Songs I Like

Here I made a list of songs that I love. Most of them I will love forever.

I've compiled this list over a period of time as I have been reminded of the songs that I have come to love... I'm hoping to get a better idea of what my style of music is...

Loves:
*#1* The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra*

Hey ya - Outkast

You and Me - Lifehouse

Sober - Kelly Clarkson

Sittin' on the dock of the bay - Sara Bareilles

*(really, anything Kelly C or Sara B)*
Ooh! Another! Many the Miles - Sara B

Anything with a lot of soul and groove

(I'm listening to Adele right now...)

*Jesus Lover of my Soul - Alex Boye*

Jason Mraz.

Jon Mayer
(Mmmm...)
Frank Sinatra

(I especially love "Waiting on the World to Change")
OOH! and Dreaming With a Broken Heart!!
Hey Alli - Runner Runner
(They spelled my name right :)
Train.
(everything Train.)
(Mmm... Drops of Jupiter...)
Gravity - Sara B
Everything - Michael Bube
Smile - Uncle Kracker
Just Give Me A Reason - P!nk
Sweeter - Gavin DeGraw
Good Life - One Republic
Not Over You - Gavin DeGraw
Just Give Me A Reason - P!NK
Pentatonix.
Chasing Pavements - Adele
Little Lies - Dave Barnes
According to you - Orianthi
A Thousand Miles - Vanessa Carlton
Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae
(That one comes from my good friend Melissa Wilson :D)
Sweet and Low - Augustana
White Houses - Vanessa Carlton
Song for Sienna - Brian Crain
Shake It Out - Florence + the Machine
Brave - Sara B
Redeemer - Paul Cardall
Let Me Be Your Star - SMASH
Fix You - Coldplay
Bruises - Chairlift
One of those days - Joy Williams
Sweet Pea - Amos Lee
Easy - Rascal Flatts and natasha beddingfield
**Black Baloon - Goo Goo Dolls**
Broken Strings - James Morrison
Mercy - Duffy


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New Finds:
(Which means I like them now, but may get tired of them)

Golden  - Justin nozuka
Something I Need - One Republic
Love Runs Out - One Republic
Carry On - FUN
Lemonade (ukelele) - Jeremy Passion
(Super cute!!!)
Imagine Dragons
Lego House - Ed Sheeran
If I Lose Myself - One Republic
(Dude, I'm loving that whole new One Republic album....)
What I Know - Parachute
All We Are - Matt Nathanson
Sad - Maroon 5
Endlessly - Green River Ordinance
If You Ever Come Back - The Script
Phillip Phillips (Gone Gone Gone, Raging Fire, Home)
Build Me A Girl - Andy Grammer
Love Love Love - Andy Grammer
When I was Your Man - Bruno Mars
A Drop In The Ocean - Ron Pope
Story of My Life - One Direction
(Remember their days of What Makes You Beautiful?? They're growing up!!)
everything has changed - Taylor Swift
Elle Me Dit - Mika
Wake Me Up - Avicii
The Woman I Love - Jason Mraz
Distance - Christina Perri
Peter Bradly Adams (though he does remind me of an ex-boyfriend)
The Edge Of Glory (acoustic) - Lady GAGA
Rude - Magic!
Stay With Me - Sam Smith
Latch (acoustic) - Sam Smith
Am I Wrong - Nico & Vinz

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Love songs I love:

I won't give up - Jason Mraz

You and Me - Lifehouse

Falling Slowly - The Frames ? 

Lost - Michael Buble
For You I Will (Confidence) - Teddy Geiger
(Apparently there's a rock version... I'm not a fan. Stay acoustic.)
A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
Collide (Acoustic) - Howie Day
Come on, get higher - Matt Nathanson
Marry Me - Train
She Is Love - Parachute
I'll Be - Edwin McCain
Marry You - Bruno Mars
Oooh!!! And that song from Enchanted... So Close - ???(Jon McLuaghlin?)
I've recently come to love "To Make You Feel My Love - Mick McAuley and Winifred Horan
[Recent Find:] Never Stop (Wedding Version) - Safetysuit
The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice
I Choose You - Sara B
Endlessly - Green River Ordinance (New Find :))

(I know there's so much more here... I am easily swooned... :)

(Also I LOVE Peter Bradley Adams, but he makes me think of an ex... silly, I know, but you should check him out anyways, cause he's great!!)



