this is halee as in berry

exactly.

2011-12-07T19:14:00.001-07:00

Source: reddit.com via Halee on Pinterest

i'm never changing who i am

2011-10-25T12:36:00.002-06:00

I've been going to shows at Velour since I was in high school. I've seen a lot of bands play and I've had some really cool expediences. Sometimes the bands are just ok, sometimes they're really great. Sometimes the band just connects so well with the crowd, or everyone around you is super energetic and fun.

Every now and then a show will be different. Every now and then the band and the fans, they're just in it, every part of them. The music is moving and inspiring and meaningful. It's an almost spiritual thing. I know, what rock concert could be spiritual. Well, I guess if you've never been a part of one of those shows, you wouldn't really know what I'm talking about. But maybe I can give you an idea.

In the past two months I've seen two of my favorite bands live. It's not the first time I've seen them, but these times were different. Fictionist recently signed with Atlantic Records and at their Signing Show they sang, "Before I'm Old". Anyone who knows a bit of history behind that song was teary eyed. Stu, the lead singer cried and the crowd helped him finish. It was touching to know that so many in that room had been affected by that song and felt that connection with them.

This past Saturday I saw Imagine Dragons. This band is so genuine, so real and connected to their fans. They're always eager to talk to them and after the show that night they stayed past midnight talking, taking photos, signing random items and laughing with us all. But that wasn't what made it almost spiritual. There was a boy in the crowd named Tyler. Tyler is battling cancer and after learning of his story the band decided they'd play one of their most famous songs for him specifically.

As Dan began singing, Tyler was lifted up by those around him and brought to the front of the floor; right in front of Dan. Dan sang that song to Tyler and Tyler sang with him. After the song ended the crowed parted (something unheard of at a show) and Tyler, exhausted, was lead through to the benches along the wall. We began chanting his name and people patted him on the back as he walked by, aided by a friend. A place had been cleared for him (also unheard of). As he sat to catch his breath strangers approached him to shake his hand and give him words of encouragement. From my seat you could see the tears falling and the biggest grin I've ever seen was plastered on his face. In that moment, all 300+ people in that room were family, connected by a song, by a boy who is fighting to live. Connected by the cards that live deals us and the will that we muster to make it through. It's something I'll never forget.

love

2011-10-11T22:32:00.001-06:00

i don't care who you are, this is hilarious...and true.

2011-10-02T22:51:00.003-06:00

and then i knew i'd never be satisfied by another band

2011-09-24T20:55:00.001-06:00

This past Wednesday I paid $7 to see Fictionist play at Velour for what might very well be the last time. As you all know because I'm obsessed with them, they recently signed with Atlantic Records. So basically they're gonna make it big...because they're awesome. I've been to ever Fictionist show I could possibly get to, but this last one was incredible. With a sold out crowd they played the most meaningful of their songs and during Before I'm Old many in the room were teary-eyed. I will never forget it. Here's their EP that will soon be released. Keep an eye out, I've always said they'd make it big.Fictionist EP by fictionist

where are the unreleased albums of amy winehouse?

2011-09-15T08:25:00.000-06:00

My dad has had an enormous influence on the music in my life. He and I are huge Amy Winehouse fans. When she passed my dad text me that he was officially in mourning and we spend the next couple weeks passing YouTube videos back and fourth. I still get a little mopey when one of her songs comes through the shuffle on my iPod because I know there won't be any new albums, no new songs or lyrics to experience. It's kind of a weird thing to be so sad over someone you didn't even know. ...Is this how my grandma felt when Elvis died?

Aaaaanyway, this video and the recorded track is currently available on iTunes. The only thing I love more than Amy Winehouse? Amy Winehouse singing with Tony Bennett.

this may be the biggest and best thing that has happened to me vicariously this year

2011-09-08T20:28:00.002-06:00

FICTIONIST SIGNED WITH ATLANTIC RECORDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and this is exactly why i love this woman

2011-09-08T09:51:00.000-06:00

I love that she writes music because she wants to write music. Not because she wants to be this huge world icon for the materialistic generation, but because she wants it for the music, the art, the satisfaction that must come from pulling that off.

and then i bought a puppy.

