"Dude, your mom has the best playlist!" – Wellesley College Student
February 4, 2018
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my beautiful and amazing daughter!
I remember this day – 22 years ago – like it was yesterday. Cassidy made me a mom and the moment she was put in my arms … I fell instantly in love! Hard to believe that was 22 years ago today! Happy Birthday to my sunshine girl. Double 2s today!! I love you to the moon and back! ❤
Hey, I don’t know about you … 🙂
January 16, 2018
I wanted to share this very cool cover by some incredible young artists and sisters – Lennon & Maisy. This song is originally by Coldplay and I always loved the song, but I have to admit that I am obsessed with this version. It is amazing!
Lennon & Maisy are sisters – ages 18 and 14, respectively. The duo were born in Ontario, Canada and come from a very musical family. The sisters are singers and songwriters and have been singing and playing numerous instruments all their lives. Music was their early passion and it seems that they were just born with this talent, having never taken any professional music lessons.
The pair seem to have such a sweet sister relationship and are absolutely adorable, plus they have the most incredible two-part harmony I have ever heard! I just love to watch them perform together. ❤
I have never watched the TV show, Nashville, but if you have you may recognize them.; they began appearing on the show in 2012. In addition to this song, you should definitely check out their cover of “Boom Clap” by Charli XCX.
November 10, 2017
* NEW SONG ALERT!*
This song was just released today by Mat Kearney, who is probably one of my very favorite artists. I absolutely love his music and his incredible, emotion-filled voice! This is a great new song and I thought I would share it quickly so you can check it out on the day of it’s release.
I have seen Mat Kearney live an amazing five times, and had the opportunity to meet him about five years ago in Dallas, Texas. He is such a great talent and just a fabulous guy … and I love his signature hats. 😉
I have been following him and his music since 2005 and always get excited when he releases something new. He has been known to combine all types of music, including rap, hip-hop, folk, rock, pop, and now a little electronic mix. I really like it and hope that you enjoy this new song. If you have not yet had the opportunity to see him perform live, I highly recommend it.
Meeting Mat Kearney – Dallas, Texas, September 2012
My collection of tour t-shirts. 🙂
October 16, 2017
If you have not heard this song yet, you must listen to it. I absolutely love this song!
The song, “Good Old Days,” is from Macklemore’s album Gemini which was just released on September 22, 2017.
The piano music in the song is beautiful and I find the rhythm soothing, yet incredibly catchy. I also find the rapping, mixed with the beautiful chorus and the piano, just a cool combo; but, even more than that, the lyrics to this song are incredible. Macklemore and Kesha wrote a fantastic song together.
I think this is one of those songs that all of us can relate to in some way. I challenge you to listen to this song and not have some sort of emotional response.
Turning 50 this year, I know that I certainly can relate. Getting older – watching my children grow up and watching my parents age – I think it strikes me more than ever that life is constantly moving forward. ALL the moments are the “good old days” and I have loved, and am loving, them all.
My favorite lyrics from the end of the song:
Never thought we’d get old, maybe we’re still young.May we always look back and think it was better than it was.
Maybe these are the moments,
Maybe I’ve been missing what it’s about.
Been scared of the future, thinking about the past
While missing out on now.
We’ve come so far.I guess I’m proud.
And I ain’t worried ’bout the wrinkles around my smile.
I’ve got some scars, I’ve been around.
I’ve felt some pain, I’ve seen some things, but I’m here now.
Those good old days.You don’t know, what you’ve got
‘Til it goes, ’til it’s gone.
You don’t know, what you’ve got
‘Til it goes, ’til it’s gone.I wish somebody would have told me then,
That some day these will be the good old days.
All the love you won’t forget
And all these reckless nights you won’t regret.
Someday soon your whole life’s gonna change,
You’ll miss the magic of these good old days.— Ben Haggerty (aka Macklemore) and Kesha Sebert
Photo from Macklemore concert in NYC in November 2013.
October 7, 2017
Here is a happy song for your weekend!
I have always been a fan of Mike Mains & The Branches, but it appears that he is no longer with The Branches. 😉 Three years ago I posted one of my favorite songs by them – “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright.” I have always found their music to be uplifting and fun. They are currently on tour and are coming to NYC this week. If I can get home in time … I will be there!
