I Wanna See You Be Brave

I'm kind of at a major cross-roads in my life.

My career/education could take a turn...if I want it to.

My social life could shift....if I let it.

My living situation could alter...if that's what I choose.

But here is the thing.  It could change....if I decide that's what I will do.

It doesn't HAVE to change.

Anyone who knows me knows the pro/con lists and flow sheets of if this...then that are ABUNDANT in my life right now.

Its been a frustrating time, not knowing which direction I should take. 

I spend lots of time in my car and it is often the perfect place for out-loud and...well lets call them... honest conversations with my Heavenly Father.

They aren't the tradition bow your head, close your eyes and kneel down prayers.

They are more the "look...here's what's going on" prayers.

Recently I was having one of these prayers.  And in exasperation I said "I don't know what to do!  Tell me what to do and I'll do it!"

Suddenly....This song came on the radio......

Now I'm not saying God made this song come on the radio.......

But I know He helped me hear it in that moment.

The answer to my question was to be brave.

Who knows what on earth that means, but its meant I've been looking for bravery.

I saw it in a dear friend who openly admitted to having a problem and asked for help.

I saw it in a severely depressed young women who reached out to a person who might reject her.

I saw it in a young girl who was sick but went through a medical treatment with her head up and her eyes bright.

Bravery means doing something that scares us.  It means not letting our fears paralyze us.

It means going outside of our comfort zone.

Its hard to be brave.  And we can't always be perfect at it.  But lets celebrate the moments we are!

I WANNA SEE YOU BE BRAVE

Musical Monday Time!

So I mentioned before I saw Ingrid Michaelson in concert.

She's AWESOME btw.
Funny.  Insane talent.

Crazy good music...melodies, lyrics.....arrangements!


But a few of her songs have now become serious favorites and have been on repeat ever since.

Afterlife.  My new JAM.

We've got the fight in side us

We are gonna be alright

This song was huge in the UK when Cheryl Cole did it.  But Ingrid wrote it...and it is AWESOME

(couldn't help myself...had to post an acoustic version!)

As she sang this song I thought of how it feels every time I go home to my mama's or UT with my 92nd warders.

The places where I feel the most safe.....

Where I go when I don't know....

When I have no where else to go.

Where I feel warm

Mix Tape Monday

So today, the actual mixtape-ness, is really just one song.

But oh well.


One of my favorite women...on my list of people I want to have lunch with is Emma Smith.

Emma was the wife of Joseph Smith, the first prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Throughout her life she suffered much persecution and many trials.
She lost children, she lost homes, and she finally lost her husband to an angry mob.



She impresses me.
She inspires me.


So today, we honor her, with one of my favorite songs.

Musical Monday Moment

HAVE YOU HEARD SARA BAREILLES' NEW ALBUM!!!!????


OH MY GOSH!!!!!


CAN YOU TELL I AM SHOUTING THIS WHOLE TIME!!!!



Like for reals though.....

The Blessed Unrest.....
Check it out for reals.....
iTunes....
Spotify....they have commentary on each song...AMAHZING
YouTube even!





Another great one that just came out????

HANSON'S ANTHEM

Yes Hanson is still around!
An album full of upbeat, but not annoyingly pop-ey songs...um YES please!!!

Plus who can stay away from the hotness that is Taylor's stank face....Issac's MAD skillz...and Zach's hair flip + smile????????

BE HAPPY BE HEALTHY!!!!!

Musical Monday:King of Anything

This song speaks for itself today.

Ever had someone in your life who thought they knew you...but frankly there was know way they could.

But they acted like they did...but everything they said was all...well.....invalid.


So to everyone who has ever been like that....who died and made you king of anything???

I Got You-Musical Memory Mondays :)

Little Sister reminded me of this song the other day.

And I promise to post the whole song at the end......but first you MUST watch this dance....its like MANDATORY!!!!!!!!

(no seriously)

awesome right???  Gosh they are talented!!!!!

Plus who doesn't love the "I never noticed how much I adored my friend" story!


So what does this all mean you ask????  Well....today's memory is more than that.

Right now I have a friend who needs some help.  We have kind of a new friendship-but I really want to pull him aside and have an adult mature conversation (we all know how much I LOVE those!) about how much I want to help him-if he will let me.


