been a collection that has grown over the last few years and I add to it yearly. So many have asked me about it I thought I'd blog about it - an hour at a time- over the next fourteen days. So even if you're not ready for Christmas music until December 1st, my whole list (with links) will be there waiting for you when you are!
I love holiday music and if you're taking one of my classes in December, I promise-you will be hearing some of these tunes in class!
I think you truly get to know about someone when you look at their mP3 player! I warn you now, this mix started as background music for a brunch, so I was trying to get many different types of music to please everyone and the idea stuck. I call it Christmas Schizophrenia! It's an awesome mix, and I am willing to bet that you will be able to find at least one song you like! So talk to you tomorrow with my first installment!

Goin' for the Dream

So do whatever it takes/'cause you can't rewind a moment in this life/let nothing stand in your way/'cause the hands of time are never on your side~~Nickelback "If Today Was Your Last Day"

Saturday morning I had the opportunity to reconnect with a truly amazing woman in my life. Irene is a friend of the family - she & her husband, Larry are friends of my parents. I was in high school when I first met them. Larry had been diagnosed with Multiple Schlorosis and left the military. She not only had two step sons to care for, now her husband would need care for the rest of his life. She was always smiling and positive and full of spunk. Then she decided to return to school (at a mature age 40+) and get a masters and PhD in psychology. If you know anything about that particular degree, it is one of the hardest to get. And yet she never slowed down in pursuit of her dream and was always positive. 15 years ago I returned to the Gulf Coast to watch her graduate with her PhD.

Saturday, I got to catch up with her face to face. Now that I have my own family and fought my own battles, she is even more amazing to me. She is still so positive (after almost losing her husband in January) and extremely spunky! She is nice & personable, but watch out when she becomes an advocate for someone! She is still so strong and you don't want to battle against her. While working full-time, taking care of hubby, and beginning the process of following her next dream - she became one-half of the vehicle that rebuilt the city of D'Iberville after hurricane Katrina. The amazing thing was the city is stronger than ever and an economic driving force on the coast. They did it all in 4 years with only team of volunteers!

She began talking about retirement next year. (She has been working as a middle school counselor all these years). When most people would be looking at slowing down - she's is taking on a project to "leave her legacy". Like rebuilding a city making it better than ever isn't enough? Now she will be opening a children's museum and cultural arts center in her town. She is midway through the process - has funding and even praise from the Smithsonian! She will retire in August and then start the labor intensive work of building this dream physically. And we will travel be there for the grand opening!

I have a big dream, a dream that would be my legacy. Not every one gets it or understands it. That's ok. I am willing to fight for it and make it a priority. Those that share my vision are the ones who get my time and attention. The only way this is going to happen is if I make it happen. Irene reminded me of that. So no more griping that so-and-so doesn't get it or support me.

I will make it happen and leave my legacy.

So You Think You Can Dance

I love "So You Think You Can Dance". I used to dance, so I am sucked into watching these contestants grow and mature each week. There is always something that moves me. But last season, one of the choreographers put together a dance honoring those fighting breast cancer. I didn't just have tears streaming down my face, I had a good cathartic cry. I was so moved by how he supported and carried her, just as my friends did me. This video serves as a reminder to me how incredibly blessed I am to be surrounded by the friends I have. There were days that I felt like I was taking a giant leap to nowhere and they were there to catch me just as Ade caught Melissa. My friends let me have my moments to scream and cry. There were days that my friends lifted me up on their shoulders in prayer, love and support and carried me through, just as these dancers finished their routine.

It may not have the same effect on you, but I just wanted to share it today. So much beauty and grace...

Right Place, Wrong Time

For a week now I had the nagging feeling that I had my final 6 month mammogram this morning (@ 7 am!). I just couldn't shake the feeling - even though my memory is spotty at best these days! But I didn't get a reminder call and I couldn't find it on my calendar, so I wrote it off as a mistake.
Wouldn't you know it at 7:00 this morning an alarm goes off on my phone that my appointment is at 8 am! Talk about a rude awakening! Leave it to me to forget to check the calendar on my phone!
The great thing about living where I do - it only took me 15 minutes to get to the center! I arrive at 7:45 after hastily getting ready and getting my parents to watch "Little Bit" who is still sleeping, only to get a very quizzical look from the receptionist. She can't seem to find me on the schedule or in the computer! Urghhh! After looking for 15 minutes, she FINALLY found me...tomorrow morning! There wasn't a lot of conviction in her voice that I actually did have an appointment, so I decided to call and verify!
The appointment is tomorrow morning. I am scheduled to arrive at 7 am...who scheduled this again??? I am obviously out of my mind thinking that would work! The scheduling coordinator was very helpful and together we enjoyed a good laugh over my showing up a day early! I'm glad I could make someone's day!
This is another milestone. After tomorrow I get to return to mammograms only once a year! In a way I'm going to miss these days. I have been through the women's center so much over the last two years I am an expert. I know where the comfy robes are hidden. I know where the best snacks & beverages are kept. I even know where to find the tv remote! I know most of the staff by name. I get to comfort and encourage other women who are also waiting, some for the first time. And I usually get to do all of this before I wake up most other mornings! Tomorrow will be bittersweet. A clean bill of health means moving on!
So tomorrow, I will be prepared. Now, I just have to set my alarm so I don't over sleep!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Ok, I just had a birthday (on the 4th). And I am very proud to say that I turned 42. Now most women don't want to admit their age past a certain point, but for me birthdays are extremely special in light of all that I've been through the past two years.
The American Cancer Society says that "Happy Birthday" is a victory song. No matter how ridiculous & cheesy (sorry ACS) that may sound to some of you - I have to agree. After someone has received a life changing, life challenging diagnosis birthdays don't mean you are another year older they mean you are another year older! And that's a good thing! Every birthday becomes a milestone - no matter the age. And considering that I finished my last treatment the day before my 40th, I can attest to the sheer joy of watching the numbers go up on my age!
So if the Birthday song is a song of victory, then in my opinion wishing someone birthday wishes is a victory chant! And everyone in your life can join in. It only takes 1-2 seconds (really) but it touches the deepest part of that person. By sharing birthday wishes, you are celebrating life with the birthday boy/girl.
Therefore, I would like to thank all of the incredible people in my life who took time (by tweet, text, FB, email, phone call or card) to wish me a happy birthday! Each one touched me deeply. (I am actually choking up now thinking about it!) Because what those 1-2 seconds of your life shared with me was that I have a life worth celebrating! I am very blessed to have so many people in my world who value me enough to take the time and say "Happy Birthday!"
I love you all bunches and hold you close in my heart!
Thank you again!