A Day Late and Dollar Short. Have You Heard?

I know I know, it's already Friday and I'm just posting this. Losing my enthusiasm, but at least the music keeps me going.

1. This song is gorgeous. This band is basically the band that became Fun., which pretty much everyone has heard by now. They are a little different than Fun. of course, and they have a more classic band sound, what with the way the guitar sounds and all that. Aucoustic is so beautiful, so it's no wonder that I love this song.


2. An awesome story, and I love the drums!


3. Something a little more upbeat. This just makes me wanna dance.


4. And then beyond the upbeat, to just plain electronic! I love the horn though. It's worth the listen.

Have You Heard?

I know that I have pretty much skipped the songs of the day for the last few days, but that's because I'm in the process of moving. I am still going to do a Have You Heard for this week though, and here it is!

1. Browsing through Youtube videos and following suggestions is probably the fastest way to find new music for me. That's how I found this. She has a gorgeous voice and I personally love looking at her!


2. This is sort of strange and catchy...


3. This song was pretty much the anthem of my entire winter last year. I'm not sure why, but I'm in love with this song.


4. Another strange one, but I really love the video. It reminds me of... dare I say, dungeons and dragons?

Song of Today

I found this video on Artist in the Plus on Google+ (if you're a fan of music, you should really check it out). I like the sound, it's very.... jazzy but more exciting. Check it.

Song of the Day

There's not much to say, just great music...

Another Song of the Day

I am a lover of folk music... and I think these guys do it so well... Their music is so simple and that's an important quality in a world where so much music is amplified and autotuned. What I'm saying is less is more sometimes, because it's more real.

In Case You Were Wondering...

I understand that a lot of the people who look at this blog may wonder why I post so much music. To be truthful, it's really because this is about my life. Currently, I am awaiting the papers for my divorce to reach me by mail, and I'm afraid of what that may bring. Maybe it will finally become real to me that my daughter's father and I no longer have any relationship beyond being the parents of the same child. Music is my way of dealing with that, just as it has been my way of dealing with most of the difficult things in my life. I have been through a lot in the last year and a half, and many things in my life have changed. My relationship with my daughter has strengthened and grown, and music is part of that relationship. We listen while we cook, we dance and we sing, and it brings us joy or calms us when we are a little too on edge. It is my crutch, and I think it's not the worst thing I could be doing, if you catch my meaning. I apologize if you are bored by it, but I will never tire of hearing a note played or sung. It expresses things that I cannot put into words myself, my pain, my grief, my happiness, my fear. I hope you can appreciate that.

Song of the Day

A great cover of Kid Cudi's Pursuit of Hapiness. I actually like this version better, but shhhhh, don't tell!

Have you heard?

The second edition of have you heard?! Welcome, if you're new, this is where I share some of the latest things I've been listening to, and hopefully something you haven't heard before and you'll fall in love with. Enjoy!

1. I have been really excited about this all week, because I think I found a new favorite band (to add to my other bajillion). It's pretty rare for me to instantly gravitate towards a band, but once it happens I listen to them without tire for at least a week. That's what happened with this one. I couldn't share just one song either. The song that I found was You're on My Mind, and I blew it off after listening to it once. I found myself later humming and singing the chorus, and decided to listen to it again. And again. And therefore, decided to explore other tracks. If you don't like one song, please give the others a listen, because they are all a little different! *There is a playlist here, you can control what you watch by clicking on the little symbol inside the youtube screen that looks like a box with a play button inside that's to the right, next to watch later!*


2. I discovered this song when I discovered Fun. and it just always seemed like a great song to me. Maybe that's because it includes Nate Ruess? Either way, it's a little strange, but then again, new music is always strange until you get used to it!


3. I really love the guitar in this song! Band of Skulls always puts something out there that I like. A little rock and roll in the mix!


4. The first time I heard Imagine Dragons back in February, I was in love. When they got on the radio in my area, I was super excited, and I'm sure by now that everyone has heard It's Time. This was the first song that I heard by them, and it's still my favorite. I keep hoping that this will be the next one to hit the air because it really is the song that made me fall in love with them.

Song of the Day

Mellow and awesome... Check it!

