I occasionally apologize to my kids about the music of their generation, where popularity is garnered by bad behavior instead of talent, by style rather than substance. My parents reminisced about artists who wore suits on stage and whose dress and behavior showed respect for their audience. Even today’s talented artists sometimes fail on the respect issue.

Sunday night my 16-year-old son and I saw Straight No Chaser at the Atlanta Civic Center. It was my 4th SNC concert, so I expected a great show. The guys don’t disappoint: they look good and sound even better.

It’s amazing how unimportant gimmicks are when you actually have talent.

They obviously enjoy what they do, and when they have fun, we have fun. SNC isn’t afraid to be silly or make fun of themselves (and occasionally the audience, when they really ask for it).

My camera hearts Straight No Chaser.

Straight No Chaser understands the power of social media—they were discovered when an old college video of them went viral after being uploaded to YouTube. Photography and video are not only allowed but encouraged at SNC concerts and the guys always sign autographs afterwards. 

If you get the chance to catch Straight No Chaser in concert, you won’t be disappointed!

{Disclosure: Tickets provided by Atlantic Records (no review required). Opinions are my own!}

Concerts Done Right: Straight No Chaser is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

Recently I put together a list at (in)courage of some of my all-time favorite books. These, however, are the reads and CDs I’ll forever connect with Summer 2011.

Recently finished reads or currently in my book bag(s) or on my iPad:

Saving Leonardo by Nancy Pearcey—Because I like to think.

Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider—Because I’m organizationally challenged.

Do the Work by Steven Pressfield—Because I’m easily distracted.

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield—Because I want to create.

Poke the Box by Seth Godin—Because I need inspiration and I want to ship what I produce.

The Best Camera is the One That’s with You by Chase Jarvis (short and easy reread or inspiring iPhone photography)—Because I’m addicted to camera phonography.

On heavy rotation:

Paul Simon: So Beautiful or So What—Absolutely Brilliant. Some songs grew on me instantly; some took time. There’s not a song that I skip. Incredible songwriting.

The Cars: Move Like This—Because I never really left the 80s.

Joshua Bell: The Essential Joshua Bell—Because I need to slow down and breathe deep. This album isn’t new, but it’s new to me. Songs like “Nocturne” and “O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi” (please don’t ask me to say it) make me go “ahhhhhhhhhh.”

The request:

Have you heard the buzz about the soon-to-be-released movie based on the book The Help? I’m attending a prescreening and have a chance to interview cast members as well as author and Atlanta resident, Kathryn Stockett.

My shiny new copy arrived last week, but I haven’t read it, yet. Have you? Do you have any questions for the cast and author? If so, please post them in the comments!

{Disclosure: Links are affiliate links}

What’s Floating My Boat: Summer 2011 (and a request) is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

The kids and I have attended two singing schools this summer, one last month in Alabama and one this past week here in Georgia. I’m so thankful this opportunity is available to us.

I’m sure a lot of you are wondering what a singing school is, so I’m going to give you a crash course. We learn shape note singing: remember the “Do a Dear” song from The Sound of Music? The notes—do, re, mi, fa, sol (or so), la, ti, do—are called shape notes because they have shape. See?

Each note also has a hand sign:

Not only are we taught how to sing in beautiful a cappella four-part harmony, but also how to lead a congregation. Here is my 7-year-old daughter and two of her friends leading Oh, How I Love Jesus.

Running a singing school requires an incredible amount of work and organization. Classes are taught; 3 meals a day are served; the unexpected must be anticipated and handled, such as wells running low and the usual accidents and injuries.

Most singing schools last 3-5 days with a 2-hour congregational singing on the final night. Everyone dresses up and others attend who were unable to the rest of the week. Harmony Highlands in Jasper, AL, is a 5-day singing school with the classes divided by age.

The final night mixes both congregational singing lead by an assortment of leaders and songs sung by the individual classes. Last week we attended a 3-day singing school where everyone learned together in the same room and additional classes were held for both song leaders and advanced students.

Here is the high school choir singing When I Survey the Wondrous Cross:

Here is the adult class:

Everyone works hard and plays hard at singing school. Afternoons bring breaks for fellowship or game time.

I love that we’re preserving a little part of history—our history—and that we’re growing in knowledge that’s no longer commonplace.

[Part 1 is here.]

