27 Days of Thankful - #7

Betcha can't guess what I'm thankful for today? Okay! Betcha can! That's right my friends...tonight is the night I get to go see SYTYCD LIVE!!!I am so excited. I loved dancing when I was younger...and now I love watching uber talented young people dance...wishing the whole time that it was me!

Today I can't decide what to show...so I decided to show my absolute favorite dance from last season...the one number I am most looking forward to seeing, then a couple of solos (only 30 seconds long) from some of my absolute favorit dancers over the years!

First up...last season's top 2 again, Brandon and Jeanine with "Battlefield". Cue video to 0:49.

Fabulous...right? Now for Nick. Nick was the winner the very first season of SYTYCD - to this day I think he's one of the most amazing dancers ever to be on the show. His turns are incredible. Check out his solo:

Next up we have Travis. Travis took 2nd place in season 2, but I do think he was the stronger dancer. He still choreographs for the show quite often, and his work is amazing!

Well...are you sick of my dance videos yet? Thanks for humoring me this week while I've counted down to the night I've been looking forward to for months! I can't wait to tell you all about it!

For more 27 Days of Thankful go check out my friend Amanda!

27 days of Thankful - day #6

Today I am SOOOOO thankful that all 3 of my school-age kids were well enough to go back to school! It is the first day they have all been back since the Thursday before Halloween. Not only was it hard to see them sick...but they were really driving me crazy! They weren't symptom -free, so I couldn't send them back - but they were feeling well enough that they were BORED and they wouldn't stop fighting! So glad they're back in school!

I'm linking up to my good friend Amanda's 27 Days of Thankful - go check it out!

Now....c'mon you know the drill. It's time for my SYTYCD video spotlight...my show is tomorrow! I can hardly stand it!

Today I want to show you the 2 dancers I am most looking forward to seeing tomorrow night. Jeanine - who won last season, and Brandon - who should have won! Now I'm not too bitter, because I really love Jeanine too, but I do think that Brandon is a stronger dancer. Anyway, Brandon took 2nd and the 2 of them paired together is incredible. Here's their Paso Doble.

Dear Someone and more!

Dear Hacking Cough,

Could you please go away already? I am so sick of you interrupting everything I do. I can't carry on a decent conversation. I can't get a good night's sleep. I can't even go running with the dog without having to stop and try not to pee my pants while you are wracking my body in the middle of the sidewalk. Just go away. NOBODY wants you around. Nobody.

Sincerely,

The one who is tired of coughing her guts out.

Dear Ty (our dog),

You are fat. And lazy. The only reason I agreed to let hubby get you was because I thought you'd be a nice running companion. It's kind of embarrassing how whenever I take you out, you're so eager to go that you're practically pulling me down the road, but by the time we make it to the skywalk (like 1/8 mile away) you're already dragging tail. How do you think that makes us look? Do you think that people look at you slinking lazily behind me and think that you could protect me if they decide to do something horrible to this lone female jogger? Yeah, your whole point is to look like you are my protector so I can exercise without fear of being attacked. You better get your act together if you'd like to keep this cushy lifestyle you're living. I'm not afraid to replace you with my handy tube of pepper spray.

Yours Truly,
The owner who is embarrassed by your slothfulness.

Dear Dick Clark Productions,

You guys are still jerks. I barely posted my video of Mollee and Nathan to share with all my friends and you've already yanked it. If you're not careful I'm going to find out where you live and come put some of my lazy dog's crap on your porch.

Signed,

A ticked off SYTYCD fan (one of MANY - I promise!)

For more letters, or to play along, go check out Shortmama's Dear Someone.

And now to quit complaining and be thankful! Go check out Amanda's 27 Days of Thankful!

Today (Day #5) I am thankful for my rewards check from my Costco Premier Membership...I was REALLY wanting to get a Chi for my hair, but they're kinda pricey, and we needed groceries. My check came in the mail yesterday and it was enough to get a Chi that is currently available at Costco, and get the groceries I need...I didn't even have to pay ANYTHING from my own pocket! Yay Costco!

And last, but oh so ABSOLUTELY not least...it's time for my daily dose of SYTYCD! I'm actually going to share a video from Tuesday's episode. I have told you about Legacy, and posted a video of him before, but this is just too good not to share. Legacy is a B-boy (he's a street dancer without any technical training). He is just KILLING everything they give him. He's kinda my favorite so far, and he and his partner are my favorite couple. I LOVE this contemporary piece from this week. It's about her conquering her fears. Legacy plays the role of "fear". It's awesome. Also, before you enjoy that, I cannot BELIEVE I told you that Dave Scott choreographed the "Transformers" number from the other day. It actually was Shane Sparks. Love him too! Now enjoy Legacy and Kathryn! (cue video to 2:20)

Who else fell in love to this song?

Today on day #4 of 27 Days of Thankful, I'm thankful for good music from the past. You know the music that made you think of that special someone. You'd hear it on the radio and you'd think of him, and your heart would just melt? C'mon, I'm not the only one am I?

