Thanksgiving Karaoke & Friendsgiving

With Thanksgiving being this past week I decided to group together our Pre-Thanksgiving Karaoke with Friendsgiving on Thursday!  Let's start off with Karaoke on Wednesday...

Bon Jovi "Shot Through The Heart"

No Doubt "Don't Speak"

Celine Dion "Power Of Love"

Journey "Separate Ways"

This past week we had Pre-Thanksgiving Karaoke so I had people sing songs or artists that they were thankful for.  We had a big crew of people come through so it was a super busy night!  I'm thankful for Bon Jovi, a band I remember hearing as a young girl while I would have sleepovers with my best friend in grade school, and for seeing them perform Live on 'The Ellen Show' years ago with my roommate, Ashley.  I'm thankful for No Doubt as they were the first alternative band I listened to, introduced to them by my brother, I remember many Summers skateboarding and rollerblading in the driveway to their music.  I'm certainly thankful for Celine Dion, a powerhouse, and one of the first Karaoke tapes I had, that I started singing to when I was younger.  My new song that night, "Power Of Love" was the first song I had heard of hers.  I always loved Journey, but I truly fell in love with their music when I was at a Summer picnic in Wisconsin and listening to a Cover Band play all genre's of music.  The female member took the lead on 'Separate Ways' and it's been one of my favorite songs ever since.  It gave me the confidence to sing songs by male artists and try music I would have never sang before.  It was a really fun night of great music, thankful friends, and celebrations.

For Friendsgiving this year I went over to Jamie's for a fabulous Foodie meal!  I had made fresh Cranberry sauce flavored with Orange and Bourbon.  I'll get the recipe up here on my blog just in case anyone wants to try it for the Holidays!  I also did my Crock Pot Lava Cake which was perfect and molten.  There were appetizers, a salad course, your traditional Thanksgiving food: Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, Green Beans, etc with a fabulous spin to all of it.  Everything was amazing and each course was paired with wine and was so delicious.  We all watched Football and also played some "Taboo" as well.  Of course, Thanksgiving isn't complete without watching a Christmas movie so 'Home Alone' it was!  With all the food, I knew I was going to have a Thanksgiving feast a couple more times before the weekend was over :)

Heading over to Jamie's for Friendsgiving, Jamie and a delicious Goat Cheese and Crostini, Lily working on the Green Beans, a full plate of Thanksgiving food, Ben working on a drum stick under Edward's watchful eye, and this gorgeous red that was smooth and had lovely cherry notes...Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is definitely my favorite Holiday...it's about spending time with family and friends, eating incredible food (make that a lot of incredible food), watching Football all day, and being thankful for everything in your life and what's yet to come.  I wrote this blog two years ago and it's still spot on and a fabulous reminder of everything I have to be thankful and happy for: http://lyndseywegner.blogspot.com/2013/11/happy-thanksgiving.html  What's your favorite part of Thanksgiving?  Do you have a specific food or tradition you do every year?   I'm certainly thankful for all of my readers...I appreciate your support and love!  Happy Holidays!

November Karaoke

It feels like November just flew by and that it was just Halloween and now it's almost Christmas!  Karaoke has been a little slower this month except when my family was visiting me and then last week when we all celebrated Pre-Thanksgiving (but I saved last week's Karaoke for the next blog).  It was a really fun month of Karaoke!

Pat Benatar "Invinceable"

Michael Jackson "The Way You Make Me Feel"

Tracy Chapman "Give Me One Reason"

Fleetwood Mac "Go Your Own Way"

10,000 Maniacs "Because The Night"

Bread "Make It With You"

Eric Clapton "Layla"

Linda Ronstadt "Just One Look"

Meatloaf "Paradise By The Dashboard Light"

Starship "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"

The Verve "Bittersweet Symphony"

Bill Withers "Ain't Not Sunshine"

3 Doors Down "Here Without You"

Staind "Right Here Waiting"

Fiona Apple "Criminal"

Richard Marx "Right Here Waiting"

Roxette "Listen To Your Heart"

Shania Twain "Still The One"

Les Miserables "I Dreamed a Dream"

How cute is my Dad getting
ready to sing Karaoke!

