.Running Songs To Download.

One of my goals this month is to run a mile a day, sometimes more than one mile. So far I have ran 19 miles, not to shabby for only 10 days into the month! When I run I need to listen to music, it's the only thing that keeps me going and focused. With the goal of running more this month and training for a half marathon, I needed more tunes. Here is a list of some of the top songs on my running playlist right now. Take a listen and you may just want to download them yourself! ( you can find 13 more songs here!)

1. The Man :: Aloe Blacc

2. The Walker :: Fitz & The Tantrums

3. Warrior :: Mark Foster + A-Trak + Kimbra

4. Happy :: Pharrell Williams

5. Timber (feat. Ke$ha) :: Pitbull

6. Pompeii :: Bastille

7. State of Massachusetts :: Dropkick Murphy's 

8. Chloe :: Grouplove

9: I Love It (feat. CharliXCX) :: Icona Pop

10. San Francisco :: The Mowgli's 

What are you listening to?

.mmmbop.

If you don't like boy bands,  then this is not the post for you. Because I am about to go all girl crazy about Hanson and you may even hear my 7th grade self scream over your  computer screen, so turning down the volume is recommended!  Now, let's talk about Hanson, shall we?  Back in 1996 (my 7th grade year) Hanson released their major debut record, Middle of Nowhere, which had their HUGE single, MMMBOP, on it.  I'm just going to say this now, but Middle of Nowhere is an AMAZING album.  I still listen to it as an adult and love every song AND I think they should re-record it as adults....it would be SOOOOO good!!

Since their first release, girls have been crooning over the boys and picking their favorite brother. Lots of girls were Taylor fans, some were Zac fans, and a few were Isaac fans. (let's just say though...Isaac is now a hottie!) Me, I was and still am a Zac girl!! I remember talking about Hanson with friends about how cute the boys were, what our futures would be like when we married one of them, and how we would love to go on tour with them...making all the other girls jealous of our love! 

I can't say I'm a crazy Hanson fan, like some, since I stopped listen to them for a few albums. I have been back on the bandwagon though since 2004, when they released Underneath. Every album they have released over the years is better and better. They continue growing with their sound, writing, and always meeting their fans expectations. I have seen them a few times before (or every time they are in the area) and always I am blown away.  This summer they played for FREE at the Minnesota State Fair...for FREE...yeah, FREE!!! 

I couldn't pass up seeing my boys for free two nights in a row...so naturally me and my other crazy friends headed to the state fair.  The best part of the nights was getting to be FRONT ROW for HANSON!!! AHHHHHHHHHH...yes the 7th grade girl went freaking crazy!!! I was singing at the top of my lungs, screaming like I was a teenager, and dancing my booty off! 

Seriously, I couldn't have been closer...since I had my water bottle on the stage! AAHHHHH!!!!  Can I tell you guys, those boys grew up to be beautiful men!! Men that are all married and with children..but let's not get lost in the details, shall we!?!? The sad part though of liking the drummer, is that you rarely ever get to see him (insert sad face). 

At the end of the first night I had touched a few of the Hanson brothers...and couldn't think it could get better than that! Then the second night, I touched ALL Hanson brothers hands and was satisfied with my outings!  BUTTTT...not my friend, if she had the chance to meet Taylor Hanson, she was going to take it. So like youngsters we waited outside their bus for the opportunity to see or meet them.  And can I say.....I would do it all over again!!! Cause not only now have I touched Hanson...I have now MET HANSON!

See...just look at how handsome they are! Okay, girls these are not the little boys that you remember from Middle of Nowhere, they are now men. Men who play great music, who are nerds about music, and who love their fans. My recommendation is you check out a few of their albums (my favorite is SHOUT IT OUT) and see for yourself. 

.music therapy.

Tonight I'm having  a dance party all by myself! I've been dancing throughout our apartment for at least an hour now and plan to continue this party for the rest of the night! Last Friday, I hit my lowest point in a long time....like really, low. I got some bad news and the wall that was crumbling through out the year came a crashing down without any warning.

This Friday night, though I am bound to make it different! I NEED to make it different! SO instead of thinking about all the crud in my life and bad news I've gotten over the last week, I am deciding to remember the happy times in life. I made a playlist in November 2011 while in Australia to remind me to think of my friends and work on keeping my relationships strong. I am playing this playlist tonight and thinking about when a friend debuted a dance they created to a backstreet boys song in their room, how i elbowed and kicked some Iowans who weren't being nice in the pit of a concert, dancing with my sister at my wedding to a song that I introduced her to, embarrassing students when belting Justin Beiber in their workspace, and soo sooo many more great memories.

