Scarlett & Gunnar

I watched Nashville online this past week, and I just am in love with the songs that Scarlett and Gunnar sing. They are so beautiful. Listen:

And I was sitting there thinking about how hauntingly beautiful they are, and so very Civil Wars-esque (RIP?), only to realize that the first song is originally by the Civil Wars. Of course. It's on their Live EP which you can download fo' free here.

Do you watch Nashville? Or, if not, what's your favorite show right now?

P.S. I am so glad that Lennon & Maisy are on the show! They are so talented.

Jingles & Bells

Regarding Christmas music, I stand by this playlist I posted last year.

I also adore and am instantly joyful whenever I hear this example Michael Buble Christmas jubilation:

(this, and "All I Want For Christmas Is You" are definitely top 5 contenders, as far as non-carols go.)

But I also wanted to share with you some good news which, if you love Ben Rector like I love Ben Rector, will have you shouting "it's a Christmas miracle!" Because you can download his holiday album fo' free on NoiseTrade. Click on the pic below to take you there! (Thank you to Abby for telling me about this last week!)

You're welcome and Merry Christmas.

Trouble

Our apartment has had a song obsession for the past week and a half:

We love to blast it and dance along, particularly in the kitchen, especially while cooking or cleaning up (see below). Or just whenever, really. It got to the point that just now, we were about to start heading to bed (teachers and nurses living here, y'all. We aren't like those crazy college kids anymore.) and I was humming it and Taryn said "I have not heard that song in two days." Naturally, that meant we had to blast it and have a quick dance party before returning to the teeth brushing and whatnot that had been going on previously.

Apparently, we're not the only ones who think so: the apartment of male grad students we had over for dinner the other night also claimed it as "their jam." So, if you haven't had a chance to dance to Tay's new sound (listen for the dubstep!), please take a moment of out of your day and do so. You won't regret it.

P.S. At first, "22" was a strong contender for New Taylor Swift Song To Dance To All The Time. Being 22 myself, I was a proponent of this. ("We're happy, free, confused and lonely at the same time"...? Taylor, you give words to our 22-year-old souls.) But given that only 3/4 our apartment is 22 years old, we needed something a little more universal.

[pictures c/o Abby's camera]

Welcome Back, Fall

Currently Watching: Planet Earth. (With my roommate who is student teaching in 4th grade, and has to take notes on parts that might be inappropriate to watch in class. I find that so amusing.)

I'm fairly certain that a week ago today it was still summer in Cville, but throughout the week it has crept slowly into the beginnings of Fall. It started subtly enough with some offhand comments about the incredible weather early in the week (brilliantly sunny without the humidity or heat, i.e. perfection) early in the week, but by the weekend I was wearing a cardigan. Fall can be pretty sneaky that way.

Last week was a busy week (I've completely taken on one block of sixth graders + I had a birthday + we had Back to School night) follwed by a busy weekend (my sister came to visit + I was sick + we celebrated my birthday by going to a Polo game), and next week is looking equally busy (I take on a second block of sixth graders!), so I think I will have to stop and remind myself to enjoy the quiet beauty that is Charlottesville seeping into Autumn. This might involve sipping some caramel cider while I write lesson plans, checking out the new Avett Brothers CD (the music video above is a good one, huh?) and wearing my new impulse-buy perfect-teacher-dress from Target. Actually, I am envisioning that all of these things could happen in one sitting...

Weekend

I am feeling good right now, y'all. Because I went into this weekend with no plans, a little unsure about how this whole post-grad (sort of) thing will work out friend-wise (I think this is one of the trickiest things about moving on from undergrad but still being here. How do I figure out how to be in the same place but in a different context?) I ended up having all sorts of fun, though, meeting and hanging out with and new groups of people both Friday and Saturday night. And to top it off, I got to go to Target yesterday, and today I played volleyball and made cookies! Apparently, in some ways, I am fairly easy to please.

I also have been enjoying this song today:

I don't always like Christian contemporary music (it kind of all starts to sound the same...and you know how when you're scanning through radio stations you can always tell the Christian station within about .2 seconds of hearing it? Yeah.). But there are some exceptions, and this is one -- particularly because I feel like what it addresses is pretty deep and so necessary. And it's a cool video. (I also like this one off of their new album...mostly because I think the typography on the video is sweet.)

Here's to another week (and this time a full week) at middle school!

Raise My Hands, Paint My Spirit Gold

I've been playing Mumford & Son's new single on repeat to see if I like it. And I'm pretty sure I do. Check it out:

It's so unfortunate that it's over a month until the rest of their album comes out, isn't it?

Olympics and Such

Currently Reading: Love Does by Bob Goff

One thing I am a fan of as I've been watching this year's Olympics is this song the network has been playing every time they intro the Fab Five for gymnastics:

Love it. And also, I just love the Olympics. Especially gymnastics. Confession: I may have known absolutely nothing about the women competing for Team USA in gymnastics just four days ago, but I have definitely benn fully invested watching them compete over the past few days....and I might have even teared up when they won gold last night. (And got goosebumps at McKayla Maroney's amazing vault.) To be honest, I am not always the most patriotic of Americans (and I can't wait for the running events to cheer on my Ethiopians...and even my Kenyans), but I was definitely rooting for Team USA this time.

And now I settle in for another Olympics-filled evening...starting with synchronized diving right now. (What an intriguing sport...)

