Here's the thing about country music...

Until recently (recently meaning yesterday), I'd kind of written off country music. Before my mission, I listened to it on the regular. When I came home it had started to sound like nails on a chalkboard to me.

Sad, no? I was totally okay with it. It's when I hit my true hipster stage.

But then Samantha Jean decided that she was going to try, as many had before her, to convert me back to the land of cowboy boots, Wranglers, trucks, and twang. And because heaven knows that after a while I can be worn down, I finally had her just make me a mix of songs to ease myself into it. Little did I know that with country, there's no easing. It's all or nothing.

And I'm back in the all phase.

So without further ado, here are the things that I've learned in the last 24 hours of my recent re-conversion to country music:

-Girls are allowed EXPECTED to be sassy

"Have  you ever noticed every hurricane gets its name from a girl like this? She's a cat 5 kind keeps you up at night." 

-Hunter Hayes

-Say what you really think

"So let's shake hands and reach across those party lines. You got your friends just like I got mine. We might think a little differently, but we got a lot in common you will see. We're just like you, only prettier."
-Miranda Lambert

-When in doubt, talk about your truck

If I tried to give you an example of this, I would spend all day typing. Just listen to any Brad Paisley, Florida Georgia Line, Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan or Kenny Chesney album

- Sometimes? You don't have to be nice

"Well I've been saved by the grace of southern charm. I got a mouth like a sailor, and yours is more like a Hallmark card."
-Miranda Lambert

"Mama always told me that I should play nice. She didn't know you when she gave me that advice." 

-The Band Perry

-When worn right, blue jeans really do it for a guy

"Girl, you cut those jeans just right. I know you didn't buy 'em like that."

-Brett Eldredge

- If something is worth happening, it happens in the summer

See Brad Paisley's "Beat this Summer" and Rascal Flatts "Summer Nights"

-"Bless your heart" is more of an insult than an actual wish

"I don't have to be hateful, I can just say, "Bless your heart."

-Miranda Lambert

-Just because you're a good girl, doesn't mean he's a good guy

"You'll see a good boy, gonna give you the world. But he's gonna leave you cryin' with your heart in the dirt."

-Carrie Underwood

-And last but not least: the "g" at the end of any word is meant to be left off

So friends. Feed my new addiction. All suggestions are welcome and will be vetted by my guide, Samantha Jean.

Autumn Fallin'

I say that it's high time for another playlist. What say ye, dear readers? Well since your responses will take to long to get and I'll probably be off doing something else super exciting, I'm going to just give it to you, free of requests. I know. I'm completely fantastic and I read your minds. Remember to send your gifts in the form of Diet Coke and chocolate chip cookies.

Mal's Autumn Fallin' Playlist

I Would Do Anything For You --Foster the People

Girls Like You -- The Naked and Famous
The Rhythm You Started --Sophie Madeleine 

Anywhere with You --The Seventeens

Loves Who Uncover --The Little Ones

Some Kind of Wonderful --Michael Buble 

The Weakest Shade of Blue -- Pernice Brothers

Good Habit --Benton Paul

Birds of a Feather -- The Rosenbergs

This city's A Mess (and that's the correct capitalization, believe it or not) -- Said The Whale

Skyline --The Spring Standards

My Love --the bird and the bee

Autumn Fallin' --Jaymay

So Here We Are --Bloc Party

Goodnight Moon --Said The Whale

In other news? It turns out that soy milk is not detrimental to the health of Casey the Computer. I *might* have been enjoying a little Life Cinnamon cereal the other night and my milk *might* have jumped out of the bowl while I was watching Psych and Casey the Computer *might* have gotten a soy milk bath. But so far? He's a trouper and is working like a charm. I knew he was a fighter. 

I'm now off to see "Lady Macbeth" because I won free tickets in a drawing and who am I to turn down free tickets to a show?

Enjoy!!

Admit it...

We all have guilty pleasures. Whether it's an occasional (or not so occasional) episode of The Bachelorette or a deep friend Snickers bar at the state fair once a year, you've got one. Most people don't publish theirs all over the internet because that's embarrassing and silly. I'll tell you right here and now: I happen to have multiple. And I happen to write about some of them on this here blog. So mine aren't such a secret, now are they? Anyway, I happen to be quite the music snob. You didn't know this? Yeah, we must not be very good friends. Pretty much everyone knows that I'm a music snob. I don't listen to the radio because I get sick of the same songs played ad nauseum. I love finding random obscure bands that not everyone has heard of. I was slightly disappointed when they started playing Adele on the radio because then everyone and their dog was obsessed and they'd never even heard her first album all the way through. See? I told you. I'm a music snob. But this music snob has a confession: I have a slight weakness for cheesy pop music. Wince. I know. So, dear readers, here you have my own personal guilty pleasures playlist for your enjoyment. I don't want to hear any mocking. I would welcome more suggestions though...

