Weekly Favorites #29 Music

This week I thought I'd share some of my favorite music.

I know this came out awhile ago, but I love it. It's catchy, 100% pop, and completely fun.

There are songs I like more than others but there isn't a bad song on the album.

I thought it would be weird not having any country on the album, but it works. Taylor Swift pulls it off. I just bought tickets to see her concert next September.

Favorite Songs: Shake It Off, Wish You Would, Blank Space

This is a really fun album, and these boys can sing. They are totally cute, right? 

I would call this a cross over, where the music is influenced by country and pop.

If you like Rascal Flatts and Hunter Hayes, you will love Dan & Shay

Favorite Songs: 19 You and Me, Stop Drop and Roll, Show You Off.

Now onto some new Christmas Music.

Enought Said. Idina Menzel and Christmas Music. Very Solid Collection.  She does a duet of Baby Its Cold Outside, with Michael Buble. My two favorite singers, together! Its a dream come true

Kelly Clarkson's album came out last year, but it is still one of my favorites.

Her album definitely needs to be in your collection. It is such a good combination of classic Christmas and new Christmas. Plus, Kelly Clarksons voice is just awesome.

My Favorite Songs-its hard to choose: My Favorite Things, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, 4 Carats, Just For Now, Underneath the Tree.

Then, I just discovered this song over Thanksgiving.

Santa Tell Me by Ariana Grande

Weekly Favorites #28

It is officially the Christmas Season and I love this message that reminds us all what 

our focus should be as we celebrate Christmas this year. 

I am loving the Nude Color Eye Shadow Pallet by Maybelline. 

You can use the colors in a pair, you can combine 3 colors, or what I usually like to do, use one quad for one specific look. I love that these are all neutral colors but you still get a variety. 

You have a soft, natural browns, darker, smoky colors, and bright, golden tones as well. From what I've tried, they seem to blend pretty well. Everybody needs this color pallet. 

                                              

I am so glad Netflix finally made Gilmore Girls available to stream because I can finally see what everybody has been talking about. This is a great show. Why did nobody tell me to watch this when it was actually on the air? It is quick, its smart, its funny. My type of show.

And in my opinion the relationships and stories and plot seem real, and actually believable. 

Guess how I usually spend my lunch hour these days?

My new weekly podcast 

Serial is a new podcast from the creators of This American Life, hosted by Sarah Koenig. Serial will follow one story - a true story - over the course of a whole season. ( I believe a season will be 12 episodes, but I'm not 100% sure.)  This is the first season and the story has been so interesting so far.

Here is a description from ABC. 

"Millions of listeners are anxiously awaiting the next installment of Serial, that tells the story of Adnan Syed, a Woodlawn High School student who was found guilty in 2000 of murdering his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee. The podcast is the brainchild of longtime radio producer and former Baltimore Sun reporter Sarah Koenig, who spent more than a year digging into Syed's case and reporting her findings in almost real-time in hour-long segments released online every Thursday (with the exception of Thanksgiving).

Nine episodes in, the podcast has attracted more than 1.5 million listeners per episode worldwide and turned Syed into something of a household name,  inspiring a dedicated fan base, re-cap blogs and even spin-off podcasts, not to mention heated debates around countless water coolers and dinner tables about Syed's guilt or innocence."

I am always excited for my drive to work so I can listen to the story and catch up on the latest episode. Everybody should be listening!

Hair Inspiration

Last month, I broke down and colored my hair for the first time. I don't know what really possessed  me to do it, but what can you do. While I was looking at some color ideas, I've discovered my hair muse. Ashley Green. Not only can she rock any color of hair, but she is a good hair "model" for me because we have similar coloring with our lighter skin.  Check these out. 

Dark/Chocolate Brown

Brown with blond highlights

Honey/Blond

Auburn

I finally decided on this color job. I wanted a rich brown, slightly lighter than my natural color with red/mahogany highlights. It was subtle enough for me and just a fun change. I liked it so much that I am doing the same color this week when I get my hair done again. 

What do you think?

Book Club-Catch Me If You Can

I stole every nickel and blew it on fine threads, luxurious lodgings, fantastic foxes and other sensual goodies. I partied in every capital in Europe and basked on all the world's most famous beaches'. Frank W Abagnale, alias Frank Williams, Robert Conrad, Frank Adams and Ringo Monjo, was one of the most daring con men, forgers, imposters and escape artists in history. In his brief but notorious career, Abagnale donned a pilot's uniform and co-piloted a Pan Am jet, masqueraded as a member of hospital management, practiced law without a licence, passed himself off as a college sociology professor, and cashed over $2.5 million in forged checks all before he was twenty-one. Known by the police of twenty-six foreign countries and all fifty states as 'The Skywayman', Abagnale lived a sumptuous life on the run - until the law caught up with him. Now recognized as the nation's leading authority on financial foul play, Abagnale is a charming rogue whose hilarious, stranger-than-fiction international escapades and ingenious escapes - including one from an airoplane - make CATCH ME IF YOU CAN an irresistable tale of deceit.

