my music and moves

I have discovered the trick to making me actually do things. Put them in my calendar! Who knew?! Is this an adult secret that I'm finally being let in on?? I found out that Lord Huron (one of my favorite bands) was playing in Salt Lake a few months ago and despite one specific hater who kept telling me that even though I was psyched about it that since I kept procrastinating buying tickets that it wasn't really going to happen, it did happen! And it was glorious. All because I put it in my calendar. (This had previously worked with me going to see Ira Glass which I can't believe I didn't tell you people about, but let's just say that it was a serious dream come true to get to see my future boss speak on stage like that. Hey Ira, if you are somehow reading this, please hire me to do something (anything). I think we could do great things together!)

(this wasn't at the concert, it was just last weekend. But I don't know, it just felt like it should be shared, right? And maybe it is sort of applicable? Photo by my dope friend Shane Pittson)

I love love love music (you know like many people do), but somehow I never really do get on top of things and go to concerts, so I haven't been to as many as most people expect I have. This is mostly because I usually hear about a concert, think "I should go to that!," and then never do anything about it. But, remember! Why not Wyoming. I'm not talking about doing things anymore, I am doing them.

Ok, so v brief concert recap. First of all, here is one of your new favorite artists, Leon Bridges. He opened the show, and he didn't tell much about himself, so I can only assume that he hoped in a time machine sometime during the late 50s and then popped out here in 2015 just to grace us with his soul music. Just listen and fall in love for yourself (don't just scroll past this and not click play like I know you want to, okay?):

Now, I have received some very difficult music news recently. One of my all time favorite bands, Noah and the Whale, has de-banded according to their FB page and Mumford and Sons has apparently decided to become an electronic band (what are you doing?! NO! stop that! make me more stuff like this please!). But, in a saving grace, Lord Huron has made a new album and it is beautiful and brilliant and has brought me so much joy. And hey, that also meant they were touring so that's of course cool with me. 

A very important thing when going to concerts is to never go with someone too much taller than you (cause when you are as short as me, you get to the first few rows or you look at a bunch of shoulders for the night) and to go with someone who is also in love with the band so that you aren't going hard by yourself. So thank you Zach Snow for being the absolute perfect concert buddy. I am embarrassed (and maybe proud of myself?) to report that I am that person at concerts that has a little bubble of space around her that she has created by wildly dancing around to the music. Sorry everyone! Hope you were having as much fan as I was!! But, Amy Poehler told me in her book Yes Please! that "if you can dance and be free and not embarrassed you can rule the world," and I don't know but I think that's pretty d*ng good advice. (Don't scroll past this music either! At least let it play in the background while you continue to jump around the internet. I just want you all to love all the things that I love!!)

Lord Huron, you put on a great show. Thanks for giving me tunes to dance to, and drive to, and work to, and whatnot, and for not crushing all of my hopes and dreams like some before mentioned bands have done. Now if only Lord Huron would let me be their Lady Huron, I think that would be really nice. What do you guys say? I promise I would be real fun on tour!

my sense of direction

When I decided that I was going to post every week, I decided I was going to if I felt like I had something to say or not, just so that I would stay in the pattern and it would force me to be creative occasionally. Maybe. Yeah, nothing creative is really going to happen hear. Sorry kids!

Instead, you get to read the staff essay that I wrote for the travel magazine Stowaway that I am currently working with. It didn't get picked...and it uhh might not be very good, but I already wrote it, so it might as well be shared somewhere, right? I'll include pictures to make it more entertaining and link to a French sounding song for you to listen to, since the essay takes place in Paris after all. I will also own up to the fact that some slight details of the story were altered for the purposes of the magazine. 

      I've grown up traveling, so at times I might be overly confident in my ability to get around in a foreign country. But, I never realized until I was in a foreign county, by myself, and without cell phone use how heavily I rely on my GPS to get me where I need to go. This problem became very obvious to me during a semester a couple of years ago that I spent studying in Pairs. Getting lost seemed like a pretty much daily occasion for the first month (and honestly probably for the entire 3 months that I spent in Europe). On my first day in the city, my study abroad director took the group on a little tour, showing us where our classes would be, which metro station to get off for the building, where we would be going to church on Sundays, and how to get to some of the major sites in the city.

     The directions seemed simple enough. I paid close attention to where we were and how to navigate the streets to our classroom building just a few blocks away from the Pompidou Center, a modern art museum in Paris. Come Monday morning, I got all ready for my first day of classes in a foreign country, hoped on the train into the city, got off at the proper stop, and promptly found myself very lost and very without any clue as to where I should be going.

     Luckily, my French is good enough that I was able to ask for directions. Unluckily, the building my classes were in were on a small street unknown to everyone I asked. Rather than making it to class that Monday morning, I wandered the city aimlessly having no idea where I was going. Most people get frustrated by being lost, but me? I loved it. I may have been missing my first class, and I was slightly worried about what my director would think of this, but I was exploring this perfect city in a way that wouldn't have been possible if I had made it directly to my destination.

