Golden // May Playlist

On Saturday afternoon I made a visit to the local beach with my boyfriend. We spotted a large, driftwood log overlooking the Puget Sound and made it our perch while we watched the waves bob against the backdrop of the Olympic mountains. The air was rich with the ocean’s salty aroma, and the sunlight couldn’t have been more golden. It felt like the early onset of summer—a new season. Not just for Seattle, but for me too. I feel like I’m entering a new phase of my life and I couldn’t be more thrilled about it.  A phase of exploring new interests, honing new skills and meeting new people. I’m not sure what it will bring yet, but—like a summer sunset—I’m eager to watch it unfold.

 

Saturday

saturday

Saturday mornings are great, but there is a particular kind of Saturday morning that stands above all the rest for me.

That kind of Saturday begins by waking up gradually and not to the dreaded, repetitive tones of your cell phone’s alarm clock app. Lazily you toss and turn, take your morning dose of social media, and once you feel like your blankets have agreed to set you free you casually make your way to the kitchen.

Within mere minutes the aromas of hot, fresh coffee and over-medium eggs have replaced the morning’s breath (much different than morning breath). It’s quiet, other than your playlist, and you’re able to live slowly. You plan your day — or not — and you’re able to peacefully breathe for a minute, free from the stress off the past week’s responsibilities.

That’s the kind of Saturday morning I’ve had so far and I’m probably enjoying it too much. I have little to no plans of changing out of this baggy sweater any time soon, and there’s probably a second french press in my future (shout out to Caffe Vita for beans that are giving me life).

These are the jams that are on my Saturday playlist today. What kind of Saturday is revitalizing to you?

07FIFTEEN | Jams

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5 New Things in My Life that are Worth Celebrating:

  • I guess I’m one of those people who “likes rice cakes” now (namely the Cinnamon toast ones with lots of ricotta cheese, a handful blueberries and a drizzle of honey)
  • I’ve started listening to podcasts during my morning commute and it’s a lot more enriching than I ever anticipated. Currently loving: 99% Invisible and RadioLab.
  • We got a dog! He’s a 1yo Boxer rescue pup and he makes coming home THE BEST.
  • The grapefruit flavor of La Croix is a gamechanger.
  • All the songs on the following playlist

Block Party playlist | Music Monday

CapitolHillPL

 

As I’m sure we’re all well aware, judging by the exponentially high rate of flower crowns on our Instagram feeds or what have you: festival season is very much upon us. In the past I’ve been to Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza; in the future I have Coachella dreams; but this summer I’m THRILLED to be experiencing my very first Capitol Hill Block Party (CHBP)  in Seattle (and Squamish Valley festival in Canada…but that’s a story for another day).

CHBP is a festival that takes over part of the Capitol Hill neighborhood in late July for a weekend of music, street food and general debauchery. More acts were released for the lineup this week, and I couldn’t help myself but to make a playlist to get amped.

In combination with the unnecessary amount of “justified festival purchases” i’ve been making at the thrift store I think I’m on the way to being ready for a summer full of music.

What festivals are you going to this summer?
 

CHBO

 

To learn more about Capitol Hill Block Party, click here

 

Pick it up | Your Anti-bad day Playlist

Even when you’re playing all your cards right; even when you have somehow found a balance of working and a social life; even when you find a coupon for two free Doritos locos tacos on the ground; you are still 100% capable of having a bad day, or even a streak of them.

Yesterday was my bad day. Even though life is crazy awesome right now and even though I couldn’t be feeling more thrilled about things to come, I had a day yesterday where I felt like my dreams could be oh-so-easily crumpled like a used gum wrapper and alley-ooped into the trashcan. I felt like a flat tire whose positivity had leaked out.

I needed a pick-me-up and I needed it quick so I did what I do best: surfed the internet. I found images that made me happy and focused on why they made me happy, and then vowed to employ bits them in my life this week. Here’s a few of the images that got me on the road to recovery:

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So, what are some things you can do to get out from under your self deprecating (d)rain cloud? Here are some ideas:

  1. Exercise. Much to my surprise, I’ve transformed into a person who has decided going to the gym is a good way to push myself of out whatever funk I’ve found myself in. After a good while of sulking in the darkness of my room I reluctantly changed into my Nikes and made my way the squat rack. Spoiler alert: I’m glad I did. Endorphins are a hell of a thing!
  2. Laugh. Just LAUGH. Whatever it takes.
  3. Gain and retain an understanding that even Beyonce has bad days.
  4. Convince yourself about how much you rule (I know it sounds cheesy, but it works).
  5. Speaking of cheesy…pizza? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
  6. Listen to this playlist (and dance, no matter how badly) for at least 15 minutes:

musicme

Speak to you soon!

x

SXSW 2015 | Ultimate Playlist

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It’s a rainy Sunday in Seattle so, naturally,  I’m picking the raisins out of my leftover hiking granola and making every excuse not to go outside. Luckily I’ve been able to bide my time pretty effectively because SXSW started on Friday and I had a lot of music to dive into.