This summary really just says it all. I really loved this.  I don't really know what else to say. If I had to pick one word to describe this book it was be INTERESTING.
I was most intrigued by the ups and downs in this story. There were times when you really felt the fear and desperation that Frank Abagnale felt. There were times when I got the sense that Frank Abagnale took on a challenge simply just to see what he could get away with. There were times of surprising introspection such as when Frank realized the first time he scammed a single individual, not a bank or company that had insurance to compensate them. There is no denying that Frank Abagnale is a brilliant person to have pulled off so many elaborate schemes. 

This story is just so incredible, almost unfathomable until you realized it actually happened. You just can't make this stuff up. What other real experience can you think of that has inspired a best selling book, movie, broadway play, and tv show?
I found this video last year with the real Frank Abagnale sharing his story.

Sunday Social 9.14.14

1. Favorite scent

Perfume, I think my favorite is still Touch of Pink by La Coste

For Lotions I love citrus. I had a pink grapefruit lotion that was to die for.

2. Favorite food

Obviously I love chocolate and sweet potato fries.

But my favorite at the moment would be Tacos. There is a small place close to where i live that make the best tacos. I tried the steak tacos and fried cod tacos. Both are delicious. 

3. Favorite sound

I love the cello. 

I am just entranced whenever I hear this Bach Prelude

4. Favorite picture currently on your phone

It's hard to choose. 

I love this picture of my cousin and I

I also love that was able to get this one of my grandparents together. This was on
my Grandma's 89th birthday

5. Best memory of the year so far

Our yearly family reunion

If you want to see pictures I posted about it here

Or the Hunter Hayes Concert I went to in April

Sunday Social 5's

1. 5 things you want us to know about you

-I love to sing..but it usually happens by myself in my car

-I am the youngest of 6 kids

-I play the violin

-I am quite the movie buff. I am pretty sure my useless knowledge will pay off on a game show someday

-My dream is to meet Hunter Hayes

2. 5 favorite things about blogging

-I love being able to document my favorite moments/vacations/memories

-I enjoy finding people who have similar interests

-I love sharing new amazing things that I discover 

-I like sharing stories

-Blogging is a good way for me to express my opinions, especially when I review books that I have read. 

3. 5 things you are doing before the year is over

-Hopefully visiting my sister in Florida

-Shopping

-Attending a wedding for my cousin Jessica

-I will be reading the book my cousin Mandy just got published Star of Deliverance

-I have been thinking of taking singing lessons

4. 5 favorite fall fashion staples

-Dark Jeans

-Ugg Boots (they are the only boots that fit my feet weirdly

-Cardigans (I have so many different colors) I'd say black is most versatile

-Scarfs (I have a super cute Leopard Print scarf I love wearing)

-Long Sleeved Tees (I have seen so many cute solid colors and stripes. You can layer them with a cardigan or jacket and they are so easy to dress up)

5. 5 favorite beauty products

-Lash Stiletto Mascara
-Serge Normant Dry Shampoo
-Loreal Paris Magic Nude Liquid Powder Foundation
-Not Your Mother's Thermal Heat Protector (for hair)
-Vaseline Lip Balm

SUNDAY SOCIAL-MIXANDMATCH

1. What are you most looking forward to about Fall?

This cute girl, my cousin Jessica, is getting married in October

I am planning a girls night to see this show in October or November. Can't Wait!

Taylor Swift's new album is coming out in October.

2. What is your favorite sports team?

I am hoping this new player Dante Exum will be good for the team. 

3. If you could go back to college is there one thing you would change?

I don't think  I would change much except for one thing. I would loosen up. I would relax and try and have more fun. Sometimes I would be too stressed to enjoy life. 

4. What was your favorite class you ever took? HS or College

It is a toss up. In High School my favorite class was English Literature.

In college I really enjoyed my Music Civilization. It was a class that combined a little literature, a little music (Mozart, Beethoven, Lizt, Schumann) and art. This class helped me determine my favorite artist Degas.

5. Reach into your purse what is the first thing you grab?

My cell phone. 

Weekly Favorites #27

SHE LOVES ME-MUSICAL

She Loves Me is based on the same play/story as You've Got Mail. The plot revolves around Budapest shop employees Georg Nowack and Amalia Balash who, despite being consistently at odds with each other at work, are unaware that each is the other's secret pen pal met through lonely-hearts ads. It was very cute and surprisingly funny! I highly recommend it. 

