Story Of My Life

Malibu In March

3/3/2015

Beachin'

Story Of My Life: Beachin'
Page 14

From the second that it started snowing in Nashville, I started daydreaming of SUNSHINE!
The snowpocalypse
kept me inside, watching Netflix and eating canned chili every day. When I could finally leave my apartment, I was more than happy - I felt liberated... and I needed a salad. The same feeling came over me when I landed in Malibu, California last week.

A few of my songwriter friends and I decided to take a writing adventure outside of Nashville for a week. We all needed the sunshine and inspiration boost after the week of being stuck inside. From the second we landed, the could smell the salt in the air coming from the ocean and feel that cool California breeze. Although our flight was delayed and we didn’t actually land until 12:30 that night - NOTHING could kill the excitement of being in a fresh environment with some of my favorite people.

Every day was absolutely beautiful and incredible in all ways possible. I woke up without an alarm (HALLELUJAH!) and walked out to the living room. The living room was covered in the sunshine that came in through the glass windows. It hit my face and made every bone in my body warm and comforted. CAN I GET A SECOND HALLELUJAH? Danelle and Jason made a pot of coffee and we all sat outside with our mugs of coffee, our guitars, and began to write a song.

One of the many things that made my heart happy was that this writing trip felt like a vacation. There was no start time, no time stamp, no pressure to finish at a certain time. We wrote when we felt inspired. One day we started writing in the morning, took a break and ran around town for a bit, grabbed food on the Malibu Pier, and then went back to the house and finished writing that song. Everything flowed so naturally. Someone told me a few months ago, “Songwriting should never feel like work. If it does - then you are doing something wrong.” and I think that is completely true. The thing that is so incredible about songwriting is that you get to walk into a room with people you love, share your stories, and come out with a song you love. Every day is a different small adventure and every day that I get to write a song with people that I adore, is a blessing. That’s exactly what I got to do on this trip - but we also got to have mini slumber parties every night and eat yummy burritos with ... wait for it... HAND MADE TORTILLAS AND MASSIVE AVOCADO! Yes, it was as un-freaking-believable as it sounds.

I am so grateful to have Danelle, Tiffany and Jason invite me to Malibu to write with them for a week! It was my first writing trip and while I will admit that I was nervous, I am already DYING to go on my next one! Giving my brain that much needed space for a week really made me appreciate a lot of people I am surrounded by. I love that everyone that I am lucky to be working with is pushing my creative limits while still allowing me to grow and breathe.

There is a quote that reads:

“The best kind of people are the ones that come into your life and make you see the sun where you once saw clouds. The people that believe in you so much, you start to believe in you too. The people that love you, simply for being you. The once in a lifetime kind of people."

I am trying every day to apply this to my life. I have 3 new family members for life and I don’t say that lightly. I hope someday that I can have even half the heart and talent that these 3 people have. I will always be constantly learning and growing, and thank God that I am being influenced by the group of people that I am.

Until Next Time...

XOXO,
Savannah Jane Keyes

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Celebrate The Little Things

1/12/2015

2 Comments

I Am Home

Story of My Life: I Am Home
Page 13

Happy January! To those are you reading my blog post tonight, I hope you all had an amazing holiday break with your friends and family. I still can not believe that it is already 2015! I can not wait for the adventures of this year! BRING IT!

Today, January 12th, 2015 marks 1 year since I have moved to Nashville from my little town in Utah. It is still so surreal that I have written this blog post for you all to read. This time last year, I was rolling into Nashville in my mom's minivan with the car packed up all the way to the ceiling with my belongings. Right now, I am currently in my apartment in the middle of the city watching "The Bachelor" wrapped in a leopard blanket, waiting next to my computer to receive the mix of a song I wrote this morning. Um...WOW!

The past 12 months have been full of a lot of changes, (besides the obvious 4- states-over-jump). I have moved into 2 different apartments, made new family and friends, written new songs, found myself , and all the little things in-between like growing an inch taller! HECK YES! This past year was also a year filled with a lot of firsts. I still remember my first grilled cheese from the Grilled Cheeserie (a grilled cheese truck here in Nashville), my first time seeing a show at the Opry, my first time performing in Nashville, my first time going to a "meat & three", and my first time line dancing! It is ALSO the first time I have ever been on my own, and the first time I have ever lived in the middle of a big city.
If someone asked me 4 years ago when my dream became a reality and the tip of this journey began, "What do you honestly think you will be doing when you're on the brink of 18?" I would have laughed and said "I will probably be going to senior prom with whatever boy I like that week and then going home to write a song about when we kissed on my front porch when he dropped me off. " , but I would have hoped for more. I would have hoped...

1. I would be living in Nashville.
2. I would be writing songs everyday with people that I respect and have looked up to for years.
3. I would be pinning pins on Pinterest to decorate my apartment, rather than dreaming of living in one.
4. I have found myself as a person.
5. I have found myself as an artist.

Knowing that I can mark off all those things on my list, makes me feel like I am the luckiest girl in the whole world. Pinch me, I MUST be dreaming! I would have never thought that my everyday routine would be what it is. I get to wake up every morning happy, healthy, and inspired. I have learned so much about who I am as a person and who I am as an artist through this time I have spent away from my hometown. I think this move has made an incredible impact in my life. This city has shaped me as a writer, an artist, and a girl. I am not the same person I was this day last year, and I am grateful for that. Not because I wasn't in a place personally that I liked, that's not it at all. I am grateful because this city is allowing me to grow and change in ways I didn't know I could. In ways I don't think I could have if I had stayed in Utah. I am proud of the girl I am today.

You all have read my blog every month now for a year. You have read about my many crazy once-in-a-lifetime experiences, and the small happy-dance moments too. This is just the beginning of a new life for me and I can not wait to see what else is to come. I read a quote the other day that struck a chord in my heart (no pun intended)...

"Isn't beautifull that some of the best days of your life haven't happened yet?"

I can't even imagine what else is in store for me in this year to come and the years that follow. Thank you all for following my journey on here and I hope you keep reading along as I continue to chase this dream! I am surrounded by the most beautiful family (both my new Nashville family and my family back in Utah) , the most talented musicians and songwriters, the best of friends, and the best role models a girl could ask for! Thank you all for believing in my dream and in me. I hope one day soon, you won't be just reading about my stories on this blog...But you will be hearing them from your headphones, from your radio as your driving to work, or using my story to inspire all of you to chase down your dream and live a life you love.

I will be forever grateful to call Nashville my home. I am home.

Until Next Time...

XOXO,
Savannah Jane Keyes

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No Sleep November

12/4/2014

1 Comment

A Little Party or 2

Story Of My Life: A Little Party or 2
Page 12

As the month of December begins, a month of thanks ends. Although sometimes people only show thanks for what they have on Thanksgiving (one of the best holidays EVER because I mean...Who doesn't want to stuff their face?), I think we should show thanks to the people around us and the moments we have as many times as possible...Not just on a day that asks us to. There are so many little things we are shown every day (running water, enough food to eat, a roof over our head), that are hardly noticed because we only focus on bigger picture things.

*WHICH ARE ALSO VERY IMPORTANT!*

The whole month of November, however, I tried to find something inside every day that I could be thankful for. Whether it was my mom waking me up with the smell of breakfast cooking or enough gas in the car - there is always some reason to smile. I did have some favorite moments this month that I am extremely grateful for...and I MUST share them with you!

For those of you who do not live in Nashville, you might be a little confused as to why my blog post this week is called "No Sleep November". For those of you who do live in Nashville... You are probably currently throwing your hands in the air and saying "PREACH GIRL!" Although November is the time for pumpkin pie and buying cute new sweaters...There is one week a year that tests your immune system here in Nashville known as "CMA WEEK". CMA week is probably one of the busiest times for any person working in the music business. It is also one of the most exciting! The reason it gets so busy is because there is something new EVERY day of the whole week. Whether it's an event, a show, an after party, writing, or just trying to finish out everything before the holidays come - It just gets a little less than insane. Everyone from out of town like label people, writers, artists, etc., come back to Nashville for this week to celebrate their successes and hang out in the city that made them who they are. It's absolutely incredible! I swear the downtown lights shine a litter brighter, the night gets a little longer, and the coffee gets even stronger! On a side note, I swear the town gets filled to the rim with people...Real quick. I don't think I have driven anywhere in the past two weeks without at least one traffic jam a day. I have come back and forth for CMA Week before, but I have never experienced it first hand as a Nashville resident. Let me tell you... It is a whole different level!

Usually Nashville is pretty low key. You occasionally run into an artist or writer at a writers round or at Kroger, but that's normal for Nashville. During CMA week, you can't go to "Noshville" (a yummy deli smack dab in the middle of music city) , without running into Kellie Pickler or Keith Urban. NO joke! It is really cool, but for a girl like me who doesn't ever want to get ready unless she absolutely has to; this puts me in quite a pickle because what if I want to take a picture with someone or introduce myself without bed-head? With that all being said; the traffic, having to brush my hair every morning, and waiting a little longer in restaurants makes CMA week what it is. It is exciting, fun, and full of surprises.

The whole week before CMA Week, was an adventure in itself. Between trying to find 2 perfect dresses that were completely different but somewhat cohesive, getting everything to go with all those dresses (shoes, 2 clutches, earrings), to getting my nails done, my hair done; and trying to make sure it was all put together piece by piece was an adventure. I was practically preparing for two different prom nights in a row. Talk about a mom and daughter superhero duo task! It ended up being the best year yet...and it all started on the night of the BMI Awards... IT. WAS. MAGICAL.!

I definitely had to spend ALL day getting dolled up for my first BMI Award show and after-party. I tried my best to make sure everything was perfect. From every last strand of hair - to the shoes on my feet, it all had to feel as special as the night would be. My mom was adorable and spent the whole day making sure I felt beautiful. She is the sweetest! I don't know what I would do without her more than half the time. After spending about 3 hours sitting in the chair letting her play dress up with me, it was time to head out on the night. She dropped me off at the office to meet my pretty dates for the night, the ladies of Big Machine! You can see my favorite picture of us below.

My lovely dates for the night. Laurel Kittleson, Allison Jones, Tali Giles

When we first walked up to the award show, there was a large red carpet wrapped in front of the BMI building and paved with beautiful flowers and camera men. We made our way through, took a few picture, and then made our way inside. I was amazed with how many people could fit in one foyer surrounded by food and drinks and a LOT of loud talking over the background music. Of course being in a group of girls, the first thing we did was run to the ladies room and check our hair and make up. This IS essential. After reapplying our lipstick and re-tucking whatever needed to be tucked back (only girls will understand that comment), we made our way back to the room to socialize. I thought this part would be scary and hard because there were so many people in that room that I didn't know, but I guess now I do know them. I met so many wonderful people that I wouldn't have gotten to meet in such a casual way other than that night. We weren't sitting in an office together, shaking hands and talking about songs. Everything about the room was warm and inviting. I heard so many silly stories! Throughout the night I started connecting the dots to who knew who from where. It was so incredible! Everyone says that Nashville is a small town, but I didn't realize how small until I was in that room surrounded by people who have known each other since college and now work together....Um WOW!

