Giving Thanks 12/30

November 12// I am thankful for music. Wherever I go, there's a song in my head, and a rhythm and harmony in my heart. Music makes up who I am. In every situation of life, I listen to music. It's what brings me to equilibrium when life overwhelms me. For every emotion, for every memory, for every action, there is a song. Music is what feelings sound like.

"Music is therapy. Music moves people. It connects people in ways no other medium can. It pulls heart strings. It acts as medicine." -Macklemore

Here's some current favorites... (truth- I've actually mostly been listening to Christmas music since September but occasionally, I switch things up a little. I'm doing a Christmas music post soon:))

Old Pine - Ben Howard

If this song doesn't make you want to cry, you're crazy. The lyrics just get me "I've come to know/That memories were the best thing you ever had..."

Team - Lorde

If only this girl wasn't so pretentious. Oh well, I still love her music.  It puts me in a pump up mood instantaneously.

Cider House Rules Main Titles 

I love music that makes me feel. I think this partially the result of being in choir, partially the result that I'm human, and partially the result that my emotions are sometimes worn on my sleeve. Anyways, I watched "Cider House Rules" on Sunday (definitely a new favorite. I'm already watching it again) and the music just struck a chord (haha so punny) in my heart. You know music is good when there's no words and it makes you want to cry. And I can't help that I love 90s movies music because I just want my life to be a 90s movie. 

And some forever favorites...

Now Is the Start - A Fine Frenzy

Dance around in my pajamas-sing every lyric-will be played at my wedding, children's birthdays, and funeral-infectious-go and just show the world what you got-best song ever.

This song will forever, ever, ever be my favorite song. It's perfect for everything.

Home - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

This song is not only a song that gives me the longing to stay here forever and reminisce over the best times of my life, but also dreams of the future and the plans I have for it. Because whatever happens, home is wherever I am with you.

Anything Could Happen - Ellie Goulding

FYI I've loved Ellie Goulding way before now so to all you people who like her songs, she's been around for a lot longer. This will forever motivate me. There was never a cross country race where this song wasn't listened to before and in my head the whole time. And this song will ALWAYS remind me of the crazy post race high I would get. 

Anchor - Mindy Gledhill

Brings me full circle. My calming, rainy day, take a chill pill song. Raw, natural, perfect. Mindy is just something else.

Lost and Found - Katie Herzig

This song has been a favorite since freshman year. And I'm sure you've all heard parts of it, it's in a million movie trailers and commercials. 

Midnight City - M83

This song just reminds me of crazy, late nights with friends and a time of freedom. And you can't help but go crazy and dance during the chorus.

xo

Hannah

Catch Up Part One

I'm really upset at myself that I've been such a bad blogger lately. I don't mean to be, I just get so caught up in getting done what NEEDS to be done, I forget to go to my creative outlet every now and then!

So let's play catch up:)

It's been raining like crazy here in CO! Luckily, where I live has not been flooded, but most of my dad's family in Eastern Colorado and my mom's parents who live near Boulder have really taken the grunt of it.  I just can't even get over how all this rain came so fast! One of my uncle's lives 3/4 of a mile from a river that has widened over one mile in the last few days. When you run a mile, you know how long that is.  My grandparent's old neighborhood is flooded; one of their friends who still lives there had to be rescued and taken to dry ground in her husband's fishing boat. It is insane! But for now, I will enjoy all the rain that has thankfully not flooded where I'm at! It's the perfect Hunter boot, candle lit, warm tea, Mindy listening weather. :)

Speaking of Mindy, let's just take a minute and talk about how much I love her new album. I calculated the numbers of times I've listened to the album since I bought it on Monday night, and I'm 28 hours, or 40.9 times. Sorry it's just so perfect. Currently, my favorite song is Finding Home.

Now for a little XC update. These pictures are all from last weeks meet in the Springs. It wasn't my best race, and I was not a big fan of the course, but so be it. However, my runner's high afterwards was higher than ever! To say that Mackenzie and I were a party on the bus is the understatement of the century! This week's race was great! I loved the course so much (it was all flat and downhill, praise the Lord). The weather was cool and perfect. I took off a whole three minutes and ended up running a 28:36. Best day eva. Oh and just so you know, we don't cancel XC because of rain. We have practiced all week in the pouring rain, and it is the best feeling ever! To an onlooker, I'm sure it's hilarious to see all these kids soaked to the bone, running around a park, with their two coaches standing in the middle yelling at them.

literally right after we ran

pre post race high

hot bus + sweaty runners= miserable us

but sonic can easily fix that issue!

