Tonight

I would like to dedicate this song to my little sister in honor of her high school graduation (yesterday)!

 

I can NOT believe that she has graduated! My sister is younger than me by 6 years but I feel like we could be twins. I'm extremely close to her. We have so many inside jokes, shared interests, hilariously awkward memories, stories and games that we have experienced together over the years. My sister and I became extra close after my older sister moved away for college several years ago. I'm so grateful for the relationship we share. She is the only person I can talk and obsess about Hanson with. Even if she doesn't care for them quite as much as I do, she is always willing to listen to me go on and on about them and even joins in sometimes. She likes most of their music and I think she would be willing to go to Hanson Day with me ;) I know she'd go to a concert!

 

It's a very bittersweet time. She leaves for university in August. Even though she's younger than me, she seems so much older than me in so many ways. I feel embarrassed and awkward about it but I have to remind myself that everyone is different and grows and experiences things at different times. We all have our own strengths and weaknesses and when it comes to family, our differences just don't matter! Because we love each other. And we're always there for one another. To lift each other up and to encourage one another to be the best that we can be!

 

So, here's to my sister! I hope she embraces every single day like it's the best day ever! Like it's the last day! That she goes after the things that are important to her, that she's passionate about, "chase down the dream and don't give up without a fight." That she doesn't hold back or wait for "tomorrows daylight, cause it just might be tonight." I love this song and I think it's a great one to dedicate to someone going through this new and transitioning stage of life.

 

"Tonight is the first night, tonight is the last night. Don't care what has come before, tomorrow's an open door!...Don't wait for tomorrow's daylight, cause it just might be tonight!"

 

 

Tonight is the first night
Tonight is the last night
Don’t care what has come before
Tomorrow’s an open door
So box to the ropes and jump in the crowd
Throw up your hands and sing it out loud
Oh, tonight
Well it might be a shame and you might be disheartened
To be back on the rocks this time around
I’ve seen the sunshine and I’ve seen the rain
When you walk the line brilliance can sound insane

But tonight is the first night
Tonight is the last night
Don’t care what has come before
Tomorrow’s an open door
So box to the ropes and jump in the crowd
Throw up your hands and sing it out loud
And say what you mean and mean what you say
And tonight
Chase down the dream and don’t give up without a fight
And don’t wait for tomorrow’s daylight
‘Cause it just might be tonight

When you’re too tired to walk and too scared to run
And your heavyweight knees buckle under a ton
Blue sky visions turn into a storm
I’ve got suspicions you won’t make it one more
Well there’s no silver lining, there’s nothing to lose
So don’t wait for tomorrow
Don’t wait for tomorrow

‘Cause tonight is the first night
Tonight is the last night
Don’t care what has come before
Tomorrow’s an open door
So box to the ropes and jump in the crowd
Throw up your hands and sing it out loud
Oh, tonight

Say what you mean and mean what you say And tonight
Chase down the dream and don’t give up without a fight
And don’t wait for tomorrow’s daylight
‘Cause it just might be tonight
Don’t wait for tomorrow
Don’t wait cause it just might be
Don’t wait for tomorrow
Don’t wait cause it just might be
Don’t wait for tomorrow
Don’t wait cause it just might be
Don’t wait for tomorrow
Don’t wait cause it just might be
Don’t wait for tomorrow
Don’t wait cause it just might be
Don’t wait for tomorrow
Don’t wait cause it just might be
Don’t wait for tomorrow
Don’t wait cause it just might be
Don’t wait for tomorrow
Don’t wait cause it just might be
Don’t wait for tomorrow
Don’t wait cause it just might be
Don’t wait for tomorrow
Don’t wait cause it just might be
Don’t wait for tomorrow
Don’t wait cause it just might be

Sugar Cookie Recipe I Used for Hanson Day 2015

Here is the recipe I used to make my I Heart Hanson sugar cookies for Hanson Day. It is NOT the recipe that was included with my I Heart Hanson cookie cutters....this one has less butter :) And I didn't have much on hand, that's why I couldn't use the Hanson recipe. Maybe another time....but this one is SO GOOD and I've made it multiple times before and it has turned out PERFECTLY every single time! Highly recommend this recipe. I've also included the recipe for the frosting that goes with it (this was originally a mini fruit pizza sugar cookie recipe) but these cookies definitely don't need it. They taste awesome plain!  

