It’s Wednesday! I forgot last week to post a What I’m Listening To Wednesday post for last week, so I apologize for that. I’ve been preoccupied with other activities here lately and my blog is suffering. I’m going to work on getting better with that.
Here are the songs I’m listening to this week.
1. Turn Me On- Nicki Minaj/David Guetta. I’m a fan of Nicki Minaj, and I’m a fan of David Guetta. So it makes perfect sense that I would be a fan of this song, which is true. I have recently started working out again, and I’ve joined Planet Fitness. I’m feeling really happy there and I can just plug in to my music and get going on the treadmill. Last night, this song came on and it really got me going. It’s a song where Nicki does more singing than rapping, so you get to hear more of her talent and versatility as a performer. If you’re looking for a song with a good steady up-tempo beat, check this one out.
2. Aretha- Rumer. My latest discovery/obsession is Rumer. She’s an artist out of Britain who just released her album in the US yesterday. I discovered her through Spotify based on the description that she sounded like a cross between Carole King and Karen Carpenter. I have been saying on numerous occasions that we don’t have a modern day singer who sounds like Karen Carpenter, which I think is a tragedy. Rumer may be the closest I have heard to a match. The comparisons to Karen and Carole are definitely present in listening to the music, but at the same time she has her own unique tone which is really nice. The song “Aretha” talks about Rumer as a child going to school and listening to Aretha Franklin on her headphones. I like to listen to the song on my headphones, or in my car, or through my laptop…. You get the idea.
3. Tough- Kellie Pickler. I’ve been a Kellie fan for years, ever since she first appeared in season 5 of American Idol. I know on the show she came across as being the “dumb blonde” and playing it to full effect. In all likelihood she was probably not that naïve, but it never bothered me either way. I’ve always thought she was a natural country singer and I’m glad to see she’s made a career for herself. She just released her third album, 100 proof, and it’s getting great reviews. “Tough” is the first single and a bit of a girl power anthem. I think it’s a great showcase for Kellie and her voice and I hope it continues to do well. Give her a chance if you haven’t yet considered. I think you’ll enjoy what you hear.
4. Get on Your Feet- Gloria Estefan. What an excellent blast from my younger days! This song was recently used for Leslie Knope’s entrance theme on Parks and Recreation. It was hilariously used in the segment, and it reminded me of how happy this song always makes me feel. I was so inspired by this song, It’s now the name of my Live Healthy Iowa team! Listen to it and try to sit still. I know you’ll struggle at best, as it just makes you want to move. Definitely a classic in my mind.
5. Promises, Promises: Naked Eyes. Talk about another random blast from the past. I was sitting at my desk this morning and this song popped into my head. I haven’t heard it in a while and have no idea what caused me to think of it, but now I can’t stop singing it! I’ll be digging this one up in my I-tunes soon. If you’ve been missing the 80’s, maybe this would be a nice reminder for you.
So that’s the random mix in my head at the moment. I hope something strikes your interest as well. And I promise I’m going to get another blog post up this week, not related to what I’m listening to at the moment. Keep your eyes posted!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Getting Creative
I haven't been posting much on my blog in the past several weeks, but I have some good reasons for part of my absence. I decided this year for Christmas I wanted to be both economical and creative. I managed to get creative and made several of the gifts I gave this year. I'm very proud of them, but they did take some time that might otherwise have gone into writing.
Once the creativity got started, I haven't been able to stop! I have so many ideas and inspirations in my head, and it's actually helped me create one of my New year resolutions, which is to be more creative and crafty. I've found that it's a great stress reliever for me and I enjoy giving gifts to people knowing I've put time and effort into them.
I also wanted to share some of my creations with you, so here are some pictures, and descriptions.
The first gift I made was an afghan. I have made several of these in the past, and the chevron pattern is my typical. I've gotten the idea to branch out to some other options though, so I'm excited to see what I come up with. Here is the completed blanket I made for our annual friend group Christmas swap.
Another project I put together was a daily calendar. I made one of these calendars for my mom, my sister and my sister-in-law. Initially I had gotten the idea to make a creative daily journal. I expanded on the idea and made a daily "thanks" calendar. Each day the recipient can write something on the calendar that they were thankful for. I thought this was a great way to remember that there is always something to be thankful for, and I didn't put a year on the calendar, so it could be re-used year to year! Here are a few pics of the calendars I made.