This song is part of the reason I fell in love with today's SYTYCD spotlight. This has got to be on of my all time favorite songs. Add a pair of beautiful dancers and some gorgeous choreography and you get magic. And swept back to memories of young love!

This is Melissa and Ade from just last season. They weren't my FAVORITE couple...but I definitely loved watching them! Go to 1:55 to skip the intro.

27 Days of Thankful - day #3

Today I'm thankful that I live with my husband.

I know that seems like a given...if you're married then you live with your husband. But I've just gotten back in touch with my dear friend and cousin, "A". We talked on the phone for a long time last night getting caught up on each others' lives. We haven't seen each other in probably 10 years. She was a newlywed, and my son was a baby.

She is living in Idaho, and right now her husband commutes here to Utah where he is working at a charter school. When he finished school, there were no jobs where they live. He found one here. She has a good job in Idaho, and they are trying to decide what is right for their family...her looking for a job here, or him looking again for a job there. In the meantime he lives here during the week and only goes home on weekends.

What a difficult situation - my heart goes out to them and I hope they are soon able to be together full time.

Talking to her made me realize how blessed I am to live under the same roof as my wonderful husband full time. I know I get lonely at night when he is working - but I get to wake up with him every morning, and usually we get to spend time during the day together. He's here to see the kids off to school, and is usually here when they come home from school - overall pretty lucky I'd say. Wouldn't you agree?

So today, I'm thankful to live with my husband.

Want to join in 27 Days of Thankful? Head over to Amanda's and check it out!

AND now for my daily dose of SYTYCD...today's video is from season 3 as well. This is Pasha - he's a Russian Ballroom Dancer who I LOVE! And Lauren - I can't remember her style. They drew hip-hop for this week, and it was when Transformers came out. This is another Dave Scott number - "Transformers". I think Pasha did AWESOME adapting his ballroom into some hot hip hop! Enjoy!

And we're off to a FABULOUS Start!

For day #2 of 27 Days of Thankful with my friend Amanda, I would just like to say...I'm thankful for YouTube!!! Yes that's right.

If you know me at all you know of my obsession with SYTYCD. You also know I am in the Young Women's Presidency in my ward. Well, Young Women's is on Tuesday nights, and alas, so is my show. That's why I'm thankful for YouTube today, and especially for "dcclegal" who posted the entire episode (in 9 separate parts!) that I was able to watch last night and see how my favorites did! AND find a couple of new favorites. Oh yes, I'm very fickle at this point in the competition, and reserve my right to change favorites at any time.

So how'd they do? I'll share a few choice videos with you! Ryan and Ashleigh, the married couple from Utah did well, and both remained in the competition. I told you last week the sad news that Billie Bell had to leave the competition due to illness. Here's how another Utah favorite did. These 2 are one of my favorite couples so far! Here's Mollee and Nathan...LOVE this dance! Skip to 1:58 to get right to the dance...but the intro's pretty entertaining too!

Another of my favorites, Legacy the "b-boy" is part of another favorite couple, check out the hip hop "caveman" routine from one of my FAVORITE choreographers Dave Scott (okay, he's no Wade Robson...but then, who is?). Here's Legacy and Kathryn.

Pretty hot stuff, right? And this is just the beginning! They'll just get better and better! Speaking of better - Guess where I'm going on Saturday!?! To see last season's top 10 perform LIVE! Oh I cannot WAIT! So to count down the days, I'm going to be sharing some of my all time FAVORITE routines from the past 6 seasons - 1 each day...aren't you so excited? Well, if not...please don't leave me!

To start it off, here's Sabra (also from Utah! Well, not originally but she was living here when she did the show!) and Neil from season 3. He is incredibly athletic, and this "board room negotiation" Jazz number is one of my faves! Oh, BTW...Sabra won this season!

Hope everyone is having a fabulous Monday! Love ya...thanks for all the sweet well wishes for my family!

27 Days of Thankful - Day 1

One of my favorite Blogging friends Amanda is counting down the days to Thanksgiving with gratitude. She has some sad memories associated with the loss of her father as a teenager at Thanksgiving time. She wanted a way to remember all the good things in life and I've decided to join her. The idea is to post something, anything, no matter how silly or how small that you are thankful for each day. Thanks Amanda for helping me remember!

For my first day I want to express my gratitude for the kindness of others. I have been the recipient of such kindness lately. You may remember my post here about my wonderful friend Heidi and her service to my family.

I also have felt an outpouring of concern through the internet. From the wonderful friends I have never met in person, but developed a close connection to through blogging, to old friends I haven't seen in years, to current friends whom I see on a regular basis. All the love coming our way is truly humbling.

To top it off, my true hero, my mom, took it upon herself to show up at my house on Saturday with a big pot of chicken noodle soup (with homemade noodles!), a casserole, jello salad, and a big dish of pork chops and rice. Yes...we have been eating like kings, and will continue to do so for several days! She then came back to take my girls (who weren't sick at the time) trick or treating because I was too sick, and Hubby had to work.

My life is so good. I am more blessed with friendship and love than I have ever been at any other time in my life. Thank you all.

What are you thankful for today?