And then I up and committed to the tour. And not only committed to the tour, but offered to hostess and promote the first show. And then I got asked to be the Choir director at Church–which meant I was in charge of the entire service on Christmas Sunday. So I had to pull a choir together (which is like puling teeth, don’t you know) and write the program. And practice it. (Holy Smokes. If it actually happens how I see it in my head, it will be a miracle. Please pray.) And then my sister told me that she, her husband, and their child–i.e. my pumpkin of a niece–were flying in to stay for a week over Christmas. And then there was the invitation for the work party. And then the Church party, that we hostessed a portion of at our house. The night after the concert at our house. (Oy vey) And then two TV appearances to get ready for. And a Christmas meal to plan and make for the family that was now coming.

And … well. All of a sudden Christmas is tearing around the corner and I don’t have any presents for the people who will be waking up Christmas morning at my house. I don’t have a turkey. Or stuffing. Or mashed potatoes. Or pie. I haven’t drunk any hot chocolate. And I haven’t read a book in months.

And while I’m so happy I did the tour–seriously. I love being on tour and I love Mindy’s music. And while I’m thrilled my sister and her family are here (even if my niece still doesn’t like me. What’s that about Laela?!). And while I’ve loved the bustle and energy of the last few weeks. I’ve just really wished, too, for that quiet holiday I saw in my head months ago.

And so at night. When everyone goes upstairs to their beds. I’ve stayed downstairs. And I’ve sat by the tree. And though I’ve been working my laptop overtime with all the “stuff” that still needs to be done, even past midnight. I’ve allowed myself to wrap up in the quiet. And the glow. And just. Be still.

p.s. I was on Good Things Utah again this morning with a little crafty for any of you last-minute (like me) gift givers. They’re these cute little tree pins that I hope I’ll have a picture of later today to post for you. So easy. And so inexpensive. And If you’re just finding me through Good Things. Welcome. I hope you’ll stay a bit. And I hope we become friends. If you want to know more … these are my favorite posts.

Business signs that certainly hadn’t been changed in decades lined the way to the city center. Beautiful brick buildings towered with history and painted billboards fading from their sides. Even the mannequins in the storefront windows looked like they’d been standing there since 1958.

We stopped for lunch at the Rainbow Cafe and our waitress called us things like “sugar” and “honey” and “sweetheart” as she took our order. When we walked down the street, people smiled and said hello. And the thrift/antique/junk shop around the corner was bursting at its vintage seams with dresses and hats and lace and bottles and LPs and china from citizens past. Spencer bought a sweet tambourine. Joe bought a ring for his lady. Mindy bought a painting.

There wasn’t much time to dawdle, but we soaked our fill and when I got home, one of the first things I said to Frit was, “A roadtrip to Pendleton, Oregon is in order. For the thrift shop alone, it’s worth the drive. We simply must go.”

And simply, you must.

It’s been a long time since I felt the need to pinch myself and ask, “Is this really my life?” But lately, that’s how I feel. Life is so good. So fun. So fulfilling. So full—full of cool people, cool experiences, and opportunities that make me happy.

When I climbed into bed last Monday night (after our own house concert) I had a feeling it was just the beginning of a great week. Turns out, I was right.

[Media Appearances]

[Tuesday Night @ the Velour Live Music Gallery]

[Wednesday Night with the Teton Chamber Orchestra]

[On the tour bus ... i.e. Le Chateau]

[Friday Night during Soundcheck @ The Rose Room ... I am magic.]

[Saturday Night in Tri-Cities, WA]People sometimes ask what I do when I manage a tour like this and the answer is … I do details. I make sure the band is taken care of, that there’s food when food is needed, that the sound tech knows when soundcheck is scheduled for, that the set looks good, that hotel rooms are reserved, that email lists are passed around, that the baby is bounced, that merchandise is set up, sold, and accounted for, that backs are rubbed, that the promoters know our wherabouts and needs, that photos are taken, and that the media knows we’re coming.

It’s a ton of work and I’m utterly exhausted when I get home.

But then I think … is this really my life? How much cooler could it get?

(Apparently not much cooler at all seeing as how I now need to go change the sheets in the spare room and scrub the toilet. My sister, brother-in-law, and niece are coming tomorrow for Christmas. And I’m guessing they’d appreciate clean sheets and a clean toilet. It’s the least I can do.)

