I recently had the opportunity to listen and review the new Nora Jones CD “…Featuring”

The 18 songs on the album include duets with such legends as Ray Charles, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton, and with 21st Century icons from OutKast to the Foo Fighters.

The tracks on …Featuring span her entire career, from one of her earliest recording sessions (a version of Roxy Music’s “More Than This” with guitarist Charlie Hunter in 2001) to her most recent performance, a song called “Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John” that she cut with Belle and Sebastian, which will also appear on their new album. “It’s so exciting and flattering and fun when I get asked to sing with somebody that I admire,” says Jones. “It takes you a little bit out of your comfort zone when you’re doing something with another artist. You don’t know what to expect—it’s kind of like being a little kid and having a play date.” Also included are recordings by some of Jones’s own bands and side projects (The Little Willies and El Madmo), and performances with artists that she’s toured with including M. Ward, Sasha Dobson, and Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. Songs on …Featuring range from classics recorded by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Joni Mitchell, and Roy Orbison to new material by such wide-ranging innovators as Ryan Adams and Q-Tip.

I personally really enjoy Nora Jones music and I was excited to get this CD! I love her soulful and sultry voice with jazz influence all throughout the album. I think her music is warm and inviting and my husband I enjoy turning on music and just relaxing in the living room….and this album was perfect to unwind to at the end of the day.

There were MANY great tracks on the CD, but my favorite track was “Baby It’s Cold Outside” featuring Willie Nelson. I love this song, and with Christmas right around the corner I was in the mood to hear it. Nora’s version with Willie Nelson was excellent!

…Featuring Track Listing:

1. Love Me – The Little Willies
2. Virginia Moon – The Foo Fighters featuring Norah Jones
3. Turn Them – Sean Bones featuring Norah Jones
4. Baby It’s Cold Outside – Willie Nelson featuring Norah Jones
5. Bull Rider – Norah Jones and Sasha Dobson
6. Ruler Of My Heart – Dirty Dozen Brass Band featuring Norah Jones
7. The Best Part – El Madmo
8. Take Off Your Cool – OutKast featuring Norah Jones
9. Life Is Better – Q-Tip featuring Norah Jones
10. Soon The New Day – Talib Kweli featuring Norah Jones
11. Little Lou, Prophet Jack, Ugly John – Belle & Sebastian featuring Norah Jones
12. Here We Go Again – Ray Charles featuring Norah Jones
13. Loretta – Norah Jones featuring Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
14. Dear John – Ryan Adams featuring Norah Jones
15. Creepin‘ In – Norah Jones featuring Dolly Parton
16. Court & Spark – Herbie Hancock featuring Norah Jones
17. More Than This – Charlie Hunter featuring Norah Jones
18. Blue Bayou – Norah Jones featuring M. Ward

I think everyone has plans today or is sick so I’m going to cancel the blog meet up this afternoon. I was really looking forward to it, but I don’t want to go if nobody else is 🙁

I guess this isn’t the best time of year to schedule it either! I hope you all have a great weekend!

XOXO Becky

Connor,

You turned 8 months today. Oh how time has flown by! You are growing like a weed and learning something new each day. You have started to stand on your own now and you try so hard at it. It scares me sometimes because you have no fear and are a little dare devil!

It seems like every time I turn around you are right under my feet! You make Daddy and I laugh all the time. We are so blessed to have you and you are everything we ever dreamed of having. God has truly blessed us with you sweet boy!

So curious

“Momma you take so many pictures!”

You say “Da Da” all the time….but no “Ma Ma” yet 🙁

Your favorite foods are any kind of fruit with oatmeal

You are a crawling machine!

We love you SO much!

Love, Mommy

Yes! It’s officially “holiday” season as far as I’m concerned because two of my favorite things are gracing the universe now….Cadbury milk chocolate Christmas balls and eggnog lattes! I am SO EXCITED and I JUST CAN’T HIDE IT!!!!

Here is Mr. Sweet booger wooger woo when he gets up first thing in the morning. We are so blessed to have a baby who sleeps through the night. He gets up now and just plays in his crib for awhile then falls back asleep. PRECIOUS I tell ya! *knock on wood* Hope this doesn’t stop!

Baby’s got a new pair of shoes

In fact it is his FIRST pair of shoes and he didn’t know what to think of the things! He keeps trying to kick them off all the time. Baby boy is standing up all the time now and pulling on things…it scares me because I am afraid he’ll get into something and hurt himself. He is unstoppable and ALL over the place! His baby shoes are from Keep Ramos.

This is the man I call “Dad”

He works for HP and was an ink cartridge for Halloween. His face was painted half color ink and half black ink! ha..ha..He is the biggest goofy doof but we love him 🙂

And something else to make you laugh….this is an actual letter we received in the mail the other day. It was junk mail, but this lady obviously hasn’t changed her mailing picture since 1980! Ha..ha..she needs an extreme makeover ASAP!

HOPE YOU ALL ARE HAVING A FABULOUS WEDNESDAY!