Blood, Sweat, and Song in Alabama: Part 2 is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

Seven of the kids and I spent last week at Harmony Hills singing school in Jasper, AL. Although it was the 16th annual event, it was the first time for our family. For those of you haven’t heard of a singing school, here is some information that will help explain the purpose:

Our worship services include a cappella singing and our hymnals are printed with shaped notes. Singing schools teach these skills for the purpose of glorifying God. Devoted to encouraging our youth in skillful a cappella singing and in Christian fellowship, we all, [children, youth, and adults alike], work together to provide a Godly atmosphere for learning.

I’ll post specifics later, but today I want to share a story from the week, one that our family will surely tell for years to come…

Students 9 and older can sleep in dorms at the campground where Harmony Highlands is held. Most others either camp on site or stay at a hotel. Two of my best girlfriends and I rented a condo for the week with our younger children and drove in each morning. One evening a friend of ours and her children visited us to check out our place (our 3 bedroom, 2 bath condo on the lake created a buzz since a lot of people were paying more for a motel room).

We picked up a movie for the kids so the moms could enjoy some quality time and wine on the deck. Almost as soon as the movie ended the screaming began. My youngest daughter ran up to me with blood on her face and nightgown. Apparently she was tickling her little buddy, Gracie, who didn’t like it and punched her in the mouth, knocking out her two very loose front teeth.

This was my daughter’s 6th birthday and we’d talked about how neat it would be if she lost her first two teeth that day. Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy!

Although this wasn’t exactly what we had in mind, we found both teeth and the tooth fairy even located us in Alabama.

The next day the girls were good as new (but probably without so much tickling). Gracie looks taller here, but really she’s a tiny thing, sitting on my little gal’s hip.

Later I’ll post details about the singing at Harmony Hills, complete with video and (hopefully) audio clips.

Blood, Sweat, and Song in Alabama, Part 1 is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

It wasn’t until Sunday evening that I realized I’ve been in the audience for every Straight No Chaser Atlanta concert. My husband, 15-year-old son, 14-year-old daughter, and I attended this one. My family hearts SNC.

One of the greatest things about an SNC concert, besides the music, is their open policy regarding photography and video. An announcement was made at the beginning: although the venue usually prohibits recording of any kind, it was allowed for this show.

This is so smart. If I attend your concert with my camera and I like you, which of these things will happen:

1. I’ll take tons of pictures and hopefully make you look really good.
2. I’ll post them all over Flickr, my blog, and Facebook, giving you free publicity.
3. I’ll tweet and Facebook links to these things.
4. I’ll sell the photos, get rich, and retire.
5. Everything but #4.

The answer: #5.

I was raised by musical parents with strong opinions about the way performers should and shouldn’t dress. Performing in suits—apparently made of “65% polyester and 35% shine”—equals respect for the audience.

Since I’d met the guys last year at a meet-and-greet and talked with them after all their Atlanta concerts—as any fan is able, since they sign autographs after each show—some recognized me and remembered my name, momentarily boosting my waning cool factor with my starstruck teens.

Thanks, guys, you ROCK!

Straight No Chaser blends old, new, and Christmas songs, choreography, and humor delivered with a lot of energy. Plus they’re cute, which never hurts. There were lots of fresh songs in this show, so I hope there’s a new album in the works.

If Straight No Chaser comes to your town, do yourself a favor and go see them.

{Disclosure: Tickets provided by Atlantic Records. Review and opinions provided by me.}

Straight No Chaser at Atlanta’s Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

Last year we discovered the Christmas album The Dawn of Grace by Sixpence None the Richer. It instantly became one of our all-time favorites. It just makes me happy.

I found this quirky video for it on YouTube. Their are two verses with additional lyrics woven within the original, and someone nicely posted the additional words below the video. I’ve printed them here, also.

Enjoy!

I can see you in the snow
I can tell that you’ve been crying
There’s nothing in these lights that glow
That tells you that this world’s not dying
But underneath these blankets white
Glows a warmer kind of light
You won’t have to sing alone

I can see you in the snow
Crystal tears have started drying
There’s something in these lights that glow
A Savior in a manger lying
Up above these blankets white
Are angels filling up the sky
A star is burning in the night

Isn’t it beautiful?

My Favorite Version of Silent Night is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

{Contest is closed. Winner is Bill.}

Since the day when I was introduced to them at a blogger meet-and-greet and a concert that night, I’ve been a fan of the a cappella group Straight No Chaser. I’ve seen them twice in concert, once with my husband and once with three of my kids.

They are not only talented singers, but dynamic showmen as well. By the end of an SNC show, you’ll feel connected with each of them. They interact with fans both during and after the show.

At the end of this post you can comment for a chance to see Straight No Chaser on Sunday, December 19, in Atlanta.