After socializing and catching up with everyone, the Big Machine crew and I made our ways to our tables for dinner and the award show. As soon as we walked in, I was in immediate shock. I am pretty sure my jaw dropped to the floor. It was like walking into the feast in the Hunger Games. It was gold everything. There were flowers and sparkles streaming from wall to wall. Each table was completely decked out. I felt like I was in a day dream! When the awards finally started, an immediate wave of awe washed over me.

I was in a room surrounded by people I respected and looked up to. I was in a room surrounded by people who have the same dreams, the same passion, and the same endless love for songwriting and the music business. Some of those people have written songs that have made me cry, made me laugh, and made me dance. Some of those people wrote songs that take me back to a specific moment in my life, big and small. THAT is why I became a songwriter. I want my songs to be the song to someone else's memory.

One of the many people in this room was Vince Gill. *GASP*! I know. I was sitting in the same dang room as Vince Gill What is my life? He was being honored this week for all the amazing things he has done for not only country music, but music...period. He has shaped so many genres and been a part of every piece of music. He has been a studio musician, an artist, a producer, a mentor, and a songwriter... But throws himself into everything he does with whole heart and manages to still be a humble man that will talk to you as if he is your next door neighbor. A class act. He has always been someone I have looked up to on all levels, so watching people talk about him and share special moments with him throughout the night made it even more special than I ever thought it would be.

Before Keith Urban brought Vince Gill up to the stage for his speech, he said something that I thought was extremely special. He said "Vince is a guitar player's guitar player, a singer's singer, and a songwriter's songwriter..." That to me was the perfect way to describe in a short sentence just how gifted he is and how much passion he has for his art. Vince then went on to speak about what music was to him and how he ended up where we see him now. Hearing his story from him, all the ups and downs and everything in-between was so powerful it sent chills down my arms. He took his time with every word and you could feel his love for what he did whether he was cracking a joke about the music industry or talking about when we used to be a studio musician. His passion oozed out of him. It was obvious that would be involved in music regardless of the success he has worked hard for over the years. THAT is something very special to watch and admire. His speech brought me to tears several times and made me laugh eight. Even though we were in a room full of hundreds of songwriters, he made it feel like he was talking to each and every one of us individually in our living room over some cookies and milk. It was a honest, heartfelt speech and moment I won't forget. I am forever grateful that Vince Gill is in country music and I was able to see him speak that night. It changed a lot about how I think about what I do everyday. It reminded me how thankful I am to be apart of the songwriting community/family that IS Nashville.

*This is where I insert #blessed*

As the night came to a close, everyone began to exit the room to head to the after parties. Me being 17, I had a curfew. I continued my night in my apartment with a bowl of popcorn and my footy pajamas. The next day however was a whole other adventure...YES! ANOTHER!

The next day, I again spent all day getting ready for CMA night. CMA night meant the Big Machine Label Group after party which is my favorite night all year! You get to see everyone you work with on an everyday basis in the same room together and just hang out surrounded by amazing music and yummy food! It is SO much fun to see everyone outside of their daily routines in the office and being thrown into such an exciting environment. When I arrived though, it was nothing like last year! It was even BETTER!

As soon as I walked into the room I was on cloud nine! The tables surrounded the room were filled with all different kinds of... (wait for it)...BREAKFAST FOOD! MY FAVORITE! There was everything from chicken biscuits, to two different kinds of waffles, donuts, french toast, mini yogurt parfaits, and A FLIPPIN' OMELET BAR (no pun intended)! When I had officially tried one of everything, I made my way to the BEATS HEADPHONE BOOTH where I proceeded to take way too many pictures.

The night continued with an INCREDIBLE show by "The Cadillac Three" boys (they KILLED it) and Steven Tyler playing with my phone...YES! I almost passed out. Not one word left my mouth, I couldn't even register how that happened. It was amazing. I loved every second of it. I am so proud to be apart of the Big Machine family and work alongside such incredible people. What an honor, what a blast, and what a blessing. Here is my favorite picture from the night... It is the Big Machine artist picture!
If you are looking for me...I am right next to Martina McBride!!! EEK!

WHAT IS MY LIFE! I don't know how I got so lucky to be in a life that I love so much. I swear each day is a new surprise. I wouldn't be here and be in the position I am in without my amazing friends and family that surround me. I am very thankful for them. I am thankful for the memories that I have made so far here in Nashville and the chance to do what I love every single day. I am also very thankful for all the new friends and family I have made since moving here. Thank you to everyone who has made November amazing. I don't know what I would do without you!

Here is a little collage of some other small adventures and fun times from the month of November!

BRING IT ON DECEMBER! I am ready for ya!

Until next time...

XOXO,

Savannah Jane Keyes

1 Comment

My Home Coming

10/21/2014

2 Comments

Lost In The Right Direction

Story Of My Life: My Home Coming
Page 11

Recently, I have been getting a lot of emails, texts, and Facebook messages asking me... "When are you going to update us on what you have been doing? When is your next blog post coming?". Well I am happy to say that I am back and ready to start blogging again. As the leaves are starting to change and the weather beginning to get a little colder, I felt it was the perfect time to pull out my stool, throw on my pajamas, make a warm cup of coffee and begin to update you all on what I have been doing in the past few months. Here we go...

I decided to take a break this summer from blogging. That way, I could put all of my creative energy into one specific project and focus. I am so glad I did. I got to spend those warm, sunny months working hard and making music that I believe in and that I love. I got to perform in my first writers round surrounded by some of my first friends I had here in Nashville. As a songwriter, it is the most gratifying thing in the world to get up on a stage and sing a set of songs that you spent hours writing. Whether the reaction from the crowd is positive or negative, it is still the biggest rush to be able to tell your stories through lyrics and melody. It is the most powerful way of communicating how I feel. As an artist, performing your set of songs can be a little intimidating because you are sitting or standing on that stage saying "This is who I am, this is how I see the world, and this is my story." Luckily, I got a great response from the room which left me giddy and itching to do it again.

My First Nashville Writers Round. Listening Room Cafe

I have been writing and recording like crazy and I am more inspired than ever before. I have a lot of really special things in the works and I cannot wait to share them with you. It is not quite ready...But I am dying to announce it all. Although, usually at the end of the summer, I come out with a glowing tan ... well, mostly just a sunburn ... and hair bleached blonde from the sunshine... This time, I came out as pasty as ever! I guess the sun doesn't peak through the windows of studios around Nashville. Below... Are a few pictures to give you a sneak peak into what I have been working on lately.

This Summer, I also had a LOT of visitors. My dad, my two brothers, my Nana, and some of my best friends decided to all take a trip and visit me in my neck of the woods. Although they didn't all come at the same time, when you live in a studio apartment in the middle of the city; it can be a bit of a challenge to find space for everyone to sleep, eat, or even just hang out. Good thing we all like each other! Otherwise, we would have been in trouble.

When you first move away from home, everyone's go to line is "I'll come visit!." Most of the time, it doesn't happen. It doesn't mean that they don't care or that they didn't want to. Life happens, and sometimes it just doesn't work. Everyone has a different schedule, a different place they have to be...Knowing this, I didn't expect much. I was content with Skype and long phone calls. What I didn't realize though, is really how loved I am by my friends and my family. I was surprised and my heart was filled with gratitude. Each different visitor had a different expectation of what they thought Nashville would be like, which is what made it so much fun. Some thought it would be like New York City...Street vendors, tall buildings that tower over you and are so high that you can't see past them to the clouds, and we would be taking gold taxi cabs to every destination. Some thought it would be like Utah. Cold, snowing all the time, a Cafe Rio on every corner, and too many mini vans to count. It isn't like either however. The best way I can describe it is a small town suburb stuck smack dab in the city. Every "office" on Music Row is a small home. Every restaurant is a different venue to play music in. Everyone knows everyone like a small town, and everyone is also living on the extra change in their car cup holder chasing the same dream. Every time someone new came out, the first thing I did was make a list of all the restaurants, sites, and activities we had to do! Everything from a picnic in Centennial Park to line dancing! I felt like a mom. The slideshow below will show you some of the moments that I couldn't quite put into words.

On the 18th of September, Liz Rose Music Publishing invited me to guest sing a song that I wrote with Jessie Walker and Liz Rose. I still remember the day we wrote it. I sent a text to Liz the night before because I had an idea I was dying to write. I couldn't get the melody and the title out of my head. I had to get it written down and recorded as soon as I could. She was the first person that came to mind! I knew she would help me bring my idea to life in a way that I couldn't. That next morning at 8:00, the three of us met at her house. It was the first time I had ever written with Jesse Walker. After only talking with her over blueberry muffins for a few minutes about my idea for the song, something clicked and she just got it. I was so lucky they both loved it and I am so glad they were the two writers that wrote this song with me. It is one of my favorite songs I have been a part of. By 9:30 that same morning, I walked out of there with a new song that I was proud of. We all loved it. It was easy and fun. We didn't stop once and say "where are we going with this? Is this the right direction?" ... it just flew out of us. A few months later, Jesse reached out to me and asked me if I would sing our song for the showcase that Liz Rose Music Publishing was holding a few nights later. OF COURSE I SAID YES! As if she even had to ask! Immediately I ran to my guitar and started practicing over and over again as if I didn't already know the song like the back of my hand. Then, I ran to my closet to try to sort through my dirty laundry and find what I was going to wear! IT HAD TO BE PERFECT!

When that night finally came, it was perfect. During the last round of writers, Liz and Jesse pulled me up on stage. I felt so honored to be there and so honored that they had asked me to sing our song. After I finished, I couldn't help but hug Jesse and Liz and thank them over and over again. Once again, I was left with that giddy feeling that most 17 year old girls get after their first kiss with a boy they like. I got that feeling after being on stage with people I had looked up to for years. All of the writers that night were so sweet to me. I felt so incredibly excited to be on stage with writers that have written songs that I sing along to on the radio during my late night drives with my mom.

Those are only some of the highlights I had over this summer. There have been so many incredible opportunities that have come my way that wouldn't have been in my path if I hadn't moved to Nashville. I am grateful for the friends I have made this summer, the new songs I have written, and the new experiences that are one of a kind. After the summer ended, I decided it was time for me to go home for a few weeks and catch my breath. I wanted to refresh the creative side of my brain and be 17 for a few days.

