100 of My Favorite Artist/Bands of All Time

1. The Beatles
2. Led Zeppelin
3. Janis Joplin
4. Bon Iver
5. Queen
6. Bob Marley
7. Jimi Hendrix
8. Nirvana
9. Joshua Radin
10. Beth Hart
11. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
12. Dave Matthew's Band
13. Kings of Leon
14. Passion Pit
15. Etta James
16. Joe Purdy
17. Journey
18. Alanis Morissette
19. Bob Dylan
20. The Cranberries
21. Ray LaMontagne
22. Cat Stevens
23. The Postal Service
24. Death Cab for Cutie
25. The Decemberists
26. Boston
27. The Black Keys
28. Whitney Houston
29. Bruce Springsteen
30. The Weepies
31. Miike Snow
32. The Avett Brothers 
33. Dispatch
34. Mishka
35. Mumford & Sons
36. Natalie Cole
37. Martin Sexton
38. William Fitzsimmons
39. Nneka
40. Norah Jones
41. Michael Jackson
42. Jay-Z
43. Fiona Apple
44. Matisyahu
45. Jack Johnson
46. Foreigner
47. Modest Mouse
48. Oasis
49. Bob Seger
50. Ben Folds
51. Amos Lee
52. Pat Benatar
53. Green Day
54. Jimmy Eat World
55. Band of Horses
56. Patrick Park
57. Red Hot Chili Peppers
58. Eminem
59. Chromeo
60. Regina Spektor
61. Ingrid Michaelson
62. Katy Perry
63. John Mayer
64. Pink Floyd
65. Johnny Cash
66. Rihanna
67. R.E.M.
68. The Rolling Stones
69. Pink
70. The Eagles
71. Nat King Cole
72. Iron & Wine
73. A Fine Frenzy
74. City and Color
75. Cold War Kids
76. Johnathan Rice
77. Kate Voegele
78. Jason Mraz
79. Flogging Molly
80. The Killers
81. Slightly Stoopid
82. AC/DC
83. Kate Nash
84. Neil Young
85. Flaming Lips
86. Mickey Avalon
87. Mariah Carey
88. Madonna
89. The Fray
90. Mat Kearney
91. Ludovico Einaudi
92. Bloc Party
93. James Taylor
94. Coldplay
95. The Temptations
96. Joan Jet and the Blackhearts
97. Hotspurs
98. KISS
99. 'N sync
100. Swollen Members

I think they're all in order.....I love music!

I Guarantee You Dawg

Breakfast this morning - When I walked into the cafe this morning I was overwhelmed with a feeling of happiness. Pretty much every good food that a person could want was laying there before me. There was granola in the bin, vanilla yogurt (two days in a row! I think that's some kind of record), STRAWBERRIES, and fresh bananas (I grabbed one for later in the day). Since granola is so filling it's perfect for days when I have class at noon and don't have time to squeeze in lunch until after my classes get done around 3:15. In order to help me remember to drink more water I brought my Nalgene water bottle to fill up. Breakfast did not disappoint and as a breakfast lover that always makes for a great day!

Overall today was also a productive day. I got most everything done on my list of things to do, my parents would be proud hahah

My Run - First I need to say a few things......When I got to the gym I was setting down my stuff and realized I forgot my iPod (not a good epiphany) and then as I began my first lap I realized I forgot to change into my sports bra......also not good :( still I wasn't about to just turn around and leave. That's when I had my third epiphany, I actually WANTED to run.

• I did two and a third miles
• It took me 30 minutes
• 9 laps equal a mile on the inside track (aka I did 21 laps)
• I tried to stretch as much as possible
• The first mile break down
• lap 1- walk
• lap 2-4 run
• lap 5 walk
• lap 6-7 run
• lap 8-9 walk
• stretch/water 5 minute break
• The second mile break down
• lap 1 - run
• lap 2 - walk
• lap 3 - run
• lap 4 - walk
• lap 5 - run
• lap 6-7 walk
• lap 8-9 run
• walked the last 3 laps for a cool down

My legs still a little sore, but I there was no sharp pain this time. YAY

Now it's time to take a shower and hit the bed! (I'm already tired and it's only 10 o'clock)

Cross training and Surprise visits :)

Today started off like any other day.... ate, went to class, but before aerobics I got a call from my cousin Ari. Her message literally made me jump up and down in excitement. Ari and my aunt Deb had been on a tour of Grand Valley State University today and called to ask if I wanted to go to dinner with them and my cousin Josh tonight......OF COURSE! How could I pass up a whole night with some of my favorite extended family members and a non cafeteria meal. After my last class of the day, deductive logics (ugh), I gave them a quick tour of my dorm room and we peeled out. We were originally supposed to meet at "Texas Longhorn Steakhouse".....aka non existent restaurant. My cousin Josh told us it was across from Target but when we got there all we saw was Texas Corral, which my aunt Deb insisted "screamed e coli"......frankly I was with her on that one, so we hit up TGI Fridays instead.
Yum Yum Yum......finally a burger in my stomach.....I haven't had a burger from the cafe yet because they all look like tiny frisbee's (hard and cold).

