Songs of 2010

Personally, i think 2010 was a great year for music. Maybe not what was on the radio (but lbtch here, the radio sucks), but I found some awesome stuff to shake my booty to, cry to, and just enjoy life with. Here are my picks from the year - granted not all of them came out this year, they just happened to make the soundtrack of my year.

1. Dance Yrself Clean - LCD Soundsystem

2. Spanish Pipedream - Avett Brothers (John Prine cover)

3. When the Night Feels My Song - Bedouin Soundclash

4. Cable TV - Fol Chen

5. The Perfect Space - Avett Brothers

6. Is There a Ghost - Band of Horses

7. If I Needed You - Townes Van Zandt

8. I'm Not the One - The Black Keys

9. Standing in the Doorway - Bob Dylan

10. Watch the Sunrise - Big Star

11. The World (Will Soon Turn Our Way) - The Autumn Defense

12. Hey, Soul Sister - Train

13. Wagon Wheel - Old Crow Medicine Show

14. Excuses - The Morning Benders

15. Home - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

16. Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap

17. Teeth - Lady Gaga

18. Bonafied Lovin' - Chromeo

19. Wild One - Those Darlings

20. One Big Holiday - My Morning Jacket

21. Chicken Fried - Zac Brown Band

22. Awake My Soul - Mumford & Sons

23. Ahead of the Curve - Monsters of Folk

24. Diplomat's Son - Vampire Weekend

25. Forever Young - Bob Dylan (from Planet Waves)

Top 10 of 2010

My fabu roomie, Meg, posted this a few days ago and it got me thinking about my top moments/feelings from this year. I think I’ve grown up a lot in the last 12 months and these are the top 10 things that stand out, for better or for worse.

10. A Single Man

A movie I will never ever watch again. I’m sure it was great, but the memories of the aftermath are way too painful for me to ever enjoy the movie. That night marked a turning point for me and I never want to feel that way again.

9. April 16

The day I moved out of my first Chicago home and away from a horrific and draining relationship. But as the saying goes, when a door closes a window opens. Because of this, I met some amazing people that I can now call my friends. Thank you for being there and putting up with me. It’s been a crazy 8 months.

8. Brother of mine

This year, my big brother and I grew a lot closer. I'm thankful that our relationship has grown and that I can call him one of my closest confidantes and friends. 'Tis nice when the people in your family are also your friends!

7. Lolla 2010

What can I really say about this weekend besides that it was one of the best of my life? Blue box, Mumford & Sons, sweet tea vodka, Edward Sharpe, good friends and Lady Gaga…that might be a start.

6. The Music Never Stopped

Everyone everywhere – go see this movie. I can’t remember the last time I was crying and laughing at the same time during a movie.

5. My awesome roomie

I didn’t think I would enjoy living with another female after some of my other experiences of living with girls (yeah, 507 I’m looking at you) but living with Rusty and the little man has honestly been one of the best/most healthy things I’ve done in a really long time. Between the wine nights, discussions on life and nights out on the town (even though you tend to Houdini!), I know I've found a great friend. Rusty – I’m forever in your debt and will miss you when you leave Chi for bigger and better things!

4. Anchors

A few weeks after I turned 25, I gave myself a birthday present, one that I'd been thinking about for a long time. I got a small white tattoo on the inside of my left wrist. It reminds me of where I came from and where I'm going.

3. Concerts

Because it’s too hard to choose just one (and with the ones I’ve seen this year who would want to?) I’m just going to go with every single band I saw over the past year. I could, and will, write a whole post related to the ridiculous bands I saw. Thanks to the concert crew, I went to at least one show a week for 6 weeks straight.

2. This sunrise

I’ve seen a lot of sunrises in my day but this was the best. A new friend and I went bar hopping then made our way to the lake about 20 minutes before the sunrise. We found my favorite spot in the city and watched the sun rise over the lake and talked about life. I’ll never forget that night, and the fact that he let me wear his shoes on the way home. Even though we aren't as close as we once were, I care about him and the memories we made.

1. Diplomat’s Son

The song of the summer. I will forever remember this song as personifying a perfect day that started with a bike ride to the beach and ended with a late-night ride down the Drive in a convertible with the top down blasting this song at top volume.

Goodbye Mildred, Hello George!

