Month: December 2010

  • A top eleven list is so odd

    Before I say anything else, I need to state for the record that I managed to pack everything I need to take to Birmingham in a carry-on bag. And I still managed to bring four different pairs of shoes. Which doesn’t seem excessive at all for a four day trip.

    The game changer was my decision to use the White Noise app on my iPhone. And to decide that my hair will be able to achieve enough volume with just my travel-size set of hot rollers. It’s a risky decision, but I have long been known for my ability to live right on the edge.

    And for those who asked, I’m going to Birmingham for the Deeper Still conference. If you’re going to be there, I’d love to meet you. I have no idea where I’ll be or what I’ll be doing, but I’m sure it shouldn’t be too hard to find me amongst the other 12,000 women who will be in attendance.

    Yesterday I spent most of the day helping decorate our church sanctuary for Christmas. So when I left the church around 2:00 p.m., I was in the mood for some Christmas tunes and turned on the radio and, I KID YOU NOT, that Dwight Yoakam song was on. I caught it just in time to hear “He threw a present really hard that almost hit Mom’s new boyfriend Ray”.

    That is a lyrical treasure.

    Anyway, several years ago, (three to be exact) Gulley and I each made a list of our favorite Christmas songs. You can find those lists right here. But things change and new songs come along and I’m leaving for Birmingham and still need to make sure I have everything I need before I get all puffed up with pride over my insane packing abilities that allowed me to fit everything in one small bag and one very large purse.

    (Too late on that last thing, by the way. I am totally puffed up with pride over my packing expertise.)

    My point is I thought it would be fun to make a list of the Christmas songs that are on the top of my listening list this season. The whole thing makes me feel a little bit like Casey Kasem.

    (Was I the last person to know that he was the voice of Shaggy on Scooby Doo?)

    1. Christmas Tonight by Dave Barnes

    I bought this album (downloaded it, whatever) a few weeks ago and have listened to it over and over again. If you haven’t seen the video for this song then your life may not be complete.

    2. In the First Light by Travis Cottrell

    The first time I heard this song I cried. It is absolute perfection.

    3. O Holy Night by Glee Cast

    Whatever your feelings about Glee, they make some good music. I love this version.

    4. River by Sarah McLachlan

    Okay. So kind of a downer song. But I love this entire album so much and there’s not much that makes me happier than a cold day, a warm fire, and listening to this song. It’s a nice kind of melancholy.

    I doubt that makes sense to anyone but me.

    5. Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Taylor

    It’s James Taylor.

    6. I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Harry Connick, Jr.

    There is just so much right about this entire album and, honestly, my favorite song on it changes with my mood. Which means it changes pretty darn frequently. Kind of like a roller coaster.

    7. Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant

    Christmas isn’t Christmas to me without Amy Grant music.

    8. Hallelujah (Light Has Come) by Barlow Girl

    I just heard this for the first time a few days ago and fell in love with it. So beautiful.

    9. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Kelly Willis

    There are so many good versions of this song, but I adore this one by Kelly Willis. It has a Christmas in Texas feel to it.

    10. Merry Christmas from the Family by Robert Earl Keen

    This will be on any list of Christmas favorites that I ever compile. Amen.

    11. Christmas in Hollis by Run-DMC

    I realize this doesn’t really fit with the rest of my choices, but I added it to my workout playlist the other day and it has made me so happy.

    So, what about y’all? What are the Christmas songs you can’t live without right now?

    And, remember, keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.

  • So on and so forth

    I’m leaving for Birmingham on Thursday morning and so my last few days have been filled with all the random little errands I always run before I go on a trip. I have to stock up on all my travel-size toiletries and make sure I have enough lipgloss and endlessly debate if I can fit four days worth of clothes in a practical carry-on size bag or if I’ll just go for the gold and pack an obnoxiously large suitcase instead. There is no in between. Mainly because I don’t own a reasonable middle-of-the-road piece of luggage.

    And also because I have to pack things like my sound machine and large set of hot rollers.

    So I’m just going to mention a few quick things here as opposed to rambling on and on with about 1,000+ words like I’ve done the last two days.

    1. I’m planning on doing some sort of list with various Christmas gift ideas at some point in the next week or so. In the meantime, Sophie has compiled a list of twenty teen-friendly favorites under $20 and a list of fifteen favorites under $15.

    I have found both lists to be enormously insightful. I’ve also discovered that I have the exact same taste as a sixteen-year-old girl.

    2. Speaking of lists, I’m trying to talk P into doing another list this year for the outdoorsy-types in your life. He hasn’t committed yet, but I haven’t started withholding home-cooked meals and Orange Milanos.

    Here is last year’s list in case you missed it. It is a wealth of information about things I know nothing about.

    3. Behold! The Christmas tree! With its vertically-wrapped lights!

    I took this with my phone. But trust me when I tell you the quality would be no better if I’d taken it with my camera. My camera is hurting.

    4. My dear friend, Travis Cottrell, has written a book called Surprised by Worship. I think I’ve mentioned it before. What I haven’t mentioned is that you can click over to my giveaway and review page for a chance to win a free copy. And, trust me, you want to read this book.

    5. Caroline wore legwarmers to school yesterday. As a preteen of the early 80’s, it felt like a full circle moment for me.

    Please notice the unpainted door frame in the background. It has been that way for the last eight years in spite of the fact that it would take all of five minutes to paint it. Somewhere in there is some insight into my personality.

    6. Don’t forget to check out the NFL Take it to the House program and sweepstakes information.

    7. I ordered my Christmas cards on Monday from The Little Card Company. I’ll tell y’all more about them next week, but LOVE.

    8. I went to the mall yesterday because I had to run in Sephora and also felt like I should make a quick run through a few shoe departments. Did y’all know there are places right in the middle of the mall where people are getting massages and having their eyebrows done? I think we’ve lost some sense of what constitutes an activity that should be done smack dab in the middle of public.

    Or maybe I just have personal boundary issues. It’s possible.

    9. I saw these pajamas at Target yesterday and can’t quit thinking about them. I wanted to buy them for myself but I think we all know that the guilt of buying something for myself did me in and I left Target pajama-less but with a new supply of Children’s Benadryl, some snowflake ornaments and a bulk package of paper towels.

    10. That is all. I just didn’t want to end with 9. It seemed random.

    Kind of like this whole list.

    And now I’m off to see if I can fit four days worth of clothes into a carry-on bag.

    Doubtful.