Do you like music? Do you like to get things for free?
Well let me tell you a little secret! Shhhh.....
Every month, on Amazon, there are new songs available for FREE download from artists on the rise! I have gotten some great music this way, including the song I performed last May (now on the radio all the time) "Let Her Go" by Passenger! These songs can be found in the Amazon Mp3 store under "Discover" on the left-hand side of the screen. It says "Free Songs from Artists to Watch." I recommend previewing the songs before buying, as some are better than others, and there are a very wide variety of styles, but there are always at least a few I really like.
There are also a large amount of other free songs, but every time I try to get on and find them, I end up clicking around and sometimes I find them, and sometimes I don't! So, my gift to you:
Free Songs
Free Albums
Again, these songs and albums vary greatly, but there are some great ones on there! Simply listen before you download. I love the Celtic Sampler and some of the Christmas albums, as well as some of the relaxation stuff. Children's music is hit or miss. As a music therapist, you'd think any free children's music would be worth it, but I have turned down free albums more than once.
Good luck and happy "shopping!"
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Happy 2014!
Wow! Can it really be 2014 already?!?
While I didn't have any amazingly exciting plans for New Year's Eve, it was nice to enjoy a quiet evening at home in my PJs, and my first day of the new year has been great! I spent my morning finishing the doughnuts I made from my new cook book - delicious! As many of you know, I LOVE doughnuts, and fresh is always best! What's better than homemade?? I made the Apple Fritter recipe from my new Top Pot Doughnut cookbook!
The rest of my day consisted of playing on the silks at TGR with some wonderful friends, and a winter hike (sans snowshoes) with my hubby! Before we start dinner (we're making patty melts! yum!), I decided to take a chance to wish everyone a very happy new year! A wonderful opportunity to start fresh, set goals, and make changes. A chance to evaluate our lives and realize how many wonderful things we have done in the past year!
This year, I:
With Brian's graduation coming this May, I am very excited to see what 2014 will bring for us! It is crazy to know how many changes we will be making this year, and to not know right now where we will be later this year! Luckily.... we like adventures! :-)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
While I didn't have any amazingly exciting plans for New Year's Eve, it was nice to enjoy a quiet evening at home in my PJs, and my first day of the new year has been great! I spent my morning finishing the doughnuts I made from my new cook book - delicious! As many of you know, I LOVE doughnuts, and fresh is always best! What's better than homemade?? I made the Apple Fritter recipe from my new Top Pot Doughnut cookbook!
The rest of my day consisted of playing on the silks at TGR with some wonderful friends, and a winter hike (sans snowshoes) with my hubby! Before we start dinner (we're making patty melts! yum!), I decided to take a chance to wish everyone a very happy new year! A wonderful opportunity to start fresh, set goals, and make changes. A chance to evaluate our lives and realize how many wonderful things we have done in the past year!
This year, I:
- Flew on a flying trapeze
- Took my Girl Scouts camping for the first time
- Completed and performed my first routine on the silks
- Took part in Hill Day for Music Therapy
- Backpacked in Glacier National Park
- Planned and led a Girl Scout day camp
- Created many other wonderful memories with friends and family!
With Brian's graduation coming this May, I am very excited to see what 2014 will bring for us! It is crazy to know how many changes we will be making this year, and to not know right now where we will be later this year! Luckily.... we like adventures! :-)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
 |
| We decided it was time to take a Christmas photo this year... the cats did not agree. |
Have a wonderful day full of Christmas joy, family, food... and laughter! :-) Many blessings to you and your family!
Sunday, December 8, 2013
BLT Grilled Cheese
What is better than a gourmet grilled cheese? YUM!!! This one is based on the classic BLT, with bacon, tomato, spinach (in place of lettuce), and 2 kinds of cheese.
The best part of recipes like this, though, is making them work with what you like (or have on hand). I would have loved to add some avocado to this! The key to cooking a perfect melty grilled cheese when it's this thick is simple: slow and steady wins the race! Keep the heat low! It's not a light meal, but it definitely hit the spot on this chilly snowy day!