We are living in tough economic times right now. I am always looking for ways to save money and I’m sure a lot of you are as well. As a family of three now our budget has inflated over the past year. We planned and budgeting before the arrival of Connor, but there are always unexpected expenses that arise. Diapers are not cheap Ya’ll! Whatever you think you are going to spend on a baby you might as well double or even TRIPLE that number! Of course your baby is worth every penny and as parents you only want the best for your baby….but really do you need the “Johnson & Johnson” shampoo vs. the “Great Value” Wal-Mart version? There are some things I will splurge on because I do deem them a better product, but most things regarding baby care can be generic.

Things I splurge on:

• Pampers diapers – I have tried the cheaper diapers and store bought versions. This brand works for us and we’ve had a history of less diaper rash.
• Picture & Holiday clothing- It is okay to buy a nice outfit for an occasion or holiday.
• Organic baby food- This is a personal preference, it’s a little more expensive, but I want his food to be pure with no fillers. I could make my own, but I really don’t have time at this point in my life with working a full time job and taking care of the rest of the house.

Things to get cheap:

• Play clothes/socks- they are going to outgrow clothing quicker than you think. You will go through several outfits a day…they poo….they pee….they spill…and drooooool. I think I lose a pair of socks every week.
• Toys- No need to buy your baby an expensive outrageous toy. The things I find Connor enjoying most are the cheapest junkiest toys!
• Shampoo/Soap- I know this is different for every baby, but soap and lotion are the same to me name brand or not.

I have to say that Terence is the big “budget” person in our household. Sometimes I refer to him as the money police and poke fun at him. I will say in his defense that without his discipline and hard work we would not be where we are now. When I say “now” it’s not where we want to be by any means, but it just means we have some sort of safety net. Terence and I have been married almost 10 years now & for our entire marriage everything has been documented in Microsoft Quicken. E.V.E.R.Y. P.E.N.N.Y No Joke

This has allowed us to see where we spend our money. If we see we are over spending in some areas we can see our mistakes and try and correct them the next month. It’s also allowed us to plan for retirement, contribute to savings, and track our checking. It’s been a great tool and ultimately you will find what works best for you and your family in regards to keeping a budget.

We recently started discussing whether or not to take money out of savings and pay off Terence’s car. This would allow us to have extra income to put towards student loan debt. We personally don’t want to spend the next 10 years paying off student loan debt especially since we have a child of our own to save for college now. This plan would cut our student loan debt down to 2 years and that would be a huge savings for us in the long run. Interest will kill ya! We don’t put things on credit cards, but we do have one for emergencies. So basically the only thing hovering over our heads right now is a car payment, student loan debt, and our mortgage….which is something that is going to be there regardless.

I know everyone struggles. It’s definitely hard right now when a lot of us are experiencing tighter budgets; some have lost homes or jobs, and live paycheck to paycheck. There are days when the future seems overwhelming and I feel boggled down. But at the end of the day I have to say I have things that are more valuable to me than money…..I have my family, friends, and my health. All of those things no money can buy or replace. God is good and will never fail us.

Live life. Enjoy.

HOW DO YOU BUDGET AND PLAN FOR THE FUTURE?
ADVICE…SUGGESTIONS???

Don’t forget about our blog meet up this weekend at Cheesecake Factory!!! If you live in the DFW area and would like to come please email me at beckylbranch@gmail.com

Our mexican lunch for $2.97 this past weekend

(Now that is budget eating!)

Thank you GROUPON!!!

Our weekend was pretty laid back. Saturday we did our weekend chores and hit up WalMart. We should have gotten more candy because we ran out so FAST last night. We would have no trick or treaters and then all of a sudden 10-15 kids at the door! And I think most of them were not from our neighborhood. It was fun opening the door and seeing all the kiddos in their costumes!

Terence and I worked the 2 year old room at church again Sunday. We had 3 girls and a little boy. I always feel worn out afterwards! It’s the room they need help in…maybe because nobody else wants to work that age range…ha..ha..!!! We also got to take some cat naps, catch up on laundry, and we carved our first pumpkin!

Here are some pictures of our weekend:

Connor is wearing his homemade astronaut helmet. Terence and I decided he needed a helmet last minute so we took a plastic pretzel jar, some silver tissue paper, black sharpie, and some logos I printed off the internet and there you have it! It’s was really big on him, but cute for the photos and I don’t know how realistic it looks, but it’s what we came up with last minute!

“Houston we have a problem!”

The helmet was hard to keep up on his head

He looks exhausted & I think he was tired of playing dress up

It was mid 70’s yesterday so he didn’t last long…his costume was HOT!

I love his face in this picture for some reason it cracks me up!

Connor and Daddy

Connor watching us carve the pumpkin

All done!

“Happy Halloweeeeen!!!”

Hope you all had a great one!

I can’t believe it’s officially “THE HOLIDAYS” and Christmas is adorning all the shelves in stores now! Oh how time flies and I want to enjoy every second!

I’m praying hard for all my friends who are longing to have their own little babies to play dress up with. I waited a LONG time to dress up my baby…..and I know there are so many out there who are still longing to celebrate this time of year with a baby love. It’s hard for so many people who are hurting without a child to celebrate with. I remember the feeling and reading and watching so many people who’s lives carried on, but mine seemed to stand still. I hope this post doesn’t bring bitterness, but hope that someday too you will have your baby to celebrate the holidays with! Praying and wishing and hoping for you all…..