Cause I've been both characters before.  I've been pulled up from out of the pit....and other times I've been the puller.  (ps...only once did it turn out like the dance...just sayin hahaha)

Its nice when the guy you text on a bad day shows up 2 minutes later to give you a desperately needed hug.
Or when a guy takes you on a walk to check on you after helping your best friend get out of a tough spot.
Its not bad when you wake up after a ROUGH night to your door heart attacked.
And I will never say no to a much needed chat with a best friend that grounds you again

But let me just say-I love being the friend even more than being helped by the wonderful people in my life.  I like being the who picks you up off the ground when you think its all gonna be terrible.

There are few things that are better than knowing that you were there for a friend when they really needed you.

So hopefully  I will be allowed to say one more time "I got you!"

(ps....so don't really follow the story of this video...but minute 3:10 is just too memory-ridden to not share the weird video!)

Be Happy Be Healthy everyone!!!!

Lets Share Some Memories-Its Monday!

Alright-so this is probably my fave Katy Perry song (don't judge....I really only like 3.5 of her songs)




A couple of moons ago there was this boy
(of course there was you say----be honest you would find this blog very boring if I didn't!)

It had been a while since I liked someone.  So when I met him, my young girl side came rushing out-and major crushing happened.

And I thought he might like me back.  There were a few dates.  Several hard core flirting moments.

And then suddenly--"the mystery of the disappearing man"
Not truly disappearing since I saw him from a far.  But it was always from afar.
And it made NO sense.  Of course I tried to solve the mystery...which ended SOOOO well!




I was flying high on cloud nine-excited and as one of my best friends would say "twitter-pated"

But I read the stars wrong

And then I came crashing down.  On the concrete

And let me tell you-gravity hurts.


But it became clear to me.  And I had to let go.


Did you see that??  I should I try to shove more lyrics into this post???  tehehehe


Point is-whenever this song comes on the radio-I turn it up and sing really loud.
And remember the time I tried to solve the mystery of the disappearing man

Be Happy Be Healthy!

HAPPY MONDAY!!!

Happy Monday everyone!
So its been forever since I posted!  SAD DAY!
Note to self...be careful when trading shifts.  You may think you are being nice and appeasing the "shift swap" gods...but really you are just messing up your entire schedule and leaving yourself to work 6 shifts in 8 days.  YUCKY!

Anyway. We are back (hopefully!) and doing a special memory this week.  This memory is in honor of some very exciting happenings in my life right now :)


Once upon a time there was a girl who needed a friend.  And she met another girl who really needed a friend.  And so they became friends-tender mercy friends.

They only got a few months to hang out before life pulled them in different directions.  One headed across the ocean...while the other moved home to be with her family.

But apparently fate was not done with these two.  And by a stroke of luck and hard work, the one girl came back to this side of the world, and landed a job...right in the other girl's hometown.

And they are not AT ALL excited about it...in the least little bit!





So why is it that this is their song?  Why is it that every time it comes on...they look at each other, exclaim "its our song!" and then proceed to sing and dance like no one is watching???
And why for roughly 3 months was EVERY _____ Me Maybe meme posted back and forth on each other's FB walls????


That would be because of a fateful trip to Kansas City.  (the story is far to long to tell right now!)

So enjoy...dance and sing and all that jazz.....and have a call me maybe moment eh?

Also sad day...there is no picture of the 2 of us that I want to put up???  We need to rectify this!!!

Be Happy Be Healthy

Musical Memories....Please Don't Judge

Happy Monday Everyone.

Today we have a WHOLE playlist!

Allow me to give you some background.

My junior year a gal moved into my complex and we hit it off right away.  Me and another friend helped orchestrate her relationship with a nice gentlemen (think surprise party with him as distraction-not earth shattering but HIGHLY effective!)

But because we orchestrated this relationship, she eventually had to sell the contract she bought in our apartment.  Leaving a spot...that was filled by her now sister-in-law....aka Meredith (scroll down to the M's)

I could go on and on about how much I love this girl...and how she is my best friend EVER.  And how she knows things about me no one else knows.  And how we have been through EVERYTHING together. And  how we understood each other almost perfectly!

But that doesn't completely relate to this song....

We lived together for only 8 months but it might as well have been a decade!  And in that time we had many stressful moments, that often led to long and occasionally tearful conversations.

Now I also should mention we are both "Fixers"
(lets blame her rec therapy career and my almost career in family therapy....)

Anyway we always wanted to fix things....But some things just can't be fixed.  So what did we do???

