Monday, December 21, 2015

Musiccc, makes the people, come together

You've probably seen Spotify's Year in Music link floating around on Facebook the past couple weeks; well last night I had a few minutes to play around with the feature and it is awesome. 
You never really realize songs you fixate on or how different albums you listen to define seasons of your life or in this case your year.

I kicked off 2015 with No Rest for the Wicked by Lykke Li



As much as I love this song it didn't make my top 5 tracks of the year.
Those five coveted spots went to:
XO by John Mayer



Can't Pretend by Tom Odell
[sorry not sorry?]



First Defeat by Noah Gundersen



Speaking of Truth by Laleh



GDFR- FloRida [the greatest hill running song ever]



Two of those songs came from two of my top five artists of the year:
The Maine
Noah Gundersen
Tom Odell
Hozier
One Direction

Yup, One Direction. #noshame

And three of those five artists had one of my favorite albums of the year:
The Maine- American Candy



Long Way Down- Tom Odell



Greatest Hits- David Gray



Carry the Ghost- Noah Gundersen



Life Imitating Life- Augustana



All in all I listened to 108 THOUSAND minutes of music or 75 DAYS.
5,803 tracks and 2,572 artists made up the soundtrack to my year.
Is there any wonder why I post about songs and music so much?

Here's to another year of songs on repeat, playlists you never have to skip a song on, and lots more hills to run.


explore your #spotifyyearinmusic to unlock your Top Tracks of 2015 playlist, I've had mine bumpin all morning

Friday, December 18, 2015

Five on [the last] Friday [before Christmas]

1.
The fabulous Courtney Kerr turned 34 yesterday and shared 34 things she's learned along the way in life. They are all wonderful and if you don't subscribe to her blog What Courtney Wore you should! 

Prayer works miracles and is powerful.
Beauty rest is a real thing. I sleep almost 10 hours a night!
Money is better spent on a good skincare regimen than a pair of shoes.
Red lipstick can change your entire mood.
Listen twice and speak once.  We’ve got 2 ears and 1 mouth for a reason.

Check out her other 29 life lessons here



2.
Earlier this week I blogged about The Maine releasing a cover of You Get What You Give and mentioned the upcoming release of their EP Covers Side A.  Well today is the day!! All the tracks are amazing, no surprise there. But I am personally still having a 90s white girl moment that they covered Backstreet Boys.


3.
I've mentioned how much I love the Southern Weddings website and products here before but they have so many hidden gems even us single girls can appreciate. This week my discovery was their Southern Newlywed At Home profiles!! These houses and decor are incredible, so many great decorating ideas. 



4.
Thanks to the awesome Sara Matthews I got to try Rocksbox for free! This is like Birchbox for the jewelry obsessed. After taking a short survey about my personal style and what events I'd like to be styled for, aka work or weekends or fun, I got to build my wish list from amazing designers like Kendra Scott and Loren Hope. You get three pieces a month can even add to your wish list via Instagram. I can't wait for my box to arrive next week. 

5.
There is a new royal family picture, just released this morning!
I mean how beautiful is this family? I just love them.


ONE WEEK TILL CHRISTMAS!!
And don't forget to send off some Christmas cheer to Safyre Terry if you haven't yet!




Friday 12/18


Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Lately [in December]

Watching: One of my all time favorite movies is Independence Day. I mean it doesn't get much better than a shirtless Will Smith dragging an alien across the desert OR Uncle Eddie saving the day and taking out the aliens. Wait for it... they're making a second Independence Day! Yes, you read that right. Independence Day: Resurgence comes out next June. Check out the awesome trailer here.

Eating: If you live in Knoxville you must must go to Sweet Pea's BBQ on Jackson Ave downtown. Their brisket and BBQ sauces are mouth watering. Literally, was craving it at the office Sunday afternoon. 

Smelling: I absolutely loved Tory Burch's first fragrance, it's definitely an everyday scent. And just in time for Christmas her new scent, Tory Burch Absolu Eau. It smells divine. Santa baby..



Drinking: Another day another La Croix flavor. This week, Passion Fruit.

Wearing: OPI: Got the Blues for Red

Reading: Christmas cards!!



Listening: The Maine has been releasing covers of classic songs on YouTube every week and finally released one on Spotify last week! I have loved this 90s song since my middle schools days [mix CD, what up] and now I love it even more.


Loving: Driving home each night and seeing all the Christmas lights and tons of Christmas cheer around town! The office is swimming in Christmas packages and cards and decorations and I could not love it any more.

Wanting: Everything on Brittany Fuson's 12 Days of Christmas list. One of Brittany's personal favorites on sale each day. Don't miss out on all these pretties!

