Concert Lineup 2015

It's no secret that seeing live music and traveling are pretty much my two favorite activities in the world. Luckily, the boyfriend is on the same page as me when it comes to going to see shows.

It's so awesome to have a partner in crime that has the same interests as well as overlapping musical tastes.  It makes life so much more fun!  Plus, now I don't have to go to shows alone or miss them all together. Hurrah!

So here's what's on the lineup thus far this year.  It's a fairly lengthy list, and as of now, I'm using up all but about 4 of my vacation days.  Totally worth it!

January

Jason Isbell with Shovels and Rope at the Louisville Palace  

DONE AND DONE!!! It was awesome!!!

Sturgill Simpson at the Southgate House in Covington

This should be a really fun one since we have a big group going with us! We are planning on staying up there to watch the Super Bowl and whatnot with the boyfriend's crew of friends in Covington. It should be a really fun weekend, as long as the Patriots lose. Ugh, I hate that team.

February

 Sturgill Simpson at the Intersection in Grand Rapids, MI

Greensky Bluegrass at the Intersection

We're heading up to Grand Rapids to visit Drew's brother and sister in law for the weekend and to catch a couple of shows.  You may have noticed that we are seeing Sturgill quite a few times.  That is because my boyfriend is a huge fan.  We joke that Sturgill is his boyfriend.  It may only be funny to us...

April

Rhythm and Blooms Festival in Knoxville, TN

Neutral Milk Hotel at the Brown Theater in Louisville

Ryan Adams and Jenny Lewis at Iroquois Amphitheater in Louisville

Rhythm and Blooms replaced a Decemberists show we were going to see in March up in Detroit.  We realized that they are playing this festival in April with a bunch of other bands and it was so much closer.  And not Detroit.

Neutral Milk Hotel is doing one last reunion tour, and somehow we were lucky enough to get a show in Louisville AND tickets.  I was super nervous I wouldn't be quick enough in ordering them, but I got two for my friend Brooke and me!  The boyfriend is not a fan, so he wasn't invited. :)

The last show we have planned is Ryan Adams with Jenny Lewis.  I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am to see him live again.  I saw him in West Virginia years ago when he was still drinking, and it was a pretty disappointing show.  He is by far my favorite musician and I know this time will be great!  Plus, Jenny Lewis is awesome.  It's going to be the best!!!!

June

Romp Festival in Owensboro, KY

This year's lineup for Romp is absolutely fantastic!  I haven't seen some of these bands since I went to Telluride in 2007, and I cannot wait to see them again!  Some of the artists include John Prine, Leftover Salmon, Del McCoury & David Grisman, and Sam Bush Band.  It's a four day, camping, family friendly festival held at Yellow Creek Park.  I've never been before (despite planning to go a few years ago and not making it), but the boyfriend and most of his family go every year and love it!

July

Forecastle Festival at Waterfront Park in Louisville, KY

The lineup comes out next Tuesday, y'all!!!  I cannot wait!  Last year the headliners were Outkast, Jack White, and Beck.  I'm sure this year's lineup will be just as awesome.  This festival is one of my faves simply because I can stay in the comfort of my own home! It makes it really affordable and laid back.  Plus, it's a huge deal for KY to have such an awesome fest with huge acts.  Hooray for the Bluegrass State!

September

Bristol Rhythm and Roots Revival in Bristol, TN

I'm not gonna lie, I've been wanting to go to this festival for awhile since my best friend Beth and her husband JD have been going almost every year, but it's never worked out schedule wise.  This year, I threw caution to the wind and ordered two weekend passes when they were at a discount in December for me and Drew. It also doesn't hurt that he goes to this one every year and pretty much lives and dies for it! I think when he texted me from there this past September, his exact words were "I want BRR to be every weekend from now on."  It made for an easy Christmas present, too! 

So that's what our year in music looks like so far.  I have no doubt in my mind that there will be a lot of local shows thrown in there! Plus, there's the Waterfront Wednesday Summer Concert Series that has yet to be announced! And I'm still debating on whether or not I want to drive to Nashville in the middle of a work week to see Father John Misty or not.  Last time I did that, the next day was kind of hell. I'm getting too old for those kind of  late night shenanigans!!!

Hope everyone has a great rest of the week, I'm heading out of town for a few days for a work convention, so this will probably be my last post of the week.

Happy Wednesday, y'all!

Travel Bug

It's been unseasonably warm here in the Bluegrass State for the past few days, and it's got me jonesing for more permanent nice days. Luckily, in about a month, we're headed to Kaui for a work trip!!! 

Seriously, I have the best job ever.  What other job sends you to Hawaii for a week to revel with your colleagues?  I've been to Maui before (same convention), and it was one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.  I also got compared to creme brulee, as well.  But that's a story for a different day.  I'm sure Kaui will be no less beautiful, but hopefully with less weirdos.

This time, I've done a bit more research about must see sights on the island.  By research, I mean pinning anything labeled Kaui on Pinterest, by the way. When we were in Maui, we took a day trip down the Road to Hana and a helicopter tour, but there was so much more I could have seen! Guess I'll have to go back one day!