 

You Will Need (for the cookie):

 

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup milk

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar, eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Mix in flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and milk. Chill dough for one hour. Once chilled, roll out dough on a floured surface until it's a little more than 1/4 inch think. Using cookie cutters (preferably your I Heart Hanson cookie cutters ;) cut out your cookies. Place on ungreased cookie sheets and bake 13 minutes. Let the sugar cookies cool completely.

 

For the Frosting:

 

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 (8 ounce) container nondairy whipped topping

 

In a small bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Spread cream cheese layer over cooled sugar cookies.

 

ENJOY! 

 

HAPPY HANSON WEEK 2015 RE-CAP!!

My previous post is a little bit of a downer and I owe Hanson more than that. It just goes to show what a die hard Fanson I have become because my little heart literally broke in two when the live streams ended up choppy and basically "un-watchable" Saturday evening. It shattered into a million tiny pieces to read on the Hanson app that others were having such "smooth sailing" with the streams when I felt angry and upset all night trying to follow what was going on and trying to enjoy the stream. It literally felt like the "end of the world." I was thrilled to learn that the streams would re-stream all day Sunday but they were still glitching like crazy when I tried watching them again.

 

I decided to try my luck today and made my way to the "Member's Only" live stream page at Hanson.net. Maybe just maybe they were still streaming. Miracle of miracles they WERE and I am THRILLED to report that I have watched both streams over with hardly ANY glitches!! I am ecstatic!! I LOVED them! I am SO happy and grateful that I got to really experience what I had not been able to on Saturday. The concert was so worth the choppiness from the day before. It also reaffirmed to me that I absolutely HAVE to get myself to at least one Hanson concert at some point in my life. Bucket list. Life goals. They are a freaking BLAST live and just amazing!!!

 

I literally recorded half of the concert on my iPod (to the point where I ran out of space!). I will have these videos to cherish for years to come! I wish I filmed some of the "State of the Band" because they were hilarious (as usual)!

 

Some memorable quotes from Hanson's "State of the Band" talk:

 

(referring to a fans question about tours of 3CG): "It will have to go to the jedi council." - Zac (he would, hahahaha)

 

(talking about the difficulty of choosing a favorite song after another fan's question): "This is like asking someone what their favorite pie is....you just can't choose one.....it's cherry." - Taylor (bahahaha, so Taylor!)

 

(part of Zac's analogy of songs and writing songs): "The people are drinking the water from the bucket and I am feeding them with my fluids!" - Zac

 

The concert, start to finish, was too amazing for words. I can't do it justice trying to describe it, you literally had to "be there." And I'm so grateful I was given that second chance :)

 

Top Favorite Songs from the Hanson Day Concert (not in any particular order):

 

Give Me Your Best Shot (*new)

What Are We Fighting For (*new)

Been There Before

On and On

Lonely Again (probably my favorite of the night....I don't know why, they just sounded so amazing during this one, all three were on point).

Call Me (Ike solo)

Need You Now (Zac solo)

Lost Without You (Tay solo)

Grace Unknown (*new)

Sound of Light

Rock n' Roll Razorblade

White Collar Crime

Hey (Encore performance)

 

I am just feeling overwhelmed with gratitude right now. It is literally a tender mercy and a small miracle (as far as I'm concerned) that this happened. It feels like it happened just for me. That the stream just kept looping. I know that's silly, but I had wanted this so bad and just felt so sad not able to have enjoyed it the way I had wanted to Saturday. Thank you thank you thank you!!!! Next year, I'm going to be there in person!!

HAPPY HANSON WEEK 2015!

I just finished watching Hanson's "State of the Band" talk. As much as I loved it, I'm also feeling extremely disappointed. It was so incredibly choppy and I feel like I missed out on the whole thing. I could barely focus on what they were saying because they kept getting cut off and then it seemed the whole thing would just move forward to a completely new topic. I'm feeling really, really sad about it :( I was so looking forward to these streams tonight since I had a bit of a rough night last night.

