the secret

p h o t o // t u m b l r

Beautiful

Here's a song. You are beautiful. Don't ever doubt it.

   

 + s t a y // g o l d

Shenandoah

When I listen to music, I want to feel peace, I want to feel the air being swept from me, I want to feel the salty tear running down my cheek. I want to escape and feel something completely and perfectly lovely. For some reason, this song makes me feel that way.

Stay gold.

So this one time...

I was supposed to post a playlist Thursday post on Thursday (yesterday), and I didn't. Typical Dani move right? I'm going to be honest though, I don't have a lot of music to share with you right now.

I have a "Trying it Out" playlist on Spotify. So right now, I'm trying out She & Him, Phil Wickham, and Macklemore. If any of you listen to these artists religiously, what songs would you recommend? Give me any recommendations in general. I love that playlist because I'm able to just listen and pick off the songs I do and do not like.

But since this is a playlist post, and not everyone has Spotify, I thought I would share three songs (well mostly 2 because I shared one last week)

1. Always on My Mind by Michael Buble

"Maybe I didn't treat you quite as good as I should have. Maybe I didn't love you quite as often as I could have. Little things I should have said and done, I just never took the time. But you are always on my mind. You are always on my mind."

Back in the day, I was super obsessed with Michael Buble, and I really liked this kid at the time. Well he didn't like me and this was my weepy song. I listened to it NON-STOP, playing this scenario in my head that he would admit all these things to me, and that we would end up falling in love. Did it happen? No. Am I okay? Obviously. We all know that each and every one of us has wished something like that would happen to us. We write it on paper or we just keep it to ourselves. AND we look out the window sadly when it rains and we pretend soft music is playing in the background (You've Got Mail style) It's just one of those things that everyone does.

2. Starships (Nicki Minaj cover) by Conor Maynard

This is right up there in the "Ben Howard does a cover of Call Me Maybe" greatness category. How is it that guys make pop songs sound so much better? How? Like seriously, he is perfect in every way.

3. Hiding Out (Live) by Sucre

The live version BLOWS my mind. She sounds like an angel.

 What beautiful music do you have to share with me? 

Happy listening. 

Stay gold. 

Playlist Thursday: The Loveliest

1. Delicate by Damien Rice

"It's not that we're scared. It's just that it's delicate."

2. Volcano by Damien Rice 

"What I am to you is not real. What I am to you, you do not need. What I am to you is not what you mean to me. You give me miles and miles of mountains."


3. The First of August by Daniel Martin Moore & Joan Shelley 

"Mama knows you gotta go son. Sister's gonna miss you when you go down the road you've been drawing line by line. And the poet has been writing you, writing you down."

"See the sun on the other side, on the first of August."

Lovely. Simply Lovely.

4. Cold Winds by Matthew Mayfield 

Do you remember me? Do you remember me? Do you remember what we said we'd lost...and what it cost?

5. Child by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

"The ocean how she moves in ripples, ripples
In flashing lights I swear she was an old film
Then the colour bleeds and she becomes an angel, an angel
Calls out to me like a siren to a scoundrel

And I say c'mon child...

With just a touch I'm gone and carried
Another time where our palms share the same life
The accent of a kiss, whispers were married
It's either love or just the sun in my eyes."

6. Islands by Young the Giant

"All the years I miss your warmth. Have you missed my warmth?"

 

A repeat, but his voice is so beautiful I just could not NOT share.  I want to marry his voice. Or him. I mean both would be great.

7. I Can't Make You Love Me (Bonnie Raitt Cover) by Justin Vernon
AND
I Can't Make You Love Me (Bonnie Raitt Cover) by Adele 
(Sorry about her sailor mouth at the beginning, skip to 0:56 to avoid swears.)

"I can't make you love me, if you don't. You can't make your heart feel something that it won't."


Also...

Have any of you checked out A Fine Frenzy's new album Pines ? I cannot wait to hear it. I have heard little snippets and it is very reminiscent of Feist's Metals. Ooo I cannot wait. If you have been listening, what are your favorite songs that you recommend? What songs have you been loving lately? Comment below and stay golden and oh so very lovely!

Wishlist Wednesday: iPhone Cases and Other Things

The majority of this wishlist is iPhone cases. I am already thinking about getting a new one. Good thing Christmas isn't that far away!

 Society 6 // 1, 2 

Society 6 has the best iPhone, iPad, and computer cases. I love seeing artists put their work on things that will be seen by everybody. There are so many options and everything is so unique. I would recommend checking it out. I can't get enough of the Up! inspired case. So cute!

