off into the wild blue yonder

So, I'm off again. As I mentioned in my last post, I leave tomorrow for Winnipeg for five weeks! (On Canada Day. Really. Everyone else will be partying and I'll be sitting on the plane, probably beside some bizarre person who wants to discourse on about eggplants.)

How long is this for, you may ask?

Five weeks.

Do you know how much packing that involves?

This much.

(just assume that everything is stuffed to bursting, mainly with makeup and clothes)

My current life dilemna: why is it that socks always seem to disappear? It's not like I'm only wearing one at a time... The most plausible explanation right now is that our resident ghost wears them as hats and forgets to return them. (Or maybe it's my cat?)

My other problem: how many things am I likely to lose? I could make a list, but I just bought a new notebook and I don't want to contaminate its lovely interior just yet. (The first page is always the hardest. I never want to ruin it and yet I always end up disappointed.)

At least I have an epic soundtrack to comfort me.

I don't know how much time I'll have to blog while I'm over there- I'll try to fit some in and keep you all apprised of my adventures (or maybe misfortunes?)- but, as I don't know what the schedule is (or- the horror!- where I'll find Wifi) it might be difficult. (For some updates, follow me on Twitter!)If you don't see me around much, have a lovely summer anyway, blog ninjas!

drawing myself (spoilers: or a dinosaur!)

The other day, Jesse showed me his self-portrait... and it was amazing.

So, after crying for a little while at my own lack of art skills... I decided to draw myself!

...it didn't exactly go as planned.

As you can see, the facial ressemblance is totally there, especially in the teeth. (This is referring to the unfortunate period of time in which I had braces. My mouth was unfortunately pointy because of the weight of metal, and saliva frequently dripped from my glamourously coloured elastics... when they weren't snapping in people's faces, that is. SEXY TIMES.) Also, the butterfly wings. (I can see myself as a child wearing these.) Obviously, this is also a one-of-a-kind creation, which also fits my personality and style. (How many winged dinosaurs have you seen lately? Probably none. How many Tatianas wearing cat ears have you seen? Also probably none. There is some margin for error here, but it's Infinitesimal. ("Nothing really touches, bro, just kinda floats...")

The worst part, though? I was babysitting while I drew this (we were having an Art Time. I did not just abandon the poor child to fend for herself in order to create this masterpiece) and the girl's reaction, after looking at it dubiously for a few minutes: "Well, you did say you hadn't drawn in a while..."

Sigh. Apparently I should not rely on my drawings to get me by.

If you drew yourself, either seriously or in jest, how would you do it?

sunny days playlist

Exactly what the title says- a playlist of songs to listen to during a sunny day, to keep you in a happy mood! It's sad just how long it took me to make this... most of the songs I listen to are of the "dying-of-a-broken-heart" variety (no, I am not a country girl. None of them involve trucks) so compiling this one took quite a few scrolls through my iPod. (Yes. I still have an iPod with a click wheel, and I hope it never breaks. Am I the only one?) However, I didn't mind because doing this made me feel like Charlie, putting together a mixtape. (Yes. I do think too much about characters who don't actually exist.)

So, without further ado... here are some happy songs! (Links to Youtube provided, so you have no excuse not to listen!)

1- 22, by Taylor Swift. (Even if you're not a fan of hers, you've got to admit that this is a great song for dancing around and generally acting like an idiot.)

2- Crazy in Love, by Emeli Sandé. (I just had to include something from the Great Gatsby!... and yes, it did fulfill all my wildest hopes and dreams, thanks for asking)

3- How to be a Heartbreaker, by Marina & the Diamonds. (I'm not certain if this is altogether good advice... but it's fun, and that's all that matters!)

4- Spaghetti, by Darelle London. (Too. Cute. Eating spaghetti, watching Breakfast at Tiffany's, and hang-gliding- which I don't know how to spell- must mean true love.)

5- Home, by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. 
(This song is just so bouncy! It just makes me want 
to skip down the street... I wouldn't advise that.)

6- Stupid, by Brendan Maclean. (Let's face it, we all know people like this...)

7- I've Just Seen a Face, by Jim Sturgess- Beatles cover. (That accent. Swoon.) 

8- B.C. Orienteering, by Said the Whale. (Who doesn't love a song about hiking?)

