twenty new songs for a new year

Thank goodness for iTunes giftcards. Sometimes I often choose to spend money on music and clothing rather than food...and other important things...but thankfully Santa heard my cry for new music. Yesterday, I tinkered with iTunes...here is a playlist of some of my favorite songs that have been on replay:

1) The Sweetest Thing by Camera Obscura
2) Possibility by Lykke Li (discovered her this past summer)
3) Sex Karma (feat. Solange Knowles) by Of Montreal (finally able to buy the new album)
4) Rainiest Day of Summer by Elizabeth & The Catapult (thanks to my hip roomies I heard about her/them)
5) We've Been Had by The Walkmen
6) Heart of Glass by Blondie (my ipod was in dire need of Blondie)
7) Alright by Supergrass (because it's just a fun song)
8) Cameras (Mike D Remix) by Matt & Kim (this remix is awesome)
9) The Loneliness and the Scream by Frightened Rabbit
10) Fall Hard by Shout Out Louds
11) She Makes Me Feel by Mansions On The Moon (lately I'm obsessed with electronic music)
12) Fresh Hex (feat. Beck) by TOBACCO (a mix of rough rock and electronic beats...perfection in my book)
13) Last Night At the Jetty by Panda Bear (this is Noah Lennox, the founder of Animal Collective so obviously all the songs are amazing)
14) Revival by Deerhunter
15) Nantes by Beirut
16) Winter by The Dodos (discovered these guys this summer and became obsessed)
17) Over the Hill by Agnes Obel
18) I Party (feat. Iz and DB Tonic) by Far East Movement FM (FUN)
19) Following the Sun by Mirah and Spectratone International
20) I'm Going Down by Vampire Weekend (any new music by them is good)

Favorite Things.

It is Christmastime. Yup, it’s here—already. I feel like this time of year always creeps up on me. The months in between August and December always seem to be a blur, as if that time never happened….as if that time is simply just a dream.

The children I nanny for always request that the radio be on in the car if we have to drive places, which I don’t always like because I’d rather talk with them but since they want to listen to Christmas music, I guess I don’t mind that much because this time of year is short-lived. One song that has been frequenting the radio waves is “Favorite Things.” The nine-year old, Hannah, asked, “What does this song have to do with Christmas?” Sadly, I didn’t have a good enough answer for her because I don’t really know myself. The song is originally from the beloved movie Sound of Music and whenever I hear it I always end up analyzing what I consider my favorite things.

This song came on a few times yesterday, as I was rushing the children here and there. This morning I awoke to a chilled room (New England has decided to freeze early) and I felt rested, peaceful and sound. This feeling normally doesn’t happen but for some reason it happened this morning. As I was bustling about in my room, tidying things, I began singing that song. As I was trying to get the song out of my head, I decided to head down stairs to the kitchen to get breakfast and to write down what I consider “favorite things.” So, here we go:

1) I have a strange obsession with packaging. Blame me for the depletion in the ozone layer, I guess because the more packaging the better. I will always buy the bag of chips that have a more appealing type of bag or I will buy makeup that will look nicer on my dresser….instead of really worrying about if it is the best kind or not. I also love to-go cups. Last year, in my apartment on campus it became known to my apartment-mates that I have an unhealthy obsession with to-go cups. I will literally spend money on cups instead of using the to-go mugs I have. I guess you could say I’m all about the aesthetics.
2) I love laughter. I love the way people have different laughs. Laughter is something that keeps me sane, keeps me relaxed, keeps me functioning. If a day goes by without laughter, then something is seriously wrong—especially considering the fact that my life is one big comedy. I’m always laughing at myself….which to some may not be good, but hey. Life is short, make the best of it and laugh your way through it.
3) I love words. I think everyone in the world knows that.
4) I love inside jokes. I find them to be fun, exciting and child-like. I enjoy having inside jokes with different friends. It means that I have varied friendships with others. Something that keeps my life moving.
5) I love God’s Word and how it always, without a doubt, surprises me. I can read the same verse a million times but each time it changes, just like me.
6) I love music and how it taps into emotions. Music is something that I cannot live without. I run to music, I drive to music, I clean to music, I (try to) cook to music, I dance to music, I cry to music…….it is a huge part of my life.
7) I love kindness from strangers.
8) I love how children don’t care that they have stains on their clothes or food on their faces….or snot hanging from their nose. They have more important things to be worried about, which I truly love.
9) I love running in the winter. I sound insane, I know but that burning in the lungs makes me feel that much more alive. I love how I can see my breath in the air and watch it rise to the sky—kind of like sending a smoke signal to God.
10) My newest favorite thing is my nephew. He was born in early November and I had the pleasure of meeting him over Thanksgiving. My, my, he is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. He is my newest obsession. I am so proud of my brother and sister-in-law and the life they are making. My nephew, Ryan, is loved more than he will ever know and he has one great life awaiting him and I feel honored that I have the privilege to watch him grow into a little man.

These are a few of my favorite things. I have a lot to be thankful for, this I know.