Kate Spade // 1, 2, 3, 4

So I have an iPhone board on Pinterest, and the Kate Spade cases are what got me started. I wanted their "Eat Cake for Breakfast" case, but unfortunately, that one isn't on the market at the moment, so I settled for some other ones that I like just as much. Aren't they all just adorable? They come with a silicone lining too. Thank you Kate Spade for the beautiful things you design.

Now for clothing and other things!

1. A Gold Bar Necklace 

 

 I couldn't find the link to this, but if you type Gold Bar Necklaces in Google, a lot of results come up. Also, Etsy is full of cute jewelry like this.

2. And if you are a hardcore ring wearer, or if you're worried about losing your wedding ring (for all those married ladies...)

Urban Outfitters // 1

How CUTE is this? How cute? 

3. A New Scarf

1

4. Clothes like this for my future children... 

ESP No. 1

 For the days when they want to look a little bit grungy and edgy. Yep I'm already dressing my children.

5.  These two tops.

ASOS // 1

Helmut Lang // 1

6. AND these BEYOND GORGEOUS shoes 

Jeffrey Campbell // 1

Oh my goodness, these are so beautiful. I want them in the weave and in black! Aren't they just perfect? Really though, Jeffrey Campbell never fails to impress me.

What have you been wishin' for lately? Do you have any great sites that sell adorable iPhone cases? I am also looking for cute backgrounds. Lemme know friends! Also, aren't you just loving the fall weather? It's officially here! You better be breaking out the cardigans!

Playlist Thursday: Some Beautiful Things...

1. Don't You Give Up On Me by Milo Greene 

"I'll go, I'll go, I'll go wherever you go
and I will never leave without letting you know

don't you give up on me
don't you give up on me

we're told, we're told, we're told we'll never get old so don't you ever show them, show them our bones
we'll dig, we'll dig, we'll dig our own little hole, then put our walls around it and call it our home

don't you give up on me.
don't you give up on me.

cause you're all I got
and time won't stop." 

Over the summer, a friend of mine gave me a summer playlist and this was the first song that played. It is such a beautiful "transition" type of song. I could see it being played in a montage in a movie, or at the end of an inspiring movie. Now every time I listen I think of the end of the school year and the summer days that are ahead.

2. Obsessions by Marina and the Diamonds 

"You never told me what it was that made you strong and what it was that made you weak."

Marina from Marina and the Diamonds has such an interesting voice. It reminds me of Florence Welch's voice, but definitely doesn't have the ethereal edge that Florence has.  Marina does a lot of sing/talk and she has different inflections, but it all just works. Her lyrics are VERY different. At first it was hard for me to listen to, but it just gets to interesting that you can't help but love it. To me it's beautiful in its own way. Plus, it's a song with themes of OCD. Yeah it would be my kind of song.

You should also check out "Girls" and "I Am Not a Robot" by her.

3. The House You're Building by Audrey Assad 

"All my life you've been calling me to a home, you know I've been needing."

Can I please have her talents? I want to sing like her, I want to play music like she does, and I want to write songs like her. Thank you iTunes for this Freebie from oh so long ago. Gorgeous I tell you. Simply gorgeous. This is another one of those "transition" songs. I will add this to my soundtrack when I finally make the movie that is forever playing in my head.

I apologize that this is late, Thursdays are always my craziest days of the week. Tonight I'll write a favorites post, so stay tuned and stay golden!

Wishlist Wednesday: Pinspiration

*This was posted on a Thursday, I am fully aware. Two posts in one day? Awww yeah baby.* 

I'm going to make another excuse, and you are going to forgive me. I don't have any specific wishlist items for you today. I am going to share some pinspiration. I figured that if I ever am stumped with my wishlists or favorites posts, just go to pinterest. You will find the inspiration you need, thus creating pinspiration posts. So thank you Pinterest, and thank you readers for sticking with me through my busy college experience. I will get back into the groove of things, just you wait and see.

Really, there is nothing I love more than slouchy sweaters and stripes. This has the perfect combination of both.

I love layering in the fall. I cannot wait to just layer, layer, and layer some more. Now where can I find a cool leather jacket and blazer?

This has nothing to do with fashion but I really want a cup of galaxy. I am going to invent a delicious beverage called Cup of Galaxy. Look how beautiful that is. This is my desktop background right now. I love it.

Lately, I have really wanted more cool graphic tees. The slouchy kind. For those tom boy, street style days.