The best part of recipes like this, though, is making them work with what you like (or have on hand). I would have loved to add some avocado to this! The key to cooking a perfect melty grilled cheese when it's this thick is simple: slow and steady wins the race! Keep the heat low! It's not a light meal, but it definitely hit the spot on this chilly snowy day!
Christmas Cookies, Take 1!
Hooray for cookies! I figured this is take one, since I'll probably make some more at some point when I'm with family for Christmas!
With my new apron on, snow falling outside, and Christmas music filling the house, it was a perfect day to bake cookies!
Here are the two recipes I made today:
First, was an Andes Mint cookie from Mrs. Clark's Kitchen. Karen is the mother of a good friend from college, and I can tell you without even trying them that I recommend everything on her blog! She has great tips for this cookie - there really isn't much to add. They are DELICIOUS! Here's how mine turned out:
The second recipe I made was a shortbread cookie. This was one of the top shortbread recipes on allrecipes.com, called Melt-in-your-mouth Shortbread, and it truly does! One tip for this site if you haven't used it before is to always look at the reviews! Some people rate the recipe very well, but make a lot of changes. Some people have tips that may have been left out of the original recipe, as well. Luckily, they are sorted by which are most helpful, so by reading the first 10-15 reviews, you should get the information you need. With the help of some of these reviews, my cookies turned out great!
If you're in town, come see us, because we have plenty of cookies to share!!
With my new apron on, snow falling outside, and Christmas music filling the house, it was a perfect day to bake cookies!
Here are the two recipes I made today:
First, was an Andes Mint cookie from Mrs. Clark's Kitchen. Karen is the mother of a good friend from college, and I can tell you without even trying them that I recommend everything on her blog! She has great tips for this cookie - there really isn't much to add. They are DELICIOUS! Here's how mine turned out:
The second recipe I made was a shortbread cookie. This was one of the top shortbread recipes on allrecipes.com, called Melt-in-your-mouth Shortbread, and it truly does! One tip for this site if you haven't used it before is to always look at the reviews! Some people rate the recipe very well, but make a lot of changes. Some people have tips that may have been left out of the original recipe, as well. Luckily, they are sorted by which are most helpful, so by reading the first 10-15 reviews, you should get the information you need. With the help of some of these reviews, my cookies turned out great!
If you're in town, come see us, because we have plenty of cookies to share!!
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Thankful
I am so very blessed! Sometimes, in the craziness of life, we have a tendency to forget that simple fact. From friends and family to the little things around us, it is important to see those blessings for what they are. So, for Thanksgiving, I like to challenge myself with a list of (some of) the wonderful things I have to be thankful for (in no particular order). This year, I get to share it with you!
1. Good health
2. My cats, and all of their crazy antics
3. Unexpected hugs from children
4. The power of music
5. Testing negative for celiac disease :-)
6. Christmas music (I started a few days early... couldn't wait!)
7. The support and friendship I find at TGR Fitness
8. Having Cassie (a good college friend) living a block away this year!
9. Sunshine
10. Audio books - they get me through every work day!
11. Cozy slippers and sweaters
12. Having people all around me who believe in me and my potential
13. The girls in my Girl Scout troop, and the opportunity to learn with them
14. A home, and the relief of knowing it's already sold!
15. Trees and pretty fall leaves
16. All of the people who have given up so much for our freedom - Thank you!
17. Beautiful outdoor spaces, near and far
18. Brothers whose antics growing up gave me character ;-) And who can now be friends!
19. Doughnuts.
20. Family (near and far) who I know love and care about me
21. Camp Tahigwa - a place I call home - and the many people who continue to fight for it
22. My clients, their families, and the joy they bring me
23. A group of wonderful friends from college who continue to get together and love me even when I fail at keeping in touch.
24. A wonderful job I truly enjoy!
25. All of the awesome people who make me laugh
26. Good deals
27. National Parks
28. "What Does the Fox Say?" ;-)
29. Pie.
30. All of the women who give their time as Girl Scout Volunteers - especially those in Ames/Gilbert who I get to work with!
