Local Music Artists

"Local Music Artists" may, at times, receive a negative connotation, marking a band with a stigma which they have to overcome each and every time they take the stage, to prove they're not just a bunch of kids {or man children} who think they can be the next Dave Grohl or Brett Michaels because they can hold a 6-string.

It's drive, commitment, and tenacity, in addition to talent, which set the up-and-coming bands apart from the dreamers. True, you gotta believe to succeed, as they saying goes, but the gumption behind the prolific dreams takes it the next level.

I know, I know...I've gushed and bragged about my buds in Small Town Titans, but they're not the only ones. When it comes to music, I like what I like, and sometimes, after seeing a favorite artist take stage, they slowly recess into the smorgasbord of other music on my iTunes with me still appreciating their music but feeling they're much better off in a studio.

What prompted these feels and elaborate thoughts was a man by the name of Ron Pope, an artist from Nashville. His music gives me chills...his crooning and sweet melodies touch the romantic side of my soul, appealing to those memories associated with love in all her glory: the ups and downs; the warm, fuzzy feelings; and the heartache from heartbreak.

His most recent album, Ron Pope and the Nighthawks, is available here at Pledge Music, a wonderful site devoted to artists supporting themselves with only the 3 F's: friends, family, and fans. Hello, signed CD coming to my door shortly! >Okay, fan-gurrrrrling a little because I've been following him for a few years and I received a PM via Twitter from him ERMAHGERD<

While this may be a slight plug for Mr. Pope {and STT, sorry}, the real focus is local music. While local may not refer to simply your hometown, it's a broader term, looking at those artists who are pretty dang talented without the frou-frou garbage added by record lables {okay, I'm guilty of listening to it, too, Confident, anyone??}.

Mainstream Pop and Punk is pretty epic, but it's the small-town artists for whom I go a little wild....in a sense, rooting for the underdogs while they're paving the way to where they want to be, which may not be triple-platinum or millions in $$.

Leaving a few gems here....

>also geeking out over what little I've retained on my lessons of HTML<

Winding down from pre-Thanksgiving

Boo, it wasn't pay week.

On the plus side, after a semi-hellishly busy week, I came home to find a lovely letter from my favorite gingey in the mail. Heidi letters have become something to which I highly look forward to receiving in the mail as they always seem to arrive juuuuust as I need them aka when I've had a bad night or ready to collapse from exhaustion....or low blood sugar.

Busy day calls for no pants.
{Leggings are not truly pants}

Despite the near-fainting spells at work {that means I'm working hard, doesn't it??}, I feel this past week has been a productive one. Have you ever felt so busy that the hours seem to simply float past, one thing after another, yet it would be damn near impossible to rattle off a laundry list of all that was accomplished because there was SO MUCH done?

I actually styled my hair for once this week!

Now, I simply have to relearn my body so as to avoid fainting in an elevator....hurrah for these strong, lean arms to hold onto and large pieces of equipment which can bear my weight as I feel my vision tunneling and my body collapsing, internally feeling as though the whole world is caving in...

My mum, sis, and Superman have told me I should see a doctor {I know, I should} but I'm as stubborn as an grown-ass man - *hint, hint* I don't go to the doctor's unless I'm at death's door and even then it's debatable. Stress will slowly subside, I hope, and with adequate sleep {and kitty snuggles}, I'll be back up and running in tip-top shape.

On the plus side, I managed to look semi-okay this week...or not. You be the {hopefully gentle} judge of that.

In these frames, I wanted to show off the BA Obi-wan Kenobi lightsaber umbrella Tree had given me for my birthday - wrapped up in wrapping paper which resembled tree bark, no less. This Jedi Master felt pretty darn loved by all of her friends and family for her birthday, even weeks after the fact. Maybe people still like me at 23 despite what Blink-182 thinks....and if not, well, haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate. Potatoes gonna potate, tate, tate, tate, tate.

Wrapping up my week with a still of geekdom heaven: putting together my sister's new independence, one electronic element at a time. Surrounded by cables and parts, I could totally appreciate the giddiness and happiness experienced by Lovely when he's putting together a new gadget....

And that's a wrap. But after leaving here, check out Alessia Cara because she's pretty dang fabulous. Here describes how I have often felt at a party - awkward and very much an outsider and ready to hightail it out of there to go have my own party.