*Keep in mind, this isn't a complete and comprehensive list, but rather a small sampling of the sort of music I like... It would probably take much too long to write up everything.... :)



What do you like? 
If you think I should add anything to my repertoire, I am totally up for expanding my horizons!

Dating Problems

So I just got home from a two-year excursion in France where I immersed myself in sharing the Restored Gospel to everyone I came in contact with. It was BLISS!! And I've realized that one of the things I loved while I was there was the predictability - a luxury that I do not now enjoy.

There is a lot of unpredictable things in my life. The two major ones include my major/career (as I think I've mentioned before), and... marriage. And what's the precursor to marriage? As I am repeatedly reminded by my grandma, my mom, and most anyone I come in contact with - the anything-but-predictable-predicament of DATING!!!

I've actually been fortunate enough to go on a bunch of dates since my mission. Nobody I'm terribly interested in yet, but I've met a lot of really nice people. Then one fateful night I crossed paths with a tall and handsome young man. We talked. We laughed. I enjoyed my fifteen or twenty minute exchange that I had with him. As I walked away I realized how much I liked talking to him. I was extremely tickled when he added me as a friend on Facebook,  and the next day invited me to a movie night. I was probably more excited than I should have been, but I just felt like he was a really cool person, and I was excited to get to know him better. During the weeks to follow we talked almost every day. But he never asked me out. I saw him a few times in between. I felt extremely insecure, especially since I had felt that I had been very forward in my online conversations with him.  So we never got to really talk like we did x weeks ago.

I'm mostly bummed with little glimmers of hope here and there over the dumbest things.I keep having those moments of -- Does he like me? Maybe?! Oh... maybe not. Wait he talked to me! ... oh, he ended the conversation...  Over and over and over again. It's driving me NUTS!! Is he interested or not? Am I being played? Is he keeping tabs with me just in case the girl he's actively pursuing doesn't work out? And HOW DO I KNOW?!?!

This long anecdote boils down do a point - Dating is in no way what it used to be. Nor what I personally believe it should be. I have gained so much more respect for those sweet guys that take the time to ask a girl on a date, spending some time with her to get to know her. No need for games. No need for social media intermediaries. Straightforward one-on-one time.

What I'm finding is that most people rely too heavily on "hanging-out." Don't get me wrong, I love hanging out with other people. I'm always game for a good party! But I don't think it should replace dating. Too many people play the game of hanging out with someone long enough that they eventually hold hands, kiss and start dating. Just saying, I'm personally not a fan for the following reasons:

1. Impersonal. I see that it's a really easy way to test the waters when you're trying to figure out if you're interested enough to ask them on a date, or to get to a place where you feel comfortable asking them on a date. But use it as a stepping stone please and not as your main source of transportation. When you know you'd like to get to know that one person better, just ask her out! If she rejects you, she's not worth it, move on.

2. The ultimate lack of commitment. One date does NOT mean it has to go anywhere. It does NOT mean you are automatically put in a committed serious relationship. But at the same time you should not be focused on a quick bit of action. In my opinion, the goal is not the hook-up, but rather it's looking for someone that you want to be with, that you want to know better. Ultimately, you're looking for someone you want to add into your life. That doesn't come with the quick girlfriend, but rather with the amount of quality time spent with a person.

3. (Last one for the night) Things are WAY MORE COMPLICATED THAN THEY SHOULD BE!!!
It turns into this huge game of "Does he love me, does he not?" On BOTH sides. Does that look mean she likes me? Or was that a friend-zone look? He asked me to hang out again, does that mean he likes me? Or am I just his friend? Or was it so he could invite my roommate that he thinks is cute?? The thing is you NEVER KNOW because so often both sides of the party are swimming in their own ideas of whether or not there could be something happening. Or one person tries to pursue an opportunity and is disappointed to find that the other person never felt the same way the entire time. On the contrary, if you ask her on a date and she accepts, there is a mutual understanding that you both would like an opportunity to get to know each other a little better. If she accepts the second date, then you know she's interested to look into it a little more, etc. You stay on the same page as the relationship progresses, without the guessing games!!