Here's a few of the attractions and spots I am going to demand that we see while there. Anyone have a waterproof case for a camera I can borrow? Ha!

Glass Beach

The Na Pali Coast

Queen's Bath

Waimea Canyon

The sea caves along the Na Pali Coast

We've scheduled a kayak tour and a whale watching sunset cruise already, so I know I'll get to see at least three of these amazing locations.  I think we might rent a Jeep another day and do some uncharted sightseeing of our own, too.  The boyfriend is super excited about seeing the different kinds of birds in Hawaii and is already talking about buying a bird guide to the islands.

I'm just praying that the birds are pretty and little, since I am terrified of birds. Sometimes I wonder why he puts up with me, ha ha!

Anyway, I cannot wait for the next month or so to fly by so I can get to this gorgeous spot in the middle of the ocean!  It should go quickly since we have a couple weekend trips planned before then.  Three, actually.  I wasn't kidding when I told you traveling was my favorite thing ever! Good thing the boyfriend likes it too!

Anyone else have any must see spots in Kaui?

Photos courtesy of Huffington Post.

(Lord knows, I couldn't take photos that amazing)

I Believe: A Link Up!

Linking up with Amanda and Megan for a MLK Jr. post today!

I believe...in the golden rule. It's not that hard to live by. Quit being assholes, people.

I believe...that a sunny day spent outside can fix almost any bad mood or day.

I believe...that people the don't have pets are weird. Unless they have allergies, that's not their fault.

I believe...that men should have PMS and cramps just once in their lifetime.  Just so they know.

I believe...that math is way more fun than people give it credit for.

I believe...that sometimes you just need a little retail therapy. Even if it's just window shopping.

I believe...that Pinterest is going to be the demise of my bank account one day! :)

I believe...there are more important things in life than 90% of the things we worry about.  

I believe...that a good convo with your BFF over coffee or wine could solve all the world's problems.

I believe...in the good in all people.  You just have to look for it.  Sometimes really hard.

Master Bathroom Decor

I am so excited to write this long overdue post on my finished master bathroom!  I've had the wallpaper for this room since last summer and just got around to having it put up a few weeks ago.  Add a few minor touches, and thus completed my bathroom reno. I apologize in advance for the crappy iPhone pics.  The lighting in that room is awful, hence why I do my make in the master closet.  A post on that is under works since I finally got around to ordering the window treatments!  Yay!

So, the bathroom is in need of a major overhaul, but since I'm not into spending that much money I decided that some cute wallpaper and custom accessories were in order.  The wallpaper is made by Thibaut and the shelf above came from Target (I can't find it online anymore).

My mom bought be the quote hung on the wall.  She sang that song to me and my brother growing up for years.  It was kind of funny when she gave it to me, she asked "do you remember me singing that to you guys?" I jumped up and ran into my office and grabbed the subway print of the entire song I have framed in there.  Of course, I remember, Mom!  Some things just stick with you :).

So do you see the toilet paper holder in the pic above?  I installed that. By myself. Upside down. Because there was no other way to do it than that.  The old holder (which looked like something out of a horror movie) left a screw anchor that I couldn't get out or around when installing the new holder.  Whatever, it still looks better than the other one.

I ordered the custom shower curtain from a local linen store, Bedded Bliss, that specializes in fancy, overpriced linens.  It took forever to come in (damn Italian summer breaks) and I had it monogrammed in town.  I busted the bank on this one, but I absolutely love it and hadn't found anything pre-fab I liked after months of searching.

The vanity isn't exactly the most posh place in my house, but it works and has enough counter space for one person.  I'd love to redo the medicine cabinet, but I don't know how to even go about that without losing the storage space behind it.

The bathroom is pretty small in terms of master bath standards, so I don't want to lose any much needed storage.  But darn it if that mirror isn't ugly.  Oh well.

This is across from the sink, which is in a separate room from the toilet and shower.  I do really like that feature.  If only I could get the pocket door that you can sort of see on the left to work.  It's stuck inside the wall and no one can seem to get it to come out.  One day, just add it to the list of teeny, nonessential repairs to be done!

I think it looks way better than it did before, without a huge renovation.  Thank goodness yellow and grey is back in style!

Happy Friday, y'all!  I'm looking forward to this weekend and hope you are too!

Never Have I Ever...

Remember that goofy drinking game you played in college where you had to drink every time you had done one of the crazy topics mentioned? Well, I have some hazy memories of it too, and happened to stumble upon a link up with this as the topic!  Seems like fun, I'll play along (without the booze and a with a PG rating, this time)!