We’re all packed into an RV. And by “we” I mean Mindy, her man, her baby, the band (who might be the funniest group of men I’ve been around in a long time), all our suitcases, all the instruments, all the set, all the merchandise, and all the sound equipment. And by RV I mean Le Chateau. At least that’s what it says on the outside.

And by Le Chateau I mean the Griswold Family Christmas Tour Bus, straight from 1980-something, complete with brown and yellow curtains.

It is awesome. No lie.

We hit Boise tonight. Twas a great show and a great crowd. And who knew downtown Boise was so cool? I have to hand it to you Idaho. I had no idea.

Now, it’s bedtime and I’m exhausted. Like I usually am when I produce a tour.

But let me share my favorite picture of the day …

I spent most of the drive mugging on this fella.

Needless to say, he’s scrumptious.

p.s. We head to Kennewick, WA tomorrow. If you’re in the area, come say hi!

I don’t know how we did it, but on Monday night we fit no less than 70 people in our living room for our first annual Christmas House Concert with indie-pop star Mindy Gledhill. I’m still reeling!

Frit and I were up past midnight two nights in a row decorating and baking and getting everything ready, and despite our bleary eyes, it was SO worth it. And even now … every time we walk in the living room, we smile–we still haven’t taken the decorations down. We love them too much.

Spencer Harrison (Mindy’s bass player) and Libbie Linton opened with some delicious tunes. (Check them out here, or here.) And I am, pleased to announce, that I am a new Libbie fan. And Spencer just might be the nicest guy with the greatest coiffure and coolest voice. Ever.

When Mindy took the stage it was like our whole house suddenly went electric. The walls were buzzing neon, I swear. It was palpable. And amazing. And so gosh darn fun! The kick of the bass drum pounded the opening beats of Whole Wide World (which, may I tell you, she dedicated to moi) and I wanted to jump up and down and dance and scream, “Do you feel that? In your gut? Do you feel that?” I’m weird, I know. But like I said. The house was electric and I was, in turn, electrified. Good live music gives me such a rush.

So anyway. Mindy sang songs from Anchor and Winter Moon and Frit and I danced in our seats the whole time. Side note: When Mindy sang the Beach Boys’ “Little Saint Nick” Frit dared me to run wildly through the crowd (run run reindeer, run run reindeer, you can hear it right? And see it?). She said she’d pay me $40 if I did, and I even got her up to $70 by the end of the exchange. But I just couldn’t do it. I was too shy. (Right.) Now I’m thinking I was crazy not to take that dare. It was my concert afterall, right?

So anyway. As if being able to hostess the event wasn’t enough, Mindy invited me up to sing the finale song with her. … One of my finest moments, I’m sure.

This next photo cracks me up every time. Apparently, I was really getting into it. And now I know … I SOO do not sing with a pretty face like Mindy does!

The only thing I’m kicking myself over, besides not taking Frit’s dare, is that I don’t have more pictures. I guess I was just too hopped up on electricity and meeting everyone that this is all the documentation I have. But I so wish I had taken a crowd picture so you could actually see all 70 people in our living room. I’m amazed that we actually pulled that off. But as Frit reminded me, I can fit anything into any space. And it’s true. I can.

So thanks everyone for coming! It was one of the highlights of my year to put this show on and meet so many of you. And just so you know … we’re addicted to house concerts now. So stay tuned for more dates and more artists in the future.

p.s. the morning after the concert, we had to be at Channel 2 and Channel 4 bright and early for some media spots I booked for Mindy and her puppet friends to publicize the rest of the tour. Check out the ABC segment here: (Buzzy Snowman kills me!)

And because I was so happy that the babysister and her lovely ladies came … one more picture:

A whole paragraph!

Anyway. Did I tell you I have a new part-time job? It’s true. I’m the new marketing specialist for a business travel agency. It’s only a couple days each week so I still have time to work on the magazine (!) and schedule photo shoots and consult here and there. And, piece by piece, I feel like life is coming back together again.

Speaking of the magazine. Y’all—it is going to be so amazing. I have bitten off way more than one girl should chew (what’s new?) but it makes me so happy. So. incredibly. happy. And slowly but surely it’s coming together. I’ll have more news later this week about that.

And then there’s the concert … My first annual Christmas House Concert featuring the ever-lovely Mindy Gledhill. Tickets are selling and my house is filling up! I’m finishing the designs for the decorations today and getting a head start on refreshments. But most importantly, it will be so fun to see you, especially you readers I don’t know! (Tickets still available here.)