So a quick shout-out to all those guys that had the guts to ask me on a date. It takes courage to do that, and I am grateful that you took the chance. I'm sorry that I wasn't interested - I can't always help that. But I'm grateful that you took a chance.

Can we recommit right now? Guys - I've given you my mouthful. Girls - make it easier on the guys. Take a chance on the first date - you never know what might happen! But don't be quizzing him about where the relationship is going on the second date either.

And for heaven's sake people - JUST LEARN HOW TO DATE!!!

I like to write. I think.

Hello blog.

... It's been awhile.

I'm not much of a blogger... OBVIOUSLY. I have another blog about my adventures in Paris. Wouldn't you think you'd have a million posts about your adventures in Paris? No. I have like three. One of which is focused on my toe being cut off by a french doctor named Doctor Casanova (no really, true story, click here to see the post). Nothing about the rich culture, the fabulous architecture, the decadent food, the gorgeous language......

Super odd since I have the most ridiculous love affair with all things French.

Also odd since I grew up thinking I was going to be a writer.

I used to love to write. My grandma would joke that I have a pen as an extension of my hand. I even thought for a long time I would be a writer. I remember marching in a parade where all the kids dressed up as what they wanted to be when they grew up. There were dancers and police men and all sorts of stuff. My super creative mom dressed me up in a huge floppy sweater (that I still have... it's still huge ha!), with messy hair filled with pens and pencils, glasses and a notebook in my hand. Because that's what I wanted to be. That's what I was good at.

Right now I'm going through lots of different career options.... what do I want to be? I've looked at Public Relations, broadcasting, journalism, advertising, music, music education, elementary education, accounting, physics, engineering, French, dance, theater... I just really don't know what to do with my life. What I'm trying to do is observe my skills and see how I could best apply them into society... As I've done this I've noticed how terrible my writing skills have gotten... and I feel kind of sad. That used to be my forte, and alas with lack of practice comes a loss in talent.

But in that same sense.... shouldn't I be able to practice writing and get it better again? Maybe I could readjust myself to expressing my thoughts and feelings in a fluid and reasonable manner like I used to, maybe throwing in some fun words here and there. (My favorite word is juxtaposition... it's so cool!).

So I'm going to try to re-train myself to write.

I almost kept a journal, but then I realized how amazing the marvelous ambiguity of an invisible blog audience is. I can write like people are going to read what I write. True, I do realize that no one will read this. But at least it feels like I'm talking to someone. One way conversation skills aren't the best skill to practice, true. But I'll feel more of a sense of purpose and reason to write. And maybe will drive me here more often to write.

So I guess this is my open journal.... Hello world! Take a look into my head, I don't mind!

I guess that's the reason I started this blog in the first place....

So I guess this is more of a Welcome Back post, a re-commitment to my non-existing fans that I will never fail you again, or at least not until my time is taken with things like work, school or a real social life. But fo the moment I am back to post the mindless jabberings of Ms Alli Kae.

A Happy Post

I have seen so many posts lately that are so depressing and disheartening...

So I wanted to post....

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

I love puppy dogs.

Love... the closest thing we have to MAGIC!!

EIFFEL TOWER!!!!!

Smiles are contagious.

PS.... I LOVE your smile!!!

Singing is fantastic.

SUNSHINE!!!!

Frank Sinatra.

Helpless Romantic... Everyone knows one.

Make 'em LAUGH!!!!

Jumping pictures are pretty much bomb.

I believe in miracles!

I loved Call Me Maybe before you did.

I heart my mommy.

Music is my soul-mate.

Silly silly silly....

Emphasize the comedy in life!!!

If you smiled at least once in this post...

Think about the happiest moment in your life.

You're smiling again.

:)

I am stubborn enough to smile at least once a day no matter what. 