TAYLOR SWIFT

I am super excited for Taylor Swift's new album. She is finally embracing the Pop side of her music. I love the video for her new single SHAKE IT OFF.

 NOT YOUR MOTHER'S HAIRCARE PRODUCTS

Love these. I have noticed a lot less heat damage with my hair and a healthy thick texture as well. 

MICHAEL BUBLE POSTED THIS PICTURE

This might be a new album...yay for new music. 

Or maybe a new Christmas album?

In the studio working on something new! It's a secret....but don't worry you'll know soon enough! #studio #Vancouver #michaelbuble #teaser 

Sunday Social

1. What is one item you wish you could splurge on right now.

I would say right now, it would be between a new lap top or a new cell phone. I'd consider a Samsung Galaxy 5 but at this moment I would like to get a new Nexus 5.

2. If you had an entire weekend of no plans what would you do?

If I could I would go hang out by the pool all day. I would swim and then enjoy the sunshine and a good book. Or, I would just have a day for me and go to a movie, go shopping, and just have fun. Otherwise known as making plans  ha ha. 

3. What is the next place you are visiting outside of your current city?

I am hoping to visit St. George Utah this month and go to the Tuacahn Outdoor Theater. I would love to go see the Little Mermaid and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. 

4. Are you a neat freak or a clutterbug?

I can be both. My room and my desk at work can get a little cluttered but for the most part I keep things pretty organized. 

5. What is your favorite summer purchase?

I have bought some cute Maxi Skirts I got a Navy skit and a Black and White skirt. 

And of course I have really enjoyed my new car which I wrote about in my last blog post.

Buying a Car

I was really sad to have to say good-bye to Bosley, my PT Cruiser. I have been driving him since 2009. However, I found this beauty and she was quite a steal.

This Nissan Sentra is a 2012 and when I purchased her this week, she only had 14000 miles.  We found this car through a guy my dad knows named Jay.  Jay was advertising the car for $4000 under retail and he knocked almost another $1000 off of the price for me! 

I had almost forgotten how frustrating car shopping can be. It is stressful dealing with salesman at dealerships, even when they are very nice and helpful. I don't like to feel pressured or obligated to do anything after I have simply test driven a car. It is hard finding a car that you really want to drive that is in your price range. You want to find a car with decent mileage, a car that is in good condition, and a car at a fair price. 

I sifted through so many cars that were really cheap but they had been wrecked or they were almost 10 years old with 180,000 miles. I really had to decide if I wanted an older car I could be for up front or if I was willing to borrow some money. In the end, I felt it was worth it to borrow a little bit of money to get a quality car that will hopefully last me a long time. I cannot believe I lucked into this Nissan. I know this is kind of a blase and commonplace but it is exciting for me! Now all I have to do is think of the perfect name. 

Weekly Favorites #26

A solid lightweight knit high low tee.

60% cotton, 40% rayon

These shirts  from Rue 21 are super comfortable. They come in black, green, blue, black, coral, and white. They are only $12.99. 

These makeup brushes from E.L.F are available at most convenience stores or the E.L.F website. They are only $1.  They have regular shadow brush, a blending brush, a smudge brush for creating a smokey effect along the lash line, a crease brush, and an angled eye defining brush. In the picture there's the smudge brush which I use to add color to my eye lids. The smudge in the middle is the blending brush. Its also handy to add a lighter base color all the way up to your brow line. Then I have the angled defining brush which I use to apply dark colors along the lash line or on my crease. Check them out. 

http://www.eyeslipsface.com/makeup/eyes/eye_brushes 

The cute statement necklaces are perfect. They add a great splash of color and aren't huge and distracting. They are a perfect size. Believe it or not, they are from Walmart-only $5. 

EXODUS: GODS AND KING TRAILER

I got my official season tickets for the Hale Center Theater. 

I got tickets for A Christmas Carol in December and these shows next year. 

Favorites of the Past Couple of Weeks #25

I know it has been forever since i have posted but I am turning over a new leaf. So, here goes my list of favorites for the past month or so.

No. 1. This cute lady right here. My sister got a dog and we are all still in shock. Her name is Scout and as you can probably tell she is an Australian Shepherd. . She is so cute and playful and growing so fast. She loves to hunt around in bushes and she loves peanut butter. We're glad she's around!

INTO THE WOODS TRAILER-FINALLY!

I think I have found one of my new favorite mascaras. If you are looking for a new one to try give this one a shot!

HUNTER HAYES TATTOO VIDEO! LOVE

This week I got to see Wicked in Salt Lake City. My friend was able to come with and I'm so glad because she is moving to Arizona in a couple of weeks. 

I finally got around to seeing this movie. I thought it was uplifting, enjoyable, and, I hate to use this word, but cute! I recommend it.