My Secret Weapon

In my recent quest to de-stress myself (this lasting a few weeks now), and find a way to stop worrying and being so high-strung, I decided to try meditation. Again. I've tried it a million times before, and it's just not something I can stick to because it takes too long. I have been doing mini-mediations when I can feel myself get overwhelmed, but that's about it. Before I moved on to something else, I wanted to do a little research. I checked out zen, which is kind of like Buddhism, but without the religious aspect. I've always loved the spiritual (again, not religious) part of Buddhism. I feel like it's important for everyone to connect with their inner peace every now and again, as often as possible in fact. As I was stumbling through and reading some things, I learned a few tricks to keep myseslf under control. I also found a lot of guided meditaion on the internet. The only problem with guided meditation is it puts me to sleep. I don't mean that in a bad way, but it literally makes me sleepy to focus and be still for that long, and I would find myself waking up after an hour and a half when I was only supposed to be down for 20 minutes!
At any rate, let me get on with what this post is really about. I was having trouble one night. Trouble with getting Ally to go to sleep. Her bed time is very early because we have to be up very early to make the 35 minute ride to her school. Sometimes all her energy isn't gone by that early in the night, so she was giving me a very hard time, and I was getting pretty frustrated. Because I was frustrated, I instantly thought, "I should meditate", thinking that this was really the time to put this to the test. Then I thought again. What if I had Ally meditate? It might make her calm down, and maybe even sleep like I do. I flipped the computer on faster than I ever thought I could. We listened to a guided meditation, and within 10 minutes, we were both out like a light.
Needless to say, it worked! Now, I make her do it every night she is with me. It helps her sleep and makes her focus, and she seems to wake up easier in the morning. It is something that I would recommend to any mom with a child over the age of 4 who has to be in bed by a certain time. It's also a good way for both of us to calm down and get rid of some stress, as well as spend some quality time together. Here's the link to the guided meditation that I use: here. It's called the secret garden, and I found it on Facebook, of all places! Good luck with this, and if you check it out, let me know how it goes!

Tuesday Afternoon

A little knitting, a little Bon Iver... a little happy me... :)

Monday's Song of the Day

Ok Youtube, fine, I will finally listen to your suggestion... oh my, it's lovely...

Song of the Day

I have been listening to 10 years for, well, years. This is my favorite song by them... enjoy!

Song of the Day

You are the smell before the rain... enough said, really.

Song of the Day

These guys will be touring with The Paper Kites soon, as well as Battleships. This song is pretty great...

It's All in the Grits!

Recipes. Right. I said that... well here's one that I came up with on the fly recently, because I'm pretty broke (<---- how's that for honesty?) and I just had to work with what was in the kitchen. It is perfectly acceptable to omit the tomatoes or anything else you want to, and you could add vegetables to this, as well as anything else you wanted to really (corn? peppers? asparagus?). I like to play with things, but this is just what I had in the kitchen that day. I promise, it sounds weird, but it's really delicious and it's really cheap. You can even forget the sausage and use beans, chicken, shrimp, or nothing at all in its place. If you try it, I hope you enjoy it, I definitely loved it.

                 Sausage and Grits
                    Serves 2

♔ 2 Mild Italian Sausages
♔ olive oil for browning
♔ 1 cup diced tomatoes + juice
♔ 1/2 small onion, chopped
♔ 1 garlic clove, minced
♔ 1 cup frozen peas
♔ 1 cup frozen spinach
♔ grits (and water for preperation)
♔ shredded cheddar cheese to taste (optional)
♔ salt and pepper to taste (optional)

If you got uncooked sausages, boil them until they are cooked through, about 7 minutes, then slice into 1/2 inch pieces. If you got cooked ones, brown them in the pan, and then slice into 1/2 inc pieces. Prepare grits according to package (I made 2 servings), this will take about 5 minutes (plus time for the water to boil). Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet on medium heat. Add sausage pieces and onion. Cook until onions are soft and sausage is browned, about 5 mintues, stirring often. Add garlic and tomatoes. Heat for 2 minutes, or until tomato juice is warm. Add vegetables, cook for about 6 minutes, or until vegetables are heated through. Season to taste. Add cheese to the grits (optional). Serve sausage mixture over cheese grits and enjoy!

Have you heard?

Once a week, I'd like to take the time to share with you what I'm listening to, and possibly something you haven't heard yet. Maybe you'll fall in love with these songs like I did.

1. In Retrospect - Battleships.
What's not to love about a room full of lamps and a man in a bowtie? I say nothing.


2. Gangnam Style - Psy.
The number one video on Youtube right now, a huge hit in Korea as well as in the states, and quickly spreading worldwide. I just love the dance!


3. Better Than Nothing - Sarah Jaffe.
I also love her song Summer Begs, but this one is great! She has an awesome voice and kickass lyrics. I fell in love the moment I heard her voice.


