so this happened last night

Yes, that's me rockin' onstage with Better Than Ezra.

I still can't believe it happened, especially since just hours earlier I posted about how "I wish I could say that I might possibly be rockin' it onstage tonight with the band...but I can't."... and then it happened!

It didn't happen how I thought it would, but maybe it happened because I'd taken some action. I signed up for lessons, I practiced and put in the work to try to learn the song. Yes, I failed at learning the song in time for this concert and I was sad about that, but then what I wanted, to be rockin' it onstage with the band still happened. I love moments like this- they're reminders that by just taking action it will lead you somewhere. It's not always where you expected but it's always where you're supposed to be. That's why this experience was beyond amazing for me. Of course, it's also because I got to dance with the band!

It reminded me a lot of this moment and how one should always trust magic. The unexpected is always more magical than the expected!

Also, a big thanks to Ebert, my awesome husband, for taking this video and being just as I excited as I was!

where the magic happens

via thecitrusreport

I can't say for sure that I know exactly where the magic happens. In fact, sometimes I feel like I'm nowhere near the circle where the magic happens. I often feel lost and that I'm outside the circle looking in. I see others inside the circle and wonder what did they do to get in. Did they jump into the circle? Is there a secret handshake or password that no one has told me about? Maybe they dug under to get in? I know I can't compare my journey to the journey that others are on- we all have different lessons to learn, we all dream differently. But, what the heck, sometimes you just want the magic to happen NOW. Since I can't make it happen NOW this is what I'm going to do...I'm going to step outside my comfort zone, even if it's just a baby step, and see where it takes me. Who knows, maybe I'm closer to the magic happening than I realize.

out of print

via outofprintclothing

Last year on our 2nd anniversary (year two is cotton) my sister sent both Ebert and I a t-shirt from Out of Pring Clothing- we loved it! And now they have classic children's book t-shirts for grown-ups (and kids too!). This is perfect for those of us who don't really want to grow up, who want to always believe in magic and see everything as amazing. I know this is something that can be done as an adult, that we don't ever have to grow out of seeing life as an amazing and magical wonder, but it was just easier as a kid.

11.11.11

Happy Beckoning of Lovely Day!

If you're in Chicago then do "whatever the f%#@ you have to" and get down to "the bean" at 11:11am. Last year was such an amazing experience. We were truly surrounded by magic.

via amykr

a good reminder

via magicalme

kicking it up a notch

Sometimes I'm in utter amazement of how the Universe works- you always receive at exactly the right moment. It doesn't always feel like this to me, sometimes I feel like I'm floundering in a stagnant pool of mud...stuck, going nowhere with nothing happening. My dreams have been squashed. But, then in an instant everything changes. I'm filled with hope again, my dreams are bigger than ever, and there's magic...lots and lots of magic!

Today's magic was brought to me by the bringer of magic extraordinaire- the lovely Amy KR! She shared this on her blog today- a piece written by her 13 year-old daughter. It was exactly what I needed to hear!

Read it, pass it on, share it with others. Someone you know, it may even be yourself, needs to hear these words today so that they don't give up on their dreams.

visions of sugar plums

Lots of ideas are dancing in my head right now. It's a fantastic twirl of sparkly, magical ideas! What a year this has been. I'm really looking forward to the next few days- spending the holidays with my family and making the most of what remains of 2010.

happy monday!

This makes me happy!

Like jump up and down, smiling from ear to ear, ridiculously happy!

Can you feel the magic?

10.10.10

'Twas a lovely night indeed.



I wonder what magic Amy K.R. will have in store for 11.11.11?

happy monday!

Harry Potter makes me happy!

Ebert and I were invited by our friends Eric and Ivory to see an early screening of The Deathly Hallows: Part 1. I wasn't sure if Ebert was going to make it in time, but luckily his flight from Milan arrived early on Thursday. After I picked Ebert up from the airport we had about an hour to kill before we met up with Eric and Ivory- just enough time to enjoy a glass of wine while he showed me his Italy pictures, which were amazing, of course! When we arrived at the theater we only had to wait in line for about 10 minutes and since there weren't a lot of people there yet we had really great seats. Well, except for the little kids seated in our aisle who kept getting up and the noisy people behind us with their crinkling of cellophane and non-stop crunching sounds. So, except for those two things our seats were great! The other annoying thing that happened was when the projector went all wonky during the scene at the Malfoy's house and we missed Dobby saving everyone. When the screen started to flicker, I gasped! We were compensated with free small popcorn coupons, but that hardly makes up for missing one of the best scenes in the movie, so Ebert asked for free tickets. That was a much better compensation, especially since we'll be seeing the movie again when my sister is here for Thanksgiving.