Roundup of Days Gone By

Once again, time is getting the best of me, passing by altogether too quickly, which is both good and bad.

I have been up to a few productive things {please see my post on lazy productivity}...and I consider catching up on sleep and improving my cooking abilities to be two of them. I also consider showering daily as being productive on one's day off because let's be real, that can be a chore - I have a lot of hair on my head that needs conditioned!

I digress as usual....

I've managed to stomach doing a little Xmas shopping for my bestie. For someone who can't stand Xmas carols until December 24th and gets quite irritated seeing tinsel and garland prior to that same date, that is quite an ordeal. {No, I do not do Black Friday shopping either, unless my Mum wants accompanied, but only because I love her.}

Lots of hair & attitude - perfect for a Parisian day off, non?

Aside from that, cat-sitting for Tree {considering this as a future career}, helping my sis pack for her new digs, working, and sleeping, I'm a boring lady...

My snuggle buddy; neediness and cuddliness at its best.

Max & Jax: on the warpath for pets and snugg's.

Mais regardez!! J'ai fais les nourrritures! C'est quelque chose, je pense....

For those of you unfamiliar with English traditions....Guy Fawkes Day, or Bonfire Night, was November 5th. While I am no longer in the UK, much to my chagrin, I could not resist a bit of English-ness in celebration {albeit by accident}.

I nearly forgot about this wondrous day until I was divulging in my crumpets and mango chutney {thank you, Wegman's international aisle} and mindlessly scrolling through Facebook.

My stomach was trying to tell me something with its cravings for an English brekkie...or I was simply feeling peckish for 'shrooms, eggs and carbs.

Experimentation {that sounds kinky....} is often the best way of cooking, I've found. Case in point: late-night hunger from forgetting to eat since lunchtime calls for a light late-night meal and one a bit creative considering I haven't had time to restock the fridge properly since my birthday hiatus from real life.

Ta-da! Simple pimple pizza using Pillsbury low-fat buttermilk biscuits. Low-fat plus veggies and pesto makes it healthy, non?

The things I tell myself so I can sleep at night....

Since I've started salivating from looking at these delicious pictures, I'll share a few songs I've enjoyed this week, thus proving I'm not totally out of sync with the world. I'm currently reading a book on quantum theorems throughout history and the world's acceptance of the uncertainty associated with such matter, so that's something worldly...

• Arctic Monkeys: Stop the World I Wanna Get Off with You
• All-Time Low: Break Your Little Heart
• The Word Alive: Heartless
• Silverstein: The End

I shall leave you with that, kind readers. Auf wiederlesen!

Grief is a shared feeling

In essence, we do, indeed, find solace in shared sad times. Misery loves company not to keep those depressed feelings going by feeding off of one another, but to share the burden which grief brings, to shoulder one another's pain in order to stay afloat when times get rough.

Keep your chin up; you're not alone, dear friends.

Still contemplating why we're more accepting of an older person, 80+ beautiful years young, passing than a someone with fewer years of life experience. A loss of life, even at such a wiser age level, is still a sad parting from the world. A vibrant spirit puff into the atmosphere, never to walk barefoot in the soft grass again. I've always found it fascinating how the human mind works in order to comfort loss and sadness...

Perhaps this is why I quite enjoy my "sad music." It offers comfort and that raw emotion to any sort of feeling....specifically appealing to the notion that we are not alone, no matter how lonely we may feel at various stages of our lives.

Currently adding music to my iTunes library and enjoying the sunshine while I long for my commute to work if only to listen to George Ezra's croons.

Beautiful man, beautiful tunes.

Current mood, as modeled by Jax:

Deviance with a touch of longing to have what I want....Jax just wants the faucet to run and I long for confirmation from the Tree that he and the guys haven't died out on the road.

Happiness is not a feeling, but fleeting fragments of time

Music - one of the many joys of life, whether it be in the form of opera, country, rap, or even those sad songs, the latter to which I often tend to gravitate simply for the sake that i enjoy those crooning, near-tearful melodies.

I'm a weirdo, right?!

On happiness, in conjunction with life and its many expectations aka job, marriage, babies, bills, education, learning {both joined and separate from education}....happiness should be one for which we strive at least some of the time.