Choose to be happy.

Enough said.

For the love of the game

WARNING!!!!!
This post was written in a time of heartbreak and confusion. This is not how I see the world, this is not every-day me.... this was a rant that happened when I was in a bad place... I HIGHLY recommend you skip this one.

**************************************************************

Currently being in the dating game, I understand that it is a game requiring good tactics and refined skill.... both of which I still haven't fully acquired. Don't get me wrong I've learned a lot over the years. I can remember the day when I learned how to talk to a guy.... mind you not just any guy, this was the class president, tall dark and handsome, WAY out of my league. I remember my first date when I was sixteen, a tall boy home from college who decided by date three that I should have my first kiss...Soon afterwards he disappeared off the face of the planet. Since then I've dated some, and I've learned a lot. I've learned what I like in a guy, what kind of guy I'm looking for. I've learned how to bat my eyes and flip my hair. But for some reason, I can never get on a date with the people I want to go out with....

I promise I'm not a terribly shallow and horrible person. Even though I don't believe there is only "one true love" that I'm going to have to go all the way to China for, I believe that there is a someone for everyone (and it's going to be a very special someone who can put up with me).  I hear people say that you should go out with the "wrong people" because they might turn out to be the "right people."  But in my sad dating experience I can tell you that I already know that I will never make it with someone who is short, condescending, too skinny, lazy, has bad posture, is unsocial, or who has a bad tendency of putting baby in a corner. I've tried living with all this and more. I was miserable. Not worth it. I've decided I'm not going to string along a guy that I know isn't going to make the cut. I've dated enough of the "wrong" (for me) people that I usually know by the first date if I've hit another "wrong."

My biggest problem in attempting to play this game is I haven't been able to develop a truly effective strategy... I can never get a date with the "right" guy.  I flirt and smile and laugh... but somehow he doesn't hear me yelling "Hello gorgeous man who is smart and funny and sweet!! Pick me!! Pick me!! You'll like me, honest!!" I promise I'm not screaming "DESPERATE!!!!" I'm not that silly. I'm simply dropping the hint that I am interested..... I think....

Which brings up the question, how much interest do I show? Too little they miss it. Too much they run screaming.  Am I the flower waiting for the bee or the lioness out on the hunt? Where's the happy medium where two people just find each other and live happily ever after?

I know that it's the struggle that makes the result so much more meaningful and significant, but... I just wish someone I was struggling for would struggle for me...

Solution: I need to stop struggling.

“The W Plan: Work Will Win When Wishy Washy Wishing Won't."Thomas S. Monson, President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

I need to stop whining and move on with my life. Who needs men? As awesome as they are to have around, they're a bonus, not a necessity. I need to get back to the basics, shaping my real world and not my dreamland. I need to focus on who I want to be, what I want to become. Instead of dreaming up the perfect man, I should be living up to my perfect self. Someday Mr. Right will walk by and instead of looking right through me he'll see me for who I really am. Then life will be grand and we'll live happily ever after. Until then I'm grand with just me, myself, and I...

This is where I get off of my blog and go do something actually worth doing.
...See ya soon!  ;)

Work in progress...

I created this blog as an outlet for cooped up philosophies, ponderings, and general mindless babblings that I have a tendency to bottle up until it explodes all over my roommates.... Which doesn't make for very good roommate relations... Ergo, welcome to my venting pad!

Posts may not be updated regularly, but I predict that they shall be very amusing. I have no doubt that someday, long after archiving my pent up thoughts, I will look back and have a marvelous night with popcorn and the entertainment of my ridiculousness..... which I did not even realize was a word. Wow! Go me!

So, laugh at me, laugh with me, take my words for what they're worth and pretend they're terribly profound or just roll your eyes and click back over to Facebook and back to your life that I promise is being wasted away if you stay here for too long.... All the same these ramblings (for I promise that is all they really are) are much better here than echoing in the deaf ears of those around me that I have a regular tendency to bore to death.

So, without further adieu, welcome one and all to the strange and ridiculous world of the mind and mindless jabberings of Ms Alli Kae.