New Feature: Friday Favorites

Many blogs that I read have weekly features, so I decided to start one on my blog as well.  This idea of "Friday Favorites" came from Lauren Conrad.

Here are a few of my favorites from this past week:

Sticking to a theme of my blog, Favorite Song:  The Band Perry, Better Dig Two

This is the newest single from The Band Perry and just as expected, it is awesome!!!! The first time I heard it I wasn't really paying attention and was confused on what the song was about.  Once I stopped and listened to the lyrics of the song I fell in love with it.  It is the ultimate love song, but with an upbeat feel and completely unique lyrics/story.

"If divorce or death ever do us part, the coroner will call it a broken heart"- pure genius!!!!

This song reminds me of couples like Johnny Cash and June Carter or Allie and Noah in the movie version of the Notebook, but not as tragically beautiful.  I love it!

 

 Favorite Drink:  Starbucks Vanilla Chai

Usually I like iced drinks, but Mother Nature has been having some mood swings this fall and some mornings are just too cold for it.  I love an Iced Vanilla Chai and a hot one is just as delicious!  I am eager to try the holiday drinks as well, but I'm sure this will be my drink of choice this winter. 

 

  Favorite Lips: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter, Cotton Candy

I'm experimenting with lip colors and love the Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter thanks to Kate.  I want to buy more colors and see which ones I like best.  What lip colors do you wear?

Favorite Show:  Nashville!

It's obvious that I love country music.  I love everything about it and what it stands for, so that comes without saying that I love the city of Nashville, Music City.  I've only been there once but it is my favorite city (in the States,  I might be more in love with London).  So you could imagine how excited I was that there was going to be a show based there.  Well, true to form, I'm obsessed with the show.  It is filled with drama, country music and (some fake) southern accents.  It keeps getting better as the weeks go on and they just announced that it's been picked up for a full season.  I am so excited to see the plot thicken and drama un-fold! You should check it out!
 

 

Favorite Person: Daddy!

Most of you know my dad is awesome and everything a girl could ask for in a father!  But he gets extra recognition today because it's his birthday!!! Happy Birthday Daddy, I love you! One more year until you're officially over-the-hill, but you'll always be young at heart!

What are some of your Friday Favorites? :)

Music Review: Taylor Swift, Red

Okay so I've waited to post about Taylor Swift's new album because I needed to gather my thoughts.  And to be honest, I'm still not sure if I have them put together yet!

Initially I was like "Ughh, Taylor Swift" cause her songs are all about failed love/ relationships.  She consistently sounds desperate and its kind of annoying.  I feel like she doesn't sing like she's 22.  She still sings like she's 16.  Her music hasn't matured with age, so ultimately I've out grown her.

Though I wouldn't say her songs are good or really recommend them to people interested in experiencing country music, her songs have a sense of fun innocence to them.  They can bring you back to a time of innocence or high school with all of the drama she includes in her lyrics.  Not to mention the fact that she is was dating a kid that is still in high school so I guess I've made my point.  She's immature and going to lose the fans that are her age and older.  She's gonna continue to be a singer for "teeny-boppers"! (My friends are going to have a field day with that phrase!)  Which, again, is fine since she still produces hit after hit, breaking tons of records and selling multi-million copies of her CDs.

I have complete mixed reviews about Taylor Swift in general.  As for her songs, you have to be in the mood to listen to her music.  Taylor Swift as a person in the spotlight is different.  I haven't met her, but people who have say she is wonderful.  She is a gem of a person- great to talk to and be around.  I can see that, but it kinda makes me scrunch my eyebrows and wonder how/why she has so many failed relationships about love to sing about.  They're probably more like middle school crushes that she mistakes for love to write a hit.  Kudos to her cause it obviously works.

On top of her hit music, Taylor Swift is a great business woman from what I can see. Or better yet, she has amazing Marketing and Promotions teams. They're genius.  Teaming up with Papa John's to release her album, I'm sure Domino's and Pizza Hut now have open positions in those departments from whoever dropped the ball on that one.  Her album releases are always highly anticipated.

Though I can't pin-point a song that stands out to me as the best, I would have to choose Red as my favorite and without a doubt We Are Never, Ever Getting Back Together is my least favorite.  And even though I wouldn't nominate this album for Album of the Year, I have to say that I am impressed and give Taylor credit for experimenting with new sounds.  This album does sound different than her previous albums and I like that about it.  But there's something about the album that still hasn't settled with me yet (hence the reason this post is so late, I was trying to figure it out!)

