February Favorites | 2017

Goodness gracious, where has the time gone? It's like February just started.

But, here we are, and March is now upon us. I like March; it's a sign that Spring is coming just around the corner, and I personally have a ton to look forward to this month.

But today, I wanted to show y'all what my favorite things were this past February. :)

Beauty

Two things:

One, my concealer of choice this month was the Kat Von D Lock-It Concealer Crème. This concealer is epic in its coverage and in its shade range, and it's amazing how well the concealer matches my skin. This concealer is so thick that I will sometimes just use this in lieu of foundation and then maybe set it with powder if I'm so inclined.

Two, Pokémon makeup.

Yes.

You heard me right.

Pokémon. Makeup.

(photo credit)

Tonymoly (my favorite Korean skincare brand) partnered with Pokémon to create a cosmetics and skincare line that's legitimately awesome. I loved the packaging anyway, but I didn't expect to love the actual products as much as I did.

Here are my personal favorites from the line:

• Fairi [Charmander] Brightening Foam Facial Cleanser - smells like grapefruit!
• Purin [Jigglypuff] Peach Pact - the powder I use with the Kat Von D concealer.
• Pikachu Mini Cover Cushion SPF 50+ - I like this because (1) the coverage, and (2) it comes with a Pokéball powder puff.
• Pikachu Mini Cushion Blusher - I really love this shade of blush; it's a luminous and natural pink that glides on nicely. (And it also comes with that Pokéball powder puff!)

Music

Here are my top 5 songs of February:

1. "Something Just Like This" - The Chainsmokers feat. Coldplay
2. "Stay" - Zedd feat. Alessia Cara
3. "It Ain't Me" - Kygo feat. Selena Gomez
4. "Believer" - Imagine Dragons
5. "Mad Hatter" - Melanie Martinez

And this month, I made my first purchase at a local record shop (shoutout to Luna Record Shop in Franklin!) since getting my record player for Christmas!

Usually, I buy specific albums I want from Amazon or Urban Outfitters, but I love going to local shops because not only is it fun to search through crates of albums, but I love getting to talk about music with the people that work there.

Food

I've ventured into the world of Acai bowls...and I like them a whole lot!

Franklin Juice Company at the Factory does some really great ones. I got the Standard Bowl, which had strawberries, goji berries, honey, acai, bananas, coconut shavings, and granola. 10/10, would get again.

Bible Verses

And here are the Bible verses I loved this month:

"For He will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will lift me high upon a rock."

- Psalms 27:5

"God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when the morning dawns."

- Psalms 46:5

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

- Exodus 14:14

"Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart."

- Psalm 27:14a

And those are my favorites for the month! :) What were your favorite things in February? Feel free to let me know in the comments!

Mondays are for Music: The Music I Loved in 2016

Happy 2017, everyone! :)

This past year was a good one, but I especially loved this year for music. I fell in love with record playing, I re-fell in love with a longtime favorite band, and I discovered some new gems that I'm sure I'll be playing for years to come.

For today's roundup, I thought I'd separate it into three categories: Favorite Artist, Favorite Album, and Top 3 Favorite Songs of 2016.

Favorite Artist: Bastille

I've loved this band since college, but for whatever reason, I couldn't get enough of their music this past year. I can't tell y'all how many times I played through their two albums on vinyl, and I also can't tell you how many times I've played their music while driving. I'm excited to see what they do in the future!

(For a more in-depth look at this band/a quick starter guide to their work, I'd like to direct you to this post.)

Favorite Album: "Wild World" by Bastille

See above for the specific reasons why, but I loved Bastille's latest album, especially on record. 

Top 3 Favorite Songs

This was a hard call, but these are the songs I loved the most in 2016.

1. "The Greatest" by Sia
2. "Shelter" by Porter Robinson & Madeon
3. "Send Them Off!" by Bastille

What were your favorite songs in 2016? Let me know in the comments! :)

Crosleys, Manual Music, and Memories

I was given a record player for Christmas...a turquoise portable Crosley turntable, to be precise. And I LOVE it.