Two weeks ago, my mom and I hopped on a plane and travelled back to my home town. I was nervous to go home at first because so much has happened since I was last there. I feel like I have grown so much as a person. And so have my friends back home, but what if we grew in different directions? I am not sure why this thought snuck into my head while I was in seat 4A, looking out the window, but all of my worries went out the window (literally) as soon as I stepped off the plane and saw three of my best friends standing in front of me smiling and screaming "SAVANNAH!". My flight had been delayed that day, so I hadn't arrived in Utah until almost 11:30 at night. They had waited there for hours with a hand-made "Welcome Home Savannah and Mama Jen" sign. I didn't think twice before running to them...Which I probably shouldn't have, because slick floors and heals don't mix well together. I ended up falling into them. We all laughed and cried. They said "That is such a typical Savannah thing, she's definitely the Savannah we remember!" I couldn't wait to get caught up on everything going on in their lives! A lot can change in a few months, especially when you are in high school. People get together, break up, get back together... Make the team, move to a different school, get cut from the team, etc. I turned to my mom and dad and begged them to let me drive me home! They didn't even question it. We all piled into the back of a mini cooper.

On the drive home, we spent the whole 20 minutes singing and dancing and laughing while "Shake It Off" was blasted in the background. I think that is one of the things I miss most. I loved being able to just get in a car with my best friends and drive. Drive anywhere...Up the canyon, around the block - It was our thing. We would just put on our favorite songs and just drive. Now, our parents weren't crazy about this idea because they are the ones that are paying for the gas. I got out of the car when we arrived to my home and said goodnight and headed inside to get some much needed sleep.

The next day was a family day. My dad was leaving the next day to go on some baseball trip and I wouldn't see him again until Christmas. Even though we didn't have really anything planned, my mom and I just got in the car and just followed him around like puppy dogs. Every errand he ran, every meeting he went to; we were there with him. We couldn't do much until Kyle was out of school. Once he was, we all went to an early dinner to catch up and celebrate my mom's birthday that had already passed and my dad's birthday that he was going to be missing that week while he was on his trip. We went to Texas Roadhouse (of course) and ate WAY too much. Those rolls are rolls sent from heaven. You can't go to Texas Roadhouse and think you are just going to get a little side salad and sweet tea. You are going to get a loaded sweet potato and a big ol' steak and you WILL eat a whole basket of rolls...By yourself. After dinner, my dad had to head back to work so my brother, mom, and I went back home. Kyle and I turned on some cheesy movie on Netflix and spent our night making fun of the characters and cracking up over the lines that were written. It was SO bad, but SO good!

After my dad left the next morning, we went to visit my grandparents for a while. After we spent a little time over there, we decided to head over to my cousins house and surprise little Jen. Little Jen had turned 5 in September but she refused to have any kind of birthday party until I was home to celebrate it with her. For any 5 year old, waiting to get birthday presents and eat cake is a struggle. I don't know how she waiting as long as she did! It was the most endearing, sweetest thing ever. When I found out she was waiting for me, I HAD to find a way to make her feel special. My mom and I started driving over there and when we finally got into the parking lot we decided to call her and pretend that we couldn't come home and she would have to celebrate her birthday without us. She talked to us on the phone for a bit while we were standing outside of her front door. She was so understanding and said it was okay. Right then, we began to knock on her door. We said "Who is that on the door?" and in her sweet voice she says "I don't know." You could hear her little feet running to the door and she reached for the door to open it. She swung it open and stood there in complete shock. She didn't know what she was seeing at first. She just stood there with the cutest look on her face! When it finally registered what was happening, she ran toward us and jumped into our arms. She kept saying "I love you, I love you, I love you!!!!" If that was the only moment that I had time for when I was home, that would have been worth every penny I spent on a plane ticket. After the initial excitement wore off, my mom and I put her in the back of our car and took her out for the day! We went to the mall and took her shopping and let her pick out anything she wanted. She LOVES shopping! She is a little mini-me! Then, we took her to get lunch and ice cream. She was so grateful and happy the whole time. Then we headed home to go get her ready to take pictures! She wanted to be a model for a day, so I called my friend Caitie who is an incredible photographer. She agreed and we met a few hours later. Watching little Jen pose and make silly faces, was making me laugh! She was loving every second of it. It made me so happy to see that she was on cloud 9. After, we grabbed dinner and went home to get ready for our slumber party! It was the perfect day spent with my favorite little girl.

The rest of the week, I constantly was riding around with my friends. I tried to make every moment count. Whether we were grabbing milkshakes or going to football games, or we were all in the living room watching old movies while they did homework... It felt good to be with them. There were moments that I felt as though I was having an out of my body experience as I watched them do the things I used to do; as I watched them worry about the same things I used to worry about. It was crazy. I didn't realize how much my everyday life had changed. Every morning I wake up and I am so excited to start my day. I even try to go to sleep the night before earlier so that I can get to the next day faster. I worry about rent, I worry about how people will react to the song I am writing, I get excited about finally getting a demo back that I have been nervously waiting weeks for. I don't think about studying for mid-terms, I don't worry about what I am going to do after high school ends, I am not trying to find a college that is close enough to home but far enough away that I can find myself. I know what I am going to do with the rest of my life, I know where I will be living in order to continue to do what I do everyday... In fact - I am already living it. I am living it a year earlier than any of my friends are. It is a strong reality check. I am so lucky to have that constant confirmation. I know that there are ups and there are downs when it comes to what I am doing and you are always trying to navigate your way through life. I am only 17, and being only 17 I won't ever know where each road will lead me. Most of the time I don't even quite know why I am choosing one path over the other. I am constantly lost, how can you not be when you are young? I do know one thing, I am lost in the right direction...And it feels so great. What is life when there aren't surprises anymore?

'Have I ever mentioned that my friends are the most wonderful friends in the whole world? I am so lucky to have such a steady rock beneath me. I have an incredible family and group of girls that some days I wonder if I am stuck in some daydream that I haven't been snapped out of yet. The whole two weeks I was home, my group of girls had something planned for me every night and every day. There was never a dull moment. We were being 17. We went movie hopping all night, we had sleepovers every night, we stayed up way too late talking and laughing, we pulled an all-nighter in the canyon, and we ate WAY TOO MUCH JUNK FOOD! These are the little things that you only do when you are 17.

One night after being with my girls all night, two of my friends drove me home and I got out of the car and walked up to my porch to get to my front door like I always do. I noticed something a little different this night though... There was a huge read sign and a laundry detergent bottle sitting right next to it. At first I was really confused and thought it was an art project that Kyle was working on for school. As I got closer, I noticed it said my name. Then it hit me, was I getting asked to a dance? I picked up the poster and written in black sharpie was "Savannah, are you DOWNY to go to homecoming with me?". Then the laundry detergent suddenly made sense. I didn't know who it was and at first I had no idea how I was going to figure out who asked me. Victoria and Caitie were still in the driveway so I waved them over to see if they could help me figure it out. After looking at the bottle for a minute or two, Victoria opened the top of the lid to dump the liquid. Out popped 6 ping pong balls with black print on them. Each ping pong ball had a different letter written on it. The three of us scrambled to get all of the ping pong balls arranged to spell out a name. 30 seconds later, we spelled out the name "Tanner." YES! I was so excited! Tanner and I have been friends since 8th grade and he was asking me to my senior homecoming. AH! I was so excited. Not everyone gets to go to their senior homecoming, especially in my situation...And not everyone gets to go with their best friend! The rest of the week, my mom and I spent time scouring dress stores and tried on a million dresses. Once we found "the one," we then had to find everything to go with it. Finding the perfect homecoming dress is an event in itself. Only the girls reading this will know exactly what I mean by that statement!

When the day of homecoming finally came, I was so excited and ready to go dance the night away. In Utah, you don't just go to the dance, though. Every dance is literally an event that lasts all day. You have a day activity (day-date), a dinner, the dance, and then a night activity (night date after the dance). So if you don't have a breakfast full of sugar or an energy drink on hand, then you might pass out during your eventful day. Unless you are like me who gets so excited about dances that I don't need anything to get me going! I run on adrenalin!

Now that you know a little about how a typical day goes for a dance, this is how my day went...

1. Day Activity: Boondocks
Boondocks is a huge place that has numerous games and activities shoved under one roof. You can't possibly get bored when you are there, which is perfect for a dance day activity when you have a big group like we did! We started our morning off with go-kart racing! YES!!!! That is my favorite thing to do. There are no rules, no speed limit, and you get to sit in a bright colored car that looks like a smaller version of a race car. Um...Yeah, it's that awesome. We all waited in line for a few minutes before we actually got to go on the track. My date Tanner and I were eyeing a yellow car that was sitting near the back, so as soon as they let us go, we ran toward it and hopped in before anyone else took it. They read the safety instructions over the intercom and then let us GO!

When we reached the finish line... We were surprised that we won! ESPECIALLY considering that I drove. The girl with only a permit won the race amongst her friends that have all been driving for a little more than a year now. Yeah, that's right! The underdogs won!

From there, we went mini golfing, put on a vest and shot each other in a game of lazor quest, and then went to the game room to play the machines! We, of course, slayed when it came to the games! We even got a high score on Dance Dance Revolution...Yes, we danced on light up arrows and competed for first place. When we finished, we had over 500 tickets that we could cash in for prizes. We opted for a bag full of candy and matching neon monkey hats! We looked pretty silly, but it was so much fun. We didn't care what anyone thought, we ate the whole bag of candy and we walked out proudly wearing those hats as if they were medals of gold.

After all the fun and games (literally), he dropped me back off at my house so that I could get all dressed up and ready for dinner. Getting ready I think is the most stressful part of a dance. If your hair doesn't go as planned or if you break a nail in the process of zipping up your dress, then your whole night turns into a spiraling endless mess, and NO girl wants their senior homecoming to turn into a spiraling endless mess.

My mom helped me with my hair and make up and the whole shebang! Two of my friends, Caitie and Victoria, came over to help me add the finishing touches (lipstick, hairspray, etc) and to see me off to my senior homecoming. They had already gone to their senior homecoming a few weeks prior at the high school they go to now. It was so sweet of them to come over and make me feel so special. They took pictures of me and showered me in compliments! They wanted to be a part of this day, and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. As we were all standing in my mom's bathroom making sure every hair was in place and I didn't smudge any of my make up, the doorbell rang and my date Tanner was there! Of course, the two girls ran to the door and opened it before I had time to object! I laughed and walked down the hallway, hoping I wouldn't fall and rip my dress (that would have been another "Savannah move"). Luckily I didn't and even managed to put on his boutonniere without poking him in the chest. After a billion of pictures were taken, we made our way to the park to take group pictures where the rest of the group was. Below are some of my favorite pictures from this time of the night!

After taking pictures with our family and friends, we made our way to dinner. They took us to this place called "Fuji" where they cook the food right in front of you at your table. When we first sat down, I realized that I was a little too short for the table to reach my plate and see over. One of our friends in the group happened to have a driving manual that was big enough for me to sit on and get a boost. THANK GOODNESS! The sushi and the teriyaki chicken was to die for! I ate myself sick. It was so fun! The experience at the restaurant would have been enough, but the food was AMAZING! They even throw shrimp at you while you are sitting and give you points if you catch it in your mouth. After we all finished eating, we made our way to the dance.