Not sure how it actually started but we started listening to Simple Plan.

Yes ladies and gents judge away...Simple Plan the "rock" band from the early 00s.

Eventually we got to the point where we skipped the talking and simply walked in the room, flopped on the other's bed and said "Simple Plan?"  while the other one quickly obliged.


Not quite sure what it is about Simple Plan...but it always perked us up.

I mean who wouldn't feel better after a seriously angsty version of
"I'm just a kid and life is a nightmare"???

Its like when a doctor orders a ton of medication that hurts your kidneys in attempts to jump-start your kidneys.
Angsty depressing music when you are depressed actually ends up being so ridiculous it becomes laughable!


So enjoy..and I promise if you are having a bad day it will get better with this playlist.





Also please please don't judge us!!!!!!!

Be Happy Be Healthy

Wanna Hear My Recent Obsession???

SERIOUSLY!!!!!!!

Dancing around the house....LITRALLY!!!!!!!!  (yes I know I spelled it wrong....say it like its spelled!)


Enjoy!



And seriously I need to find me a swing dance partner cause I for reals have the whole song choreographed in my head!!!!!!

MOVIE MONDAY!!!

Movie Monday: Catch Up Post Spring Break

Musical Mondays---Mixtape

So a blogging buddy of mine does Mixtape Mondays....

CHECK OUT HER SUPER FUN BLOG!!!!!!!!!!
http://babyblueyes89.blogspot.com/
(Thanks for the idea Aleisha!!!!!)

But I thought that would be a perfect Musical Monday theme for today.

Although its not much of a mix....
I bet you can guess what I am thinking about today....

Just wait for Wednesday's dear boys linky party with Elise.  Its gonna be INTERESTING!!!!!!
And not at all for the faint of heart!

Musical Mondays: Can Dreams Come True??

Its a question lots of people ask I think.

I have dreams.  Lots of them.

I want to be on Broadway. 
I want to dance and sing....for a living.
I want to have a fairy tale love. 
I want to find my prince charming, my knight in shining armor.
I want to write a novel and
have it land on the New York Times bestseller list.
I want to go to Africa. 
I want to save lives. 
I want to make a difference.

I want a dream home...
with a closet full of a dream wardrobe.

But I can want it all I want. 
That ain't gonna make it happen. 

So what is the trick?
Do you have dreams and run the risk of disappointment and hurt?
Or do you skip them, protecting yourself from pain and heartache?


Or is there a happy medium?
Can you make your life right here..right now...your dream come true?

Dear Life:
Let me be your star!

 

Musical Mondays---Today's Girl Power Playlist

Last night I was told that Feminism is terrible to the point of sinful!
This gentlemen of course tried to redeem himself by saying that women should be held even higher then men.

Also apparently women should be MORE celebrated when they are in the home caring for their family.
Ever met this women?

Her name is Barbara Thompson and after my mom..she is my hero.  She is in the General Relief Society presidency.  And she is SUPER SUPER funny.  And amazing.  And.....SINGLE!
She has not had an opportunity to have a husband or children.  Should she be celebrated less?  She has made a great impact on the people in her life and in her sphere of influence.

We as women have MANY talents.  Those include our talents in homemaking AS WELL AS in general society.  And we should be celebrated for EVERYTHING that we do..equally.

Also since I am ranting.  My brand of righteous feminism is NOT guy bashing.
I mean I get annoyed with the guys as much as the next girl.  And I jokingly assume a confusing or poorly planned/organized building/activity/situation was the product of a MAN.

But lets be honest.  When you are having a really bad day...who do you want a hug from?  Who do you call when you need a blessing?  Yeah they drive us crazy.  But we can't really do it without them.
Do you really want to live in a world where we have to pay for dates????
Or one where, though we can do it just fine, we have to carry our own shoe-filled boxes when we move???


So in summary......Equal does not mean the same....but it does mean EQUAL.

so in honor of this rant....here is a playlist for your enjoyment!

Musical Monday-The Song that Is on My Mind

Can I please just say...it was almost 70 degrees today.  It is January....ps

So what song has been on my mind today?
This one.....



Last night I got to talk with a really good friend.  I got to hear all about their dating background....And I shared a lot of mine.  Not all of it of course....cause no one needs to hear all that.

But it got me thinking...about a few of my previous relationships.
And then I woke up this morning and this song came on my ipod first.