With that being said, I still find myself listening to it and getting some songs stuck in my head.  Go Figure!  :)

bELieve #52

I've been going to football games for as long as I can remember, especially Rutgers Football games. And in my life I have never heard an entire stadium go completely silent, except once.  On October 16, 2010.

The Rutgers vs. Army game is always a big one for our family because most of my family has attended Rutgers, but my dad attended West Point.  That year the game was held at the New Meadowlands Stadium (where the NY Jets and NY Giants play) during its inaugural season.  So, just like every other Saturday of fall, we packed up the tailgating supplies and had a party!

This game turned out to be one the entire Rutgers Family (in attendence or not) will never forget.  Late in the 4th quarter on a kick off return Eric LeGrand #52 made a hit that echoed throughout the whole stadium resulting in numerous "ohhhh"s and cheers from the fans.  But after the hit, Eric LeGrand didn't stand up.  He layed near the 25 yard line immobilized with Coach Schiano, trainers, and then EMTs running to his side.  When the crowd realized he wasn't moving the stadium went silent then filled with quiet murmurs from the fans.  Eric LeGrand had become instantly paralyzed breaking the C3 and C4 vertebrae in his neck.  Eric was wheeled off the field on a stretcher and rushed to a nearby hospital.

The mantra "bELieve" was born in the Rutgers community and spread like wild fire throughout the country.  Eric LeGrand has become an inspiration for everyone who knows his story.  His attitude and determination are remarkable. 

He recently wrote a book, BELIEVE, that I just finished.  I highly recommend it for anyone.  It was an amazing eye-opener.  It is a wonderfully emotional book that makes you laugh and makes you cry.  Eric's story makes you appreciate the things you have and take for granted everyday.   

In the book, Eric addresses his changed life and the struggles he faces from being confined to a wheelchair with no movement below the neck.  He has never felt sorry for himself or asked "why me".  He takes his injury as a way for him to inspire others and spread awareness of spinal cord injuries.

 The first half of the book talks a lot about football- plays, games, and the Rutgers Football Program.  I didn't mind this because I love football and have been following Rutgers for years.  However, this may be boring to some people.

I loved the part of the book where he described an old Rutgers tradition of the Scarlet Walk (pgs 91-92)!  Though the section was short it was so descriptive.  Growing up and going to Rutgers games every weekend, the Scarlet Walk became one of my favorite parts of the RU football experience.  And when the team was 1-9  (in the early 2000's) those were the things you had to look forward to for excitement (well, and the Kid's Zone)!

Eric's description took me back to a place and time with all of those early years of Rutgers tailgates flooding back.  I couldn't help but smile.

I admit while I was in college I didn't attend the Scarlet Walk half as much as I would have liked, but that doesn't make it any less of a Rutgers Tradition.  I always look forward to those shots of Rose Tequila by the "big tree"!! :)

Eric LeGrand is very inspirational for everyone who knows his story and bELieves in him.  Everyone should remember this verse when we are feeling like we don't know what's in store for us.

Hurricane Sandy

As a new blogger I feel as though I can not have this recent natural disaster come and go without commenting on it, especially since it has hit close to home and effected so many people that I love.

We were very fortunate to not lose power and have no damage.  Lots of family and friends were not as fortunate:

• Two cases of trees falling on parts of houses and other trees falling
• Most without power since early Monday evening (Oct. 29)
• Beach houses taking on water, completely under water or washed away
• and other damages.  

The winds during the storm were intense.  I took videos that did not capture any images, just the beating sound of the wind.  The neighbor's trees were blowing half way over and one eventually fell.

Kristine and I watching Hurricane Sandy from Kaylee's bedroom window!  
(Mom turned the lights on to take the picture!)

The aftermath images of the Jersey Shore are absolutely heart breaking.  It no longer exists.  No boardwalks, no beaches, none of our favorite bars or eatery's.  It's devastating.  Memories upon memories of days, weekends, and vacations soaking up the fun in the sun are all that's left. 

This video of New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie, brought tears to my eyes.  You can see by his expression, just how devastating this is.

Governor Christie tweeted, "We will rebuild the Shore. It may not be the same, but we will rebuild.  #Sandy"

It's time for New Jersey to show the rest of the country and world that the Jersey Shore is not just about fist pumping, tanning, and getting drunk! We're Jersey Strong!

Everyone who has been greatly effected by Hurricane Sandy, with physical or emotional damage is in my thoughts and prayers.

Side Note:  Is anyone else freaked out by the fact that in the movie "2012" NY flooded in October? 

 I didn't believe the world was going to end until now!