Music

I'll be honest with you. I hate when people say, "Music is my life." Especially when it comes from preteen/teen boys and girls who haven't experienced anything in their life but going to concerts that their parents pay for. For some reason the phrasing just makes me roll my eyes and go, "Okay, yeah, sure."

However, I do believe that music can evoke powerful memories, especially from the past. There are so many songs that bring back memories to me that I feel like the memory just happened yesterday. Mostly because I listened to certain songs or cd's over and over again during a certain point in my life and others just because I listened to them with a certain person.

I decided to blog about this and share some of the songs and a description of what they mean to me. Don't judge the music choices!

1. Sister Golden Hair by America
I didn't chose this song for any particular reason. It is basically a song I chose for the entire genre of oldies/greatest hits. I just happened to hear this song today and it stuck. This music reminds me of my childhood. It brings back memories of the 90s and going to Indians games with my family. It especially reminds me of my dad. He listens to oldies all the time. In the car, cleaning out the garage. I started listening to this music again because I hate everything on the radio except this music.

2. Cats in the Cradle by Harry Chapin
Listening to this song reminds me of my dad. It's his favorite song. I remember him telling me that it reminds him of his own relationship with my grandpa. This song, and Brown Eyed Girl will always remind me of my dad because he used to always dedicate Brown-Eyed Girl to my sister since they are the only two in our family with brown eyes.

3. I Wanna Hold Your Hand by The Beatles
The entire Beatles Number 1 album reminds me of driving to North Carolina when I was in 5th grade because I got the cd for my birthday and listened to it much of the way down!

4. Breathing by Yellowcard
In 10th grade I loved Yellowcard, and I also had a period where I loved the movie The Butterfly Effect. I watched the movie 8 times in one week! I was obsessed. At the same time I would also listen to Ocean Avenue by Yellowcard. To this day this song reminds me of The Butterfly Effect. It reminds me of really the last time I consistently rode the school bus. It reminds me of history class.

5. Versus the Mirror by States
This song brings back strong memories of fall. It reminds me of walking to campus and seeing red, orange, and yellow leaves on the ground. It also reminds of of that fall smell. Do you know what I'm talking about? Fall just has this crisp smell and this song reminds me of it.

6. Burn This City by Cartel
When I listen to this song I am reminded of my last years of high school. My friends and I would just drive around in the car. We'd go to Sheetz and get milk shakes. We'd go and cracker people's cars. This song reminds me of one of the happiest times in my life. Although I was not particularly fond of high school I had a great group of close friends and I would do anything to just relive those nights once again.

7. Dare You to Move by Switchfoot
You're going to laugh, but the entire A Walk to Remember soundtrack reminds me of the Pokemon game for Gameboy. I used to listen to the soundtrack and play the game for hours. Great times.

8. Last Call by Mae
I listened to this song so many times during winter quarter 2011. It reminds me of taking the Cincinnati metro bus and walking to the school I did my internship at. I am reminded of the cold chill and being happy to finally be on the warm bus.

9. As You Sleep by Something Corporate
This song, and the entire cd, remind me of playing basketball in 10th grade. I used to listen to this cd all the time, especially on the car rides to the games.

10. Faithfully by Journey
Like the first song, this song is just an example of an entire genre. Soft rock music reminds me so much of my grandma on my mom's side. She would always play Soft Rock 102.1 in her car and sometimes in her house. Whenever I hear songs, like Journey, I am reminded of family picnics or spending summer days at my grandma's house with unsweetened iced tea. It will be really hard to listen to this kind of music when she dies.

What are some songs that bring back memories to you?

Thrift Store Finds

I love and have always loved shopping at thrift stores.  I actually got made fun of it during my student teaching. After going to Krohn Conservatory and Tom + Chee Mallorie and I went to a few thrift stores. I went here with Ally, the queen of thrifting, back in August, but I hadn't been to them since and I really needed to get my retail therapy on without spending a lot of dough.

We first went to the Goodwill Boutique at 2234 Beechmont Avenue. We went on a great day because the clothing was an additional 50% off! Both the items I bought are from Target, which is also great because I absolutely love Target's clothes. The first shirt is a large, but I bought it because sometimes you just need that cute loose fitting shirt in the summer.

Jason Wu for Target shirt: $6.00

+ 50% off = $3.00

Retail: $20-$30

Converse One Star for Target: $10.00

+50% off: $5.00

Retail: $29.99

Good thrifty finds make for a great day! We also visited St. Vincent de Paul at 2300 Beechmont Avenue (literally a few buildings away from the Goodwill. This store also usually has some great finds, but neither Mallorie or I bought anything. I had a few things in my hands, but I talked myself out of it because do I really need it? 

What is your favorite thrift store?