9- First Dance, by Never Shout Never. (Another one that'll make you feel like dancing. 
Can't you just picture spinning round and round with a floaty skirt?...
or an otherwise nice outfit if you're a guy or don't like skirts, 
I don't want to discriminate) 

10- Skinny Genes, by Eliza Doolittle. (This is the one song that makes me wish I could 
whistle so I could sing it properly...)

11- Summer Nights, by Florrie. (Ending with a super-energizing song- go out for a run! 
Or tan, because it seems appropriately summery.) 

Have you heard any of these songs? Did you like them? 

letters to the universe

Dear Death Cab for Cutie: omg I love you except you just make me want to cry and omg never again will I listen to you at the library because the tears are a tad embarassing...

Dear Spring: where are you? We have had one sunny day in the past month. ONE. And today it's hailing. Get over here soon before I decide to move to another warmer country! #notimpressed (Okay I'm not altogether sure why you would be perturbed by such a threat... but still. Be very scared.)

Dear Pakistani Tea: at least I have you to comfort me. You're cooking on the stove and I can smell you all the way upstairs... mmmm. If only I had a warm fire to cuddle by... or someone to cuddle with...

Dear Kitties: I guess I have you... except the two of you take up my entire bed. And have also covered it in fur. Thanks so much.

Also, why do you eat mango? Off my plate? Are you really a cat?

Good thing you're cute. Or I would toss you outside. (Okay no I don't want to go outside... maybe just lock you into the bathtub. No wait you like licking the bathtub... I give up)

Dear Charles Dickens: okay so you might be dead (but you live on in Doctor Who! so it's all good... I think my new life ambition is to be featured in Doctor Who. WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF) but your books are amazing... plans for the day= made.

Dear The Fountainhead: you on the other hand I could do without. Although I admire your concepts... I could have done with some shorter speeches... (aka, ones less than five pages long) However I hear your brother-book Atlas Shrugged has one that is a full 30 000 words, so I should simply be grateful I escaped reading that... 

Seriously though. A character is a character. A philosophical concept is a philosophical concept. The two should not mix.

Happy Friday, blog ninjas!

hold on when you get love... you haven't had enough

By now, I'm sure it'll come as no surprise that I love music and anything that allows me to be loud and generally disruptive. For this reason, I love concerts- everyone else is even louder than I am! I mentioned here that I'd be attending some... and well, you already know how my Emilie Autumn one went (aka, it didn't)... but I never wrote about Stars. Or Marianas Trench.

Let's just say they went a lot better.

I'm calling this artistic blur

yes, it was in a church.  I don't think you can get any more special

I feel like this is a digeridoo... again, the coolness factor is through the roof

(Side note: The lead singer also wore hipster glasses. Be still my beating heart.)

we hid from the world inside a disco ball

...So that might have been the best night of my life. 

But the next one was almost as good. 

awkward selfies are mandatory

(This was taken during the first of the opening acts. I'll just say we ate chocolate the entire time and let you draw your own conclusions from that...) 

just so you know that yes, I really was there and this is not just my imagination

but seriously, I want these pants

and just as seriously omg he is so attractive, marry me plzzz

However, none of this compares to the fact that I put gas in the car for the first time alone yesterday. (BE IMPRESSED.) Why could this excitement not be spread out? Like peanut butter! OMG, it totally is like peanut butter- I always drain all the oil out, and then it doesn't spread at all... so it's like clumps of deliciousness... clumps of excitement? It might not be the most well-written metaphor, but it's accurate! 

...that might have been the most awkwardly written paragraph of my life. English teachers, feel free to disown me. 

On another note of awkwardness... the dancing. For once, I don't mean mine (even I can't ruin jumping up and down) but that of the main singers' of both bands... they might have been worse than me. (Except minus the falling down and bruises.) This was a great comfort- hey, if they're famous, I can't be that awful, right? 

...this is tired-person logic. It's after eight. Time for bed.

What amazing concerts have you attended?

current playlist

You'd think that after seventeen (I almost wrote sixteen. Why is remembering my own age so difficult) years of doing it... and getting only pain from it... I would have learnt by now that sitting on my foot is a bad idea.

But no.

I give you this disclaimer before beginning to listen: wondrous as these songs are, they will not cure the pain caused by sitting on your own foot... so don't do it.

