Memorable Memorial Weekend | Weekend in Review

This past weekend was Memorial Weekend which meant 3 days off to play!!

The Guy and I planned to get out and explore a bit starting with the Oregon Coast.  We headed south first, driving the scenic 101 as much as possible. Along the way there were a few beautiful viewpoints where we stopped to breath in the salt air and take in the sights.

The Oregon Coast is by and large my favorite place to enjoy the ocean.  The greenery, overcast skies and consistent lapping of waves is my heaven on earth.

We drove as far south as Newport before deciding to get out and run around the beach a bit.  The tide was out so we explored a few tide pools and drew in the sand.  The Guy even drew my logo... camera and all!  I felt obliged to take a photo with it, and apparently the pose to do when someone draws your logo is a side plank??  Random, but oh well!

We headed back north after a bit, exploring Pacific City and camped out there for the night.  We found a pretty amazing spot on the beach and were tempted to pitch the tent, but were concerned that high tide might reach it, so we car camped instead.  It was SO FUN!!  We parked just off the road and could hear the waves all night.  A panoramic view of the ocean is not a bad sight to wake up to, believe me.

Also,  I don't know how this guy puts up with me.  I mean, what is that face?!

On Sunday we explored a bit more of the coast, driving the scenic route and pulling over to take in the view often.  We stopped off at the Tillamook Cheese Factory to get some cheesy treats and then drove up to Cannon Beach.  Cannon Beach was PACKED with people!!!  We decided to not stop and headed back to Portland instead.  Sometimes I forget how crazy that place can be on a holiday weekend!  I think we were pretty blessed with the light crowds on the rest of our trip!

Monday was spent decompressing a bit, followed by a trip to REI to find me a hiking backpack!!!  I've been wanting one for some time now, and with my member's dividend, plus a 20% coupon on top of the already great sale they were having, I got a pretty great deal on a beauty!

 

I ended up getting the pack, a first aid kit, a new pocket knife and some moleskin all for less than the original price of the pack!  I'm pretty stoked about my new pack and can't wait to hit the trails soon!

As if all that excitement wasn't enough, The Guy and I had one more plan to round out the BEST WEEKEND EVER.  We hopped on the Max to the Rose Garden and enjoyed an AMAZING concert with Mumford & Sons!!!  I had purchased the tickets months ago, and couldn't remember where were sitting exactly, so it was pretty cool to find out that I was basically the best girlfriend ever because I happened to score us front row seats!!  We were to the immediate right of the stage, and had a great view of the show! 

Rocking out with Mumford & Sons was a great way to cap off this amazing weekend!  I'm so looking forward to the next show we have planned to see.  This summer is going to be filled with lots of adventures and live music!

Do you like live music?

How did you celebrate your 3 day weekend?

30 Day Posting Challenge | Day 6 - My Views on Mainstream Music

Pardon me while I go all 'hipster' for a moment...

Mainstream music has it's place.  It really does.  I completely understand why musicians dream of making it big and to the radio.  After all, that's where the money is.  That's were recognition and a following happens.  I get it. 

I have some friends who work in the music industry, and a few of them are even DJ's with a rather large following themselves.  So I'm going to politely ask them to turn away from the computer for a moment while I tell the rest of you this...

I HATE THE RADIO.

I hate the commercials, the song interruptions with someone talking over the intro, the remixes, the over play, etc.  Every so often I'll turn it on in my car and I'm immediately reminded why I dislike it.  I would much rather listen to Pandora, my own CDs, or a mix on my iPod any day.

Some of my favorite artists are ruined by going mainstream.  Adele?  I LOVED her a few years ago.  Right after her freshman album was released I caught one of her songs on Pandora, loved her sound and bought it.  I enjoyed her for close to a year before she caught fire with her second album.  I was able to enjoy it for about a week before she was EVERYWHERE and I couldn't take it anymore.  I like to pick my music to create an atmosphere and when Adele is pumping over the speakers at my gym, coffee shop, book store and the mall, well the atmosphere is out the window.

I also love to find out about music organically.  The other day I was in a coffee shop in Portland and had the best conversation with the cute barista!  He was humming a Mumford and Sons song and I told him I loved their new album.  Next thing I know 20 minutes had passed and we both had a list of 10 or more new artists to try out. 

Ok, I'm going to get off my soapbox now, but I'll leave you with a list of my favorite artists at the moment.  Give these guys a listen, but try and find the songs that aren't played on the radio.  I find that the lesser known ones are often the best!

Amos Lee - Bottom of the Barrel and Arms of a Woman are my favorite!
Mumford & Sons - The Boxer is amazing!!! (and I know it's a remake of Paul Simone's song, but it's seriously beautiful)
The Lumineers - Classy Girls is my current favorite.
Florance T and the Machine - ironically the one that everyone knows, Heavy, is my current favorite
Civil Twilight - the entire first album is golden (the second one is good too)
The Civil Wars
Avett Brothers
Regina Spektor 

I'd like to also add that I don't hate popular or mainstream music all the time.  I mean there is nothing better to run or workout to than a little Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.  Also, I love me some David Cook and Glee, so, you know, I'm not hipster all the time.  ;)

How do YOU feel about mainstream music?
Who are your favorite artists currently?

Want to join the 30 Day Challenge?  See the list here!

"Awake My Soul" | Mumford and Sons

While sitting in Starbucks last week, enjoying a tall Americano (black, with just one pump of caramel syrup... perfection) my ears perked up when I heard an interesting folksy <-- what, it's a word, song playing over the sound system.  I couldn't quite make out the song, but distinctly heard a banjo and accordion and I had to know what song it was!  I quickly grabbed my iPhone and opened the Shazam app to find out who was playing this magnificent tune. 

*side note, if you don't have this app, drop everything you are doing and go download it, right this second.  you will not be sorry.

It was a song by a group named Mumford and Sons, and the song was titled "Awake My Soul."  After playing it on repeat a few, one hundred, a thousand times, I finally purchased the album through iTunes and have been listening to it nonstop since. 

It. Is. SO GOOD!

Here's a recording of the guys singing "Awake My Soul" in someone's living room before one of their shows.  Watch it. Love it. Share it.



I love these lyrics!  My favorite lines are:

Lend me your hand and we'll conquer them all
But lend me your heart and I'll just let you fall
Lend me your eyes I can change what you see
But your soul you must keep, totally free

In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die
Where you invest your love, you invest your life

Bad. Ass.


What songs have you been listening to on repeat these days?  I'd love to hear some suggestions!