♫ + ☼ = ♥

(^music plus sunshine equals love)

I've been listening to music lately, which isn't something I've done in about 4-6 years. Yes, I listen to music but I haven't loved music since sobbing into the great Chris Dudley's arms as he stood in the St. Louis cold after playing a fantastic show with his band UnderOath. That was when I was 15. I'm 21 now and I can't remember the last concert I went to.

I've found music I like again. And I've unearthed some of my old favorites. At the very least, listen to this first one (it's my favorite right now):

Elysian Fields by Casey Frazier Read the lyrics here




The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel Read the lyrics here



Heartbreak World by Matt Nathanson Read the lyrics here




Control Freak by Copeland (RIP) Read the lyrics here



Best of Me- The Starting Line Read the lyrics here



View From Heaven- Yellowcard Read the lyrics



Some Seek Forgiveness, Others Escape- UnderOath Read the lyrics here



and finally the gateway drug, the catalyst, to all the music I've ever been interested in since 7th grade started with one band: Dashboard Confessional .

Stolen by Dashboard Confessional (but everything Dashboard is good). Read the lyrics here





♫ + ☼ = ♥

The Lily

THE LILY
William Blake


The modest Rose puts forth a thorn,
The humble sheep a threat'ning horn:
While the Lily white shall in love delight,
Nor a thorn nor a threat stain her beauty bright.

The Latest.

I just got back from one of the best trips I've ever been on with some people who make me feel pretty sparkley and sunshiney, just like the places we visited. We drove from St.Louis to Cape Canaveral, Florida (18 hours) and boarded the Norwegian Sun, which took us to Cozumel and Key West. Cozumel was amazing, as were the ancient Mayan ruins we visited. Key West was fun and colorful. The ocean was beautiful, the (totally free) food was great, and so was the beading, which was what this entire trip was really about.

Cozumel, Mexico

A good friend of mine, Abbi, works as an instructor at her mom and aunt's bead store, The Bead Place. She was invited on this cruise to instruct a group of women in the art of jewelry making. I tagged along and learned some fun stuff. The first was "Viking Knit" which is like knitting with wire to make a Pandora style bracelet. The next was "Russian Spiral" which is a really simple technique that creates a not so simple, but super cute bracelet. I loved both of them and can't decide which one I love more. I'll definitely be making more. Abbi also taught a few ladies how to make starfish with beads, but I was immersed in my second Russian Spiral bracelet and didn't get the chance to learn.

Here are my new bracelets:

Soft Greens Russian Spiral bracelet

Soft Pinks Russian Spiral bracelet

Viking Knit front with Pandora style beads

Viking Knit back

New Year's Resolutions

Writing it down makes it official.

1. Be more silly. I have a new friend who is the silliest person I've ever met. It's contagious.
2. Write more. I'm taking a creative writing class that leads to publishing opportunities at the end.
3. Get healthier. I won't say lose weight because at some point I will lose whatever weight I want and after I do that I'll start hating on myself for something else. Instead I'd rather just be healthier..mentally, physically, and spiritually.
4. Read more books. I read 2 or 3 books this year which is terrible considering I used to read 15 to 20.

That's it.