What do you think? Have you heard these songs before? Based on them, do you have any recommendations?

concert? not so much

Last night marked possibly the one time I was disappointed by snow.

I know. You never thought I'd say that, did you?

But unfortunately, it is possible. Last night marked the night that Erika were supposed to attend the Emilie Autumn concert I mentioned here... but there was so much snow that we were trapped on the road and had to stop in one of the many hole-towns that surround ours.

So, instead of dancing and singing and attending a glorious concert... we took photos in parking lots.

You have to find the upside where you can, right? At least I got some gorgeous colouring done!

The waitress did look a bit surprised when I asked for crayons, but I was wearing cat ears... so she probably expected something of the kind. The two go well together.

Was this karma? Payback for all the times I've wished for snow, and no one else has? Perhaps. However, my other conclusion is that... it was the lipstick.

Yes. Remember this post? The last time I got snowed in somewhere? (Yes. Apparently this is becoming a semi-frequent event now.) I was wearing this same lipstick.

I'm a little bit frightened to wear it again now... what else might it jinx?

In other (less depressing) news: I have now rejoined the technological world! (All the better to share my continuing failiures, right?)

So far it's taught me that today is "International Cat Day"... so at least these photos are appropriate, right? (Maybe that's why my lovely kitties woke me up at four this morning?) Let me know what your username is- I'd love to follow you back!

Seriously, though. Really, weather?

confessions from the heart

1. Wearing these shoes makes me feel kinda gangsta.

(and yes, I realise that as a white girl who screams at spiders, that is not an appropriate thing to say)

2. For the upcoming Emilie Autumn concert, Erika and I are planning to look like, in her words, "crack-whore faeries"... so be prepared for some pretty crazy photos!

3. I REALLY want this foundation.

source

However, every single time I try to buy it either online or in-store, it's out of stock. I think the universe is trying to tell me something...

4. I also REALLY want this palette.

 source

My birthday is coming up, world... feel free to send it my way! More seriously, though, I think I'll simply not buy any neutrals for a while, then when I run out, buy it.

4. I wish people would mail me letters (or presents... I'm not picky!). I think it's an art that's been lost within my generation, and that saddens me. Is there an official letter day during which we can all share addresses and mail each other things?

5. I don't understand why chip bags contain so few chips.

Like, seriously? (For the record, these aren't even my chips. These are Kori's, so it's ALL HER FAULT.)

6. My right eye is slightly less open than my left eye, all the time... and I hate it. I can't make my eyes match, and I'm really insecure about it.

7. Despite the fact that Friday's snow day caused many accidents and that no one appreciated it except for our town's minority of highschool students... I'm hoping for another one tomorrow. (Yes. When it comes to days off school, I am very selfish.)

8. I can't do a messy bun, and for this reason (amongst many others) I feel that I fail at being a girl.

9.  I'm currently addicted to this song.

(Amongst many others. My friends are kind enough to lend me CDs, and I thus discover much lovely music!)

10. David's Tea no longer sells my favourite tea (Ice Cream Cake)... I discovered that this morning and am still upset.

And that's it for this week, dearling ninjas! (and yes, that is spelt intentionally incorrectly. Because I can never remember any of the lovely and educated words I know, I am forced to invent my own) What do you have to confess?

loving lately

...this song. Chills.

I found it on Soundcloud- do any of you use that? It's what I listen to at school, since Youtube is blocked. (So unfair. How am I supposed to procrastinate efficiently now?)

...snow. (This shouldn't come as a surprise.) After a few days of the ground looking like "a homeless man's dirty and ragged blanket" (thanks for the imagery, Mum) this was what it looked like after work yesterday.

And this morning, we woke up to even more! (Okay, we woke up to the grater, but at least it looks pretty.)

...having a spare. Although I have no classes I enjoy this semester, at least I have time to goof off and make coffee.

Okay, mostly spill coffee. And make my spare mates clean it up. 

(Details, details. They love me, so it's all good!) They did say they might help me make a vlog, though... so stay tuned!

...drinking hot beverages with friends. This is pretty much connected to every facet of my life. 

...trying on random clothes. In what universe is this not fun? 

As always, hats take the day. 

What's even better? These last lovely people came to visit me at work yesterday! (Okay, they actually cmae to shop... but let me keep my illusions.) For once, my break was not spent in solitude in the dark break room. (Thanks for making wandering around my workplace fun!) 

