BICYCLE, BICYCLE!

Today I went for a bicycle ride with my dad along the trail near my house that goes out towards Suttons Bay. We did not ride the whole trail but managed about eight miles out and back, sixteen miles total. Today was only my fourth time riding my road bike this year. A few years ago I had accomplished weeks worth of frequent riding time by this point in the summer. Sixteen miles would have been an easy ride for me back then, but it certainly wasn't easy for me today.

About half way out towards Suttons Bay the trail runs into Lakeview Hills Road. Before they paved the middle section of the trail a few years ago this was the turn off point for road bikers. You could take Lakeview Hills down and around and eventually connect back to the paved trail. This alternative route was slightly longer and a lot hillier, so when they finally paved the entire trail choosing to stay on the straighter, flatter path became the easier choice. Before I noticed, I had gone months and then years without taking the Lakeview Hills route. So today my dad and I decided to ride up the first two hills before turning around to head home.

Guys, I forgot how hard it is to climb hills. Years ago, after riding the same hills all summer I started to feel like I could climb anything. Unfortunately, time quickly erases those physical talents we once worked so hard to achieve. The first hill was deceptive and I conquered it pretty easily, but that second hill almost killed me. I was about one third of the way up the second hill when I started slowing down and felt a little like everything inside of me was falling apart. You know those cartoons where the character is driving along in a car and suddenly parts start falling off until the car is just an axel with wheels and a seat? Well that's how I imagined my ride up that second hill. I downshifted until I couldn't anymore and then all I had was the pedals and my feet. The entire time I was panting and kept thinking, "just keep going, just keep going." We have two choices when confronted with a challenge, we can either give up or keep pushing forward.

Eventually, I made it to the top of the second hill. As I tried to regain my breathe I was able to look out over the bright blue water and distant tree cover hills thankful that I didn't give up. Sometimes being able to see the world a little better is worth the pain of climbing a hill, especially if you haven't done it in a while. I finished today's ride with sore muscles and an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment.

-S

Music For May

I haven't made a playlist for this blog in a while so I figured it was about time for something new. Despite the majority of the songs on this list having been released prior to 2016, I tried to stay true to the music I've been listening to the most this month. The list is full of catchy pop songs and rounded out with the occasional folk and rock track. Pop songs tend to be my spring time jams since they're great at getting me pumped for summer. You can also tell my KOL phases is still going strong this month. I made a full playlist on Youtube for anyone who wants to enjoy!

Birthday by Kings of Leon

Angela by The Lumineers

God Only Knows by The Beach Boys

The Sound by The 1975

If I Could Change Your Mind by Haim

Ain't No Man by The Avett Brothers

Dust in a Baggie by Billy Strings and Don Julin

Molly's Chambers by Kings of Leon

Dig Me Out by Sleater-Kinney

UGH! by The 1975

Soundtrack by Catfish and the Bottlemen

Cleopatra by The Lumineers

Wouldn't It Be Nice by The Beach Boys

I Ain't Gonna Work Tomorrow by Billy Strings and Don Julin

Please Pardon Yourself by The Avett Brothers

Forever by Haim

Stop Desire by Tegan and Sara

Fans by Kings of Leon

Can you believe it's been 50 years since The Beach Boy's album Pet Sounds was released? (That makes it sound like I was there 50 years ago... I was not) Those songs never get old. It took me a long time to figure out the track order for this playlist so hopefully it turned out alright in the end.

-S

What have you been listening to in May?

Only By The Night

I've been doing a bit of digital spring cleaning and rerating of iTunes music recently. The part I've been loving the most during the whole process is rediscovering old artists and albums I haven't listened to in a while. When you have a digital library of over 20,000 songs it's easy to lose music in the shuffle. Even though my taste in music is constantly evolving, I rarely (if ever) get rid of music after I grow tired of the sound. In a way, I think of my music collection as a scrapbook, something I can use to piece together different people, places, emotions, and periods of my life.

Some of the music on my computer is only there for nostalgia purposes, while other songs provide consistent background noise for my daily routine. The albums listed in my iTunes library don't represent a single point in time but many. There's a few playlists dedicated to high school and college favorites, songs that got me through some of my happiest and saddest days. Others that center on a specific mood, or songs from a TV show that I like to watch. I still listen to those old playlists, not to relive the past but to remind myself of all the directions my life has taken (that, and the music is still good). My musical tastes change at the drop of a hat but it tend to come back around sooner or later.

***

I honestly can't remember when or where I first heard of Kings of Leon. I don't think it was before 2008, but I could be wrong. I lay no claim on knowing the band before they were "discovered." As far as I can remember I found them somewhere between the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009 (probably along with everyone else in America). I had heard Sex on Fire and Use Somebody on the internet somewhere (I know it was before the songs blew up on the radio) and enthusiastically downloaded everything of their's I could find online at the time.

To me KOL has always sounded like a classic rock band with a successfully modern vibe, especially in the early years when their nods to the past were more than subtle. I like that you can pick out each individual instrument without the songs sounding like a hodgepodge of noise. Unlike certain pop or rock music these days, Kings of Leon is a band in whole. Much like rock bands of the past, each band member is showcased, and not there simply to play backup to the lyrics. You can tell it's a collaborative effort.

Like most musical experiences, my love and obsession went in phases. First I listened to just the singles, then to entire albums on repeat, then slowly developed connections with each individual song. I went months, sometimes a year, without listening to KOL until eventually they'd release a new album, or I would suddenly be in the mood for their sound again. I liked the edge I found in the songs, the sexiness of it and the angst. Only By The Night is the first album that I can remember loving every single song on the track list. Usually there's one or two weaker songs on an album; ones you aren't as inclined to listen to the third or fourth time around. That isn't the case for me with Only By The Night. When I did go back to KOL, it usually felt like returning home.

