Europe Soundtrack.

Ironically enough, I heard nearly all these songs while in Europe. Don't be fooled by the romantic idea of accordion music or german polka! 99.9% of Europeans listen to American/English music. Which at first was kind of a let down because, how un exotic! On the other hand, hearing english while abroad is probably one of the most beautiful sounds EVER. It's a toss up.

Enjoy the tunes that got me through my makeup routine in Amsterdam, London, Germany and Paris!

A.H.L.L (nope, that wasn't awkward at all.)

Oh its always a happy day when you fingers finally fumble together a Katniss braid and in the same sort of way, when they fumble a great save in softball! (In the one inning you played....but that's beside the point.)

Anyway, I've been mentally keeping track of this list but we all know how great I am anything that involves my brain functioning, so it was time for the pen to hit the paper (ahem, fingers to the  keys....it is the 21st century and all!) and get these written down. (at 1 am no less because, rebel.)

-TAZO WILD ORANGE TEA

Hopefully God has been keeping track of the numbers of hairs on my head and cups of tea i've consumed because I kind of lost count (of both) at least 5 years ago. Not all teas are created equal but this tea was created with you and me in mind. I kid you not, best tea I've ever had.

(buy it here!)

-SPRING SPRING SPRING!

Spring makes me happy for a variety of reasons, but mostly the colors! I'm about to mentally pack away my beloved black turtleneck (Mentally because frankly, I'm way too lazy.) and say aloha to my printed shorts and all that jazz! Oh, I am so excited!

-HART OF DIXIE

I mostly watch this show for the outfits (In my next life, I plan to be a southern belle, emphasis on the rich doting father.) However, the show itself is good too! My friend and I have been watching it at the same time and each week we discuss (and some disgust!) over the weeks events. Also the small town vibes are alive and well, which means #nostalgia for Kryn.

-COMMERCIAL HOLIDAYS THAT RESULT IN CHOCOLATE GOODNESS

I just went to target and bought cake batter m&m's and sugar cookie flavored popcorn. I mean come on, this world can do no wrong.

-SUGAR, YES PLEASE.

This song has quickly become mine! And if you think it's yours, well forget it! Whenever Sugar is on the radio I am graced with many beautiful snapchats of my friends singing along. Also, have you seen the music video?  Caution: after watching you might experience rare side effects such as A.) wanting to get married or B.) wanting to marry Adam Levine. 

-FOOD WITH FLAIR

I've been on this cooking kick and it's involved a lot of unusual things. I made a Moroccan-ish meal with the help of Sous Chef Mother and it was KILLER. I am not one to really remember food unless it involves 10 grams of sugar and cocoa but! Not sure if it's worth mentioning, but it makes me happy so duh.

Have a happy day full of happiness! Also, try not to be as generic with your adjectives as I am. 

TO PARIS, FOR A MOMENT.

It's a funny thing, the whole song-nostalgia deal. The night before Paris, the night before the most incredible few days of my life, was a flurry of scarfs, tights and accordion music. I was dancing around my room, twirling in my new hat and dreaming of macaroons with music from Paris (ahem, youtube) as my soundtrack.

I had forgotten about my little escape until a month or so after Paris, and I remembered in Walmart (of all places!) Whilst searching for a birthday card (a fruitless search, as far as cards are related) I of course had to test every musical card ever created. But I found one, one with a Louis Armstrong song, a song I listened to the night before Paris, a song I heard multiple times while in Paris. And all those macaroon dreams and Paris butterflies came right back in an instant.

Thus, a play list! Because I read somewhere, that Paris is a state of mind! And nothing could be better than some nostalgic and perfectly Parisian music. So let's go to Paris for a moment, shall we?

FRENCH PLAYLIST HERE.

Keeping it alive

Since we still have not opened our presents, things here are weird. As much as we'd all like to admit that presents are NOT the reason for Christmas....when you don't do it, something feels like it's missing. Maybe it's the HUGE mess that presents entail, what with wrapping and unwrapping  I wish sometimes we had a maid (I actually wish that quite often, so that was a lame analogy. )

(moving on...)

So I've been keeping the Christmas spirit alive, by listening to music, lighting smelly candles and wearing tights and such. I wrapped my first present of the season....on the 29th.

 Yeah, this is just kinda awkward.

(something happened to my gif too.... things are getting more awkward by the minute.)

Pizza saves!

Ironically, I put "Have FUN at band concert" on my July goals list and then totally had it ruined after being there for 5 minutes. The percussion teacher got after me for something I didn't do and it made me really mad. After we finished tooting our horns (and eating pizza), Emily and I (and Andy!) be-bopped on over to the lake (also known as a large pond) to harass the ducks. I mean admire their beauty from a distance. It totally made up for the lame start of the night. And now that I think about it, today was a pretty good day. Despite being accused of stepping on cymbals.

We also took some head shots in our fabulous (and matching!) brown shirts and khaki shorts. But I had some of that pizza in my braces. Needless to say, they are not great.

So friends and pizza. They saved my night. 

The Lip Issue

I started playing the clarinet this week. Well no, I didn't. I started attempting to play the clarinet. I'm no expert, but it must take a while to make the clarinet actually make music. Sure, I make noise. But music? You and I wish.