Overall it was a great night, I haven't laughed that hard in forever! I love my family and miss them so much, but am very thankful for surprise dinner visits. Thanks so much aunt Deb for dinner and the apple cider ;)

Here's some older pics of me and Ariana Joy

Ari and I at Christmas time a few years ago


We're Besties!!!


Even Older picture of all the women in Arizona for my cousin Aubry's Wedding



And this is my crazy cousin now a days :) LOVE YOU!



On a much more boring note today was a cross training day. We haven't been doing a lot of actual working out in my aerobics class lately so I've had to mix it up and find time after class to stay and work out. Today I went for the elliptical. I figured it would be more weight baring testing my shin's strength but not as much force as running. It was a short workout in between classes, but it still made me feel like I did something good for myself today. I only went two miles and 25 minutes, but I honestly didn't have time for much more.

Tomorrow goals-

• run 
• turn in my art application
• look over the apartment lease
• eat salad and drink at least three glasses of water
• vacuum my floor 

Art School

I just finished my personal statement for my application into the Frostic School of Art at Western. My goals for the future is to become an art therapy and hopefully I successfully described why and how this became my passion.

Here's my story:

When I was three years old I was diagnosed with a genetic disorder called Hypomelanosis of Ito. The genetic mutation caused markings on my skin and a large difference in size between the two halves of my body. The disorder required yearly check-ups to the University of Michigan Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor. I have now become used to the poking, prodding and multiple questions that come with every hospital visit but doctor’s offices still overwhelm me at times. The summer after I graduated from high school I had jaw surgery and was in the hospital for over a week. Between much pain and lack of solid food, I wasn’t able to enjoy a lot of my summer or really get out of my house. As a girl who grew up dancing, not being able to leap and pirouette on a constant basis had me on edge. I started ballet class when I was four and dancing soon became my form of expression. I always used dance as a way to get out my energy when I was too happy to sit still, release my rage when I was mad, or drown my sorrows when life got me down. Within the next month after my surgery I picked up a serious infection and was forced to spend another two week in the hospital. During this time I found myself emotionally stressed and pushed to the edge. Without my ability to express myself through dance, I had no way of releasing my feelings. Everything changed when I was introduced to the hospital’s art therapist for the first time. Not only did she impact my recovery time, but she changed my life. The art therapist gave me a way to express my emotions when I was physically restricted to do so otherwise. I always loved to color and doodle, but was never a serious artist. In the hospital I discovered my passion for paint and holding a brush in my hand. Without art therapy I do not believe the rest of my time trapped in the hospital would have gone as smoothly. Keeping a clear, calm head is essential for a fast recovery and I am very thankful for all the peace art has given me. I have always known that I wanted to give back to the hospital and help young children who were facing the same fears and challenges I have faced over the years; and I soon came to realize art therapy was the perfect way to fulfill those dreams. I plan on majoring in Psychology and achieving an art minor. My dream would be to work as an art therapist in a pediatric hospital in the future. I am still a young artist with a lot of passion and determination, but not as much experience in the field. I look forward to developing my skills at Western and cannot wait to use my experience to help other people in the future.

I wish I could add pictures, but I misplace (completely lost) my camera cord this summer and have no way of uploading pictures to my computer yet :( Maybe someday I'll share a few of my amateur drawings with you. 

Above The Bones

Song of the Day: 

Above the Bones by Mishka

Reggae music at it's best. Anyone can relate to the lyrics in Mishka's songs and this song has always been one of my favorites.

Check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv-rt4svQ7o&ob=av2n

Those Days

Have you ever had a day where you just really want to work out?

Today was my rest day....my right shins still pretty sore and I wanted to make sure it gets healed......but all day long I've been dreaming of the gym. Seriously I woke up and was like I'm gonna bike! But I wanted to stay true and sit today out. Most days I have to drag myself to the gym, so I hope my shin feels better tomorrow because I'm ready to kick butt! I'm thinking elliptical if my shin is still sore, but I might try a short run (1.5 miles?)

Stupid leg :(