When we arrived at the dance that night, we got in line to take our official senior homecoming pictures. It still feels so surreal to me that we were already at our senior homecoming. It literally feels like five minutes ago, we were all standing in this line as sophomores coming to our first high school dance.
As we stood in line, my date and I tried to think of the craziest pose we could do for our single shot of the two of us. Usually people would try to take some sort of romantic route with it and pose in a cute way, but we weren't about to do that! We had to come up with something that we would look back on and laugh about. I don't have the picture to show you yet, but I will post it as soon as I get the prints!

As soon as the flash went off in our eyes from the photographer, I kicked off my heels and we ran out to the dance floor. The thing I love most about my old high school, is that everyone actually dances. We aren't all standing there like awkward bumps on a log waiting for someone to come ask us to dance like you see in the movies. We actually all get out there like one big team and dance the night away! There is no separation between the boys and girls. We are all there for each other and we are all there to experience it together. Every song that played that night was complete perfection. Even when a slow song came on, you would grab your date and try to make it silly. You would pretend you were dancers for the ballet, or over dramatize every move you made. Hour after hour we were all laughing and singing terribly off key. I felt fearless, free, and wild. I felt forever 17. I was desperately holding on to every beat and every smile that I came across in that moment so I could replay it over and over again weeks later. Even if you didn't know the person you were dancing next to, it didn't matter. You lip sang with them and laughed with them as if you had known them your whole life. That is what is so amazing about these dances, there is no "high school food chain" for one night. Everyone is friends with everyone. Once you get there, we are all on the same level. We are all just wanting to make a night we will remember when we are old. A night we will talk about when our kids are going to their high school dances.

When the DJ announced that he was about to play the last song, I looked to one of my friends Rachel and we both began to cry. It was the reality check that this really was the last 3 minutes of our senior homecoming. I know it sounds cheesy, but even though everyone goes through ups and downs in high school this is the last year that we will all be together in the same room. The class of 2015 will all go their separate ways after this year is over. Whether they move away like I did to follow a dream, or they go to college, or they stay home - we all have a different path in life that we will begin on after this year. For the past 3 years however, we were all in the same 4 walls trying to figure out who we were. We will always be remembered as the class of 2015.
Knowing this, when the DJ began to play a slow song for the last song of the night - everyone immediately objected. We all shouted to have a change of song and when he didn't change it, like dominos the whole room began to sit down. The whole room went silent and sat cross legged as we patiently waited for the change of song. Finally after a few moments, the song changed and we all cheered! We spent the last 3 minutes making it count. When the last chorus hit, I began to spin in the middle of the room. I tried to take everything in. I looked at all the posters that had hand prints splattered across in our school colors. I looked at the spot in the corner of the room where I danced my first dance as a sophomore. I looked at the countless high heels that were stacked next to each other circling the whole room and the pile of corsages laying next to them. I looked at the happy faces and felt the youth spilling out of my peers around me. I looked at the faculty, the lights, the streamers, and the torn dance tickets laying on the floor. I wanted to stay in this moment forever. I tried to take as many mental images as I could with every spin.

When the song finally ended and the lights came on. All of the seniors gathered around in one large circle around the room. We all held hands and waited for all the lower classmen to leave. During this moment we all looked at each other, glowing. We were on this high that was impossible to explain. Once the room cleared and we were the only ones left, we all began to quietly say "Seniors". Every time we said it, we would get a little louder than the time before. The last time was more of a cheer and we all stormed to the center and shouted "Seniors, Seniors, Seniors!" We all felt so strong, as if we had beat the odds to some kind of horrible statistic. I couldn't have picked a better exit.

After our night of pretending we were in the phase out scene of "Grease," we grabbed our stuff and headed back to our friend Daniel's house. All the girls ran downstairs to change into our pajamas, brush our hair, put on some chap-stick, and make ourselves look as presentable as possible. As we made our way back upstairs, the smell of something sweet filled the air. When we got to the kitchen, there was the most delicious crepe bar you have ever seen! There were so many topping and filling options to add to your crepe, I didn't know what to do with myself. I wanted to try it all...So I did, and went back for thirds. My crepes didn't look like crepes, though, more like burritos they were so big! We were all so hungry and still riding on the thrill from the dance. We were all telling stories to the parents that were there helping out and hanging out as best friends. I am very lucky to have experienced that night with the group of people that I did. I couldn't have asked for a better first dance as a senior and last homecoming.

"It's the oldest story in the world. One day you're 17 and you are planning for someday. And then quietly, without you ever really noticing, someday is today. And then someday is yesterday. And this is your life."

-One Tree Hill

Until next time...

XOXO,

Savannah Jane Keyes

2 Comments

Jump For Joy...It's JUNE!

6/23/2014

2 Comments

Summer Has Arrived!

Story Of My Life: Jump For Joy...It's JUNE!
Page 10

Summer has finally arrived here in Nashville and it didn't just bring humidity along with it... It brought a LOT of fun and new memories too! To kick off the month of June, my cute little brother came to town! There wasn't one moment that wasn't filled with sight seeing, laughing...and... EATING! I am such a foody and that habit has carried off on my brother. With that being said, my mom and I tried to cram all of our favorite restaurants into one week! Our bellies were stuffed and our smiles were bright!

Our first stop was at PFunky Griddle. You have probably read about this at some point from my blog because I ADORE it. Being able to cook your own breakfast and customize your idea of a perfect pancake is fun and delicious! Kyle, (my little brother), went for a pancake with Reeses Pieces and Butterfinger! It was a obviously a healthy breakfast filled with many vitamins and nutrients!...NOT! It was a total sugar rush and so yummy!

Next, we decided to head to the Nashville Science Center! No... It wasn't at all like science class at school, it was SO much better than that! They sold space packaged food, they had fun games and prizes, activities, and interactive space-like stations! We even made new robot friends!

One of the nights, there was a movie in Ellmington Park! They were showing the movie "Fever Pitch", which was fitting because Kyle is a huge baseball fan! We stopped at a few different food trucks at the park, laid a blanket down, and waited until the sun came down for the movie to start!

Kyle didn't just come out however to eat candy and watch movies together, he was asked to play with a baseball team in Mississippi that was having a tournament here in Nashville. Although I didn't get to watch him play, I heard he was absolutely incredible! As if the week together couldn't get better, the team even won the tournament! YAY! He has so much patience and such a kind heart. He made new friends and got to play the sport he loves while he did it! I can not wait to see what he does in his baseball career. My older brother was just recently drafted! He is now officially a player for the Seattle Mariners. I couldn't be more proud to be his sister! He works so hard and deserves it more than anyone I know. My little brother has huge shoes to fill!

We couldn't go a whole week without our go-to-brother-sister-date... Fries and a milkshake! Back in Utah, my brother and I would always end our summer nights with fries and a milkshake! From the salty and sweet to the warm and cold, it's irresistible!

After our indulgence in salt and sugar, we decided to rent some bikes and ride around Centennial Park! Centennial Park is one of my favorite parks in town. It is HUGE and filled with gardens, playgrounds, and bike paths surrounding a replica of the historical Parthenon from Greece. Our favorite subject in school was always history, so for us this was definitely the highlight of the week together! We ate dinner on the steps and admired how HUGE this was building was. It was unreal and is a total must-see when coming to Nashville!

This was only the beginning of our week! CMA Fest rolled into town and we couldn't resist going! It was my first year at CMA Fest and it was very overwhelming to say the least. For those of you who don't know, CMA Fest is a HUGE festival that happens every year in Nashville that contains show after show of amazing singer/songwriters and artists here. Literally everywhere you go, you are hearing another amazing voice echoing out of a microphone. I didn't know what I was about to get myself into however... It is an ALL day event! Remind me next year to bring some sunscreen and some water! SOS!

The first day at CMA Fest was spent walking around and checking everything out! From the endless food trucks to the numerous bands playing! It was as if it was straight out of a country music lover's dream! I have never been to anything like it in my entire life! We even literally ran into a Hunter Hayes show in the middle of the sidewalk! Yes, it was as cool as it sounds! I even saw Andi from this season's "The Bachelorette". She was so sweet and just as beautiful in person as she is on the show!

Later that same day I got to go to my first LP Field show! The LP Field shows are shows that play every night during CMA fest. They are filled with some of the biggest acts in country music. The two nights that I attended were unbelievable! I got to experience it in two completely different settings! The first time, I watched it from one of the president suits! It was FANTASTIC! The show consisted of Miranda Lambert, The Band Perry, Blake Shelton, and Jason Aldean! Talk about an AMAZING line-up! I have always looked up to Miranda Lambert and it was so incredible to watch her perform from a different perspective. I took plenty of mental notes that I hope I can apply one day to my own show! The suite even included a whole room filled with food - YES!!! FOOD! MY FAVORITE! I may or may not have had a hot dog...Or two...Or three!

The slideshow below captured some of my favorite pictures from the first night!

The next day consisted of the CMT AWARDS! Yes...You read correctly! I got to go to the CMT AWARDS! I can not even believe to explain the "WOW FACTOR" that IS the CMT AWARDS! It is absolutely one of the most energetic award ceremonies I have gotten a chance to attend so far. It has a constant summer theme that stitches together the music played along with the jokes told within the speeches of the host. I felt as if I was at a REALLY LONG concert that played all of my favorite songs!

The next morning, I started my day a little earlier than most and headed down to CMA FEST with a new friend I have in town! I got to watch him and his band "The Brother's Road" play! WOW! This band was entertaining, exciting, talented, and has a flare woven into their killer songs! They are definitely a band to watch out for! I can't wait for everyone to hear them! From there, I went on to eat some of the best french toast I have ever had in my entire life with some new friends before another amazing night at the last LP Field Show. This nights line up consisted of Thomas Rhett, Lady Antebellum, Hunter Hayes, Zac Brown Band, and Brad Paisley! Once again.... The line up was absolute perfection! Although I adored them all, the two that stood out to me were Thomas Rhett and Zac Brown Band. There was just something about the way they sang their songs and the way they carried the story of the lyrics into the way they performed the songs that really hit home for me. They made me think "I wan't to be able to captivate an audience like THAT someday". Total ROCKSTARS! There was a moment in the middle of the show that made me slightly emotional...(I know, not surprising that I totally cried). This moment hit me when I stopped watching the stage and I looked out into the audience. Thomas Rhett was singing his song "It Goes Like This" and it hit me that I couldn't even begin to count the number of people there. Each person had their phones lit up and swaying to the melody of that song. During the chorus, the audience loudly sang his lyrics back to him. Then he proceeded to explain that this same time a few years ago, he was sitting in the back of the stadium watching someone else on this stage just like we all were. That's when it hit me...That could be me. I could someday hear someone singing my lyrics back to me. I could someday being playing on that stage along with people I have looked up to for years...I just need to work. hard and keep my head up. I have always been positive about my future but for some reason in that moment when he said those words, the reality of the ceremonies set in deeper and in a different place than it did before.

The night continued with fireworks outside the stadium, which ended CMA FEST perfectly.

