january mix

{photo credit: me}

better late than never, yeah? MUSIC.

january mix

10,000 emerald pools : borns

mikky ekko : pull me down

winter : holly conlan

kasper : sea wolf

comrade : volcano choir

to just grow away : the tallest man on earth

in your arms : chef'special

pompeii : bear's den

shuffle : bombay bicycle club

ways to go : grouplove

december mix

{photo credit: me}

hieeeeee! it's december, and everything is awesome. especially this mix i have come up with. not all of the songs are christmas tunes, but all of them are good. happy christmas season. if you celebrate the birth of Christ, make sure you spend some time focusing on that during this busy season. i find myself rushing around here and there and missing out on a chance to rejoice in this good news. happy christmas season and happy listening! (for another great christmas playlist, head over to the hippie memoirs. emma has curated an excellent mix of festive tunes!)

december mix

sing we now of christ : michael w. smith

the christmas song : sleeping at last

tiger striped sky : roo panes

every night : jon and roy

the happiest christmas : michael w. smith

place for us : milky ekko

you know me : air traffic controller

someday at christmas : jack johnson

last christmas : taylor swift

mexico : the staves

joy to the world : casting crowns

november mix

{photo credit: me}

november has arrived! we are getting into the good season, y'all. the cold months, the leaves falling, the mornings wrapped in your warmest blankets. as i write this, i am bundled up in my neon pink bathrobe with bedhead to match. i look very attractive.

yesterday was my first craft market, and i can't wait to tell you guys about it. it was so much fun, and even though the weather took a turn for the bitter cold and windy, we still had some shoppers and had fun hanging out. will recap soon!

in the meantime, won't you enjoy some november tunes?

november mix

honey i'll try : emile miller

byegone : volcano choir

wild heart : bleachers

thinking out loud : ed sheeran

bleeding out : the lone bellow

wake me : bleachers

blue stockings : sea wolf

lights : phantogram

your head and your heart : the saint johns

angel in blue jeans : train

october mix

{photo credit: me}

hellooooo, october! you are the stuff of dreams. i have always loved this time of year. the drop in temps, the falling of leaves, crisp morning air, drinking hot beverages and not sweating like i do when i drink them in the summer. fall is everything good.

fall is especially perfect for aimless afternoon driving. get in yer car and cruise, baby. and what october drive would be complete without a rockstar playlist to accompany it? have no fear. the october playlist is here. it includes a one direction song. i never ever saw that coming in a hundred million years.

october mix

each year : ra ra riot

you : gold panda

in nothing : sea wolf

lost at sea : the great american canyon band

joy of nothing : foy vance

steal my girl : one direction

at home : crystal fighters

feels like we only go backwards : tame impala

ante up*** : ages and ages

cardiac arrest : bad suns


happy fall to you and yours.

september mix

{photo and design credit: me}

hello, all! happy labor day. my friend chelsea and i think the same about this holiday. it's our official herald of autumn. it allows us to breath a heavy sigh of relief that summer is on its way out the door and fall is charging through. it's kind of like "we did it!! we made it through summer without cutting all of our hair off and taking ice baths every day!"

today i am spending the day crafting, going to a durham bulls baseball game, reading, cleaning, shopping for jewelry supplies and hanging with my boy. what are your labor day plans? what's that? listening to rad tunes? aww yeah, i got you covered. 

september mix

american girl : tom petty and the heartbreakers

big light : houses

love natural : crystal fighters

while we go dancing : white rabbits

be the song : foy vance

human : the killers

cavalier : james vincent mcmorrow

on my knees : seryn

lay my body down : the great american canyon band

genesis : grimes

marchin on : onerepublic

hope : kopecky family band

overjoyed : bastille

happy september! get out there and find a leaf to crunch. 

august mix

{photo credit}

a new month already?! time, you're killing me. my roommate and i are heading down to southern pines to start our fun girls weekend. so looking forward to some quality time with my best ladies. hope you guys have a wonderful weekend doing whatever it is that's on your agenda!

august mix

plage : crystal fighters

cayucos : cayucas

all of the stars : ed sheeran

gratisfaction : the strokes

colours : grouplove

seaside : wake owl

in my arms : jon foreman

mercy : mr. little jeans

little bit : perrin lamb

geronimo : sheppard

love never felt so good : michael jackson and justin timberlake

july mix

{photo credit: me}

happy july! are you guys coordinating your plans for the 4th? i think we're going to play it low key and go to a baseball game and watch the fireworks after the game. i'm not feeling like battling huge crowds and traffic. i remember one year we went to watch fireworks at a local concert venue, and it took us close to two hours to get out of the parking lot afterwards. cue headache and road rage. but for some reason someone had a bucket of fried chicken in the trunk? so we ate it? the night was redeemed slightly.