And I thought a lot about it.

Every person...guy/girl...young/old...friend/foe...has had an effect on me.

Some are still with me....still on my mind a lot.

But everyone is still on my heart...just like a tattoo

Musical Monday Spotlight: He is We

So this is He is We......I like them.  I like them lots.

My sweet 490 buddy Rachel introduced me to them a while back

And of course I have to give you their acoustic versions...its more legit....plus you can it really proves the abilities of the singers

So close your eyes and pretend its summer.  You are wearing a cute sundress.  Its warm and sunny...but there is a breeze...so you aren't hot.  You are on a blanket...with a glass of lemonade in your hand.  Cause you are now at an AWESOME summer concert in the park

This one is my favorite of theirs....LOVE LOVE

kinda inspiring...motivating....I'm making all my own plans..throwing all my old ones away

Cute :)  You ever felt this way???

PS LOVE LOVE LOVE her hat :)

The concert in the park is over...you drive home windows down....and you get to listen to these ones

Musical Mondays Spotlight: My Christmas Playlist

So today you all can get a little....and I mean a little....taste of what I listen to this Christmas season.

too bad not all of these are on Grooveshark....it makes my playlist slightly less awesome........

These ladies sing like angels!!!!!!!!!

One of my favorite LDS Christmas songs...makes you really think right???

An old leader of mine showed me this the first time.  

Its pretty great to combine the two (Luke 2 and Breath of Heaven)

DAVID ARCHULETA!!!!!!!  One of the GREATEST BESTEST Christmas albums EVER


A little bit of what we all need right?


ACCAPELLA!!!!!!  plus funniness??  AWESOME!!





I love love songs about Joseph


Fun song....I like Glee...don't judge me.


Makes me cry...almost every time!


Pretty pretty for sure


Beautiful...the unknowns are often the best


This one has become a classic!


Again...no judge about the artist....this is one of the best versions of this song


Beautiful


very nice


Cool arrangement EH?


NICE NICE


Good song..you know how I feel about this song!


I listen to this song EVERY EVERY first snowfall.  Great song!


Don't judge me for my liking this song


Love this song...Mannheim Steamrollers reminds me of my brother too


Carpenters...a must for Christmas season!

Musical Monday Spotlight: Adele

OK so seriously....ADELE IS ONE OF THE MOST TALENTED SINGERS I HAVE EVER HEARD!!!!!!

Very few artists can sound just as good..if not better...live then recorded.

And then beyond the actual singing come the songs. Seriously the lyrics this girl has are like PERFECT.  She sings what we are all feeling.
Funny thing...I was introduced to this album by someone who I want to sing at least 50% of the songs to..and pretty mush every guy since!
Sisters seriously...this girl is singing for us!!!

Nope...not gonna let you close enough to hurt me!

Don't you remember promising not to hurt me?

I gave it all.....and you took it and my love.  I guess I let you down and I guess it wasn't enough.  So please don't look back at this crumbling fool.  Just keep on walking down the road that way...and I'll go this way.

Somethings just don't go well together....like fire and rain.  It never would really have worked out.

Rumors are always a flyin'  Don't think I didn't know what you were doing behind my back.

Alright...here we go.  Seriously.  This is the song.  Sometimes songs sort of fit.  This one totally fits.......

(gotta do the studio version of this one...its just more powerful that way)
Alright ladies....last but not least.  You're gonna wish you never had met me!  We almost had it all...you had my heart in your hand.  But you played it.....and someday you are gonna get back the karma you have earned.




Just gotta say,....glee covers adele pretty well too...

It has a little bit of extra somethin somethin when you have the two parts going right??

Musical Monday Spotlight: heymonday

I have a confession to make.
I have always wanted to be the lead singer of a rock band.
Of course I have to clarify my definition of a rock band in this case.........
I'm talking like punky-pop...edgy pop.

Like this........

I would just like to point out...I liked hey-monday BEFORE GLEE did their song Candles as a cover.....
This was the first song I heard of theirs.....

Then everyone else jumped on the train.....

Cassadee is soooooo talented...i'm so jealous :)
Also...just throwing it out there....their new bassest...Chris.....ummmm nice...very nice ;)

Call me a poser...or crazy...But its what I like...a little bit of edge....but mostly perky...kinda like me haha

Here's a few more favorites...enjoy :D

Whose your favorite band????