WHO EVEN FOLLOWS THIS THING ANYMORE?

Dear Reader,

The only consistent thing about me is my inconsistency, that’s for sure. But it’s final’s week in my life currently (well, the past three weeks have basically been considered “final’s week” for me), and I am a terrible procrastinator. Fortunately for me, I often procrastinate schoolwork by working on passion projects.

I’ll practice guitar or listen to covers I think I might be able to pull off one day. I’ll write handwritten notes or journal entires. Sometimes I’ll work on my teaching portfolio or browse Pinterest to see what I could implement in my own classroom. And just now, even, I finished listening to Logic’s third album, “Everybody,” and then read some articles on what people think about him–side note, LOTS of people hate on Logic. I don’t really care, though. I like his message and I like the way he tells it. Good enough for me.

But this blog is very much a “passion project” for me. I’ve never tried to make money off of it (lol could you imagine) and I haven’t been consistent in my posts for QUITE some time. But I still keep it around because every once in a while I feel like writing a blog post.

That being said, I really feel like I’ll be utilizing this more once the summer hits. So I thought I’d just make this little update post for anyone out there who still checks in on me every once in a while.

MUSIC: Music is one of the things that continues to inspire and motivate me. I’ve gone kind of crazy with making playlists this year (pushing on 90 in total, so says Spotify) and I’ve certainly pulled the occasional accidental all-nighter because I got wrapped up in finding new shit. But I have a lot that I want to share and a lot of half-written blog posts that I want to eventually publish. There’s one in the works about my favorite albums of all-time, and another one of my all-time favorite covers from The Voice that I can’t stop listening to. I also just have a lot of admiration for people who know SO MUCH about music. So, while this certainly isn’t going to turn into a “music blog,” you can definitely expect that in these next few posts.

SCHOOL/TRAVEL: Every semester I get more and more into my major–English Education–which is a good thing, of course. It’d be pretty concerning if I became less interested in it over the years. But in a little over a week, I’ll actually be leaving for Europe to take a two-week course that compares different education systems. Now, this blog also isn’t going to turn into my professional development in that realm (that’s for a separate corner of the Internet where I reside), I will be visiting four countries in two weeks, and then hanging out in Vienna for another week with my family. So, you’ve seen me in Hilton Head. You’ve seen me in Gulf Shores. Get ready to witness me taking on Europe.

TV: Netflix has sort of been killing it with the originals lately. I, along with everyone else, finished Thirteen Reasons Why and definitely had some thoughts. I really don’t know if I’ll post all of that, though, because my journal entry about it ended up being over 3,000 words. You guys don’t want to read that. I also watched BoJack Horseman before that (LOVE, btw) and am now watching Girlboss which makes me want to get bangs and steal stuff. So who knows, maybe I’ll share some opinions on these shows in a bit. Critical thinking can happen everywhere, y’all. Don’t let our hierarchy of culture tell you that we need to bash good television and praise art that makes us feel nothing.

 

LOVE LIFE: 

READING: Lastly, I’m hoping to read a lot more this summer than I have thus far in 2017. Last semester I was going strong all the way until the end, but the motivation just hasn’t been there lately. However, I did just give a speech on the importance of reading and as I was talking I was just thinking, “shit I need to start practicing what I preach.” So, if anything, this blog might start being book recommendation and review heavy. But, hey, could be worse, right?

So that’s where I’m at right now. I’m twenty-years-old and the world’s lookin bright. If you’ve been following me for a while and like what you just read, I’m happy to have ya around. If you’re bored out of your mind and wanna leave, no scrape off my nose. I’ll probably have to delete this thing or make all the posts private when I start looking for a teaching job in a year and a half, anyway. So let’s live it up while we can.

I mean besides, it’s not like the internet is forever or anything.

Sincerely,

Sammy

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VIBIN

Dear Reader,

Two updates in two days? Pretty odd. And I’m not even writing right now just because my meds are kicking in and I need to word vomit onto a page.