...practicing my flirtatious face. 

Valentine's Day is coming up... gotta be prepared!

...concerts. 2013 (and March especially) is turning out to be my year of concerts. Let's look at the lineup:

Feb. 2 (aka yesterday)- Trisha Foster. (I had actually never heard of her before, but the school gave us free tickets, sooo... and it was actually great!)

Feb. 18- Emilie Autumn. Bring on the crazy Goth costumes!

March 18- STARS. Oh my. Words can't even express how excited I am for this concert like omg whenever I think about it my heart just beats faster and I can't express coherent sentences.

March 28- Marianas Trench. Bring on the crazy dancing!

May 23- Coeur de Pirate. Peaceful and gorgeous and piano, oh my! (I've never seen The Wizard of Oz, but that line just lends itself so well to my posts!) 

So yeah. Minus all the school and work boredom... this is my life. What have you been loving lately?

here there be dragons

So, while everyone is busy posting about goals and resolutions... I thought I'd lend a little lightness to the atmostphere by posting about dragons.

Why dragons, you may ask? Well, I've always related to them far more than to those prissy little princesses in fairytales. They're just trying to get along as well as they can, stealing a few sheep here and there (and let's be honest here. Does anyone really like sheep that much? They're just like little balls of fluff. Characters in novels are always mentioning how tough their mutton was. Having a dragon around is far preferable, even if they do all get eaten... that way the poor characters don't have to suffer and lose a few teeth while chewing) when along swoops that pesky knight, trying to attain honour and glory by slaying some innocent creature. (You can probably guess what my feelings on hunting are...)

Thankfully, it seems that, although they remain an endangered species, not all dragons have been extinguished, as I had the pleasure to meet one this weekend!

Really, why would you want to get rid of a creature so sparkly?

(And congratulations random strangers. You're now immortalised on my blog.)

This is exactly why travelling with my parents, down and through random castles, is enjoyable- you never know what you might discover and, while unrealistic, pretending to be a princess as I wander aimlessly is quite fun as well.

While I wasn't meeting mythological creatures...there may also have been even more shopping. Just a teensy bit. (OMG that's such a lie. Just ask my father, who managed to be marvellously patient throughout all the "oh-just-one-more-store"s and "this'll-just-be-ten-minutes-I-swear"'s- love you, Dad!

Oh, and because no weekend of travel is complete without a soundtrack, here's the song currently being overplayed on my iPod:

questions that have no answers... except they do!

More questions and answers? Yes. Just because they're fun. (Plus I told Jesse I would, and I am a good friend, right peeps?)

What size is your bed?

Single? but I need a bigger one... there's just so many stuffed toys I share it with

What is your song of the week?

This is kind of embarassing...

but Little Things, by One Direction.

Yes, you can shoot me now. 

I'm also loving everything Ed Sheeran, if that helps? (In my defence, it was written by him.)

Plus, Jesse sent me this video and I'm obsessed with it:

Just gorgeous. 

Would you bury treasure if you had some?

No way. SHOPPING SPREE!

Are you afraid of heights?

Not really... like, I'm not super fond of balancing on things (like those high ropes courses) because I have the balance of a drunk toddler (no I have no idea where that metaphor came from) but in general they don't bother me.

Do you sing in the shower?

I sing EVERYWHERE. Public, private, it doesn't matter. Let the music continue!

Do you believe in ghosts?

Yes. Oh my, yes. (Read this post for more info on my ghosts.) I think there are many things that exist both seen and unseen around us. 

What was the worst injury you had?

I've had a couple of broken fingers, but that's basically it. 

Coffee or tea? why?

BOTH. They're both so delicious! (I like tea better when I just want a hot drink, and coffee when I want caffeine.) I'm drinking cookie dough tea right now.... mmmm.

Are you patient?

LOL no. 

What was the last text message you sent?

"Omg I was so jealous when I saw it! I am totes buying it next year when I'm at uni if it's still offered! (Who cares about food when you can have tea? XD)" 

(Just to clarify: I was talking about the David's Tea Advent Calendar. Feel free to send it my way as a Christmas present peeps! -wink-)

What do you want for your first tattoo/what was your first tattoo?

Do I need a tattoo? This question seems very discriminating!

