Wrapping Up January: 2017

Cincinnati Skyline from Covington, KY

Seriously. It's February. Of 2017. Unbelievable.

January was (thankfully) not as busy as December you guys. However, it was busier than I expected. Not a lot of time for writing and the blog, but this is also a time period in history unlike anything I've ever seen. I don't know about you, but I'm finding it hard to write. Especially about food. It seems to me that everyone is angry these days. And I do mean everyone. The right and left alike are fired up. I mean, if you read any comments on any political piece, you will see anger. From both sides. I want to write about it, but I am still searching my soul for something to say that's not divisive. 

It seems an impossible task.

New Playlist: 8/10/13

I'm loving summer music right now! I think this summer has been one of the top summers for music. There hasn't been summer music this good since Katy Perry's "California Girls". That was the same summer that Eminem's "Love The Way You Lie", Usher's "OMG", Ke$ha's "Tik Tok", Travie McCoy's "Billionare", and B.o.B's "Magic" hit the airwaves.

I know what you are thinking. How do I know that? I'm obsessed with music. Every song on my iPod reminds me of something. A memory is attached to every one. Seriously. Play a song on my iPod, and I can tell you what it reminds me off. All the songs I listed above, I remember for one reason. That was the summer that the company I used to work for sent me on my first business trip. It was to Jacksonville, Florida in June of 2010. It was my first time flying by myself, renting a car by myself, staying in a hotel by myself, etc. After meetings and classes all day, I would return to my hotel room, open a bottle of wine, settle down with a tabloid, and put on my iPod. Hence, listening to all of my summer music that year.

I can already tell this summer's music is going to be around for quite a while for me. I am still freakin' obsessed with "Blurred Lines", in all of its controversary-causing glory. Well, yesterday I stumbled on Flo Rida's "Can't Believe It". I cannot get enough, that song is on repeat around here! It's been great fun bumping that song in the new car. Speaking of that song, it's time to go get my run on :)

Hope everyone is having a fantastic weekend!

Sunday Selects

Everyone has been doing a favorites post lately, so I thought I'd jump on the ol' bandwagon. Of course, everyone else got their posts in for "Friday Faves", while I did not. So you have "Sunday Selects". Voila :)

1. Spring!!!

I feel bad rubbing the fact that Spring is here in some of your faces' (ahem, Aunt Marilyn, who just got 10 new inches of snow in Minnesota). However, everything is starting to turn green here, flowers (ok, weeds) are popping up, and we've had some warm, sunny days. I'm not the only one loving it-

Ah, yes. That special time of year when one's dog loves to roll around in the grass, getting who knows what on him. 5 minutes after their bath's. Sigh.

2. The Americans

Image source: IMDB

If you haven't gotten into this fast-paced, highly fascinating show about Russian spies living in America during the Cold War starring former "Felicity" star, Keri Russell, you are missing out. One of the best parts of the show is to watch their (in today's standards, mind you) completely outdated technology. It's so crazy that this stuff was considered high tech just 30 years ago. Man alive, I'm old!

3. Brookside's Dark Chocolate

Image source: Facebook

I'm totally obsessed with these pieces of dark chocolate filled with pomegranate juice. The hubby is going to have to send me to dark chocolate rehab pretty soon :)

4. We've Got Spirit by James T. McElroy

Image source: Amazon

Here's what I'm reading right now, and here's why. This book was written about the cheerleading team where my hubby went to high school, and the county that I'm living in currently. They've won nationals many, many times. So many times, in fact, that someone decided to write a book about them. From what the hubby has told me, people around the county HATE this book, because they think it makes them look bad. I'm finding it pretty accurate so far, and it was written almost 15 years ago. Not my normal-type read, but a good historical account set in where I'm living.

5. Spring Time Baseball Games

Ok, so I've only been to 1 game. It was fantastic though! It was a sunny, 70º day in downtown Cincinnati, with hardly any wind from the river. We got free Red's fleece blankets, and drank beer for a couple of hours with friends in the sun. Does it really get any better than that? I also inhaled a plate of nachos that were piled high with BBQ pulled pork, salsa, jalapenos, cheese, and guacamole. Um, I'll be going back just for the nachos alone, thank you very much!

6. Buxom Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish in Amber

Image source: Sephora

Another of my latest obsessions. This slightly plumps your lips, has tons of sparkle, and just a hint of nude color. I'm already on my 2nd tube since October.

7. Miranda Lambert's "Mama's Broken Heart"

Image source: Slack Time

This is currently my go-to workout song. Between the fast beat and Miranda's bad-ass-ness (yep, just made that up), this song really get's my Mojo going. I love, love, LOVE Miranda Lambert. Every song she does is perfect. I can't remember the last song that she released that I haven't bought. I really should just buy her albums :)

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend!

