“It doesn't matter what size or shape you are. Burlesque is about feeling positive about who you are, about knowing how to shake what you have and being proud of it.” Baby Doe

My daughter and I had the opportunity to attend the premier of Burlesque this past Wednesday night. Although I  will not receive any compensation for this post, I felt the need to describe how this movie left me feeling.

I have always been a fan of Christina Aguilera's incredibly haunting voice. That girl can sing! If you have ever seen a stage performance by Christina, it is not a far stretch for the performer to snag a part in a Burlesque show. But can she act?

My quick answer would be yes, she pulled it off. Definitely not an Oscar performance most pointedly a crying scene where she seemed forced and fake. However overall, she was very believable. Possibly as she may have faced some similar obstacles in life as her character. The singing and dancing however- incredible! It is what she does best. In one scene she is stunning in a form fitting sequined gown, flawless close-up skin and her first note actually sent chills up my spine. She is in her prime!

Cher, in her sixth decade in life, plastic as she is, was stunning. Not too bad with the pipes herself. A solo scene shows that she still has it. A beautiful woman and a beautiful song.

Julianne Hough from Dancing with the Stars fame made her debut and proved that she is more than a dancer. She holds a soft place in my heart as she grew up in the same city as I. Way to go Julianne.

This movie was everything I was expecting, hoping for and more. Loads of energy keeps your interest. Awesome talent and interesting and beautiful costumes leave you wanting to visit a seedy underground burlesque venue. It is set in LA but has a bit of New York flair.

Because it was a premier, we were elbow to elbow in a packed house. Before the film began I was concerned about the seemly lonely chatterbox to my right. But when the show began, even she was mesmerized by the fabulous music and energy and never spoke another word (except for the three incontinent riddled dashes from the theater).

I too was transformed by this movie. In addition to the music that drives you to jump up from your seat and dance, makes you yearn to belt out the tunes yourself and run to the nearest Burlesque, it is hilariously funny. The best one liners I have heard in a while.

The male eye candy does not disappoint. I dive into Cam Gigandet's cookies, but then you will not understand that until you see the film. Eric Dane of Grey's Anatomy is always great to look at. But his character is not as nice.

Stanley Tucci is in the perfect role. I have not seen him in a role I didn't like but as Cher's best friend he is fabulous, they pair together nicely.

I highly recommend this movie. It has been a while since I have walked out of a theater ready to send all my friends in to see it. This year, I have been lucky enough to find two.

Red  with and all-star cast and a terrific plot and direction. It was my favorite film of the year.

But it just lost its first place standing with me.

Go see burlesque! it opens Thanksgiving day. You will not be disappointed.

Night on the town

It has been a while since I have been clubbing with my best friend.

Last night, after sending my son and his friend off on the road back to their base, we decided it was time.
In Utah the nightclubs are few and far between. We have a few favorites that we frequent. It has come to the point where I have given up on the thoughts of actual meeting anyone I would date at any of the places we go. The men we have met out at the bars are far from my idea of a date-able man.
(note: not me in the photo)

Although I could really use a nice night out to catch up on girl talk and have a few drinks, my expectations of the night being any more than that were low. And I was o.k. with that.

But it turned out to be a great night.

With all the back pain I have been suffering the past few months, I was weary of hitting the dance floor. But regardless of that, we hardly sat out any of the songs. We danced the night away. It was just what I was looking for. It seems strange but there are more nights than not, that all we want is to 'cut a rug' and not one offer of a dance.

Of course the two of us will hit the floor together and boogie to a great song. But the establishment we were at, was more like the Texas honky tonk's with many couples doing the swing, two-step and cotton-eyed-joe. All dances that require a partner. And we managed to find many partners for many dances. Exactly what I was looking for. Some nights you just don't want to get hit on. Sometimes you just don't want a date or a hook-up to come from the night out.

Many a night we stay at the table and catch up on what was new with each others lives between meetings and never dance a bit.

Last night we hardly sat.

And the icing on the cake, was that I awoke this morning a little stiff in some areas of my body, exercise stiff. But the back pain was gone.

Which is a refreshing change. I can deal with exertion aches.. they go away. It was the cronic back pain I have been feeling that is so difficult to remedy. And who would have thought a little bit of recreational dancing would help with that?

Summer Time Summer Time Sum Sum Summer Time

In Utah nearly every week you can find a small town festival. Many of those small towns are no longer small. But the smaller the town, the more fun the festival.

Last year my daughter and I attended a rodeo in a very small local town. And had a great time.

The town we live in used to be a very small town. Although it is growing every day it has so far not lost its small town charm.
This week is our own town celebration. A celebration that started in the 1920's and continues much in the same way as the first celebration.