The records that my parents gave me to go with my Crosley were two albums from my favorite band, Bastille. I can't tell you how much I listened to both albums on Christmas Day, and I'm sure the record-playing will only continue.

But the thing is, if you're new to records, you must know that they must be handled with care. I'm not brand-new to records, but I had forgotten how much care must be taken to actually play a record (i.e. do not scratch that record with that needle, especially if you're needle isn't automatic! Keep your hand steady!).

It's actually been nice to play music on something so...manual. I don't have as much control over it; I don't have the ability to rewind a track in a matter of seconds, I can't skip five tracks in less time than that, and I can't access the whole album on one side of the record. But are these deal-breakers in the way I listen to my favorite bands? Absolutely not.

I mentioned earlier that this is not my first rodeo with a record player. I actually got my first taste of records when I was little and visited my grandparents on my mom's side in Georgia. I LOVED playing Disney and the Sound of Music soundtrack records on my mom's old stereo. And that was back in the time of cassettes (which, by the way, I find it kind of funny that they're coming back), where you had to rewind tape and guess where your favorite songs were.

So, why am I sharing a post about my little blue Crosley?

Honestly, it's made me appreciate things that are more "manual." I've learned I can appreciate something without it having a screen, and I feel like this is an important lesson at the age of 25, especially as a Millennial at the tail-end of 2016. And it's made me appreciate the way my parents listened to music, too.

Long story short: I'm thankful for this little blue Crosley this Christmas season, and I hope to keep up this record hobby for years to come. :)

Mondays are for Music: A Bastille Starter Guide

photo from here

Hey hey! :)

I want to try something different with today's "Mondays are for Music." Instead of curating a few random songs I've liked lately, I want to share one of my favorite bands (and by favorite, I mean Top 3, easily) with you. So, let's talk a little bit about Bastille.

I've been a fan of this band since college, when one of my good friends introduced it to me. Then, once their first album came out, I practically dove into it headfirst, and the rest is history.

"Pompeii" is a favorite, hands-down, and I think that's the first song of theirs you should start with. I have the happiest memories of listening to this song on road trips.

From there, I recommend these three tracks: "Bad Blood," "Flaws," and "Of the Night."

And that's my brief starter guide to Bastille! Have you listened to this band before? Got any song recommendations? Please leave them in the comments! :)

Mondays are for Music: My Late Summer Jams

Hey, y'all! :)

I know it's the middle of August now, but I can't believe we're in August, y'all. I remember when 2016 just started. But it's been a great year so far, both life-wise and music-wise, in my opinion.

Speaking of music, I want to share some recent discoveries with you today. One is pop, two are electronic, and another is from a band I've loved since college, but all of them are ones I've kept coming back to. So, let's get into the Spotify links!

What have you been listening to lately?

Mondays Are for Music: [Listen] While You Work

It's Monday. And I say it's time for some music. :)

So I have gotten into the habit of listening to specific tracks while I work. I've even made editing playlists on occasion. When it comes to picking music to work to, I usually do one of two things: I either listen to an album that I hadn't heard before (for example, I listened to a whole Sufjan Stevens album, and it was a blast and a half), or I listen to a few preselected tracks or a curated playlist (like a Pop or Electronic mix).

But here are a few of the tracks I listen to a lot for work:

What's your favorite thing to listen to while you work? Let me know in the comments! :)

Mondays are for Music: A Few Late June Favorites (2016)

Hey, y'all! :)

I've found some amazing music lately. And because I can't wait to share it with you, I figured there was absolutely no time like the present...or today, which happens to be a Monday...which is when I usually do "Mondays are for Music" posts...

You guys know the drill. Let's get into the music!

Just click on any of the Spotify "play" buttons to open any of the songs in Spotify, or begin playing them right from this page (you may need to have Spotify open to do this).

What songs have you been into lately? Let me know down in the comments! :)

Pentatonix World Tour! [And The Preceding Adventures]

This past Tuesday was AWESOME, to say the least.

Dear reader, let me tell you how it went down.