Contentedness often seems more obtainable, but those precious moments of pure, unadulterated happiness....wow. As Albus Dumbledore {aka J.K. Rowling} said, "happiness can be found even in the darkest of places, if only it remembers to turn on the light."

As I've struggled with that balance of doing what is expected of me and what makes me happy, I've realized how true this sounds -- yet another example of how profound Harry Potter truly is, but that can be saved for another time.

For now, I'm enjoying another omelette creation with salsa and hot sauce {the hotter, the better!} and importing some lovely new tunes and old favs to my iTunes whilst I prepare myself for another 11hr shift of day 13 out of the 19 day work streak I have going on. Yesterday was 14hrs between two jobs, so I can do this!

For the past few nights, relieve has come in the form of ditching the boulder holder in lieu of a comfy tee repping my friends in Paradrei.

For real, check them out.

Finished Devil's Star with some artichoke dip {still puzzled as to why there was no spinach in it....}. Onto Liza Palmer's "seeing me naked."

Business as usual....the Star Wars belt is always a nice touch.

Celebrating National Donut Day with this artery-clogging beauty because I'm worth it.

As a follow-up to the previous post about my recent disgusting "dieting," I've cleaned up my act, significantly reducing sugar intake to what it was before, as well as given up meat until further notice. I am, however, still consuming energy drinks at an alarming rate.....but have moved onto increasing water intake.

Increased water intake is significant for me in any amount....going from about 1oz. {no exaggeration here} to about 20oz. My bladder is not amused, but it'll mean more walking because of more bathroom trips. sneaky exercise

This {faux} leather dress is one of my all-time favorites! Again, Star Wars belt for shits and giggles, thrown together with my every-comfy leopard booties. I've become aware that most of my shoes are heels and thus would prove rather difficult, even for a heel professional as myself, for everyday work wear.

Hospitals are not small buildings....

This morning's current projects: uploading new {to me} mooooosik with some old favs. Some insight into my tastes. I enjoy sharing as much as I like to hear of others' preferences.

The gang's all here

• Breaking Benjamin
• Ed Sheeran
• The Fault in Our Stars soundtrack
• The Head and the Heart
• Kodaline
• Linkin Park
• Punk Goes Classic Rock {tingles thinking about this}
• The Ready Set
• Regina Spektor's new album
• Sam Smith
• Skylar Grey
• Three Days Grace
• Walk the Moon
• We the Kings <3

Yes, my OCD caused me to place these in alphabetical order. No shame. I just like being organized, which definitely helps for working in a library.

Hobey ho, let's go ^_^

I'll be your Conversed Juliet teenage dream

Today's outfit of the day caption on Instagram...and certainly how I feel today.

In relationships, I strive to be my best....to give nothing but the whole of my heart and hope I'm achieving this, placing my heart in the branches, so to speak, of my dear Tree. It can be terrifying to grant such trust to someone, even if it's not the utmost maximum....vulnerability has never been one of my strong points, preferring to create a formidable stronghold, impenetrable to all but the one brave warrior daring to go where few have been before.

However, in relinquishing a little bit of this hold on ourselves, opening up, can be a truly beautiful thing. It allows us to open up to not just another person, but the world of possibilities. There is a vast world out there waiting for exploration....I know I have much more than 90% left to roam, despite TripAdvisor telling me I've traversed across 10%.

I'm coming to learn more about myself as I learn to accept myself as my Tree has accepted me. I'm not perfect, but I can remain in a state of improvement and growth, fighting tooth and nail to remain out of the darkness that can consume - the darkness of self-doubt and fear.

I'm ready to take on all of what life throws at me, particularly any self-inhibitors. Bows and a bold lippy go a long way with confidence, as I've learned.

Not letting my insecurities bog me down. 1XX lbs but I feel weightless as my wings spread, ready to soar!

Tonight's collection...Linkin Park's Recharged, A Rocket to the Moon's Wild Fire, and A Fine Frenzy's One Cell in the Sea.

A Fine Frenzy seems like an illustrious label for my life. Hectic but full of wonderful things.

This made me laugh and I thought it was worth sharing.

As well as this!!!!!
All of their covers and originals are worth sharing!!