Have you heard of onion queens? Blueberry queens? Peach royalty? Our town has Strawberry days. And I would much prefer a festival of strawberries than onions or potatoes.

These days there is a traveling carnival, boutiques and some other more modern festivities. But there are many of the more historical activities as well. Rodeos, pie eating and baby contests, tours of historical buildings, a parade and outdoor concerts of some local bands.

The last of which occurred last night. It was perfect weather. We have had a lot of summer storms the past few days and it is just now clearing up. A beautiful backdrop of the purple mountains and blue skies was perfect. It lasted just one hour but was a nice break.
In tradition, one of the free benefits (besides the concert itself) is the free cup of strawberries and cream served up by the local lions club. Yum.
I would say the only annoyance was the amount of children under the age of 10 running wildly through the crowds.This community has a large child to parent ratio and a free concert is a great attraction. I love that children are exposed to cultural activities, but sure would be nice if some parents would remember that some people came to see the show not babysit their children so that they might. - stepping off soap box.

My older daughter works with some disabled adults and she and a coworker brought them out to enjoy the evening. They had a great time. Some actually knew the words to some of the Eagles and Little River Band tunes and sang along. And we got the others up on their feet to dance with us.

We received many horrible looks of disgust. The leers of some of the spectators made me a little uncomfortable for the girls. I don't understand why so many people were disgusted by disabled people and yet let their own children run amok knocking over chairs, tripping over people sitting on blankets and other smaller children in their path.

One is the victim of a stroke in her early twenties, another a car accident at age 18. These could easily be anyone of their children... It was heartbreaking.

I was a bit aggravated. But we all had a great time regardless.
My younger daughter danced along with her friends and we enjoyed the weather, the music and the evening.

Tonight is the rodeo. One of the largest in the state. Can't wait. More fun to come.
This week will be a busy one. I love Summertime.

Fathers Day and all its meanings

Fathers Day in our family has special meaning. Not only do I still have my father as a big part in my life, But being a single mother, he is a very important man in my life also. My dad is always here for me. He may not be the handiest dad. And I'm OK with that, we manage together. But he is also emotion support for me when I need it. (I am lucky to be close with both of my parents.)

I am embarrassed to say that a few years ago when a mouse ran across my bare wood (preparing to lay wood flooring) living room floor in front of me, I at the age of 38 drove in a fit of panic and tears to my parents house in fear. Dad laughed, asked me to repeat what I spouted in my blubber of sup sup cries and then left me safe with my mother while he got rid of the critter. Forever!

My dad is emotional, sentimental, loving, even if he has a short fuse once in a while.
He reads my blog. He wants me to succeed, he also wants me to be happy. When we were little, my father being a member of the Elks organization, would take my sister and I to the daddy daughter night dinner every year. We would take turns dancing on daddy's toes. In later years, he would be a date for me and my sister and our own daughters. We all know how to dance. I learned to follow from him and I learned the two-step from him also. I will never forget our dates.
I have posted about our hunting trips, we went camping, he took us on his dirt bike, road trips, too many fun times to say.

Although some of them were stolen from my grandpa, my dad always has a toast for special occasions, he has a personalized toast for every couple on their wedding, including mine. He has a toast for our extended family gatherings often and even brought us to tears last Thanksgiving with a toast to my recently passed grandpa while we were taking turns giving thanks. (Even he was in tears and I love him for that!)

A lot of my friends are with out their fathers. Whether from divorce, distance, alienation, or death. I cant imagine the pain. My own children have spend the larger part of their own lives without their father in their lives. I hate that! I wish that they had the opportunity to love a man like I did. Before they choose the man to spend their lives with. I thank god they have been able to spend time with their grandpa, close loving time.

I have men in my life who have been great with my kids. I imagine they will be life long friends to them. However, nothing replaces a true and present daddy.
I love you dad. Thank you for always being there for us. I couldn't ask for a better dad.

I love you dad! Happy Fathers Day- Again.

Dancing with my star

This year, my baby girl was asked to join the school dance class in order to become someones partner. Dancing has always come a bit natural to her, she feels the music and has no problem keeping up with the timing.
I know I am her mother, but she rocked the house last night at the performance. (she is the woman in red)




I tried downloading a movie but it wont take. Someday I will learn this!

She was absolutely darling. She was not part of the team, she didn't try out for that. She was in a group with the kids who just wanted an easy, fun class credit. But she picked up the dances so quickly. Her instructor even noticed a difference with her.

I am so proud of her and cant wait to see her make the team. Try outs for next years team are next week.
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Tomorrow is the first mother's Day that I can recall that I have spent without my mother. I will call her and I have something for her that is just too expensive to ship (that I will give her in a couple weeks). I received a card from her and my dad for my own mothers day. They are always to sweet and thoughtful. I love you mom! Happy Mothers Day!!!!!
(And dad love you too.)
My girls and I will get out tomorrow and enjoy the sunshine together, not sure what we will do yet but we always have a ton of fun together.

To all you mothers reading this post, Happy Mothers Day to you all! I hope that at the very least, the day makes you feel a little more appreciated for all you do. And that it reminds you what we are here for.

Saturday night

Saturday night, the girls had dates to Preference, a girls choice dance. The new thing to do now on school dance dates is to have a 'Day date'. Activities can include, dinner, bowling, mini-golf, any number of things that teens like to do on regular dates I suppose to let them get out and have a relaxed and casual time before getting all 'spiffed up'. A time to get wild and crazy without worrying about ruining a rented tux or $200 dress.

Rachel's date consisted of only dinner at a local Mexican food restaurant and the dance. Which was plenty- I have no photos of her as their driver (a girl from another couple) picked her up before picking up her date, so I will post them when they get the dance pictures back.

She did however get these from her dad, while they were primping for the dates.
(And another dozen pink roses from her date at the dance- SCORE!)

Beautiful, and VERY unexpected! As a mother I cannot help but think that my other daughter felt a slight pang of hurt. Not by my younger daughter, more the fact that her 16th and so many other birthdays for all of my children, just didn't cross his mind.

He is just not the type of person who thinks beyond his nose... But no sense worrying about that. He will NEVER 'Get it'. And - It was great for Rachel!

Chantel's Pre-date, date was a movie and snacks at our house.

Although they were to eat a large, expensive meal at one of those Benihana type Japanese steakhouse's and they girls didn't want to ruin their appetites, the boys managed to fit both.

Chantel chose a movie called 'I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry' a comedy about two men who pose as domestic partners in order that Chuck can get pension benefits for his kids. The movie was hilarious but had some parts that made the teens blush to have me in the room. Nothing wrong with that! Was kinda fun for me to watch them squirm!

There were some side-effects to the movie watching however....

Exhibit A:

Chantel, Brandon, Josh and Josh's Date Jenn

Watching the movie... but then!!!!

Exhibit B-
The boys took the movie a LITTLE too Literally!

Your dates are the girls!!

Then they went home and got gorgeous...

Sorry about the red eye. I really need a new camera!

Doesnt Josh look like a man from those old time- old west pictures in that second one?

He and Brandon almost look like free standing, cut-out dates. Or that they belong in Madame Tussaud's famous museum.

More pictures from both dates forthcoming...

I just love being a mother of teenagers who love life and try to stay out of the drugs, drink and drama (soap opera kind)!

Dancing and Twirling

Last night was a busy night, we ate on the run as both girls had to be at the school by 5:00.

Chantel had a Color Guard performance with the band on the football field, because of the drama production at 7:00, they had to start this before the sun went down and we were looking right into the sun. Tough on the eyes, even with sunglasses on, but the pictures turned out better than I thought.

Blurry though- I just love the outfits/costumes they had this time. Very feminine and cute.

At one point they asked one member from each family to step onto the field with the band member, so that they might feel what it is like for their student to march....

Luckily- for safety reasons, parents of color guard were asked to stay in their seats?! I suppose maybe my reputation precedes me.

So we watched the 'other' family's getting lost on the field, quite a site- it is fun to laugh at others expense once in a while.

Then the band played another couple of numbers. And they sent the color guard to the back...

Hard to get pictures of them tossing their flags and catching them in sync with each other. What a beautiful fall evening it was- even with the sun in our eyes.

As it got a closer to the end of the program, the sun was just setting, absolutely beautiful backdrop

Then, it was inside and in approx. 10 minutes following the band production, the drama performance started.

Here is a short movie of Rachel's dance number, (she is in blue- in the back) it is a depiction of Shakespeare's 'Mid-summer's Night dream' enacted to a modern song.

The video is grainy and hard to see because of the white backdrop and dark theatre but the pictures I took are worse!

The only picture to turn out was this of her in her costume and there is a blur from someone running behind her.. drama students are sooo well dramatic!

Sweet thing though, Devon brought her a daisy and a hug... sweet! we tried to get a picture but so many drama students running through.. we were too slow.

Here she is with a Friend- Grace, seems they have worked out a little warm-up routine of their own..

Silly girls!

It was such a beautiful night, I didn't take the car. So we walked home.

Which was sweet except our street has no street lights and well, I stumbled over everything there was to stumble over, and I think i flipped Rachel in the face with a tree branch or two--- sorry Rachel.

and then, at 7:00 am this morning, Rachel headed off to Cedar City for the Shakespeare festival.

GOOD LUCK!!!! I love you!

See you on Saturday!