The next morning, Kyle and I headed to the pool before I started my next week of writes. We were both exhausted from the adventurous weekend we had just had, but that didn't keep us from splashing around in the pool or having a water gun fight! The sun didn't agree with the sunburn I had from the past weekend, but it was worth it to be with him!

A few days later, it was time to say "See you soon" again to Kyle! It was so much fun to have him out here with us and to give him a little taste of life in Nashville. The whole car ride back to the airport we talked about hoping he would be able to go to school at Vanderbilt for baseball so that we could buy a house together out here! Then we could go to swimming and ice cream every day! Until then, the trips back and forth will have to do. When we began to walk him to his gate, Kyle said "Savannah! It's You!!! It's You!!!". I looked up from my phone and stopped for a second. I almost screamed! We ran into...ME in the airport!

So...Naturally we had to take a picture next to it!

See you soon bud!

Here are some more pictures from Kyle's visit!

The next Sunday, Father's Day rolled around. It was strange to wake up to Rush music blaring in the morning and running into the kitchen with smell of my dad making pancakes! Although I wasn't able to celebrate with my dad in person, I wanted to find a way to make him feel special even though he is a million miles away! What better way than a blog shout out?

Happy Father's Day to my wonderful best friend, dad, and the biggest John Wayne fan I know.

Although we aren't together today to celebrate, I know that he is probably eating at Cracker Barrel Barrel while checking the updates of the baseball game on his phone. I wish I could be there to hear him tell me the about his favorite episode of Seinfeld and sing along with him in the car to RUSH. He has always encouraged me to do what makes me happy and has been the best role model. I have never seen someone work harder than he does and loves his family as much as he does. He is one of the greatest blessings I have had in my life. I hope that someday I can marry someone half as great as my dad is! I never thought I would miss "Fly Hunting" in the middle of the night as much as I do!

I miss you and love you Dad! I can't wait to see you in July!

He might have even just inspired my new favorite song! *HINT HINT*

Until next time...

XOXO,

Savannah Jane Keyes

2 Comments

Sunshine, Songs, and Sundays

5/14/2014

1 Comment

Happy Heart

Story Of My Life: Sunshine, Songs, and Sundays
Page 9

The past few weeks have opened my eyes so much and have given me so many "pinch me I must be dreaming moments"! First off...It is finally May! One more month down until Summer hits. I feel like a little kid on Christmas Eve... anxious, and too excited to sleep! The weather has finally been heating up! Well, in-between the monsoons of course! Finally we have some high temperatures and the sun shining down in Nashville! Hopefully soon I can get a tan on my see-through white legs and do my best to look like a beach bum (fingers crossed, even though I always burn). But the sunshine hasn't been the only thing that has been putting a smile on my face.

A few weeks ago, I got the chance to write music with 2 people that I have always loved writing with, Nathan Chapman and Blair Daly. I have written with both of them in separate writes before, but never together. I have always thought it would be an fabulous idea for all three of us to write together, but I never thought it would happen...BUT... (drum roll please) IT DID! When I have written with Blair one day or Nathan another day, each separate time we have written together we have always come out with a rockin' tune that makes you want to roll the windows down and sing along in the car. With that being said, along with the bright weather, I knew that the three of us were going to come up with something up-tempo and fun! Well, I THOUGHT I knew...

Blair and I have always said "We should really write a heartfelt, story driven, soft song", because we hadn't ever gone to that place before. I have always felt that my strength lies in that category. I always tend to write those songs, and it has always been a challenge for me to write an up-tempo song. That is why when I found Blair and Nathan, I was so excited because they brought that side of my songwriting out that I didn't know I had in me! We haven't ever actually gotten around to doing a softer song, however, and I didn't think that this day would be the day that we would...But we did and I am SO happy we did. At the beginning of the write, Nathan, Blair, and I dove into something super exciting and driven by all of these really cool, slick melodic pieces that we hadn't quite pieced together yet. It was about an hour in and suddenly Blair voiced that we should pull back for a minute, take our mind off what we were doing, and try to run with what we had always talked about doing instead... Having us all agree to this was a no-brainer, but also kind of scary because we have always done so well writing up-tempo songs. We honestly had no idea where this road would lead us... and where we ended up is a place we didn't think we would go BUT it was kind of amazing.

When we ventured down this unknown songwriting road, everything began to pour out of us and fall into place, (those are my favorite days). I learned the hard way and very early (luckily) that everyday you enter a room with a group of co-writers that you can't plan, you can't force anything, and you can't come in with your walls up because that will just kill the whole creative process. I am a strong believer that every room you write in has a song in the air that is just waiting to be written, and I am SO glad that the song that was lingering in that room ended up being what it was. This song started as just a beautiful guitar loop played by Nathan and it turned into a story that means so much to my heart. This song brought me back to why I love country music so much...The story. There is a story behind every song you hear. This song is a page directly ripped out of the story of my life. Yes, it is a song about growing up and moving away from home... But it is so much more than that. One of my favorite lyrics reads "18 years in a camera flash", which for me is exactly how I feel about my past trip home. When I was home last month, I felt like every road I drove down and every room I was in had a memory attached to it. Just like in the movies, it was as if I could see those memories in a black and white scene like an old photo. There is something real, raw, and so relatable about it that one lyric that will glide you into a memory that is specific to you...Just like old photo memories in a scrapbook or photo album do. It is innocent but mature and will put a smile on your face as a tear drops from your eye. Bittersweet. There are some days that you leave from a writing session and you are happy with the song and love it! These are good songwriting days. There are some days you like the song but you don't love it. Those aren't so good songwriting days. BUT then there are somedays when you write a song that gives you a feeling that is so indescribable and you just know that the song is going to be so special...That was this day. It's like when you have waited a long time for your food to come out at the restaurant you are at, and after all that waiting and all that hard work you put into not eating all the bread in the breadbasket....BOOM. You're food comes out and you take the first bite and you can't help but smile and thank goodness you saved your appetite for this one bite. It is THAT great of a feeling. I am very grateful that Blair and Nathan had asked me write with them that day not only because I got a chance to write my story into a song from a different perspective than I have gotten to before, but because we laughed, drank coffee and talked about The Walking Dead. Awesome.

A few Sunday's later, it was Mother's Day. Is it really May 11th already? Holy heck! Time has flown by so fast and I don't know where it has all gone. Mother's Day has always been filled with making our mom breakfast and catering to her every need because it is HER day. Without my brothers and my dad by my side to help make my mom's day special, I had to figure out SOMETHING to do to make her day great! With a little planning, I surprised my mom with a Mother's Day she wouldn't forget! The first surprise was having my mom's best friend from college come down from Kentucky and surprise her for the weekend with her darling little boy. Holly has always been a huge part of our life. We didn't get to see her often when we lived in Utah, but now that we live in Tennessee it makes it so much easier to see each other. After a few texts exchanged back and forth between Holly and I, we had a sneaky plan that we knew would work! Keeping it a secret was definitely the hardest part! Keeping my lips sealed the whole week before she came was worth it! On the night Holly came to surprise her, who my mom thought was the pizza delivery guy at the door, was actually Holly! Holly was EVEN better than extra cheesy yumminess, (don't worry though, we still got the pizza)! The whole weekend was spent with shopping, eating yummy treats, and new memories. We started off our weekend at a food truck festival in downtown Franklin, TN. There were over 40 food trucks and 200 people racing around trying to decide what line to jump in. We watched movies, gossiped all through the night, and got NO sleep! It was SO much fun. On Sunday morning, (Mother's Day morning), we wen't to this cute little restaurant in town called "PFunky Griddle". This isn't just a normal breakfast hit though; at each table you make your OWN breakfast! YES! You are your own personal chef! I know it sounds crazy, but it is fun and delicious. You pick your batter, your toppings, and then you cook your all-you-can-eat breakfast. I definitely suggest going there...It was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Later, that day I took my mom to see a movie! We saw "The Other Woman" (chick-flick); it was filled with girl humor and cute moments that made the movie a total MUST SEE! If you are trying to get a mommy and daughter date planned, start by seeing this movie! It is SO cute.

I don't think that Mother's Day is the only day of the year that we should be celebrating our moms. Being a mom requires so much love and so much hard work. My mom has always done so much for me and continues to show me in new ways everyday how much she loves me. My brothers and I have been so blessed to have such a beautiful woman being placed in our lives. I don't know how to ever begin to thank her for all the amazing things she has done for us. She can make any gray sky, blue and can make any bad day a good one. She is the first person I have always gone to for advice and will continue to go to because a "mother's advice is always best"! TRUE STATEMENT! She is my rock, my strength, and my best friend. I am so lucky to have such a close relationship to my mom. There is a quote I read the other day that I feel is too relatable to the relationship my mom and I share.

"All that I am and all that I hope to be, I owe to my mother."

This is so true. She is the most amazing role model. I look up to her as a person and as a mother. I am who I am today because of her. I hope someday I can be HALF of what she is. I love my mom...Obviously.

Here are some of my favorite pics from Mother's Day Weekend!

Even though those new memories made were fantastic...Yesterday something extra special happened. What happened left me speechless and leaving with a happy spirit and a grateful heart.

Yesterday, May 13th, I got to opportunity to sing for some of the kids at Vanderbilt's Children Hospital. Vanderbilt's Children's Hospital doesn't feel like a hospital. With the bright colored walls, Disney Main Street theme, and the hospital filled from top to bottom with decor that makes you feel like you are literally inside the head of a child (I am still a child at heart, so I fit in here PERFECTLY).

The atmosphere is perfect. From the minute you walk in the door, the air is filled with positivity. When you aren't feeling 100 percent and you might need some help getting better, you want to be surrounded by bright colors and happy spirits. The kids in the hospital are the strongest little soldiers. No matter what they are going through, big or small, sometimes they need a break from the regular day of nurses and doctors. Whether it's playing bingo, watching movies, or listening to live music; Vanderbilt strives in making the children's hospital not just a children's hospital. It is a safe, happy, fun zone where you can be yourself...A kid. I have always had a connection with kids, (probably because regardless of being 17, I would rather hang out with my 4 year old cousin and play kitchen with her than grow up), and I have an obvious strong connection to music. Being able to combine the two worlds is one of my favorite things to do. I have always been active in volunteering, however I could, to work with kids whether it's just hanging out with them, helping them with school work, or teaching them music back in Utah. The first thing I asked as soon as I got out here in Nashville, is "How can I get involved with Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, and how soon can I start?". I have seen many people I have looked up to talk about how incredible this hospital is and I was dying to experience it myself. It is so much more than what they ever said. Vanderbilt Children's Hospital offers so many different ways to have fun. They have created numerous sets of time that the kids can get away from their rooms and forget about whats going on in their life. The best way that I thought that I could help was by bringing my love for music into the hospital. I think what makes Vanderbilt special is that they understand that you never know how the kids are going to be feeling that day. They might want to be there, but they can't. Keeping this in mind, Vanderbilt has a camera that live streams the performance to all the TV's in the kids rooms who can't come down to watch. I think that is so special because then they can be a part of everything that is going on in the click of one remote. When I was on the stage, it made me so happy to see some of the kids with the maracas and drums playing along to the songs I was singing. I had my good friend Daisy Mallory (check her out, she is AMAZING) join me and we did our best to bring some fun into their day! I hope they had as much fun as we did. I loved being able to interact with the kids. One little girl, Michelle, came on stage with me and helped us sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and showed me how to do the hand motions! She even sang along to "Let It Go" from the audience. It is little moments like that, that make me so happy that music is in my life. Music has always brought me joy, but it is a different thing to take what you love that makes you happy, and bring it to someone else in hopes to make them as happy. I love that I can take something that I love and share it with someone else. This experience left me humbled, very thankful, and inspired. I really hope that I get to dive into more ways to participate in this amazing hospital, because if I can make the kids smile like they made me smile, then that is the greatest gift I could ask for. Whether you can get involved in a small way or a big way, I think it is so important to find a program when you're young that you feel passionate about, and I have. I am so lucky that I can be a part of this and I hope that eventually I can continue to do more to be involved with this amazing hospital.