Otaku Ramen

My girls and I decided to go get dinner at Otaku Ramen in downtown Nashville. I fell in love with ramen shops during my visits to Los Angeles, and when Otaku Ramen opened its full-service restaurant near me, I was so thrilled, and I couldn't wait to share it with the girls.

I'm happy to report that our ramen adventure was a resounding success!

To finish our food adventure off before the concert, we went to Barista Parlor Golden Sound. (Always an excellent time...plus, one of my friends hadn't been there before, so we had to get coffee to go before we went to the arena.)

The Concert!

We literally walked into the arena as soon as the first opening act (AJ Lehrman) came on, so the following pictures were taken before and after the second opening act, Us the Duo (who were AWESOME...don't be surprised if you see a song by them in a "Mondays are for Music" post at some point).

Then, Pentatonix came out on stage...and the crowd went wild.

It was probably one of the smaller concerts I'd been to in recent years, but it was SO much fun. You could tell that they were having an absolute blast, and all of the songs were fantastic live.

My favorite songs they sang were: "Na Na Na", "Can't Sleep Love", Kevin's cello-boxing (beatboxing + cello = magic), "Papaoutai/Radioactive/Say Something", "Daft Punk", "Aha!", and "Light in the Hallway", which was sung mic-less (and it gave me chills in the best way).

Overall, Pentatonix was amazing. I'd see them in concert again for sure.

Have you been to any concerts recently, or any that you're looking forward to? Let me know in the comments! :)

The 1989 World Tour

Last Saturday, I went to an amazing concert with some great friends of mine. And we went to see one of my all-time favorite performers. :)

I guess I'll begin this post with the opening acts. I knew Vance Joy was going to open for Taylor Swift that night, but it completely slipped my mind that Haim was opening for her, too. I've talked about Haim before on this blog, and it was fun getting to hear them perform. Both Vance Joy and Haim were fantastic.

Then...came ALL the fabulous songs from the 1989 album. It's kinda tricky to get concert photos sometimes (especially on a phone), but I managed to get a bunch:

But let's not forget her guest stars. Taylor has been known to bring out epic guest stars in the past; when I've seen her, she's brought out Alan Jackson and Hayley Williams (of Paramore) to the Bridgestone Arena stage. But the 1989 tour had folks I didn't expect to ever grace the Nashville stage, but I'm SO glad they did. First was Leona Lewis (whose single "Bleeding Love" was huge when I was in high school, and yes, I sang along to every word).

And then...let's just say that Taylor introduced this guest as having just been inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame with his band the Rolling Stones.

Yep, I'm talking about Mick Jagger. As in, "Moves like Jagger" Mick Jagger. Needless to say, the crowd went wild.

Long story short, the entire concert was amazing. It's one of the best concerts I've ever been to, and I'm already looking forward to the next time she comes to town, though I can't imagine it being better than that Saturday night.

Blurryface

photo credit

It all started with a tweet. Specifically, a tweet off of Hayley Williams' (of Paramore fame) profile. If I remember correctly, she tweeted about being excited for a new album by a little band called Twenty One Pilots.

Fast-forward to about a month later, and a few good friends of mine recommend Twenty One Pilots to me. I then assume that if my friends like it, and one of my favorite singers likes it, it must be pretty good, right?

Y'all, I didn't know it then, but I stumbled upon a new favorite band.

~

"Blurryface" is twenty one pilots' newest album, which only just dropped last May. I really like some of their older stuff (specifically, tracks off their "Vessel" album), but the very first track I heard was "Tear in My Heart." After that, I was pretty much hooked.

I would say it's an alternative album, but it's not punk, and there's certainly a solid mix of rock and electronic elements. I can't pin it down to a single genre, but there's definitely something for everyone in "Blurryface."

Favorite tracks:

• Tear in My Heart
• Stressed Out
• Fairly Local
• The Judge
• Doubt
• Hometown

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. This album makes a fantastic working soundtrack from start to finish, and it's easy to find tracks you love out of the bunch.

