Putting My Best Foot Forward

It is New Year's Eve, and the time for resolutions and new beginnings is upon us. 2014 has been full of wonder and relief when on an even keel, yet also full of debilitating stress and anxiety on the flip side of the coin. There has been very little comfortable and/or boring middle ground, and that is one of the things that I hope changes in the coming year. I can handle some of life's little hiccups with ease, but could always do without the major stresses. Who couldn't? Regardless, I am thankful for all the life experiences I received this year, and am thankful once again for my amazing family, the food we had to eat, the roof over our heads, the cars that got us to the jobs I'm thankful we have. And that my pets are all still with me. Mini is getting old, and we had a scare with her earlier this summer. I'm thankful for all the friends who have been there for me this year and beyond, and hope I have been able to serve them in like kind.

I won't put a huge retrospective together, but did want to share my favorite thrift store/vintage moments from 2014. Some of these are mine, and some are just pics I snapped of interesting things that caught my eye:

Who didn't have a crush on this hottie back in the 70s?

Gorgeous orange Mid-Century chair

Lovely trio of deco milk glass vases

Vintage beaded fringe bag. MINE!

I'd love to lounge on this groovy chaise!

Mid-Century stereo stand

Mid-Century console stereo

Do you fondue?

John Waters would approve.

A cute little coconut clown. Because why not?

The perfect casual, durable serving tray

Vintage Libbey Prado goblet, wine/juice, and champagne/sherbet glasses

I can't wait to see what 2015 brings in vintage finds!

And in the spirit of putting my best foot forward, I scored these gorgeous boots on sale for what amounts to about 25% off during the Women's Boot Sale at Target.

I wish much love, success, prosperity, and happiness for everyone in the coming year! If you are going out tonight, please be responsible. And back from last year, here's Jimi Hendrix's version of Auld Lang Syne to take you into it.

Happy New Year!

So long and goodnight, 2013

And what a year you have been!

Chapters closed. New chapters began. Once again, I am nowhere near the same person I was just one short year ago. If I walk away from 2013 having learned just one thing, it's that it's okay to be afraid, but it's not okay to let my fear hold me back. I tried new things, both on the job and home fronts. Things I was afraid I'd hate, but turned out to be blessings in disguise. And I let go of some cherished friendships that I was afraid to see coming to an end. But I did so knowing that I tried, and hopefully I served my purpose in their lives well while I was in them.

I learned a lot about myself this year, too, the most important thing being that when faced with challenges, I am stronger than I usually give myself credit for. I think we all are.

Aside from that (well, and gaining weight - yuck!) this year has been the best! I'm still gainfully employed, have my beautiful family, and some amazing friends I can count on. I started a new blog for all things live music (go check it out! There's not much there yet, but with any luck, 2014 will see lots more content added :) )

And while we're talking about music, this is the last Music Monday of 2013. I'm not quite sure where to go with it. I did write a post featuring some of my favorite albums of the year over at The Music Mamas, and I'd be really honored if you have the time to go read it!

So much happened in the music world. We lost lots of great musicians this year. We also discovered lots of amazing new musicians. I only made it out to TWO (yes, two) shows this year! But hey, that's twice as many as I made it to in 2012. And the two I attended? They were THE ones to see: The Killers in August and my birthday gift to myself/getting-my-maiden-name-back-celebration, Thirty Seconds To Mars in September.

Oh, and this happened: (you can read all about it in Spank's TSTM concert review for Girls at the Rock Show)

So yeah.

Best. Year. Ever.

(If you're me.)

In addition to this being the last Music Monday post of 2013, it is my last post here for the year as well. So I raise my glass to you. To our heroes. To another year of friendship. To good health and prosperity to us and our loved ones. To an abundance of love, life and laughter. To times gone by. To new beginnings.

Now prepare to get chills as you listen to Jimi Hendrix's INCREDIBLE version of "Auld Lang Syne."

Be sure to come back and visit in 2014 - the blog is getting a nip/tuck in the next few days. She deserves it.

Oh, say......

Like many, many women (many of whom will not admit to this), I went to see Magic Mike this weekend with my friend Sound Check Mama. And then another friend, Spank, and I teamed up to...um, discuss it at her site. Won't you come along for the fun and talk about it with us? Just like the movie, we got a bit rowdy and raunchy. Fun!

Now....back to my regularly scheduled post. Monday's Music Moves Me is here again, and since our country celebrates her independence this week, this week's theme is patriotic songs.




The Rules:

1. You Tube, and lock & load!
2. Grab "Monday's Music Moves Me" Button.
3. SIGN LINKY, Follow us, & Rockin' comment are good!
4. Finally,Boogie down to your Fellow Rockin' Bloggers. Also, bring some back with you to join us!

Well, I had a pretty hard time coming up with patriotic songs, but this one is very powerful, both musically and lyrically :

Metallica - Don't Tread On Me



And you can't get any more patriotic than The Star Spangled Banner. Here are a few good rock-and-roll guitar versions:

Legendary Texas blues guitarist and singer Stevie Ray Vaughn...
(This appears to be recorded off someone's tv set, as it happened long ago, but you can still hear its uniqueness)



Ozzy Osbourne and Black Label Society guitarist and frontman Zakk Wylde has done a really good version as well...



And the one that started it all, groundbreaking guitarist Jimi Hendrix. This performance is from Woodstock....



I would have LOVED to have been around for that one. Doesn't it just give you chills?

Be sure to head over to XMas Dolly's to play along, visit other participants, co-hosts and spotlight dancers, and sign up for the giveaway! What are some of YOUR favorite patriotic songs?