4. Come Away to the Water (feat. Rozzi Crane) - Maroon 5.
I am probably the only person who never saw The Hunger Games. This is likely why I just discovered this song. I love it, and I don't think it sounds anything like Maroon 5's style. I love it when artists step out of their comfort zones and create something wonderful.


Well I hope you enjoy! Keep listening!

Song of the Day

The Paper Kites just released their new EP, Young North, and this is the featured song... I love it!

Exactly What I Needed

I took a friend of mine to the doctor the other day, but I got bored sitting in the waiting room, so I decided to go out and take a walk. I was wandering along when I stumbled on this:

The thing that amazed me the most was that they were growing in a ditch! That's only the second time I've seen a lilly pad in my entire life, and to find hundreds of them hiding in a ditch was really cool. It made me think about some things, about life and all its turmoil. The divorce I'm currently going through has made me think about life a lot. I have learned ways to stay positive when I never thought I could, and the experience has made me that much stronger. It's another one of those ways that I've found beauty and strength in the midst of turmoil, and I just had to share!

Ally's Soundtrack

So I have a child who is a huge fan of music. I must say that this definitely is my own fault. Every time we get in the car, she DEMANDS music. She's been telling people to be quiet and turn up the volume on the stereo since she started forming sentences. I, unlike most parents, never really let her listen to kids music. Sure, Disney movie songs and whatnot, fine. But I was determined that I would never have to listen to a Kidz Bop album or Sesame Street. If we are listening to music purposefully, as in not on the television or a movie, then it's always real music. In fact, when she was 3, I changed my lullaby for her from You are my Sunshine to The Only Exception by Paramore. Any Paramore song did the trick really. A little over a year ago, I made good friends with someone that I started working with at the time, and he was just as much of a music lover as I was. He introduced me to some new sounds, and really put the fire back in me to discover what was out there that wasn't really heard by the masses. Allison grasped onto this, and her love for music went soaring. I wanted to share some of her favorite songs. Enjoy! *Disclaimer: you may feel that some of these songs are not appropriate for your child. We always listen to the edited versions, and it is under your discretion as to what you let your child listen to. I am under no circumstances responsible for any repercussions!*

Ally's Playlist

Kids - MGMT Watch the video.
Home - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros Video version.
Rolling in the Deep - Adele Watch the video.
Morning Glory - Oasis Video Version.
I've Got Your Number - Passion Pit Video Version
The Only Exception - Paramore Watch the video.
Do You Want to Know a Secret - The Beatles Video version.
Young Folks - Peter, Bjorn, and John Watch the video.
We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monáe) - Fun. Watch the video.
Tongue Tied - Grouplove Watch the video.
Our Song - Taylor Swift Watch the video.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

I wanted to share a song. Well, actually it's a mash up of two songs done by one man and his ukulele. It's beautfiul, and you've probably heard it before. I heard it years ago on a t.v. show that I used to watch. It's been keeping me positive today...
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World

The Forest Echos with Laughter

I feel like sometimes I forget what life is about. Or maybe it's that I don't even know after all. I get a little caught up in trying to make money to support myself and my daughter, schedules and work, trying to make facetime with all my family members and all the other little things that come together to make up my life. Cleaning out the fridge and vaccuming the floor suddenly become a priority rather than taking down time to enjoy myself and time with my daughter. I forget that the world is bigger than myself, that it's bigger than the few miles I drive to and from work, and that outside of what I'm doing, the world is carrying on around me at a different pace. It's nice to take a break from all the things that I call "life". A break from reality in the midst of reality. Sometimes it's as simple as taking a walk, because I ride in the car so much that I forget that there is earth rather than pavement, that there is sky rather than ceilings, that there are trees and flowers rather than furniture and electronics. It's nice to get disconnected.
It's also fantastic to remember that in the midst of turmoil there should be laughter. I bring this up because I was reminded of this by a patch of trees. This may sound strange, but if you saw them, you'd know what I mean. On the road I travel every day, there used to be forest on either side (which I loved), but they cut and burned a huge chunk of it out. I was sad to see it when they had done this, because suddenly the forest I was passing gave way to a great field full of burned wood and ash, and what was once so beautiful was now nothing but a smoldering blackness in the center of greenery. I felt like this had violated the earth somehow, and for some reason I was hurt by it. You must understand that I am a lover of nature, especially trees and all their greatness and age. They seem so graceful to me, and their ability to be stable and to stand the test of time is amazing to me. The one thing I noticed about what is now a field, is that they had left a few trees, 5 I believe, right in the middle. They weren't the usual pine trees, and maybe that's why they weren't cut down. I'm not sure what kind of trees they were, but it seemed to me in that first moment that I saw them, that the way they stood, their branches curved and thrust into the sky, they were laughing. They looked triumphant in a way, their branches seeming to throw themselves back in laughter, and standing in a small circle they were touching eachother in a certain way that seemed like dancing to me. It sounds very strange, I am quite aware of this, but I was touched by this. All that I could think was, "Even the burning of this forest cannot destroy it's laughter". Every time I take the time to look at those trees, I remember that life is not that bad. It's demanding and it's difficult at times, but that's no reason to no enjoy it, no reason to fear it. There is no reason not to laugh and dance in the face of the universe, to say "Here I am, and I am happy, no mattter what tries to bring me down." Just a thought.