One of the many things I didn't know about the clarinet, and clarinetting* for that matter, is that your lips really don't enjoy the whole process. I've played it just about 4 hours over the past 2 days and my lips feel like they are going to fall off. And that hurts. I don't think I'd want to see anyone lip-less, much less myself, but sadly band continues 4 days a week for 4 weeks.....oh my poor lips.

Oh and another thing, I feared that when I started playing the clarinet I might end up looking like a certain Sponge Bob character....

 I know you fear him too. I really have serious fears of looking like this, all weird and scary and blue.  But looking at the shape of his lips, his embouchure is totally off. Actually, he does not really have lips....the clarinet is a dangerous instrument.

I still need to name my clarinet. How about Lippy?

XOXO,
Lippy-Skippy

*Clarinetting is a word! You didn't know?!?! Maybe because I invented it 30 seconds ago.

Baby Bowling

At first, I deemed my baby day a failure and was going to substitute it. But the more I though about it the more I realized how babyish my day was. Of course, there are two parts to baby day. If it was 2003, Justin Bieber's Baby song would not even be considered an option for celebrating. Especially since it had not even been written. But now you think JB when you hear the word baby. Or at least I do. And probably every other teenage girl thinks the same thing.

So I went bowling today. Cue the singing, dancing in the lanes and of course JB and we are in babyland.  Of course, our bowling alley is a little less glamorous. First of all, you can actually see the lanes and second of all you actually bowl and not dance and sin about how your first love broke your heart for the first time. But other than those minor details, the tropical Suburbia bowling alley and Babyland are pretty much identical twins. (I'm so punny.)

And then, I bowled like a baby. I complete and utter baby. And baby's who are reading this, I'm sorry. I must join your blankie loving clan because I can't bowl to save my 2 year old life. I think I got 38 one game and 23 the next. Oh just kidding, I meant 138 and 123. I wish. If I'd been in the Babyland bowling alley and been dancing and wearing high tops, I'd probably actually have gotten 138 for reals. But in tropical Suburbia, I was a baby with my bowling.

I think next time I go bowling, I'll go on adult day. Or better yet, Senior day. I'd for sure be a rock star and maybe beat my high score. Of 38.

Sincerely,
I'll always be a baby bowler

Tradition Love

Today is about tradition, because it's the super bowl. Our family's groovy tradition for today is that us kidders get to choose a Super Bowl Snack. For the first 12 years of my life, I got little Debbie valentine cakes. I haven't gotten then for the last few years, but I am still smitten on their sweetness. This year, it's iced lemon pound cake from Starbucks. Yummers!

I like this Tradition a whole, whole lot. My other favorite is that we always listen to the big bands on trips. I think I should dedicate a day to the big bands - that would be seriously awesome.

Stop reading this and go watch some football people!!!

For people who wear plaid shorts...

All you techies rejoice, today is the day for you! I'm no techie, but I can appreciate their technological minds. Techies are nerds. But nice ones! Brooke says I will marry someone who works for Apple. Apple workers are complete techies. And have you noticed they ALL wear plaid shorts? I am serious! Its really quite unusual.

Name your car day was yesterday. I didn't participate because I don't own a car yet. I should be thinking of names for my hippie van. I love to name things, as you all know by now. Our car(s) are already names. Elise got a rav4 this summer and named it Manishqua? I can't remember. It was a really good name whatever it was. And then our friends, they named their car the green bean. It is pretty accurate.

I'm having a bad techie moment. I'm playing a game on my iPod and its freezing up and the music is beeping, sort of. Where's my plaid shorts guy when I need him??

Sorry, that was kind of random, but I figured I'd tell you since I'm having techinal difficulties. AND OH MY! The DJ for Publix and Walmart are the greatest! I heard the Beach Boys, Michael Buble and Ingrid Michaelson. I was so happy. And I dont even listen to Ingrid.

The only reason I'm telling you all this nonsense is because it Techie day. Goodbye forever.

Sincerely,
Can't get rid of me that easy.

PS: This has nothing to do with Name your car day or anything with Techies, but once Elise got a microphone and she named it Ingrid. I think I should name my hippie van Ingrid. Or Blossom. You tell me.

PPS: I though of something else techie, my dad just got an iPad. If he'd only get plaid shorts!

Wonderfuly weird

Today was so 70's. I'll tell you why. First of all, I went to get my haircut. I got my bangs done, and they are just what I wanted. I can pull them over to make full bangs, I look like I'm straight from the 70's. Then Mom and I went to Goodwill to look for a costume for me for my party. We found the greatest outfits. Goodwill has serious Hippie stuff. On the way home, we listened to the 70's channel on Sirius. They played the Bee Gee's, Jan and Dean, and mom and I did an acapella version of "I'm leaving on a jet plane." It was so wonderful. And THEN, I got my 60's-70's style book from the library!! Now I am fully aware of what was hip and what was not in the 60's and 70's. I feel so informed. That may seem like it has nothing to do with today's holiday, but it actually does! The 70's were weird, but they were wonderful. They were wonderful, but really, very weird. The 70's and Wonderful Weirdo's day go hand in hand. And that my friends, is why today was so great.

Sincerely,
No wonder today was good, I wore Pink!

PS: Someone else requested my dynamic acting skills, this time I'll be Clifford at the library. Thankfully, its only for kids ages 4-7. Or so I hope.