A Time To Be Thankful

The best way to start your week is to count your blessings! So in honor of Veterans Day today, I want to take a moment just to be truly thankful. We are so blessed to be Americans. Blessed to live in a land of freedom, built by amazingly unselfish people who were willing to sacrifice their time and some even their lives to make that possible for us. Freedom isn't free and I am forever grateful to those who pay that price.

 

Other things I am thankful for today:

• I lost 3lbs last week! And my dad talked me into going to the gym last night for the first time in a while...at least a month. It felt good! It's always easier when you have a buddy too. I can't wait to have my hot body back!!

• Friends who are nerdy like me and will text with me throughout the Killing Kennedy movie (ahhem...Christa, I know you're reading this)
• Blind dates that terrify me but end up introducing me to someone I would never have picked for myself - in a good way
• Sushi dates with my best friend

• Oceans by Hillsong United - I am obsessed with this song (lyrics above). It's so powerful. I get teary every time I hear it. I know the video is a little long, but I dare you to listen to it and not be moved by it.

How's that for a Motivational Monday???

It Was Always the Love Songs

This has been on my heart for a couple weeks so I just wanted to put it out there. For a girl who claims to have developed a black heart, I’ve kiiiiiind of been turning back into a softie. Maybe it’s because the impending one year anniversary of my failed engagement is coming up? Maybe I’m just a big wuss? Who knows? Either way, I’ve found myself tearing up to some “love songs” lately. I say that in quotes because I know one of these you might not consider a love song, but to me, it’s perfection.

The definition of a love song to me is either one of two things: A) It’s one of YOUR songs. It triggers a memory, moment in time and immediately makes you think of THEM. Not necessarily a typical romantic tune. B) Classic love songs that any girl would want a guy to play for them. Then there’s also just straight up panty dropping music (Boys II Men, Usher, Keith Sweat, etc.) But we’ll save those for another post, because they definitely don’t make me cry. We all have songs that go with relationships (or non-relationships) that just fit the vibe of the situation. Each boyfriend I’ve ever had we’ve had a defining song, usually several of them. Anytime I hear these songs, they resonate an instant memory with me. And oddly enough, I’ve heard them all very recently and been brought to tears. I’m going to tell you a little story about each other… as if this post needed to be drawn out more...

 

Train – Meet Virginia

This was my first “boyfriend” song I would say. My first real boyfriend was in 9^th grade, it wasn’t a long or overly serious relationship but it was my first experience with a lot of things, including a very strong attachment to a boy. I am so fortunate to still have this boy in my life. I told you a little about him here. And I’d like to think we will always be connected. We have tried to give it a go together countless times (pretty much anytime either of us has a breakup) and he definitely deserves the award for the person who has tried to be with me the most number of times. He has grown into an amazing man, but it’s funny that not too long ago we heard this song and kissed and it took me right back to being 14 years old.

 

Jagged Edge – Healing

This is a tough one for me. This has Skye written all over it. He introduced me to this song in 2003 when we first started dating. This song had such a special meaning to me. Everything about it just defines us. We listened it to during every major milestone and makeup moment throughout our relationship and it was going to be our First Dance song at our wedding. He played it the first night he told me he loved me, when he gave me my promise ring, after our first huge fight, we listened to it on repeat on our first vacay together, any romantic moment he planned, every birthday, the night he asked me to marry him, and so many times the last month we were together (Oct 2012) after we decided it would be our first dance song. I’ll be honest and tell you I can barely stand to hear it now. It breaks my heart and makes me think of a completely different time in my life. When someone promised they would always love me.

 

Taylor Swift – Our Song

I know we all hate on TSwift now but back in the day I used to love her. This song was my ringtone for the whole year that it first came out. Skye hated it, but we would always sing it so loud when my phone rang. I heard it for the first time in years the other day and I actually teared up. DO NOT FREAKING JUDGE ME BECAUSE TSWIFT MADE ME TEAR UP! It has nothing to do with her haha!

 

Jack Johnson – Better Together, Banana Pancakes

Skye also introduced me to Jack Johnson. He was much more of a lover than me so he was all into this kind of music for a while. Better Together became our 2^nd song, behind Healing. It always made everything better, and he would always remind me that we were better together. I still love Jack Johnson and luckily I can still listen to him without being sad.

Moving along from Skye…

Justin Moore – Bed of My Chevy

This is not a boyfriend song! WHEW! But remember my fireman boy toy? Seems like every time he and I were together we would hear Justin Moore. This song reminds me of him because it’s just a cute version of a fun country love song.

 

John Legend – ANYTHING! Play me some John Legend and my panties are out the window.

Train - Marry Me
Typical wedding type of song, but I love it and always swoon over it.

Eli Young Band – Crazy Girl
There's really no special meaning to this one, I just love the lyrics.

Ed Cash – Marry Me

you’ve probably never heard of this one, Ed Cash is an amazing Christian genre singer, this has been one of my fav love songs since I heard it at a church conference in high school. He actually wrote this song as a proposal to his wife. I would just melt right into a puddle.

 

One of my fav parts of a wedding is always the first dance song, and now you know what mine would have been. For the wedding I was in over the weekend, theirs was "Hey Pretty Girl" by Kip Moore. What was yours or what would you envision yours to be??

Songs that Define Me Linky & Giveaway WINNER!

Business first, party second. I have the lucky giveaway winner from my STS giveaway to announce today!! Thank you to everyone who entered! Drumroll please.....

a Rafflecopter giveaway

woot woot!! Congrats Erin!!!

Linking up with the music lovin' Helene for this awesome idea today! Our lovely hostess pretty much said anything goes for this linkup - just have to throw out some songs that define you, whether it's in the past or currently. I'm going to make a little list for you because I'm just a list kinda girl. I am such a music person - I have SO many songs that define different times in my life. Boyfriend songs, best friend songs, songs that get me crunk, songs that bring tears. It was hard to choose just four!

 

Journey - Midnight Train - This is my ultimate theme song in life. I have always loved this song, I'm a huge Journey fan. But the moment when I was a teenager and they played this on Laguna Beach when LC & Stephen were on their date in the car - I know y'all remember that shit too! - just solidified it for me. I have this song on every playlist on my iTunes, I snowboard to it, wakeboard to it and workout to it. Anybody who knows me well will tell you THIS IS MY JAM! I will probably have it played at my funeral.
 

 

Alabama - Dixieland Delight - This is my go to karaoke song! I get so crunk when I hear it, and not just because it says "on a Tennessee Saturday night" It's one of my all time favs! It reminds me of some of the best nights of my life.
 

Three 6 Mafia - Late Night Tip - My high school theme song. You can pretty much sum up my entire high school experience with this song. We wore this thing out back in the day. Reminds me of Friday nights after football & basketball games, parties, my first serious boyfriend, cheerleading trips, senior trip - we always played this song!

 

 

Carrie Underwood - How Great Thou Art - I realize that placing this one under Three 6 Mafia must be some sort of sin... but bear with me. I grew up in a Southern Baptist Church, singing traditional hymns every Sunday. This is my aunt's fav hymn and I love the way she sang it, so it became one of my favs. Carrie has the voice of an angel so naturally her version of this song gives me chills. Reminds me of my childhood, my aunt (who is basically like my mama), and I can always listen to this song and feel better during times of struggle.
 

 

 

How's that for an eclectic mix of music? A little rock, a little country, Memphis rap and gotta throw in some Jesus praisin' music! Very fitting for a girl like myself!