2011-08-30T21:56:00.001-06:00

I've seriously toyed with the idea of getting a dog for about six months now, but I haven't actually done it mostly because I work full time and there's no way I could take care of it myself. Recently though, I got a new roommate who wanted a dog just as much as I did. So, after about a week of talking about how awesome it would be we kind of randomly bought one.

Meet Milo the Bandit Puppy

The ride home

Milo's mom was a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel/Shih Tzu mix. We're not sure about his dad. We almost named him Rigby because of that fact. You know, Rigby as in Eleanor...as in the kid is not my son...as in we don't know who his dad is? Anyway, Milo just fit so much better. He is a little handful, but we love him. He's very playful and very chilled out...which is actually one of the meanings for Milo anyway so it worked out. He shouldn't get more than 15 pounds according to the girl we bought him from, but we have a vet check up this Friday to confirm all that.

Milo's favorite things are sitting between people's legs, cuddling, squishing in between pillows and falling asleep, pouncing on his blue squeaky dog, playing with my roommate, Lisa and getting frisky with his sleeping friend Ms. Sheepy (though we try really hard to discourage this, Ms. Sheepy is pretty cute!)

She's a hotty!

Milo does NOT like the hair dryer when it's blowing on him, being put in his kennel while we're at work (we come and let him out on our lunches), and my parent's Golden Retriever, Marlee. She's SO much bigger than him and she thinks he's a toy so he gets stepped on often.

Not to brag, but Milo is also basically a wonder dog. The first time I took him outside to eliminate (that's dog owner talk for 'go to the bathroom') he peed and pooped on command and has done so ever since. Last night he also slept through the night and he's almost got sitting down to a science.

Here are some more pictures.

Cy Guy tells everyone he got another dog, it just lives with his sister.

Attacking the lil blue doggy!

Cuddled up with Cy Guy for a Sunday nap.

Sporting his military threads! I swore I would never dress my dogs, but those lil clothes are just so darn cute!!!

Marlee's HUGE head investigating this new attention hog.

so we have this deal

2011-08-21T12:02:00.000-06:00

This is a very important post, full of stuff you absolutely HAD to know so pay attention. Also, sarcasm.

My roommate, The Asian, can play the ukulele, but she didn't know how to use chopsticks. Which is weird because she's like...half Japanese. Luckily for her I am also half Japanese and I know how to use chop sticks...but I didn't know how to play the ukulele. So we made this deal where we teach each other our knowledge of stuff. So now, she knows how to use chopsticks....

And I can play these two songs on the ukulele. Yes, I am bragging.

Original here

an open letter to some people

2011-08-19T16:00:00.000-06:00

Dear Beyonce,

I can't get this song out of my head. I love it. I love the brass section, I LOVE the drum line. I love this lyric, "London speed it up, Houston ROCK IT!!!" But here's the thing. I've noticed that you always wear these really...we'll say...revealing tops on your album covers. I just think you could wear something a little less trash and a little more class. It kind of seems desperate, like you don't think anyone will buy your album unless your shirt has less fabric than Tarzan's loin cloth. Beyonce, listen to me...we will still buy your album if you wear an actual shirt, I promise.

Dear HISHE,

I will love you forever for this.

Dear Self,

Stop buying shoes. You're supposed to be saving for that road trip. Also, those Chucks are pretty sweet.

Super Trouper beams are gonna blind me, but I won't feel blue!

2011-08-16T21:07:00.000-06:00

I have this space in my heart saved especially for the lyrical stylings of ABBA. You see, my favorite aunt is also very hip and young (37). She babysat us quite a bit when I was young and naive to the world the is musical awesomeness. She educated me very quickly, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Springsteen, The Pixies, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks, Depesh Mode, Barbara Streisand and ABBA.

Oh the hours listening to ABBA and when YouTube got big it was hours watching ABBA music videos. Last week I discovered the movie, Mamma Mia! How it took me 3 years to finally watch it is beyond me but I promptly bought the DVD and soundtrack. SO good! ABBA songs in a musical? I LOVE musicals!

