Hall & Oates Concert

September 29, 2017

This post is dedicated to my jealous nephew Clayton Rigdon.

Clay is a talented musician and a fan of my favorite 80’s Duos…

Daryl Hall & John Oates

They were in concert at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena on Thursday, September 28th.

And I WAS THERE!

EARLY!

I’ve been looking forward to this since I found out about it last May.

Nowadays the guys look more like thisSince my Mama has no idea who they are…

or what they sing…

Some of their greatest songs are:

“Rich Girl”

“Kiss on My List”

“Private Eyes”

“I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)“

“Maneater”

“Sara Smile”

“One on One”

“You Make My Dreams”

“Say It Isn’t So”

“Everytime You Go Away“

“Out of Touch“

How about that animal print suit!?!

“What’s Going On“

and last but not least, by Daryl Hall…

“Me and Mrs. Jones“

The concert did not disappoint!

We had a great time singing along!Making new friends (that’s cranberry juice y’all)

And she was hilarious!

I’ve attended many concerts and among my favorites have been the Eagles and Garth Brooks. But I have to say that I have never enjoyed a concert as much as I did last night. These guys are SO talented and their songs are great. Daryl Hall has a program called Live from DARYL’s HOUSE and John Oates will either be touring with his solo show or with Daryl. John along with his wife and son also spend time in Nashville, TN or at their rescue ranch in Colorado, caring for dogs, emus, peacocks, llamas and alpacas.

If you’re so inclined, watch This episode of VH-1 Behind the Music

Enjoying a Little Light Music

July 3, 2017

Sunday was a lazy day… to start. A typical Sunday of Breakfast for a King, then treadmill, followed by an hour by the pool… Then LB said, “Do you want to go somewhere?”

Well of course I want to go somewhere. Who doesn’t want to go somewhere?

LB had a plan. The Little Light Music Concert Series at the St. Simon’s Island Lighthouse.Every summer from May to September this concert series provides the residents and vacationers of the Golden Isles with a place to picnic from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM while enjoying musical entertainment. (source)

Tickets are $12 for adults and children under 12 are admitted free of charge. Again… if you plan to attend, bring a picnic as there are no vendors. People have come to this event prepared… some even bringing furniture resembling small coffee tables to set with picnic treats. Everyone will be noshing and you WILL be jealous.

Sunday July 2nd featured Still Cruzin’… a band with members who have played with muscians such as James Brown, Percy Sledge, and the Temptations. They present Motown and R&B hits including “My Girl” and “Crazy Love”. The Attendees enjoy dancing on the lawn to these hits and others. It is an entertaining event if you enjoy relaxing outdoors, people watching and even more fun if you like to exhibit your moves on the “dance floor”.

Friday Favorites

June 30, 2017

What an easy Post… Friday Favorites is a collection of things I’ve enjoyed this week that I want to share with you! From love notes to delectable dishes, I hope you have experienced some of the same…

Favorite # ONE

Morning love notes written on my breakfast napkin

Life with You is Sweet!

The ONLY ONE for Me is You!

Baby It’s You!

You make Me Smile!

I’m So Glad You came into My Life!

I don’t know if it was breakfast or lunch, but at some point when we came to live together, LB set a table for me and wrote a love note on my napkin. It made such an impression on me that he hasn’t stopped. I get a breakfast note every morning and I have been saving them for 5+ years. Precious.

Favorite # TWO

This Rock-A-Billy Jive Dance by Marty & Miss Dee. Music by the Cues.

LB and I took a 6 week dance lesson early this year in preparation for the Rock-A-Billy Prom that took place in February (more about this next year). This couple has inspired me to learn dance more than any I’ve found on YouTube. If you can find better… I challenge you to submit.

If this doesn’t make you want to get up and dance, I don’t know what will!

Favorite # THREE

Grits

Sunday morning found me out of town and checking out of a hotel room to head for home. Because the continental breakfast in the hotel was not worth… whatever… LB and I went to the Gypsy Cab Co. for brunch. If you have never enjoyed an Eggs Benedict Brunch, get out and go enjoy one. Typically you will have a choice of hash browns or grits for a side. I do not want to discount the Eggs Benedict in any way whatsoever, but when I dipped into the little bowl filled with grits (plain grits, no cheese) I was taken home. SO GOOD! Does anyone else appreciate grits? You can’t get this from a Quaker packet. I Declare that my Favorite # Three this week was my Grits Experience. Yeah.