In fact, I haven’t even taken the meds yet today and I kind of feel like a walking zombie because of it. Dead girl walking–out of adderall.

Not really. I have enough to last me the rest of the semester. More than enough. But every once in a while something about it freaks me out and I stop taking it for a bit.

I’ll take it later and I’m sure everything will be fine, I just need a breather.

Well, I kind of need more than that.

All I’ve wanted to do lately is listen to music. Maybe drink a little or get a little high and waste a day away. Maybe get some friends together and all share some good music and just sit in a circle, nodding our heads along to that good shit.

Or maybe do none of that.

Sometimes I kind of just want to go home and lay in bed with my headphones and listen to all the albums I’ve been playing sporadically in the way they were intended.

I’ve been listening to a lot of rap and hip hop lately.

I mean, how can you let a year like this one go by without at least gaining a tiny appreciation for all the amazing artists in hip hop right now.

2016 has been shitty for a mile-long list of reasons, but it really has been the year of music.

It used to always just be Kanye that I would listen to because I would use hip hop to get hype. I’d find myself laughing at the lyrics as I actually listened to them, then I’d start to sing along. It’s amazing what acting like Kanye, if just for a song, can do to your self esteem.

And even though my “lets get it goin” playlist on Spotify is still one of my most played ones, I’ve started to use music to just chill.

Thus the creation of my playlist “chiller.”

Chance is classic, but Logic is new to me. Then there’s the old school Drake–you know, the Drake that’s got you remembering people you never had in the first place. There’s Kid Cudi when I want to sing and Wiz when I want to chuckle to myself. (You can’t have a “chill” playlist without the song “medicated”)

There’s a billion artists I didn’t even recognize before but now I put my headphones in and turn all the way up, pretending like they’re here next to me, performing to this audience of one.

I used to do this shit with Ed Sheeran and now it’s A$AP Rocky.

It’s funny how interests grow and change.

(I mean I still love Ed Sheeran though, let’s clear that up.)

I don’t know what the point of this is. I think it’s just because the other day I watched a Nathan Zed video and he said that YouTube really isn’t inspiring him that much anymore. In fact, a lot isn’t inspiring him at all. But he still has music.

Damn I’m thankful for music.

Every once in a while I fall into a rut where I just need some new songs to listen to or I think I’m gonna go insane. But then I fall out of it and feel renewed when I discover new artists and albums I’ve never noticed before.

Okay, yeah, so the point? Not sure. But music is damn amazing.

Now I’m gonna go and let Kendrick finish up with “Bitch don’t kill my vibe.”

Sincerely,

Sammy

LATE-NIGHT LYRICS

Dear Reader,

I want to get back to blogging–especially now that summer is (practically) here and I have much fewer obligations.

I’m having a little bit of writer’s block, though. I have been writing, but nothing I finish sees the light of day because it’s either too long and wordy, too dark, or just too incoherent. None of it is of quality and I don’t want to post just to post.

But that’s kind of what this is.

I mean, not really. I was just listening to some songs and these lines would jump out at me and be so relatable that I would just pause what I’m doing and stare into space for a minute, letting the words sink in.

I wrote down some of these lyrics tonight and thought I’d share them. Back to back they seem random. There are definitely recurring themes, but there are also contradictions. And some don’t even relate to my life specifically as it is now. I just generally resonate with all of these words.

And besides, they’re all good songs so I thought I might as well share something.

Maybe after this one of these lyrics will spark something in me and inspire a blog post that isn’t entirely made up of things someone else has said.

