29th XTU Anniversary Show

 I am still on cloud 9!!!! Yesterday was such an incredible day!

As most of you know, I've been working for Philadelphia's Country Radio Station for a year and a half.  Every year the station throws a listener appreciation concert which is called the Anniversary Show and is well known to most people in the tri-state area.  The concert is FREE to everyone.  Yup, Free!  You can't buy tickets to this concert, you have to win them!  We hold events, called tickets run and x-stops, for months prior to the show with tons of opportunities for our listeners to win tickets.  

Yesterday was the 29th XTU Anniversary Show!  The show has been going on for 29 years.  That's incredible in itself!  Every year the show has a new headliner, no repeats!  This year Brad Paisley was the headliner with Chris Young, Lee Brice, The Henningsens, Tyler Farr, and Chris Stapleton.  

We run the show.  All station employees work the event to make sure listeners, clients, artists, etc. are taken care of and having a wonderful time.  We work all day.  We set up, we break down, we do it all but we have so much fun doing it!  Even a little rain couldn't stop us!  One of my duties was to take pictures all day!  I got to take pictures of our listeners' meet and greets with the artists and got my photo taken with Lee Brice and Chris Young too! :)

My favorite part of the show is when the entire staff goes out on stage and gets introduced to the crowd by one of the artists and then the whole arena sings "Happy Birthday" to us!!  This year Lee Brice was on stage with us and it was so awesome!!  It's unlike anything I've ever been a part of.

After our duties for the day are done we get to hang back stage and eat a catered dinner together- relax and hang out.  This is great because artists will literally come back and hang with us too!  Chris Young and Lee Brice were back there for a little bit as well as Tyler Farr and Chris Stapleton.  

How could the day get any better, right?  Well Brad Paisley invited the entire staff to come up on stage with him during his encore of Alcohol!  You read that correctly!!! We all brought our drinks, and one for Brad, of course, on stage and sang with him!!! I was literally less than 2 feet away from him as he was performing.  It. was. unreal.  I could see my sister, who I had given Pit Passes to, from stage.  Unreal isn't even the best word to describe it!  We all had so much fun.  I wish I could post some of the videos my co-workers took while on stage!  I'll honestly never forget it!

NO ZOOM ON THESE PICS, FOLKS!! NO ZOOM!

 Lee Brice and Tyler Farr hung out with us as we were all waiting to go on stage together for the encore!!! They're both awesome guys.

I got home at 2 a.m. and got up this morning at 7 to get ready for work.  I'm exhausted today, but it was beyond worth it!!!!!  People ask why I work 2 jobs, 6 or 7 days a week and this is why!!!! This night and all of the other perks that come along with working so closely with something you're passionate about makes all of the long hours, occasional slow gigs, sometimes needy listeners, crappy pay, minimal social life and every other mishap worth it (-trust me, it's not all luxurious)!!!!  It was truly an amazing show and experience.  I am so blessed to have been a part of it and love my XTU Family!!  I can't wait for next year! :)

Country Music Lately...

Happy Friday, everyone!!  

I know I'm a very inconsistent blogger... I just never know what to write about, what I am willing to share, and what others will want to read!  While I'm still figuring that out, I figured I'd share some things I'm loving in the Country Music World!

The Band Perry :: DONE

I wish I dedicated time to write a whole post about this.  This album is my favorite release of the year, by far.  It have been on repeat for the past 2.5 months!  If you haven't listened to the whole thing yet, you're missing out!  For real, it's amazeballs!  I love Kimberly's sassy voice as well as the lyrics, stories, tempo, and everything else of the album!  Album of the Year?  I think so!

My favorite songs from the album:  (So hard to pick just three)

DONE

Pioneer

"Be careful of the careful souls who doubt you along the way"- my favorite line!

I'm a Keeper

 Blake Shelton

I love Blake Shelton!  And honestly, it may be for reasons other than his music.  I usually like his singles, but not always his entire albums.  Anyway, I love him on The Voice.  He is hysterical and so entertaining.  I also think he did a great job with Danielle Bradbery- that girl's gonna be a star!!!  And I'm totally a fan! :)

So though I don't have many favorites off of his new album, Based on a True Story, I have some of Danielle Bradbery's songs on repeat, which counts, right?  #TeamBlake

Sure Be Cool If You Did

 Danielle Bradbery- Maybe It Was Memphis

 Danielle Bradbery- Born To Fly

(this is one of my favorite songs, which Sara Evans sings.  Danielle did an amazing job!)