 

BUT: looking on the bright side, I did make my I Heart Hanson sugar cookies (I did NOT use the recipe included nor did I wear my I heart Hanson shirt or Hanson apron and oven mitts while baking) and they turned out DELISH! I will have to post the recipe I used, it turns out perfectly every time and is so, so good. I wore my I heart Hanson shirt to watch the stream though :)

 

 

 

 

LOVED the way the Hanson symbol cookie cutter worked....

 

It didn't turn out quite as well once they were baked but they're not terrible....

 

Pay no mind to the fact that they are sitting on a Halloween platter on a bed....I was trying to hide them from my family who would gobble them up before the stream even started if I left them out in the kitchen, hahaha

 

 Some exciting/fun things that I DID catch during the stream includes:

 

• A covers album....what!? I didn't hear too much information on this (stupid glitching) but they said something about covering songs from Oklahoma!? YES! PLEASE!!!
• A collaboration song they did with Owl City!!!
• They discussed some of their favorite songs and Taylor mentioned Strong Enough to Break (my favorite) and the Underneath album in general (my favorite)
• Isaac chose A Song to Sing (another favorite of mine)
• Zac literally could not choose :)
• Zac was being hilarious as usual (though I missed most of what he was saying and doing :( So sad)
• They mentioned a US TOUR!!! Dates coming in JUNE!
• They announced the MOEY winners (Only one person I voted for won, haha. It was the girl who re-created the MMMBop video (single solo video) she totally deserved it!) I wasn't able to catch most of who won due to the stupid technical glitching problem, UGH! *UPDATE* 5/18/15: The girl I voted for won the paparazzi photo category, so yay!

All in all, I guess I could say I had fun (mostly disappointed though.....I'm trying not to be so bummed out but I had such big plans and I was so excited....and I feel like I missed so much and it made me feel so jealous and sad not getting to be at Hanson Day in person....not to mention they started the stream 30 minutes late.....sorry about this pity party I'm throwing myself). If the glitching is as bad as it was during the "State of the Band", I think I'm going to have to clock out for the concert. It's too frustrating and I don't want to feel upset for the rest of the night. It's not worth it. I really, really, really hope it's not glitchy though!! I really want to watch it!! I have been so looking forward to all of this!!!

*UPDATE*5/16/15 @ 6:58 PM: As I am now relaxing with a bowl of warm beef stew, after finishing baking my cookies, anxiously awaiting the concert, I just read that the streams are going to be RE-STREAMED ALL DAY TOMORROW!!! :))) I am SOOOOO excited and HAPPY!!!!

*UPDATE*5/16/15 @ 7:44 PM: Beyond disappointed right now :( The concert stream is even worse than the "State of the Band" I can't hear any of the songs because of the constant glitching and it's driving me completely crazy!! I'm so sad :(

*UPDATE*5/16/15 @ 9:06 PM: Why it was worth watching the whole choppy, glitchy concert stream: Lost Without You (Taylor), On and On, Need You Now (Zac), Call Me (Isaac), Been There Before (with "When you can't get through it, you can listen to it" added during the na na na's), White Collar Crime, Sound of Light (a new one for me), Roller Coaster Love (another new one for me) and the Encore performance of Hey. If it wasn't for the horrible glitching, this would have been one epic "bedroom concert" (that might sound...strange, but I think you know what I mean, haha). They were on fire tonight, from Tay's flying fingers on the keyboard, crazy, head-banging Zac and guitar extraordinaire Isaac, it was on point! 

Hanson Family Love - HAPPY HANSON WEEK 2015!

I just wanted to make a quick post about how much I love and admire the fact that these boys are family guys. This is honestly one reason why I love them so much. I LOVE that they were able to meet such nice girls (who were fans!) and that they believe in marriage and having children. It's becoming more and more popular to for go marriage and to not have children (especially when you're a high and mighty 'celebrity'), but these guys were raised well! They come from a big family with happily married parents where they were obviously taught the importance of family and the joy families bring to one's life. I will ALWAYS have SO MUCH respect for them. I feel like a proud mother when I talk about this :) It makes me so happy!

 

Isaac and Nikki Hanson Family

 

Isaac and Nikki recently added a baby girl to their growing family!

 

Taylor and Natalie Hanson Family

 

 

This is older but I just LOVE this picture!