31. Grandparents who have always been involved in my life and who are still healthy!
32. Seeing big smiles from kids when I come to see them for music!
33. The ability to keep making progress and trying new things as an aerialist
34. My lovely husband, and the fact that I'm still his favorite wife after 3.5 years! ;-)
35. Random YouTube videos that provide laughter, tears, and entertainment
36. Games!
37. The Ames Public Library
38. A family I can be goofy with
39. The stars, and the joy of photographing them!
40. My Mom sewing me a music therapy bag made specifically for my needs!
41. Slow cookers
42. Modern medicine, and the miracles it helps make possible every day
43. Kid President
44. Performance opportunities with the TGR goddesses
45. The funny things kids say
46. Those days when I know dinner will be ready to eat when I get home - Thanks Brian!
47. Parks, their parking lots, and their bathrooms. Great for a girl who works from her car.
48. Flowers
49. The anticipation of not knowing what's next - it keeps me on my toes!
50. The hilarious fact that one of my clients has started saying "My name is Molly" to EVERYONE! I call him my newest advocate for music therapy!
51. The opportunity to connect with other aerialists through the (opening Black Friday!) AAFA
52. Freebies
53. Days that I cross a lot of things off my to-do list
54. Days to do nothing
55. Celebrating holidays with my family, and all the traditions that accompany that
56. Laughter
57. Instant communication!
58. People who pursue what they are passionate about
59. Good books
60. Plants Vs. Zombies.... a guilty pleasure
65. Hugs from Mom/Dad/Grandma/Grandpa/etc, after time apart
66. Seeing people I love, in love!
67. Babies! My Facebook is full of them!
68. The parade!
69. Learning something new
70. IPTV
71. Music therapists who share their experience and expertise with others through blogs and CMTEs!
72. Local businesses
73. Living close to family
74. Snow
75. Getting mail
76. Silly songs
77. My mom's family being closer together after years of being so spread out!
78. Friends who I know are always there, no matter how long it's been since we last talked
79. Story People
80. Space Heaters
81. A close-knit family of in-laws to gather with!
82. Ibuprofen
83. Clean water
84. A computer to type this on!
85. My amazing parents who have always been there in every way
86. Santa!
87. The group of ladies helping me plan Women of the Wilderness at Camp Tahigwa
88. Dance parties - especially the impromptu kind
89. Bad jokes
90. Google calendar
91. Lunch with friends
92. Lotion - my skin is already feeling this winter weather
93. Cuddling with the cats - all 30+ lbs of them!
94. Hot cocoa and hot apple cider
95. New recipes
96. Scarves
97. Disney movies
98. Leftovers :-)
99. Everyone who took some time on Thanksgiving to give back to their community!
100. The fact that I have people in my life to share this with! Thanks for being a part of my life!
1. Good health
2. My cats, and all of their crazy antics
3. Unexpected hugs from children
4. The power of music
5. Testing negative for celiac disease :-)
6. Christmas music (I started a few days early... couldn't wait!)
7. The support and friendship I find at TGR Fitness
8. Having Cassie (a good college friend) living a block away this year!
9. Sunshine
10. Audio books - they get me through every work day!
11. Cozy slippers and sweaters
12. Having people all around me who believe in me and my potential
13. The girls in my Girl Scout troop, and the opportunity to learn with them
14. A home, and the relief of knowing it's already sold!
15. Trees and pretty fall leaves
16. All of the people who have given up so much for our freedom - Thank you!
17. Beautiful outdoor spaces, near and far
18. Brothers whose antics growing up gave me character ;-) And who can now be friends!
19. Doughnuts.
20. Family (near and far) who I know love and care about me
21. Camp Tahigwa - a place I call home - and the many people who continue to fight for it
22. My clients, their families, and the joy they bring me
23. A group of wonderful friends from college who continue to get together and love me even when I fail at keeping in touch.
24. A wonderful job I truly enjoy!
25. All of the awesome people who make me laugh
26. Good deals
27. National Parks
28. "What Does the Fox Say?" ;-)
29. Pie.
30. All of the women who give their time as Girl Scout Volunteers - especially those in Ames/Gilbert who I get to work with!
