Yeah, another entry where I’m like “summer is flying by, I keep forgetting to update, i suck at life, blah, blah, blah”

So here’s the deal, we have been pretty busy. Here is another sweet round up on what we’ve been busy with:

Michelle got married! Holy Moses I feel OLD! Here’s the thing, i remember when she was born, that is wacky. Anyway, her and her b/f of four years (Levi) tied the ol’ knot this Saturday at Grace Church on the east side with a reception at Toad Valley. Super happy for her, she has been counting down the days until she was Mrs. Warner. I got to see a lot of family and after the wedding went over to the g’parents house to chill, play cards, argue, you know, the norm.

Wedding Plans. Speaking of weddings might as well bring up my own…not much has been happening. I am almost done with the invitation design and I’m pretty happy with it. We also went to the food tasting at Embassy Club which was FABULOUS! Mom bravely faced her fear of heights to try the amazing dishes, did I mention that the food was FABULOUS! So, pretty much we are at a stand-still until September, then we pick the Photo Booth peeps.

What else? Well, Dawn had a housewarming party which was pretty cool, her house is all 50’s retro with amazing furnishings. Nick has been playing mad softball, don’t mention his leg to me. We finally got out to the horse races, where I of course lost moola. Derek had a birthday celebration at Waterfront/Tonic. Visited Tim & Tony (and Max & Minnie) to check out their new upgrades to the house. And loving my favorite show So You Think You Can Dance, yay Jeanine!

Book Club. And finally I just got home from book club, yep, I belong to a book club that meets once a month with 7 other woman. At first I was a little intimidated, I read really slowly, but I’ve had no problems, in fact it has helped me process faster. So far we have read: The Alchemist, The Shack, Three Weeks With My Brother and just finished The Devil in the White City…seriously one of my most favorite books ever. Highly recommend it.

Peace, Love and Corn Dogs!

My aunt’s story “Believe in the power of dimes” made it in the paper today!

Today marks three years after losing Ryder to cancer. This e-mail came to me from my aunt Jan and if you don’t know about the dimes, might want to read Dee’s story, which is going to be in the DM Register soon!

“Today, it has been 3 years since Ryder’s passing. I was talking to Jenni on the phone and told her I could not believe he did not leave me a dime some where this morning. So, I get off the phone with her and not 5 minutes later, I am cleaning a shelf in the kitchen and there are 3 dimes. So, I am hearing his voice very vividly saying to me, “You want a dime Jan well, I will give you 3!” As, I tell Jenni this she says, “Mom, it has been 3 years!” So, that is why I received 3!”

I can’t believe in one week I was fortunate enough to see two amazing and two very different concerts. Monday, of course was New Kids, this past Saturday was Brandi Carlile. She performed at Hoyt Sherman, which is such a neat venue anyway, but it was an all string performance (guitar, bass and cello) and it was incredible. Two times she went completely unplugged and the whole room was dead silent. She also played an incredible new song on the piano. Rocked The Story and did covers of Johnny Cash and The Beatles. It was such a personal, intimate, beautiful show. Very cool.

So check out The Story’s video

As a child, a female child of the eighties, I was not alone in my love for New Kids on The Block. Like many, I had their tapes, tons of shirts, blankets, buttons, action dolls and concert videos. I had many dreams of marrying Joey (or Jonathan) and living happily ever after.

Looking back, at the time I was around 10 and Joey was 18 (Jonathan 22) um, gross. I really didn’t grasp the age difference back then.

I digress, the point, I was a huge fan, like all the girls my age and I was never fortunate enough to see them live in concert.

Fast forward to Hawaii 2007, while on vacation I was watching VH1’s Bands Reunited, and they attempted to get New Kids on the Block to reunite for a one-night show. I was so excited. However, each member (except Jonathan) declined. I was crushed.

April 2008. Donnie confirmed the band was reuniting for a new CD and tour! The first round of touring brought them as close as Kansas City (where my hair stylist Hannah saw them and said it was awesome). Finally, they extended their dates and included a stop in good ol’ Des Moines! Craig and Tia hooked us up with tickets and that brings us to last Monday.

My life is now complete.

Couple things I want to say about the show:

Party the whole atmosphere was a giant fun-filled, neon-colored eighties party.

Jabbawockeez they opened the show, the music was super awesome and the dancing was amazing. My only complaint was the length; I wish they had performed longer.

Songs Holy shit, they played every hit. They even mixed it up and came in the middle of the audience to sing/play the piano. Jordan, Joey and Donnie all did individual songs. Jordan sang his solo-artist song Give It to You, Joey sang his solo-artist song Stay the Same and Donnie sang “Cover Girl” decked out in Iowa Hawkeye gear while playing the guitar. Though it was “I’ll be loving you forever” in the white suits that melted my ten-year-old heart.

Jordan there he was all alone on the stage in a buttoned down white shirt singing Baby, I Believe in You. All of a sudden the artificial wind swoops up and he busts open his shirt in true Superman fashion for all us ladies. Truly amazing was this moment and I realized, yes, it is the same New Kids that I loved.

All Grown Up there were flashes throughout the night where I was truly happy I am 28 and seeing this concert…

1. I could drink. This never hurts a concert.

2. Joey said “balls” sorry, this is funny to me. He said while attempting to spell out IOWA, Danny was trying to light Donnie’s balls on fire. Never would have happened 15 years ago.

3.I was a witness to possibly the greatest sign ever…during their goodbyes, someone threw a sign on stage, a great sheet material, homemade sign “Danny Wood gives us lady wood” hells yeah.

Hangin’ Tough the final song of the night and it was fabulous. Swinging our arms in the air, it was the perfect ending with my men from Boston. You really believe they are doing this for the fans. During the final minutes, Joey took the time and signed autographs from the audience. How cool is that.

Money’s Worth the show was over two hours! It was high-energy. A great mix of classic songs, new (not so bad) songs and the fantastic true-to-fashion New Kids choreography. There was confetti, great costume changes (including Joey’s gold jacket) and fan participation. Not gonna lie, got goose bumps when the giant screen flashed “NKTOB”. It was so fun, so entertaining, everything I ever thought it would be and so much more.

Grandpa my grandpa was there! Not with us, but working. That is pretty awesome.

Friends This night was even better since I shared it with Kari, Drea and Tia. My only regret is we needed matching T-shirts…next time!

Concert Photos