For Valentine’s day I got James a bunch of tix to a Nashville Predators game so we could go with a group of friends. We have only been to one game before – and we had a BLAST. But we were the band that played between the periods… so there was a lot going on and our attention wasn’t COMPLETELY on the game. But it was just enough of a taste to know that we would LOVE to come back when we didn’t have other things that needed our focus!

So tonight was that chance. And we will DEFINITELY be going back. Thank goodness he knows more about hockey than I do… he was definitely helping me out along the way. But our section was a rowdy bunch – and GOOD LORD – Hockey Fans are BIG TIME trash talkers! Goodness! All the chants rip into the other teams – OUCH!

Best seats in the house

Section 303!!

Awww

The Preds won which made it even more fun. PLUS our section won free lottery tix! (Thanks Gnash!) James won “another ticket” so there’s still a chance for a REAL winner. WOOT! It was a great way to relax and hang after a long day of working on music.

We started our next acoustic video… but we’re trying something a little different. If it works it’ll be awesome… but there’s a significant possibility we’re in over our heads (at least with the time constraints we face) But either way… I can’t wait to get the next one done. We have too many ideas and can’t get them filmed quickly enough!

We shall see how far we get in the morrow….

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

Looking around my living room, I realize that I hope my living room looks like this forever and always. There are musical instruments strewn everywhere… with writing notes and lyrics spread all around and remnants of snacks from people having gathered together in my home.

I’ve had two different writing appointments and spent most of the day completing songs that were waiting to be finished. I have no idea if anyone other than James, Cinnamon, and my co-writers will ever hear them. But that is not the point. There’s no way to achieve greatness without many unsuccessful attempts.

“I have failed over and over again in life… that is why I succeed.” -Michael Jordan

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

I. Don’t. Know. How. They. Do. This.

Can you imagine how many hours it would take to figure out what it looks like they are saying when you already KNOW what they are actually saying???

It’s just good fun.

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

In elementary school and middle school I rode the bus. Every time I would get on the bus in the morning, this one girl who was 1 year older than me would say “Hiiiii, Barbie” in this really condescending, making-fun-of-me kind of voice. All of her friends would laugh, and I would move on to the back of the bus where my friend, Deranda, sat.

There’s no way for things like that not to bother you as a kid. I would tell Deranda, “Well, Barbie is supposed to be beautiful, right? So it’s a compliment!” Desperately trying to convince myself that I wasn’t embarrassed or that it didn’t bother me.

I knew it was silly, even at the time. I knew it shouldn’t bother me. I knew it was immature of her to make fun of me for no reason, but I would just try to smile… One day I think I even mustered up the courage to say “Well… Barbie is beautiful… so THANK YOU.” Which only made her and her friends laugh even harder.

Flash forward 15 years later… This morning I woke up to a text from Deranda that said, “Darcy (her sweet little daughter) named this pretty Barbie Natalie after she watched one of your videos with us! Congrats!”

I felt so proud… Turns out that now being Barbie IS a compliment. Thank you to three-year-old Darcy for that little piece of sweet redemption I felt today.

Take that middle school bus-bullies… ; )

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie

So tonight we told Ryan we were having rehearsal at 8:30… meanwhile we told some close friends to be here at 8 to surprise him for his birthday. His actual birthday was Jan 27… but we were opening for Colt Ford that night with a packed schedule right afterwards and we were unable to celebrate properly on the road. So tonight was perfect… there was no way he would expect us to have a party nearly 3 weeks after the fact, right?

NOPE! We pulled it off!!!! WOOO HOOO. He was so surprised.

Whew. And now… my living room is still filled with wonderful people. Exactly as it should be. But call me burnt toast because I am DONE. Cinnamon and I bid you goodnight.

Peace. Love. Fiddle.
~natalie