Whether it is writing songs, spending time with my partner in crime, or sharing music with someone else in the hope of brightening their day... I keep finding another reason to be happy and grateful for the life I have been given and for the opportunities that I have been presented with.

Until Next Time...

XOXO,
Savannah Jane Keyes

1 Comment

Home Grown

4/27/2014

3 Comments

Spring Break
and
Easter Festivities

Story Of My Life: Home Grown
Page 8

This past week, I traveled back to my hometown in Utah. Utah for me is a place of loving family, moonlit summer memories, and.... Allergies. The pollen there has always gotten me worse than anywhere else! I am not sure why, but being in UT always makes my eyes swell up the size of baseballs and my nose so stuffy that when I speak, I sound like the guy on "The Master of Disguise" during the turtle scene. Not cute. Besides that, my trip couldn't have been better. I think being away from where I grew up for a little while put a lot of things into perspective for me. I didn't always appreciate all the simple things that Utah has to offer. When I landed, the first thing I noticed when I looked up from my untied shoelaces through the airplane sized window, was the mountains. They are so beautiful. I never really paid much attention to them before when I was living there. Perhaps because I was just so used to seeing them every day, that they became invisible to me. This was one of the things that kept a smile on my face the whole week.

When we stepped up to the curb, to be picked up from the airport, the second thing popped into my head (well... popped out of the car)! My little brother. My little brother and I fight like every brother and sister do, but we also love each other like every brother and sister do. I swear after not seeing him for a few months, he had already grown! Heck, we measured and he was definitely two inches taller than me! Guess that he isn't my LITTLE brother anymore. Listening to him talk about school, baseball, and his favorite movies on the way home made me realize that I had taken his age for granted. I loved seeing the excitement in his eyes as he talked about "Captain America" and his newest baseball card. He was telling me how he had built a bed next to mine in my room so that we could watch movies together and not worry about falling asleep in our basement! I had always thought of him as just my smelly, kid brother...But he is MY smelly, kid brother and I love him.

When we were just about to pull into the driveway I noticed four girls holding 2 signs, balloons, and a Diet Coke! My best friends. They surprised me by coming home early from Spring Break to see me! Not all of them were able to make it back that day...But I did get to still see them later in the week. From the second I got home, until the second I left, my friends continually made it their goal to make me feel special and kept me smiling. We started out our week together by going to one of my favorite places to eat in Utah...Cafe Rio. If you haven't had the sweet pork salad from there, then your taste-buds have not experienced greatness. When I lived there, I ate there at least once a week as if it was a routine. I always got the exact same thing and each time I loved it more than I did the time before. After we went to dinner, we spent the rest of the night sitting in my friend Maddy's bedroom catching up for hours.

The second day I was there, we went over to my Nana's house. Going over there is one of my favorite things. Every time we go over there, she always has baked some kind of new cake or cookies for us to try and has her fridge stocked with Diet Coke (my favorite)! We sat in her living room for hours and talked. My Granddad telling me that "it's time to get your permit" and the rest of his sarcastic remarks that I missed, my Nana asking me to sing all of the songs I have written even though she has already heard them 4 or 5 times, and trying to keep Twinkie (our dog) from licking my face. Being over there makes me so happy. I have always been so close to my grandparents! I was their first grandchild and I still like to think that I am their favorite even though there is a whole slew of us now. My Nana bought me my first guitar (even though I didn't ever learn how to play it at the time) and my Granddad took me on my first tractor ride and showed me how to make a "Sprinkle Sandwich." They both were the ones who took me to my first performance EVER...A karaoke bar in Borrego Springs, California. They have always played such a huge role in my life and every great memory I have of growing up includes them in it. I am so grateful to have such amazing grandparents who have always spoiled me with their love...and candy.

Later that day, my friends treated me by taking me out to ice cream at this new place in town called "Leatherby's Family Creamery". It is this cute little diner-like place that is crowded beyond belief. But the wait is worth it...The ice cream is as AMAZING as it looks. I ate myself into ice cream bliss! We all ate and laughed and ate until we had sugar headaches. The picture to the left is of my friends Maddy and Nick! I have known Maddy since 3rd grade and Nick since 7th. I met Maddy at my elementary school. We became instant friends! We both went through our awkward stages together (luckily those years are long over) and we cheered together for years too! When she moved schools my 5th grade year, I was so sad. We ended up reconnecting our 7th grade year and have been inseperable ever since. She is one of the smartest, most sarcastic girls I know. She is my go-to work out buddy and one of my closest friends. I met Nick in 7th grade in my science class. It's crazy to think through school transfers and us both chasing our dreams that we have still remained so close! He is so driven in athletics and in the arts. I can not wait to see what he does with his life! One day you'll see him on the big screen starring in a movie and I will get to say "Thats MY friend!". He even took me to my first...and favorite high school dance. The three of us being all together is just asking for lots of laughs. There are several of us that have all stayed close since we were in middle school...Boys and girls, and we STILL all have just as much fun together as we did the first day we met. Although I don't have pictures with all of them from this trip back to Utah, I hope they know how colorful and enjoyable they have all made my life. I couldn't ask for a better group of friends to surround myself with.

I got to go to Leatherby's TWICE in one week. I thought by ordering a SMALL sundae, that it would be like it's description...SMALL, but it definitely wasn't. But that was okay, because I couldn't get enough of my cake batter and strawberry ice cream with marshmallow cream and rainbow sprinkle sundae! It was SO yummy and it was the perfect night with my dad. He isn't very into trying new things. He is VERY picky. When he first ordered his vanilla sundae, with whip cream... I had to suggest that he change it. He did, to a strawberry cheesecake AND vanilla sundae. That was as crazy as he was gonna get with ice cream flavors...BUT HE LOVED IT! Heck, he practically licked his sundae cup clean! A small victory for me was achieved in getting him to try something new. These two memories were one of the "sweetest" of the week.

The next day, the day I had been waiting for all week FINALLY HAPPENED! MY BEST FRIEND CAME HOME FROM HAWAII! We were both so excited to see each other. When I found out I was coming back to Utah, we were sad that our trips were overlapping and that we wouldn't get a lot of chances to see each other. BUT, through the days we did spend together; we found that it wasn't about how much time we had together - it was about what we did with our time we spent together. When you are as close as we are, you don't need to plan something big and exciting in order to have the best time together. The majority of what we have always done together is sing (loudly) in the car, watch movies, drink coffee while gabbing about our feelings and have mini dance parties in her living room. She has been with me through thick and thin and always been so supportive of my crazy dreams. I am so lucky that I can call this beautiful girl my best friend and my cousin. She has always put a smile on my face when no one else could and continually spoils me with her friendship. Our friendship has grown even closer since I have been gone, and I can't thank her enough for making me always feel as if I am there with her. We even got matching arrow rings! We have always said that no matter where life takes us, we need to follow our arrow like the famous Kacey Musgraves' song! With that being said, in the end we will be there to support each other regardless where our paths take us. There is so much more I could say about this amazing girl, but then this blog post would be so long that anyone other than her would get bored and stop reading it...So to sum this long paragraph that could possibly turn into multiple pages... I love my cowgirl, Harry Style's lovin', fashionista, coffee connoisseur friend of mine and I think we were sisters in another life.

She isn't the only wonderful friend I have however... I have a whole group of friends that I couldn't be more grateful for. They all are so beautiful inside AND out. They all are so different and have different passions, which is why I think we all get along so great. There is never a dull moment when I am with them. We fight like sisters, but love each other like best friends do. We have all been friends for so long and I couldn't imagine being surrounded by a better group of girls. I didn't get to see ALL of them like I would have liked to, but with all us working hard to meet our goals - not all of our schedules are going to match up and give us time together. But at the end of the day, that doesn't make us distant. We always pick up right where we left of. I didn't get a lot of pictures with ALL of my friends when I was home, but I did get some! I put my favorites in a slideshow below.

My friends weren't the only ones I got to see all week however, I got to see my favorite little girl too! This is my cousin Jen! She was named after my mom but I swear she and I are the same person. She is practically my mini-me. I have missed her cute face so much! This green bean and french fry lovin' girl can put a smile on anyone's face. Don't be surprised if you haven't seen anything cuter. No matter what mood you are in, if she gives you a hug or sings you a song- you are instantly the happiest person in the room. I got to spend my whole Saturday with her and watch her dance in pretty princess dresses. Nothing can top a day spent with her. I didn't get to just spend Saturday with her, I got to spend all of my Easter Sunday with her, too!

Waking up for Easter this year was different than the other times. This morning we followed schedule like normal, waking up to our cute candy-filled baskets, breakfast, home movies, etc... But this morning, we also had to say goodbye to my dad! My dad is such a hard worker and does everything in the world to ensure that our family can live a comfortable life. He is also so passionate about his job. Because of these amazing qualities, he had to leave to travel to see my older brother who just had surgery and to film a baseball team. Although I hated seeing him go, he is coming to visit me soon and I already have fun plans for us when he comes out. See you soon Dad.

The remainder part of my day was spent at my Nana and Granddad's home. All of the cousins were there and we embarked on a HUGE Easter egg hunt in their front yard. The smell of spring was in the air. With the yard filled with flowers and the sunshine on our backs, the kids and I loved running around finding the plastic pastel eggs that were filled with candy! Yes... I ran around with them and YES I definitely loved every second of it. Once we had finished, we went back inside and counted our eggs! Little Jen had 48 eggs! WOW! She had the most out of any of us and she is only 4! I don't know how she did it, but her sisters and I might have sneaked a few eggs from her because our favorite candy was inside! After we emptied our eggs into our individual bags, we started to line up for brunch. Oh my heck. We had ham sandwiches, deviled eggs, quiche, muffins, fruit punch, and peach cobbler! It was even better than it sounds! YUM! I was in a food coma and I was hardly able to move. I was laying on the couch when one of my darling cousins came up to me and asked me to play some games outside...I couldn't say no to her smile!

