A tribute to Alicia Keys

A Tribute to Alicia Keys

In my life I prosper by looking up to people. And, with that I have many idols. In the past I have written about Anna Wintour but another one of mine is Alicia Keys. She is my absolute queen. She is beautiful and has such raw talent and I have such mad respect for that. 

Growing up was when I heard of Alicia Keys. I remember I was in the backseat of my dads truck and he started playing a CD. My favorite song by Alicia Keys started playing, "Superwoman." This song is mine and my dads song. Being the weird kid I was (still am) I started acting out the song and mouthing the words though I had no idea what the words even were. This sounds quite silly but Alicia Keys made mine and my dads relationship thrive. Having something like a silly song as your foundation of your relationship is the best thing. "Superwoman" has made some good memories in my life and will continue to. 

Alicia Keys is also my idol because she is such a down to earth person. She emits so much feminism power and she is not fake like some other faces you see in the industry. The way she acts, and how she holds herself is everything you want to see in someone with her title. Though I have never met her she seems to treat you as equal to her. She doesn't care about social status, where you come from or who you are. God, I love Alicia Keys. 

My Favorite Alicia Keys Songs:

1. Superwoman

-Obviously

2. No one

3. In Common

4. Love is My Disease

-Freaking Queen

5. Put It In a Love Song

-My two faves: Alicia and Beyonce

6. Sure Looks Good To Me

7. Go Ahead

8. Prelude To A Kiss

She is my inspiration and had been since I was in the backseat of my dads pick up truck 12 years ago. God Bless Alicia Keys. 

Xoxo

Take Time To

Take Time To

In my life I live by my 3 T's. Take Time To. This meaning take time to do things that are meaningful. We all know I love lists so here we go!! 

1. TTT write a letter to your best friend. 

- I recently did this and it gives me such joy.

2. TTT talk to someone new. 

-Thats how I met my best friends, 

Extremely bad quality pic but these are my people.

3. TTT live in the moment.

- Go on that road trip you've been avoiding. 

4. TTT smile at someone. 

5. TTT write. Write anything that comes to mind. 

6. TTT take pictures. Pretend to be a professional for a day. 

7. TTT thank people.

8. TTT apologize if needed. 

9. TTT hug. 

10. TTT listen to some new music.

11. TTT say "I love you."

12. TTT clear your mind.

13. TTT read a book.

14. TTT tell someone how appreciated they are. 

15. TTT look through old photos. 

This is quite a simple post but I really do live by these. All of these are important to me and is a  reminder to me everyday. Everyone sometimes needs to take a little time to do something that could benefit someone else.


Xoxo

Songs from August

Songs from August 

So, I thought I would start something new!! At the end of every month I want to put a list of new songs that I find and my favorites as well. Hope you enjoy and please take a listen, these are amazing. 

1.  Bitter Pill by Gavin James.

Holy crap, this is my song. Like there is so much passion behind all the words Gavin James is saying and its the kind of song that makes you want to get up and do something... Or just cry. Either is fine really. 

2. Back Again by Flor.

This is the song that I imagine myself skipping down the street dancing like they do in all those cheesy movies. Everyone has one of those songs right?? Maybe I am just crazy.

3. Wherever you take me by Quiet Company.
Wherever you take me is a song I like to listen to on a bad day when honestly you just need to cry it out. It sparks so much emotion which I think is such an impressive quality an artist can have. It messes with your emotions but it helps. So good.

4. Home Alone by Ansel Elgort.
One day while browsing through twitter I found a post from Ansel Elgort advertising his new song (Home Alone). I was completely un aware that he made music. Yet alone music this good. This is such a good piece and you really gets you going.



5. Spirits by Strumberella.
This is a chill song. I find myself wanting to go on long drives and roll my windows down soaking up the last few days of summer.

6. Sunshine by Powers.
While listening to this song you cant help but break out in full on dance. It will bring such a big smile to your face, its so fun and call me a loser for saying this but funky. I love it so much.



7. First by Cold War Kids.
This song is such a classic and has so much passion behind it. Passion makes me feel passionate so I love this song. Cold War Kids is such an iconic band.

8. Build it Better by Aaron Wright.
I myself am a musician and I play piano and sing. This song is absolutely beautiful and I love to sing and play this song. Its so amazing how many emotions you can experience just through music. And god, the lyrics. Please listen to the lyrics. Its amazing.

9. No ones here to sleep by Naughty Boy.
My best friend Josh has amazing taste in music. He shared this song with a few weeks back and I swear, its actually become a ritual to listen to this song everyday. Its so good that you'll never get tired of it.

10. I Can't Swim by Elliot Moss.
If youve read my blog before you know about my slight obsession with Elliot Moss. Just kidding my HUGE obsession. I love his music and this one is of my favorites off his album. 

11. The Night by HONNE.
I really like how smooth this songs feel. The transitions between dynamics is overly impressive and its just such a good song to listen to. It helps me calm my nerves or when Im writing it truly inspires me.

12. All I Want by Kodaline.
Another cry song, I know I seem sad right. Trust me though, this song changes something. Its not something that I can put into words but it makes you feel so much. And when I experience this through a song it makes me love that song so much more. Please I beg of you, just listen to it.

Thats it! (For now)
Trust me, I could go on and on and on and on and on because the music word is so diverse. So please just take a listen and indulge yourself. You wont regret it.

Xoxo

Coffee

Coffee

If you know me, you probably know that I am obsessed with coffee. 9/10 of the times someone talks to me, I will probably be holding a nice cup of it. Its amazing. So, I thought id share with you what I think are the best places to get coffee in Michigan, Chicago and New York. Oh, and a place in Ohio. Ohio? I know right. 