LOL, just kidding, I don't know if I want a tattoo or not... the idea is intriguing, but it's just so permanent- it would have to be something super meaningful. 

So there we go. Did you learn anything new? Were you surprised by any of my answers? 

epiphany of the year

This week, I came to an important realisation. I used to be that girl who dressed nicely on every occasion. I was never seen outside the house in sweatpants or without makeup. I did my hair (okay. I tried. I should get an A for effort).

However, I just realised... after this year, I'm never going to see these people again. There is absolutely no one I need to impress here (except for myself, and let's face it, I already know I'm amazing). Therefore, I no longer need to expend any effort on looking good.

Bring on the sweatpants, baby!

(Or, in this case, the shapeless cargo pants that are as wrinkly as elephant skin and the tent-like polo shirt... although actually, that's what I've had to wear all along. It's just that it no longer has the power to bother me.)  The one thing is, seeing as the girl's uniform is the same as the boy's, I'm worried that without makeup I might be mistaken for one... Time to break out the huge and sparkly earrings!

On a slightly related note, I am pleased to announce that I can now eat watermelon-flavoured gum once again! For a while, I was using watermelon-scented deodorant, and whenever I had any it gave me the impression that I was licking my armpit... not so pleasant.

Oh, and don't worry- I am still wearing deodorant. I'm not quite that far gone. (Yet.)

And, on an actually related note (...okay, sort of, connected-ness is not my strong suit) remember me mentioning the construction on the school? Well, that's been going on for a while now, and I am in fear for my life. (So really, I should be trying to look good while I can... nahhh...) My hair is permanently filled with fallen ceiling dust (thus adding to that sexy hobo style) and everything hung on the walls trembles and rattles, making writing on the whiteboard a challenge. (On the plus side, if you get the wrong answer, you can simply say that your writing is messy because of the shaking and that you were actually right. I'll let you know if this works.) Plus (and this is the worst) they constantly blare bad pop music. (There is only so much BABY YOU'RE A FIREWORK this girl can take. My quota was basically reached the first time I heard it.)

In conclusion: I have to save up all my cute-dressing-skills for university, when I actually will meet new people... til then, I'm going to revel in my laziness.

xtremely difficult conundrum

In the comments of a lot of the exercise videos that I watch, people say things like "OMG these videos have changed my life! I have abs now! YAY!" and this makes me feel a little sad... because then I think, "Why is this miraculous transformation not happening to me?!" and then I stop and think again... "Do I want abs, or do I want this fudge-covered apple?"

Yeah. I think you can guess which one inevitably wins. 

Plus, eating it was this whole long setup. The process went as follows. One: attempt to look cute for the camera, and take a small bite.

Two: kinda fail at that, and look like a stoned vampire instead.

Three: go back to my normal slob eating habits and get fudge all over my nose.

And yes, this was my dinner tonight. DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE PICTURES. I somehow look slightly cute in these (if slightly vampire-ish)... but that is most certainly not the case. I kept taking extremely large bites (and almost drooling on myself... and I wonder why I am single...)

In case you haven't guessed, I love Halloween. Free chocolate, people! What is there NOT to love? Plus, my costume was pretty epic: I was a time-travelling gangster from the 1920s! (Although somehow I am not in any photos. Disadvantage of being the photographer...) I also looked like a female Josh Ramsey (from Marianas Trench)... that was a pretty felicitous realisation. (Just cause he's awesome.) 

So yes. Right now, I kinda sit around and eat chocolate and that is my life. (Except for when I'm too lazy to go get any more. Then I just sit.) 

Also, this song is lovely... a little note of seriousness.

currently...

For whatever reason, I am super excited to write a post of this type. (I suspect it is because I am super tired, and talking about myself requires little to no effort... I am a constant font of wisdom, or maybe just made-up words.)

Reading: Cotillion, by Georgette Heyer. This book (like most of Mrs. Heyer's, actually) is like chocolate: a comfort read. I can be near tears... read... then still be near tears, but from laughing. (I think I mention this whenever I talk about a book I'm reading- rest assured not everything I read is funny, but I do dearly love to laugh. Yay for random Jane Austen references!)

Watching:...New Girl. Yes. Still. Repeatedly. Also, The Mindy Project! (Has anyone ever heard of this? It's in a similar wacky-girl vein.) However, I couldn't find this week's online... I think that the presidential candiate debate played instead. -sadface- How dare politics interfere with my TV watching? Obviously I need to find some Canadian programs to watch, seeing as our elections are so short that one week it's like, oh, there's an election and the next day it's like, oh, wait, we're voting today...

