Sunday Tunes 3 - The Best of One Direction

We all know that the best band in the world is One Direction. If you disagree, you are wrong. Today is a very special day for me and for mankind, I am at the One Direction show in Minneapolis. So freakin exciting, right?! Yes you are.

So, to honor this day the playlist this week features (in my opinion) the best songs that One Direction has gifted to the universe.

1. Alive - One Direction // Midnight Memories
2. Ready to Run - One Direction // Four
3. Stockholm Syndrome - One Direction // Four
4. Moments - One Direction // Up All Night 
5. Rock Me - One Direction // Take Me Home
6. Live While We're Young - One Direction // Take Me Home
7. You & I - One Direction // Midnight Memories
8. One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks) - One Direction // One Way or Another - Single
9. Same Mistakes - One Direction // Up All Night
10. Happily - One Direction // Midnight Memories
11. Diana - One Direction  // Midnight Memories
12. ***Bonus Track: Torn (X Factor Cover) - One Direction

Give this playlist a listen below (have tissues ready in case the harmonies in You & I give you Zayn feels, I know I need them)

Did I miss any anthems? Let me know in a comment below!

Sunday Tunes 2 - A Playlist to Satisfy Your Wanderlust

As someone who got back from Europe not too long ago I'm definitely itching to travel some more. Unfortunately, I have to get back to real life and wont be able to travel much any time soon. Until I have the means, I made this playlist in an attempt to satisfy my wanderlust, I'm not sure if it worked or made it worse. Either way, I hope you enjoy!

1. Budapest - George Ezra
2. Hello, Brooklyn - All Time Low
3. Vegas Skies - The Cab
4. Mexico - Hedley
5. No Faith in Brooklyn - Hoodie Allen
6. Jersey - Mayday Parade
7. Birthday in Los Angeles - The Maine
8. Harlem - New Politics
9. Hello Seattle - Owl City
10. Tenerife Sea - Ed Sheeran
11. Vegas Lights - Panic! at the Disco 
12. **Bonus Track: Welcome to New York - Taylor Swift (I didn't add it because her music isn't on Spotify)

Go ahead and give it a listen:

Did I miss any? Comment below with suggestions! I hope you have a great week!

Sunday Tunes 1 - A Playlist for Moving Up/Moving On

As someone who just packed up her entire life to move from my parents house into another house close to campus I know a little bit about how shitty moving can be, but at the same time it's also exciting to open up a new chapter in your life and explore new opportunities. As I was making this playlist I realized that this didn't just apply to physically moving but also emotionally, whether from a significant other or any toxic person in your life. If you are going through a similar situation I hope this helps you out:

1. Dismantle. Repair. - Anberlin 
2. Reckless - You Me at Six
3. You Need Me, I Don't Need You - Ed Sheeran
4. These Streets - Bastille
5. 50 Ways to Say Goodbye - Train
6. Ready to Go (Get Me Out of My Mind) - Panic! at the Disco
7. Guts - All Time Low
8. Ready to Run - One Direction
9. The Great Escape - Boys Like Girls
10. Miss Missing You - Fall Out Boy
11. Runaways - All Time Low

Give it a listen right here & now thanks to Spotify:

Let me know what you think, would you add anything? Comment below!

Music Festivals to Add to Your Bucket List

We all know that it's on our bucket list to make it out to Coachella one year, but there are many other music festivals all over the world worth getting excited for. Some of my other faves are Radio 1's Big Weekend and T in the Park (ugh both those are such goals), but I thought I would look into even more music festivals that are worthy of a bucket list add.

Common Ground Music Festival - Lansing, MI

Common ground happens in downtown Lansing, along the banks of the Grand River in Adado Riverfront Park. This annual celebration features an outstanding line-up of musical acts, focusing on top-level, national, contemporary music performers, scores of food vendors, and a dynamic display of outdoor interactive activities for kids. With an attractive, intimate venue, state-of-art production and a comprehensive array of patron amenities, the festival is the premier special event of the summer in the greater Lansing region. (cred.)

Acts I'm excited about: Meghan Trainor, Motion City Soundtrack, Three Days Grace 

 Loufest - St. Louis, MO

Thousands of music fans from across the country descend on St Louis for the Loufest music festival. The all-ages event features national and local bands on 3 stages, great food, cool retail, and a greening effort that includes recycling, composting, free valet bike parking, and a refillable water station. For our youngest fans there's area k, a special area filled with music, magic, kid-friendly food, a rock climbing wall, and more. (cred.)

Acts I'm excited about: Hozier, Nate Ruess, Young the Giant 

Summer Ends 2015 - Tempe, AZ

Summer ends music festival will be a 3 day event along the Tempe beach waterfront. The festival features some of today’s hottest recording artists. Accompanying the wide variety of musical acts will be food vendors, beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), sponsor booths, arts, crafts and more. This will be a weekend for both local Arizonians and out-of-state visitors alike to come enjoy. (cred.)