Rhythm And The Workout

It's been awhile since I made a new playlist for working out and I have been hearing lots of new songs lately that I thought would be perfect for a workout. I like to do cardio 2-3 times a week and music is what gets me through those heart-pounding minutes. It's essential for me to keep it fresh so I don't get bored. New music also makes me push harder, thus getting  a better workout. Here is the playlist that will keep me entertained for oh, probably a couple of weeks :)

1. Not Over You- Gavin DeGraw -----> My warmup song
2. Sexy and I Know It- LMAFO
3. Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)- Kelly Clarkson
4. All Your Life- The Band Perry
5. We Are Young (ft. Janelle Monae)- Fun
6. We Found Love (ft. Calvin Harris)- Rihanna
7. Hell on Heels- Pistol Annies
8. Domino- Jessie J
9. Young, Wild, and Free (ft. Bruno Mars)- Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa
10. Good Feeling- Flo Rida
11. Ass Back Home (ft. Neon Hitch)- Gym Class Heroes
12. Turn Me On (ft. Nicki Minaj)- David Guetta
13. Baggage Claim- Miranda Lambert
14. Glad You Came- The Wanted
15. Give Me All Your Luvin (ft. Nicki Minaj)- Madonna
16. Heartbeat- The Fray ------> My cool down song

Again, no apologies peeps. This is what's currently getting my blood pumpin'! And hey, if it gets my lazy bum off the couch, who can complain?

My Christmas Playlist

I was planning on making snicker doodles this afternoon and then blogging about it but the day slipped away from me! I guess snicker doodles will have to wait for tomorrow. I know it is not Christmas time yet but I am feeling it this year! I am quickly becoming very prepared to make Christmas cookies, I can't wait to put the tree up, and I already made my Christmas playlist! I only put 20 songs on there for now but I may continue to add as I come across more of my favorite Christmas songs.  As with all my music, there is no explaining why I like what I do, I just do. Without further ado, here is my Christmas playlist:

1. Last Christmas- Taylor Swift

2. All I Want For Christmas is You- Mariah Carey

3. Santa Claus is Coming to Town- Bruce Springsteen

4. Santa Baby- Kellie Pickler

5. Christmas/Sarajevo- Trans-Siberian Orchestra

6. Hey Santa- Wilson Phillips

7. Winter Wonderland- Brooks and Dunn

8. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer- George Strait

9. Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!- Jessica Simpson

10. Holly Jolly Christmas- Faith Hill

11. Deck the Halls- Relient K

12. Blue Christmas- Elvis Presley 

13. Rockin Around the Christmas Tree- Toby Keith

14. Baby, it's Cold Outside- Lee Ann Womack

15. Silent Night- Sugarland

16. My Only Wish (This Year)- Britney Spears

17. Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy- Travis Tritt

18. Jingle Bell Rock- Rascal Flatts

19. The Christmas Song- LeAnn Rimes

20. The Chanukah Song (1994)- Adam Sandler

All Things Kenny Chesney

Kenny Chesney tops my list as one of my favorite singers. I mean seriously, who doesn't like "She Thinks My Tractors Sexy"? His songs are breezy and fun, especially for country music. However in the last couple of years his music seems to be evolving. Growing up perhaps. I for one am loving this evolution!

For me, it seems to start in 2005. Very gradually at first. With "Beer in Mexico" from his "The Road and The Radio" album you are starting to see the melancholy side of Kenny. It still has a very upbeat, almost island tempo but if you listen to the words, they are a little bit deeper than his norm.

It wasn't until 2008 that I heard something from him that completely surprised me. It was "Better as a Memory" from his "Poets and Pirates" album. Not a lot of people liked this song, perhaps because it was such a shift from what he usually does. Around this time I heard a radio interview with Kenny regarding this song at which time he said he wanted to roll the dice on this song. People were either going to love it or hate it but he liked the song so much he wanted to take a chance on it. I  for one think the gamble paid off (the song did hit #1 in 2008).

Cut to now (or 2010). There have been a couple of his new songs out recently that I think are brilliant. Both are from his latest album "Hemingway's Whiskey". The first one is "Somewhere with You". It's a beautiful, moody, dark song. There was a time in my life I felt the exact same way and I think that is why this song speaks to me so loudly. Those times are long gone but I still find this song haunting. The first time I heard it I thought, "How does he do that?".  The second song is "You and Tequila" which has been playing on the radio since Memorial Day. Again, wow Kenny! You are growing up! This song is a duet with Grace Potter and their harmonizing on this song is sublime. I do recommend downloading the radio version however as I saw them perform this song live on the "Today" show and it did not do the song justice.

Kudos Kenny! This is one fan that continues to grow more satisfied over time!