We celebrated the evening with Harry Potter treats too! Ivory had goodie bags filled with gummy snakes and insects, and I made licorice wands.



As far as the movie goes, I really enjoyed it! Of course, the books will always be better. But, I never expect the movies to capture all the amazing details that J.K. Rowling has so brilliantly written. I understand that there are aspects of the story that the filmmakers have to leave out or change in order to make the story work cinematically. Now, I don't always agree with the choices of the screenwriter or the director, and I certainly had gripes about Part 1, but every time I watch one of the movies (and of course I own all of them) I'm always taken on a magical journey.

"Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?"


- Albus Dumbledore

Needless to say, I cannot wait until Part 2. And since it opens on my birthday, July 15th, I'm going to have a Harry Potter themed birthday party. This will be the first time in years that I'm actually looking forward to turning a year older.

the train of thought

Some days my thoughts feel like a train wreck, like they’ve gone off the track of what I want my life to be. But just like The Little Engine That Could I keep telling myself “I think I can, I think I can” even when sometimes I think I can’t.

On Saturday, November 6th I was lucky to be part of another Amy K.R. mission. It was during ‘The Train of Thought’ mission when I realized that my life resembles a train ride. I especially took notice of this similarity when the train we were riding made its first stop and our group made a mad dash to switch cars so that we could all sit together. I think I do that a lot with my train, I don’t ride it as much as I should, I spend more time on the platform waiting, waiting to switch trains or for the right train to come along, essentially waiting for my life to begin, not realizing that this is my life. Right now. This moment.

“We examine each day before us with barely a glance and say, no, this isn’t one I’ve been looking for, and wait in a bored sort of way for the next, when we are convinced, our lives will start for real.” - Tom Hennen (from The Life of A Day)

So, if that’s all true, if my life is happening right now, why do I keep waiting for the next? There was a moment on the train when I was looking out the window and all of a sudden this incredible feeling of excitement came over me. It was a feeling of how exciting my life is, not only in this moment, but in the moments to come. I want to always remember that- me sitting on a train….going nowhere. Maybe that’s why it was so exciting, because I was going nowhere and just enjoying the ride. Or it could be the twinkle I saw in Amy K.R.’s eyes as she shared her inspiration with us. Because I swear to you they twinkle.

never believe it's not so

This past week has been kinda rough for me. I realize that it's not the rough that a lot of people have to deal with on a daily basis, so before I go further in my explanation I want to stress that I am very, very grateful for my life- I have an amazing and supportive husband who I love dearly, I have wonderful family and friends, I have my health, a roof over my head, clothes on my back and food on the table. I have many more blessings to be thankful for than I do complaints. But, even with all these blessings there are times when I am just not feeling my life. I question my purpose, I doubt if I am on the right path, if my dreams will ever come true. To put it simply, I stop believing in magic.

And this was one of those weeks when I didn't feel the magic, when I couldn't trust that magic even existed, when I just wanted to give up on all this magic talk. How could I possibly trust magic when I didn't get a callback for the play I would have been great in? I mean, not even a callback. How could I possibly trust magic when I didn't get the barista job that I am clearly overqualified for? I mean come on, it was a barista job. Back in the day I was the best shot slinger and milk foamer there was.

Then 2 things happened this morning that changed my perspective.

I received this email from Ebert, it was a letter written by Christopher Walken to his fans. I've definitely experienced more of "and then it wasn't" as an actor and I'm really looking forward to having a "busy year". But, I don't know, just hearing that a great actor like Christopher Walken has to deal with "the not so busy part" of being an actor gave me hope. I could feel the magic stirring.

And then when I checked my Facebook I had quite a few 'likes' and several lovely comments from friends in response to my status update yesterday: "is closing her eyes tight shut and wishing and wishing for the magic that she has to believe is right around the corner."

One of the comments was a link to this video -

I've replayed the video and have reread everyone's comments several times already. By sharing their magic with me, my own magic has been inspired. To be redundant...it was very magical! So, even when I don't feel it, I'll keep reminding myself to always trust magic, because it's not always the magic that I envision, but it's always more magical than I expect.

Ho, ho, ho, it's magic.

Never believe it's not so.

It's magic, you know.

Never believe it's not so.