Beautiful World

Beautiful World

by Deirks Bentley with Patty Griffin

Its funny that I haven't posted more songs here, since I live and breath music. Well, this is a perfect one to begin with.

I love it because I listen to it when I don't know what else do to.

There's something comforting about country music. Its steady and earthy and sensible. I feel connected and real when I listen to it. Any mental/physical/spiritual revival of mine is incomplete with a raw country song to boost me on.

And here, my friends, is a brilliant example of exactly what I'm talking about.

On the side here you see Cassidy and Deirks, a dream couple. They were friends in fifth grade, and he had a boyish crush on her-who wouldn't, she's gorgeous! Then, and all through high school, he tried to get to her, but she knew he was immature. He was crazy and wild and not ready to settle down, and she refused. Well Deirks, he grew and learned about what he loved and what he knew, and grounded himself in music. With his newfound fame, girls flung themselves at him from every single corner of the country. But Deirks knew what he wanted. Years later, he came back to Cassidy, this time every inch the man she needed.

Guess what? They got married!

Now they've got a little girl, Evelyn, and...its a beautiful world!!

(yes, I'm eternally corny. Get used to it!)

Beautiful World

People's choice awards

Well, I was so excited to have a post about the People's choice awards, but now I'm kinda sad; nothing interesting really happened.

The red carpet dresses were blah, the winners were blah, the performances seemed sorta boring.

Sandra Bullock did great, winning both Comedy movie (the proposal) and favorite actress.

Twilight, of course, (Grr!) got best movie, and Taylor Lautner grabbed best breakout.

Johnny Depp, who I absolutely adore, won both best actor and Actor of the Decade, which were both well deserved, but he looked kinda bloated and swoony-- ew.

The only thing I have to show you isn't really lovely, but it's funny, and I think laughter is lovely.

Look at how ORANGE Hugh Jackman is! His face is pumpkin and his hands are white. He won best action male, and I can't believe nobody commented on his ridiculous tan:

hahaha!

Sorry, that was really all I could do...so dissapointing!

Incredible Riverdance

So I doubt I'm the only person who has been absolutely blown away by the Irish Dance troupes put together by Michael Flately. Without a doubt, they do the most phenomenal dancing I have ever seen. There are many videos, and just seeing one clip, you can't get so completely involved in it like you can if you watch the whole performance. But hopefully this will give you a taste of the beauty, structure, and power of the dance.

As a young girl, I was able to go with my grandparents to see Lord Of The Dance live. Michael Flately had retired by that time, but the moment was incredible. The footsteps pound in your chest, the music literally pulsates through you. Its unforgettable.

original Riverdance

This is one of the earliest touring seasons of Riverdance, with the original cast. Michael Flately, the producer, director, choreographer, and lead dancer, was not yet so heady and flamboyant. It's a plainer version, but the dancing is just as brilliant.

More flashy Lord Of The Dance

Here is years later, now that Michael has gotten some (well deserved) acclaim. He's gotten kinda showy and proud, I think-check out the strutting like a peacock-and the costumes, lightshows, and music is more intense. Still, the dancing is mind blowing.

I suggest once just closing your eyes and listening to the sound of their steps. It really is amazing.

Enjoy!

Favorite Movies 2009

Well, I don't know about you, but looking over our top selling media for this year embarrassed me. What shallow, silly, and often downright bad picks! I'm rather ashamed of our country.

TOP BOX OFICE HITS

1. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

3. Up

4. Twillight Saga: New Moon

5. Avatar

6. The Hangover

7. Star Trek

8. Monsters Vs. Aliens

9. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

10. The Blind Side

Oh Well, it was a bad year for the movies. I've yet to see Blind Side, which is hopeful but otherwise, this year was sorry!

Still, this is focusing on the loveliness, so I scrounged through and found 3 movies that I could actually happily recommend.

Best Cartoon:

Up

I'm sure you've heard it a million times, but Pixar really did do it again!

It's funny, its sweet, and ever so original.

Best Romantic: 500 Days Of Summer

This is the first romance that doesn't end the way you expect it to. And the first romance that tells you that in the very first scene. It's tells the story in such a creative, quirky way that you fall in love, anyway.

Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt both give spot-on brilliant performances.

Best Family:

17 Again

Family films have become so predictable and stupid that its hard to find a good one. And while 17 Again wouldn't win any awards for outstanding originality, it has enough funny moments and interesting curveballs to be entertaining and amusing. There's also a bit of a thoughtful moral to encourage conversation in families.

Plus, I'm sorry, but Zac Efron is just beautiful. Left those High School Musical days behind!

I tried really hard to find a top action movie, but I really struggled. Everything was just so LAME! Haven't seen Avatar yet, maybe that will fill the spot. Lets hope!

Happy Stories 2009

Here's a few of my favorite Good News Stories of 2009.

Rough and Tough Quarterback Staying a Virgin

Last week Florida Gators Quarterback Tim Tebow admitted something that most football players would rather die before saying. And he did with a proud smile on his face. At 21 years of age and graced with boyish good looks, Tebow is one of the most talked about rising stars of the NCAA; but the football superstar literally left reporters speechless last week when he answered a question during a press conference about whether or not he is "saving himself" for marriage. "Yes I am," said Tebow briefly, who then indicated he was ready for the next question. However, in the video of the press conference, a reporter is heard stumbling over his words in the background as he tries to ask a follow-up question. Tebow then laughs, obviously reacting to the reactions of the reporters in the room.