Kenny Chesney

There are few things better than country concerts in summer!!  I went to see Kenny Chesney when he came to Philadelphia at the beginning of the month and the man's still got it!!  I got to watch the show from the "Sand Bar", which was amazing!!!  Kenny still plays a lot of his old stuff, which I LOVE and runs around on that stage like a 5 year old boy that can't sit still.  He also hits his cowboy hat down constantly (if you saw him, you'd know what I mean).  He honestly looks like he's having the time of his life up there and truly enjoys it, which is always nice to see.  I was so close that I could literally see the sweat dripping down his sexy, tanned body!  I wasn't mad.

Kenny also released a new album recently called, Life on a Rock.  I haven't listened to the whole thing, but I do like his current single:  Pirate Flag

Stay tuned for more country music posts- including some great summer anthems!! :)

Also, in my attempt to become a better blogger and find my nitch (?), I have a few posts in the works regarding football season, aka my favorite time of the year.  I know summer just started, but I can't help but be so excited for fall.  Football means tailgating, so everyone wins!  :)

Have a great weekend!!

Remembering Grandma

Barbara Logan
January 29, 1936- June 3, 2003

 Today marks the 10th Anniversary of my Grandma's passing.  

At 13 I didn't truly understand everything she had taught me, which is a shame. But I do know that I cherish the memories I have and I looked up to her very much.  

As I've matured through this time, gotten closer with my family and grown in love for each one of them, I know that it's the foundation that she laid for us.  She was a wonderful woman who always instilled the notion of Family First- something we all appreciate and understand the importance of.

We have an incredibly close, loving and supportive family because of my Grandma.  Holidays, Birthdays and other family get-togethers are not something that we complain about or are reluctant to attend (even if we do call it Forced Family Fun), but something we look forward to.  I cherish and value the dynamic of our family very much.  My Grandma was always so happy when the entire family was together and I know she hasn’t missed a family party!

Whenever I remember my Grandma, I remember playing cards.  We always played some sort of card games together.  My Grandma always had a deck of cards with her.  Her favorite game was Canasta and I was extremely excited when I learned how to play it with her.  To this day playing cards is a family-favorite and a huge part of that is because of Grandma.  I remember when I was about 10 years old in LBI, my Grandma taught me (and cousin Kate) how to Bridge Shuffle.  I remember feeling like a real card player because I knew the “cool” way to shuffle. Every time I play cards, I think of her.

When I was growing up I wanted to be a teacher, just like my Grandma.  Instead of going to work with my dad or staying home with my mom for “Bring Your Child to Work Day” I wanted to go to school with Grandma.  I remember being so excited that I couldn’t even sleep the night before.  I spent the entire day watching her teach and hanging out with her students.  Her students loved her.  Everyone in that school loved her.  It was awesome to be able to see my Grandma out of her “Grandma Role”, but still see her love her students and see the respect and admiration that she received from the people around her at work.  The next year I went to school with her again and this time Kate came too!

I remember my Grandma loved to sing.  She would sing anything, even regular sentences occasionally.  I specifically remember one time I was singing in the car with her and Grandpa and she told me I had a beautiful singing voice.  I believed her for a while, but now that I am older and have heard myself attempt to sing I know that she was just being the warm, kindhearted woman she was by complimenting me!  When I sing by myself in my car and know that I am butchering my favorite songs I still remember her looking back at me from the passenger seat in the car that day.  Her favorite song was I Hope You Dance by Lee Ann Womack, which I appreciate more each time I hear it and know they are messages from her.  

Traveling is something that Grandma and Grandpa loved to do together.  I always loved when they would come back from one of their exotic trips (ever since they went to Alaska, I’ve wanted to go) and tell us all about it and show us the pictures.  I want to travel like they did.  I want to see the world.  I want to travel everywhere and I think that Grandma (and the rest of our family) has instilled the “Travel Bug” in me. 

Grandma and Grandpa were not only a wonderful example of true love for their children, but also for their grandchildren.  Their love is something that I know we all admire and look for in our own relationships.  My mom has told me countless lessons in love that she has learned from my Grandma and the example she set of what it takes to be a loving wife.

I terribly miss her signature Naked Pink lips and the marks they would leave on our cheeks. 

As a family, we know she is always with us and that our memories and family traditions are something that we will cherish forever. 

Remember your loved ones today & everyday.

xoxo
 

My First Kentucky Derby Experience!

The Kentucky Derby is one of the most prestigious and well-known horse races. The race is one and a quarter miles, run by 3-year-old Thoroughbreds at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on the first Saturday in May. It is also the first race of the Triple Crown.

My family is very into horse racing, going to the track every chance we get during race season! We not only like to gamble on the races, but love to gawk at the beautiful animals and wonderful atmosphere that is found at the track. The Kentucky Derby has been one of my favorite events for yearssss! I am obsessed. Or as obsessed as one can be without ever actually attending said event.