How much is that doggie in the window?

The past few weeks have been CRAZY. Moved out of Mildred Hall and into my first grown-up apartment...I finally have a bedroom door :) Even though I moved pretty much down the street, I can already feel the difference a new place makes. It's like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders, I'm excited to have a fresh start and create new memories as I enter my third year in Chi.

I live with a great roomie, Rusty, and her adorable puppy HB. In the two weeks we have lived there, we already have (almost) everything in place. Best parts? Exposed brick, built-in wine rack, and balcony.

I can't wait for the rest of the spring and summer in this new space, hopefully in the months to come I'll have more clarity and direction and become the person I was meant to be.

Breakfast nook

Oh hi beautiful courtyard!

Paradise (or how I spent my spring break)

Just got back from a four day vacay in Sarasota, Florida. My parents go down every year and this year they invited me (I know, so nice of them). I've included some of my favorite shots from the week. Enjoy!

Mom e-mails

Usually mom e-mails aren't the best, but I thought this one was neat:

Fuzzy math. If:

2 + 3 = 10

7 + 2 = 63

6 + 5 = 66

8 + 4 = 96

Then:

9 + 7 = ?

DC in pictures

Just a few of the reasons I love visiting DC....

Metro

Yep, that's in the briefing room

Teddy Roosevelt memorial, Roosevelt Island

Ahh....DC

"I have seen war...I hate war"

View from the path

Before our West Wing tour

Good morning DC!

DC bound

Going to DC for the weekend...so excited! Can't wait to see my college friends and Chicago friends who have made the move. Hopefully I'll have some good pictures to go with these new memories...

Around town

How I will always think of Chicago...

Buckingham Fountain at sunset

My favorite spot in the city...I'll never reveal its exact location

Another view from my favorite spot.

The most peaceful place to think and listen to the water.

The park next to my apartment

On the way home during the "blizzard"

On the way to Jady's apartment

City Hall at night

My view on the way to work

Happy Valentine's Day

Ah....Valentine's Day. Although it is my least favorite holiday (why only have one day to tell those you love how you feel?), this whole weekend was great.

Friday and Saturday were filled with friends, food and drinks. What more could a single girl in the city ask for? But the best part was my V-day surprise.

My mom sent an unexpected present down with my dad when he came for brunch. I've had my eye on these shoes for a while and was ecstatic to finally have them! Bring on the warm weather, can't wait to rock my new kicks!

I hope everyone takes the time to let their loved ones know how special they are...it can never be said enough.

xoxo

Happy Birthday Mo!

You're the strangest person I ever met,

she said & I said you too

& we decided we'd know each other a long time.

.thestorypeople.

If this doesn't prove you are a product of the 80s I don't know what does

Happiest Birthday to my fabu bestie, love you!

Stake N' Shake memories

Got home from an ah-maze workout/tanning sesh (save the lecture, I know what it does) and had a nice little gem in my inbox. Casimer sent me an article some reporter did on the Stake N' Shake/IHOP lifestyle we used to lead back in A-town. Horribly written, but funny. At least for those who lived it. The story captured the feeling of being trapped in suburbia yet knowing there was more than "this."

We had soooo many good, and bad, times at those places. They will always be how I remember my last few years in A-town. I really hope he saves that article so when he's a rich and famous author he can always look back on his "humble" beginnings.

My fav pic of Caz and I. Taken at Rebone's bachelor party last year

Random nights make the best weekends

What a weekend. Saw some old friends, made some new ones and danced the night away.

Friday I went out to Griffin Lounge (not really my type of place but whatevs) to celebrate Mike Sis's bday and had the best surprise of the year, Matty B showed up! I haven't seen him in far too long, so glad one of my faves came out. The night ended with Sam and I having DPD until 3am....this time without the cops being called.

Saturday had catch up/coffee with Meg - there are very few things better than a soul session to start the day. It must be the month of birthdays because CDC had his birthday party/after the election party on Saturday night. Had some great convos with random people, I love nights like that. After the party, I went to Underground in hopes to catch the end of Carrie's friend's band, unfortunately I was too late, but still fun.

Overall, couldn't have asked for a better weekend after the stress of the past few weeks.

By far the coolest invention ever - solo cups with "blackboards" to label your drinks.