Tonight is about being happy, cherishing those in my life who make me smile, and remembering that I am loved.

These are some songs that make me smile and just dance! What songs bring that smile to your face while you think of the memory associated to it?

.my top 10 albums of 2012.

I'm a HUGE music fan and I thought it would be fun to do a little top ten list of my favorite albums. Not only did I love these albums Dave and I were able to see about half of these artists live in 2012 as well!! Anyways, let's get done with the small talk and right into the list:


10. Night Visions: Imagine Dragons
9. A Joyful Noise: Gossip
8. Hospitality: Hospitality
7. The Carpenter: Avett Brothers
6. Cynic's New Year: Horse Feathers
5. The Only Place: Best Coast
4. Bable: Mumford and Sons
3. My Head Is An Animal: Of Monsters and Men
2. Blunderbuss: Jack White
1. The Lumineers: The Lumineers 

Have you heard any of these albums or artists? If not it's your lucky day! I've created a playlist with a song from each of the ten albums to give you a little taste.  ENJOY!

.dancing around the apt.

I have had this song in my head for awhile now and when I get a chance at home I play it and dance around and around and around. I even sometimes get Maggie and Dave involved with my little jigs because let's face it dancing with others can be more fun than dancing alone.

Hope you like it and do a little jig with a friend or partner!

What song have you been jamming out to?

.tonight we dance.

Tonight Dave and I are going to the SOLD OUT Foster the People concert here in Minneapolis!!!  We are both SOOOOOOO excited! We first found out about the concert while sitting at the YHA in Byron Bay, Australia and purchased tickets as soon as we had internet in our apartment in Minnesota. This is Dave's birthday present and I must say...it's a pretty good one!

Here are some of the songs that I look forward to hearing tonight:

.Tuesday Tunes: Summer Mixed Tape.

I LOOVVVEEEE the summer time (really...who doesn't?!?!)!!! To me the summer means sunshine, time at the water (lake side here in MN...), reading books outside in the shade, spend lots and lots of time with friends and family, and having good old fashioned fun!!!

Since this week summer officially starts ( June 20th) I thought I would whip together a little summer play list. I know that these songs are going to be on repeat throughout summer on my ipod! Plus, I'm pretty excited to see at least three of the artists in concert this summer! 

What is on your summer playlist?

.Tuesday Tunes: Best Coast.

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Best Coast is one of my to listen to this summer recommendations. They are the perfect artist to put into your cd player (or ipod for you modern folks) while driving in the sunshine. As you can guess, Best Coast is from the West Coast, Cali to be exact. They have a surf pop sound that is low key and easy. My favorite song is The Only Place, listen and let me know which one is your favorite!

.Tuesday Tunes: Grouplove & Reptar.

Tonight We are going to see Grouplove at The Varsity Theatre, with Reptar as the opener. I already love Reptar, who could hate a band that named themselves after the dinosaur in The Rugrats? Tommy Pickle loved Reptar and I feel as I may too! Remember when I went to see Grouplove with The Head and Heart in Sydney? Well, if not check out the playlist I made for that show to hear some of my favorite Grouplove songs. Below check out some videos from the groups tonight!

Grouplove: Colours

Grouplove: Lovely Cup

Reptar: Phonetics

Reptar: Sebastian

What do ya think?

.Tuesday Tunes: Boy Bands.

This is my best friend and I when we were younger and totally in our boy band phase!
She loved them even more than I did, in fact we met due to our love for BSB!

Oh, my!!! This mix was SOOOO much fun to make. It definitely took me back to the days when Boy Bands ruled my life. I loved (really..LOVE..cause I still love them) Hanson and Backstreet Boys (BSB) the most! And of course if you were a kid back then and loved a boy band, you ALWAYS had your favorite member. Mine was Zac Hanson from Hanson (youngest and drummer) and Brian Littrell from Backstreet Boys. I still swoon over these two when I see them in concert, I don't think they could ever do wrong in my eyes...plus they both are really good guys so I don't see them doing much wrong...period! Yep, you read right..I STILL go to their concerts. Last year I got to see both Hanson and Backstreet Boys and they were AMAZING! I love feeling like a teenager again..everything was so simple, fun, and full of energy.