Break the Silence

2011-08-10T23:55:00.000-06:00

I know, I've been a terrible blogger, but we'll talk about that later. Right now I want to talk about something that is becoming more and more important to me these last few weeks. My friend Kathleen and some of her close friends have started an organization called Break the Silence. This year they are raising awareness about domestic violence and raising money for the Center for Women and Children in Crisis here in Utah so that they can install the new security system they need so badly.

I was privileged this evening to lend my voice to their cause (not my singing voice). Hearing stories of women and children who have been victims of domestic violence has made me realize how common it really is. I ache for these and others who have and are going through such hard times. There is help out there, no one deserves to be treated like that. No one.

The benefit is this Friday night, you can still get tickets. Eight or so major dance companies in Utah are coming together, along with Jenny Jordan Frogley to help break the silence. There is more information at the Break the Silence site and there will be a local news segment on the event tomorrow (Channel 4 for you Utah peeps). If you're not able to make it you can also make donations on their site or simply stand up (or help someone you know) against domestic violence. Together, everyone can help break the silence.

this kid, the D Boss

2011-07-28T19:43:00.001-06:00

got his mission call today.

He'll be serving the people of Mexico City, Mexico. Leaving December 7th.

I can't even tell you how excited I am for this kid. Even though he's technically my cousin, he's like a brother. I'm so proud of him and thankful for the awesome example he is to my actual little brothers.

and then i was an instant stephen king fan...except he still freaks me out.

2011-07-14T13:31:00.000-06:00

"Harry Potter is about confronting fears, finding inner strength and doing what is right in the face of adversity. Twilight is about how important it is to have a boyfriend." - Stephen King

Tonight is the night y'all...or morning rather. I'll be heading home after work to watch HP 7 part 1, hitting the hay for about five hours...then headed out to see part two in IMAX 3D at 3:00 AM!!! I'm super exited, but I'm also kind of sad. I feel like I grew up with Harry Potter. I won't go into it (insert mushy fan-girl story here), but basically I'm a fan.

and then i found my new favorite website

2011-07-12T19:43:00.000-06:00

I don't know if any of you have discovered HelloGiggles yet, but you should. I'm completely in love with it. Here's a look at their video karaoke series. LOVE!

i promise one day my life will slow down and i'll have something real to post. also, TLC never gets old.

2011-07-11T21:24:00.000-06:00

my life is kind of crazy at the moment...so for now, here's some kid history

2011-06-30T16:07:00.002-06:00

and then someone made a zombie musical and it was really cheesy, but also awesome.

2011-06-20T10:36:00.000-06:00

my local music is totally kicks your local music's butt.

2011-06-16T11:25:00.000-06:00

I mean, it might not, but I'm pretty sure it does. Provo music is on fire right now, which is awesome. And yes, that last one is Neon Trees. They're from Cali, but based out of Utah for the past few years. That video was made just before they got their record deal...fun fact.

Imagine Dragons "It's Time" from The Occidental Saloon on Vimeo.

The Moth & the Flame "Lullaby II" from The Occidental Saloon on Vimeo.

Parlor Hawk "Every Bone" from The Occidental Saloon on Vimeo.

The Archer's Apple "Standing in Deserts" from The Occidental Saloon on Vimeo.

Fictionist "Still Reaching" from The Occidental Saloon on Vimeo.

Shark Speed "The Killing Kind" from The Occidental Saloon on Vimeo.

Isaac Russell "Lighthouse" from The Occidental Saloon on Vimeo.

Neon Trees "Animal" from The Occidental Saloon on Vimeo.

if my parents were hobos they'd be so proud of me right now.

2011-06-07T19:58:00.000-06:00

My mom sent me home Sunday night with dinner's leftover mashed potatoes (and cans of corn and green beans) with strict instructions to make Shepard's Pie for me and my roommate to have later on in the week. This was great seeing as I had spread my last paycheck a bit thin and don't get paid until Friday.

*We now interrupt this post to remind you that Halee HATES green beans with a fiery passion and no way in this lifetime is she gonna voluntarily put them in anything she plans to consume. Interruption over.*

Usually you put ground beef, a yellow/white onion, and cheese in this pie (or at least my mom does. She also puts in tomato soup...which apparently isn't that common). The problem? I don't actually have those semi-important ingredients and I refuse to go to the store today. Do I let this deter me? No, I do not! Why? Because here is what I do have.