Working On: scholarship applications! Yay money! (Or maybe just hard work for nothing. Who knows. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for CASH!) Blah. If any of you feel like sending me cheques for my wonderful blogging skillz, please let me know.

Thinking About: the fact that 'retardis' should really be a word: someone who is dumber on the inside than they look on the outside. (Doctor Who, anyone?) Also, the fact that The Lizzie Bennet Diaries are soon nearing a scene that I think Darcy will appear in. Does that make sense? I'm trying not to be too obvious for fear of SPOILERS! (Which, in case you didn't know, is also a Doctor Who reference.) (I know, I know, crazy fangirl alert.)

Listening To: Taylor Swift's latest release (OMG her album comes out on Monday! Excitement central!) as well as some Owl City (this song is so adorably stalker-ish... and no, I didn't think I'd ever say that either) and a... boyfriend checklist song? (It is positively darling, and I can picture myself singing this to someone.)

Eating: nothing... but I want pumpkin. I saw this recipe for pumpkin cinnamon streusel cake and I want it... but I am lazy and so I am not cooking. (I am fully one of those people who bookmarks 500 recipes and eventually makes 3 in a year.) While I'm at it, I also want every single one of these cupcakes because I can't pick which one looks best. (Yes. I will one day become a hippo.)

Tea would also be lovely  (after reading this mouthwatering post by Em) because tea is just THE BOMB. (Side note: is that cool? I keep reading 'cray' and 'cray cray' everywhere for 'crazy'. Is that the new hip thing now? Is hip even in? As a teenage girl, aren't I supposed to know these things? I'M SUCH A LOSER.) However, it is late at night (read: after eight, oh my) and so I will resist temptation... sigh.

Anticipating: my basketball tournament! We leave next Wednesday... I just realised that yesterday, and was like OMG I NEED TO PACK. (Yes. I have a week. That's not really a lot of time when you look at the size of my closet. Plus, I have to bring several different outfits because I will probably be sweaty... gorgeous, I know.)

Wishing: that I did not have to work. (Whine, whine.)  I know. I should be grateful, and I am... especially when I hear the horror stories from friends (example: the girl who works in the deli and has to empty chicken grease into a gigantic vat... all together now, EWWW) or think about how much shopping money I have. (Shallow, yes. Exciting, even more so!) Ah well, keep calm and write blog posts, right?

Not gonna lie: I had a ton of fun writing this post. (Hopefully it wasn't too boring!) What about you? How is your week going?

the melody of falling leaves

...yeah, after these past few titles I think it's easy enough to tell that I love fall. I love the rich, vibrant reds, oranges and yellows... the crunch of leaves underfoot... the tiny chill in the air.... it's times like these that I feel truly lucky to live in Canada. (Just don't ask me when it's 20 below and my nose is dropping off.) Plus, today is Friday... so that's just a little extra boost. (Really all that means to me right now is that I work for two days straight... but whatever, I still haven't gotten out of the habit of excitement.)

So, to celebrate this lovely day, I decided to put together a playlist! (I'm currently at school, so I can't put up links... I'll do it as soon as I have a computer where Youtube isn't illegal.)

1. Red- Taylor Swift (What better way to start a fall playlist than with a song called Red?)

2. Seven Nation Army- The White Stripes (For some reason the boys at my school are obsessed with the guitar in this song, so listening to them play it, I've loved it for a while without ever knowing what it was called. In case this is your current situation, I'm sharing it!)

3. Black and Blue- Ingrid Michaelson (I sing these lyrics all the time. They just get stuck in my head... but they sound so sarcastic and, well... "Everybody knows that I'm a mess" is pretty accurate.)

4. This Kiss- Carly Rae Jepsen (Some nice pump-up music!)

5. Be Like You- Ed Sheeran (This song manages to sound both cheerful and melancholy at once. It's one of those songs that you're just tempted to sing to someone... or maybe that's just me.)

6. Hardest of Hearts- Florence + The Machine (They are, after Stars, my favourite band... she has such a gorgeous and powerful voice, and all the lyrics are so poetic.)