Favorite # FOUR

I’m going to sound like a PIG after the whole GRITS thing, but… another favorite is the box of Dunkin’ Donuts Munchkins that was presented to my group this week. I am a perpetual dieter, so bear with me as I ask… WHEN was the last time I had a munchkin????? OR a donut for that matter?

Since life is short, I let myself enjoy several of these little delights this week. Believe it or not, blueberry, not chocolate, was my favorite. Thank you for the Munchins. This girl really enjoyed them!

Favorite # FIVE

You will be hard pressed to find me not having this little Lovely as one of my Favorites. Once again, my sweet Mama has captured a moment as she typically does. This precious little GlamBaby is expressing herself in song. We have no idea what is the name of this song, but [as my Mama explained] Lydia knows. Although it is likely the opening song to Peppa Pig or Curious George, I like to think it is her own sweet rendition of “How Great Thou Art”

I haven’t figured out how to properly present this yet… but you must see this little musician in the making…

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Click below for the full version

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Happy Friday!

Johnny Cougar

June 26, 2017

This weekend we had the opportunity to enjoy a mini-vacation in St. Augustine with the intention of seeing a concert at the Amphitheater. When it comes to attending concerts, LB and I have spent the last few years making up for lost time. Our first concert experience together was Toby Keith in 2011. Since then we have attended more concerts than you can imagine. Some may think we are crazy, but we always have a fun time.

Since parking has become ridiculous, we decided to walk to the venue from our hotel.

According to google, it was 1.3 miles. Luckily there was a nice breeze.My FitBit logged 20,188 steps that day.

The subject of our concert quest was a long time entertainer and a remarkably talented singer/song writer. At age 66 the man still has GREAT hair and a lot of spirit.

(source)

There he was… a 1980’s teenage dream… John Mellencamp… live on stage.

You may remember him as John Cougar Mellencamp. He was dubbed Johnny Cougar by his manager in 1976 for fear that nobody would buy a record from someone named Mellencamp.

The 80’s brought a change for him after the release of his fifth album in 1982 “American Fool” as the albums that followed were released under the name John Cougar Mellencamp.

Saturday night we had the opportunity to hear him sing some of his greatest hits such as “Jack & Diane,” “Pink Houses,” “Small Town,” “Rain On The Scarecrow,”

and

“The Authority Song”

Another great weekend and memorable experience with LB!

Happy Together

June 12, 2017

A typical Sunday night for me involves last minute shopping and dinner out at a familiar favorite place like LaNopalera. Tonight LB surprised me with an event he TEASED me with last year. The “Happy Together” Tour.

With dinner first on the agenda, we left the house at around 6PM and headed downtown…

We checked into the Burrito Gallery. The Burrito Gallery is located at 21 East Adams Street in downtown Jacksonville. Although it is new to me, it has been around since 2005. There are also locations on Riverside Avenue and Beach Boulevard. LB and I enjoyed a tray of toasted tortilla chips with a hearty sampling of salsa, guacamole, and Queso (listed as Trio on the menu under Starters).

Right up my alley. I could LIVE solely on tortilla chips dipped.

Then we walked about a block to the Florida Theatre for the Happy Together Tour 2017 concert. The Florida Theater is a beautiful building, the architectural details are amazing.The concert began with Ron Dante, one of the voices of the Archies who sang Sugar Sugar and a few other songs and commercial jingles like this one that he helped to make popular. After Ron, the Cowsills took the stage. The Cowsills are a family of singers that were the inspiration for the Partridge Family. I was not familiar with the name Cowsills, but definitely familiar with some of their songs. As a matter of fact, one of my favorites last night was “I Love the Flower Girl“. Even today I keep singing ‘I knew I knew I knew I knew’ in my head. Although I had not been familiar with most of the artists, I fully enjoyed the concert and every song that was performed.

And last but not least, Flo and Eddie of the Turtles began their set with “She’d Rather Be with Me” and wrapped up the event with the 1967 hit “Happy Together” with all of the artists coming to the stage to join in the song. Every song that was performed tonight made me feel happy!

This event takes place every June and I recommend it if you’re looking for a happy together time!