Your Love is My Drug-- Ke$ha
Baby-- Justin  Beiber
I Want It That Way-- Backstreet Boys
Burnin' Up--  Jonas Brothers
Seniorita-- Justin Timberlake
No Air-- Chris Brown/Jordin Sparks
Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)-- Beyonce
Like Wow!-- Leslie Carter
SOS--Rihanna
SuperGirl-- Krystal
Moment Like This-- Kelly Clarkson
Hot N Cold-- Katy Perry
Pretty Girl Rock-- Keri Hilson
It's Gonna Be Me-- NSYNC
One Less Lonely Girl-- Justin Beiber
Poster Girl-- Backstreet Boys
Shake It-- MetroStation
Kiss & Tell-- Selena Gomez and The Scene
See You Again-- Miley Cyrus
Spice Up Your Life-- Spice Girls
Disturbia-- Rihanna
Marry You-- Bruno Mars
Leavin'-- Jesse McCartney
Tik Tolk-- Ke$ha
California Gurls-- Katy Perry
In My Head-- Jason Derulo

Capri Suns, boom boxes, Boy Meets World, Yikes! erasers....

I'm a 90s kid. I read the Babysitter's Club (and tried to start my own version, don't you little worry). I idolized Punky Brewster. I wore white platform tennis shoes with my over-sized overalls. I was in love with Cory Matthews. I know every word to the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song. I desperately wanted a Trapper Keeper to hold my Lisa Frank folders. I drank Capri Suns like they were going out of style, the Wild Cherry was, is and always will be the best flavor. I learned that there were 9 planets in our solar system. I realize that I'm dating myself here, but what's a girl to do? Yesterday my mom brought a bunch of boxes up to my house which contained all of my childhood memories (elementary school to high school). It was Mallorie in a Box... okay, well like 4 boxes. My living room looked like an episode of Hoarders for a good three hours as I sorted through my life thus far. And if you know me, you know that I need a soundtrack to just about everything. Lucky for me, I have some help coming up with this one. There's this website called Turntable that allows you to play DJ with all your friends. And my co-worker decided that today was 90s day. How fitting! So without further ado....

Mallorie's Totally Awesome Ridiculously Cool and Completely Rockin' 90s Playlist:
Surgeon Generals' Warning: Extreme flashbacks, desires to act like an angst ridden teenager and permanent fixation of said songs in your head may accompany reading of/listening to this playlist. These emotional and mental conditions are not permanent or detrimental to your health. You have been fairly warned.

I Saw the Sign-Ace of Base
Waterfalls--TLC
Sunday Morning--No Doubt
Truly, Madly, Deeply--Savage Garden
Semi-Charmed Life--Third Eye Blind
She--Green Day
Bad Habit (edited)--The Offspring
Smells Like Teen Spirit--Nirvana
Loser--Beck
Never There--Cake
Black Hole Sun-- Soundgarden
Buddy Holly--Weezer
If You Could Only See--Tonic
3 AM--Matchbox 20
One Headlight--The Wallflowers
Mr. Jones-- Counting Crows
Losing My Religion --REM
Tonight-- Smashing Pumpkins
Torn--Natalie Imbruglia
Breathless--The Corrs
Bittersweet Symphony--The Verve
Zombies--The Cranberries
With or Without You--U2
Blind-- Hootie and the Blowfish

Join me in the '90s, my friends. Pluto misses you.

Artificial Sunshine...

Confession: I'm far more obsessed with music than I should be. It is physically impossible for me to be in a room for more than 20 seconds without it, I start to twitch like I have Tourettes. You think I'm kidding? Oh, don't you little worry. I'm not. The creation of the iPod was a gift from on high. It means I have a pocket full of music with me at all times. What could be better then that?