My whole family was in town visiting from Wisconsin that first week in November.  In fact, I even got my Dad to sing that night; he sang Alice Cooper's "Ballad of Dwight Fry" and that's the first time he's sang on his own at Karaoke (might even be his first time ever).  My voice was going out and I was trying to protect it for our final show that weekend of 'Thenardier's Inn' but I was able to sing my new song "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac on request by my Mom and Dad.  I also did Pat Benatar for my Mom and 10,000 Maniacs for them as well.  The second week was really slow but Jamie and Nick came in so it kept us all occupied for a little while.  I sang a duet with Marcus first, "Paradise By The Dashboard Light" and it went far better this time than it did when we first did it a few years ago.  I also sang "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" by Starship with Nick and I think that was the first time I sang it.  It's such a great 80's song and reminds me of the movie it was in, 'Mannequin' with Andrew McCarthy & Kim Cattrall.  I did a variety of songs that night including my new song, "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve.  That was really difficult and I'll have to find a new key for the next time I try it but that's the point of trying new songs, finding what works and what doesn't.  The next week we started off with a Staind super-set  with the help of Marty to start off the night.  My new song was "Right Here Waiting" by Richard Marx, another fantastic song and it was perfect for my voice.  I also sang Shania Twain "Still The One" which I performed in a talent contest about 15 years ago!  Jamie and I closed out the night with songs from 'Les Miserables,' since it had been a fairly quiet and chill night of good music.

It tends to get slower in November and December with a few busy shifts as I try to get the Thanksgiving theme and then the Christmas and Holiday music theme in December before I head back to Wisconsin.   We'll be doing our Christmas Karaoke on December 16th so get your songs ready now and get into the Holiday spirit!

'This Isn't Funny' Movie Premiere

'This Isn't Funny' Premiere

Earlier this month, the Hosts at Afterbuzz were invited to the movie premiere for 'This Isn't Funny' which was produced by Maria Menounos & Keven Undergaro, our Afterbuzz TV Founders, along with some other very talented people.  One of the taglines was 'Meeting the right person at the wrong time can be the best thing for you.'  I knew it was an Indie Comedy and looked fun and quirky so Katie (my 'Supernatural' Co-Host for the past two years) and I decided to attend the premiere!

Katie & I before the movie!

It was so cold that day and it was raining in LA but we bared that chilly Fall day and met up at the Crest Theater in Westwood for a few quick photos on the red carpet and then made our way into the theater.  'This Isn't Funny' was also directed by the main Actor, Paul Ashton, and the other main Actress, Katie Page, and they had also written the screenplay.  There were a few comedians in it as well as some recognizable actors, Mimi Rogers, Anthony LaPaglia, and Danielle Panabaker.  

It felt like the movie flew by...and before we knew it, I had laughed, felt some really heart-felt moments, cried, an open-ended semi-happy ending and then it was over.  It was super funny, quickly-paced, touching and something that most people can relate to, and was honest.  Paul and Katie had fabulous on-screen chemistry which made sense when we realized they were actually dating in real-life.  They are an adorable couple and have a fantastic movie on their hands.  You can actually buy it on iTunes now: This Isn't Funny on iTunes but I am so glad I was able to see it in the theater!  It stayed in the theater for a week and I really hope it did well, the cast and crew truly deserve it.

Not only was it a fun night out supporting our Afterbuzz family, Katie and I got to hang out together (finally) and see a great movie.  I'm so appreciative of all the opportunities Afterbuzz has brought my way and look forward to all the awesome events in the future :)

Party on Wayne! Party on Garth! Happy Halloween :)

This year for Halloween I had picked out my costume a couple weeks earlier since I knew I was going to a 90's Themed Halloween Party!  Thankfully, Rachel decided to be the Garth to my Wayne from 'Wayne's World' and we were all set.  Excellent :)

Wayne & Garth

Neil and Chris have their Annual Halloween Bash and spare no expense...the house is decorated with spider webs, pumpkins, Halloween posters and more.  There are libations of every shape and kind, some snacks, a killer play-list (90's music this year with some Halloween favorites - you have to groove to "Get Down Goblin") and everyone is dressed in costume or they don't gain access to the party.  This year I made my Salsa (Healthy Salsa Recipe) along with some Cupcakes and also came up with a Shot that we called Sangria De La Muerte or Blood of the Dead.  It was similar to a Margarita with a little Strawberry and then Grenadine to create the blood.  Both the Salsa and Shot were a hit!