Now, if you’re just finding me through GTU (I had a craft segment this morning) welcome welcome. I’m Krista, a magazine publisher/photographer/marketing consultant & teacher/quintessential pisces/lover of crafties/single, 32-year-old Southern transplant with a fetish for words, hand-written letters mailed with a stamp, Valentine’s Day candy, cheese platters, the Bachelor(ette) when it’s not stupid (oxymoron intended), and Ryan Gosling (as of late. loved this.).

The last couple years have been a maze of discovery, emotion, grief, and understanding as I’ve sought to make sense of a substantial job loss, singledom, and the intersection of my life and my faith. And I’m realizing this blog is where my “becoming” plays out. I suppose  you could say, that that is its purpose–its theme. And I’m happy to have you here.

By way of announcement, you can also find me

on Facebook :: on Pinterest :: on email

I also have an email list (over there on the right near the top) but, FYI, I stink at sending consistent email. I have grand plans for said list, but alas, I procrastinate. (That’s the polite way of saying I’m lazy.) But do sign up if you want an occasional email with delicious words, easy tutorials, and cool stuff. And it’s also the place you want to be when the so-called grand plans roll out. And grand they will be, I assure you.

Today in my segment I showed how to make customized fabric button earrings. They’re a great gift for the long list of ladies in your life. And inexpensive too–each set costs less than $1. Here is the tutorial if you missed it. And the video is at the end of this post.

Customized Fabric Button Earrings

Supplies:
craft cover button kit * scissors * fabric (small prints are best depending on the size of buttons) * any glue that will adhere metal * earring posts (or pins, magnets, etc. depending on the type of accessory you are making)

Steps:
1. Place button kit template on fabric and trace circle following directions in kit.
2. Cut out fabric circle.
3. Center fabric wrong side up, over the mold (comes in the button kit), and press button shell into mold.
4. Tuck fabric into button shell.
5. Place button back over tucked fabric, press down firmly with pusher (comes in the button kit) to snap into place.
6. Glue earring post to back of button.
7. Repeat for second earring.

Variations:
1. Use these fabric buttons for the center of a fabric flower brooch.
2. Glue magnets to the back for a set of matching of customized magnets.
3. Use computer printer fabric to print designs, words, or pictures straight from your computer for even more personalized accessories.

Cute as a button indeed. Much cuter than me putting on my nylons.

This morning I woke up so happy. So totally happy.

So I got out of bed, went to see if Frit was awake, (she was), and told her I was making a Starbucks run (in my jams & slippers, bedhead and all) to get us some necessary deliciousness to start this cold Saturday off right–a caramel apple spice for her and a hazelnut steamer for me.

When I got in the car and turned the ignition, the very first thing I heard were the very first notes of the awesomeness that is Wham!’s Christmas hit, “Last Christmas.”

This, only made me more happy. If that was even possible.

And now, I’m sharing that fantastic-ness with you.

Trust me. It will make you happy.

One of the best things about this song is that just when you think it should be over, there’s still four more chorus to go! And as for the video … I don’t even know where to begin … classic and awesome all rolled up in some seriously styled hair.

After bedhead and Starbucks, the rest of the afternoon included a new washing machine, a lot of photo shoot editing, and a matinee showing of The Muppets (GO see it!).

Happy indeed.

P.S. There’s just one week and a day until the Mindy Gledhill concert AT MY HOUSE! Have you gotten your tickets yet? CLICK HERE. They’re only $10/person until Dec. 12, and $15 the night of.

This afternoon I got the funnest phone call. It was from a new reader who wanted to reserve two tickets for the Mindy Gledhill Christmas concert Frit and I are hostessing in two weeks! (Hi Jessica!) Seriously, it made my whole day. It always amazes me that people actually read this here crazy bloggity and I never tire from meeting those new friends who do. Really, truly. Thanks for reading.

AND … can I just tell you how excited I am about this concert?! Gah!

I am! So. Excited! It’s going to be such a dreamy night of music and I’m consumed with the planning and decorating and refreshments menu. I so hope you’ll come. Tickets are $10 until Dec. 12 and $15 the night of. You can RSVP on the Facebook Event Page, or you can email me, or you can call (801.360.1235).