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“If I could be just one thing, I would be what you’re craving … but I’ve lived long enough to see you will never be craving me.” Iris – Mike Posner

“She just wants to feel something and I don’t think that’s asking for too much.” She Lays Down – The 1975

“And I don’t want a never ending life. I just want to be alive while I’m here. And I don’t want to see another night lost inside a lonely life while I’m here.” Spirits – The Strumbrellas

“I don’t have the right to ask you where you go at night but the waves hit my bed to think someone’s in your bed. I get a little bit Genghis Khan, I don’t want you to get it on with nobody else but me.” Genghis Khan – Miike Snow

“All alone I watch you watch her like she’s the only girl you’ve ever seen.” I hate u I love u – Gnash

“Don’t wish, don’t start. Wishing only wounds the heart. I wasn’t born for the rose and the pearl. He loves her so, I’m not that girl.” I’m not that girl – Wicked

“All of your flaws and all of my flaws they lie there hand in hand. Ones we’ve inherited, one’s that we’ve learned, they pass from man to man.” Flaws – Bastille

“I’m stumbling off drunk, getting myself lost. I am so gone, so tell me the way home. I listen to sad songs, singing about love and where it goes wrong.” One – Ed Sheeran

“And my hopes, they are high, I must keep them small. Though I try to resist, I still want it all.” Fools – Troye Sivan

“Don’t go out much at all. I’ve never been the type to call. I realize to be happy, maybe I need a little company.” Happy – Marina & The Diamonds

“I would rather be at home all by myself not in this room with people who don’t even care about my well-being.” Here – Alessia Cara

“If I’m honest I know I would give it all back for a chance to start over, rewrite an ending or two for the girl that I knew.” (And honestly the whole chorus) She used to be mine – Sara Bareilles

“There is a map in my room in the wall of my room and I’ve got big, big plans.” Maps – The Front Bottoms

Sincerely,

Sammy

 

[NEW VIDEO] I’LL FIND A WAY – CARRIE HOPE FLETCHER (COVER)

Dear Reader,

I did an awful job explaining why I did this, so I ended up cutting most of the explanation out of the video.

Basically, I feel like you can get better at things if you just put yourself out there and do it (channeling my inner Shia LaBeouf here). I know I’ll never be a good singer and I’ll never have a range like Carrie Hope Fletcher or Sia or Lea Michele or anyone really. I know that, it’s fine. But I’ve always wanted to be at least a decent singer and I think (I hope) I can improve.

So my logic here is this: I got better at writing by having a blog and forcing myself to write more. I got better at editing videos and starting my YouTube channel and making videos. So maybe if I sit down every once in a while and sing on camera, I can try and get better.

We’ll see.

So this is a video of me from the beginning of January, trying out a cover of Carrie Hope Fletcher’s new song. I’ll probably end up making this video private one day but for now, let’s just put it out.

Why not try something new?

Sincerely,

Sammy

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO

Dear Reader,

I uploaded a new video on Friday, and then the next day I found a new song that I am absolutely, utterly obsessed with. So I guess you can go ahead and watch this first video to see the eleven songs I’ve been loving since mid-September

and then watch this one here to watch my current favorite.

Yay for new music just in time for long road trips to family gatherings!

Sincerely,

Sammy

I DID A THING

Dear Reader,

Over the weekend my dear sister came to visit me at Miami and helped me with my final project for a video productions class that I’m taking. I didn’t think I would be, but I’m actually pretty pleased with the final product, so I thought I might as well share it.

And who knows, maybe there will be more to come. I can only get better, right?

Sincerely,

Sammy

WEEK EIGHT: ARE WE REALLY ALMOST DONE WITH FEBRUARY?

Dear Reader,

I took some steps this week, and for once I felt like it wasn’t one step forward, two steps back. In fact, it was probably more like two steps back, one step forward, one step back, three steps forward, one step back, and then two more steps forward.

Maybe. I don’t know.

But I don’t really have any pictures worth showing this week. Most of them were either embarrassing selfies, pictures of snow, or funny text screenshots–none of which you need to see. And then I took a picture when I completed bucket list item #26, but you can just go to that page if you’re dying to see what it’s of (I promise you, though, it’s not worth it).