Have y'all heard of Twenty One Pilots? What do you think of them? Have you discovered any new bands lately?

Mondays are for Music #3

Hey, y'all! :) It's time to talk about some music I've discovered (and have been loving) lately! Normally, these segments tend to lean towards one genre or an other (either Indie or Dance, specifically), but I think this one is all across the board. So, just sit back, relax, and listen to some of these tracks with me.

"Run Boy Run" by Woodkid

Have you ever heard a song you really liked the sound of - whether it was on the radio or in a movie -  but couldn't find it? Here recently, I've been trying to hunt down a song from the first Divergent movie during the part where Tris runs with the Dauntless kids. I finally found it in a random YouTube video I came across, and this was the song that was playing in the background (as instrumental). You'll probably recognize it once you hear it if you've seen "Divergent" or have watched the TV series "Reign" on the CW. The lyrics even sound dystopian, too. Just get ready to have this song stuck in your head for awhile.

"My Oh My" by Punch Brothers

I was recently introduced to this band, and I can't believe I hadn't ever heard any of their music before. They're a bluegrass band, and I would compare them to Mumford & Sons, but with a lot more technical craftsmanship and more instruments used. These guys can really play music. I had THE hardest time picking a track to feature, but I'm going with "My Oh My."

"Adventure Time" by Panda Eyes and Teminite

This delightful dance-y dubstep track has really nothing to do with the TV show, but it's still a really fun track to dance to. (And it doesn't hurt that the bass sounds great!)

"Style / Lean On" cover/remix by Mike Tompkins

Y'all know that I like acapella music. I also like mashups. This acapella mashup is kind of unexpected (Taylor Swift & Major Lazer), but it's so much fun, it's catchy, and it works.

Have y'all been listening to any good music lately? Let me know! :)

The Shovels & Rope Weekend

press play to listen while you read.

This past weekend is one we've been planning over the past couple months or so. Mom and Dad were able to buy these concert tickets, and since we had an extra, I invited one of my good friends over (who I actually used to work with during my year at my college radio station!) to go to a concert on February 14th at the Ryman Auditorium performed by the rockabilly band Shovels & Rope.

Our adventure began with a great dinner at Noshville, then progressed over to Barista Parlor Golden Sound for coffee and dessert. I've raved about Barista Parlor before on this blog, and my thoughts on the new location are no different. The atmosphere is so much fun, and the coffee is fabulous (I ordered a blend with Apricot notes). I also finally got to try one of their homemade pop tarts!

Then, came my very first visit to the Ryman Auditorium in a Nashville. Known as the "mother church" of Country music, this converted church has to be the coolest concert venue I've ever been to. The entire building is gorgeous, from the layout to the vintage elements to the epic historic aspects that make this place a "must-do" if you ever want to visit Nashville. I just couldn't believe that I'd never been there before that night.

Shovels & Rope were absolutely incredible. The floor was literally rumbling during certain songs they played. Their stage presence is something you could feel, even rows back from the stage. The concert was an absolute blast, and I would definitely go see them again. I definitely recommend their music; I'd say their sound is a mix between The Civil Wars and the Avett Brothers, with a good dose of rock to keep things interesting.

I had originally heard about this band from my mom, who'd been a fan of them for months now. We have similar tastes in music, so it wasn't hard for me to jump on the bandwagon, too. To go even farther back, we actually know one of the directors of "The Ballad of Shovels & Rope", the documentary about the band that really set their work in motion.

Going to this concert definitely made want to come back to the Ryman. The atmosphere was amazing, and I can't wait until my next visit! :)

Title

photo credit

While I was doing some stuff for work today, I remembered that Meghan Trainor was releasing an album this month. I had no idea that it was releasing sooner than I had expected, so I was in for a delightful surprise when I turned on Spotify and saw that her new, full-length album "Title" was ready to stream.

So, I hit "play" and enjoyed the album while I took care of items on my to-do list.

The album itself has a bubblegum retro feel that I was drawn in to, especially after hearing "All About That Bass" play months ago on the radio and YouTube. This mood carries through the album for the most part, but there are a ton of slow ballads on the album as well. Some of these are fantastic, and others are a little too mellow for my tastes.