The Good Book

No, I'm not talking about the Bible. Books are an essential part of my life. I've been an avid reader since I was a child, but as of late, I find it hard to read anything beyond Dora and the Unicorn King. I've decided that reading should become a real part of my life again, simply because it is such an escape and it really is something that relaxes me. The last book I truly read was Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Toilken. It is now my favorite book, and not for all the obvious reasons. Yes, the movies were great, they were really fantastic, and there was a lot of hard work put into them. There is just something about the writing of this book that intrigues me. It amazes me that Toilken actually created his own languages and histories, and essentially an entirely new universe. It was such a great concept, to create a place that was completely foreign to everyone else, so that in his world, anything he wanted to be possible was possible. I got in to wanting to read this book because a friend of mine presented me with The Silmarillion, which is basically the Bible of Toilken's universe. This book was truly his life's work, and is all of the history and legends of the creation of his world. I made it through 6 chapters and stopped, because it's just a lot of information to take in at once. I was told that I would better understand it if I read The Lord of the Rings first. I still haven't finished it because it's hard to find the time, and it takes complete concetration and silence to absorb.
At any rate, beyond Toilken, there are a million other books out there, and I plan to read a good bit of them. So, every once in a while you may see that I share something I'm reading. I do want to share a few of my favorite books with you, and I reccomend all of them.
Diary by Chuck Palahnuik
This story is so strange and interesting. I think just about everyone has seen Fight Club, so we all know exactly how weird Palahnuik can be. You'd really have to pick the book up and read it to understand the story, but it ends up being funny, yet sick and twisted all the same. The things they do to this girl are just so messed up. I read it a few years ago,and I don't remember some of the things that happen, but it still makes the list as one of my favorite books.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Alright, so maybe you saw the movie, but really it's nothing like the book. Sure, it has the same basic story, a woman whose life stays constant in time, and her love for a man who can't seem to stay in the here and now. I reread this book recently, and it's the only book I've ever reread. It's that good! It's so intense, and the movie really leaves out all of the truly dark things that make this book whole. There's this certain blackness to it, between suicide, death, and the amputation of two very important feet, it's not the typical fairytale love story.
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Toilken
Yes, another book that's a movie, and one that everyone seriously knows. Fantastic. I just really love fantasy, and this book has way more to offer than the movies did. If you get the right copy, you even get a short lesson on how to write elvish! There are also some things that were left out of the movies that were in the book. They were only left out because of time, because if they had put everything in the movies that was in the books, the movies would've been 5 hours each I think. If you do read it, get a copy that is one volume, because that's the way it was orginally written. Also try to find one that's edited by Christopher Toilken, because that version has everything in it, meaning that the whole story is there, nothing left out.
Last, but not least, Her Fearful Symetry by Audry Niffenegger
I won't lie, I didn't actually read this book. I listened to it on CD because it was like being able to read in the car! I was exuberant about this! I drive a lot. When I say a lot, I mean sometimes 1,200 miles in a week (yes, this is accurate, I counted), so it was only a matter of time before I started getting into audio books. This book is also very strange. It's about mirror twins, meaning they look alike, but their features (such as moles, freckles, and even their hearts) are mirrored. In other words, one twin's heart is normal, while the other's is on the wrong side of her body. The twins' aunt dies, and they move to her home and discover that she is still haunting it. It's really something you'd have to read for yourself. I would recommend the audio book!
Well, those are some favorites, and I will share what I'm reading when I'm reading. What are you reading? What are some of your favorite books of all time, and why did they stick with you? Comments and messages are always welcome!