let's get down to why we're really here. how about some tunes for these hot hot days? these songs will get you to and from the pool, no problem. put that sunblock on and your earbuds in and prepare to jam out. hey, summa! 

celeste : ezra vine

sideways : citizen cope

coming home : pete kilpatrick band

wild heart : great american canyon band

let me in : grouplove

some surprise : the cake sale

the garden you planted : sea wolf

noble heart : phox (seeing them play in chapel hill this month!)

without words : ray lamontagne

think of me : rose golan

wrap your arms around me : gareth dunlop

happy july!

june mix

{photo credit}

hey, babes. it's still spring, but it feels like summa summa summatime. every year i am determined to get through summer with a smile on my face. i somehow think i am going to start magically liking it. i think "this year will be different. i will not have to wipe sweat from my brow when i walk from my apartment to my car." and every year i am DEAD WRONG. but it's ok because i just got the cutest maxi dress from target, and when i feel sad about the dog days of summer, i will pull my dress out and put it on. in my air conditioned apartment.

let's do this thing with the music already.

june mix

runaway : mat kearney

black out days : phantogram

lady luck : pickwick

do : young man

saint catherine st. : sea wolf

slow motion : phox

feels like coming home : jetta

time to run : lord huron

where the spirit left us : okkervil river

lay your cards out : polica


happy june tunes!

may mix

{photo credit: me}

happy may! this month is already off to a good start. the weather has been an absolute dream. right now i've got my porch door open wide and the cool breeze is running through my apartment. it is so refreshing and welcome after the long winter months. this month means outdoor concerts, a camping trip with my boy, a girls' weekend with my besties, time beside the pool, and hopefully some durham bulls baseball games. the dreaded humidity of summer will be upon us soon. let's enjoy this beautiful spring weather as long as we can!

may mix

wildfire : john mayer

hey mami : sylvan esso

i wanna go : summer heart

tree to grow : the lone bellow

wild country : wake owl

advanced falconry : mutual benefit

robbers : the 1975

another love : tom odell

semi-automatic : twenty one pilots

the struggle : grizfolk

the heart ; needtobreathe

fall in love : phantogram

happy listening!

april mix

{photo credit and graphic text: me}

slowly but surely spring is creeping in. the weather is still fluctuating a bit, but i think it's safe to say that the worst of winter is behind us. (fingers crossed). i was in charleston this past weekend for the cooper river bridge run, and the weather was an absolute dream. beautiful blue skies and warm sun. how's about we listen to some happy tunes in celebration of the warmer temps? yay, spring! 

april mix

girl named tennessee : needtobreathe

heart beats : johnnyswim

from eden : hozier

colors : grace potter and the nocturnals

get gone : white arrows

only love : ben howard

screen : twenty one pilots 

waves that rolled you under : young summer

from nowhere : dan croll

a little opus : little comets

green eyes and a heart of gold : lone bellow

come a little closer : coasts

hymn #35 : joe pug

boogie children (saturn day night) : shawn lee

fade and then return : william fitzsimmons

happy spring!

march mix

{photo credit: me}

hey, kids! our interet was fixed just in the nick of time for a fresh new monthly mix. march is my birthday month, so my "theme" is basically just songs i like. not so much a theme as it is an eclectic mix of random tunes. but i think that might just work out in everyone's favor!

sunday afternoon started the beginning of my birthday celebrating as i shared caramel lattes and a thick slice of chocolate cake with my dad at one of my favorite coffee shops. it was such a sweet time of catching up with him. he's a pretty cool guy with lots of wisdom to share so we always have good talks. and he also gave me his old surfboard and a bunch of really great camping gear. um, YES. i'm already planning beach trips and mountain weekends. oh, do i know how to surf you ask? that would be a big fat no. do i want to learn? yes, and now i'm basically 90% there. the hardest part is obtaining a board, right? thank you, dad!

march mix

you are enough : sleeping at last

wake up : the arcade fire

the run and go : twenty one pilots

put a light on : generationals

southern sun : boy & bear

stay alive : jose gonzalez

hey pretty girl : kip moore

ghost : sir sly

crystallized : young the giant

bright whites : kishi bashi

celebrate nothing : phantogram

just and just as : penny and sparrow

good : dave barnes

i hope this gets to you : the daylights (feat. sleigh bells)

psychasthenia : william fitzsimmons

dead in your head : bleached

(look for the music player along the side bar)


happy listening and happy march!