Not much to say today other than Be Happy and I hope things are going your way today. Happy weekend and enjoy the song!
February 10, 2015
I’m BAAAACK …
Well, I have to admit that I have probably set the record for the longest break from a “daily” blog post. Many of you probably wondered if I would ever return. To be honest, so did I! 🙂 Once you get out of a routine, it is sure hard to get back into it. If it had not been for the prodding of many people (including being given the assignment yesterday to “post on your blog!!” from my daughter), my break may have continued.
Life has been crazy and it amazes me that I have not posted in 3 months! It all started with my visit to China where I was without access to most of the internet pages that I needed – WordPress, YouTube, Facebook – and so I was not able to post. I returned home to the holidays, kids home from school, vacations, medical issues, and … here we are today.
So, I am taking the plunge and starting to write again. I have NOT taken a break from music over these last few months, so I still have a lot to share with you. Thanks for sticking with me and I hope this song let’s you know that I am still here and “I’m Good!”
I have posted songs by The Mowgli’s before and I love their sound. They are just so cool and their music makes me happy. This song really resonated with me – I love the beat and the lyrics are fantastic too. This is their new single from their upcoming album, Kids in Love. The single is available now and the album has an expected release date in early April. Enjoy!
November 3, 2014
Well, I am sorry, but I am jumping on the Taylor Swift bandwagon with today’s song. I honestly have been singing this song since the first time I heard the sneak preview on October 20 from Ryan Seacrest. I love the sound (very 80s) and it just seemed like the perfect theme song for my current life adventure.
Almost a month ago we got an apartment in NYC. As you know, we had some major life changes over the past few months and quite unexpectedly my husband and I became empty-nesters a couple of years earlier than anticipated. (We keep saying that we are either doing something very right … or something very wrong. My daughter left home at 16 to attend college, and then my son left home at 15 to attend a golf boarding school. Holy cow!) Anyway, I realized that the sudden change was going to be more than I could stomach. I just could not imagine myself sitting out in our big, quiet home all by myself. Moving into the city seemed like the perfect plan for a new adventure.
The minute I saw our apartment, I knew it was where I wanted to be. I love the view and I love being in the thick of the action.
I love New York City! I love the energy, I love the diversity, I love the chaos, I love the excitement, and, of course, I love the music. I guess that I would have to say I understand the thrill of the city that this song exudes.
I went to visit my son for his 16th birthday a few days before we were scheduled to move into the apartment and his first comment to me was, “Well, it sure didn’t take you long to replace me!” Ouch! Obviously he understood my reason for heading into the city was in part due to the loss of having him at home. He wasn’t far off, but as it turns out, it has been much more than that. My husband and I have been having a fabulous time. We are certainly enjoying this new adventure together even more than we thought we would. We still have not exactly figured out the logistics of our life, but I am sure that will come. 😉
Taylor Swift’s new album, 1989, was just released a week ago today and it was forecast to sell more than 1.3 million copies in that first week. Love her or hate her, I don’t think there is anyone who cannot admit that she is an amazing young lady – talented and a savvy business woman. I am a fan! Oh, but her song will not be on Not Your Mom’s Playlist Spotify playlist as she pulled all her music off Spotify today.
September 8, 2014
Well, I have survived my first few days of being an empty nester … an empty nester much too early! 🙂
Last week I dropped my son off at his new high school – a golf academy in South Carolina. I never thought that I would ever send one of my children away from home to a boarding school for high school, but here I am. It was a very quick decision and my emotions have been all over the place the last several weeks. I am sure if you look at the last few songs I have posted, you will be able to tell where my head has been. I really, really like my kids and I love to be with them, so how did I let one leave home at 16 for college and one leave at 15 for boarding school? What am I thinking?
I got home Thursday night and I woke up Friday and told myself that I had the day to be sad. So I listened to all the songs that would let me wallow in my sadness. Just to give you a quick idea of the emotional pit I was digging, the songs included: “Never Grow Up” by Taylor Swift, “Poems, Prayers and Promises” by John Denver, and “When I’m With You” by Ben Rector. That last one by Ben Rector has been on repeat for the last four days! If you don’t think music can impact your emotions, I challenge you to listen to those songs. A friend of mine told me on Friday, “…I think you are going to have to give yourself more than one day to be sad!” Obviously she is right, but I am certainly trying not to be actively sad.