     I was discovering little side streets, beautiful buildings, and sites I may have missed had I known where I was going or had my face been glued to my phone to direct me. I was chastised slightly for my missed class, but on one of my first days I had encountered Paris in a way that mesmerized me. For the rest of my study abroad, I was never afraid to get lost. I let myself wander, discovered new districts, and ignored any sense of direction that I may have, because this is how I discovered Paris. My Paris. The rainy side streets and the sunny pathways. I fell more and more in love with the city every time I got lost and wandered somewhere new. Getting lost may have failed many times to get me where I wanted to go, but every time it got me exactly where I needed to be.

peace. love. and getting lost.

my most wonderful time of the year

Yup, we have once again made it to the most perfect time of the year. Happy fall everyone. To celebrate, I baked myself an apple pie, and I am pretty proud of how it turned out.

I am currently lying on my bed, windows open (you know that perfect view of the mountains we talked about), listening to Bahamas, wearing a cozy sweater, and just feeling oh so happy.

Welcome to the season of brisk weather, comfy clothes, and my birthday. 

I have been celebrating the ends of warm weather by studying outside all the time. This is my favorite outdoor study spot. I sometimes refer to it as my secret spot, but it's really not so secret cause it's the fourth floor of the JFSB, and I'm pretty sure most people know about it. Can't wait for the pretty colors in the mountains. The Alpine Loop is the greatest in the fall. I am down to go anytime anyone wants to. 

Hilary and I said goodbye to summer by enjoying some delicious and very large snow cones. I got chased by bees multiple times while we ate, and if you'er looking for a laugh, you can ask Hils for the video. 

Summer, it's been real, but it's time for us to move on. 

Happy First Day of Fall.

peace. love. and pie. 

my one

Here's a little tbt (throwback Thursday)...on a Sunday. My girl Kate made this video with all the Spring girls at the end of our wonderful semester together. I think this video, set to the Backstreet Boys The One, pretty well sums up why I think I have the most rad friends ever. (I couldn't be there for all of the filming so if you are just looking for my spot make your way to 3:08)

I don't know what you're thinking, but I'm positive that we crushed it. 

peace. love. and the one. 

my something project

I have been addicted to this blog recently (Treasures and Travels) where once a week they have a post called "coffee conversations." They answer the same few things, and I decided that I wanted to try it. I have been doing it everyday this week. You have to say something inspiring  something new, something disturbing, something I'm thankful for (I added this one), and something I'm listening to. I have loved doing this! It has really made me take a moment to sit down and think about my day for at least a few minutes. I think I am going to try and keep doing this for a while because it has given me a much better perspective on my week; one that I think I need in my life. I am calling this my Something Project. Here are my responses that I came up with this week....

3.19.13 Tuesday

Something Inspiring: I found this quote today and it IS my life... “Now more than ever do I realize that I will never be content with a sedentary life, that I will always be haunted by thoughts of a sun-drenched elsewhere.” ― Isabelle Eberhardt, the Nomad: The Diaries of Isabelle Eberhardt

Something New: I got this new black and white Volcome swim suit yesterday and I'm in love with it. I can't wait to wear it out.

Something Disturbing: I've been craving sweets today, but since I don't have any I just keep eating chocolate chips.

Something I’m Thankful for: I will eternally be grateful for sunshine every time it strikes me.

Something I'm Listening To: Justin Timberlake's new album 20/20 Experience. He is my ultimate guilty pleasure, all the way back to his N'Sync days.

3.20.13 Wednesday

Something Inspiring: BYU was ranked as the number 1 school for having brains and beauty by Business insider. I can’t decide if I’m flattered or scared of all the competition.

Something New: I got to hold a page from a Gutenberg Bible today. It was pretty cool. Don't judge me for being a nerdy English major.

Something Disturbing: The number of Gossip Girl episodes I have been watching recently.

xoxo

Something I'm Thankful For: That I got my in-house style guide turned in that I had to write for my Editing class

Something I'm Listening To: The Paper Kites. Perfect for doing my homework curled up in bed with the sunshine rolling in through the window.

3.21.13 Thursday

Something Inspiring: Yesterday was the first day of spring!

Something New: I've been going to the gym a lot recently and I have been so proud of myself for my dedication. I have no idea what to do when I'm at the gym so I mostly just head back to the elliptical, but at least I'm trying

Something Disturbing: How well I did on my Shakespeare test considering how little I pay attention. My teacher is ever so boring, and this is coming from an avid Shakespeare fan.