Goodnight, sleep tight. Time to curl up with the thriller I'm reading: The Devil's Star by Jo Nesbø.

Love and Validation

Self-validation - that inner feeling of being worthy, whether it be for your work, of your friends and family, or even life itself. Most people want a purpose in life and it's often difficult to find just what that may be....or maybe it's only difficult to label, but is there all the same.

Being a self-perfectionist, beating myself up over such menial mistakes, I've struggled with this concept, thinking if I wasn't the best, then what good was I to anyone, to the world? Who is going to love a less-than-perfect fuck-up?

Throughout the tribulations, friends and family have been there to help guide and to remind me that I am, in fact, loved.

Receiving a letter in the mail from my best friend since 6th grade this morning was such a treat and another realization of a lingering presence that may be looming and threatening that inner self-validation. Technology is both a tool and a bane....

With so many social media platforms "needing" to be checked every day, with so many granting the option of "Likes" and "Favorite," it's a wonder we don't simply implode with the pressure! While I am quite looking forward to maintaining the blog in order to express and unwind the little swirls in my mind, as well as share my travels, I'll also be making a conscious effort to not be so readily available on social media - this is my vow to you, dear readers.

For now....off to the post office and grocery store!

Leggings are perfect for spring when the rains are a tad nippy noodles...and my favorites haven't been out of the drawer in a while.

A special friend is turning a quarter of a century in 12 days so I had to get the dear old fart a card and ship his prezzie to my Mum so she may wrap it prettily and visit with him and my chubby [cat] boyfriend.

Tried a free sample of the Maybelline Fit Me! Matte & Poreless Foundation and, as a sufferer of acne for years, am quite loving the results! 4.5 stars!

[and I thought my lippy looked on pointe]

This is what lunch looks like in the adult world.

>click here for music video<

New personal anthem ^_^ ....and I have a slight girl crush on her makeup and BA attire. Something about a leather jacket ;)

Adventures with a rock star

Although he may insist otherwise, Tree is a total rock star in the sense that he lives life to the fullest, planning only when necessary, and loving what he is doing [and making a living off of it, which is also important nowadays for loans, noms, and a roof]. This kind of attitude is rather infectious in the best sort of way.

Oh! and of course he sings with a voice that would make the angels weep and the punkiest group shed a few amongst them, all while shaking his bum for the ladies and expertly dancing his fingers along his bass.

After a long weekend of training at my new job, followed by a shift at the library from opening until close, I was ready for some fun that did not require much thought and allowed for freer, less professional clothing that didn't feel so constricting.

Started the night off in Catawissa, PA for a graduation party for one of my wonderful friends. Good food, great people, beautiful sunset. These are the nights for which I live....

Headed to Milton, PA to catch some of Phil's friends playing. As there was chalk provided and the precedent of others' names was already in place, of course I added mine to the bunch!

>girly heart and curly cursive, no less<

Thank goodness I thought to bring my fail-proof jacket to not only spice up the outfit, but for practically purposes aka warmth.

New button-up dress from Forever 21, accessorized with some of my all-time favorite pieces: Michael Kors bag, Star Wars belt, black suede lace-up wedges, and a lovely mauve lippy.

Evening would not be complete without some silly faces, a few beers in.

Thank you to friends for being our DD to ensure we were safe and could go a little wild! If you're going to drink, have a solid plan for the night.

On Sunday, Tree and I went to the TasteFest helped at the Mt. Hope winery aka the Renaissance Faire grounds. So strange to see it without the costumes and music...construction added to the odd mix.

Clearfield REPRESENT!!!! My hometown wineries were here! Bee Kind Winery and Starr Hill Winery are my two absolute favorites. Starr Hill is just in the next small town near me and it was so wonderful to see and taste familiar wines.

The buffalo chicken mac n cheese sold at the fair made the day complete.

After a long afternoon in the sun, Tree and I came back for some relax time.... Chicken stir-fry with some Bone Dry Red from Bee Kind Winery.

Who goes to a wine festival without buying any wine??

Surprisingly enough, we did not finish the bottle for dinner, so Happy Memorial Day to me indeed. Resting up for a nice long week [12 straight days] of work.