[image source]

Three Songs for Tuesday

I am currently mid-waking-up-from-a-nap and consequently somewhat bleary. Today we did an "itineration simulation" with the kids, where they had to get their passports and visas and medicals and go through security and customs, which were all set up in various locations around the church we're working at in as confusing a way as possible (à la airports in others countries). This meant I got to be in character as an impatient airport official all day...and let me tell you, being mean to kids in a British accent all day is just really exhausting.

In the meantime, though, here are some of the jams I've been listening to recently:

(Because On Top of the World just made me want to listen to more of these guys.)

 

(Because you just have to belt this one out when it comes on the radio. ...No shame?)

(Somewhat old but still so good. And stuck in my head.)

Enjoy!

Summer Jam #1

Because apparently Carly Rae is here to stay. Let's just not fight it. (And besides, could a song sound more carefree-summertime-like? That's what I thought.)

Come Dance With Me

Cool song, cool vid.

Three Songs For Sunday

Currently Watching: Parenthood, season 1
Currently Reading: Men and Dogs by Katie Crouch

I am sitting in my new apartment, on the couch that came from our old house -- although it's been given new life with bright stripey throw pillows. Next to me is a stack of thank you letters, addressed but waiting for stamps, and an empty bowl of ice cream.  Through the sliding doors leading to our tiny deck (that feels like a jungly haven, even though 14th street is just beyond), the light is sinking into twilight, a single firefly is blinking, and a full moon hangs eagerly just above the trees. I have plans to watch My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding at a farm my friend is house-sitting later, and to hike to a rope swing over a swimming hole tomorrow.

That's where I am right now.
And here are three songs to start out your week!

Last week's obsession:

Regina has a new album out!

And Justin's new one, surprisingly good:

This Time Next Week

...I'll be seeing this guy in concert:

Not to mention these guys:

Can't wait for a Monday-night roadtrip to Lynchburg with some of my favorite people!

Three Songs for Friday

Verse Love: "But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God's right hand. ...For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy." (Hebrews 10:12, 14)

If You'd Like: you can read about my family in Kenya here. 

Any day that begins with biking to Uganda and ends with a dance party is a good one -- especially if Cook-Out, a Good Friday service, s'mores, and Soularium are involved, too. But even though it's been a full day and I'm ready to sleep, I still wanted to check in because I'm going to be taking time off from the internet for the weekend. But don't worry, I'm going to leave you with three songs, though, to tide you over.

The first comes courtesy of Abigail Lee Lunsford.

The second was brought into my life by the Virginia Gentlemen.

And the third I've had in my head all day because sang it at Agape last night.

Enjoy. And I hope your Easter weekend is filled with awe and joy and friends and family. And some chocolate, too, for good measure.

So Tell Me Darling Do You Wish We’d Fall in Love?

I forgot about how much I love this song til it came on my iPod as I walked down the beach, post-running this morning.

I'll update y'all more later, but Charleston was super fun, Hilton Head is relaxing, and we are going to this place for dinner tonight. YES.

Human Again

I've been listening to Ingrid's new album this weekend. And while maybe I haven't listened to it quite enough to say this, I'm just going to go ahead and make the judgment call that it's fantastic.

Enjoy.

Three Songs for Friday

Quote Love:  "Let me live, love and say it well in good sentences." - Sylvia Plath (from The Bell Jar)

Currently: making hula skirts out of brown paper bags.

Enjoy.

Sick Sick Sick

I have been horizontal all day, drinking fluids and dozing and trying not to throw up anymore. So to distract you from the fact that I have nothing exciting to say to you today, I'm going to leave you with this lovely song. Taylor Swift + The Civil Wars? For The Hunger Games movie? Let's just say that I am quite proud of Taylor right now.

P.S. How was everyone's Christmas??

Hanging With Joy and John Paul

So, the Civil Wars concert.

We all know it's been a long time coming, so expectations were high. But the night started out right with margaritas with my housemates and then, when I was waiting outside the Jefferson Theater for Hope so we could go in, a random woman was trying to get rid of two extra tickets and I was able to score them for two of my other housemates, Margaret and Allie. Nothing like spreading a little Civil Wars cheer to those I live with, right?

And, y'all, they did not disappoint. Obviously their music is beautiful, and it was just as beautiful and impressive live. Not to mention the chemistry between Joy and John Paul -- they just interacted so well with each other, and you could tell they were enjoying being up there. Joy was smiling for about 80% of the time. And they were funny when they talked. And I was with a good group of people who appreciated them just as much as I did -- all of us were having a good time. And, (maybe I shouldn't tell you this, but...) for their encore, they did a cover of "Billie Jean." I don't even like Michael Jackson, but this version? Maybe you just have to see it for yourselves:

All in all, if you ever have the chance to see the Civil Wars live, do it. Their harmonies, their amazing talent in general, the way they play with the music that is already so wonderful in a way that makes it even more stunning, their personalities....just go see them. (And bonus points if you get to see them in a venue decked out in Christmas lights.)

[image source]

Paper-Writing.

I suppose if one must spend their afternoon writing a paper, the way to do so would be to:

1. drink a Grande Peppermint Mocha (no whip) 

and 2. listen to Ingrid Michaelson's new single on repeat

(Her new album set to release January 24! YEAH YEAH YEAH Love her.)

while writing.

P.S. five page draft knocked out in two hours. HOLLER.

O My Soul, Faint Not

 Here's a pretty song for your Monday night:

Here's another of their songs that I've been enjoying today, too. And, as an added bonus, it has Mac Powell in it. Shout out to my mama, who loves Third Day solely because she likes that she can always recognize Mac Powell's voice.

P.S. Don't they remind you of JJ Heller?