So for now, I'll leave it at that. Tomorrow will be part two of catch up, featuring Tri-M inductions, a surprise party, and the memories high school is made of.

xo
Hannah

A Brief Pause

I've been gone for a while on this blog. I don't know why, but life has been overwhelming now.

Overwhelmingly beautiful.

Last week was one of my favorite weeks of my entire life.
Monday, we had no school.
Tuesday was just fantastic.
Wednesday included Panera and a candy shop.
Thursday was perfect beyond words description
Friday was easy, exhausting, and exactly why I love high school.
Saturday I got to go to Sonic. And my car battery died there at midnight haha
Sunday was a day of studying and homework out the wazoo but managable.

This week has continued to be pretty fabulous.
Monday I did pretty okay on my APES test and I got Mindy's NEW ALBUM!
Tuesday Mindy retweeted and favorited one of my tweets, and replied back to me! (I died)
Today I got asked to homecoming.

So yeah, you could say life's been pretty good to me.

Here's a photo dump...

i love food. especially ribs.

seXC models

post race beauty-- don't you love how sweaty we are?

WE LOVE SONIC

SO MUCH

running in the rain oh running in the rain! representing rutgers!

yeah we're pros

somewhere over the rainbow

s/o to my homegirl mindy <3 best album yet!

i may or may not have screamed because of this. I LOVE MINDY MORE THAN MY MOM

presh

very hip, very modern

typical target shenanigans. you should see the other ten pictures

I will catch up tomorrow on all of these crazy events. Life is just the best.

xo
Hannah

It Was a Fantastic Day

I think having Mondays off every week would be the best idea in the whole world. Today was probably one of the best days ever. I probably say that about a lot of days on the blog, but this was just one of those ordinary days that was totally extraordinary.

Tuesday is a day I have classes all day. AP US History, AP Environmental Science, choir, and college composition. Most of the time, these days are sooo long and dreadful, but today was just perfect all the way through. History was easy (it usually is honestly), we watched a video in science, choir was just great as usual (ahh I love Honors Choir soooo much!!), and English was nothing horrible.

Then came cross country and it was a hard day, but today was my breakthrough day!!! Usually, when we run to the park, I hate every second of it. It's slightly uphill, and it's hot, and it seems long. In reality, it's like a mile and a half. Today though, I was able to run and talk and not even feel exhausted! It was a milestone!

Afterwards, Mack was oh so kind to treat me to Jamba Juice. She's the best! Brenden and Matt asked if we wanted to join them for some pho, and we gladly obliged. We ate some amazing noodle soup, and talked and laughed for a good two hours. It was a very Hollywood moment, two guys and two girls at a restaurant, laughing obnoxiously for hours. But heck, that's what I love about being a teenager. I love those cliche moments:) Oh, and an extra bonus?! Brenden paid for our food! Thanks for a free dinner Brenden!

Pho was followed by quite the dance party in Mack's car to Ellie Goulding, our favorite. She gets me in the zone for cross country, and just makes my life 9849238923 times better. This is our current anthem.

We ended up in the school parking lot, talking for another hour. Boys, if you want to date us, we are not high maintenance. Hit us up asap, we're the best homecoming dates you could ask for! Mackenzie and I specialize in long, deep talks, that leave us in motivational moods (hence this blog post)

So there wasn't some monumental event that made today better than the rest, but it just was. I hope everyone had the best Tuesday ever, because this one was one for the books.

xo
Hannah

OH! And Mindy released a new song off her new album (one more week people!) and I love it!!! It's a different style than the usual Mindy, and I think it's pretty perfect.

A Masterpiece

Colorado sunsets are sometimes just too pretty. I love them now, as it's beginning to cool down, but also still so warm. Nothing beats Heavenly Father's masterpiece.

breathtaking.

xo
Hannah

My favorite song to listen to during these peaceful moments.

Soulful Sunday

My absolute favorite hymn. It gives me peace in times when I really need it, and reminds me that His timing is perfect and His presence is constant.

"Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine."

xo

Hannah

I love Mindy Gledhill

I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 10TH.

It's the date of the album release for Pocketful of Poetry, my FAVORITE singer Mindy's new album!

She released two songs early and I already have them memorized. So I've linked up the YouTube videos so you can all be just as thrilled as me! 