Monday, December 14, 2015

I'm feeling 22, she's feeling 26

Yesterday was the one and only Taylor Swift's 26th birthday and in honor of her People put together 26 of her best quotes. I love that Taylor's lucky number is 13 because of her birthday since, as my mom can attest to, I am very superstitious about the numbers 6 and 8 because of my birthday!
There are so many awesome quotes included I can relate to as can everyone other mid-twenties lady I'm sure. Above is the link to full article but here are some of my favorites:

"Here's what I've learned about deal-breakers. If you have enough natural chemistry with someone, you overlook every single thing that you said would break the deal." 
– to Glamour 

"The thing about my girlfriends right now is that none of them needs me for anything other than friendship. I love the fact that they are all passionate about their jobs, whatever their jobs are. A lot of celebrity-type people have this group of people around them where their friends' main priority is them, and they feel comfortable with that dynamic. I don't feel comfortable with that dynamic." 
– to The Telegraph

"I can never tell when I have food on my face …or when someone's high. That's why I can't go to Coachella or Glastonbury." 
– to Vanity Fair 

 "A lot of the time, I need to call my mom and talk for a really long time, just to remind myself of all the things that are great and all the things that matter." 
– to NME

"My mom and I have always been really close. She's always been the friend that was always there. There were times when, in middle school and junior high, I didn't have a lot of friends. But my mom was always my friend. Always." 
– to Great American Country 

"I think it's important to be self-aware about what people are saying about you, but, even more so, be very aware of who you actually are, and to have that be the main priority." 
– to NPR

Go girl, it's your birthday. 

Friday, December 11, 2015

Five on Friday

1.
Design Love Fest posted their weekly free downloads Thursday morning and they are glitter-tastic! 
I am loving the gold and blush sparkle.



2.
In case you're still needing last minute gifts for friends and family, Jcrew Factory is running everything 50% off in-store and online. But the real kicker is an EXTRA 40% off clearance!! 
Happy elf-ing!

3.
As of yesterday at 8:33am Christmas cards are officially out for delivery! I absolutely love picking out Christmas cards every year and save every card I get from friends each year. Don't forget to send a very special card to Safyre Terry this year! 


4.
Last night was full of Christmas cheer in Apt 1177. First we watched ice skaters in Market Square, followed by secret Santa-ing five Tennessee football players with LuLuLemon gift cards [Ashley's job is pretty sweet], and the grand finale of driving around looking at Christmas lights. Everyone was still in bed by 10pm, animals included, win win win.

5.
TWO WEEKS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!
13 days till I head home to Nashville!





Friday 12/11


Thursday, December 10, 2015

A Very Merry Christmas [card]

I am a known lover of cards and stationary. I spend weeks picking and personalizing the perfect Christmas card. Don't even get me started on birthday cards. Another girl who loves cards is Safyre Terry. She is the precious little girl who lost her entire family when her apartment was set fire last year. But the loss didn't stop there, she has since lost her left foot and right hand and under gone 50 surgeries. "But she wakes every morning with a smile on her face. She is the true definition of hope, faith and love." 

Safyre's aunt shared a picture of her with a Christmas card holder on the Facebook page Safyre Schenectady's Super Survivor on December 3rd that was later shared by a supporter asking friends to send Christmas cards to the sweet 8 year old. Since then it has been shared 200,000 times!! The cards are pouring in!! I addressed my card and sent it off with lots of love and Christmas cheer this morning! I shared Safyre's story with my mom last night and since then she is now sending a card, her Legion of Mary group are all sending cards, and my hometown Parrish Our Lady of the Lake's youth group are sending cards [over 600 kids!!] 

So I ask you, how many presents have you bought for friends, family, co-workers, and significant others? Take 10 minutes on your lunch break to buy a card, $.40 to buy a stamp, and five seconds to drop it in the mail and you will brighten this little girl's Christmas. 




Wednesday, December 9, 2015

The We in Wedding

I remember when I first got on Tumblr, scrolling for hours and hours and looking at all the gorgeous pictures, there was one girl that kept popping up on my feed as well as one extremely [well dressed] attractive guy. So you can imagine my surprise sarcasm when I realized they were a couple: Kiel James Patrick and Sarah Vickers. I've since followed them on Instagram and Twitter and was thrilled when they had a fairytale proposal last winter, literally it was at a castle with fireworks.


While I may not know them personally, although I feel like I do, you can tell through their posts and pictures together this is a true and genuine love. They got married last weekend at a Christmas tree farm with Kiel carrying her to the car after. 