A Playlist to Belt Out

Or at least that's what I call it. Everyone knows that music can change your mood. Whether it's from stressed to calm, or from upset to upbeat, music is a powerful thing. I find that when I feel most stressed out, I catch myself singing. It calms me because singing helps me focus on my breath and distracts me from whatever it is that's going on around me that's making me uptight. I've been called high-strung and anal, but when it comes right down to it, one of my favorite things to do is crank up a song in the car and belt it out at the top of my lungs (maybe add a little dancing in there and it's a party!). The list of songs below won't neccesarily relax you, but they might be just the thing to get you out of a funk. They work for me! *Some songs may contain cursing, just a warning in case small ears are listening!*

1. Call It What You Want - Foster the People
          Every time I hear this song I dance. Literally every single time. Yes, I get weird looks in the grocery store sometimes, but who cares? It makes me feel good, and it makes me want to move. If I had an mp3 player, this would be my choice of workout music. ♪ ♫ ♩ ♬ ♭ ♮ ♯

2. Sweetness - Jimmy Eat World
          This song just makes me wanna sing! I always belt out the "Whoah-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh" part. And I always feel better afterwards. ♪ ♫ ♩ ♬ ♭ ♮ ♯.

3. Some Nights - Fun.
          I am a lover of songs with multiple voices, and that's why I love this song. I am in love with the voice of Nate Ruess, the lead singer. This song almost has a choral sound, and is definitely something that can be belted out! It's very upbeat, unless you listen to the words. A lot of the songs by Fun. have hidden messages behind the upbeat music, which is another reason that I love them. ♪ ♫ ♩ ♬ ♭ ♮ ♯

4. MakeDamnSure - TakingBackSunday
          This is a little older, but I still love it. If you've never heard it, I reccomend listening at least once, possibly repeating!♪ ♫ ♩ ♬ ♭ ♮ ♯

5. Sweet Sour - Band of Skulls
          My daughter loves this song and requests it on a pretty frequent basis. It's just so catchy!♪ ♫ ♩ ♬ ♭ ♮ ♯

6. Before He Cheats -Carrie Underwood
          Even if you don't have a cheating significant other, this song is still fantastic. To be truthful, I'm not really a fan of country, but it helps let out a certain anger and stress when I listen to this. I can just feel her rage! She has an amazing voice in my opinion. This is also a hit when doing karaoke...♪ ♫ ♩ ♬ ♭ ♮ ♯

7. 5-1-5-0 - Dierks Bentley
          Again, not a huge fan of country, but a friend of mine got me hooked on this song. A warning, it may get stuck in your head. This song is just super fun and seriously puts me in a good mood when I'm not having such a great time. ♪ ♫ ♩ ♬ ♭ ♮ ♯

8. Willow Tree March - The Paper Kites
          This band is fantastic, and I'm very sad that most people haven't really heard them. This song reminds me of a war song. It's really fun to sing with in the car! ♪ ♫ ♩ ♬ ♭ ♮ ♯

9.A Favor House Atlantic - Coheed and Cambria
          Someting is still so catchy about this song. It was really popular with my group of friends when I was younger, and now it's just so fun to jam to. This definitely makes me tap my feet, and pretend I'm playing the drums... Obviously this song rocks in my book. I also think what Coheed and Cambria did was a cool concept. If you listen to every song on their albums in order, you'll find a story. They purposefully wrote every song to create a piece of the story. Very talented. ♪ ♫ ♩ ♬ ♭ ♮ ♯

10. Nobody Puts Baby In the Corner - Fall Out Boy
          I am a lover of Fall Out Boy. They started getting famous in my teens, and I've listened to them ever since. I'm not really sure what attracts me to this, but the long notes are great. Something about this one excites me, and what other reason do I need to love music? ♪ ♫ ♩ ♬ ♭ ♮ ♯

Of course, there are so many other songs that could be mentioned here, this is simply my current list! There are so many great artists out there, and I am working to explore them all. Well, what do you think? What would you add to this list? Or what would your list be? Comments and suggestions are welcome!

Welcome!

Hi! I'm Amanda, a 20-something mom with a lot to learn and a lot of experience already gained. I created this to share my life with the rest of the world, from recipes and music, to the beautiful moments when working your ass off truly repays you in ways you would have never imagined. I have a gorgeous daughter who just started school, and a literal ton of dreams and goals for the two of us to accomplish together. I am pretty realistic and mostly straight-forward, so someitmes I may seem a little abrasive. I also want to use this site as a place for others to re-engergize. We are learning and growing every day, and hopefully there will be much laughter in between!