Krohn Conservatory Butterfly Show

In my attempts to hang out with more friends, explore as much of Cincinnati as I can before I leave, and make the most of my day's off I had the pleasure of hanging out with Mallorie, my friend and Mackenzie's sister! I had several dollar off coupons to the Krohn Conservatory's "On Wings of Harmony" Butterfly Show. Not that we needed coupons because they were pretty much handing them out as we walked inside.

We walked around trying to catch butterflies on our fingers. It was funny. I felt like a little kid again. I started calling myself the butterfly whisperer. Sometimes those butterflies can be scary though because they fly right at your head. There were these giant blue butterflies that were taunting us and we tried so hard to catch them, but, alas, they knew what we were trying to do. I also caught some and was able to give them to two little kids who weren't able to catch them on their own but whose mom's wanted a picture with them holding a butterfly. That was my civil service act of the day!

It didn't take us long to go through it so we decided to get lunch. We weren't sure where, but then I suggested Tom + Chee because neither of us had been there, but I heard good things! Then, we completed our day by thrifting, which I will write another post about soon!

Hope you had a good Friday!

DAAPworks

On Wednesday evening Haley, Ben, and I headed over to UC to see the art and design (DAAP) school's senior show called DAAPworks. Like most things in Cincinnati, it seems, it was the first time I had ever been to a show in the five years I have lived here. I really need to start making the most of my life the next place I move. However, it was nicer this time because I knew a lot of people's art that was in the show. It also made me sad though because I had originally intended to go to school for Interior Design. I think that is one thing I regret most in life, especially now that I can't find a teaching job.

But I digress. Out friend, Mike, was in the Urban Planning section. It took three of us forever to find his. I texted him asking where it was and he responds, "With the planning projects." No duh, Michael! I finally found it and told Haley to get in front of it so we could show him that we found it!

Then we went to the Fine Arts section where I got to see Heather's photography! I didn't take a picture of it because the glare was too strong, but you can see her series "Paper Thin" here! It is a beautiful series with great meaning.

One of the last ones we looked at was the graphic design projects. I love graphic design and that is also something I wish I could have gone into. One of my favorite's was Rachel's, who I knew from Navigators at UC. 

Afterwards, we went to Cincy Steak & Lemonade, which conveniently worked as another restaurant on my 23 before 24 list because I had never been there before! 

June Has Begun

This weekend was my weekend off! It was a lot of fun. I really don't want it to end!

Friday, June 1: I was looking for someone to hang out with but it just seemed like everyone was busy. Then Haley called me and asked if I wanted to hang out! I went to her house where we got together with her friend, Margaret. We ran up to Michaels because I had some craft inspiration. Then got McFlurries at McDonalds. Then we just went back to her house where we talked and played with Clove, of course!

Saturday, June 2: I actually slept in until almost 9 on Saturday! I was proud of myself because I've been waking up around 5:30-6, which is before my alarm! I wanted to do some crafts again and go to the store but again I couldn't find anyone to go with me! But I knew I had plans later so it did not get me down!

Saturday night I got together with my friends Sarah and Katelyn and Katelyn's boyfriend. It was so great to see them. We were in the same major so it was nice to talk with people going through the same situation as me. We first went to Arnold's Bar and Grill. Katelyn wanted to take us there because we are all history teachers and Arnold's is the oldest bar in Cincinnati. 

Later, we headed over to Rock Bottom where my friend, Tom, met us. It was an overall great night. I need to hang out with them more often, even though I'll be leaving soon! Well, the night was good until Sarah realized she lost her keys which she still has not found!

Sunday, June 3: Today Tom and I went to Summerfair, an arts and crafts fair at Coney Island. It's actually kind of funny that Summerfair happened this weekend because out of the blue I looked up craft fairs that were going to be in Cincinnati this summer and there happened to be one this weekend!

Before we went we got breakfast at Bob Evans. Then we headed over to Summerfair. We got there pretty early which was good because by the time we left it was getting really crowded. But that doesn't mean that it wasn't crowded because it was! I am a very indecisive person and Tom and I together are the worst! After walking around the entire fair and even walking past the same booths several times. We decided to leave. 

We weren't sure what we wanted to do afterwards. It was either go home or think of something else, which is like pulling teeth for the two of us. Luckily, Tom had the idea of going to the Cincinnati Art Museum. I was actually surprised he came up with this idea and it was a good one because I haven't been there since my freshman year of college. We spent time walking around and I took pictures of some of my favorite art pieces and the interesting ceiling work. Please don't judge my picture taking abilities. I know I'm terrible.

Is it just me or do other people feel weird about art museum employees following you around? I mean, I know why they are there, but sometimes I feel uncomfortable being watched so much. I could never be famous!

It was a fun weekend off, and I really wish I didn't have to go back to work. Two more weeks until my next weekend off is too far away!