I am happy to report that my son is very happy and the school seems to be a great fit for him. That makes me happy! I am very proud of him and the decision that he has made. I just know that I really miss him and the house sure seems empty without him here. I thought I would have him home with me for two more years, and just like that he is gone.
I love this song by Saint Raymond and I have been waiting for a day to post it. Saint Raymond is the stage name for Callum Burrows, a very young (only 19!) and talented, British singer-songwriter. Burrows is from Nottingham in the UK. He released his debut EP, Escapade, in early 2013 on Gabrielle Aplin’s (another of my favorite young British artists) Never Fade Records label; two more EPs followed in early 2014. I think we will be hearing much more from Saint Raymond – he has a fabulous sound with great harmonies, cool beats, and interesting lyrics. He is another new artist that has a sound reminiscent of the 80s. Even more exciting, he will be supporting one of my very favorites, Ed Sheeran, on his UK, Ireland, and European arena tour this fall. If there is something that will rocket Saint Raymond onto every playlist, that would be it! I know that you will like his sound.
I have to tell you that the video is the reason that I am posting this song today. It kind of feels like my life right now. Once you watch it, I am sure you will understand. Sometimes I don’t know if I am making the right decision, but when it comes down to it … I have to make a decision and jump. My kids have lived a life full of adventure, change, and challenge and they have risen to all of it. They have a very strong sense of self and embrace life to the fullest. So, how do you say “no” when they are ready for something that maybe I wasn’t ready for … the answer for me was ‘You Don’t.’ My heart is heavy right now, but what a ride as they chase their dreams and I dive in after them as we all enter the next new adventure.
August 29, 2014
With just a few minutes to post tonight, I wanted to give you a great song to help start off your weekend. This is a playful, cool song with a really fun beat.
This song is by Charli XCX (Charlotte Emma Aitchison), an English singer-songwriter who started writing songs at the age of 14. This song is on The Fault in Our Stars soundtrack – which, by the way, is an amazing soundtrack with an incredible list of songs and artists. (I have not yet seen the movie, but I absolutely loved the book.)
My son was playing the soundtrack earlier this week while we were driving in the car and this song just became one of my very favorites. I’m sure this “Boom Clap” will be the sound in my ears when my alarm goes off at 4am tomorrow morning! Yikes!
Have a great weekend!
August 25, 2014
I am finally getting around to posting again. It has been a very spotty summer for me with this blog. This is another one of those crazy weeks, but I really feel that it will be good for me to get back on track.
My daughter left for China yesterday. She is doing a semester abroad in Shanghai and it was so weird to ship her off until Christmas. Although she has been away from home for two years in college, it just feels so far away now! Life changes too quickly. This has been the first year where it has really hit me that my little girl is growing up. I already miss her and am so grateful for wifi and international texting because I am not sure I could bear not being able to chat with her.
On top of that, my son was offered a spot at a Golf Academy for high school. We visited the school this summer thinking that we were looking at it as a potential post-graduate year after high school and then, within a two-week time-frame, he decided to go away to school THIS year. I went from thinking I was going to have my son home with me for two more years, to having my son home with me for three short weeks. I can’t even begin to express how much I am going to miss my buddy.
So, talk about a busy summer – my emotions have been all over the place! Lots of big life changes. Who knew that by the ages of 15 and 18, both of my kids would be moving out of our home and changing my life so completely. Although life will be different for me, I am happy that both of my children are pursuing their dreams and experiencing so many exciting life adventures. Time for new adventures for me as well.
I am posting a song today by one of my favorite artists. I love Ben Rector! This song is from his 2013 album, The Walking In Between. Ben Rector writes incredible songs and totally captures “the moment.” This song makes me think of my family and this particular moment of ours. On Monday, we were all home together – a family of 4. By Tuesday morning, we had become 3, and in just a few more days … we will be 2. I love my family and being with them brings a purpose to my life that I never expected. Enjoy this fabulous song.
“When I’m with you, I’m who I want to be!”