Party on Friends!

Rachel and I had a blast playing Wayne & Garth, using some of of our favorite lines from the movie, which we had watched the week before as a little refresher course for the costumes.  'We're not worthy!'  'Pardon me, do you have any Grey Poupon?'  'Schwing!'  All night longSamantha came as Rachel from 'Friends' and was the perfect blonde Rachel.  Jamie was 90's Catwoman, aka the Michelle Pfeiffer era, and was sensational!  The costume fit her like a glove and she rocked it!  There was a Buffy & Angel from 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer,' dead Jack Dawson from 'Titanic,' (seriously incredible make-up skills) Poison Ivy also from 'Batman' and the two lovelies who created post it's, that would be Romy & Michelle (totally great and random costume idea)!  I knew we'd see some people from 'Clueless,' there was Mike Ditka, a little 'Terminator' action, Chris was Jeff Jeffries from 'Rear Window' and Neil was Marilyn Manson from three different time frames, changing costumes, wigs, and make-up.  It was by far the quickest I've ever done anyone's costume make-up so thankfully he had some photos for reference.  And of course Neil had three costumes...it wouldn't be Halloween if he didn't!

It was nice to hang out with my friends all together, take pictures of everyone throughout the night, serve up the House Shot to all the new arrivals (seconds and thirds for some of us), make some new friends, and celebrate Halloween 90's style!  Party on Wayne!  Party on Garth! 

Catwoman, Rachel, Ditka, Garth & Wayne
Ditka, Jeff Jeffries, Marilyn Manson, and Benny Mardones

Well, that just about wraps us up...see ya next year and Happy Halloween :)

Halloween Karaoke at Gabe's

Bring back the 90's!  We always celebrate Halloween at Gabe's with costumes and fun, at least my friends and I do.  This year's theme was 90's musician's and artists, and in all actuality, we welcome anyone coming in costume to the bar, especially when we're still a couple days away from Halloween!

I decided to go as Paula Abdul who broke out in the late 80's and early 90's.  'Forever Your Girl' was my personal theme, tights, pumps, leather jacket, and crop top.  I was actually pretty proud of my look and just slightly changed it up for a couple of the songs that I did.  Jamie had come as Alanis Morisette doing her 'Ironic' hairstyle and 90's flair.  Rachel came as Lady Gaga, and she served a healthy dose of her Poker Face in that amazing costume!  Neil had dressed as Billy Corgan, channeling his 'Zero' days and then swapped to 2Pac but might have been mistaken for Sir Ben Kingsley or Edward Norton in "American History X."  We also had a couple other costumes, Steve Jobs, Charlize Theron's character from "Mad Max," and then got some people into the theme of singing some great 90's music.

Costumes for Halloween Karaoke at Gabe's!

My songs for the night were 'Opposites Attract,' 'Cold-Hearted Snake,' 'Straight Up,' and my new song was 'Rush, Rush.'  It was nice that everyone knew all her songs and got my Paula vibe.  Neil stuck to the Smashing Pumpkins doing some of their hits including 'Everasting Gaze' which I had never heard before but yet again, another great Pumpkins rock song.  Jamie and Rachel both sang in their artists book but then stepped out and did some other songs as well.

Overall, it ended up being a pretty busy Wednesday night, and I think we all got more excited that Halloween was just a couple days away.  It was a great beginning to the Halloween festivities and got us in the mood for the party we all were going to that weekend!  I hope everyone else had a really fun Halloween as well and I apologize for the late post :)