AH. Such simple yet oh so perfect styling. Look at those shoes! Outfits like these make me want to invest in every single black t shirt and high waisted pair of trousers. Also, the belt is fantastic. I need one of those. You can never have too many brown/cognac belts. 

Totally Kate Moss inspired. Mm...I just love it all. Click the link and drool over the other outfits.

You can find this picture under "GLAM" in the dictionary. Dear lovely lady in this picture, could you be my personal stylist?

The only problem with Fall/Winter fashion is that I want every coat and sweater I see. This Duffle Coat is the best thing I have ever seen. Oh and it's also over 500 dollars. Yay.

I will always be a strong supporter of color blocking. A pop of color is always in fashion. Really though. Don't be a afraid to do it. Click here for more drooling. Feast your eyes upon beautiful outfits.

Sweet Sunday Snippets

I really needed to hear this talk today. Especially since school is starting. I need to remember that God loves to bless his children. We are all his children. We must love others and lift them up. We musn't murmur about them. Speak ill about them or put them down. We should show love and mercy. We should never envy someone for the blessings they receive. We should humble ourselves and give thanks to our Father in Heaven and Savior for the bounteous blessings they have bestowed upon us. May we all remember this. Good luck to everyone starting school tomorrow. Stay golden. Happy Sunday.

Playlist Thursday

1. Anonanimal by Andrew Bird 

"I will become this animal, perfectly adapted to a music hall. I will become this animal."

Can you understand a word he's saying? I can't, but I still love this song. 

2. The Cascades by Fleet Foxes

When I hear this song, I think of Yellowstone, high mountains, Mountain Men, rivers, cascades. You know.

3.  Islands by Young the Giant 

 "All the years I miss your warmth. Have you missed my warmth?"

I love Young the Giant so much. So much. So, so, so much. Their music is so good. The lyrics are so beautiful too. Love. 

4. Trapdoor by The Dear Hunter

"You say that you’ve heard it before, that the pitch the tone are unsure. But the weight of your words is too much, and the look in your eyes... oh it cuts. Darling, don't abandon me. Please just take a breath and you'll see that not everything here is lost. And the profit will outweigh the cost. If the only thing you want is love."

I may have mentioned this song in a playlist before, but I really don't care. I love how emotional this song gets. It's amazing. 

5. The Limit to Your Love by Feist

"There's a limit to your love. Like a waterfall in slow motion. Like a map with no ocean."

It kills me how underrated Feist is. I love her so much. She's right up there with Adele and Florence for me. Her voice is so smoky and different. Her music is perfect for rainy days and cozy sweaters.

6. Cicadas and Gulls by Feist

"I'm in the sky, sky, sky. I'm in the sky."

The harmonies at the end of the song....chills.

7. Sleeping Lessons by The Shins 

"They've got nothing left on which we depend. So enlist every ounce of your bright blood, And off with their heads!" 

Insomniacs unite! And listen to The Shins.

8. Fall and Flee by The Dear Hunter

"We all become memories after having gone. Dancing in the light flickering behind their eyes. I'm hoping it's showing my heart never stopped growing, I'll take comfort in knowing.."

Have I shared this one before too? Oh well. It's beautiful and very peaceful I think. It reminds me of my friend Michael. He and I really love The Dear Hunter. He has such good taste in music. Love that kid.

9.  Too Close by Alex Clare

"And it feels like I am just too close to love you...so I'll be on my way."

The commercials during the Olympics have had some pretty great songs in them. I may just switch to Internet Explorer now because of this song.......nahhhhh.

10. Brothers on a Hotel Bed by Death Cab for Cutie

"On the back of a motorbike with your arms outstretched trying to take flight, leaving everything behind. But even at our swiftest speed we couldn't break from the concrete in the city where we still reside. And I have learned that even landlocked lovers yearn for the sea, like navy men, 'cause now we say goodnight from our own separate sides, like brothers on a hotel bed."

When you're so sick and about to cry, a Valley Boy will started playing this song on the drive home. He will then proceed to sing along softly, and you will feel so much comfort from it...that you feel something in your heart and you haven't had that feeling before but it feels different and good. And you just might not throw up in his car at any moment.

 11. Electric Feel by MGMT  

"This is what the world is for...making electricity."

Oh man. This song brings me right back to Spring. My roommate Meghan used this song as an alarm. You should try it some time. Waking up to Electric Feel makes for a pretty dandy day. I will always love you Electric Feel. Always.

12. Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men

  

"Because though the truth may vary, this ship will carry our bodies safe to shore. Hey!"