Acts I'm excited about: Brand New, G-Eazy, Jimmy Eat World

Calgary Stampede 2015 - Calgary, AB

The Calgary stampede is a volunteer-supported, not-for-profit organization that preserves and promotes western heritage and values. Best known for the world-renowned 10-day event, the Calgary stampede is active year-round.

Acts I'm excited about: Lights, Magic!, Vance Joy

(And here's a European one to lust after)

Gilbraltar Music Festival - Gilbraltar, Spain

Acts I'm excited for: James Bay, Kings of Leon, Ella Henderson 

 

Did I miss something worth mentioning? Put it in a comment below!

Concert Commentary - Timeflies @ 107.5 Live Lounge in Des Moines, IA

Depending on how much you stalk me, you may or may not know that in the fall of 2014 I interned for iHeartMedia (iHeartRadio) in Des Moines. I got to do amazing stuff while I was an intern like see Jake Miller, Rixton, and go to a couple Iowa Wild games which I never would have went to if I wasn't interning. But, the whole rundown is for another time, the point is that even though I'm not an intern anymore I still have little to no shame calling in favors whenever my favorite bands come through town, lucky enough when one of my loves, Timeflies, came to the 107.5 Live Lounge they had an extra seat for me! Which helps me segue into my first ever concert commentary!

The show started at 7 and I got to the iHeartMedia building pretty late, at about 6:50 and was lead down to the basement to the back of a pretty long line, which was expected for someone who shows up less than 10 minutes before a show starts.

At around 7:10 we were lead into the lounge and 107.5 DJ Josh Martinez introduced them. They answered some fan questions (I didn't ask any, I never do unless divine inspiration strikes), played a mash up of songs from After Hours, and then answered some more questions. Then they did what--in my opinion--sets Timeflies well above all others, they did the freestyle rap. So if you don't know what that is it's a rap completely made up on the spot. In smaller venues they ask the audience for a list of like 25 words that Cal has to work into the freestyle and have it make some sort of sense. It's so amazing to watch him work things like "Sprinkler Valve" and "Ruby Rose" into a rap that honestly I would probably buy on iTunes. 

Here's one similar to what I heard (skip to :35):

After that, they answered some more fan questions before playing their latest single Worse Things Than Love, which I hadn't heard yet and really enjoyed.

Then, we were lead outside one by one to take pictures with Timeflies and grab a signed picture from an intern (my old job :'C) and then I headed home. The whole process took about an hour and 20 mins and was definitely time well spent. Next I just have to find a real show that I can go to.

15 Facts About Me

Hi! Welcome to my blog! First post is a lot of pressure and you don't want to jump right in with real blog things but you also want to get out of this what do you do phase so I figure I'll tell you 15 facts about me so that we can skip the "acquaintances" bs because honestly what does that even mean.

1. I am notorious show quitter. If I start a show and tell you that it's my favorite show EVER chances are I won't even make it to the second season.
2. Along the same line, I have only watched a few shows from start to finish (or start to what's currently aired, we'll see how well I do in the long run) and those shows are: Veronica Mars, Game of Thrones, Teen Wolf, Once Upon a Time, Reign, iZombie (one season doesn't really count though) and Friends. That may seem like a lot but the list of shows I started and forgot about is too long to even list.

   

   
   

3. My favorite movie ever is Jurassic Park, but honestly Jurassic World is pretty close to the top.
4. Josh Hutcherson has been my #1 bae since Zathura, sorry ladies and gents I don't care what you say he is mine I called dibs first.
5. I've been pretty set with what I wanted to do with my life since I was a sophomore in high school (my mom thinks she knew even before then)
6. My mom is honestly the coolest person you'll ever meet. I aspire to be that cool of a mom.
7. I'm a pretty hardcore insomniac and have been since 6th grade.
8. My favorite semi fast food restaurant used to be Qdoba but recently I've been going to Chipotle more often and I feel like I'm cheating on a boyfriend but I'm sorry Chipotle has a superior burrito bowl.
9. I'm weirdly obsessed with skin care products which is great because, like everything else in my life, I'm obsessed for like 5 days and then completely forget all about it for two weeks until I see something at target that claims clear skin in 5 minutes, buy it, am obsessed for 5 days, forget about it, go back to target, you get the idea.
   
10. I can not get out of bed without a cup of coffee. Blame number 7.
11. I studied abroad in London in the Spring of 2015 and I'll probably reference it at least once in every post because I'm so ~~CuLtUrEd~~
12. I recently downloaded ToonTown (you know that Disney Channel game you used to play and then beg your parents for money because it was only free if you stay in one area and honestly who wants that) and it's my guilty pleasure I pay it way more than any adult ever should
13. My favorite colors are teal and sunset orange *heart eyes emoji*
14. I hope to one day move back to London
15. I can't wait to graduate college and live in a cute apartment and decorate it how I want and not be in college anymore. 

Well folks, that's it! 15 facts about me! I hope it was informative and now we can definitely say that we are friends, not acquaintances. I look forward to seeing you soon! Maybe you can come over and help me finish some more TV shows, I'll provide pizza.