Dave, Tyler, and Seggie with three of my kids after an SNC concert in April.

Specifics:

• Date: Sunday, December 19, 2010
• Where: Atlanta’s Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre
• Time: 7:30 p.m.

Full concert details can be found here.

Enter to Win (do one or all, leave a separate comment for each)

• Leave a comment. What would you do with these tickets?
• Tweet it! Include @dawnMHSH @SNCmusic & link to this post http://bit.ly/h3miBR
• Share on Facebook. It’s easy – just click the “Like” button at the bottom of this post!

Please enter only if you or someone on you know is able to attend this concert on Sunday, December 19, in Atlanta. These tickets shouldn’t go to waste! Giveaway ends on Friday, December 10.

More SNC-related posts with photos and video:

• Straight No Chaser Concert in Atlanta with the Kids
• Straight No Chaser Christmas Cheers CD Giveaway (a closed contest from last year)

{Disclosure: Tickets provided by Atlantic Records.}

[I'm feeling a lot like Santa Claus with all the giveaways lately, but 'tis the season. Stay tuned for one more, a $50 gift certificate to DaySpring, coming soon. Ho! Ho! Ho!]

Straight No Chaser Giveaway: Two Tickets for the December 19th Concert in Atlanta! is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

{Entries for the giveaway are now closed, but please continue to use this guide for your Christmas shopping!}

This is not your ordinary Christmas Gift Guide. It doesn’t necessarily have items for everyone on your list, or an equal selection for men and women, or adults and children.

What it does have is an assortment of some of my favorite items by some of my favorite companies, actually, by some of my favorite people.

They’re generous, too. Each company represented has offered products for giveaway to the commenters on this guide!

Let me introduce you to my fabulous Christmas Gift Guide sponsors. Click the pics to visit these companies’ websites.

Artistic Photo Canvas

Three Artistic Photo Canvases hang in our home, two large 24″ x 36″ prints of our last two years’ family photos, and an 11″ x 14″ of what I call our 25th anniversary picture. When you order from Artistic Photo Canvas, your canvas is not only of the highest quality, it’s printed and framed by real people: no automation involved. Sign up for APC’s newsletter to find out about periodic specials; when I ordered our more recent family photo, I received the 11″ x 14″ canvas free.

Lew at APC has generously offered a $150 gift certificate for canvas prints—go large! Retail value: $150.

DaySpring

DaySpring is the source for Christian cards, home decor, and a wide selection of gift items. My home is full of DaySpring wall art, coffee mugs, jewelry, serving pieces and more. Their designs are beautiful, inspirational, and functional. DaySpring is offering 2 giveaway items: an
Ever Grateful – 10″ Large Pitcher and a 13.5″ Serving Platter – Jesus Is The Gift – John 3:16 and Jesus is the Gift Snowflake Collection – Set of 2 Embroidered Tea Towels. Retail value: $60.97.

(Watch for more DaySpring giveaways coming soon!)

Eclectic Whatnot

Ruthanne is a blog buddy with a flair for creating colorful and comely camera straps. Not only do I love my camera, but I also love accessorizing it, evidenced by the fact that I use a strap with one of Ruthanne’s covers, another strap, three camera bags, and a separate lens bag with five alternating covers. My camera is high maintenance, but I enjoy pampering the baby.

Ruthanne is donating the Crush camera strap; when my 10-year-old daughter saw it, she told me to rig the contest so that I would win. It’s that awesome. I bet you’ll want it, too. This is a wonderful gift for the camera-toting female in your life. Retail value: $35.

Code MHSH15 will get you a 15% discount at the Eclectic Whatnot Etsy Store. Order by December 16 for Christmas delivery, US only.

fashionABLE

fashionABLE is a new line of scarves brought to you by Mocha Club. Each fashionABLE scarf is named after a woman in Africa whose life has been changed because of your purchase, and includes a hand-written note telling you what she is ABLE to do because of it. You’re tougher than I am if you don’t cry when you hold that card in your hand. This is a beautiful gift that you can feel good about buying.

Mocha Club is donating one fashionABLE scarf. Retail value: $22.

from head to foot: all of you living all for Him by Annie Downs

My dear friend Annie Downs has written a new book for teen girls, from head to foot: all of you living all for Him. Sharing a mix of humorous, revealing, and deeply personal stories, she takes the body piece-by-piece and examines how we can better use it to serve God. Annie is exactly the kind of mentor I want for my 13-year-old daughter, who will receive this book for Christmas.

Annie is offering a copy of from head to foot: all of you living all for Him for giveaway. Retail value: $13.95.