South by Southwest is a festival that happens every year in March in Austin, Texas. It plays host to music, film, and interactive components giving festival goers the opportunity to experience hundreds of artists and experts from all over the world. It’s the gateway to festival season and a festival that is (and has been) on my to-do list for ASAP.

To learn more about SXSW, click here

To learn more about SXSW, click here

For the last two years when SXSW has rolled around I’ve scoped out their artist lineup and found SO many new bands to obsess about (and to stalk tour schedules for when they’ll hit the city I’m in). This year…I may have gone a little crazy with my playlist, but I couldn’t help myself because there were SO many good musicians on the roster.

I present to you my Ultimate SXSW 2015 playlist–I literally scoured every genre and alphabetized breakdown list of who was performing which resulted in nearly 20 hours of music. Oops?

Live vicariously through this playlist with me! (Even if it doesn’t come with food trucks dishing out aromatic BBQ or tacos.)
 
 

 
 
Speak to you soon!

x

Insta catchup + Playlist | 2.23

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The last few months have absolutely whizzed by so I thought now would be a good time to do a catch up of some of the haps that I’ve shared on Instagram. My feed has turned into a constant stream of interiors, outfits and anything else that inspires me; this includes, but is not limited to, brunch, coffee and maybe a flower or sixteen. Be sure to check out my profile at instagram.com/lacunningham.

In the mean time…this week’s playlist! Exciting news ahead. Stay tuned.

Speak to you soon!

x

Remix | Playlist

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Typically after a long pause in postings I have a predictable spiel about being “too busy” or “priorities having to shift”; I politely beg for internet forgiveness and say small silent prayers pleading with the karma Lords to pull me out of the range of internet irrelevance caused by my absence.

…okay it’s absolutely not that dramatic, but whatever; you get it. (Also I’m still recovering from Bey being cheated last week at the Grammys, but that’s neither here nor there)

My most recent hiatus was brought on because I needed to regroup and rediscover why I felt like this blog was important; I needed to spend time truly considering what my perspective in this over saturated internet culture is and how I can contribute positively rather than just being another monotonous voice among millions.

I tried to reflect on what I am attracted to read; what content evokes genuine responses from me; what I feel like I can share with people that is something that truly stems from me and isn’t solely feeding off of the work of others or repeating what 100 other people have already said.

I think I’ve figured it out.

I want this blog to be a hub for positivity–body positivity, self/mental positivity, goal/future positivity. A lot of the time I feel like we have a habit of choosing to think about things that are wrong and jading ourselves with those, and often that causes us to neglect to think about what is right. I want to encourage people, help people and provoke people to shift their way of thinking. I want to be a catalyst for joy being a gut reaction and not a rarity.

I still want to focus on fashion and music and travel and food and living and being stupidly sassy and using terrible puns, but I want to do it with a different approach. I want to try and make it count.

Let me also take this opportunity to say that I am FAR from being positive all the time; ask anyone. I’m not trying to claim that I am some beam of light or some angel that has come down to bless everyone who’s heart I touch. I just know that if I’m encouraging people to choose joy, then I am more likely to be reminded and choose joy myself.

I want a remix of mindset.

Cue Monday playlist–a collection of remixes and music that is getting me amped for this week and these new goals. As of last week I’m 24 and I’m ready to make this year count.

Speak to you soon,

x

Freeze | Monday Playlist

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There are few things worse than a cold toilet seat first thing in the morning. I mean it was hard enough for me to get up, let alone for me to sit on an unrelenting throne of ice for an excruciatingly long few seconds. Cold weather brings about a lot of trials and tribulations, but personally that takes the cake for me.

I hope if you’re in a place that is hellishly cold this week (as most of the U.S. seems to be at the moment) that you’re doing your best to stay warm, stay well and (for the love of GOd) stay inside. When you do have to go out, remember: layering is caring.

It’s playlist day and I’m pretty excited about this week’s mix. There was one song that was an indisputable choice: Elastic Heart by Sia. Although it’s ultra-contemporary music video been plastered all over the pages of the internet, some of you may not have seen it yet. If you’re as intrigued as I was, then a few google searches about what Sia says the song are about will serve you well.*

*Also if you were a shameless watcher of Dance Moms like I was get ready because the infamous Maddie is alongside Shia Labeouf in the video and she absolutely slaaaaaays.

I’m still so mesmerized by the whole thing. I’ll probably watch it again riiight…now. Enjoy!



Speak to you soon!

x