 

Zac and Kate Hanson Family

 

Only pic I could find of Zac and his precious family!

 

 Here are some old videos about Hanson and their families!

 

Go on Tour with Hanson and their Kids!

 

 

At Home with Hanson

 

 

Meet Zac Hanson's son Shepherd! (Old video but very cute)

 

 

 Here are two WONDERFUL interviews with the boys and their sweet, sweet wives. Be forewarned, the first interview has some sketchy scenes involving psycho female fans but the interview is so worth watching! Especially when Isaac starts to get emotional, pulls at the heartstrings!! I love the way Taylor talks about his kids and how these couples know it's important to spend time together. They make me so proud to be their fan!! Let's hear it for the family men!

 

CLICK THIS PICTURE FOR PART 1

 

 

CLICK THIS PICTURE FOR PART 2

 

JUST FOR FUN :)

Here's a really old interview of the boys talking about their family :) Aren't they just adorable!? They grew up to be SUCH AWESOME GUYS!!!

 

 

HAPPY HANSON WEEK!!!

 



Music Made for Humans - HAPPY HANSON WEEK 2015!

Music Made for Humans is a Hanson.net exclusive fan-club member cd that includes 5 tracks. I love that Hanson makes some "extra" music just for their fans. It's special for those who are willing to pay $40.00 a year for a little Hanson fan club card :) They do a lot of great things for their fans. Love being a Fanson! (even if I am brand new and have only experienced last years EP, the "making of" this years EP, receiving a fan club card, watching member only live streams and enjoying exclusive fan club only content on their website...).

 

 

 

1. On the Road

This is probably my favorite song on the album. It has a wonderful message about the "journey" of life and finding yourself while on that journey. My favorite part is most definitely the chorus "And in the moment, when the dust is spun, you'll have time for contemplation underneath the desert sun. And there is no destination but the journey you are on, On the road. On the road, you will find yourself getting lost, being someone else, but you know you will find yourself on the road." I also love the second verse: "Take my advice, it is for your protection. The modern world, is full of misdirection. Young man make sure, make sure to pay attention. You are alone, but the serpent's always lurking close, he will take your soul."

 

2. Show Me the Way

Tay's single. It's a groovy little tune. I like it, but I don't listen to it too much. It has a very Michael Jackson-y vibe. I love Taylor's passion when he sings, hahaha. He's a great entertainer who you can tell just really loves what he's doing. Writing, singing and performing music. I respect that a lot.

 

3. What's Your Name?

Isaac's single. My least favorite song of the album. Maybe it's because I just can't get into that jazzy, bluesy type of music. It just doesn't grab me although I've really tried listening to it. I will give Ike props for singing it like a pro though. These guys can do no wrong I tell you, even if I can't get into some of their songs.

 

4. Panic in the Streets

This song is crazy, haha. Not what you'd expect from a Hanson song. It's like....creepy almost, hahaha. The first time I heard it was around Halloween and I thought "Wow. Hanson even has a song perfect for this time of year." As different and odd as it is, I actually kind of like it. Actually I really like it. It's a song about the end of the world? Judgment day? Something like that maybe. "There will be panic in the streets. When the hear the reckoning is coming."

 

5. White Collar Crime

Zac's single. One of my other favorites! It's also "different" for a Hanson song but I love it! I love how it pokes fun at the fancy-pants "big business" people. I love Zac's performance of this song, he is so great! The chorus is so catchy and fun and it's a song you just want to blast and sing along to at the top of your lungs!

 

Not the most detailed review of MMFH, but it's getting late and I need a good night's rest! Can't wait for the next one.... Just two more days until my personal Hanson Day festivities begin, eeek!! I am so excited!! It's the next best thing to being there in person! Thank you Hanson!!!

Anthem - HAPPY HANSON WEEK 2015!

May 13:

Anthem is such a rockin' album! Every song is just fun. I love that each of the boys got a designated "love" song (Juliet - Zac, For Your Love - Isaac and Lost Without You - Taylor). I thought that was really cute! Scream and be Free is one of my favorites because of it's amazing message. Cut Right Through Me is another awesome track. I love this album for so many different reasons. It is solid beginning to end in my opinion. So much fun! You've gotta check this one out!!