Gussy

Gussy is a ruffle girl. Her designs are fun, frilly, and feminine. With a product assortment ranging from wristlets to laptop bags to zippered pouches to headbands to Christmas stockings, Gussy has something special for gals of every age! Gussy is offering a $30 shop credit. Retail value: $30.

Lisa Leonard Designs

Lisa Leonard jewelry adorns my life. Each piece is hand cut, hammered, drilled, stamped, polished, and assembled. It is truly wearable art. The new “Through My Lens” necklace is currently at the top of my Lisa Leonard wishlist. Lisa is offering two $50 gift certificates to her store. Retail value: $100.

My Funky Camera

When I got my first DSLR, I wanted something more fun than the default Nikon strap. Googling “cool camera straps” led me to My Funky Camera. My Andalucia Love Birdies is so lovely that it is regularly complimented, and usually photographed by other photographers on photo walks. My Funky Camera also offers wristlets—which my camera surely needs, right?—and even smaller straps for point-and-shoot cameras.

Gabi has offered a camera strap. Retail value: $32.

NAPP—The National Association of Photoshop Professionals

The National Association of Photoshop Professionals, or NAPP, is your source for education and inspiration on all things photography and Photoshop. Benefits of a NAPP membership include: 10 issues of Photoshop User magazine delivered to your door; members-only forums; online technical support; product reviews; unlimited access to more than 1,000 Photoshop and Lightroom tips and tutorials; hundreds of product discounts from companies like Adobe, Apple, B&H, Wacom, onOne Software, and Epson.

NAPP is offering a free NAPP membership! Retail value: $99.

(FYI: because I’m a NAPP Evangelist, you can always get a $10 discount and a bonus offer when you join using the NAPP links in my sidebar)

Red River Paper

I consider my Red River Paper to be “the good stuff.” When I’m printing for framing or for a gift, it’s the choice. UltraPro Satin looks and feels just like traditional photo lab paper and features an elegant luster finish. It captures the true depth and range of colors in your photography, and lets your inkjet printer perform to its maximum potential.

Red River Paper is offering 3 packages of UltraPro Satin inkjet photo paper: 4 x 6, 5 x 7, and 8.5 x 11, 100 sheets of each size. Retail value: $77.30.

Straight No Chaser

I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Straight No Chaser twice in concert here in Atlanta. SNC is an incredibly talented a capella group with a flair for creative covers of both pop and Christmas songs. All I Want for Christmas is their new 2 CD + DVD set containing the Christmas albums Christmas Cheer and Holiday Spirits plus a DVD of their live New York City Christmas concert special.

SNC has offered an All I Want for Christmas boxed set. Retail value: $35

(Atlanta residents: keep your eyes open for another exciting SNC giveaway to be posted soon!)

The Pleated Poppy

Lindsey is a crafter extraordinaire. I adore her posy pins, which always garner compliments and make me look shabby chic and über-stylish, no small feat. My girls heart the posy headbands. Lindsey is offering a $30 shop credit to The Pleated Poppy. Retail value: $30

Receive a 10% discount at The Pleated Poppy with coupon code MHSH.

Union28

Union28 is a new discovery for me. I love their philosophy: Union28 offers a line of designer t-shirts for husbands & wives who want to honor each other and make a positive statement about marriage. Right on! Union28 is offering the My Husband Rocks Chocolate Fitted Long Sleeve Tee. Retail value: $23. This makes a perfect gift for both newlyweds or those celebrating a big anniversary.

Union28 is offering a 10% discount on orders with coupon code U28MHSH10.

Were you counting? There are 13 sponsors and a total of 15 prizes valued at $708.22. Woot!

How to Enter to Win One of These 15 Great Prizes (do one or all, leave a separate comment for each)

1. Leave a comment. Every item may not fit your Christmas list, so feel free to list up to three products that you would especially like to win. It may be helpful with the distribution of prizes.
2. Spread the word – tweet it! Include @dawnMHSH and a link to this post http://bit.ly/9Ec6sK . Please spread some sponsor love by including some of their twitter handles: @APCpro @DaySpringCards @EclecticWhatnot @livefashionABLE @annieblogs @GussySews @LisaLeonard @myfunkycamera @NAPP_news @RedRiverPaper @SNCmusic @thePleatedPoppy @Union28
3. Share on Facebook. It’s easy – just click the “Like” button at the bottom of this post!

The giveaways will end on Tuesday, November 30, but I hope you will continue to use this guide for your Christmas shopping!

