December 28th Photo Shoot

Well, hello there! We've been gone (yes, again) but we've gotten together for a fun little shoot in the middle of Balboa Park. Winter in California isn't usually too chilly, although this particular Friday, we ditched our skirts and shorts for some traditional outerwear. Sweaters, boots, oh my!
As the New Year approaches, we'll be trying to post more often, and have more photos to share with you all. This time, we used the new Nikon D3200 and those kick-ass 200mm lens. 

Shelby was laughing at something stupid, in the photo above, probably her own joke.

Stevie, here, was psyched just to be out of her house for a few hours, 

as she shows off her signature face.

Photos from the rest of the little shoot can be viewed HERE.

C'est tout.

Shelby & Stevie

The Head and the Heart, She & Him, Snowmine, and More.

I like music.
You like music.
Have you ever met a soul in this world who didn't feel personally drawn to it?
Music is universal.
Music has saved cultures entirely. Music preserves aspects of communities for generations to come.
Music is saving us from forgetting the perks of simply being, every day.
I am here to share some of my favorite songs (of all time) with you.
I've color coded them for your accessibility.

Classic

Instrumental

Soothing

Fun

I recommend you stop what you're doing, redirect yourself to the YouTubes, and start searching these titles.

The Absolute Favorites

Bloom by the Paper Kites
Martina Martinez by Girls
Brand New Shoes by She & Him
Winter Song by the Head & the Heart
Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da by the Beatles
The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson



The Recent Favorites

Let Me In by Snowmine
Strings by Young the Giant
Heart Attack by One Direction (I admit it)
Kinder Bluemen by Real Estate 
Boys with Girlfriends by Meiko



The 80s Favorites

So in Love by OMD
Just Like Heaven by the Cure
Heart of Glass by Blondie (okay, I know it came out in 1979 but let me have this)
Ask by the Smiths
Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley (just yes)
She's Always in My Hair by Prince
Karma Chameleon by the Culture Club


I hope you enjoyed my brief little list of some of my very favorite songs.
Enjoy.



Xx
Shelby Alice

XXYYXX and Rain

Most natives in San Diego really have no idea how to drive in the rain. That is a fact. They have the tendency to drive too slow or too fast or cut in front of everyone or get so unbelievably antsy. It's quite annoying for the few natives who DO know how to drive in the San Diego rain. 

Today's "storm" was no difference (Yes, today could be considered a storm; the flooding on the curb almost went up to the sidewalk). Actually, this storm was different. It was about 10 times worse than all of the other storms I have ever experienced in my 15 years of life here. Roads were closed. Tons of accidents. I was talking to a friend, and it took him 2 hours and 20 minutes to drive 20 miles. Crazy, right? It's insane. 

My mom was driving me to school, well, she ATTEMPTED to drive me to school. After driving for an hour and only covering about 10 miles of our 25 mile trip, we just gave up and went home. 

So now I am working on one of my projects for school and listening to XXYYXX. I don't listen to electronic music that often, probably because I'm not always in the mood to listen to it. However, my boyfriend (who is a giant fan of electronic music) is starting to rub off on me. Plus, it's great working music. You can just turn it up super loud, bob your head to the music, and work on whatever you're working on. Unless you're reading. Then it's super hard. I find it insanely difficult to read with any noise in the background, but I feel like that's probably just me, be it that most people I know can read with music and screaming people in the background.

What I really like about XXYYXX is that they have weird, cute vocals in the background. They are repetitive, yes, but not the kind of repetitive that makes you want to rip out your hair and shove it into your ears. The beats are fresh, and it's not that super overwhelming type of electronic music that they play at raves (or at least I think they don't. I don't go to raves. I'm sheltered). 

So if you're having a super rainy day and you're stuck at home like am, be productive with some cool electronic music playing in the background. It'll brighten up your life. 

Have a fantastic day,

Stevie 

December

Oh, goodness. December has thrust itself on us, ensconcing us. I'm sorry for all the sappy text, but I really do love the final month on the calendar. I've recently discovered a tree, a little ways down from my block, that has the most beautiful leaves I've seen in California. The trees don't really change down here, and I've always wanted to enjoy the "true," essence of autumn. I took some shots and I would like to share them with you! I'm also sorry for the lack of posting, as you can see, it's been my turn to post for a couple weeks now! I'll have some reviews coming soon.

I hope you all have a lovely week.

Xx

Shelby Alice