Anyway, I’m doing something different this week! I feel like I’m always doing something different, but this is in direct correlation with the post I wrote on Monday.

I’m going to set weekly goals! And acknowledge what goals I accomplished.

So during week eight I:

• prioritized & downsized my workload
• completed a bucket list item
• stuck with what I gave up for lent
• went completely out of my comfort zone and took a big step forward (as much detail as I’m willing to give at this point, but I’m sure I’ll elaborate in due time)

And in week nine I will:

• finish a book
• go to every class prepared
• go to the rec twice
• write 10 pages in my novel
• write my weekly review on time

Well, thanks for sticking with me through this project! I’ll do my best to make the next 44 weeks worthwhile.

Sincerely,

Sammy

PS. Need a pick-me-up? Listen to this song 🙂

SONGS WORTH SHARING

Dear Reader,

If you don’t already know, every Thursday I upload a weekly update, if you will. And at the end of those posts, I list some of the music I’ve been listening to during that week.

But this week I realized that I listened to a lot of music. So I decided to just dedicate an entirely separate post to everything I’ve been listening to, separated into three parts: Oldies, Car Songs, and Honorable Mention. Enjoy.

Oldies

It began with Billy Joel. I was listening to a sad playlist made by someone else on Spotify, when the song And So It Goes comes on. I recognized it from covers I had heard, but never realized Billy Joel sang it–I had really only known him for Piano Man and For The Longest Time. 

After listening to his most popular hits and falling in love with Vienna and She’s Always a Woman to Me, I became sad that music really isn’t the same as it once was–something adults always seem to babble on about as it goes in through one ear and right out the other.

But maybe they’re right.

So I made a playlist of my favorite songs from a time before I was born, which include:

• Sweet Pea by Tommy Roe
• Tainted Love by Soft Cell
• Every Little Thing She Does is Magic by The Police
• Love the One You’re With by Crosby, Stills & Nash

Car Songs

I love to sing, but I’m well aware that not everyone enjoys listening to my voice as much as, say, the original artist. And, being at college, I’m never really alone in a car, driving around, singing at the top of my lungs–which is something I really miss. So you can best believe that I took full advantage of the car when I went home this weekend. These are the songs that I was shamelessly jamming to:

• I’m Alive by Michael Franti
• Notice Me by Alexa Rae Joel
• Sugar, This is Gospel by Fall Out Boy vs. Panic at the Disco
• Finding Something to Do by Hellogoodbye
• Oh Cecelia (Breaking my Heart) by The Vamps feat. Shawn Mendes
• Honey I’m Good by Andy Grammer

Honorable Mention

Yes, this song gets it’s own category. It is that. Good. 

This is a cover of Take Me To Church–a song that was dead to me. I heard it, loved it, watched the music video, got goosebumps, learned it on the piano, belted it when I was home alone. It was on playlists of mine for months, and then I was over it.

But This. Cover. Not only did The Melodores revive this song, they straight up killed it again. In a good way. These metaphors aren’t really working, are they?

Anyway, LISTEN TO THIS COVER. Watch Dan pour his heart and soul into this song and I dare you to listen to the original without enunciating “sharpen your knife” in your head like they do.

Yep, it was a good week in music for me, and it ended up being a good week all around.

Funny how those are related.

Sincerely,

Sammy

{TOP 10} COVERS I’M OBSESSED WITH

Dear Reader,

Sometimes someone else just does it better. And lately I’ve been discovering all of these great covers that prove that. So, I thought I’d share:

Hey Ya! by OutKast, covered by Troy Ritchie: this is from the battle rounds of The Voice, and Troy lost. I still can’t believe it. I would buy anything that Troy sings. (Also check out his cover of Out of My League)

You’re the One That I Want from Greece, covered by Lo-Fang: I discovered this song yesterday, and it’s been on constant repeat. Chilling.

Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears, covered by Lorde: I put this one next because the same word comes to mind: chilling.

1989 album by Taylor Swift, covered by Superfruit: Ugh, my favorite people on YouTube, from my favorite a cappella group: Pentatonix. They did a quick mash up of the entire album and it’s so good. Also check out when they did it to Beyonce’s album and their evolution of Miley Cyrus.

I’m Gonna Be (500 Years) by the proclaimers, covered by Sleeping at Last: Forever a song on my “sleep” playlist.

XO by Beyonce, covered by John Mayer: I mean,  it’s John Mayer covering Beyonce. Does any more really need to be said?

Super Bass by Nicki Minaj, covered by Drew Tabor: this is the song that introduced me to Drew Tabor a few years back and I’m still listening to it today. Love it. And the introduction is adorable.

Once Upon a Dream from Sleeping Beauty, covered by Lana Del Rey: I honestly don’t know where you’ve been if you haven’t heard this cover yet.

Ignition (Remix) by R Kelly, covered by Dartmouth Aires: The perfect cover that makes you dance around your room in your underwear and sing into your hairbrush.

What, people don’t do that?

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper, covered by Cory Monteith: This song made me cry when I first saw the episode years ago, and it still gets to me now. RIP Cory.

Well, I hope you enjoyed. There are so many more that I could’ve included, so it’s basically inevitable that a part two will be coming soon.

Sincerely,

Sammy

{TOP 5} I LOVE ABOUT PAGES

Dear Reader,

Because it’s Christmas break and I’m at home, being a hermit, I’ve been obsessed with WordPress and blogging in general. And not just writing and sharing–but finding new blogs and interacting and socializing (which is really ironic, considering I seem to only leave my room for food these days).

Anyway, one of the first things I do when I find a new blog is check out their “About” page. This isn’t ever a make-it or break-it deal, but I enjoy learning a bit more about the author and their blog before I decide to follow them. And, honestly, some peoples’ “About” pages are the greatest things ever.

So I thought I would share some favorites.

The Happy Lifeaholic: First of all, great name. And her bio is relatable, funny, and filled with awesome little images and doodles and cartoons. I especially enjoy the fact that she writes it at a point in her life where exercise is big, so she says she’ll probably be posting about it a lot and stick with it, but then comes back and updates it saying, “who am I kidding? Didn’t happen..the only exercise I do is walking to my fridge a million times a day, pulling the door open, and staring in.” Same, girl.

Taisie: Taisie’s “About” page is really unique, which I, obviously, love! It’s just a list of 50 facts about her, but they’re all so random and wonderful. These facts range from “I love fire” to “I am not convinced that I can staple” to “I can’t ride a unicycle” (who can, really?). I sincerely suggest reading the whole list.

*Also: I was 18 when I got my first kiss too! Practically. 2 months away. So I’m with you, girl.

Sick and Sick of It: Possibly the best “About Me” I’ve ever seen. It starts: Once upon a time, there was a princess, and her name was Ella. Intrigued, right? Well it gets better with every sentence and I don’t want to spoil the fun, so just go read it! Ugh, it’s great. She’s great. Her whole blog is great. Go look.

College with Ashley: Here’s one that’s short and sweet and sums up college in one sentence.

Love and Sparkles: I just agree with a lot that she has to say and find her “About” page to be really refreshing. She believes in people and chasing dreams and documenting life, and I just love that. I also think her opening quote is perfect: “Life is a collection of stories, and these are mine.”

There’s so many more amazing blogs I could feature in this post, but this is getting to be pretty long so I’ll just end it here. And maybe I’ll make another one of these in the future–after I’ve done some more exploring and found more gems.

Or maybe I should update my own bio. I’m feeling inspired.

Sincerely,

Sammy

PS. Lately I’ve been OBSESSED with The Vamps. Their entire album is fantastic, but my favorites are definitely Risk it All and Girls on TV.