"I think y'all were stunned by that," he says. "Y'all can't even ask a question. Wow. I mean, I was ready for that question. I don't think y'all were."

I'm featuring this for the beauty of a man being a real man and doing what he believes, even when people may think he's sissy. That's anything but. Thanks, Tim!

Secret Santa hands out $100 to strangers

PORTLAND, Maine - Christmas came three days early at a Goodwill store in Maine's largest city.

An anonymous man dressed in a Santa suit handed out envelopes containing $100 each to 100 unsuspecting shoppers Tuesday evening at the store in Portland.

The surprise giveaway was similar to what a Missouri man did for years. Larry Stewart, of Kansas City, handed out $100 bills during the holidays, but remained anonymous until shortly before his death in 2007.

I couldn't think of a better place to go hand out money than a Goodwill, where practical people are making thrifty purchases at a store to benefit the poor.

There should be more people like this!!

16 Year Old Boy Starts a Backyard School

Babar Ali, a 16-year-old student from West Bengal, India, takes his schoolwork very seriously. Every day after a six-mile journey to school, he sits in the front row and works tirelessly to transcribe his teachers’ lessons. Then, each day, Babar races home after his lessons are over, where hundreds of children from his village are waiting in his backyard. These are children too poor and unequipped to attend school, and so look to Babar to teach them what he has learned. Babar began giving lessons to his friends from the village at age nine, and word has spread far and wide over the last seven years. Soon, other children began crowding in, eager to see what he could teach them. Today, more than 800 students come to his backyard to learn, and his program has grown: now, Ali shares the spotlight with nine other volunteer teachers, and provides his students with donated food and textbooks.

Ali comes from a poor family himself, and, combined with household chores, traveling, and school attendance, his makeshift classroom takes a heavy toll on his time. But he believes his efforts are more than worth whatever sacrifices he may be making.

“In the beginning I was just play-acting, teaching my friends, but then I realized these children will never learn to read and write if they don’t have proper lessons. It’s my duty to educate them, to help our country build a better future.”

What a beautiful boy! If there were more people like this in the world, my blog would be happily unnecessary! I wish I had a photo of him.

2009 Fashion Awards

Kate's 2009 Fashion Awards!

There were many beautiful dresses this year, and I enjoyed every single one of them. Picking out my very favorites was a hard task, because there were just so many!

So I've decided to divide several of them up into categories, so I can share as much lovlieness with you as possible!

Enjoy!

If you have any gowns that particularly stand out to you as needing to be on this list, let me know! I'd love to hear commentary.

Now, without further ado, lets get started......

For Best Color, I have to begrudgingly give it to Shakira. The dress is cheerful and bright, and very flattering. She made all the right choices with hair, jewelry, and makeup.

My Best Bling award is a tie between two pretty country blondes. Maybe I could split it up into Best Gold, for Julianne Hough's glowing look, and Best Silver, for Taylor Swift's sleek shimmer.

Overall Most Bold award goes to Rihanna, who, I admit, has had some absolute failures, but has continued to push the envelope and found some absolutely stunning and surprising gowns.

The Best Ball Gown award goes to Marion Cotiliard, who is always dressed gorgeously, at the Oscars for her black and blue Dior tulle perfection:
Best Black award goes to Reese Witherspoon at the CMAs. She makes this gorgeous dress look refined and lovely instead of sleazy, and her hair and makeup complement it perfectly!Best Short goes to Carrie Underwood (Grammy party), in Georges Shakra. It fits her perfectly, has a very unique style, and absolutely shines!
Evan Rachel Wood recieves the overall Most Elegant 2009 award, for classy and stunning pieces like these two. She seems to have left behind her gothic past and embraced her porcelain beauty!

And I know some may disagree with me, but I'm giving Katy Perry the Best Stylish Quirky award for finding creative dresses that aren't ridiculous, but well fitting and fun.

Looking back

And so 2010 begins!

I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to the change. Its been a draining and often frustrating year...so I'm sure liking the idea of a blank page and a totally new decade! Hopefully it'll be lovely for everyone.

Before we step into all this newness, though, I thought it'd be good to take a quick look back at some of the loveliness of 2009. There were certainly some great moments, and I'd like to share some. Enjoy some encouraging stories, and some of my favorites in fashion and music.

Favorite red carpet gown:

Man, this was hard for me!! There were many absolutely gorgeous red carpet gowns, just like every year. I looked through them all and sighed with happiness at their beauty. This one, January Jone's wearing Atelier Versace at the Emmy awards kept staying in my mind.

I love the absolute uniqueness of it...haven't seen anything like it ever before! Its almost white, but barely mint green. It has an intriciate, structured bodice and a dreamy flowing skirt. The gown fits her perfectly.

And so, for it's uniqueness and beauty, I crown it my favorite gown.

I will, however, be posting some runners-up later; there were too many pretty dresses to feature just one!!

A happy news story of 2009:

Woman's Cabdriver donates his kidney

Rita Van Loenen had kidney failure, and was on dialysis 4 times monthly. She had the same taxi driver every time, Thomas Chappell. Their friendship grew through those drives, and when Mr. Chappell found out that her kidney transplant had failed, he offered to donate his own. Still, Rita was touched by her cabbie's life-changing donation offering. Of course, this was no guarantee that the kidney was going to match...

it did!

This year, Rita will receive her cabbie's kidney. The fit was perfect, the doctor's said it was as if they were siblings. What a precious story! I think it's even more precious when you see the two friends: