My New Running Playlist!

Thanks to everyone who responded to my Facebook request and told me their favorite running songs to me to help freshen up my playlist! I have included a list of the ones that were fast enough paced to make my playlist (I need a rapid, driving beat to keep me moving with enough speed to burn the calories!). I also included my previous favorites for running because some people requested them. Feel free to suggest new songs to this list in the comments section!

Letty's Old Songs from her Previous Half-Marathon Training (1st Attempt)

Don't Turn Around	Ace of Base
The Way You Make Me Feel	Michael Jackson
Say Hey, I Love You	Michael Franti
Ooh Boy (I Love You So)	Real McCoy
Where Is Your Boy Tonight	Fall Out Boy
The First Single (You Know Me)	The Format
Another Night	Real McCoy
Can't Hurry Love	Supremes
Live to Love Another Day	Keith Urban
Since You've Been Gone	Kelly Clarkson
Happy Girl	Martina McBride
Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun	Cyndi Lauper
You Spin Me Right Round	Dead or Alive
Uptown Girl	Me First and the Gimme Gimmes
You're Still the One	New Found Glory
Superman	Goldfinger
Single Ladies	Beyonce
Rockin' With the Rhythym of the Rain	The Judds
When Love Takes Over	David Guetta Featuring Kelly Rowland
Can't Get You Out of My Head	Kylie Minogue
Hot N Cold	Katie Perry (Radio Edited Version)
I Get Knocked Down	Chumbawamba
Attention	The Academy Is

New Songs For a Running/ Half-Marathon Training Playlist (2nd Attempt)

Who Let the Dogs Out	Baha Men
Burn It Down	AWOLnation
Check Yes Juilet	We The Kings
Watcha Say	Jason Derulo
Oh No	Marina and the Diamonds
Without You	David Guetta
Fighter	One Republic
Hall of Fame	The Script
Boogie Wonderland	Earth Wind and Fire
It's Time	Imagine Dragons
Marching On	One Republic
Move Along	All American Rejects
Bom Bom	Sam and the Womp
We Are Family	Sister Sledge
Shake Your Groove Thing	Alvin and the Chipmunks
Down Under	Men at Work
Baby Likes to Rock it	The Tractors
Jump Jive and Wail	Brian Setzer Orchestra
Can't Touch This	MC Hammer
Bust A Move	Glee Cast
Marry You	Glee Cast
Survivor	Destiny's Child

Discouragement: A Germ of Its Own

Hey peoples! I know I'm not writing much here lately, but I wanted to throw up this link to my scripture study / spiritual insights blog by way of reminder that I a) have one and b) have been writing in it lately.

http://afterthemannerofhappyness.blogspot.com/2013/01/discouragement-germ-of-its-own.html

Also for those who are interested, my sister Rose's missionary blog from the Rome, Italy Mission is also keeping me super busy with posting her letters and pictures. It is a really fun read!

 http://sorellapreston.blogspot.com/

Our Backs to the World

For much-needed perspective in this special time of year, read the following blog entry that tells the story of this fascinating picture.


http://www.mormonmommyblogs.com/2012/12/our-backs-to-world.html#disqus_thread

So Excited For Breaking Dawn Part 2

Yes, I am an unabashed Twilight fan! I love love loved the books, and I willingly suspended disbelief all through each film! I cannot believe the end has arrived. Just for nostalgia's sake I dug up this picture from the very beginning - November 2008, with my sisters Ann and Rose at a kickoff party in Alabama. Note our stylin' fake tatoos that say Edward, Bella and Jacob.  The next year we had t-shirts (can't find that pic!), the year after a sign saying we missed Rose (a college freshman then). I saw the last one in London, dragging Richard with me to the Twi-athlon. And now, at last, the final midnight showing! Even though, alas, I am without both sisters this time- never fear girls, I will be swoony and hyper enough for all of us!

Yep, It's Offical, My Husband is Freakin' Adorable.

Richard is on business travel for work this week - I just checked my inbox and found this picture he emailed to me during their lunch break (apparently somewhere they serve fortune cookies.)

Smokey Joe's Cafe at Theo Ubique in Chicago!

Richard had to travel unexpected over the weekend, leaving me stuck with theatre tickets in Chicago. So my Mom hopped a train from St. Louis and joined me in Chicago and we went to see Smokey Joe's Cafe at Theatre Ubique on Thursday and Xanadu at Drury Lane Oakbrook on Friday. I was set for Xanadu, the touring Broadway show to be the unforgettable experience. However, it was merely amusing, an ok night of theatre. Smokey Joe's cafe was AMAZING!!!!! OH MY GOODNESS I LOVED IT!! Here is a copy of the review I submitted on ticketmaster
 
***I took my mother with me to the show as my husband had to travel unexpectedly for work. We were both surprised by the intimacy of the venue, such a small stage and Theatre! I was more familiar with the Chicago theatre scene, but I could tell my Mom was braced for a sub-par performance effort.  (Hilarious side note for blog readers...the shuttle from the parking lot pulled up along a small block of businesses in the Roger's Park neighborhood of Chicago and, pointing at a darkened doorway the driver said, "that's it, just through there." At which point Mom looks at me and says "I am NOT going down that dark alley!" It turned out to just be a small dark door, to an even smaller venue, but it was a hilarious start to the evening.)  From the first song the show BLEW US AWAY! Even myself, who based on critical reviews was expecting great things, was astonished at the talent Theo Ubique assembled for this show, under the direction of Brenda Didier. Perhaps most enjoyable was the absolute performance factor of every actor and musician. Small venues can often be intimidating for inexperienced actors, after all, you are performing and singing staring into people's eyeballs from two feet away at times. However, instead of turning inward to their performance, the stars on Theo Ubique's stage engaged with the audience, grinning at us through their solos, winking at my Mom in the steamy parts, and treating us like their oldest friends throughout. A special shout out to piano player extraordinaire Jeremy Ramey and his incredible music direction of the show.  He struck up a conversation with us from his piano stool a few feet away from our table, and proceeded with the evening like we were his specially invited guests. And our close up view as he proceeded to play some of the best piano I have ever seen live was a special privilege of the evening. We raved about the show to our waitress, to the people at the table next to us at dinner the next evening, and in general to anyone who would listen. Smokey Joe's is a MUST SEE event and Theo Ubique is a venue where season tickets are a BRILLIANT idea!***

I love discovering unexpected theatrical gems! Performers and performances that turn an 'amusing' night out into an unforgettable experience! I will be going back to Theo Ubique again and again!

Dallas for Emerson's 1st Birthday!

Yep folks, my nephew Emerson really is that cute. His first birthday was on Sunday, and Richard and I got to go visit Dallas for the occasion! Brace yourself for tons of cute baby pics, I just can't choose between them!