So, today, I was driving down 9th east, windows down, music blaring on my way to meet some friends for dinner. Today was one of those totally golden days in Salt Lake where the weather was my kind of perfect. Not too hot, not too cold (Remember? I'm the Goldilocks of seasons), the sun was shinning, and the air smelled like a splendid mix of sunshine, grass and flowers. It was pure delight. To add to my complete bliss, one of my favorite songs began to play on Chuck (for the uninformed, that's my iPod). I came to the decision that there are some songs that are like artificial sunshine. And lucky for ya'll, I've compiled them into a list. You can thank me later. 

Mal's Mix of Artificial Sunshine:

Fader by Temper Trap

Follow You Down by Gin Blossoms 

Why Do You Let Me Stay Here by She & Him

I'm Asking Her to Stay by Sherwood

1234 by Feist

Gray or Blue by Jaymay

Oh, It is Love by Hellogoodbye

Good Mornin' Life by Dean Martin

Be OK by Ingrid Michaelson

Fairytale by Sara Bareilles

Catch the Sun by Jamie Cullum

Come Fly with Me by Frank Sinatra

For Once in my Life by Michael Buble

Reprise by Clarksville

Show Off by Sutton Foster (The Drowsy Chaperone)

You and Me by Plain White-T's

Jump then Fall by Taylor Swift

The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson

You Can't Stop the Beat by The Hairspray Cast

Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson

Can't Buy Me Love by Michael Buble

Pony (It's OK) by Erin McCarley

You Are My Favourite by Sophie Madeleine

Jesus on the Radio by Guster

Any additions? Leave me a comment. I always love new music. 

Tag! I'm it...

Only because I love Miss Amanda Platt. A lot. I'm going to do this. Happy, Manda?

1. Upload a photo that you're using right now. (This makes absolutely no sense. That's right. I said it.) This is exactly what I'm doing right now. Why yes, that's Legally Blonde on my TV.

t

Let me 'splain. Jourdan and I made the...mistake? of watching Legally Blondes. It was so completely terrible that we made up a drinking game (put your judging eyes away. We were drinking Diet Coke) in order to maintain our brain cells.

2. When was the last time you ate chicken? Really? Why is this important? Anyway, I ate chicken Tuesday night. It was delicious because I'm a genius cook.

3. The song/songs you've listened to lately: Now we're talking. I'll just give you the list from the current soundtrack of my life:
Astonishing- Little Women the Musical (sung by Sutton Foster)
Ordinary Day- Vanessa Carlton
Young Blood- The Naked and Famous
Get Your Way- Jamie Cullum
Melt My Heart to Stone- Adele
Let the Rain- Sara Bareilles
I'm the Man Who Murdered Love- XTC
Nothing Left to Lose- Mat Kearney
All I Want- Toad the Wet Sprocket
Strip Me- Natasha Bedingfield
Red- Sara Bareilles
Hey Beautiful- The Solids
Stars- Switchfoot
Why Do You Let Me Stay Here- She & Him
Gray or Blue- Jaymay
So Here We Are- Bloc Party
Oh, How I Loved You- Goldrich and Heisler
Brand New Day- Joshua Radin
Fader- The Temper Trap
For Good- Glee Cast
Light Up the World- Glee Cast
I Just Can't Stop Myself- Sophie Madeleine
(Yeah, it's a lot. Deal with it.)

I'm supposed to tag people, but I'm never very good at that. Plus, Manda said I didn't have to, so I'm not going to. :) Love you, Manda!!

Auditory Delight... (day 2)

When I looked at the list there were 3items that I was positive that I'd never be able to choose just one 'favorite' for, so I decided not to. It's my blog for heaven's sake. So...Behold. My favorite songs.

Guster is probably my all time favorite band. They were the first real music that I fell madly in love with as a lowly high school student. I can never get enough of anything they write. And I own every CD they've released. Amazing with a capital A.

This lovely little ditty became one of my favorite songs and is my anthem for change. I'm almost embarrassed to admit that I've listened to it almost 200 times in the past year, but then I listen to it's sheer awesomeness again and I'm not even a little, tiny bit ashamed.

Happy listening!

M

A post script (or two): 

Dearest Amy, I love the idea of Day 30. (The 29 day plan bugged me as well.) Thanks for being your fantastic self and giving me lovely ideas. 

Loves, Mal

Dear friends aside from Amy who I tagged to do this, 

Add this to your list, por favor. :)

Day 30 - a photo of yourself today + three good things that have happened in the past.

Love and rockets, 

Mal