… In other news …

Tonight Frit and I, for family night, ate a gargantuan amount of naan, tikka masala, and coconut kurma. Then we put Buddy the Elf on repeat, which is tradition you know (we’re on our 2nd time through at this very moment), took down Thanksgiving and began decking our halls with Christmas. Frit is the resident tree light expert. She’s really so good at it. (And she’s such a good sport to do it every year.) While she’s busy with the boughs, I set up the rest. And then we do the ornaments together.

This is one of my favorite nights of the year. I love the glow of the lights. I love the sparkle in the ornaments. I love the hazelnut in the chocolate on the stove. I love how hard Elf makes us laugh every, stinkin’, year. I love the ribbons in the windows, the nativity on the piano, and the feathers round the lamps.

I’m just really, so happy tonight. Happy. And tired. And ready for Christmas … almost.

There was my pecan and sugar cream. Plus two pumpkins. Plus a lemon sour cream. And a chocolate cream.

Quite honestly, there was more pie per capita than Thanksgiving turkey. But by golly, come Friday morning, I was sure glad to be greeted by a gratuitous slice of leftover pecan for breakfast. Fav.o.rite.

After morning pie (akin to morning to prayer), we traipsed up the mountainside, like we do every year, looking for the perfect tree. Oddly (gratefully) it wasn’t very cold with only a light, snowy mist in the air.

We weaved in and out of the firs and evergreens, up this way and then back that way, when quite fortuitously, and rather quickly (compared to years past), we found her. The perfect mix of whimsy, fullness, and Charlie Brown.

And just like that, Christmas had begun. Hip! Hip!

In honor of the newly opened yuletide season, I wanted to share the music video debut of “Winter Moon” by my friend, indie-singer/songwriter Mindy Gledhill. She just released a Christmas album, of the same title, and I’m in love love love with the whole darn thing. The collection, to me, is reminiscent of simple Christmases, dreamy and playful, with hints of delightful quirkiness. Her rendition of “Christmas Waltz” (Track 2) is hands down, my new favorite Christmas song. I had it on repeat for, oh, 2 hours or so last night. So I am quite confident when I say that I think this should be your 2011 Christmas CD purchase.

Find the album here (hard copy, on sale for $11.24 today) and here (iTunes, $9.99).

And if getting to share the music video wasn’t exciting enough! I have a copy of Winter Moon to giveaway to one of my readers! Just leave a comment below telling me your Christmas wish and I’ll randomly draw the winner next Friday night. ***This GIVEAWAY has ended: The winner is Brenda Taylor! Congrats Brenda!

Oh, but there’s more! I’m hosting a private house concert featuring Mindy and her stellar band (who are flying in all the way from LA for the show!) on Monday, December 12 at 8:00 p.m. You’re coming right?! The artist donation fee is $10 until December 12, or $15 at the door.

I’m over-the-Winter-Moon excited about this concert and am already scheming-dreaming the decorations and refreshments! Oh, how I hope you can come. If you have any questions, send me an email.

Now without further adieu, may I present Mindy Gledhill (+ a few surprise guests) singing the title track of her new album “Winter Moon” …

I removed the remaining pie crust from the fridge and began to work it into a circle on the cold granite counter. Gingerly, I lifted it into a pie plate and set to work whisking the cream and sugar for the filling. As I stood over the stove watching it thicken, I found myself so completely content, quietly stirring.

Genius had compiled the most delightful playlist on my iTunes and it was streaming through the kitchen like the steam rising from the simmering pot in front of me. Gray clouds filtered the sunlight with coziness. And crispy, brown leaves tossed end over end through the backyard. Where did this morning come from? I thought. And how did I get so lucky to be in it?

I set the sugar cream pie to chill in all its sugary, creamy, cinnamony goodness and turned to the green beans. They were gorgeous. So crisp. So green. And I relished every minute fingering and sorting and slicing them. I made a point to try and be especially deliberate. I was so happy. So thankful. To be right where I was, doing what I was doing. And I wanted to experience the entirety of each moment, with every sense I possess. And in doing so, I found myself most thankful.

Thankfull–yes full–for sweet and simple moments of everyday bliss.

For color and taste and touch. In them is where I find the richness of life.

For opportunities. And the chance to pursue.

For this life I’m living. Despite all its uncertainty and overwhelmingness. There is still joy and peace and promise and laughter.

For the people around me. And the way they make me think, and laugh, and accomplish.

And for change. Yes. Change. As much as I resist it, I’d be stuck without it.

Thankfull, indeed.

And friends, I hope you had a Happy, Happy Thanksgiving too.