November Leaves
The start of a new month means a new Monthly Mixtape! Here's what I'll be jamming to this month.
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
October Winds - Monthly Mixtape
The start of a new month means a new Monthly Mixtape! Here's what I'll be jamming to this month.
My September - Monthly Mixtape
September is upon us. Soon the leaves will start changing and it will be difficult to get away from pumpkin flavored everything. Sweater weather is almost here.Since music is such an important way for me to document things in my life, example: when I hear Taylor Swift's album Red I think of my Freshman year of University when I walked over to Walmart to buy the album with a freshman named Amy who would then become my best friend.
I thought I'd start this new series for the beginning of each month with songs that fit into my life at that given moment. Here is what I'll be bopping around campus to this month:
At The Cottage - A Summer Playlist
As you might have guessed by the title of both this post and my blog, I love music. And considering I have yet to discuss music things on this blog I felt it was about time to do so and what better way to start by sharing my go-to At the Cottage Summer Playlist!
This playlist is split into two sections - the upbeat and the laid back.
The Upbeat
1. Shut Up and Dance - Walk the Moon
This is the song of the summer. I'm calling it now before Ryan Seacrest does. It's catchy, sounds like a song from the late 80s and makes you want to get up and well dance.
2. You Make My Dreams - Hall and Oates
If you can listen to this song without picturing yourself dancing in a music video then you must not be that fun at parties.
3. Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars
See my notes on number 2.
4. You And I - Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga is actually a really great vocalist and this song is super upbeat and gets your foot stomping.
4. Uptown Girl - Billy Joel
It's Billy Joel, no explanation needed.
5. Sugar - Maroon 5
Maroon 5 is always a good choice but this song is a good swimming at the lake kinda song.
6. Southern Comfort Zone - Brad Paisley
Brad is the King of Country music. Enough said.
7. Kerosene - Miranda Lambert
Laura and Sydney reintroduced me to Miranda last year and this song is the perfect driving down a backroad with the windows down.
8. House Party - Sam Hunt
An upbeat party county song.
9. Daft Punk - Pentatonix
Pentatonix. Avi's low notes. Enough said.
This song is awesome and performed solely through looping and that fact alone makes my little music major heart really happy. Also, my little sister surprised me with tickets to see Ed this summer and this is the one song I'm the most excited to hear performed live.
12. Riptide - Vance Joy
Honestly, this song could probably fit either section of this playlist. It's a nice summer song and makes me smile.
The Laid Back
1. Go - Grant Terry
This song is the segue song from upbeat to laid back. It has a beat but not super upbeat to make it on the first half of the list.
2. Overdue - Jillian Jacqueline
Country but classic sounding country. Jillian Jacqueline is about to get real big in the country music scene and this song is why.
3. Caroline - Jon Forman
Harmonica, acoustic guitar, and Jon Forman's voice. Enough said.
4. Please Don't Say You Love Me (Studio Session) - Gabrielle Aplin
This song is probably my favourite song. Her voice and the guitar is so calming. She's also British and that makes her voice even enjoyable to listen to.
5. Fast Car - Tracy Chapman
This song reminds me of listening to the radio driving to grandma's in the late 90s though I don't actually know if that scene actually happened.
(I'm learning how to play it on the guitar)
6. Slow Dancing in a Burning Room (The Village Sessions) - John Mayer
It's John Mayer. But this version is super relaxing, only John Mayer and his acoustic guitar. It's perfect for an evening watching a sunset over the lake.
7. Let it Go - James Bay
Like John Mayer this song is guitar driven and beautifully rhythmic and James voice is so calming. Basically you just need to listen to it.
8. Naive - Sleeping At Last
Ryan O'Neal's voice is calming and the piano is the perfect background music when reading on a porch.
9. Holocene - Bon Iver
Bon Iver is always a good choice for any occasion but during a campfire by a lake he's the perfect choice.
10. Forever Blue - Kina Grannis
If you haven't heard of Kina Grannis then you need to listen to this song. Her voice is so calming and her soft acoustic guitar playing is lovely.
11. Chasing Cars - Sleeping At Last
Again Ryan O'Neal's voice is so relaxing that he needs to be on this list twice.
(Two Honorable Mentions)
Fast Car - Boyce Avenue feat. Kina Grannis
This cover is needs to be mentioned because it's almost as good as the original.
All About Me - Hilary Duff
Yes Hilary Duff gets an honorable mention. Yes I know Hilary Duff is not considered by most to be "real music" but this song is actually pretty good. Maybe it's just the banjo but it sounds summer-y.
Did I miss any of your favourites? What songs are on your summer playlist? Comment below and let me know.
My Firm Foundation
This time every year something happens. Something that rocks my world.
Last year it was the end of a good friendship and the death of my grandmother.
