{Giving Thanks} Songs

My friend Jessica, who blogs over at Polygamy Joe, has done a few posts where she posts her songs of the week. I really liked the idea and thought I would do something like it over here! I'm sort of tying it into a thankful post, as I am very very thankful for music. I think my appreciation has only grown upon coming to college because I am constantly listening to music, whether I am sitting studying or walking to class or singing in the shower. I even get to take a music class next semester-- I'm ecstatic! My taste in music ranges from white girl pop to soft mellow indie to show tunes to old soul crooners to Christmas music. I base my music on my state of mind for sure. I think music is an incredible way to express yourself, whether you are singing to it, listening to it, or dancing to it. I'm a choir singer, shower soloist, and Spotify addict.

So here's my current life soundtrack, in no particular order. You can also find my favorite songs of 2014 here.

1. My Dear - Hunter Thompson
I didn't realize that this was a worship song until recently but nonetheless it's still amazing. Makes me so happy :)

2. Life in Technicolor ii - Coldplay
This is one of those songs that I know will follow me for the rest of my life. Coldplay does no wrong.

3. Kiss Me Slowly - Parachute
You can find me singing this loudly with my headphones in in Mackenzie's dorm quite frequently (okay just last Friday). Maddison! If you are reading this, I remember sophomore year when you told me how much you loved this song so I just thought I would say YES this is the BEST song ever!

4. When We Were Young - Lucy Schwartz
This song used to be the opening song for the TV show, Parenthood, a favorite of mine. It just makes me all sentimental and think back to the simple days of childhood.

5. I Want What You Have - Willamette Stone
I watched some of "If I Stay" (the version I was watching online didn't have the whole movie I guess since it just ended in the middle of a scene??) but I really liked this catchy song.

6. Blank Space - Taylor Swift
Yes, I'm one of those girls that loves T Swift. Yes I guess she's dramatic and a little crazy but the girl has sold millions of albums so obviously she's doing something right. Plus there's a Taylor Swift song for every situation. Her new album is pretty good (Speak Now will always be my favorite). Some other favorites are Clean, This Love, Style, Bad Blood, and I Know Places.

7. 'Til the Season Comes Round Again - Amy Grant
I grew up listening to Amy Grant during the holiday season. Sure we would listen to all the classics too, but whenever I hear Amy Grant, I think back to being bundled up in the car and listening to this. Or I think back to walking in from the bus, and the house would be warm from the fireplace and all the Christmas lights would be on as the sun would be setting (I didn't get off the bus until almost 4:20) and my mom would have warm cookies waiting for us. It sounds too dreamy to be true but my mom made the holidays so special and that's what is already making this holiday season hard.

8. Promise - Ben Howard
 Not much to say on this one. I just really loved Ben Howard.

9. Bravado - Lorde
This was in an episode of Grey's so yep, it doesn't get much better. Any music in Grey's is the best. Especially when it's Lorde.

10. Home - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Is an explanation even necessary? I CANNOT WAIT TO GO HOME!!! THREE MORE DAYS!!!

xo
Hannah

High Five for Friday!

I swear time goes by 500 times faster in college. Each week FLIES by! I won't complain though! I'm headed home this weekend and I can't wait to shower without flip flops, not need a key to get back in my room, have Sonic, and enjoy food that is not from a dining hall.

1. I love finding these articles online that just reaffirm that CU was the best decision ever!

2. The fall colors here are outstanding!

3. The best part about having a beautiful campus is there is never a shortage of places to take pictures.

Beautiful old Hale Sciences behind me

4. Amen to 8am's being cancelled!

And I already had all the WebWork done (fistbump emoji)

5. Guess who is coming home this weekend!!!!!

I love pictures like this that truly capture friendship in it's craziest, true form

xo
Hannah

This Week in Numbers

24 - the number of points CU scored against ASU at the football game on Saturday night, which is actually quite impressive considering how bad we are

Love these floormates of mine

1 - very nice care package from my family 

8 - days since I have had Sonic

Our 1 year Sonic anniversary was on Sept. 6 :(

2 - the number of points CU scored against DU at the soccer game on Friday resulting in a CU win

Yay for seeing Riley!

4 - the number of dollars it cost me to do my laundry

Money thieves

4 - best friends who I wish I could be with all together again!

They're pretty awesome. And isn't fun finding old pics like this on your computer?! Made me happy.

15 - age of Ains Pains as of Monday

 3 - trips to Starbucks

They spelled her name right finally! And mine wrong.

1 - early season snowfall

This was before it started to dump buckets, conveniently while I was walking to class :/

 20 - times I have gotten sentimental

Wasn't this just yesterday?!

2 - times I laid on Mackenzie's dorm room floor

The first time...  to see the second go to Mack's blog

6 - estimated hours I have FaceTimed Jessica (and laughed at her insane roommate)

45 - times I have missed my cat and dog

So dang cute!

DYING OF CUTENESS

3 - number of grey, cloudy and cold days

Hauntingly beautiful

1 - massive dance party in Mack's dorm on Friday night

This new T-Swift has a great dance vibe. But this one still takes the cake. 