But what really struck me was the caption Kiel put on the picture:



"We hopped into our Jeep Wagoneer and drove back home to be with family and friends for apple pie, cake, moms gingerbread cookies, Christmas music, champagne and eggnog. It was the most perfect day and we both agreed that all the little things we already had was all we ever needed to live happily ever after."

After all that's what marriage is all about right? Becoming one and pledging to spend your life together. I can only hope to find a love like this one day.
[and a classically stunning dress like hers, am I right?] 


Sunday, December 6, 2015

"And I Guess I'm Doing Fine"

I talk to my mom every morning. I text her when I get up. Call her on my drive to work. But weekends are my favorite, I can sit in my sweats and ramble on about life and work and sports. This Saturday morning she asked me the question that never ends, "are you happy?"
I, like most of us, could rattle off about ten things that irritated me this week or the just stupid things people do that make me really wonder; but if you ask me if I'm right now, in this moment, happy the answer is 
Yes. 

_______ makes me happy.

A really good outfit, that isn't wasted on a boring day, makes me happy.

Videos of Sophie in front of the family Christmas tree singing Merry Christmas that end with mom saying "We love you" make me happy.

A really great playlist that you never have to skip a song on makes me happy.

Getting a stack of billboard avails to map, drive, review, chart, and recommend makes me happy.

Signing media contracts makes me [really] happy.

Watching Steeler football makes me happy.

When my dad says I love you when we get off the phone makes me happy.

Laughing with my little brother, whether text/phone/in person, makes me happy. 

Lunch dates, trivia nights, marathon text dates that last all day, unexpected phone calls with friends make me happy. 

Pictures of sweet baby Warren [always] make me happy.

Long baths were you feel like Jell-o when you get out make me happy.

Working late and feeling like Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada when you leave the office makes me happy,

This stage of life is making me happier every day.

Friday, December 4, 2015

Five on FriYAY

1.
So in case you hadn't heard, Adele released her new album last month. There was a literal line of girls at Target that Friday morning buying an actual CD. Adele appeared on Jimmy Fallon to perform her new single Water Under the Bridge, one of my favorites off 25. She is incredible. Even Jimmy Fallon was blown away by her pipes live and in person. 

2.
I posted a couple weeks ago about the plethora of gift guides popping up all over the blogosphere; but my favorite, hands down, has to be Brittany Fuson's Gift Guide. And not just because of the gifts. The way she put it together guide and her illustrations are absolutely gorgeous . I love how she went letter by letter of the alphabet and got creative with her gifts.




3.

The greatest email came through on my drive home from work Wednesday night, the Evelyn Henson 2016 desk calendar is here. Call off the hounds, the search is over. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner.

4.
After an almost two and a half year hiatus The White Panda is back! The Pawprint dropped Monday and it is ahhh-mazing. This time they mixed in Wild Wild West, Pony, One Direction, and No Diggity. Let your earbuds be taken to panda land.



5.
ICYMI: this bride is my soul sister for having the greatest wedding after party aka chowing down on a burger at a hockey game.  Go girl, I feel you.





Friday 12/4


Thursday, December 3, 2015

Come with me now

Be sure to follow me on Bloglovin'


Lately 12/3

Gifting: Gifts get trickier the older you get. Everyone has bills and expenses but you still want to get in the Santa spirit. Bottles of wine or champagne with a cute stopper are always a great go-to gift! Target has all their $3 ornaments out and you can't go wrong with an initial ornament. I've learned as you get older, just being with friends is the greatest gift of all! 

Reading: She Reads Truth's Advent: Born is the King plan.
"Being born isn’t what made Him a King. The Prince of Peace made Himself low, taking on flesh to be Immanuel, "God with us."

Loving: My advent calendar from mom! It is the perfect end to my day and the perfect countdown to heading home for Christmas!



Watching: I am finally catching up on AHS: Hotel. I was about five episodes behind when it was announced this week's episode would reveal The Ten Commandments Killer so I had to get my butt in gear and catch up! FOMO took over hard core. 

Drinking: The snowflake might have gone off in my car on the drive to work yesterday but I am all about a good iced coffee these days. Some mornings you need something to quench your thirst and get you going at the same time. And I wouldn't recommend chugging a hot coffee before a 9am meeting. 

Eating: Publix's Organic Pizzas were 2 for $10 this past week and let me tell you the veggie is so good. And for all us single ladies out there, one pizza makes dinner for two nights! #winning

Listening: Cue the Christmas playlists, it's officially December! There are a ton of Christmas albums out there by lots of artists I love BUT The Maine's And a Happy New Year is my hands down favorite. Ho Ho Hopefully is a go-to of mine year round, no shame.