Free Simple Grace Download

Just a heads up about Positive Music and Download's free song of the week! You can download Simple Grace's song "Trust in Him" here :)

Enjoy!


I need to catch up on some blogging, so more to come later!

One Word...

CERTIFIED!

That's right, my friends. I am now a certified American Sign Language Interpreter.

and I couldn't be happier.

and more relieved.

a little nervous,

but so motivated and excited.

I will definitely be partying this weekend...

Holding on for dear life...

I'm sure most of you have had the feeling that you may just not make it through the week. This seems to be that week for me, along with a couple of my friends, too. "I just have to make it through next Thursday" is my new mantra. As I was repeating this over and over, and desperately looking forward to next weekend when things will hopefully calm down a bit, I remembered a conversation I had with a friend a while back. We were talking about the importance of enjoying the moment and the place in life that we are at. It can be so easy for me to forget that and think things like "after this semester, school should be much better," or "one more year and I'm finally done with school and can move on, " or "once we have a bigger house I will be so very happy."

So, I may be stressed and overwhelmed to the max this week, but I am going to try to change my attitude a bit. Maybe it will even help de-stress me. I am going to be grateful that I can even go to school. I may have impossible amounts of homework, but at least I can read, afford books, and have a computer. At least I can work toward a career that I really want. At least I have hobbies and talents, even though they often require a lot of extra time and commitments. And hey, I have the greatest husband, family, and friends ever to help me through weeks like this one.

So here's to everyone who's having just as crazy or hard of a week as I am. It will pass and we can do it :) Just hold on, keep an attitude of gratitude, and take it one thing at a time. That's my goal- we'll see if it helps me survive...

Simple Grace Fall Concert!!

The Simple Grace Concert is finally here! I've been meaning to blog about it sooner to give you all a little more notice, but school and homework seem to get me a little behind. So hopefully you can make it this Saturday to see the greatest concert you've ever seen!! ;) Don't miss it- we'd love to see you all there. It's been in the works for quite some time and we'll have some fun surprises in store. We'll be performing a few of our original songs from our album, as well as our own versions of some secular favorites.

It would be a great date night, family night, girls night out, or whatever you choose to call it. Come and be prepared to get your groove on and have a great time!

Thanks for all of the support! This has been such a fun and rewarding experience for the three of us. Life is good :)

Who: Simple Grace

What: Our exciting new fall concert!

Where: Farmington Community Arts Center
120 S. Main Street Farmington

When: Saturday September 12th
7:30 p.m.

Admission: $5 in advance
$25 for a family of six in advance
$7 at the door

email simplegracemusic@gmail.com for tickets or any questions you may have.

or talk to me. :)

Dear Summer Break,

It has truly been a great 4 months. Thanks for the wonderful warm weather, fabulous vacations, extra time spent with friends and family, some lazy and relaxing days, and a much needed break from school. Seeing as this is the last weekend before fall semester starts again, I just thought I'd say how much I've loved my time with you. Thank you for allowing me to take a big breath and get motivated and rejuvenated for one more year of school. Just one more and I'm done! (Unless I consider graduate school. It's not out of the question, but we'll decide on that a little later...) You have always been my favorite time of the year. I love you so very much.

Sincerely,
Mallory

ONE Year!!

Our 1 year anniversary was on August 1st and it was so wonderful! Matt and I spent the weekend celebrating up at Bear Lake. Everything was absolutely perfect (besides the wasp sting I got the last day there. Ouch!) We did some fun things including

four wheeling,


relaxing on the beach,

seeing "Annie Get Your Gun" at a darling little playhouse,


and spending quality time with each other.


I love this man more and more every day. He is the greatest husband, friend, and example in the whole world. I am so grateful to be his wife for time and all eternity. This year has been the best of my life, and we are looking forward to all of the adventures the next years will bring to us! I love him, and I love vacations. Therefore, this was the best weekend ever!

Shine :)

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

~Marianne Williamson

Free awesome download :)

To any of you who haven't heard any Simple Grace songs, you can download one for free on Positive Music and Downloads! I'm not sure how long it will be free for, so take advantage while you can. :) It's actually my favorite song on the album. It is called Daddy's Little Girl and I wrote it for my dad, whom I love very much. He is such an inspiration to me of love, sacrifice, integrity, and SO many other good things that I want to be. He, along with my wonderful mom, has always helped me stay on the right path and live the kind of life that will always bring me the most joy no matter what. Though I have a wonderful relationship with my earthly father, this song is also about how we are all sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father who knows and cares about each and every one of us. Anyway, take a listen and let me know what you think!