 

Hanson - Anthem - Sixth Studio Album (June 18, 2013)

 

 

 

Get the Girl Back - Single #1

 

 

 

FIRED UP! (Not necessarily a single but I love this song and LOVE this little video)

 

 

 

 

 

HAPPY HANSON WEEK!!!

LOVE THIS!

 

 

 

:)

 

Zac holding the pineapple totally MAKES this picture!

 

 

Three awesome brothers!

Shout It Out - HAPPY HANSON WEEK 2015!

May 12:

Shout It Out is such a cool, fun album! One of my favorites for sure. They have a couple great songs you can just let loose and dance your heart out too (Thinking Bout Something, Give A Little, Make it out Alive, Waiting For This, And I Waited), some that are heartbreakingly beautiful (Use Me Up, Me, Myself & I), and then the rest that are just awesome! If you couldn't tell, I really love the song Musical Ride :) Hence, the title of my blog. That song is musical genius and perfection wrapped in one! It really portrays the pure love and enjoyment that comes from music. For some reason, this has become my designated "baking album." Many times, whenever I bake (or cook) this album is the one that comes blasting out of my speakers! It's just so much fun and keeps me motivated! My sister and I LOVE Kiss Me When You Come Home and we've both talked about making a music video to that song where we are dancing around in the kitchen, cooking for our men (future boyfriends/husbands), dressed in like 50's attire. When we talk about it (and "practice" it, hahaha) it seems really perfect and cute! When I heard about the MOEY's and saw all the creative videos people were making, I was really wishing that we could have made this one! It will have to wait for next year I suppose....now don't go be stealin' my idea Fansons!!

 

Hanson - Shout It Out - Fifth Studio Album (June 8, 2010)

 

 

 

Thinkin' Bout Something - Single #1

 

 

This picture is too good for words :)

 

 

Give A Little - Single #2

 

 

 

 

Love this acoustic version, so cool!

 

I love that on this album ALL of the artwork was done by the boys (probably mostly Zac)! They are sooooo talented! They can sing, play, write AND paint! Love them!

 

I couldn't get a picture of their artwork or find a video to put on my blog :( Click HERE to see Zac working on some of the paintings for Shout It Out. The song playing is called "Marshmallow Lovers" :) It's a silly song the boys wrote a few years back. Love them!

 

 

Check out these AWESOME nails!! I wish I was talented enough to pull something like this off!

 

Here's this fun song that I was talking about above, sooo cute!

 

Love this!

 

HAPPY, HAPPY HANSON WEEK!!

 

 

The Walk - HAPPY HANSON WEEK 2015!

May 11:

The Walk is such an incredible album. The songs on this album have so much depth and meaning. Some of my favorites include: Great Divide, Georgia, Watch Over Me, Fire on the Mountain, Blue Sky, Your Illusion and The Walk. The song The Walk is so beautiful. I don't really know how to put into words what it means to me. I absolutely LOVE it! I love Zac's voice when he sings the "chorus": "On the tightrope, every thing's bare, and all that there is is from here to there." I love how the song captures the symbolism of the "walk through life" to a tightrope. It's genius! Blue Sky is so incredibly relateable to me right now. I'm trying to figure out my life and what I want to do and I want to be happy doing it! Another work of art. Your Illusion almost feels very personal to me. I don't want to go into details but I feel like it's a song that could describe my relationship with my older sister a bit. Anyway, this is a great album to add to your Hanson collection OR just to your music collection in general!

 

Hanson - The Walk - Fourth Studio Album (February 21, 2007)

 

 

 

Go - Single #1

 

 

 

Great Divide - Single #2

 

 

 

In 2006, both Zac and Isaac got married! All three brothers are now father's and raising beautiful families! Let's hear it for the family men!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hanson on some of their charity "Walks" before their various concerts. These "Walks" are where fans walk one mile barefoot, with the boys. For each person who participates, Hanson donates $1 to help with poverty in Africa. How cool are they!? And what a neat way to get to know their fans! Wish I had known about them sooner! Bet they had walks around here a few years back and I never even knew they existed!

 

 

 

 

 

Zac would be so fun to walk with! I bet he's hilarious to talk too!

 

 

HAPPY HANSON WEEK!! SURE DO LOVE AND RESPECT THESE GUYS!!