Never Never Never Give Up

Hey there!
Last Wednesday, I had an opportunity to see a fraction of what it takes to put on the second largest tour--behind U2-- in the world right now. At about 3:30 I went inside the Frank Erwin Center and attended Taylor Swift's sound check. Shortly after, I went backstage and got to speak with the tour manager, Taylor, and her sound engineer. My afternoon concluded with a tour from her assistant of her backstage and sweet tickets to the show! From having her own merchandise company, management company to the army of people on tour with her, I was able to see what someone only a few years older than me was able to accomplish.

(For those who don't know, the T-Party room is a chilled out room backstage at every show where she hangs out, eats, etc. during the day and where super fans get to go backstage after the concert.) Here is a pic I took:

Anyway, you get the gist. Needless to say, it was an unbelievable opportunity, and there was one thing I saw in her T-Party room backstage. It was a small, simple little plaque on an easel that read "NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP." Now, since then I have found that this is a famous quote by Winston Churchill, but in that moment, I had a realization that I can do anything I let myself. It doesn't matter who tells me differently, I must never, ever give up. Anyway, sorry about that little moment there. I also wanted to share the words that play before she comes on stage. It is a recording of her voice, and it gave me chills.

"Real life is a funny thing...I think most of us fear reaching the end of our life and looking back regretting the moments we didn't speak up. When we didn't say I love you. When we should've said I'm sorry. So.. there is a time for silence and there's a time for waiting your turn....But if you know how you feel and you so clearly know what you need to say you'll know it. I don't think you should wait...I think you should speak now." 

Now, enough of that. I know for those of you who are not mainstream, she makes you cringe. But I hope that you will at least give this playlist a chance. It is my "It's-a-Tay-kind-of-day" playlist. She really is a lyrical genius. Give her a chance:


1. Last Kiss* (lyrics are amazing)
2. Our Song (had to)
3. Back To December
4. Dear John
5. Better Than Revenge 
6. Jump Then Fall
7. The Other Side Of The Door
8. Ours


Enjoy!


Peace, Love & Swift

Fall is the most wonderful time of the year

All I want to do is ride a hayride, carve a pumpkin and eat candy corn. Is that too much to ask!? That was what was so great about being a kid--living the life and not even realizing we were. Anyway, I love fall time. What's your favorite time of the year?


I know, for a mainstream kid like me it should be Christmas right? Well, I love Christmas. But I think I love fall so much because 1. It is the first escape out of the Texas heat. 2. It is crisp outside 3. The leaves look unbelievable. So, I guess my question for you is, What does "fall" music sound like to you? I guess I think of it as a roast-a-s'more-grab-a-blanket-acousticy playlist, but that's just me and these are merely just my suggestions. So, if you think you'd like some suggestions for your "roast-a-s'more-grab-a-blanket-acousticy" playlist, then I'm your gal.


1. Comfortable -John Mayer
2. Lullaby -OneRepublic
3. She Is Love -Parachute* (LOVE THIS SONG)
4. Yellow -Coldplay
5. You Give Me Something -James Morrison
6. The World As I See It -Jason Mraz
7. Where Are You Going -Dave Matthews Band 
8. Breakin' At The Cracks -Colbie Caillat
9. For You I Will (Confidence) -Teddy Geiger 
10. Dancin' Away With My Heart -Lady Antebellum


Check out the video for She Is Love by Parachute here: (it was probably fall time when he recorded this)

Anyway, go roast a marshmallow for me.


Peace, Love & Simplicity,
C

The gym: a love hate relationship

Hello, hello.
It's the freakin' weekend, and I hope you are having a relaxing one. I just got back from an incredible work out and I want to talk about how music makes the biggest impact!


How many of you have ever been excited about going to the gym? Okay, me neither. Well, I take that back. I start getting excited once I get back in shape and after it becomes my daily routine. But before that you can bet your bottom dollar that naturally this girl (and most everyone else in America) does not want to get off her butt and move. It takes will power my friends. Anyway, I have started this new thing lately where I update my workout playlist every single week with fun, 'new' songs (new as in new to my workout playlist) to move to and it really makes my workout fun. 


I actually read an article by the Get-Fit Guy answering the question: Do Workout Songs and Music Make You Exercise Harder? He says, "In 2010, British researches had 12 men ride a bike while listening to music. During each 25 minute bicycling session, the researches adjusted the tempo of the music to go 10% faster or 10% slower. They found that speeding up the music program increased how far the participants rode and how hard and how fast they pedaled, and slowing down the music had just the opposite effect!" I challenge you to at least try this if you need additional motivation for your daily workout or you just simply want some great tunes. Here is a 'get-you-moving' playlist I have compiled of some of my very favorite work out songs. Enjoy!


