A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

How did I choose this show to highlight today?  There's a song that's come to my mind recently.

"I'm lovely, all I am is lovely.  Lovely is the one thing I can do....Oh, isn't it a shame?  I can neither sew nor cook, or read or write my name.  

But I'm happy, merely being lovely, for its one thing I can give to you."

You guessed it.  It's my baby girl, Catherine Ada, that has stirred up this song from the back rooms of my brain.  "Lovely" comes from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,  written by Stephen Sondhiem in 1974, this show is a crack up!  Here is a brief description from Wikipedia:

Inspired by the farces of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus (251–183 BC), specifically Pseudolus, Miles Gloriosus and Mostellaria, the musical tells the bawdy story of a slave named Pseudolus and his attempts to win his freedom by helping his young master woo the girl next door. The plot displays many classic elements of farce, including puns, the slamming of doors, cases of mistaken identity (frequently involving characters disguising themselves as one another), and satirical comments on social class. The title derives from the line that vaudeville comedians often used to begin a story: "A funny thing happened on the way to the theater".


                                        Here's a great recital performance of "Love, I hear"

From Broadway's 1996 production, Nathan Lane sings "Pretty Little Picture"

Fun High School Production, illustrates the silliness of this show.

Briar Rose Fabrics

I stopped by my newest favorite shop yesterday, Harmony.  I wasn't shopping for fabric, but once I glanced at their newest line of Windham Fabrics titled "Briar Rose," I was smitten and had to buy myself a yard.

They are sweet, sweet florals with little lady bees buzzing around.  Here's the same pattern but in green.

Here she is with a more modern geometric print.

And there's crickets too,

...and strawberries.

Are you as taken with them as I am?

While the salesgirl was cutting my yard of fabric, I glanced at another set of beautiful fabrics.
 It was Martha Negley for Rowan Fabrics.  I had to have a yard of her Dahlia in deep pinks and olive.

Here are some other amazing choices from this Artist.

Wow!  I am reading Anne of Green Gables right now, (one of the perks of nursing a baby is how many times I day get to sit down and read.)
I am a "kindred spirit" with Anne in the fact that we both have "beauty loving eyes", and these fabrics make me giddy with their beauty.

Pinky peach in the front room

After finding out we were expecting a girl this February, my sister 'n law Emily put together a design board for the nursery.  The concept was blue and coral.  This picture that Emily posted, reminded me of my front room with the gold in the entry way.  It inspired me to make new cushions for the spring, announcing the coming of my little girl.

Flagstaff, Arizona

 For Spring Break we drove to Mexico.  Yes, very adventurous, and I will share the details soon.  It was

about fifteen hours of travel, so we broke it up into several days, stopping in Flagstaff, AZ for a two nights.

Flagstaff is known as the ski town of Arizona, home to Northern Arizona University and located on the historic Route 66.

 

 As in Fort Collins, we enjoyed exploring Flagstaff's little downtown area with their shops and restaurants.  One night we ate a local hot spot called The Tinderbox, featuring fancy comfort food.  So yum.

Going to a new restaurant with Daniel is so fun because we're both so entranced by the menu, that we often get to try it all.  It makes me giddy looking at all the fresh options and anticipating their arrival on our table.

                             The next day for breakfast I enjoyed quiche at another local joint

                                                                       La Bellevia

Right across the street was a place called NiMarco's.  I need to go back because I am so curious.
 What is Flagstaff's style of pizza?

I'm beginning to realize that any town can offer an adventure for exploration.  Every place has something unique to discover.  

Fun for our Summer

These boys only have three days left of school before it's summertime.  It's going to take alot of effort on my part to keep them from being glued to the TV or fighting like cats and dogs.  I have been collecting art projects to keep us busy.  They are not serious art, but here are a few I found on Pinterest  that look like lots of fun.

Sharpies with rubbing alcohol give a tie dye effect

 Humongous bubbles 

made with 6 cups water,

1 cup corn syrup, 
2 cups dish soap

Race cars made from toilet paper rolls

Cut the stems of roses into strands and place into food coloring bottles. 








Here is the link to my Pinterest page for children's ideas

By Jeeves

This project debuted in 1975, but was visited and rewritten in 1996.  Andrew Lloyd Webber teams up with Alan Ayckbourn,  an amazingly clever and funny playwright.  The story is based on The Jeeves Stories written by P.G. Wodehouse.  You may have seen the British television show "Jeeves and Wooster"  staring Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry, also inspired by these stories.  I love Hugh Laurie in comedic roles.  He's equally hilarious in Blackadder.  (Okay, that's a side note.)

 
Back to our musical of the day,  the characters of Bertie Wooster and his valet Jeeves are captured for your laughing enjoyment.  Here let's take a look at a few scenes.

These scenes are taken from a filmed 2001 performance starring John Scherer and Martin Jarvis, with Becky Watson.  If you like comedy that's both farcical and witty, check out this lesser known show.

West Side Story

West Side Story premiered on Broadway in 1957.  The story was inspired by William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, with music written by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

                   The classic film came out in 1961 starring Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer.

The street gangs - The Sharks vs. the Jets

                                  It's always I good day when I find myself singing "I feel Pretty"

I think this song "Cool" is so great.

Here is an instrumental version of "Cool", it's actually better without the words.

                   I always love a love story.  Here is the famous "Tonight" sung on the balcony.

Once Upon a Mattress

Once Upon a Mattress  opened as an off Broadway play in 1959.  It later went onto Broadway and then  TV productions were made in 1964  and 1972, both featuring Carol Burnett.  The story is based on Hans Christian Anderson's story the Princess and the Pea. 

 In recent years, Sarah Jessica Parker starred in a 1997 Broadway revival and in 2005 Disney made a fantastic version for "The Wonderful World of Disney" with Carol Burnett (now playing the queen instead of the princess), Tracey Ullman and Zooey Deschanel.

 The music is not amazing, but this is a silly silly show, great for kids. 

Here are two versions of the song "Shy".  The Princess Winnifred has just swam through the mote and climbed up the castle walls to find her prince right before this song.

 

The picture is a bit fuzzy, but Sarah Jessica Parker has great body language.

Carol Burnett -  those big eyes of hers are so funny.  Her big voice is perfect for this part.

Here is a ten minute except from Disney's Tracey Ullman production.  

Like I said, it's very silly.

A Mommy Uniform

I remember reading an interview with Gywneth Paltrow years ago where she talked about having a mom uniform.

Something comfortable yet stylish, and very washable.  

A few weeks ago I went to hear Courtney Kendrick speak at a BYU conference.  

She shared the same idea, but her version of the uniform is a mumu dress.  Again comfortable, and a style that makes her happy to get dressed each morning.

When I looked up pictures on the web, there is actually a wide range of dresses that fall into the mumu category.  I liked this vintage pattern that I found.

I definitely like the concept of having a mommy uniform.  The only times I am interested in giving my outfit extra time and contemplation is on date night.  For me I have found a few items that wash really well.  I mean over and over for years and years!  They have passed the test of time.

Undertease t-shirts.  My black top is still very black four years later.  I bought mine from Nordstroms, but when I was searching for links, it seems that Undertease has been bought by Modbod.  Hopefully they are still just a good.

I have skirts from Garnet Hill that are similar to this picture. 

  They are made of 70% cotton and 30% modal and never pill.  

After having spent $50 on a maxi skirt from a different store, which looked worn after the second time wearing it, I really appreciated how smooth these Garnet Hill skirt stay.