Happy Birthday to Me

June 1, 2017

My birthday celebration actually began on May 31st at the St. John’s county pier.

Every Wednesday night beginning in May and continuing through September at Music by the Sea, there is a catered dinner and musical entertainment event at the pier. LB and I attend every chance we get. This particular event was catered by Amici’s Italian Restaurant and entertainment provided by one of our favorite local groups The Committee Band. We split an entree that included eggplant parmesan and penne pasta while relaxing in the pavillion prior to the concert. While waiting for the concert, the resident DJ “DJ Dan”, honored us with tee shirts including us in The Danighan Gang.

As is customary, my birthday began with a phone call at 7:52 AM from my sweet Mama. Because I was in a hotel that rendered my cell phone useless [No Service] I missed her call. She went right to my voicemail. When we left the hotel this is the message I retrieved:

“(singing) Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you (laughs) Happy birthday Dear Kim… it’s too early in the morning, but I wanted you to know I love you. God bless you. You’re such a joy to have Kim. I love you with all my heart. I hope you have a wonderful birthday, spendin’ it with the one you love. When you get back we need to have cake. And biscuits. I’ll talk to you later. God bless you Darlin’. I’m so thankful there’s you. Bye.”

I am blessed beyond measure to have such a precious Mama who loves me so much.

I listened to that message several times.

LB had other surprises planned. He brought me to Cathedral Drive and let me pick a restaurant for brunch. I thought the Greek restaurant would be a nice treat. We walked into Athena Restaurant and I immediately noticed the specials posted. One special was Salmon Eggs Benedict. Yes please!

Those are grits on the side.

LB had hashbrowns

After brunch we strolled [it is a vacation day, after all] down to St. George Street and visited one of my favorite St. Augustine shops, H.W. Davis Clothing and Shoes. LB was recalling a post from April when I mentioned a blouse that I loved. He brought me to H.W. Davis and found that blouse

along with another that was just as cute

He bought both of them for me! Oh Happy Day! Not one, but TWO Clara Sunwoo blouses! LOVE these! This has definitely been a day to remember thus far.

The birthday gifts continued

These bracelets were purchase by LB more than a month ago from a Traci Lynn Fashion Jewelry party hosted by my coworker Geraldine. LB logged onto the website that was assigned to her party and selected the Silver Star Fish Bracelet and the Two Tone Silver Razzmatazz Bracelet. I was not at all surprised at his GOOD TASTE! But very surprised by the presentation as I had completely forgotten he participated in this event.

There was also an adorable little bracelet that I picked out myself on April 2nd that LB decided I could wait till my birthday to have. This pearl bracelet with starfish and sanddollar charms is from Fresh Produce and I shared it on this post.

So cute!

Believe it or not there was ONE MORE! I absolutely loved it and feel it deserves a post of it’s own. I’ll be presenting this particular birthday gift from LB soon. Stay tuned.

Obviously a birthday is Not all about gifts. LB knows I love pretty things, but he also knows how to make me happy in ways that do not get filed under Material Girl. So he took me to the beach and let me put my toes in the sand

Afterward

We split smokin’ Carnitas Fajitas at a delightful Mexican Restaurant

To all of my FaceBook friends who wished me a happy birthday… I Had a GREAT day. Thank You!

Pretty is: The Weekend continues

May 28, 2017

It is ALWAYS a challenge for LB to find something new and fun for us to do on the weekend. Since this weekend is one day longer than normal [and last night was about the Cellar Upstairs. again], LB found an opportunity to visit a new restaurant with the purpose of supporting a band that we’ve heard only once before during a visit to Tom and Betty’s. The band is named for the talented performer Chris Thomas who has launched a fund raiser to help him on his quest to visit Europe. The cover charge was $20/person, but we discovered the event after it was sold out. Our only option was to find a table in the bar area (first come first served). Which we did.We were starving (as usual) and enjoyed two appetizers… hot wings

and crab & artichoke dip on grilled pita points

Then the entertainment

This performer is SO talented. He engages the audience [who love him]. He begins his set with songs recently made popular by Michael Buble and continues into the evening with songs that were popularized in the 80’s and beyond. On occasion he has a 16 piece band. Tonight was an abbreviated band, but still very impressive. The Chris Thomas Band is great