Letting go

I don't know how long I can do this, he said. I think the universe has different plans for me & we sat there in silence & I thought to myself that this is the thing we all come to & this is the thing we all fight & if we are lucky enough to lose, our lives become beautiful with mystery again & I sat there silent because that is not something that can be said.

.thestorypeople.

Letting go of the past.

Forgiving, but not forgetting.

Taking chances.

Creating new memories and cherishing old ones.

Growing up.

Song of the day

I've been listening to Joshua Radin a lot lately and feel in love with his song Brand New Day (ignore the intro). The lyrics just put a smile on my face and I know that I'll get through whatever obstacles may come my way. Here's my favorite part:

Most kind of stories

Save the best part for last

Most stories have a hero who finds

You make your past your past

Ya you make your past your past

It’s a brand new day

The sun is shinning

It’s a brand new day

For the first time

In such a long long time

I know

I’ll be ok

This cycle never ends

Gotta fall in order to mend

Fab Feb

Yep, starting over. I’ve dedicated the month of February to the best person I know, me (sorry Mo). I’m aware that it’s the shortest month, but I can’t do too much introspection or I’ll go crazy. I’m sure a therapist would have a field day with that.

So you may ask “Why February? Why not January when you have a chance to ‘start over’?” The answer is simple. In January I was content. Not happy, not sad, but content. Since then, I’ve made some major life choices and need to re-configure my path. In short, I’m going to find out what makes me happy. A very wise friend told me that you can’t make anyone else happy unless you like youself and where you’re at. With that in mind, I’m going on a month of getting back to basics. Doing what feels right, and not worrying about the small things I tend to obsess over.

Join me on this new adventure, who knows where it will take me!

xo,

D

Update to FB quiz...

Mo (ok, ok, I helped) wanted to share her pick with the world:

Your Artist: N*Sync

Are you male or female: Girlfriend

Describe yourself: Selfish

How do you feel about yourself: Celebrity

Describe where you currently live: Forever in your Heart

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Tell me, Tell me....baby

Your favorite form of transportation: Sailing

What is your best piece of advice?: Do Your Thing

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?: Something Like You

Your favorite food is: Pop

How I would like to die: Digital Getdown

What is your biggest fear: Everything I Own

My soul's present condition: I Drive Myself Crazy

Something you would tell your Family: Music of my Heart OR No Strings Attached OR I Never Knew the Meaning of Christmas

ps...Space Cowboy can work for every answer :)

pps...who knew N*Sync had this many songs?

Lolla countdown....3 days!

Ahhh so excited, just picked up my lolla tickets for me and big brother. Taking Friday off work so I can fully enjoy the festivities all weekend long. Check back after for highlights (and lowlights, if any)!

All I need for the weekend :)

Pick a band, any band

A little quiz I stole from Facebook that I thought would be fun to try: By using songs from ONE ARTIST, answer the questions below. Try not to repeat any song titles.

Your Artist: ekoostik hookah

Are you male or female: Sweet Lucy

Describe yourself: Keepin' Time

How do you feel about yourself: Loner

Describe where you currently live: Chicago Rhythm Jam

If you could go anywhere, where would you go: Caribou

Your favorite form of transportation: Mississippi Steamboat

What is your best piece of advice?: Day by Day

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?: Madeline

Your favorite food is: Voodoo Stew

How I would like to die: Rollercoaster

What is your biggest fear: Bats in the Belfry

My soul's present condition: In the Clouds

Something you would tell your Family: Everybody's got Something to Hide

Cigarettes and Cheap Champagne (or Bud Light)

Love love love LBC's song "Cigarettes"! Mo and I have been playing it on repeat for prob the past 20 min. Instead of going out for date night, we decided to stay in and class it up by drinking Bud Light and hanging out :)

I'm working on a care package for my dear friend KP who moved to the district and Mo wanted to leave her mark on the cd, hence my new infatuation with an old fav, LBC.

Mo's fav line:

"Can't wear you out 'cause you're solid gold"

Dear Chicago

Lately I've become a huge Ryan Adams fan, can't get "dear chicago" out of my head! Favorite line:

think about you all the time.
it's strange and hard to deal
think about you lying there
and those blankets lie so still...

Even though it's a really really sad song, I love his phrasing and delivery