7. Ribbons- Ingrid Michaelson (I love the lyrics in this song too.. they're so full of imagery.)

8. Relax My Beloved- Alex Clare (This song makes my spine crawl. The combination of his voice and the dubstep-y music... mmmm.)

9. Turn Me Up- Carly Rae Jepsen (Looking at this and the other Carly Rae Jepsen song, I realise they don't fit with the tone of the rest of the playlist... but I like them, so I'll just ignore that fact! I suppose fall does have some 'heart-pumping' moments... like when you're on a Halloween ride and the guy with the chainsaw jumps out, OMG.)

10. Begin Again- Taylor Swift (This song is so sweet and soft... like a lullaby.)

11. Firefly- Ed Sheeran (This song also seems very 'fall' to me. I can just picture the fireflies winking through the dusk, fluttering through the leaves...)

And there we are! This is what I've been listening to lately. Do you like any of these artists? Do you have any suggestions for me? ...and even if you hated it, I'll wish you a happy Friday!

a slight case of blabbermouth

I was told this morning that I was 'too happy' (although how this is possible I am not sure)... so I apologise in advance if this post is bothersome to you, dearest listeners. To combat this possible overjoyedness, I will confess a secret:

I live in fear that I will one day walk into my basement and discover that a tramp has taken up residence there.

...yeah, ok, moving on now.

The current dilemma of my life: exercise, read, or blog? (This is why I shouldn't eat chocolate any later than four. I get all hyper and bounce around like the Energizer bunny, frightening the cats in the process. However, they often frighten me with their unearthly howling- maybe that's why I think a tramp is in the basement? More like an elephant- so I suppose we're even.)

EXERCISE BREAK! Get up and do ten jumping jacks or run around your room for a while during my distraction... Okay, I'm back. You may now stop your mini-workout. (Did you actually do something?)

Without any graceful segue (which is really pronounced sedge-way... how bizarre!) this was my amazing outfit for casual day today!

(Glamour bathroom shots foreverrr!) I love casual day. It is literally the best day of the month. (No wonder I'm happy today!) Except this photo worries me a little... like, do I look like a Bratz doll? As in, is my head too big for my body? (I swear it's not like that in real life...unless I'm wearing one of my extremely large and lovely hats.)

Also, for your personal edification (yes, I'm in a big-words-mood) today was the birthday of the French-Ontarian flag! It's partyyyy time, y'all. (I really need to stop that...) Except not really... because there was only a boring ceremony -sadface- Not so happy.

However, I had Carly Rae Jepsen's new album to comfort me. I was literally dancing a bit (read: all over the place) in the hallway this morning. (This may also account for the 'too happy' comment.) Seriously though, how can you listen to this and not want to dance?

(Yes, you guessed it: I'm dancing again.)

Let's just end with: dinosaurs are the best. (Thank goodness I have pens to occupy myself during math class...) 

Kthanxbyeeee!

just listen.

Turn off the lights. Close your eyes. And listen. You may not understand the words, but there's just something about the way she sings...

my current crush: the perfect playlist

If you've been reading my blog at all, you've probably heard me mention Stars. (THE BEST BAND EVER! If you haven't, go read some of my older posts- I guarantee they pop up somewhere!) What you may not know is... their most recent CD, The North, just came out Tuesday. (Really, everyone should know this.)

I went onto their website last night, and when I saw that glorious notice... MY HEART NEARLY STOPPED. (What can I say? It was a great moment.) When I resumed breathing, I managed to download the cd! (And for someone as technologically challenged as myself, this really is quite the accomplishment.) During a period of late-night insomnia/snacking, I listened to the entire thing (it was a REALLY LONG period of insomnia) and I can safely say that it's pretty wonderful. In honour of this new release, I decided to compile a list of my favourite Stars songs! They play in several different genres, so check a few out- you might find you don't care for some of them but others may blow your mind.

1- Take Me to the Riot (The first song I ever heard of theirs. A little more punk rock.)
2- Tonight (Simple, and so sweet.)
3- A Thread Cut With a Carving Knife (Odd title, beautiful song.)
4- Do You Want to Die Together? (This one is off their new release, so I was unable to add a link. Sorry! However, I could sing it for you, as it is currently stuck in my head. For once I don't mind!)
5- Going, Going, Gone- Live (The contrast between the singers' voices is lovely.)
6- Romantic Comedy (The lyrics always sounds to me like a deconstruction of an actual romantic movie.)
7- Personal (Another soft, sad song, perfect to fall asleep to.)
8- Your Ex-Lover Is Dead (A lovely and melancholic end-of-relationship song.)
9- One More Night (Similar in meaning to the Maroon 5 song, but very different lyrics and feel!)
10- Theory of Relativity (The first single off their new CD. Quite peppy and techno-y.)

