Hey Everyone - So I have been MIA - Bakersfield Life has me hopping!
Here's a little update in my life. And don't foget to check out the new issue of Bakersfield Life this Saturday (2/17) in The Bakersfield Californian...

Three weeks ago, I had to put my dog down. He was 14-years-old. He had really bad hips and couldn't move around anymore. He was my little buddy. His name was Shadow and he was a Siberian Husky with Blue eyes. He was a stubborn dog, pretty much doing whatever it was he wanted. He loved to sleep in my room, although I think he thought it was, I was the one sharing it. The day we put him down I was lying on the floor next to him. We were eye to eye and I pet his head and we talked. He would move his little blue eyes and blink and try and lick me every now and then. I really miss him. So long story short, I won't take anything for granted anymore.

  There’s nothing more exciting than a new album from an artist who likes to party. Gwen Stefani likes to party and it shows. “The Sweet Escape,” released December 5, definitely surpasses her first solo album, 2004’s “Love.Angel.Music.Baby.”
  With the first single being as energetic as “Wind It Up” there should have been no doubt the rest of the album would be just as pulsating. It’s about time someone made an album filled with singles ripe for the picking.
  Although the first album was purely fun to dance around to, “The Sweet Escape” takes Stefani back to her original ingenuity and well-thought-out focus she had when she was climbing the charts with No Doubt.
  While Love.Angel.Music.Baby took fans on a tour of couture, bubble-gumish pop beats and playfulness, “The Sweet Escape,” plays for a more mature audience. The album’s hip-hop influenced rhythm perfectly underlines beats made-ready to be spun at any club. If Stefani’s goal was to make an up-tempo album to play loud – she’s done it.
  Songs like “The Sweet Escape” “4 In The Morning” and “Wonderful Life” are the type of lyrical masterworks we’ve grown to expect from Stefani, while “Yummy” and “Orange County Girl” are the new-creative personas of the pop star we’re currently enjoying while she treks across the world solo.
  And if you’d like to expand the 12-track album to one more song, download off of iTunes and receive an exclusive Neptunes remix of “Wind It Up.”

There’s nothing like a little “Monkey Business” on a Thursday night. The Black Eyed Peas rolled into Bakersfield with a two-hour show that had fans of all ages up on their feet. From Black Eyed Peas classics to covers to Fergie’s monkey hand puppet – Rabobank Arena was on fire last night.
  Opening act Frankie J did his thing on stage getting the crowd ready for The Black Eyed Peas. But noting was as powerful as when the Peas opened the show with their hit, “Hey Mama.”
  Now, I had seen the Peas perform a couple of times before: once at KIIS FM’s Wango Tango in Los Angeles and then again at The Hollywood Bowl when they opened for Gwen Stefani, but neither of those shows was as fantastic as last night’s performance.
  Fergie’s vocals, as always, were enticing as were her hips. As she performed new material, “London Bridge” and ‘Fergalicious,” off of her solo release, “The Dutchess” there wasn’t a fan in the house who wasn’t screaming at the top of their lungs.
  But Fergie wasn’t the only Pea to shine solo; each of the members did a little ditty up on stage highlighting their vocal talent as well as their ability to single-handedly control the crowd through breaking, crumping and charm.
  The Peas high-level of energy really sparkled on “Pump It,” “My Humps,” “Let’s Get Retarded” and “Shut Up.”
  They group even busted out with some cover/snippets of House of Pain’s “Jump Around,” Guns and Roses’ “Sweet Child of Mine,” and incorporated the melodies of Bob Marley’s “Jamin’” and The Eagles’ “Hotel California.” It looked as thought he Black Eyed Peas were just as happy to be in Bakersfield as we were to have them here.