Something I'm Thankful for: That my Internet Publishing class was canceled this morning so I could get at least one sleep-in day this week (the only sleep-in day I am going to get)

Something I'm Listening to: I’m still listening to the New JT. I can’t stop. I just can’t. But the thing is, I don’t want to.

3.22.13 Friday

Something Inspiring: I turned in a rough draft for an essay in my editing class today, and I haven’t been this proud of anything I have written in a long time. I finally got to write something that wasn't academic writing!

Something New: We had our 4^th annual group date today with all the girls who met freshmen year. I suppose it’s not new if you’ve done it four times though huh…

Something Disturbing: I slept through my American Lit. class. This never happens to me. I am so good about going to class and I hate skipping.

Something I’m Thankful for: The snow returning is a bit of a good thing since my parents are coming out to go skiing with me next weekend. So I suppose the silver lining is that we will have better skiing...if this sticks around

Something I’m Listening to: Atoms for Peace. Weird, but good. Check out their song “Default”

3.23.13 Saturday

Something Inspiring: This time next week I will be with my fam. and playing with my cute nephew. Can’t. freaking. wait.

Something New: I threw my friend Alison Grave’s bridal shower today!! (soon to be Alison Frame)

Something Disturbing: The number of people that did not respond to my text messages today. Ouch ya’ll.

Something I’m Thankful for: Busy days. I have been so incredibly busy today, but sometimes I need them so that I can have a greater appreciation for the relaxing days.

Something I’m Listening to: Mason Jennings. He had a concert at BYU that I went to last night. He’s one of those artists that I know and like, but don’t listen to that often, but I will probably be listening a little bit more in the next few weeks. There is a good chill vibe in his music.

3.24.13 Sunday

Something Inspiring: Today is Palm Sunday. I have an awesome New Testament professor this semester and I have learned so much about the life of Christ from both my teacher and my studies of the Bible. Knowing about the life of Christ makes Palm Sunday much more interesting and much more meaningful.

Something New: My girl Mady turned 21 today. Glad we’ve been friends since freshmen year and that we have gotten to celebrate all weekend.

Something Disturbing: How much I slept today! I have clearly been very deprived this week and needed a catch up day.

Something I’m Thankful for: That I have incredible friends like McCall going on missions, even if it means they are leaving me.

Something I’m Listening to: I like to keep it chill for Sunday, so I’m listening to a little Angus Stone.

Ok, now I am going to challenge you to try it out yourself. You don't have to do it for everyday of the week, just today is fine, but it really is a great exercise in thinking through your day and seeing how even though sometimes the days may feel monotonous, there is something inspiring, new, disturbing, great, and musical in everyday. Let me know in the comments what responses you came up with!!

peace. love. and something...

my la la la

I have been struggling trying to think of something to write, so lets talk music (go ahead and start the playlist below while you read). I absolutely love music and I really love looking for new music. But, at the same time I can be very self-conscious about what I am listening to. I never know what to say when people ask me what I like to listen to because it changes all the time. I always have those go to bands that if they put out a new CD I must listen to it (example Coldplay, I will love them forever), but those bands are not necessarily what I am usually listening to when I am studying in the library, riding around in my car, or unashamedly dancing around to in my room while I get ready. Even when I find a band that I think is really cool sometimes I feel weird about telling people about it because I feel like they will just say, duhhh! we've known about them for a thousand years. My insecurities come out in the weirdest way possible.

I got an app a little while ago, that I highly recommend if you have an iPad, called Band of the Day. Some days they have some super cool stuff, some days it is terrible. I also love to hunt around NPR and just look on sites for bands similar to the ones I like. I don't claim to have any sort of incredible taste in music, but I love to explore.

This is a weird sampling of what I have been listening to recently...I'm sorry if you hate it...yeah those are my insecurities coming out there...sorry

I threw in a Beyonce song at the very end in honor of Beyonce Bowl yesterday. Maybe you liked at least one of those songs. I love music and I am always open to suggestions. What I love more than anything is when someone just gives me a flash-drive loaded with good stuff.

But, I mean all this talk about what music I like, but why do I in fact love music so much. I think music has a incredible ability to effect our moods for better or worse. It can cheer me up, help me dance punch out my rage, or relax me into a long study session...or to sleepiness...I think we need music in our lives, no matter what kind of music you are listening to. Scream singing at the top of my lungs while driving around may be one of my absolute favorite activities. If you have ever driven past me and witnessed this in action...I'm sorry. I can't help it. For me, the worst thing about whenever I am sick is that I lose my singing voice and it kills me.I have been desperately trying to learn how to play the guitar cause I would love to be confident enough in my skills that I can just pick it up start playing and singing (please don't ask me to play for you, I am so far from being that good).

I can't wait till the summer so I can roll down my windows, blast music, and cruise. (ok, confession sometimes I crank up my heater and roll down my windows even in Utah...that's how much I love it...)

peace. love. and tunes