31. Grandparents who have always been involved in my life and who are still healthy!
32. Seeing big smiles from kids when I come to see them for music!
33. The ability to keep making progress and trying new things as an aerialist
34. My lovely husband, and the fact that I'm still his favorite wife after 3.5 years! ;-)
35. Random YouTube videos that provide laughter, tears, and entertainment
36. Games!
37. The Ames Public Library
38. A family I can be goofy with
39. The stars, and the joy of photographing them!
40. My Mom sewing me a music therapy bag made specifically for my needs!
41. Slow cookers
42. Modern medicine, and the miracles it helps make possible every day
43. Kid President
44. Performance opportunities with the TGR goddesses
45. The funny things kids say
46. Those days when I know dinner will be ready to eat when I get home - Thanks Brian!
47. Parks, their parking lots, and their bathrooms. Great for a girl who works from her car.
48. Flowers
49. The anticipation of not knowing what's next - it keeps me on my toes!
50. The hilarious fact that one of my clients has started saying "My name is Molly" to EVERYONE! I call him my newest advocate for music therapy!
51. The opportunity to connect with other aerialists through the (opening Black Friday!) AAFA
52. Freebies
53. Days that I cross a lot of things off my to-do list
54. Days to do nothing
55. Celebrating holidays with my family, and all the traditions that accompany that
56. Laughter
57. Instant communication!
58. People who pursue what they are passionate about
59. Good books
60. Plants Vs. Zombies.... a guilty pleasure
65. Hugs from Mom/Dad/Grandma/Grandpa/etc, after time apart
66. Seeing people I love, in love!
67. Babies! My Facebook is full of them!
68. The parade!
69. Learning something new
70. IPTV
71. Music therapists who share their experience and expertise with others through blogs and CMTEs!
72. Local businesses
73. Living close to family
74. Snow
75. Getting mail
76. Silly songs
77. My mom's family being closer together after years of being so spread out!
78. Friends who I know are always there, no matter how long it's been since we last talked
79. Story People
80. Space Heaters
81. A close-knit family of in-laws to gather with!
82. Ibuprofen
83. Clean water
84. A computer to type this on!
85. My amazing parents who have always been there in every way
86. Santa!
87. The group of ladies helping me plan Women of the Wilderness at Camp Tahigwa
88. Dance parties - especially the impromptu kind
89. Bad jokes
90. Google calendar
91. Lunch with friends
92. Lotion - my skin is already feeling this winter weather
93. Cuddling with the cats - all 30+ lbs of them!
94. Hot cocoa and hot apple cider
95. New recipes
96. Scarves
97. Disney movies
98. Leftovers :-)
99. Everyone who took some time on Thanksgiving to give back to their community!
100. The fact that I have people in my life to share this with! Thanks for being a part of my life!
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Apple Cranberry Sticky Buns
Talk about heart-warming fall food! YUM!
I got the idea for apple sticky-buns from the Pioneer Woman, who made a caramel apple version. Her version, however, is a little more time-intensive than I was up for this weekend. So, I found a bread-machine version of sticky buns, and added my apples and cranberries to the topping! The recipe I used is here. Instead of the pecans and raisins, I used 1 apple, finely chopped, and a sprinkling of dried cranberries (sorry, I don't measure things). Everything else I followed as written! Here's how they turned out:
I got the idea for apple sticky-buns from the Pioneer Woman, who made a caramel apple version. Her version, however, is a little more time-intensive than I was up for this weekend. So, I found a bread-machine version of sticky buns, and added my apples and cranberries to the topping! The recipe I used is here. Instead of the pecans and raisins, I used 1 apple, finely chopped, and a sprinkling of dried cranberries (sorry, I don't measure things). Everything else I followed as written! Here's how they turned out:
YUMMMM!!! The sauce turned out quite a bit thinner than a typical "sticky bun" but it was really yummy that way! The dough also didn't rise as much as I would have liked, but I don't know if that's because of the dough or user error :-) Overall, really delicious, and I will definitely make these again!
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