Never have I ever....

broken a bone. Although, I regularly flung myself off of my monkey bars in hopes of a cool cast. I was a weird kid...

traveled to the far east. This will not stay this way forever.  I'm dying to travel that-a-way, I'm going to need to pad my savings account a bit more before doing so, though.

seen the karate kid. I wasn't allowed to see it when I was younger, and haven't gotten around to it since then. I'm not really that concerned.

lived more than an hour from my hometown. I guess that happens when you stay in state for college and work for your family business your whole life.

been employed by more than one company for over two weeks.  See above. I've worked for my family's business since I was 15.  Although I had about a ten day stint at Kmart that I don't count, this has been my only employer my entire life.  This June marks my 18th year!  That's a whole adult person. And makes me a middle age person, I suppose. Shoo-whee!

been able to make one of those paper football thingies. This is a bigger point of contention than one would think. I really like all things football, including pretend kicking games with notebook paper and finger uprights. Ha ha!

successfully snapped with my right hand. I have no idea why.  I can snap with my left hand, but not my right.  So weird.

gotten a second piercing or tattoo. I have one hole in each ear and nothing else.  I hate needles. 

Here's the link up info:

Ending 2014: A Holiday "Wrap" Up

December was a whirlwind of plans, activities, and holiday festivities.  I'll post more on them all seperately (maybe, don't hold your breath) and in more detail some other day.  But for those dying to know how my holidays were spent, here's a quick recap.

1.  I had a colonoscopy.  Yay adulthood.  I'm fine.  Moving on...

2.  Christmas was spent with family and for the first time in my 33 years of life, I invited my boyfriend to spend it with us. Big steps, folks, big steps. We spent Christmas Eve at my aunt's house on my dad's side.  The boyfriend and Dad enjoyed alley-ooping all the discarded wrapping paper into the garbage bag.  It was rather humorous.  I think my dad has a man crush...so cute!

Christmas morning was spent with just the two of us exchanging gifts and stocking and enjoying a quiet breakfast and coffee.  Later that day, the boyfriend headed home to spend the afternoon with his son and family.  Dad and my brother Will joined me for brunch later that morning.  It was a quiet, relaxing day and I couldn't have been happier!

The day after Christmas, Will and I headed up to Cincinnati to spend time with my mom and her side of the family.  It was a great day, and I got home early enough to watch a few episodes of Six Feet Under.  And yes, I am finally getting around to watching that entire series.  Anyone else a fan?

3.  I took the last two weeks of work (which was actually only 5 days of vacation) off to spend time with friends that traveled back home for the holidays.  The only reason I love Christmas is because I get to see some of my oldest and dearest friends and have an absolute blast getting together with our old crew.  So much fun!!!  One of our get togethers was for the UK vs. UofL game, and despite being a nerve wracking game, UK pulled it out and kept their perfect season in tact.  Go Cats!!!!

4.  NYE!!!!!!!!  For those of you who didn't know, New Year's Eve has long been my most favorite holiday of all time.  This year did not disappoint, as we rang in the ball dropping at The Palace for a concert with Jason Isbell and Shovels and Rope.  Although, Isbell isn't the most "happy" music, per se, it is beautiful and the boyfriend absolutely loves him.  It's totally worth it seeing him geek out over one of his favorite artists.  

Earlier in the evening, we hosted his younger brother and girlfriend for a fancy dinner at the house and had some friends meet us for drinks before the show. I'm not gonna lie, the champagne we had after getting back to the house may have been the straw that broke the camel's back in terms of feeling like a**hole for the entire next day.  I am no longer in my 20's, needless to say.  Ugh.

So all in all, a great holiday season.  I have pictures, but alas, I do not have my camera cord to upload them to my computer as I write this.  I'll post them soon, mostly so I can use them as an excuse to make up another post with very little content.  Blogger of the year, here, y'all!

Until then, I'm looking forward to dinner tonight with my Lexington girls and our significant others at Willie's Locally Unknown.  Love nights in Lexington with my ladies!

Have a great weekend, y'all!

Book Challenge Update #2

Here's where I stand with my Winter Book Challenge this month.  As you can see, I didn't really get much reading done in December.  I was a little too preoccupied playing Santa!  I have a feeling I will finish the challenge this month since I have a lot more free time now that the holidays are over.

Read a book with a song lyric in the title; 25 points

High Fidelity by Nick Hornby

Song: High Fidelity by Elvis Costello (great song, btw)

I've seen this movie about 84,000 times,  It might be my all time favorite.  I've never read the book, so I figured it was about time.  And since I am a sort of purist when it comes to reading a book before the movie, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about any differences that arose. I tend to side on the side of the original source, but having seen the movie so many times I was afraid I would prefer that version. And that would just turn my entire belief system upside down. Seriously, I'm kind of nuts. Ha ha!  But I am so glad that I read it, because it was awesome!!! Not so different from the movie that it made me mad, but different enough to hold my attention. I was picturing John Cusack the whole time, though.  There are worse things...I think he's really cute.

Score: 5/5  323 pages

Read a book by a local author (Kentucky): 15 points

The Cornbread Mafia by James Higdon

I had heard rave reviews about this book for years from family and coworkers, so it was an easy choice.  It's non-fiction, which usually doesn't hold my interest, but this book did not disappoint!  Plus it's always cool when you know the places being discussed in a piece of literature first hand!

Score: 4.5/5 400 pages

Previous Total: 75 points

New Points: 40

Current Total: 115 points