1. 2 Step -D.J. Unk
2. Big Fat Bass -Britney Spears
3. Mrs. Right -Mindless Behavior
4. Misery Business -Paramore
5. Comatose -Skillet
6. Pause -Pitbull
7. Summer Nights -Rascal Flatts
8. Run The World (Girls) -Beyoncé
9. 6 Foot 7 Foot -Lil Wayne
10. Year 3000 -Jonas Brothers (yes, I did just put the JB on there) 


Peace, Love & Simplicity
C

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Good morning,


As you can probably tell (from the title above), this weekend I had the pleasure of going back home. Now, there is something about being home that is extremely--for lack of a better word--AWESOME! When I walk in the door, my entire body feels differently. I feel warm inside. I feel welcome. I feel at home. How do you feel? What is your favorite thing about being home?


When I am there I also feel like curling up on the couch with a good book. I love my hammock too-I always feel like something out of Winnie the Pooh. I always tell myself "Oh, I will go home and get all my homework finished. I am going to be so caught up." YEAH RIGHT. I don't do a damn thing but sit around, play with my dogs and hangout with my parents. (I'm cool.) Maybe that's just me though. Maybe I am the only kid who feels this way. Regardless, it is the best feeling in the world (right after happy gas from the dentist). So, here is a 'comfy-relaxed-homey" playlist for you. Enjoy!


1. Home -Michael Bublé
2. Think Good Thoughts -Colbie Caillat
3. Dear John -Taylor Swift
4. Home Life -John Mayer
5. Home Is Where The Heart Is -Lady Antebellum


Have a great day. And remember, if you're having a rough week, try going home!


Peace, Love & Simplicity,


C

It's Monday morning and OU still sucks...

Well, it's quite the bummer that OU crushed UT this year in the 2011 Red River Rivalry. However, I still love the longhorns, and win or lose, OU still sucks! You can imagine where I might be going with this post, but it's true-music is the answer for everything. What do you do when you're down in the dumps? If your answer is "I get dressed up in my Sunday best and hit the town!" you're either A. Not really that 'down in the dumps' or B. you're delusional or C. Any other option I didn't name. Anyway, what kind of music do you listen to when you're day is turned upside down by a sports team/grade on a test etc. You see, it is important that we label the sadness on the right level of anger. A break up, a death, or a car wreck are entirely different levels with very different playlists. However, this is just a melancholy "wish-I-could-make-my-day-better-hopefully-it-will-be-better-tomorrow"playlist. Remember, these are only my suggestions. What do I know? I am just a mainstream kid. But hey, at least I own it, right?




1. Clocks -Coldplay
2. Another Kind of Green -John Mayer Trio
3. Come Home -One Republic & Sara Bareilles 
4. Something to Believe In -Parachute
5. Everyday -Dave Matthews Band
After the fifth song, try sleeping. Tomorrow will be a much better day!


Peace, love, and simplicity folks,


C

Study hall

Good morning!

Happy Monday! Aren't Mondays your favorite day of the week?! :/ Well, I don't know about you, but if you are a student like me, school is finally in session. "What do you mean? It's been in session for over a month!" That is correct, but I mean it is reallllly in gear. For the first few weeks you can kinda breeze through, barely making deadlines, getting into the right classes, and dropping the impossible ones. However, when October starts, there is no turning back. Your teachers start catching on to your shenanigans, and you realize you have a test in a class you haven't been to in a week. For me, I normally stay on top of things--unless I get sick with mono of course! 

Anyway, my point is that I have spent a lot of time in the library (every night last week), and I was wondering what kind of music you listen to when you study? For me, I can't listen to songs that I know or else I will sing a long, read an entire chapter, and realize that I haven't retained anything. Normally I listen to pandora "classical" music station, and believe it or not, I am going to suggest that for you! Try it sometime...It does a beautiful job of drowning out the coughs, paper shuffling, and snoring sounds in the library! 

And, if you need a study break, treat yourself!

Peace, love, and simplicity

C

What's new?

Hello, hello.

Sorry I have been gone for a while...please forgive me. Mono set me WAYYY back in everything. Have no fear though! I won't leave you again! I promise!! The good news is that TONS of new music has come our way, and I have weeded through all of the songs to make the PERFECT playlist for you. Now, I highly suggest you check out the albums for yourself, but I will just trust that you are going to do that!

1. Strange Clouds -B.O.B (feat. Lil Wayne)
2. Mr. Know It All -Kelly Clarkson (She's back!)
3. Mrs. Right -Mindless Behavior
4. It Girl -Jason Derulo
5. The Reckoning -NEEDTOBREATHE
6. Hold Up -Demi Lovato
7. The World As I See It -Jason Mraz
8. Love On Top -Beyoncé
9. Beautiful People -Chris Brown (feat. Benny Benassi)
10. After Midnight -Blink-182
Now, that's a pretty good playlist if I ever saw one!


Before you go-check out Beyoncé's performance of 'Love on Top' at the 2011 VMAs. Pay attention when she says, "I want you to feel the love that's growin' inside of me"

P, L & S

C