1,000 - amount of hate I have towards hearing about rush

Throwback to our sorority days lol #homecomingweek2013

5 - days until I see my family again!

xo
Hannah

Baby Jessica

For fifteen days, Jessica has been 18. Out of the five of us, she is the baby, the last to turn 18. For thirteen days, Jessica has also lived in Illinois. I absolutely hate that I don't get to see her (in person that is) until the winter. Now that I am up and away at school, I realize that Jessica is the bravest person in the world for taking that leap of faith and going out of state for school. I never realized what a luxury it was to know kids from high school going to the same college until I was here, drowning in a pool of thousands of kids. So a massive shoutout to Jessica for that bold move, you go girl. 

I have known Jess since 8th grade, the days of hilarious crushes and awkwardness all around. It's crazy to think about how much has changed since then, yet stayed the same. Here's what I can tell you- Jessica has remained one of my favorite people in the world. She is hilarious, kind, sarcastic (one of the best things a person can be), open minded, and kind. I know that whenever I am down, I can turn to Jessica and laugh, listening to her crazy stories about working at AMC, car fires, adventures up and down the mountains to her house, and now, SIU days. She is the life of the party, especially the party at the mortuary since she's literally the only one alive there. (wow that was a joke that just didn't quite work out) Now for pictures because that's my recovery for sound stupid.

yay for middle school pictures!

Such little babies

#classic 

We take really flattering pictures

Yeah having a baby yeah!

*when music gives you the feels*

Best party in the whole world

Lol never forget 

Just horsing around hahaha

Oh my goodness are we not the cutest couple ever?

Such a good model for the paparazzi (aka me and Macky)

Forever one of my favorite pictures

Sleep sleep sleep 

So artsy in Budapest

*when you see a really hot guy*

Family portrait // Riley (Hunter the cat took her place in the pic), Si, Jess, Mack, Han

Laughing is easier than actual goodbyes

But really much love to you xoxoxo 

Bow down to queen J

Jessica is amazing and is going to be one kick butt mortician one day. From the days of eighth grade to broken arms to Europe to the misadventures of APES, she's always been there. I wish her the best luck and happiness on this next chapter. I love you Jessica Sue!!!

Happy birthday my little ray of sunshine!!!

 Missing you heaps. Love, love, love you.

xo
Hannah

A Season of Change

As I was sitting on the couch watching RV with my family, I was thinking about how it had been a while since I blogged and I was feeling the need to. At first, I thought to myself, "Oh I'll call my post 'Shame shame' or something like that since I've been a bad blogger lately". Then it dawned on me that I don't owe anything to this blog or my readers (sorry guys). I blog for me. To write down my memories. To share this beautiful thing we call life.

Currently, I'm going through what my mom would call a season of change. I will be moving out in 6 days. 6 DAYS. This summer has absolutely flown by, like they all seem to. I've been busy prepping for this next chapter of my life while still trying to savor each moment in the present. There's a lot that I'm trying to process now and that's what led me to blog. Writing things out is one of the best ways I can sort things out in my brain.

I try to live life with no regrets. And for the most part I really do. I believe that everything happens for a reason and we must trust in that reason, even if we don't see why immediately. But I do wish that I would have spent more time with my friends. More crazy adventures. More time talking. More time with those that I love so dearly. Time is fleeting, this I know. I think about how fast senior year went by. Heck, high school was a blur. You simply just don't realize how lucky you are until it's all being taken away from you.

So here's some little life updates. A High Five for Friday, I suppose. :)

On Monday, Jessica became a legal adult. A birthday post is coming, I just need to sit and finish it. I always end up having to stop because I get too dang emotional because not only was it her birthday, but it was the last time we got to see her before she packed up and left for SIU.

On Monday, little Liv also had a birthday. How is it that she is 14 and in high school now?! Man, what I would give to see her there. It's crazy to think that I remember freshman year so clearly and that's what she's experiencing now. I'm not looking forward to having to say goodbye to her.

Late night movies are always great. Especially when you have an old man in the theater who happens to have the funniest laugh in the world and conveniently laughs at everything. I realized that night that every time we go to the movies, we have this routine;  we go to King Soopers, get cheaper tickets and candy, then go to the theaters and get settled in. Who will I do this with in college?!

SO wonderful to be with all these friends the other night! Nothing beats great conversation over delicious PF Changs, some Bonnie Brae Ice Cream, and a surprise visit to see Riley at the sorority house she's living in for preseason soccer at DU!

And of course a dog picture because it was either her or the cat. She sure is cute and so much fun! Boy will I miss her!

While looking at my Facebook profile the other day for no apparent reason, I realized I still had a quote in my About section that I had posted in middle school. 
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven..." [Ecclesiastes 3:1] (read the rest here)

I could only smile and think that I saw it there, at the time, for a reason. All of this change is coming whether I want it to or not. At this time though, change is happening for everyone. There's comfort knowing that you are not alone as these anxious feeling overcome you. Despite how exciting it all is, we must leave behind a piece of ourselves to embrace the future and become ever more who we really are. The great perhaps is out there, which is terrifying and exhilarating, all at once. 

xo
Hannah


"Change is constant. How we experience change that's up to us. It can feel like death or it can feel like a second chance at life. If we open our fingers, loosen our grips, go with it, it can feel like pure adrenaline. Like at any moment we can have another chance at life. Like at any moment, we can be born all over again." [Grey's Anatomy]