This year it will most likely result in the end of another really good friendship (thankfully no deaths)
Now I'm not naive to think that I did not play a part in these friendships ending. The one constant in both those events was me. I can't blame another for my actions or lack of actions. I made mistakes in my friendships with those people and I must live with the consequences of those mistakes. It sucks because they probably would've been life long friends and we both messed them up.
But despite all these friendships ending, I am realizing more and more that I need to rely on the one thing that won't fail me.
Christ.
People come and go in our lives, but Christ is constant and He alone is my firm foundation. (Psalm 62) He is the only one that won't leave me. He won't treat me like a toy. He won't get bored and find someone better. He calls me His beloved (Romans 9) and because of that I do not need to worry about what others think of me or how many friendships I have.
I'm not going to lie about it and say losing friendships isn't difficult and that I haven't cried about it. I got off the phone with my mum today crying for almost an hour about the most recent friendship that's ending. It's difficult, it's painful, but it's also sanctification. And though I know the end result will be more beautiful then I could ever imagine, the process is still extremely difficult.
One of the things that is getting me through this process is the songs on this EP by two of the most talented people I know at Liberty, Kyle Smith and Lauren Sweeney. Though all these songs have helped me through this process I would encourage you to listen to the songs Psalm 62 and You Give Me Life and purchase their EP from iTunes. They are such Spirit filled songs and I hope they will be a blessing to you just as they are a blessing to me.
The First Name That I Call
*Written January 16th 2015. Posted January 28th 2015*
This is my final Spring semester at Liberty University. That's really weird to think about. I feel super old yet that I'll be done so soon and entering the real world outside the Liberty bubble. But I also feel really young. Didn't I just have my ballet birthday party a few years ago?
Last semester stretched me in ways that in all honesty I didn’t want to be stretched. I failed greatly at things I didn’t think I would ever fail at. I lost people I didn’t think I would lose for a long time. I relied on my own strength to deal with things that I could not deal with alone. In short, it was not the greatest year.
Don’t get me wrong - a lot of wonderful things happened last year but when you look at it on a scale of the good and the bad, the bad kinda out weighed the good.
However today, January 16 2015, at Convocation we sang the song Let It Be Jesus by Christy Nockels & Passion Band which is one of my new favourite worship songs. The last time we sang this song as a school was during Jon Gregoire’s memorial service.
Let it be Jesus
The first name that I call
Let it be Jesus
My song inside the storm
I'll never need another
For me, to live is Christ
For me, to live is Christ
God I breathe Your name above everything
Let it be, Let it be Jesus
Should I ever be abandoned
Should I ever be acclaimed
Should I ever be surrounded by the fire and the flame
There's a name I will remember
There's a name I will proclaim
Let it be, Let it be Jesus
This song reminded me of what I am striving to be. A women who calls, not on her mother, sister, roommate or friend when I'm going through struggles (though those people are important and I should be in communication with them when I'm struggling) but calls on Jesus.
As much as my parents, siblings, or friends might want to save me from things in my life - they really can't. Only Christ can completely save me. Only Christ can save me from my stupidity, from my sin, from my hateful actions. Only Christ can save me from me. Which is something I will never be able to fathom cause I do a lot of stupid things. A. Lot.
But as the song says:
“Should I ever be abandoned or acclaimed.
Surrounded by the fire and the flame.There’s a name I will remember, there's a name I will proclaim.
Let it be Jesus."
Even when I don’t deserve it - which lets face it, is all the time - Christ looks at this messed up person and says “I want her." Even when I don't want Him - which is crazy because I should only want Him - He still wants me.
And the love Christ has for me is not dependent of anything I do (thank goodness!). So when I choose not to call on Christ and rely on my own strength, he will still love and embrace me.
It reminds me of a J. D. Greear quote someone posted on Facebook recently which I will end with.
"God, I thank You that I'm not saved by the warmth of my love for You." - J. D. Greear
Authors Note: I understand that this post is very discombobulated however I have left it as I found it in my draft folder.
Green Smoothie & Music
Sometimes you just need a smoothie and sometimes it just needs to be green. Ingredients
1 Granny Smith Apple
1 Lemon or 2 Limes
Grated Ginger (To taste)
1 C. Kale
1 C. Almond Milk
1 C. Ice Cubes
Honey (I just kept tasting till it was sweet enough)
Instructions
1. Cut & core (also peel if you like) apple into 1 inch pieces.
2. Rip the kale into smaller pieces.
3. Roll and squeeze the juice from the lemon/limes.
4. Stick it all in the blender and blend it up!
5. Taste it and make adjustments till it's to your liking.
Before blending.
Halfway through the blending process.
The finished product
This smoothie is super yummy, and because of the Kale is full of Vitamins A, C, and K and iron so it's really good for you. Though kale is an acquired taste in this smoothie the honey and apple mask it's earthy taste creating a crisp, acidic, yet sweet taste.
Lately I've been listening to this playlist by my lovely friend Melodie all the time. It's upbeat without being obnoxious. It's calming without putting you to sleep but still upbeat that it can keep you focused on what you need to do.
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