Love you, Dad!!

Oh, and ps- Our album made it into the top 10 albums on Positive Music and Downloads! We are number 9 right now. How cool is that? Yay!

The New Music Show

Hey just thought I'd let you all know that Simple Grace recently had the opportunity to interview with producer Greg Hansen for his weekly radio show on yourldsradio- The New Music Show with Greg Hansen. It was so much fun going to the studio and telling Greg and all of the many listeners about our story and our passion for what we do. Give it a listen at yldsr.com, click the "play" button, and let me know what you think! I think it turned out well :) It will be up until next Tuesday, then it will move to the New Music Show archives.

feelin' musical

I've decided I'm going to start teaching myself the guitar (again.) I started a year and a half ago or something like that, but then broke my hand and have since forgotten what I had learned. It's been pretty fun and successful so far! Hopefully my fingers get used to it soon- ouch!
I have also had to pick my flute back up again for some Simple Grace songs we are working on. Wow- let's just say it's been a while and I've got a lot of practicing to do! I played a lot in High School because I was in band, but since then, I've only played a few times for church stuff. My lips are feelin it! Man, I used to have some serious muscles in my lips back when I played all the time! (I'm sure Matt will appreciate me practicing again, lol.) The neighbors might not... oh well. Whatever I've got to do, this song is going to sound awesome. Maybe I'll pick up some earplugs for Matt today :)

My second true love is

Most definitely cold cereal. I love it so much. Yesterday, we ran out of it, which was a first because I always make sure we have more than enough on hand. So today, we ate oatmeal and I was so sad. Any morning that I don't have cold cereal just seems incomplete and quite depressing, actually. So I just got back from the grocery store with some more, and I had it for lunch. *sigh* so much better now. I felt so happy that I just had to publicly express how wonderful I think cereal is. ;) My dad's on the same page. Growing up, I remember him eating it for dinner sometimes. I think that's where I got my obsession from. Thanks, Dad! And thank you, Post, Kellogg, General Mills, Malt-O-Meal, and all you other cereal people.

Mark Your Calendars

The Simple Grace debut concert will be held on Friday, August 7 at the Farmington Community Arts Center, probably at 7:30 pm. It will be a blast and you all should come! There will be a wide variety of music and everyone will have something to enjoy. More to come as it gets closer :)

we are excited...

Happy Mother's Day

I love my mom so much! I thought I'd list off a few things that make her so great...

- She always puts her family first
- She makes me laugh so so much!
- She has always been so involved and supportive
- She is so giving. Time, energy, and everything else she can
- She's a best friend as well as a mother
- She is so talented, and she magnifies those talents by using them to help others
- She is a wonderful example of the kind of mother I want to be

Here's a pic of my mom and her girls :)

Matt's mom is also a wonderful mother and I couldn't be happier to have her as a mother-in-law! I sure got lucky with the amazing family I married into. Here are a few reasons why Matt and I love Lou so much...

- She loves her family so much and would do anything for them
- She is such a hard worker
- She sincerely loves everyone
- She is very giving of all that she has
- She's very outgoing and loves to have fun!
- She uses her talents to bless the lives of others
- She's an amazing example of what we want to be more like

Obviously both of our mom's have so many good qualities that they share (wow, very similar lists! Sorry for the repetition!) and they are both so unique as well. We could go on forever about both of them, but we hope they know how much we love them! Happy mother's day!

summer plans

Summer vacation is fast approaching! Next week is finals week, then Matt and I will begin our summer plans. Matt will be selling food storage for a company called Ready Pak. Luckily, it is in Utah so we can stay close to home :)
As for me, I will be staying very busy as well. I will be working in the Salt Lake office for Ready Pak, and also working on expanding my Mary Kay business. Nothing is better than hanging out with girls and playing with make up and skin care products! It's a great company.I will also be working a lot on improving my interpreting skills so I can get certified! Interpreting is challenging, but so fun because you can be creative with language, learn about a lot of different things, and always have a new goal to work towards. It is so hard, but so great.