I studied their lyrics. I spent hours lying on my bed and playing certain songs on repeat until everything started blending together. KOL songs are like water to me, they're fluid. The music ripples and crashes in natural succession. Eventually it washes me clean, satisfying whatever it is that claws at my insides.

Last night, as I was listening to OBTN for the first time in over a year, I was amazed by how fast I fell back in love with that music. OBTN, and Kings of Leon in general, was a staple throughout my college years. The album made appearances off and on, but would always manage to show up at least once a year. The band has amazing albums both before and after OBTN, but my strongest connections are to those songs.

The live version of Manhattan reminds me of sitting around NMC during my first semesters of college. Songs like Notion and Crawl put me back on the train to New York City in 2010. Frontier City returns me to Western's campus and the walks between classes with Biggby coffee in hand. I Want You reminds me of a certain crush I had during those years, and Cold Desert usually brings me back to all those nights I cried myself to sleep after finishing a bottle of wine alone in my room. For all of those reasons that album feels as much a part of me as those memories do. OBTN got me through all of those times, and I'm entirely grateful for the tiny moments of understanding I felt along the way.

So I can't tell you if Kings of Leon is the most talented band out there, or if Only By The Night is one of the best album of all time. Music, like most artistic endeavors, is entirely subjective. These days it's enough just to play those songs again and tack new memories to the list of old ones.

-S

Passionate Style

So I was reading this interview recently with John Mayer where he discusses his style choices with GQ. When I first started reading the interview I kept thinking, oh man he's taking this so seriously. It was almost comical how intense he was about his sneaker collection, but as I kept reading that intensity became more admirable. Here's someone who makes a living as an artist and clearly living an artist lifestyle. John Mayer has completely accepted his evolving wardrobe choices as a part of himself. It's refreshing to hear someone actually taking their clothes seriously in a way that is relatable. He's not Lady Gaga defending her meat dress, he's just defending his desire to wear tibetan robes as a part of his every day wardrobe. He's not even ashamed of being called "worst dressed."

Some days it seems the whole world is taking itself too seriously while other times we're all too busy being sarcastic to genuinely like stuff anymore. Then here's John Mayer being ridiculously passionate about clothes he puts on his body and you just think, "why not?" Why are more people not passionate about the type of clothes they wear every day? Why do we obsess over what we look like on special occasions but act like we don't care on regular days?

I'm not saying people should always go out looking perfect and that no one should ever go to the grocery store in yoga pants and a sweatshirt, but it would be nice if our wardrobes were a better reflection of our personal styles. Of course I realize this type of thing takes time and our tastes, like our personalities, are ever evolving. Maybe people should just start wearing what they like more often than what they think other people like. Wardrobes should be built on an individual not on a societal norm. That way any time you put on jeans and a t-shirt or slip into a dress you feel those items comfortably represent what you're trying to say or the person you're trying to be.

So be passionate, if not about your wardrobe, about something.
Be daring. If you see something you like don't be afraid to try it out.
And most importantly, be yourself. Whoever that is.

-S

Hello Spring!

Hello and happy Spring everyone!

Spring is such an exciting time of the year. The snow is melting, the weather is getting warmer, the flowers are blooming, and the air just smells different. Typically in Michigan the first day of Spring is just another day of winter but this year we had green grass and sunshine to welcome the new season.

I don't know about you but I've officially caught Spring fever. I can't wait to get outside and my to-do list is getting longer every day. Here's a few things I'm looking forward to this season.

-Fresh flowers

-The farmers market

-Spring cleaning

-Bright colors

-Sunshine

-No more tights

-Lighter jackets

-The Dairy Lodge

-Saturdays in the park

-Fresh starts

-A wedding!

-S

February Favorites

Hey guys,

I hope everyone had a very happy month of February. Although February is the shortest month of the year it always seems to last the longest. Luckily last month was actually a lot of fun. Since there were so many things in February that I wanted to talk about but never did, I thought I'd write about them now.

I recently tried Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water for the first time and fell in love. I honestly don't know what is in this product besides water. Is it just filtered water? Whatever it is, using this makes my night time routine so much easier.

My favorite way to keep my skin moisturized throughout the drying winter months is SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel. I've used this gel for years and it always leaves my skin smooth and refreshed.

The perfume I reached for most last month was Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black. Wearing this perfume always makes me feel good. I personally love the smell of Nirvana Black so having something good to smell on my wrist while I'm at work is also a plus.

Can you believe I hadn't read To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee before last month? Even though the book gets plenty of praise it was much better than I expected. The story is incredibly accessible and relevant to today's society.

I wrote in my Moleskine Journal almost every day in February. I've kept journals off and on in the past but always enjoy the act of daily writing.

I can't tell you if Olly Women's Multi Vitamins are really doing anything for my overall health but compared to other multi vitamins that have been left sitting in my drawer, these daily vitamins have been the easiest to consume.

On our trip to Detroit I purchased a pair of High Waisted Skinny jeans from Madewell. These are one of the best fitting jeans I have ever owned. When I tried them on in the store I couldn't believe how well they fit. Honestly if I had more money I would buy a pair in every color. The high waist is not only flattering but surprisingly comfortable and the cranberry color makes them great for work.

In early February my whole family drove down to Detroit for the weekend to go shopping and watch a Red Wings Game. The weekend included a trip to IKEA, multiple days perusing Somerset Mall, a stop at a local record store, and of course the Red Wings. My mom stayed at the mall while my dad, brother, future sister-in-law and I went to Joe Louis Arena for the afternoon game. The hockey game was a ton of fun especially since the Red Wings won! Overall it was an extremely enjoyable weekend.

-S

What are some of your favorites from February?