I'm sure some more of their latest songs will also be added to this list once I listen to them more! Do you have a band you're utterly obsessed with that you'd like to share?

Linking up with Jenny Matlock for Alpha-Thursdays and The Wright Stuff for Current Crush!

workout mix

I love music. And I work out (I'm sexy and I know it! hahahaha kill me now, I hate that song)... but love it slightly less. (It's more under the category of "I do this because I want to eat lots of chocolate"... ok, it's the only thing under that category. Whatever.) So, to keep things a little more interesting, I make workout playlists! And, because I love talking about music, I thought I'd share it with all of you... so without further ado, here are the songs I listen to over and over again. (Links to Youtube are provided. Aren't I nice?)

1. Do It 2 Me, Allstar Weekend (Love this song. I've already mentioned it, but whatever, it's good enough to be mentioned more than once!)
2. Toy Soldiers, Marianas Trench
3. Touch Me, Katherine McPhee (Great beat, very energising!)
4. Stutter, Maroon 5
5. 50 Ways to Say Goodbye, Train (Hahaha, listen to the lyrics!)
6. Stella, All Time Low
7. Anna Sun, Walk The Moon (Yay for Vampire Diaries music discoveries!)
8. Bangarang, Skrillex (Because I had to include Skrillex somewhere.)
9. Be There, Allstar Weekend
10. Shake Tramp, Marianas Trench
11. In The Next Room, Neon Trees (One of my friends just showed me this song, and I love it! However I am extremely creeped out by the lead singer.)
12. Lucky Strike, Maroon 5
13. Drive By, Train
14. Perfect, Marianas Trench (Also, just saying, they're Canadian!)
15. Drama Queen, Suzie McNeil (...this is me. Just a little bit.)
16. James (Never Change), Allstar Weekend
17. Desperate Measures, Marianas Trench (The video is so bizarre... but comforts me about my dancing skills, or rather, lack thereof.)

You can maybe tell by now which bands I've been listening to a lot recently! Of course, by next week, I will probably hate these songs. That's okay- it just means you all have to post new and exciting music for me! What do you like working out to? 


Also... I don't know how this happened... but I seem to have somehow ended up with fifty listeners! However did that occur? I have no idea, but thank you, thank you, and I hope that you all enjoy my posts!

glamorous guitar girl

I recently bought a strap for my guitar.

(Random tangent here: I'm suddenly thinking about teachers using the strap on students at school in the olden days. I am SO GLAD that is no longer the case... I would probably get smacked at least once a day for daydreaming/asking questions that have nothing to do with the lesson/writing instead of listening... ANYWAY.)

This was possibly the best ten dollars I ever spent. (Aside from protein bars. Except I've probably spent closer to ten times ten on those... again, ANYWAY...) At first, I was sceptical. Would I actually be able to play with this thing? Won't it just constantly be hitting my leg?

The answer: NO!

Here I am:

I seriously just wandered around on the deck for about an hour, singing extremely loudly (and probably very out of tune. Neighbours, this is payback for all the times I've had to listen to your screaming children.)- so basically, having fun!

And as you can tell, the outfit is very important too. To be a musician, one must have a unique style... which is why I chose my old basketball shirt (free! and comfy! What more could you want) + bare feet (who needs shoes? It's summer!) + cupcake skirt (just to add a little style).

If I owned a cowboy hat, I would have thrown that in too. (Or a dinosaur hat! Still waiting, guys... wink wink.) Ah well, next time. Do you have specific outfits you wear for different random purposes? (Like pumping yourself up, that wonderful shirt that makes you look like a model, etc)

Of course, when I'm busking, I try to look a a little more stylish: 

Who cares how I sound, as long as I look good? And just out of curiosity- what's your opinion on busking? Do you ever stay and listen?

As you could possibly tell from the title, this is my entry to Jenny Matlock's wonderful linkup!