{Disclosure: I asked each of these companies to participate in this Christmas guide and giveaway. Union28 provided a product for review, but I already owned items by the other companies. I have affiliate accounts with DaySpring and Red River Paper. I have purchased, won, and/or been given products by these companies and I really love their stuff and wanted to share them with you. Thanks to their generosity, giveaways are included, too. I hope that covers everything.}

2010 Christmas Gift Guide and Giveaway Extravaganza is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

Norah Jones possess a voice that’s rich, smoky, unmistakable. On her new CD, “…Featuring Norah Jones,” she cameos, duets, and collaborates with 18 other artists on selections recorded from 2001-2010.

Although the music contained here is quite diverse—from country, to jazz, to pop, to R&B—it flows easily from song-to-song. It’s quite a testimony to the range and versatility of Norah Jones’s voice that she has worked with artists as diverse as Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, Foo Fighters, OutKast, Ryan Adams, Dolly Parton, and Gillian Welch.

After listening to a review copy for the past two weeks, my personal favorites include:

• Love Me (with The Little Willies) – the opening track—a remake of the Elvis classic—was a big surprise and sets the tone for CD. Love it!
• Court and Spark (with Herbie Hancock) – I had never heard this song, written by Joni Mitchell, but I love the bluesy, jazz arrangement
• Ruler of My Heart (with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Robert Randolph)
• Dear John (with Ryan Adams) – hauntingly beautiful
• Take Off Your Cool (with OutKast) – fresh and whimsical
• More Than This (with Charlie Hunter) and Virginia Moon (with Foo Fighters) – lovely, smooth, easy-listening

“…Featuring Norah Jones” arrived in stores this week!

Additional Links:

• Website
• YouTube
• Facebook Page

{Disclosure: CD provided for review; opinions expressed are my own. I am entered to win a gift card through One2One Network by participating in this campaign.}

…Featuring Norah Jones is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved

My husband and I had a magical weekend in Nashville. Full details cannot be revealed at this time, but I participated in a focus group for product that will make kids love music. When the beans can be spilled, you’ll be the first to know and can share my enthusiasm.

If this sounds cryptic, then I’ve done my job. :-)

Here’s what I can talk about:

Blog Buddies

I got to hang out with some fine ladies: Meghan, Sue, Jenn, Sami, Abby…

and Heather! Hanging with Heather felt a little bit like playing hooky, considering the Homeschool Blog Awards started while we were there. (Go vote!)

Sweet Tea

An amazing and mind-boggling discovery was made about my new buddy, Sue: being from Arizona, she had never tasted sweet tea. You would think that a reputable hotel in a fine Southern city like Nashville would serve it, but you just might be wrong. Experiencing mild withdrawal, I called my husband, who was sightseeing, to please bring me some, and for heaven’s sake, get one for Sue, too!

McDonald’s sweet tea in the South—which Jenn compared to crack—is addictive. At the bargain price of $1 for a large, I have trouble driving past a MickeyD’s without stopping for one. Chick-fil-a also serves excellent sweet tea, which you can purchase by the gallon. When we were in Pigeon Forge last month, their McDonald’s sold it by the gallon, too.

I tried to explain to Sue how to make it, but it was so completely foreign to her that she asked me to please post. While this could be titled “sweet tea for dummies,” I prefer “sweet tea for the unfortunate.” Never having been exposed is surely deprivation of the worst kind.

The secret is to add the sugar when the tea is hot, otherwise it won’t dissolve and will sit in the bottom of the glass. Although they make long, thin-handled spoons for stirring the sugar at the bottom of the glass, this will always be second-rate sweet tea.

I brew mine in a coffee pot, reserved only for tea. We go through about a gallon a day in the summer, so that’s how much this recipe makes. Use four family size tea bags, preferably Luzianne or Tetley. After brewing, you will have about 6 cups (depending on how much water you used) of very concentrated hot tea.

Pour this into a gallon pitcher with 1+ cups of sugar.  One cup is pretty tame and I make it that way because my husband is diabetic, but this is really not a time when less is more. Stir to dissolve the sugar, and then fill the rest of the way with cold water. Chill and serve.

Songwriters

We were treated to an evening of fine Southern food and a performance by amazingly talented and gracious Nashville songwriters Gordon Kennedy and Wayne Kirkpatrick at B.B. King’s Blues Club.

The Sites

I dearly loved taking my camera out for a couple of Nashville nights.

What did you do this weekend?

Sweet Tea, Sightseeing, Songwriters, and Sisters (of the Bloggy Kind) is a post from: My Home Sweet Home
© 2012 My Home Sweet Home | All rights reserved