Red Carpet, flash bulbs and couture clothing - what am I talking about, The 2006 American Music Awards. Held at the gorgeous Shrine Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles, the American Music Awards showcased some of the best names in popular music today.
  Even better, I was there with three of my great friends - in fact, you might know them: EJ Tyler, Darci Dawn and Nikki Reyes all from Kelly 95.3 “The Stations That Gets Around.” Dressed to the nines, the four of us made our way through the crowds. Dodging limos, signing autographs - you know the fun things we do everyday.
  But seriously, the crowd was excited, the celebrities were hot and the performances were on fire.
  If you watched the show, which I hope you did, you know Gwen Stefani and Fall Out Boy performed new songs off their soon-to-be-released albums. Gwen looked killer for just having had a baby this summer. Introduced by Ryan Seacrest, Gwen premiered her “Sound of Music” inspired song “Wind It Up.” Later in tRed Carpet, flash bulbs and couture clothing - what am I talking about, The 2006 American Music Awards. Held at the gorgeous Shrine Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles, the American Music Awards showcased some of the best names in popular music today.
  Even better, I was there with three of my great friends - in fact, you might know them: EJ Tyler, Darci Dawn and Nikki Reyes all from Kelly 95.3 “The Station That Gets Around.” Dressed to the nines, the four of us made our way through the crowds. Dodging limos, signing autographs - you know the fun things we do everyday.
  But seriously, the crowd was excited, the celebrities were hot and the performances were on fire.
  If you watched the show, which I hope you did, you know Gwen Stefani and Fall Out Boy performed new songs off their soon-to-be-released albums. Gwen looked killer for just having had a baby this summer. Introduced by Ryan Seacrest, Gwen premiered her “Sound of Music” inspired song “Wind It Up.” Later in the show Fall Out Boy premiered their pop-rock song, “This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race.”
  Other memorable performances included Lionel Richie, Beyonce, Pussycat Dolls, Josh Groban, John Mayer and chart-toppers, Snow Patrol.
  Watching the show at home is a lot different from being there, obviously. While I would have normally been sitting at home drinking hot chocolate in my pajamas checking the guide to see what else was going on in TV Land during the commercials, I was captivated by watching the stage being prepared for the next live performance, publicists usher their client to their front row seats and mingling. Over all the experience was out of this world and I had a blast. :

he show Fall Out Boy premiered their pop-rock song, “This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race.”
  Other memorable performances included Lionel Richie, Beyonce, Pussycat Dolls, Josh Groban, John Mayer and chart-toppers, Snow Patrol.
  Watching the show at home is a lot different from being there, obviously. While I would have normally been sitting at home drinking hot chocolate in my pajamas checking the guide to see what else was going on in TV Land during the commercials, I was captivated by watching the stage being prepared for the next live performance, publicists usher their client to their front row seats and mingling. Over all the experience was out of this world and I had a blast. :

Sometimes I fixate on one thing and that's all I will eat or drink. My new favorite is the Starbucks "Grandma's Turkey Sandwich" It's filled with roasted turkey, cranberries and stuffing on whole grain bread - It is supper yummy!

It’s obvious this holiday has disappeared! I think it was mid-September when the Halloween decorations started to appear in the stores. As soon as Halloween rolled around Christmas had taken over. No one thought twice about turkey, stuffing or decorative pilgrim salt and pepper shakers. How could they when twinkling lights, dancing snowmen and jolly old Saint Nick, blinded them. I like Thanksgiving, because its good holiday to spend time with family without any expectations or worries. I like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade too, if I can get up in time to watch it. But unfortunately, quality time is a hard concept to commercialize and sale to a thirsty consumer market. So while I’m a huge fan of Christmas, I can’t help but feel slighted for Thanksgiving. Perhaps this holiday would like a little attention. Maybe it would like a few more decorations or a longer shelf life? All in all, Thanksgiving is just next week and the day after will mark the biggest Holiday shopping day of the season. So before you bundle up to find the best Holiday sales take a second to reflect and figure out what you are thankful for this year…Also, check out www.bakersfieldlife.com (You'll love it, I hope!)

I’m not usually a big fan of celebrity Christmas albums. I actually think it’s kind of silly for artists to try and make their own holiday songs, but I have to say that I am love with Sarah McLachlan’s “Wintersong.” The 12-song album was released mid-October, a little too early for the Holidays, but is packed with the classic and soothing sound we have all come to know and love from the Canadian-born songstress. With covers of John Lennon’s famous “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” and Joni Mitchell’s “River,” McLachlan has brought back the original joy and comfort one would expect from a holiday album. No crazy drumbeats, rock guitar or pop flair, “Wintersong” is truly the perfect mix for the season. McLachlan has also included a new recording, the title track “Wintersong.” “River” was originally released on Mitchell’s album Blue, in 1971. Although the song isn’t a traditional Christmas song, the holiday is featured in the lyrics (It’s coming on Christmas, they’re cutting down trees/Putting up reindeers singing songs of joy and peace…). Other highlight’s include Sarah’s renditions of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” and “Christmas Time Is Here,” from the 1965 classic A Charlie Brown Christmas. This track also features Diana Krall on piano. So why should run out and buy this album? The answer is simple. If you want to have the perfect holiday party, meal or evening by the fire you’re going to need the perfect soundtrack. No more, no less – “Wintersong,” is you best bet to having yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

Hey Bakotopia peeps! So here's a little shameless self promotion. I have a site called www.bakersfieldlife.com and it needs A LOT of love. It's new and not as cutting-edge as the awesom Bakotopia site but still, it's got some pretty good stuff on it! What You Waiting For? Open a new window on your browser and check it out, sign up, register and post like there's no tomorrow!!! ~PEACE~