Here are some of my favorite songs Boy Band songs from the very beginning of my love for them:

I'm sooo excited that One Direction is around now...I'm going to try and get my nieces to fall in love with boy bands! It may be difficult with all the other crap music they listen to...but I'm gonna try!  

.Tuesday Tunes: She's Gone Country.

Happy 1st Day of my birthday month!!!

We could also call it May Day...but that just isn't as fun.

Since it's my birthday month, I thought it would be fun to take you on a little trip down memory via Tuesday Tunes. Each Tuesday I will have a playlist of the main genres that I grew up loving! It will be kind of like the history of me through music! I hope you enjoy it as much I will enjoy making the playlists...fyi..I'm super duper excited to do this. 

I loved sledding down our little snow hills on the farm!

For the first edition of the Tuesday Tunes I am taking you back to what I grew up on, good ole country music. Nothing but country played in our house and it was all that I listened to until about 7th grade when I found Hanson & Backstreet Boys! Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of current country music...it's to poppy for me. BUT country music back in the day with Garth Brooks, George Strait, Alan Jackson...now that is GOOOOOD country music. Even further back with Dolly Parton, George Jones, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn..now that was GREAT music! 

This playlist takes me back to growing up on the farm, my first cd, and my first concerts. 

YEEEE HAAAWWW!!!!

.Tuesday Tunes: Of Monsters and Men.

I have been in love with this song for the last month! Whenever I hear it I HAVE to sing along, raise my hands at the right moments in the song and shout out (listen and you will understand!).  As soon as I heard the song I went on itunes and purchased their EP and of course it's great!

Of Monsters and Men: Little Talks

So what are your thoughts on this Icelandic indie band?

.Tuesday Tunes: Run Baby Run.

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As you know I am currently training for my first half marathon (13.1) miles! Let me tell you sometimes the runs, they kick my booty, especially the longer runs. It still amazes me that I can run 11 miles without stopping...wholly moly! While I run sometimes I NEED music that gets me back into my groove and an extra UMPH. Here are some of my favorite tunes in my workout mix. These are the ones that I LOVE to hear because it makes me refocus and even shake my hips a bit. 

13 tracks for 13 miles: 

1. The Anthem :: Pitbull featuring Lil Jon

2. Big Girl (You are Beautiful) :: Mika

3. The Fixer :: Pearl Jam

4. Super Bass :: Nicki Minaj

5. Houdini :: Foster the People

6. Journey to the End of the East Bay :: Rancid

7. USA :: Middle Class Rut

8. Young Blood :: The Naked & Famous

9. 1901 :: Phoenix

10. Kiss With A Fest :: Florence + The Machine

11. Stronger :: Kayne West

12. My Body :: Young the Giant

13. Blow :: Ke$ha

.Tuesday Tunes: Dave Barnes.

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Have you heard of this guy, yet? I just love him, I think that if we actually met in person we would be great friends! I have been going to Dave Barnes concerts for about 9 years now and I have LOVED every single one of them. When you go to a Dave Barnes show you get a little comedy show with your music. Dave is hilarious, he is odd, a little strange, and TOTALLY my style. At his last show someone said, " He is sooo weird." me I was just cracking up.....I even snorted, he was THAT funny!!

Varsity Theatre :: Minneapolis, MN

Alright so now that I have rambled on and on, here is some more info. on Mr. Barnes.  Dave is a singer songwriter from Nashville, TN.  He started touring in 2002 (when I first saw him) with an EP, in 2004 he released his first album, Brother, Bring the Sun.  He has just released his 5th studio album in March, I haven't listened to it but it's on my to download list!!   Recently Blake Shelton has released the single, God Gave Me You, which was written by Dave. He was even nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Song...go Dave!!

You can find out more about him...HERE!

.Tuesday Tunes: GOTYE cover.

Happy Tuesday Tunes!!


Remember all the way back in September when I shared with you this post about Gotye?  Well now he has BLOWN up in the states, the radio is in love with him here and so are all the beautiful people. And you know what happens when people blow up? Everyone and their grandma covers that song and posts it on youtube. I can't say that I hate this because I don't...in fact it's fun to watch them.  SOOOOOOOO today I have a few of my favorite covers of "Somebody That I Used To Know"!

Walk off the Earth

Army of 3: Ingrid Michaelson

Michael Schulte & Max Giesinger

And who doesn't love cute, adorable kids singing good songs:

Walk Off the Earth Kids Edition

Which one is your favorite? 