As for what she sings about, the subject matter is primarily about guys. There are a few tracks on here that are really sweet. You can tell that she's not settling for just anyone (and won't let her friends settle for less either), and she doesn't want to move too fast in relationships. In fact, there were really only a couple of songs I didn't like.

Overall, I give this album 8 out of 10 pieces of bubblegum. It's a lot of fun, but I wish more of the album followed the same upbeat precedent that "All About That Bass" and "Lips Are Movin" had.

Favorite Songs: "All About That Bass", "Dear Future Husband", "Like I'm Gonna Lose You", "What If I", "Lips Are Movin", "No Good For You"

Have you listened to this album yet? What do you think?

Mondays are for Music #2

I like to say that my tastes in music are varied because I've been in art school and I've worked as a DJ at a radio station while at college. Discovering new tracks is a lot of fun for me, and I consider browsing SoundCloud or new Spotify playlists an adventure in and of itself.

While I love a wide variety of genres - Pop, Christian, Electronic, Singer-Songwriter - I've been gravitating towards dance-y (and generally epic) tracks lately. I thought I'd share some of these tracks I've found with you. :)


"Divinity" by Porter Robinson

I found this gem on iTunes, and it's been a joy to listen to on repeat. It's not quite dubstep, not quite dance, and not quite trance, but every element works amazingly well.  (The entire album is actually really good, too!)

"Keep Going" by Panda Eyes & Datphoria feat. COZY

Ever since I discovered dubstep back when I was a freshman in college, I've relished the really, really good dubstep tracks I've found over the years, from artists like Skrillex to Bassnectar. This song is one that I discovered recently, and I literally can't stop listening to it; it has an epic feel that I love, and would be a good track to introduce new listeners to the dubstep genre (either this or "Gold Dust" by Neon Flux). So far, this song has kind of been my theme song; I literally can't stop dancing to it when I play it.

"Song of the Lonely Mountain" a capella cover by Peter Hollens

I discovered this song on Christmas Eve of last year. If you like a capella music in any way, shape, or form, I definitely recommend checking out Peter Hollens' work. He's done TONS of great covers over the years, and this one is no exception. This song is from the first Hobbit movie, but it got me pumped for the third. (On a side note, I did see the last Hobbit film recently! The feels are mixed, but I still enjoyed watching it.) But, regardless of if you're an LoTR fan or not, this cover is way too epic to pass up. :)

What music have you been into lately?

Top 7 Christmas Tracks

I love Christmas music. It's the icing on the cake that is the holiday season, and listening to it brings back memories from my childhood and just gets me excited for Christmas in general.

So, from a dubstep remix to acapella to sweet winter ballads (and one that gives me chills every time I hear it [read: track two]), here are the Christmas tracks I've been loving this season. If you have Spotify, just click Play on any of these tracks to listen. :)

1. Carol of the Bells - Capital Kings

2. How Many Kings - Downhere

3. I'll Be Home - Megan Trainor

4. Winter Song - Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson

5. The First Noel - Tobymac feat. Owl City

6. Last Christmas - Jimmy Eat World

7. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy - Pentatonix

What songs have been your favorite this Christmas season?

A Road Trip Playlist II

I'm going on a road trip today for Thanksgiving. :) I'm very, very excited to see family I haven't seen in awhile, and I just love this season in general, from great food to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Since I'm going to be traveling today, I thought it'd be fitting to give y'all a road trip playlist inspired by the late Fall season with songs I've been loving a whole lot lately.

Pattern by Rifle Paper Co.

Want to listen to this playlist? Check it out on Spotify! :)

What music do you like to listen to on road trips?

How to Make a Getting-Ready Playlist

Pattern by Rifle Paper Co.

I listen to music a lot, but I probably most often listen to it when I get ready in the mornings. Whether I have ten or thirty minutes, or even an hour before I run out the door, I try to squeeze in some kind of upbeat music or play some songs from one of the playlists on Spotify or my phone.