1. So, of course one of my favorites is Dunkin Donuts, very generic right? But, its cheap and on my way to school and its very good. I usually get a dunkaccino or a medium iced coffee with unsweetened hazelnut. Try it, you ll never be the same. 

2. I am such a sucker for cute places that go somewhat unrecognized but secretly have the best coffee in the world. I guess their just humble. I want to take this coffee to Vegas and marry it. Not even kidding. This coffee shop is in Plymouth Michigan called the Plymouth Coffee Bean. The inside I think is the coolest part and they have live music on selected dates. I got a caramel macchiato. Usually simple but this was just exquisite. 

3. Uptown Coffee House in Downtown Howell. This place is my go to. Honestly this past week I have been working right next door and I got two coffees a day. A lot of my friends/people who know me work there so I always love to go there. And they know my order, so trust me I am not complaining. They have their signature drink there called the Uptown Mocha which is usually my go to. Its white chocolate and caramel and a whole bunch of yummy goodness. But, recently I have been getting the white chocolate mocha which I like because you can really taste the coffee in it. So so so good. I spend all my money here, its actually starting to become a problem. 

  

4. The wormhole coffee in Chicago is amazing. (Or so I hear) I personally have never been but my cousins who live there highly recommend it. And it looks so cute inside too!! Just look at it, who wouldn't want to sit here with a nice book and nice cup of coffee?

5. I have only been to New York once and had coffee 5 times when I was there. This place isn't a coffee place but rather a cafe type place. To paint this picture in your head imagine a nice warm (but breezy) August day. You're walking down a smelly back street right outside of Times Square. It smells terrible. Got that image? Now imagine seeing old wood french doors and windows open with lace curtains swaying in the breeze. Then it hits you: the sweet smell of honey and espresso fill your nose canceling out the nasty sewer smell. I looked at the sign and it reads, "Saju Bistro". Okay I know I know cheesy right? But this place has the best coffee I have ever had in my life. Also, the best french toast. I cried with every bite. 

So enough I know I am sorry, but please try theses places out, you wont regret it. I PROMISE. 

Xoxo

Anna Wintour

Anna Wintour

Anna Wintour a.k.a one of my biggest fashion icons. Anna is the editor-in-chief of Vogue in which this is the position she's held since 1988. She is also known for her extreme eye for newer fashion trends. She is such a big role model in my life because she inspires young designers and helps them to achieve their goals. I love her and allow her to be a role model in my life because she takes risks in believing in people. When she hires people she says, "I am not sure why, other than their inspiration". She doesn't look at you based on social status or the accomplishments you make but by the way you inspire. She inspires me so much.





One thing I will always know is that I am 16 and she is 66 and she will always, and I mean always be cooler than me. Maybe its the fact that she is always wearing her signature black sunglasses or that she is honestly the most amazing person who walks the earth. Anna was also named the 39th most powerful women in the World by Forbes magazine. I mean talk about girl power!

And lets just take a moment to appreciate her office. This picture is from a video of Vogue's YouTube channel that Anna was featured in and oh my goodness. She is a goddess just look at her.

I could on and on about my biggest idol in the world but I wont... Just remember;
"Wintour is coming".




Xoxo

Writing

Writing

Writing for me as you have read is very beneficail in my life. But, as most writers can relate we sometimes find ourselves in a situation where our minds are completly blank of ideas. (Crazy I know) Along with writing comes a whole lot of creativity, but we all need a little help sometimes so I thought I would help by making a list of my personal top twenty topics to write about!

1. The time you met your best friend

2. Your childhood dream house 

3. The best day of your life

4. Your 8th Birthday

5. Starting with the sentence, "Letters and numbers were all swirling in my mind". 

6. A peaceful place

7. The couch from your first home

8. First love

9. A time you overcame your first fear

10. A TV show that impacted your life

11. A time you first discovered you hated something

12. The first time you felt hatred towards someone

13. A time you felt broken

14. A time you felt utterly happy

15. Starting with the sentence,"Love is not a way of life".

16. A tragic event you make up in your mind

17. About the first ice cream cone you had this summer

18, The first time you discovered your talent.

19. Feeling lonely

20. Using the words put, togetherness, joyous in 3 sentences. 

Chasing Life

Chasing Life

It is summer time so that means its time to binge on a new show on Netflix. I just recently finished Chasing Life. Grab your tissue box because this show takes you on an emotional rollercoaster.

One of my favorite thing about this show is that everything in it is completely unexpected and unpredictable. You don't predict how things will turn out. I also love the title, Chasing Life, because in reality aren't we all? We are chasing our lives around just waiting to get to the end. In the show it is quite ironic because the main character, April Carver, has cancer. Having cancer you go through many emotions. 

1. You give up because you feel as if your life is completely over. 

Then:

2. You live your life to its fullest capacity and what happens well it happens. 

Towards the end of the show April lives. She lives so much that she does everything she's ever wanted to in her entire life. She says, "I don't want to stop living my life, I just need to start living it differently". 

Take risks and life your life because you never know what happens an hour after you are reading this you may receive the worst news or the best news, you just need to live life to the fullest and not just survive. 

This show honestly changed my perspective on how I live my life. I live life to the fullest every day. 

Besides the empty box of tissues that laid next to me after I finished this show I was overwhelmed with so many emotions. This show is about living your best life, loving even when its so hard to, and just having a better perspective throughout your life. 

Sadly the show was canceled after the second season, but it ended perfectly. I like the mystery to it.

Xoxo