Outfit: Seal Lullaby

    Once again, choir has taken over my life a little, but once again I am not complaining. Yesterday we took first at our district competition. We sang one song in particular, Seal Lullaby, by the incredibly talented Eric Whitacre that now has a very special story attached to it. Our very talented accompanist has been expecting her first grandchild and wanted to give a recording of us singing Seal Lullaby to her new grandchild.

Yesterday, after singing what one of our adjudicators said to be the "most musical" performances of the song- our accompanist rushed off as soon as she could. Her grandchild had been born, on her birthday as well. We're going to give her that recording that now marks such a special and beautiful day.

Please remind me never to wear sweaters with giant holes when it's 28 degrees in the morning ever again. Anyways, have a great weekend everyone- in keeping with the choir takeover, I'm spending the entire day tomorrow with my a Capella choir...wish me luck! Only kidding- I love them.

Outfit: Back to Old Tricks

     The weather has played it's normal trick of giving us a few days of sunshine before bringing the normal February rain. Unfortunately it'll stay a little dreary for the next few months, but I was able to escape it the last couple days. I was on a trip with some of my favorite people, the a Capella group I'm a part of, to a jazz festival. It was a great break from the slightly monotonous routine I get in about this time every year. I also discovered today (in a break from finishing Catching Fire) that I don't have school on Monday, making what I thought was to be a four-day-weekend a five-day one. Things might not be so gloomy after all! Well...apart from the rain making my hair even more frizzy than normal. Oh well! Everything is good because Zooey Deschanel and Karmin are on SNL tonight.

Have a great rest of your weekend everyone!

Music Has Consumed My Life

 ...and I'm not that upset about it. It really has been quite a musical couple of weeks and it's not over yet! Last Tuesday was my school choir's Winter Concert, which I think went very well. On Friday the a Capella group I am a part of sang for the teachers during their lunch and on Saturday we sang for some cool old people (a motor-home club I think?) at an awesome restaurant. Before that on Saturday I had my piano recital.

There was a little boy at the piano recital who did an almost perfect Nightmare Before Christmas version of Jingle Bells. I'm not sure it was on purpose but it made my entire day. It was a complex piece too!

This week, as if that wasn't enough music- I have been going to rehearsals for my friend. She is having a small group of people go sing for a place for developmentally disabled adults where her mom works. That's happening tomorrow!

Then to finish it off on Friday, right before Christmas the a Capella group is going to go caroling. Which should be a lot of fun. We picked my sister up from the airport last night so she is home and I am ready for Christmas. It's the most wonderful time of the year!

The Grotto and a Quick Hairstyle

The day after the Mumford & Sons concert I went to go sing at the Grotto in Portland. After three hours of sleep and going to a rehearsal at 6:45 in the morning I was not feeling my best. In order to trick my brain I decided to do something quick with my hair. I got so many compliments on it, I figured why not share it with you. 

1. Grab the hair in the front (bangs) and start french braiding.

2. Continue the french braid along the side of your head until you almost reach the back.

3. At this point, stop french braiding, and just "regular" braid the remaining hair, letting the braid fall down, joining the rest of your hair.

Simple simple!

Every year around Christmas time my choir, RebelSingers, makes a trip to the Grotto in Portland to perform. The Grotto is a National Sanctuary built around a rock cave at the base of a cliff.You can read more about the Grotto at The Grotto Website. During the Holidays, they do a fantastic festival of lights, a petting zoo, choir performances, it's simply amazing.

We sing in the chapel, which has amazing acoustics and really is one of the coolest rooms to perform in. During one of our quieter songs, I heard someone sneeze, and thought nothing of it. The next day I learn that a kid threw up. I have never experienced that before, and I hope I never do again. I'm just glad I wasn't one of the unlucky victims that was hit. It makes me shudder still.

All in all it was a really fun night. I almost fell asleep a couple times on stage- but it was well worth it. It's sad to think that was my last year performing there...

"The Call"

Can you spot me? I'm there!
I know I've been a little internet absent lately- but I have a good reason! This past weekend I was a part of two Veteran's Day Concerts, which premiered the song "The Call" from Grammy-nominated composer Dave Metzger. Seriously so amazing.
The song was commissioned by the Willamette Master Chorus and they asked us to join them in their concerts. Veteran's day is kind of a big deal where I'm from. 
Dave Metzger wrote the score for Kung Fu Panda and the Broadway version of The Lion King. Oh and you know the music that plays with the Walt Disney logo before every Disney movie- he arranged the newest version of that too. He's the closest to famous that I've ever-encountered, and I got to talk to him. The whole thing was a really cool experience.
But that's over now! So hopefully I'll be on here more often before I have to leave for Thanksgiving! I miss all my lovely bloggers!
The song starts a few minutes into the song by the way. I love my parents dearly, but they just don't get technology. 

Eye Alaska: Outfit

Jacket & Jeans: American Eagle. Shirt: PacSun. Bracelets: Gift and TOMS.

This was from a few days ago, I think Thursday- when it was actually sunny! I'm disappointed I didn't get a better picture of the shirt, which has a wolf on the front and sheep! Said shirt is actually a band shirt for Eye Alaska. I bought this shirt more than a year ago and I am listening to the band for the first time currently. They are actually pretty good, don't ask me why I waited so long to figure that out.


I really wish it wasn't Sunday today, I'm not ready for another week of school. I still have some work to do today that I don't want to do and a solo to work on for choir. A solo I totally wasn't expecting to get. It's in Alice In Wonderland (the song in the opening title of the Disney version). All the rest of the girls who auditioned were great and I thought I did awful. I was happy I tried out because I didn't chicken out, and then turns out I get chosen to sing it. Life is funny, isn't it?


Hope everyone has a lovely Sunday and a great week! :)

Amanda Sings?! Almost Lover- A Fine Frenzy Cover

Well guys, I finally got up the guts to post a video of me singing and so far reviews have shocked me. I wasn't expecting much, people just to nicely overlook it as a way to avoid hurting my feelings. Not the case though, my friends, family and a few strangers have been surprisingly nice.

So here it is, watch to your hearts desire

My YouTube Channel is http://www.youtube.com/user/theAmandaaMarie

Who knows, maybe I'll post more?

Shoes and Singing: Outfit

Those would be the uber-cute shoes I got to wear to my award ceremony. Easily my favorite pair of shoes I've owned ever, not kidding.

Sorry for the absence lately, it was a crazy week. I'm ready for a low-key weekend.

In other news, here's my dilemma. People always ask me to sing for them, and for anyone who has been in my situation, it's just awkward. What am I supposed to do, just randomly start singing? No, not gonna happen. I always feel kind of bad though. The solution I came up with was to record myself singing something and then post it so friends and family can see. Now, unfortunately the whole world can see once I post it and while I know my friends and family will be nice, I also know I don't have the best singing voice...

Oh what to do, what to do. 

Have a fantastic, relaxing (or eventful) weekend everyone!