We played hide and seek, tag, duck duck goose, and ran wild outside in the spring sunshine. It was a beautiful day outside and by the time the day was over, I was exhausted! I could barely keep my eyes open. My mom, Kyle, and I went home and ate the candy we had left and watched a movie. Easter made me so grateful for my family. It has always been one of my favorite holidays that we spend at my Nana's house because there is no chaos. It is relaxing and I love seeing the little ones running around trying to get their candy and the excited faces they have when they open an egg and find their favorite candy inside.

The next week, my mom and I spent running around trying to see everyone we possibly could before our plane left on Wednesday night. I went to my old high school to say hi to one of my favorite teachers. As I walked down those halls I tried to memorize everything I could - the gym, the classrooms, my friend's desks, and all the memories that went by too quickly. When I finally reached my favorite teacher's classroom, he welcomed me in with open arms! I got to catch up with him and all the friends that I had that class with. After we talked, I realized that there I was leaving my high school school for the last time. No coming back the next day to sit in the same desk I had always sat in. No more seeing my friends at lunch. No more thinking "THANK GOODNESS IT'S FINALLY FRIDAY"! This was it. I am so glad that I was able to come to a real high school and experience real teenage things like dances, football games, spirit assemblies, etc. I got to be a normal kid and still chase my dream. How much luckier can you get?

Later that same day, my friends and family all came by to say "see you soon"...Again. There were no tears, no bitterness, it was just sweet. It felt good. I got to come back to Utah and see the people I loved most. Even though it was for a short while and no amount of time with them will ever be enough, I now get to go back to my new reality of doing what I love everyday. I get the best of both worlds and there is nothing more I could ask for. I am so grateful and have such a happy heart. I am the same person, but with a different zip code....AND I have my learners permit now! FINALLY! I can drive...With my mom in the car (2 years late)! I know I will see these people again soon. It won't ever be a goodbye. My friends and my family all made me feel so special, but I know where I belong and it isn't in Utah. It is in Nashville, and I couldn't be certain of that than I am now. I can genuinely say that I was worried that I would come home and I would feel like a walking ghost. That there wouldn't be a place left for me after I left...But it wasn't like that at all. It was as if nothing had changed. I had the same friends, the same home, the same loving family. It was as if no time had passed. We just picked up where we left off.

To see more details and a video of my trip click on the button below!

Easter Trip Video 2014

https://vimeo.com/92949491

There was just too many pictures that I loved that I put together a little slideshow of all the pictures from my trip that aren't included above!

Until next time....

XOXO,

Savannah Jane Keyes

3 Comments

Kentucky Roots

4/9/2014

0 Comments

A Page From Mama's Book

Story Of My Life: Kentucky Roots
Page 7

The past few weeks have been so much fun. SO fun that I haven't gotten a chance to blog... Oops. I guess thats a good thing though. Although I have had co-write after co-write with amazing people, there was a NEW experience that came along with a write that I can't wait to tell you all about. I co-wrote a song with the beautiful Heather Morgan and talented Marv Green a little bit ago. This song didn't feel like just any song, it meant more to me than usual.

I feel as a teenage girl, I am going through changes constantly in my personal life. Sometimes, it's hard to keep up. Being a teenager is such a fun... and very awkward stage. Some days, I like to think that being 17 means that I am an adult and that I should be making huge life decisions and that I can take on the world... But I can't. Being 17 years old, really means being 17 years young. I don't need to rush to grow up! I should be flaunting my youth with a big smile on my face and trade in that lipstick for some pink lemonade chapstick! I also think that not only as a teenage girl, but at any age; that peope are constantly at war battling what you wish you could be and who you really are. There are so many words and images that are displayed in front of us in our everyday life that give us an unrealistic idea of what we should be; perfect. It is so hard to sort through all of this and find your heart again at the end of each day. Lucky for me, I have amazing, strong women surrounding me every day that promote a healthy confidence and wonderful outlook on life. It has helped me through all the ups and downs of being a teenager and finding out who I am. However, not everyone has someone in their life to look up to and I hope that someday, through music, I can be that for someone else. With all that being said, a song was born.

My rockin' co writers; Heather Morgan and Marv Green

Through this song, my incredible co-writers and I covered all of these topics. This song really made my heart happy. We later demoed this song at an amazing studio here in Nashville called "Ocean Way" . The room we were in for that day totally made me feel like I was in a mini fish bowl! It was SO cool to meet all the players on the track and watch something built from the bottom and hear the song take shape.

Days in a recording studio, are literally my favorite days... I LOVE every moment of it and the way it feels to put those headphones on and sing a song that has a little piece of me in it.

The past few weeks weren't all just songwriting... It was also filled with laughs, love and tearin' out a page of my mom's book that was set in Kentucky. My mom went to college in Kentucky at Morehead State University. She met her best friend and what I now consider to be my second mom there. The three of us have always talked about going to Morehead. Well, the chance recently came and we chased it. They got to show me the campus, where they lived, and tell me stories of their college days. My mom's best friend, Holly, has the cutest 5 year old boy named Davin. He is the biggest sweetheart and can make you feel loved more than anyone can. The four of us packed up the car and drove on over to Morehead State! The weekend was filled with with spending all night catching up and Davin and I putting on a little show. He was by far the best drummer I have ever heard and it went perfectly with my country songs...And it totally added some cuteness!

If you haven't been to Morehead, Kentucky then you have to know right off the bat that this is a small town. I have been to small towns before, but they aren't anything like this! This is more of a tiny town! As we drove around Morehead all day, it was interesting to hear my mom talk about how they only had a Wendy's, Hardees, a pizza parlor, and a few other things and that it was mostly land surrounding them! There were plenty of new roads and attractions surrounding us now as we drove, and I thought THAT was small? Apparently it was SMALLER! When we were driving around the campus, I loved hearing story after story about their fun college years together that my mom and Holly told me.

Holly and I

It was so crazy to think that they have been friends for so long and are just as close as they were back then. Holly is an amazing woman and I am so happy that she is such a huge part of my life today. Davin is a very lucky little boy to have such a wonderful mom! It was a strange feeling being around the campus at almost the same age that my mom was when she made her first steps as a student at this school. I am sure it was even more strange for my mom to see all the things that have changed since she has been there; new buildings, more parking, etc. One thing didn't change however, a pizza parlor in the center of this small town called "Gattis Pizza". My mom and Holly used to go there all the time and enjoy the "all you can eat" style. Of course, we HAD to go there! As we stepped through the door, it was as if nothing had changed. My mom said it was the same as it was 20 years ago; the same menu and the same crave-able taste. They had a game room in the back! After we ate, Davin and I played in there for a bit and raced cars on a video game.

Silly faces with Davin, my mom, and I!

This college was a huge part of her life. The laughs, the lessons learned, and the memories that she has from this campus are engraved in her heart. We all had so much fun reminiscing over the weekend...As you can see from the picture to the right and the slideshow below!

As our day continued, we brought out our more adventurous sides! We joined some new friends in Kentucky and drove razors! AH! So scary! Yes... I am that 17 year old that still doesn't have her license, so when they mentioned to me about driving, my mom and I were both a little bit hesitant, but we decided to put a brave face on and enjoy it while we could! We drove around, tearing up the big grass field in front of us. We went fast, slow, and circled donut style through the grass. It was so exhilarating and gave me the sweetest taste of what it will be like to drive a real car on the road. The feeling of freedom was indescribable! Yes... I was very safe and cautious of my surroundings! Even my mom said that after the drive that she trusts me more than she did before when it comes to driving! Now she knows that when it's time to hand over the keys and for her to sit in the passenger seat, that I will be a safe driver!

From finding my heart to traveling to the place where my mom found hers, it was an exciting week and I can not wait for my next adventure!

Until next time...

XOXO,

Savannah Jane Keyes

0 Comments

From Weekdays to Weekends

3/16/2014

3 Comments

Nothing Bundt The Best!

Story Of My Life: From Weekdays to Weekends
Page 6

Where do I begin? Wow! I feel lucky to say that I have had such an amazing past few weeks that I haven't even had time to talk about them! It is remarkable to me how my weeks are paced and the momentum that keeps moving me through them. I have had so many amazing opportunities and adventures in the past few weeks that I never thought would happen to me! I have had the priveledge of writing with some amazing writers the past few weeks! I got to write with Bobby Hamrick, Emily Weisband, Matt Alderman, Heather Morgan, Marv Green, Blair Daly, Rachel Proctor, Hannah Ellis, and Daisy Mallory ( obviously I have definitely been keeping especially busy)! With each write, memories were made and great new songs, (that are some of my new favorites) were written! I loved each and every co-write! They were all so different too! Most of the time there is at least ONE that is not so good...But I didn't experience that AT ALL! They were all so amazing and SO fun! One write stood out to me in particular however, because it was an experience that I didn't even know was POSSIBLE - let alone, when I found out it was possible; I didn't think that it would turn out to be so fun and sound so great!

After I wrote with Bobby Hamrick, we were talking about what we thought would be the best way to portray our song in a recording. He came up with the coolest and most unique idea! We traveled back in time and did an old school recording of our song. You might be wondering what the heck I am talking about... But I will explain! Back in the day, when the first records were being recorded; everyone (the band and the vocalist) would sit in one room together and sing the song all the way through in ONE take. They didn't have the technology that we have now where you can record them separately and if you make a mistake you can just go back to that mistake and redo just that part. It is amazing how far we have come and how much easier it is to get the best version of your song. We don't have to worry about nailing every single individual note, but they did. When he first told me his idea about having the two of us sitting in the room together, both playing guitar, and having us both sing (lead and harmony); I was honestly so excited! Then, I got really nervous! I would have to work so hard to make sure that when we went in there the next day, that I could give the best version of the song that I could because you can't fix it once you have recorded it! After 3 takes, we got it! Relief struck over me! It ended up being one of the most fun things I have ever experienced. After, he showed me how to play the pedal steel while we munched on gummies! It is safe to say that it was totally AWESOME!

Later that same week, I was surprised to find out that I got to go to the Opry and watch Rascal Flatts perform....(wait for it)... BACKSTAGE!!! YES! Backstage! I was jumping up and down when I found out because not only was that going to be the first time I ever got to go to the Opry and get to go backstage and be immersed in the history of the Opry, but I got to support my amazing producer Jay DeMarcus and see him and the band in their element! I was so close that I literally felt as though that I was on stage WITH them!

If you haven't heard them live in concert before, I suggest you save up your money and buy a ticket ASAP! They are absolutely incredible. Even acoustic, they still sound exactly how they do on the radio...Perfect! They even performed my all time favorite song, "Mayberry"! Not only are they talented, but they are some of the nicest guys I have ever met!

