Let Heaven and Nature Sing

In honor of my beautiful daughter Whitney, who is serving a mission in Houston, here is my FAVORITE version of my FAVORITE Christmas song. Ever. Listen to it ONCE. Listen to it TWICE. Listen to it ALL. DAY. LONG. and if you can find the time, watch the movie where it was originally performed. Check out THE PREACHER'S WIFE, starring the lovely Miss Whitney. Houston, wearing a bevy of stunning coats and hats, and of course, my main man, Mr. Denzel. Washington, also wearing a fabulous coat throughout, and sporting those dazzling whiter-than-white pearly whites. It's a FEEL GOOD, FEEL GREAT, FEEL FABULOUS, HOLIDAY TREASURE that will rock you into the holiday season. Come on everybody sing, "Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy...Joy To The World!"

A Suite that's Sweet...

When I was a girl I loved The Nutcracker ballet. Sometimes my mother would take me to a live production. Sometimes I would watch it on tv while Mikhail Baryshnikov leaped and spun and jumped and twirled all over the land of the sugar plums. I dreamed of being Gelsey Kirkland so I could be spun and twirled by the aforementioned manly-man of the ballet. My first born daughter bears his name as her middle. It was magical when I took Whitney and Cassidy to their first Nutcracker, even though Cassidy was nearly scarred for life by the appearance of the evil Mouse King with glowing red eyes! Every time I hear the opening strains of Tchaikovsky's Waltz of the Flowers it takes me to a better place and time. A time of wonder and fantasy, artistic beauty and amazing talent. Tonight I visited a local production of The Nutcraker by the Idaho Ballet Theatre, featuring guest artists from the Utah Regional Ballet. For two hours I was again transported back into that land where candy reigns supreme. In the finale, when the Sugar Plum Fairy and her handsome cavalier pas de deux it give me chills. I don't want it to end. I want him to hold her in that final pose forever. I know the moment he puts her down, the show is over and it's back to reality. So, if you're looking for something to bring magic and wonder to your holiday season, escape for awhile to the the land of nutcrackers and mice and waltzing flowers and dancing snowflakes and the Sugar Plum Fairy. If you can escape with Mr. Baryshnikov, even better. Even more. Magical.

Red Bird Singing in the Dead of Night...

"Take your broken wings and fly into the night." Don't depair. I'm not trying to change the lyrics of another Beatles tune. This is a shout out to all of my literary-minded besties to find some time this month to read one of my all time favorite books, A RED BIRD CHRISTMAS by Fannie Flagg. You won't be disappointed. It's tender, funny, poignant, and even has a bird with broken wings flying into the night! It will lift your spirits and make you soar with happiness. Read it today. Available on line at Barnes and Noble, or for $9.88 at Sam's Club!