Tale of the Multi-Tasking, Craft-and-Design-Loving, Mother-of-Two, Singaporean-Living-in-US, Corporate-Working Mom Named Grace Hester

I Could Be Violet Sky

This song's been in my head all day. 
No offense Mika but they did your song justice.  Different, but somehow equal justice. 

Greyson Chance

Greyson Chance (13-year-old whose YouTube video of him singing Lady Gaga's Paparazzi helped land him a feature on Ellen's show and ultimately a record deal with Ellen) singing Fire by Augustana gave me the chills.  In a good way - it's the kind of chills you get when you have the chance to experience true talent.

Enjoy. 

Officially Missing You - Live

Tamia's Officially Missing You have always been a fave of mine but when I found this live version on YouTube, I had a new level of appreciation for the song and for Tamia as a singer.

Another surprising find was Janice and Sonya of Jayeslee Youtube.com fame - twins who live in Australia who apparently have over 3 million views on their cover of this song.  And no wonder, I could not stop listening to their cover as well!

How to Annoy People with Your iPad

Last week's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me had a series of quips from host Peter Segal and his panelists on how they think people will start finding ways to annoy others with their iPads (because people seem to do so with every piece of technology after a while).  I bust out laughing at work at the following,

1. Just showing up with one. (Haters!)
   
2. Wearing a pair of jeans with the largest pockets ever to hold the iPad
   
3. Going to the movies and watching a better movie on your iPad than what's showing
   
4. Choose in a dark restaurant, to look at the restaurant's menu online on your iPad vs the actual menu

Side note, for those of you who follow my husband on Twitter will know that I got an iPad for my birthday but I made him return it.  Noah thought I wanted one because I had been quoting iPad news all week and I feel so bad that he actually went out and got one.  It was a logical decision, my iPhone serves me well enough that I didn't really want or need a super-value size up version of it.  Though I'll take a faster processor on my business laptop than what I have today because I could design so much faster!  (I already asked him to spec something out so I am looking forward to shopping for a new system!)

July 12, 2010:  As an update to this post, I read this from Robin's idea book where someone brought out their iPad at a concert and turned on an app that displays a flickering flame (a la waving lighter in the air).  Hilarious!  And definitely makes it on my list of ways to annoy people. :o)

Fun at The Lunchbox at Shadowbox Cabaret (Columbus, Ohio)

I went to The Lunchbox show at Shadowbox Cabaret with some of my fellow etsy sellers from Etsy Team Columbus last Friday and had a really GOOD time. 

Photo from Shadowbox's Website

It's a live show concept where the skits, musical performances, and visuals shown in-between each act are based on a theme.  And what makes things extra special is that the crew pretty much multitasks and greets, takes your food order, serves, sings, dances, acts, plays music through your entire experience.  For instance, the gentleman that greeted me at the door was one of the guitarists through most of the musical numbers, and the two ladies that guided me to my table were the cashiers, assigned seats, singers, actors, musicians, and our first server was a stellar comedic actor and played instruments in between sets.  Pretty crazy . . . but in a fun way.

They have a bistro-style menu and I ordered the Cabaret Salad, which is made up of mixed greens, thinly sliced red onions tossed with creamy sweet onion & bleu cheese dressing, topped with croutons, dried cranberries and toasted pine nuts, and served with focaccia bread.  I have to say that the salad exceeded my expectations and was truly substantial and yummy.  The focaccia bread did taste a little like it was deep friend but the salad made up for it.  Everyone else ate their food so I am assuming they found it alright as well.  I also really liked their house drink titled, "The Freak" (Absolut Vodka, amaretto peach schnapps mixed with cranberry and pineapple juices) and because it is sweet-tasting, it was easy to drink and reminded me of a summer cocktail.

At one point in time, our table was called out and then serenaded to "Ladies Night" by 4 or 5 of the male crew members.  Of course this is the ONLY moment when it hit me that I should whip out my iPhone to take a picture!  So here we are,

"Oh this is LADIES' Night, and the feeling's right, Oh this is LADIES' Night, Oh what a night . . . "

"Oh what a night."

"Yes this is LADIES' Night, and the feeling's right, yes this is LADIES' Night, oh what a night . . ."

Mara was caught in a moment here (below), not quite sure if it's fear or confusion. (hah hah)  Of course I am joking, she loved it!

Thank you Karla (she's the person who is in all of the photos above) for coordinating the luncheon!

I was not sure if photography was allowed so I did not take more photos outside of the ones shown here but the show was light-hearted and fun.  Some really funny moments but overall, the pace of the skits with the musical performances kept me engaged and was a great way to experience a live show and eat lunch at the same time.  I strongly suggest this for others and am planning to go back there with Noah for the dinner version soon. 

They have a lot of good information and photos on their website which I am providing below:
 
Shadowbox
164 Easton Town Center,
Columbus, OH 43219
(614) 416-7625
www.shadowboxcabaret.com

Facebook Page

Now go reserve your seat!

My Favourite ABDC Crew From This Season

I felt the same way about Fanny Pak during season 2 and Breatfreakz during season 3 of America's Best Dance Crew when both crews did not win. Rhythm City is EASILY, HANDS-DOWN the best crew this season and it is a HUGE WTF as to why they are not even in the finals. 

I have proof!

Troubadour by k'naan, Bang Bang featuring Adam Levine

I first got a sampling of K'Naan's music in 2005 when he came on the scene with "Soobax".  He was still so raw, still so original, so underground - kinda like MIA before she became hot in the US.  Unfortunately I was not really in the mindframe of taking in the social activism message he rapped about so his name came and went after the one "commercial" hit. (BTW, till this day, I am still very shallow about my music choices but consciously so - does it make it better??)

 

So when I saw that he had a new album out and iTunes was offering a single of his for free, I downloaded it and was HOOKED.  The beat was hyped and his lyrical skills (or skillz for street credibility) is still top-notch.  Strangely enough, people compare him to Bob Marley mixed with Eminem quite a bit but I would describe his sound as more Mos Def mixed with Black Eyed Peas.  Maybe his sound today is alot more commercialized but still edgy but if you add Adam Levine to one of the first releases from your album, what does that say?

 

Anyway, all that aside, this album is quite amazing - every song is really engaging and I just downloaded the entire album from Amazon and am just nodding my head to the music as I am typing this post.

 

 

You can click on the link to go to amazon.com and listen to samples of his music on Troubadour.  Let me know if you like it!