One stick of string cheese

Three green onion stalk things

One can of black beans

One can of Dinty Moore Beef Stew

So, beef stew has some meat in it right? It also has carrots and yet more potatoes, but beggars cannot be choosers people. Mix this with one can of tomato soup without the milk (my mom's recipe calls for two cans) and we're about at the right soupy consistency, but we're missing quite a bit of meat. One can of beef stew does not a enough of ground beef equal. <---See what I did there? Pretend it makes sense.

To remedy this we add the black beans. Black beans are kinda like meat right? They're almost the same color and with some imagination they'll taste exactly the same, I'm sure. Throw in the corn as well, but leave out the nasty green beans because I haven't completely lost my mind here.

Now comes the part where you add the mashed potatoes on top. I can't for the life of me figure out how my mother does this. We're putting a solid mass on top of soup here...SOUP! Does anyone realize how difficult this is and can you explain to me why they must go on top? I mean, I could put them on the bottom, but that's just not how it's done, friends. What do I do? Pat the potatoes into little flat slabs and plop them on top. Perfection is overrated these days anyway. Then we cut up the green onion and sprinkle on top. They're not put in the soupyness because the thought of soggy green onions makes me wanna gag for some reason. Lastly string the string cheese and place it haphazardly across the top. Hope it does what normal cheese does. Place in oven and wait.

Ladies and gents, I give you Hobo Pie. I'm so ingenuitive I could die. Also, it was pretty darn good. And no one has died from eating it...yet.

tell me, is this not hilarious? always the classiest adele.

2011-06-04T13:53:00.001-06:00

there are things in this world that i would never have the patience to complete...this may or may not be one of them.

2011-06-01T10:56:00.001-06:00

Is this not the coolest thing? More on it here.

"DIE" Frederick McSwain Installation Time Lapse from stephen dirkes on Vimeo.

sometimes i just want to hug the entire cast of snl. and I'M conservative! hey, when you're funny, you're funny.

2011-05-27T11:03:00.002-06:00

if you didn't fall in love with this movie i fear you may have misplaced your inner child and highly suggest you go find it.

2011-05-25T22:59:00.000-06:00

Mr. Magorium: I've hired an accountant.

Molly Mahoney: A what?

Mr. Magorium: An accountant. According to the word, it must be a cross between a counter and a mutant and that may be precisely what we need.

Mr. Magorium: When King Lear dies in Act V, do you know what Shakespeare has written? He's written "He dies." That's all, nothing more. No fanfare, no metaphor, no brilliant final words. The culmination of the most influential work of dramatic literature is "He dies." It takes Shakespeare, a genius, to come up with "He dies." And yet every time I read those two words, I find myself overwhelmed with dysphoria. And I know it's only natural to be sad, but not because of the words "He dies." but because of the life we saw prior to the words.

Mr. Magorium: Your life is an occasion. Rise to it.

Molly Mahoney: Are you dying?

Mr. Magorium: Light bulbs die, my sweet. I will depart.

Mr. Magorium: Unlikely adventures require unlikely tools.

Molly Mahoney: I'm stuck!

Mr. Magorium: Oh, to my floor?

Molly Mahoney: No, sir.

Mr. Magorium: Then what?

Molly Mahoney: Like a person. You remember when I was a little girl and I could play Rahmaninov's Second Piano Concerto and everyone was talking about my potential?

Mr. Magorium: Mhm.

Molly Mahoney: Well, I am 23 now and everyone's still talking about my potential but if you ask em to play the song I know best... I'll still play Rachmaninov's Second.

Mr. Magorium: May I suggest you stun the world with Molly Mahoney's First?

Mr. Magorium: Why are you lying?

Molly Mahoney: I have to.

Mr. Magorium: But your pants will catch on fire...

Mr. Magorium: 37 seconds.

Molly Mahoney: Great. Well done. Now we wait.

Mr. Magorium: No. We breathe. We pulse. We regenerate. Our hearts beat. Our minds create. Our souls ingest. 37 seconds, well used, is a lifetime.

Mr. Magorium: We must face tomorrow, whatever it may hold, with determination, joy and bravery

So much can be learned from one quirky, old man.

this is halee *as in berry*