.Tuesday Tunes: Flogging Molly.

This is the last Tuesday in March..where in the world did time go? Are you a little sad that this is the last Tuesday for Irish music on the blog? I'm a little sad because not to often do you listen to great Irish music other than St. Patrick's Day, but it's not done yet so we aren't going to mourn! 

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Today I would like to introduce you to Flogging Molly.  Flogging Molly is from Los Angles, California (not your first thought for an Irish band) and formed back in 1993. They released their first album by themselves in 1997 with a live album and then released their first studio album in 2000. You may have heard them on Weeds or in the movie P.S. I Love with their hit song, " If I Ever Leave This World Alive." 

Give a listen and enjoy!

.Tuesday Tunes: The Tossers.

Just because St. Patricks Day has come and gone doesn't mean that we can't still listen to great Irish inspired music. As promised, the Irish music is still playing here on .PhotoSho. and today I have a great Chicago based band to share with you.

Meet The Tossers, an Irish Punk Rock Group formed in the predominately Irish neighborhoods on the South Side of Chi Town.  The band has been around longer than Dropkick and Flogging Molly, they formed in 1993, but may not be as well known. This does not mean they aren't as great...cause they are and you should give them a listen and see for yourself! The first time I was introduced to The Tossers was when they opened up for Dropkick at a November show. That Christmas I got their cd from Dave because I we both liked them right off! I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

.St. Patty Day: Dropkick Tunes.

First....guess what!!!

This is my 200th post!! WHAAAAAAATTTT! I can't believe I have written 200 entries, it blows my mind that I really stuck to this. But blogging makes me happy so lets cross our fingers that I will have another 200 posts in my future!

Secondly...HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY!  Any big plans today? We are having a little get together with Irish foods, Irish drinks, and just plain fun!

To help us celebrate we will be listening to great music. Have you been listening to the mixes I've posted the last week? If not, you will probably want to listen to them today! You can find the Pogues and a St. Patricks Mix with lots of different artists on the blog!

Today...I wanted to throw you another mix to help celebrate. This mix is by Dropkick Murphy's. This is Dave's favorite band and I have grown to love them as well. When living in Newcastle, we had the opportunity to see them in concert! AAAHHH..it was the first time in 10 years that they have played in Australia! You can check out my post about the concert and the band right......here!

Enough with my chit chat...here is the music:

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

.be safe.

.Tuesday Tunes: St. Patrick's Day Mix.

Are you spending this week getting ready for St. Patrick's Day? I know that I am! I am deciding how to wear my green so I don't get pinched, what Irish foods to make, and how to decorate our apartment a little. One thing I don't have to worry about is figuring out our music to get us in the right Irish state of mind! And now you can cross that off your list too..see how nice I am by sharing with you!

Here is a great St. Patrick's Day mix that you can use to get you ready for the day and to play the day of when you have people over!  

You can also check out The Pogues from last weeks Tuesday Tunes, here, 

AND

 this Saturday pop back over for some more Irish inspired music from Dropkick Murphy's!

ENJOY!

p.s. If you really wanted to help make this week awesome for me...I wouldn't mind a few new followers on the blog...I'm just saying, it would make me feel like I had the luck of the Irish! heee heee

Tuesday Tunes: The Pogues

It's March, which means it is time to start preparing for St. Patricks Day. The best way to do this is by listening to great Irish inspired music. Don't know any? Well, no worries, I'm here to help you. This month (yes the WHOLE month..even after St. Patty's) I will be featuring an Irish sounding/inspired group on Tuesday Tunes.

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The first band is one of my favorites, The Pogues. Dave and I have big fans of them for a few years now. The Pogues have been referred to as a Celtic Punk band, thus a reason why they are popular within the punk music scene. (The first time I heard of them was from a Punk/Rock VJ on Fuse)  They got together in London around 1982 with Shane MacGowan as the lead singer, you may recognize him as the person with the most f*cked up teeth EVER.  And like every rock group, they made it big, the lead singer was a drunk, they replaced him, then broke up, and now reunited to play together once again.

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Shane's famously horrible teeth...oh those Irish lads.

I have a short little playlist together of some of my favorite songs by them. It in the playlist is my favorite Christmas song of all time (sorry HANSON) and a song that was performed during our wedding ceremony. I hope you give them a listen and it adds to your preparations for St. Patricks Day!