february mix

{photo credit}

happy february! every month when i curate my mixes, i try to pick a theme to base my playlists around. it usually tends to be whatever major holiday is happening that month, but that can be challenging because, really, how many songs are there about st. patrick's day? if there isn't a holiday to build a list around, my "themes" get really subtle and subjective: "i'm feeling happy about the bagel i ate this morning. this will make a great playlist theme." (it doesn't.)

since i am a big valentine's day fan, this month is one of my favorites to put together. however, unlike past february mixes, this playlist is a mixed bag. i usually do all lovey dovey songs, but i've realized that's not totally fair nor is it even the case for many people. i love a good love song as much as the next person, (boy, do i love them) but there is good and deep therapy in songs about heartbreak. having gone through a breakup myself last year, i know the tug of war that goes on between your mind and your heart when a relationship ends. it's hard and painful and lonely, and sometimes only a song can nail exactly what you're feeling. seriously, music is therapy.

also, i realize there are plenty of people out there who are neither in giddy love nor grief stricken with a broken heart. there are songs on this playlist for ya'll. i try to cover all my bases. all in a blogger's day's work.

pssst: look along my sidebar for the music player to listen to this playlist in its entirety. i've always just assumed you knew it was there but never actually mentioned it. but you guys are smart. hopefully you've figured it out before now.

february mix

step out : jose gonzalez

kiss me : ed sheeran

more time : needtobreathe

dreaming with a broken heart : john mayer

chocolate : the 1975

sea of love : the national

your firefly : ben cocks

wild heart : great american canyon band

tessellate : alt-j

hold on when you get love and let go when you give it : stars

beautiful war : kings of leon

you are goodbye : holly conlan

brother : matt corby

tell your heart heads up : mute math

who you love : john mayer feat. katy perry


happy listening!

january mix

{photo credit}

music is my jam. literally. do i play an instrument? newp. but i can clap my hands to the beat of any song, and i sing a lot at my desk at work. just honing the skills that i do have, people. honing the skills. another thing that i can do really well? listen to good music. here. you can haz a listen.


january mix

manhattan : cat power

xo : beyonce

young blood : birdy

give me love (new machine remix) : ed sheeran

everywhere : crystal fighters

something's gotta give : onerepublic

holding onto you : twenty one pilots

isjaki : sigur ros

a tout a l'heure : bibio

alive : empire of the sun

give up : half moon run

let's fall asleep together : teen daze

song for zula : phosphorescent

step : vampire weekend

pumpin blood : nonono


have any music suggestions? i'd love to hear!

december mix

{photo credit}

what to do the day after your european vacation:

1. wake up at 4:30 am because you're still on england time 

2. catch up on theskimm and nextdraft

3. roll out of bed at 6:30 to make coffee

4. put together the best mix of the year

kids! it's december. you know what this means, right? this is the month for eating obscene amounts of food and candy and eggnog and nobody can say anything to you because christmas. there is logic in there somewhere. let me know if you find it before i do. 

i just got home from a lovely week of vacation in cambridge, england. my friends and i had an absolute blast, but now i am in a deep depression because north carolina doesn't seem nearly as exciting in comparison to cambridge's lovely walking streets and gorgeous views and beautiful architecture. (durham, i love you. i'm just going through the seven stages of coping).  

let's turn this frown upside down with some festive holiday tunes, shall we?

joy to the world, the Lord is come!

* december mix *

joy to the world : david archuleta

jinglebell rock : arcade fire

merry christmas baby : otis redding

marshmallow world : darlene love

o come all ye faithful : casting crowns

it's christmas! let's be glad! : sufjan stevens

let it snow! let it snow! let it snow! : ella fitzgerald

christmas lights : coldplay

baby, it's cold outside : louis armstrong

snow : sleeping at last

here comes santa claus : elvis presley

come thou long expected jesus : fernando ortega

angels we have heard on high : seabird

please come home for christmas : the eagles

have yourself a merry little christmas : andrew belle

christmas (baby please come home) : the oceanauts

silent night, holy night : faith hill


let us rejoice this christmas season! 

november mix

{photo credit}

it's been a long time since i've posted a new monthly mix on the 1st of the new month. i think my record was like the 18th once? small victories.

this month i'm anticipating two big events-one sad, one happy. on the 23rd, my dear roommate of four years is moving across the pond to jolly old england. how dare she, right? she's supposed to live with me forever and ever. i mean. we talked about this. 

fortunately, three days later i will be boarding a plane to join her in cambridge for a week of vacation. this is going to give me emotional whiplash. sad! happy! crying basket case! laughing like a maniac! it should provide some great blog post inspirations. 

i'm already getting sad thinking about her leaving. let's distract ourselves with some music. ok.