I have also made scarves to go along with the calendars. They don't really go together, but they were fun to make and quick. Here's a picture of one of the scarves. This is my mom's, and it's in light raspberry.
I also made a scarf for Craig. We went to see "Sherlock Holmes 2" over the holiday and I was inspired by the scarf worn by Jude Law. The scarf I made for Craig isn't a direct copy, but my own interpretation.
So now you can see that I've been a bit busy. :) I am currently working on another project, which I'll be finishing in a few days and giving as a gift. I'll take pictures though and eventually will get them posted. I'm pretty excited about it! Hope everyone is having a good new year so far!
Once the creativity got started, I haven't been able to stop! I have so many ideas and inspirations in my head, and it's actually helped me create one of my New year resolutions, which is to be more creative and crafty. I've found that it's a great stress reliever for me and I enjoy giving gifts to people knowing I've put time and effort into them.
I also wanted to share some of my creations with you, so here are some pictures, and descriptions.
The first gift I made was an afghan. I have made several of these in the past, and the chevron pattern is my typical. I've gotten the idea to branch out to some other options though, so I'm excited to see what I come up with. Here is the completed blanket I made for our annual friend group Christmas swap.
Another project I put together was a daily calendar. I made one of these calendars for my mom, my sister and my sister-in-law. Initially I had gotten the idea to make a creative daily journal. I expanded on the idea and made a daily "thanks" calendar. Each day the recipient can write something on the calendar that they were thankful for. I thought this was a great way to remember that there is always something to be thankful for, and I didn't put a year on the calendar, so it could be re-used year to year! Here are a few pics of the calendars I made.
I have also made scarves to go along with the calendars. They don't really go together, but they were fun to make and quick. Here's a picture of one of the scarves. This is my mom's, and it's in light raspberry.
I also made a scarf for Craig. We went to see "Sherlock Holmes 2" over the holiday and I was inspired by the scarf worn by Jude Law. The scarf I made for Craig isn't a direct copy, but my own interpretation.
So now you can see that I've been a bit busy. :) I am currently working on another project, which I'll be finishing in a few days and giving as a gift. I'll take pictures though and eventually will get them posted. I'm pretty excited about it! Hope everyone is having a good new year so far!
What I'm Listening to Wednesday (January 11, 2012)
Welcome to 2012!
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve posted, well, anything to my blog, and I’m trying to get back into the swing of things. With the holidays and the various projects I’ve been working on I haven’t been able to get a lot of coherent thoughts written down, but I’m finally starting to feel a bit balanced here and I’m ready to get some posts going. I actually have three or four different blog topics in mind, so I’ll do my best to get those posted in the next few days. I wanted to first get back on schedule with “What I’m Listening to Wednesdays.” I’ve got some random choices again this week, but I think you’ll find some songs to enjoy as the winter weather finally starts to arrive here in Iowa. Curl up with these and enjoy!
Holding Back the Years: Gretchen Parlato. Gretchen Parlalto is a jazz vocalist who released one of the best Jazz vocalists albums of 2011, according to I-tunes anyway. I recently picked her disc up from the library, and I’m very glad that I was adventurous enough to do so. Gretchen has a really beautiful voice, at times both sweet and soulful. This isn’t the kind of music that attacks your ears full on, but gently slides into your core until you’re swept up in the groove. She’s great for relaxing nights at home, or for keeping me chill during my commute.
I’d Rather Die Young: Beyonce’: New mom Beyonce’ will likely not be putting out any new music for a while, so fans will have to be content with her release from this past year. This is one of the songs on her latest disc that I keep coming back to whenever I’m in the mood for some Bey. Every time I listen to this song I hear Prince, which is certainly a good thing in my book. I think maybe it’s the use of guitar, but it’s certainly a song worth listening to and checking out if you enjoy some throwback to the 80’s R&B.
Young: Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg: At first glance this probably doesn’t seem like the type of song I’d choose to listen to, with a chorus basically calling out the joys of getting drunk and smoking herbal supplements, but I find this song to be really catchy! The chorus bounces along and gets stuck in my head, and it’s a feel-good song, whether you choose to partake or not. It’s a good pairing of a fresh new artist with a seasoned performer also, and the two have put together an entire soundtrack album, so fans of hip-hop will surely want to check it out.