My group, Simple Grace, will also be preparing for our Debut concert in August! It's going to be so much fun! Much practicing, planning, and song writing will be in order. Love it! Keep posted for details as it approaches.

Sometimes I Wish I Was...

On Vacation









A Mommy






An amazing seamstress








Living in a beautiful castle in Switzerland









Graduated






An Interpreter










A professional tennis player







Fluent in five different languages







A bird







The Star of a music video










But most of all, I love being me!!!!







Thanks for the cute idea, Dani!
*You are all tagged!

Good news :)

The results are in! Last night I found out that I passed the written portion of the Utah Interpreter Certification test! Phew what a relief! So needless to say, I'm quite thrilled. With this one down, now I just need to get ready to pass my performance test. That will be waiting until sometime this summer. That would be great if I could pass that the first time too, so I'll be working hard!


More good news is that the Simple Grace website is finally up! To learn a little more about us, listen to music, check out some photos, or schedule anything, check it out at www.simplegracemusic.com.

crunch time

Matt and I just got back from a great time in St. George! It was a great vacation and like all great vacations, it went by way too fast! Now it's back to school. Speaking of school, March is gone and that means it's now the last month of the semester. I'm going to have to kick this senioritis outta here and get crackin on all of my final papers and projects. It's a great feeling to know I only have three more weeks of classes... but it's also a little frightening that I only have three weeks to get everything done! Good luck everyone! Let the countdown to summer break begin!

I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it...

It's getting WARM, and I couldn't be more excited! Two days ago, I decided I'd get some of that glorious vitamin D outside while I did my homework. It was beautiful. Well, time flew and before I knew it, an hour had gone by. Who would have guessed homework could actually go by so fast? Well, I have much to show for that hour- a lot of studying accomplished, and a crazy red sunburn! ouch. That's okay, it will just turn into an awesome tan line. Today, I'm just sportin' my Christmas colors- red skin and green clothes for St. Patty's Day! Matt's not wearing green, oh and he definitely has a pinch coming...


We also had a great time at the Flash basketball game last night! Simple Grace sang the national anthem, then we had fun with my family during the game. The Flash lost, but time spent with friends and family is always the best part! Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!

Simple Grace at Showtime Utah

Hey everyone! I just wanted to let you know of an upcoming event that Simple Grace will be singing at. It's called Showtime Utah on Monday, Feb 23 they are having "Family Night Live!" We are singing with Stephen Nelson, a wonderful artist, and it will be a blast! It would be a fun family night, date night, or just a fun night to get out and enjoy some good music!

The address is 20 S. Main, Pleasant Grove, UT. It goes from 6:30 pm until about 8:00, and ticket prices are $5 per person at the door (children under 5 are free). You will also see our CD's sold there. For more information you can visit ShowtimeUtah.com or call them at 801-636-9669. We would love to see you there!

Spanish, here I come!!

Yes, I now have a new goal in life- and that is to learn Spanish! I am so excited! Matt said he would learn it with me (although I don't think he quite shares my level of crazy extreme enthusiasm! haha). I think it will be a really fun thing for us to learn and do together. And I really want to be trilingual. (English, ASL, and Spanish!) How cool does that sound? lol. I don't know if I'm going to take any Spanish courses at UVU because classes I need for my degree and graduation are priority for sure, but it's something I'm going to try to start on my own and with help of friends and family who know the language. Then maybe when I have room in my schedule for real classes, I will take them then. But I already bought the Spanish CD ROM I am going to use and everything. My action plan is ready to go! I may only be able to learn a little bit at a time during this semester, but once summer hits, I am totally devoting mucho time! It's going to be great. Wish us luck on our new language adventure!! Anyone else want to join us?

Friday the 13th

Well today is that scary day, but nothing bad has happened to me... yet. Actually I'm not a superstitious person. I do everything the superstitious people tell me not to do. And I'm perfectly happy :) I just read that an estimated $800 or $900 million is lost in business on Friday the 13th because people won't fly or do business like they normally would do. Crazy! Today has actually been a pretty good day for me. One of my classes was canceled, it's not snowing, it's the weekend, I have a hot date with my cute husband, and I feel great! So I'm a little curious- has anything awful ever happened to you on this dreadful day of superstition? I would love a good story :)