Wine + reading make for a pleasant afternoon...happy reading, y'all.

Second Week

Monday:
The green in my eyes is peeking through the rest :)

Dressed up my look with a bow. Simple. Profesh. Chic.

Tuesday:
Brown ensemble...rarity for me. I generally stick to black as my staple because it's so versatile. Louis didn't object the color scheme. He doesn't like to feel like an oddball...but I feel as though one can forgive the conjunction of black and brown when Louis Vuitton is involved. And leopard print.

Continuation of Tuesday!
Friendship dinner date with a good friend...wouldn't be complete at Fuddrucker's without one of their delish Oreo milkshakes...

Calories be damned when one is upset. Explanation later...

Wednesday...behind that smile lies sorrow...fake it 'til you make it sometimes. 

NOM. Manager brought in donuts!

Friday:
Lololol
Me...taking a picture of people taking pictures with the Welcome to Hershey sign. Don't worry, I was at a stop sign and it takes forever it seems to get through this particular stop sign. Perfectly safe, mama!

Perfect shopping accessories: Louis and H2O

Saturday:
Worked all morning...then told I wasn't needed for the evening shift, so I did what every responsible adult would do. I went shopping. Alone.

I was searching for particular things, however...birthday prezzie and cards for Father's Day for the fatherly figures in my life.

Received some whistles and looks at Taco Bell as I sat and ate my quesadilla alone...nice little ego boost, despite being slightly disconcerted. Seriously, what is attractive about someone eating a quesadilla smothered with hot sauce? No drink, of course. Go hard or go home when it comes to hot sauce.

And found a sweet $10 blazer at H&M. Epic bargain hunter.

Adult life....get on my level.

Just kidding! 

Summer song suggestions:

Give me love - Ed Sheeran

Downtown - Lady Antebellum

LA Story - Sammy Adams

Highway don't care - Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban

Forever and always - Parachute

I'd rather be with you - Joshua Radin

Into your arms - The Maine

What about love - Austin Mahone

Somewhere in Neverland

New music video from All Time Low!

Get More: All Time Low, Somewhere In Neverland, Music, More Music Videos

And Taylor Swift!


I should probably be working on homework right now.....

Faithful and committed...to no pants Wednesday

'twas a tad nippy noodles, but there needs to be one day a week where skirt/dress is mandated, even if it's self-mandated. Fancy Friday has died off...but no pants Wednesday remains. I cannot wait until nicer weather for more dresses comes about.

Happy late St. Patty's Day! I felt like being festive. Shamrock on each thumb with a simply green tip on the other fingies.

Ahhhh, ooooh, the Metropolitan Museum! [side note, I typed that word 3x. Brain is in desperate need of a rest]. Fascinating place! I loved the grand staircase...

Roomie and I in the big cold city!

Dance attire!

This little one is such a heartbreaker....so cute and so far away :(

Our massive dessert from Planet Hollywood! Mmm so yummy

 

Mmmmm. These look absolutely DELICIOUS.

The gaps of my days were filled with work/homework/sleep [some]/eating/gym...repeat and in various orders... 

How is it the middle of the week already?! Well...tomorrow is, technically.

And I started filling out the form for graduating early. I have 3 semesters left, one of which shall be in London. Wow.

Cheers! Raise your glasses of hot chocolate to the rest of the week and to the future! 

It came upon a midnight clear

I absolutely love this version...her voice...wow.

Hello, hello! No, I'm not buried in the backyard...goodness, it's been over a week. I'm sorry it's been so long! I had every intention of doing a finals' week favorites...eh that seems rather much like an oxymoron. But Mummy sent goodies for finals!! Fat chex and hot chocolate mix nom nom nom

I made it home Saturday afternoon and saw Lovely for a short time while we ate buffalo chicken dip with a TON of hot sauce, just the way I like it...then he had to go to work :/  on the brightside, I went to my Grammie's house and visited with her and my Sissy :)

Hmmm I do have some outfit pics somewhere...."somewhere" being wherever my camera is....

I do have a few rather lovely pics to share on my phone, though.

I'm off to snuggle in bed with Yoda, Chewie, and my stuffed cat and hippo. It's always a party of stuffed friends in my bed when I'm home. Curling up to Anna Karinina on my Kindle....