Oooo. This song is so good. Of Monsters and Men is growing on me. 

FRIEND'S FAVORITE

 Valley Boy's all-time favorite song. 

Intermission by The Receiving End of Sirens

Terrific Tuesday: The Perfect Day

I leave for Washington DC this Saturday. So excited. 5 more days, including today! I can't wait. That makes this Tuesday even more terrific. In other news, I voted wearing an old Weber High School T-shirt. AND a sweet man thanked me for voting. He was just some random guy in line and I could tell that he meant it. What a cool guy. Thank you to him for making my Tuesday terrific. Okay. SO...onto the title of this post.

The other day I was exploring the world of tumblr and I came upon this post about Justin Vernon (the front man of Bon Iver). He was asked about what his "perfect day" would be. And it wasn't like the Miss Congeniality answer. No in fact it was one of the most beautiful and magical things I have ever read.

This made me think about what my perfect day would be. I don't think I would smoke cigarettes, drink whiskey, or make love to the light of fireflies on a back porch (even though that all sounds beautiful coming from the mouth of a man who has the voice of heaven). We all have our own ideas of the perfect day, and today I am going to share my perfect day with you. It can really be summed up in another picture that I found on tumblr.

You see, I think the same way as Justin does. A perfect day would be spent with the perfect person for me. Maybe I wouldn't want to sit on a couch. I would like to be in some special place. Like a field of poppies, or a little thicket full of trees with glimmering green leaves. We would listen to only the most beautiful music. And we would sing along softly. Everything would sound like peace, the universe, heaven and we would dance in that field, slow dance specifically. We would eat our copious amounts of pizza and we would drink root beer from ice cold mugs. Then at night we would gaze up through the clearing and look at the stars and gaze in wonder at the infinities above us. That sounds pretty perfect to me.

What would your perfect day be? Let me know! Have a beautiful day friends!

Terrific Tuesday: Happiness Is...

I have been so excited to write this post ALL week! Well...since last Tuesday anyway. Guys, today is the beginning of something that I really think will change my view on life. I think it will make my summer and coming school year so much better. So much happier. So much clearer. I know that this will help me get through the tough stuff, because let's face it...tough stuff happens. C'est la vie. It's nothing new and I'm sure you have seen it before, but I love it so much that I want it to be a part of my blog. So since today is TERRIFIC TUESDAY I thought, why not?! Today's post is the beginning of my "Happiness Is..." posts. The other day while I was updating my tumblr, I saw this: 

When I read this...I felt happy. I felt inspired. It made me reflect upon what makes me happy. What is happiness to me? That's why I want to do these posts every once and awhile on Tuesday. They will help remind me what happiness really is. The simple things. The special things. The rare things. The oh so normal things that you don't even realize are there. I know for a fact that I have felt this happiness when a simple sheet keeps me warm enough that I drift into a deep sleep. I have experienced that hot night and the cool relief. It really does make you happy. Happiness can be found in the strangest and most interesting places. With these posts, I want to share what happiness is to me. Hopefully we can all see happiness in life. Without further ado...

Happiness is...

1. Lime Rickies on a hot summer night.

2. Listening to your sister laugh at the nerdy pins she finds on pinterest. She will laugh at anything that makes a joke that is LOTR, Star Wars, Star Trek, Harry Potter, etc. related. Hearing her crack up makes me happy. Laughter is good.

3. Days at the pool. The other day my sister and I went to the pool and it was such a fun day. Granted, my swimsuit faded and I am now swimsuit-less. It still was a fantastic day. We got to eat pizza and splash water. It was great. We know how to party! (I put in a picture of the suit...you can imagine how sad I was that I had to return it.)

4. Fruit. I feel like summer is the season for fruit. My dad loves eating it with caramel. He says it was a very rare treat from him childhood. I got some cute pictures of him eating a fruit salad and dulce de leche. He was on foodee heaven. That makes me happy because he is happy. Face it...food makes you happy too.

5. Finally, happiness is the beautiful morning that I am able to witness as I write this post. I am sitting on the back patio and the sun is creating this beautiful glow. The birds are singing and everything is green. What a beautiful earth. As they would say in Oklahoma, "Oh what a beautiful morning!" Yep this makes me pretty happy.

Have a wonderful Tuesday everybody. Are you feeling happy today? Have you seen a little snippet of happiness in something recently? Please comment below I would love to read about it. Also, stay tuned for more of these posts! I have a wishlist for you tomorrow, so I'll see you then! Peace.