you will notice a slight country theme this month. over the years, my roommate has converted me to country music, and i've introduced her to lots of "weird indie bands". i think of her when i hear certain country songs. they will carry me through the dark times once she's gone.

november mix

i need my girl : the national

light it up : one republic

soon as you can : dierks bentley

we are golden : black light dinner party

kids : mikky ekko

nedding/getting : ok go

mine would be you : blake shelton

young blood : the naked and famous

 what's wrong with your eyes : sin fang

downtown : lady antebellum

bad blood : bastille

tongues (feat KOPPS) : joywave

state of grace : taylor swift

afraid : the neighbourhood


happy listening! what's on your music rotation?

october mix

{photo credit}

dear october, 

i have a good feeling about you. you have already brought a few beautiful, chilly mornings to my zip code, and that alone makes me want to throw my arms around your neck. 

october mix

out of my league : fitz and the tantrums

all day and all of the night : the kinks

by your side : beachwood sparks

elevate : st. lucia

girls : beyonce

i should live in salt : the national

we've got tonight : phillip phillips

thickfreakness : the black keys

move : pacific air

great escape : washed out

lover's game : geographer

october, show me how you do that trick. the one that changes leaves from green to red. the one that brings a snap to the air. show me how you do it? and i promise you, i promise that i'll run away with you. 

september mix

{photo credit}

hello, september! i just got a little thrill from writing that. september. that word just rolls off my keyboard. 

september is a big deal. and i don't mean because the pumpkin spice latte is back. which is pretty cool if you're into that sort of thing. pumpkin flavors and steamed milk and whipped cream and all that nonsense. (just messing, i'm into it). 

september is a big deal because this means that i have won the war. i have made it through summer. i have sweated and melted and withered my way through the dark months of humidity. i have submerged myself in enough pools and sat in enough cool, dark movie theaters and waited out enough days in my frigid apartment and now, like a miracle from on high, september is here. 

it's still pretty toasty, but we have had some beautiful glimpses of the upcoming season. on a few mornings, i have walked out to my car and felt a cool breeze. heavens above, a breeze! 

and i even wore a sweatshirt outside last night. well, i put on a lightweight, 3/4 sleeve sweatshirt, and i sat on my porch very still after the sun had set. but it still counts. 

oh, september. i could just burst. but instead i will settle for music. 

here's to you, beginning of fall! here's to you. 

september mix

skip the charades : cold war kids

love don't go : the family crest

as i am : paper bird

don't give up : way yes

bravado : lorde

red hands : walk off the earth

i think i like you : david ramirez

nuvole bianche : ludovico einaudi

to build a home : the cinematic orchestra

i want you so bad : OK go


happy september!

august mix

{photo credit}

“life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.”

soren kierkegaard


* august mix *

summer in the city : the lovin' spoonful

try : pink

mine is yours : cold war kids

wings of summer : michael holborn

notion : kings of leon

sweater weather : the neighborhood

 wagon wheel : old crow medicine show

promises : nero

brother : lord huron

lex : ratatat

house of cards : radiohead



happy listening!

june mix

{photo credit}

happy middle of june! my gift to you? this mix. better 15 days late than never. unless you hate this mix and then you're probably hoping that i hadn't given you this gift at all. because now you have to fake smile and fake smiling is right up there with paper cuts. 

* june mix *

jamaica : theme park

losing you : solange

can't hold us : macklemore

buffalo : alt-J

mercury : moon taxi

you are mine : mutemath

crystal clear : chancellor warhol

traffic in the sky : jack johnson

oceangold : riley and the roxies

milk crisis : the go! team

atlas : fanfarlo


happy june!

may mix

{photo credit}

is it spring or is it winter? i was outside yesterday morning at a volunteer event freezing my butt off. silly me. i guess i should have known to bring a parka with me, too. 

as weird as it may sound, this weather is fine with me and can stay as long as it would like. i'm dreading the humidity that defines summers in north carolina. it's now a habit of mine to check the 10 day forecast with my fingers crossed hoping that i won't see anything above 85 degrees. 

but you know what i don't mind? making a new playlist for the fabulous month of may. get at me, good tunes. 

*may mix*

this too shall pass : ok go

can you tell : ra ra riot

grammy : purity ring

always again : maigret jar

wilderness king : kith & kell

tokyo : imagine dragons

forever reign : hillsong

make it better : the knocks

from nowhere : dan croll

wonder : naughty boy

the wave : miike snow

promises : nero

one-day reckoning song (wankelmut remix) : asaf avidan

lullabies : yuna


i just checked weather.com and it looks like i'll be in a good mood for at least the next 10 days. (nothing over 83!) who knows what day 11 will hold. i'll check tomorrow with crossed fingers.