Speaking of playlists, they can actually be great tools to help you get ready in the morning. I have a super-easy tutorial for y'all that should help you make the best playlist for your mornings, no matter what your musical taste may be. :)

1. Start with how much time you normally have to get ready. For me, this varies between thirty minutes to an hour, but you can do more or less.
2. Start putting together your favorite songs, keeping that time limit in mind.  iTunes and Spotify both have meters for how long your playlist is, so reference that every so often while you gather music.
3. Have fun with it! Make playlists with specific genres of music, and make playlists for specific occasions, like getting ready for a night out. Hey, you can just title the playlist with an emoji if you want. The possibilities are endless!

What do you listen to when you get ready in the mornings? Do you listen to different things for different occasions?

1989

photo credit

This album. 

This. Album.

Taylor Swift's newest album "1989" may be the best thing she's released. Call me a "Swiftie" - I'm proud of it - but her new sound is exactly what my musical taste is right now, and it's still just as relatable as when she released those first singles.

How do I describe her new sound? It's Pop for sure, and it's a departure from the guitar strums that used to permeate every track. I didn't mind her Country sound all that much, honestly; her songwriting was what drew me to her music in the first place. I just appreciated when she stepped out of the Country box some.

Even with her shift from Country to Pop, though, she still sounds real. The instruments are different, but what she's trying to get across to her listeners is the same as it's always been - stories from her life experiences - just more grown up.

Also, I noticed that she collaborated with Imogen Heap on one of the tracks, "Clean" (you can hear Imogen in the background some on that song). When I found that out, I was super happy. I love Imogen Heap's music, too, and I'm so glad that these two got together to create music.

So, to go a little deeper with the album itself, yes, many of the songs are about past relationships. However, quite a few of the songs aren't necessarily about the boy per se, but about her experiences with relationships themselves, big phases ("Welcome to New York...it's been waiting for you"), and the haters (who are gonna hate hate hate hate hate). It all still comes down to how relatable her songs are to her audience. I may not have experienced exactly what she has, but I can still enjoy her music and reminisce about the life experiences I've had.

Absolute favorite songs: "Welcome to New York", "Blank Space", "Style", "Out of the Woods", "Shake it Off", "Wildest Dreams", "I Know Places", "Clean". 

(So, pretty much the whole album...but the entirety of it is AMAZING. Five out of five stars.)

Throwback Thursday & A 90's Flashback Playlist!

So while I was in college, I did some guest co-hosting on a live radio show called the "90's Kid Flashback Hour" on our on-campus radio station. We had 90's music, 90's trivia, and a cupcake giveaway for whoever could call in and answer the daily trivia question.

Was it tedious sometimes? Yeah. But was it so much fun? OH MY GOODNESS YES.

I was usually a guest host whenever the regular co-host was out of town or doing on-site sports coverage, so when I was on the show, we would do a Girl Power edition where we played mostly female artists and talked about Disney princesses. It was as amazing as it sounds. :) We did have male guest hosts team up with us sometimes, and on those days, we talked about Legos and "Legends of the Hidden Temple".

But the best part of doing this show was definitely the music. There wasn't a time when we weren't not dancing along to whatever songs we were playing. I also got to learn about what my friends enjoyed listening to in the 90's, and I got to share my favorites. :)

I was recently inspired by this adventure on the radio and I wanted to create a 90's Flashback [Half] Hour playlist to share with y'all. :) Some of these songs are ones we played on the radio, others are my personal favorites.

Want to listen to it now? Check it out on Spotify:

Hope y'all enjoyed this playlist! :) This was one of my favorites to make for the blog.

Music to Dance to

Fun fact about me: I like dance/electronic music.

I've actually liked it and have listened to it since I was really little. I love the music that makes me want to get up and dance, or just gets me really excited while I'm getting ready for the day.

I thought it'd be fun to share some of my favorite dance tracks - old and new - with you. :)

Want to listen to this playlist now? Check it out on Spotify:

I hope y'all enjoy this playlist! :) I may make a sequel playlist later on.