Not only did we have BIG adventures like the ones above, my mom and I also had many little adventures in between! I have never been to a farmer's market before and I have always wanted to go, (I know it sounds crazy)! When I heard of the Franklin Farmer's Market, I just HAD to go because it was in my favorite part of town! It was so cute! It had everything from cute barn wood signs, to fresh produce, to yummy food from some kick-butt food trucks like! We enjoyed walking around downtown Franklin all day with the sun on our face. It was an absolutely beautiful day. We even got some ideas from all the crafts we saw, and decided to do one of our own!

And now... I am getting to my favorite part of the past two weeks... MY BIRTHDAY! For those of you who are reading this that know me well, you know that I take birthdays VERY seriously! Not just mine however, anyone and everyone that is surrounding me as well! I love helping people celebrate their birthday as much as I love celebrating mine! I love birthdays more than I love Christmas and 4th of July combined! To me, it is the one day of the year that you get to do all your favorite things with the people you love most! Whether you want to fly to Paris or just stay at home and watch movies... it is YOUR day and you can do whatever your heart desires! Originally, my plan was to go back to my home in Utah to spend it with my family and my closest friends! It didn't end up that way and although I was a little sad a first, I still got to spend my birthday in the town I love most...Nashville!

I'm not going to lie, at first I was a little worried that spending my birthday here wouldn't be quite the same because I wouldn't be surrounded by the people I love, but in a wild turn of events; I still was. I got to spend my birthday with my mom and some of my favorite people that I have gotten the chance to meet over the past few years from getting to travel back and forth here. It was still so special. It wasn't the same...it was different, but in an AMAZING way! When I woke up that morning, my mom and I decided to go to breakfast because that has always been my favorite meal of the day. We tried a new place called "Le Peep" that my friend and co-writer Blair Daly had told us about a few days before. The french toast was rockin' and made for a perfect start of the day. After that, my mom and I proceeded to pamper ourselves for the day and go get our nails done. Since it is spring time and Easter is aproaching, I decided to pick my favorite shade of purple to coat my nails with!

After that, we picked up the only kind of cake I eat and one of my favorite desserts...Bundt Cake! If you have never been to "Nothing Bundt Cakes" then you obviously have not ever lived! It is a little taste of heaven! My mom knew that I don't have just one favorite flavor...So she got them all! How cute is that? I then opened my present! I got a JCrew necklace and jean hat, MAC lipgloss, Kate Spade phone case, and boots! I got to devour those yummy cakes while having a Harry Potter marathon! Before I ate them however, my mom made sure that I STILL got to blow out candles!

Opening presents and eating cake wasn't the end to the night... It was just the beginning! Earlier that week my management team surprised me with tickets to watch Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Josh Turner, Clint Black, Diamond Rio, and Green River Ordinance at the Opry! WOW! I was completely shocked and so thankful. I literally have the GREATEST management team in the whole wide world! They made my night absolutely perfect. The show was absolutely unbelievable! Artist after artist was amazing. I got to spend the night sitting side by side with my favorite people and singing along to some of my favorite songs. Before I got to go backstage at the Opry, but being in the crowd is a completely different experience! It was breathtaking! The acoustics provide this intimate sound that is so pure. It feels like you are in the room with just yourself and the artist listening to them sing. Music is the one thing that has always guarenteed to put a smile on my face and believe me... I was smiling so hard that whole night that my cheeks hurt! Not only did I get to watch some amazing artists that I have looked up to for so many years, I also got to watch a band that I hadn't gotten the chance to hear before...Green River Ordinance! They were AWESOME! I love their earthy sound and country vibe. I was absolutely obsessed! They were SO good! Although everyone was absolutely outstanding, no moment will beat the feeling that fell over me when I heard Miranda Lambert sing "The House That Built Me." She did a beautiful job and you could really tell she was singing from her heart. I was completely covered in chills by the time she hit that first chorus! It was such a perfect night for her to sing this song because this is the night that the Opry was also celebrating their 40th anniversary! The Opry has been a home to so many amazing artists and has allowed them to unveil their talents and share them with so many people.It really is such a special place. Hopefully, someday soon I will get the chance to perform on that stage.

From weekdays to weekends, my life has always been filled with craziness and amazing adventures! Thank you to everyone who made my birthday so amazing and made me feel so special. March 15th, 2014 was a day I won't forget! I am 17 years young and looking forward to what happens next.

Until next time...

XOXO,

Savannah Jane Keyes

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The New Normal

2/20/2014

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Moments

Story Of My Life: The New Normal
Page 5

This week was definitely a week filled with "Pinch me, I must be dreaming" moments. Moments that made me take a step back and just take a second and breathe in what was happening. The first moment that this happened was on Monday, the 17th. I woke up and got ready just like every other day and started to head to my write for the day. On the way there, my mom and I were listening to the radio and talking about the usual things we talk about every morning... What are we going to eat tonight for dinner? My mom and I LOVE trying new things. The restaurants here in Nashville are incredible and there are so many of them! It would be impossible to try all of them, but sifting through which ones we want to try and adding it to our bucket list is genuinely something we love to do! I was googling our options for that night and I looked up and we were driving on the same street that we have always driven on to get to town, but something about today felt different. I passed the same "Congratulations" signs for all the awesome writers from those companies that have received awards recently and then I noticed something... A few of those faces on the posters I recognized. They were people that I have had a chance to write with, and then it hit me - how in the world was I lucky enough to meet them or even spend time with them and exchange thoughts and combine our emotions together to create a song? It put a smile on my face because now instead of thinking "That is so cool! I love that song!" every time I pass these posters; I get a strange feeling as if I am cheering on a friend! Now I think "Ahhh I am so happy for them! I want to send them a plate of cookies!". I feel as though I have a friend in them; a personal connection and mutual passion, and that is something to be grateful for. After being deep in thought, I got to go write a song with Kamryn Person! She is a younger writer, like myself! It was so much fun to write a song with someone around my age because we got to bond on a different level. We got to discuss in deeper detail about all the things that teenage girls usually talk about, which made the song come from a perspective I hadn't reached yet. It was more blunt. She is super talented, nice, and charismatic. I adored her. Not only did I find a new songwriting buddy, I also found a new friend!

The next day I got the chance to spend the whole day with one of my favorite people, Lizzy McAvoy. She is one of those people that lights up a room when she walks in and is always positive. She can put a smile on anyone's face and bring sunshine to any rainy day! She introduced me to Sam Ellis that day too and we got the chance to all sit down and write a song that has real punch to it! This day was amazing because it was filled with so many firsts for me! I got to write IN Universal Music! Which was unreal! The people who work there are so genuine and have always been so nice to me! I love the feeling you get when you are there! Pure happiness! The song we wrote was a generational song... IT ROCKS! I am super excited about it. It was a song that made me want to dance around the room or drive really fast down a back road while listening to it (if I could drive) ! In the middle of the write, they took me to an AMAZING restaurant with the best Indian food EVER! I had never tried Indian food before, and sharing this experience with these two talented, lovely people was the best way! I am now a fan of this newly found comfort food. After we were done stuffing our faces, we finished a great song! We did it even in a food coma!

The next night was literally unforgettable. On Wednesday, the 19th I got to have my first experience at CRS with BMLG! I felt like I was in my own personal music fantasy! The whole day of, my mom and I spent getting ready and jamming out to music! We knew we had to get there early because it was going to be a filled parking lot and we wanted to make sure to have a spot! Well...when we got there, we didn't realize there was going to be valet. You would think that this would be a GREAT thing, and it was; but when you see all of these beautiful, shiny cars being valeted and then you roll up in your mini-van - it can make you a little embarrassed! I feel bad for the poor guy that valeted our mini van and missed the black range rover behind us.

When we walked into the venue, there were huge posters of the artist hanging up down the hallway as you entered! I was so enamored by all of the beautiful pictures of each artist that I didn't even notice mine! Wait what? YES!!! My picture was hanging there! When I heard that it was hanging there, of course I had to run back and look at it, scream, and then take a picture with it! I had so many mixed emotions when I saw this. At first I was in shock and I couldn't stop freaking out! My cheeks were hurting from smiling so big! My next feeling stemmed from looking around me. I felt shock, but mostly so lucky. My picture was hanging in the same hallway as people who I have looked up to for so many years. This was the first moment of many in this night, but this was also the moment that took my breath away.

When I proceeded to walk in, the next thing I noticed was another "OMG" moment for me. The room was filled with mini tables. Each table had a different artists picture on it. I was looking at all of them and then someone pointed out the table in front of me that I hadn't noticed yet. It was a table with MY picture on it. Once again...WHAT! I about died. Plus, it was right next to the food table which is perfect! They know me so well.

After staring at this and about falling over from excitement, I decided to walk around and explore the rest of the room. I mostly did this so I would know where the bathroom was. I just know that when the room started to fill up a bit more that I would get lost if I didn't find where it was before more people got there! On my little adventure, I ran a group of people crowded around something. I didn't really know why they were standing there, but I wanted to find out. I started to walk up to the front of the group and when I reached there they asked me if they could take a picture of me for their insta-cam! WOAH! Ummm... Is that even a question? HECK YES!!!!

Later as the night went on, it just got better and better. I got to watch talent after talent get up on stage and perform. It was amazing to watch everyone in their element! The line up was incredible - The Band Perry, Danielle Bradbery, Justin Moore, Motley Crue, and Brantley Gilbert! WOW! Talk about an incredible show. All of them were perfection and so fun to watch. It was so great to watch all of them. My most favorite of the night was The Band Perry. They didn't just sing; they put on a SHOW! It was one of those performances that afterwards you had to sit back and really let what you just witnessed settle in. It was INCREDIBLE. They are not only talented beyond words; they are performers and hard workers. You could feel the passion oozing from every song they sang. I don't know how to describe the feeling completely, but they just made you want to clap and dance to every song they did! I have always looked up to them, but to watch them in such a close proximity was so eye opening. I am still in awe of them. I took many mental notes! I hope that one day I get to give the same feeling that I felt watching them, to a crowd of people I am singing in front of.

To say the least, BMLG really knows how to put together an amazing night. I have never felt so special and had so much fun! It was absolutely perfect. I got to meet so many wonderful people and make new memories that I won't forget. This was an amazing way to experience CRS for the first time. The theme of the night was #BMLGEXPERIENCE. It really was a whole different kind of experience to be there. One that I hope I am lucky enough to witness again.

There is a quote I found the other day that completely sums up my past week here in Nashville...

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but about the moments that take our breath away."

This week was definitely filled with moments that took my breath away. Moments that made me realize once again how blessed I am to be living the life I am living! It is still so surreal to me that this is my new normal. This is the life that I get to live every single day and I am so happy. I can not wait for my next adventure. I don't know how it is going to beat this night, but I can't wait to see what does!

Until next time...

XOXO,
Savannah Jane Keyes

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Beachin'

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I Am Home

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A Little Party or 2

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Lost In The Right Direction

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Summer Has Arrived!

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Happy Heart

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Spring Break and Easter Festivities

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A Page From Mama's Book

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Nothing Bundt The Best!

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Moments

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Spring Break
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