Until now.  And let me tell you, that obsession has only grown.  I have been dyingggg to go to the Derby. My parents have gone a few times but with school, finals and other factors it just has never worked out.  This year, I decided, was the year.  I convinced my dad that we had to go, found reasonably priced tickets on eBay, asked our wonderful friends if they were up for visitors, shopped for the perfect outfit, and off we went.

We left Wednesday night and drove the 11-something hours to Louisville, stopping to sleep at a rest stop, then to tour the Maker's Mark Distillery and finally the Louisville Slugger Museum/Factory. The Maker's Mark Distillery was great.  We walked around the historic grounds, listened to the springs of pure Kentucky water, touched the Mash, smelled the fermentation process, saw the numerous oak barrels, heard the bottling process, tasted the completed product, and most exciting, dipped our own bottles into the hot red wax.  It was such a fun tour and wonderful way to break up the drive.

At Louisville slugger we saw the process of how a bat is made.  There are different variations of the process depending on what the bat will be used for.  It was very interesting.

We then met Lisa & Dan for dinner and drinks, where we talked, laughed, and caught up before heading to their house to kick off some Derby festivities.  Lisa made Mint Juleps with her wonderful simple syrup recipe and my dad wore one of her hats, to really get in the spirit!!

Friday morning, my dad and I got ready and headed to Churchill Downs for a beautiful day at the Kentucky Oaks.  We walked around the the Grandstand and Paddock areas, soaking it all in.  The Kentucky Oaks Day has become a day of pink, since it's motto is in fact, "Ladies First"!  Oaks day is dedicated to the fillies (girl horses).

We drank Lillies (a drink made of Grey Goose, Sweet & Sour Mix, Cranberry Juice and Triple Sec... aka delicious), bet on the races, and watched from our 3rd row seats as the fillies rounded the final turn towards the finish line with the sun shining bright. 

We anxiously waited for the 139th running of the Kentucky Oaks with Princess of Sylmar taking home the lillies.  Unfortunately we did not bet on her to win, and had minimal success in previous races as well.

We left Churchill Downs on Friday eager for more on Saturday and hoping the predicted rain would either come quick and be done with or hold out until after the races.

No such luck.  After partying for most of the night- celebrating a true holiday in the state of Kentucky, and enjoying more time with our dear friends, we woke up Saturday morning to rain.  Lots of rain.  It rained all day long, and cleared up just before post time of the 139th running of the Kentucky Derby. 

Don't mind the flip-flops, I wasn't about to wear heels all day in the rain, especially when I wore them the day before ;)

While I was baring the rain and soaking in all the sights of this wonderful event, USA TODAY Sports photographer, Mark Zerof snapped this picture of me as I was walking through the paddock.  I wish I wasn't wearing that stupid poncho or had at least cracked a smile, but hey, it's kinda cool. 

We saw Luke Bryan and Rick Pitino (University of Louisville Men's Basketball Coach and part owner of Kentucky Derby contender, Goldencents) on the red carpet.  I also spotted Samantha Steele Ponder of ESPN and her husband, Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings QB walking through the crowd.  I'm a fan of Samantha's and think she is a great role model for women and those in sports.  I was thrilled to have met her.  She was so sweet and willing to snap a quick photo among the chaos.  (again, that dang poncho)

My dad and I continued to enjoy the day, not letting the weather stop us from enjoying the festivities and of course, sipping Mint Juleps!  We would wait in line at the betting windows, then stand in the rain to watch the races.  Unusual race conditions brings even more unpredictable race results.  It was fun to watch long shots winning races and having the weather be such a factor in the outcome, though I had little luck in choosing a winner!

The rain stopped just in time for the horses to parade on the track before heading to their posts.  From where we were sitting, we saw them start, come down the stretch to the first turn and then again as they rounded the final turn towards the finish.  It really is the fastest 2 minutes in sports and such a thrill.  ORB, a favorite in the race, pulled out away from the pack and won the race, with a long shot, Golden Soul to place and Revolutionary to show.  Of course I made numerous bets, including Golden Soul to win and Revolutionary to place, meaning once again, I was not a winner.

My bad luck and the nasty weather aside, the Kentucky Derby was everything I wanted it to be.  I had such a great weekend with my dad, life-long family friends and enjoying a sport that I love with such an iconic event.  I can't wait to see what ORB does in the next Triple Crown races and I can't wait to go back to the Kentucky Derby.

I loved this man's Secretariat Silks Suit!!! 

Early Sunday morning we started the drive home.  Once we broke from the storm in Kentucky, it was sunny skies and beautiful views through the mountains of West Virginia.  In between falling asleep and sing-a-longs with dad, I couldn't stop snapping away! 

You better believe, that if I don't go back to the Kentucky Derby next year I will be throwing a full-blown themed party.  Invitations to follow!  :)