Smoke and Mirrors: Jack and White: For those of you remembering Brooke White from American Idol season 7, this is her latest project. No longer going the solo route, Brooke has joined up with Jack (and his last name escapes me at the moment) to form “Jack and White.” They’re working on new music and released an EP in 2011 with some really great songs. The songs still feature Brooke’s beautiful voice and are worth adding to your playlist. I get a bit of a Fleetwood Mac vibe on this song as well, and you can never go wrong there.
To Whom It May Concern: The Civil Wars. The Civil Wars are another duo getting my attention these days. They’re music has been described as folk and Appalachian, but I would just call it great. They released their album Barton Hollow to much acclaim and have been touring to support. They are getting ready to head overseas, so they’re gaining an international following too. Recently, their song “To Whom It May Concern” was featured on “Parenthood,” and it fit perfectly into the storyline of a couple trying to reconnect. I’m hoping the Civil Wars get back to the US for some summer touring, as I think they’d be perfect to see in an outdoor setting.
So there are my picks for the week. A little bit of everything really. Hope you find something worth checking out!
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve posted, well, anything to my blog, and I’m trying to get back into the swing of things. With the holidays and the various projects I’ve been working on I haven’t been able to get a lot of coherent thoughts written down, but I’m finally starting to feel a bit balanced here and I’m ready to get some posts going. I actually have three or four different blog topics in mind, so I’ll do my best to get those posted in the next few days. I wanted to first get back on schedule with “What I’m Listening to Wednesdays.” I’ve got some random choices again this week, but I think you’ll find some songs to enjoy as the winter weather finally starts to arrive here in Iowa. Curl up with these and enjoy!
Holding Back the Years: Gretchen Parlato. Gretchen Parlalto is a jazz vocalist who released one of the best Jazz vocalists albums of 2011, according to I-tunes anyway. I recently picked her disc up from the library, and I’m very glad that I was adventurous enough to do so. Gretchen has a really beautiful voice, at times both sweet and soulful. This isn’t the kind of music that attacks your ears full on, but gently slides into your core until you’re swept up in the groove. She’s great for relaxing nights at home, or for keeping me chill during my commute.
I’d Rather Die Young: Beyonce’: New mom Beyonce’ will likely not be putting out any new music for a while, so fans will have to be content with her release from this past year. This is one of the songs on her latest disc that I keep coming back to whenever I’m in the mood for some Bey. Every time I listen to this song I hear Prince, which is certainly a good thing in my book. I think maybe it’s the use of guitar, but it’s certainly a song worth listening to and checking out if you enjoy some throwback to the 80’s R&B.
Young: Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg: At first glance this probably doesn’t seem like the type of song I’d choose to listen to, with a chorus basically calling out the joys of getting drunk and smoking herbal supplements, but I find this song to be really catchy! The chorus bounces along and gets stuck in my head, and it’s a feel-good song, whether you choose to partake or not. It’s a good pairing of a fresh new artist with a seasoned performer also, and the two have put together an entire soundtrack album, so fans of hip-hop will surely want to check it out.
Smoke and Mirrors: Jack and White: For those of you remembering Brooke White from American Idol season 7, this is her latest project. No longer going the solo route, Brooke has joined up with Jack (and his last name escapes me at the moment) to form “Jack and White.” They’re working on new music and released an EP in 2011 with some really great songs. The songs still feature Brooke’s beautiful voice and are worth adding to your playlist. I get a bit of a Fleetwood Mac vibe on this song as well, and you can never go wrong there.
To Whom It May Concern: The Civil Wars. The Civil Wars are another duo getting my attention these days. They’re music has been described as folk and Appalachian, but I would just call it great. They released their album Barton Hollow to much acclaim and have been touring to support. They are getting ready to head overseas, so they’re gaining an international following too. Recently, their song “To Whom It May Concern” was featured on “Parenthood,” and it fit perfectly into the storyline of a couple trying to reconnect. I’m hoping the Civil Wars get back to the US for some summer touring, as I think they’d be perfect to see in an outdoor setting.
So there are my picks for the week. A little bit of everything really. Hope you find something worth checking out!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)