She sings the words of my soul. Amanda and I are already planning our road trip to Utah to meet her. 39 days until the new album!!!!!

xo

Hannah

See the Good

Once again, Mindy sums up my life. Or what I want in it. She is perfect, just perfect. I found this song on her website last night, and related to it instantaneously. And I think you all will too.

 (sorry the only YouTube video that would link up is this one!)

I am quite the fiesty thing
No I'm not the kind of girl you'd bring
To meet your mom and dad,
But honey I'm so glad
You choose to see in me the good and not the bad

There are times when I forget
My p's and q's and lady-like etiquette
But you don't get upset
No you don't get mad
Because you see in me the good and not the bad

People come and people go
About a dime a dozen, row by row
They're here today and gone tomorrow
And I don't want just anybody,
I want someone who's gonna love me
For the person that apparently I am

Mine is not a perfect past
I've made enough mistakes to last
For my whole life through
But all because of you,
I try to keep my chin up when I'm feeling sad
Because you see in me the good and not the bad


I am quite the fiesty thing
No I'm not the kind of girl you'd bring
To meet your mom and dad,
But honey I'm so glad
You choose to see in me the good and not the bad

There are times when I forget
My p's and q's and lady-like etiquette
But you don't get upset
No you don't get mad
Because you see in me the good and not the bad

People come and people go
About a dime a dozen, row by row
They're here today and gone tomorrow
And I don't want just anybody,
I want someone who's gonna love me
For the person that apparently I am

Mine is not a perfect past
I've made enough mistakes to last
For my whole life through
But all because of you,
I try to keep my chin up when I'm feeling sad
Because you see in me the good and not the bad

xo

Hannah

16 Favorite Songs

16 songs from this year that were my favorite, and made up the soundtrack of this year of my life.

1. Shots- LMFAO... makes me think of my birthday party, Jessica's birthday party, Kid Nation :)

2. Closest I Get- Katie Herzig... makes me think of how sad I was when my favorite Grey's Anatomy character, Lexie, died. (hahaha I'm just being honest) And how I listened to this song everyday on the way to school for SO LONG. It also reminds me of when I first got my license and spring! Gosh, the ending of this song is just pure emotion and I LOVE IT.

3. Rasputin- Boney M... makes me think of AP World (praise God I'm done with that!) and summer days of playing Just Dance 2

4. Whole Wide World- Mindy Gledhill... makes me also think of spring and driving to school when I first got my license! And running with Mackenzie on our crazy path, and driving to summer tennis.  This was my motivator song!

5. Happy Pills- Norah Jones... makes me think of my first concert and my summer text tone! I forgot how much I love this song!

6. Bella's Final: Price Tag/Don't You/Give Me Everything- Pitch Perfect... oh gosh, Pitch Perfect was basically the most life defining movie of my 16th birthday (not to sound dramatic;)) seriously though, this movie was so good and I cannot express how much I LOVE this song!! Best song of the movie!

7. Titanium- David Guetta ft. Sia... makes me think of Pitch Perfect and the beginning of Ricochet! Gosh I love our band:) also makes me think of driving back to Sierra's house after dinner at Crave for her birthday and all of us SCREAMING this song. Good times, good times

8. These Days- Chantal Kreviazuk... this one's for you Mackenzie! Makes me think of listening to this on repeat in math, being absolutely sentimental about how fast high school is going!

9. Unwritten- Natasha Bedingfield... also makes me think of Mack and math. And our love for The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. And how we are such saps.

10. I Knew You Were Trouble- Taylor Swift... makes me think of driving to the Vista football game, blaring this and loving being 16. And Riley. This song will always make me think of Riley.

11. Red- Taylor Swift... makes me think of having a competition with O to see who knew the most T-Swift song lyrics and this was my winning song!

12. Anchor- Mindy Gledhill... makes me think of how I fell in love with blogging. I remember watching a video of the Nielson's with this song in the background. nienie was totally who made me want to be a blogger, and this song is just what brings me back to center. My equilibrium song.

13. ABC Cafe/Red and Black- Les Mis... makes me think of how stoked I was for Les Mis to come out and AP Euro. Hahaha oh Suria ;)

14. Rock Me- One Direction... makes me think of how much I tried to like 1D for the sake of my friends. And I mean, I REALLY tried. They just aren't me, what can I say? But this song is the one that I can tolerate the most;) or this one!!!

15. One Day More- Les Mis... makes me think of getting through winter finals! and how darn excited I was to finish school, and to see this brilliant movie!

16. and for my all time favorite... Crazy Love- Mindy Gledhill... makes me think of THIS BEING MY FAVORITE SONG EVER. I don't know why but it's my favorite, I just love Mindy. (obviously)

xo
Hannah

After Christmas Music

Getting over the Christmas blues is tough, but the hardest part is probably the transition from listening to Christmas music non-stop to listening to non-holiday music. My Pandora station has been set to Mindy Gledhill radio and I've found some GREAT songs from it! It's a great mix of the indie sound of Mindy, the jazzy voice of Norah Jones, the sound and swing of big band classics, and other natural voices of great indie singers like Lenka, Ingrid Michaelson, Feist, Florence + the Machine, and A Fine Frenzy.

Here are some of my current favorites:

Shake It Out--Florence + the Machine

What Can I Do (But Love You)--Joy Williams

Arms--Christina Perri

Ashes and Wine--A Fine Frenzy

Volare/An Evening in Roma--Dean Martin

 (Lizzie McGuire Movie, anyone?!)

And of course, my favorite Mindy song...

 Crazy Love--Mindy Gledhill

xo

Hannah 

A Midnight Concert in Bed

Every Friday, when I'm at school, I think I'm just going to go home and tackle as much homework as I can. Then, I get home... and once my shoes are kicked off and I sit down, I realize there's a low probability of any homework happening. 

Friday night, I was exhausted. I came home after a trip to the grocery store for doughnuts (that Brandon and Olivia convinced me they needed) and put on my big, fantastic, comfy tennis sweats. Oh those babies are the best. I lit my Christmas candle, and about fell asleep, but was interrupted by Brandon begging me to take him to meet his friends in Town Center. After that quick trip, I came home and read my blogs, pinned a bit, and watched this week's Grey's. I got dinner from Noodles & Company and packed my babysitting bag. I babysat until 11:30 and changed into my pajamas and brushed my teeth in record time. I was on Facebook right before I was going to fall asleep, but then I saw a post by Mindy Gledhill, one of my absolute favorite singers, saying we could watch her live performance at a shop in Japan on a said link, in thirty minutes. 

I managed to keep my eyes open for half an hour more, and was then entranced by the raw voice of Mindy Gledhill, as she sang some of my favorites. She played six songs, and ended with my favorite- just as I was hoping for. I was over the moon.

Crazy Love--Mindy Gledhill

So basically, I got to go to a Mindy Gledhill concert, in my PJs, in my warm bed. When she was in Japan and I was in Colorado. 

Life is awesome.

Capturing the moment

xo
Hannah

Quick Clean

I love when my room is clean. Love it. This year, when my room's not clean, I'm not very good at properly functioning. I get distracted by the mess. When I get stressed and have a lot on my plate, that's when my room gets to be a bit of a disaster zone. Or somedays, I get lazy. But most of the time, the issue is... choosing clothes. 

When my room is just horrible, I take pictures. 

Sophomore Year- Homecoming Week

Good Lord

Clearly, I've gotten better at not letting myself completely go.

Today, it's not horrible, but it's by no means good. So let me introduce you to the Hannah quick clean sweep. I quickly go through and pick up, and focus on "zones" during the weekend. Crank up some music and just go. You'd be surprised how much you can get done in under half an hour!

Start time and some Mindy Gledhill Pandora!

Before... just gorgeous

25 minutes later...

SO MUCH BETTER. It is spotless!

I've actually picked up a few more things (aka the scarves and bandana on the end post of my bed) but it feels so much better. Perfect for the weekend! My zones are going to be under my bed and my nightstand drawer!

However, it's perfectly ok and good to have a messy room. Lose control one and a while;) But a clean room does feel pretty darn good!
 
Happy picking up! But it's more of a singing party when you have great music. ;)

xo
Hannah

22 Hours of Homework

Mondays really are not my favorite. Especially not after a homework filled weekend like mine. 22 hours. A little ridiculous if you ask me! But some fun things did happen this weekend:

Quiet Friday mornings studying with the perfect cup of hibiscus tea at Tattered Cover

This is what babysitting boys is like.

Happy 14th birthday baby brother! xoxo <3

Studying= sweats and Halloween candy.

 And this lovely, calming Mindy Gledhill song.

 

 Golden Slumbers, the perfect easy listening song.

xo

Hannah