The Best Day Ever

There are certain people out there who have a spontaneity about them, that every time you're around them you're bound to have a great time. That is my best friend from high school, Suzanne Cox, in a nut shell. She is one of the only people I know who just does whatever she wants, and I love it. Some of the best times of my life have been with her. No matter how long we go without seeing each other, we pick right back up where we started. Well, Suzanne moved to San Francisco from San Diego recently so I decided to visit her for a weekend while I was home on winter break. And what do you know, I had one of the best nights I've had in a long time. I've always loved the city, but I fell even more in love after this weekend. While I was growing up, I'd go to the city with my parents for some pretty incredible dinners or to see the typical tourist side of San Francisco. However, I got to see a different side of the city this past week, and now I'm actually thinking of applying to a few companies in San Francisco after I graduate. Who would have thought? If you want to have one of the best days of your life, read below:

Saturday we woke up and went to a great restaurant in the mission called Lolo's. If you want a mean sangria and uniquely authentic Mexican food with a flare, check it out. The waiters even comped our dessert. Which made their mini ice cream sandwiches drizzled with warm chocolate even more worth it.

One of the things I love most about San Francisco is how many amazing "hole in the walls" you can discover. After lunch we were driving and saw the cutest coffee shop I have ever seen called Stable Cafe. It just so happened they had a "pie pop up" going on outside the cafe where they had fresh baked pies for sale. We got the BEST slice of key lime pie i've ever had in my life.

After stuffing myself with sangria, tacos, and key lime pie we decided to walk it off and get a little culture. We went to the San Francisco Modern Art Museum, which was unbelievable. We saw artists from Picasso to Matisse to Warhol. It was quite humbling. There are so many different museums in the city, but if you must chose one, SFMOMA should be at the top of your list.

Suzanne posing with a Picasso 

 After the museum, we weren't quite ready to go back yet so we went to the Top Of The Mark at the Mark Hopkins hotel for cocktails. The Mark Hopkins is one of the finest historic San Francisco luxury hotels. It was built in 1926, and when you go inside you feel as if you've teleported back to the 20's. That is another great thing about the city of San Francisco, the history. You turn a corner or walk into a building, and you feel as if you've gone back in time. Whether it is the late 60's on Haight street, or a glamorous evening in the 20's at the Mark Hopkins, San Francisco can give you a taste of history. Top Of The Mark has one of the best views in the city. We got a glass of champagne, soaked in the beauty of the city, and pretended we were Bette Davis for a few moments.

And the night hadn't even started. Later that night Suzanne took me to one of the best restaurants I've ever been to. Not to brag, but I've been to some pretty damn good restaurants. I grew up with a father who loves fine food and the art of a tasting menu, so I know good food when I have it. If you're ever in San Francisco, go to Nopa. Their usually booked out a month or two for reservations but they have community seating and a large bar with phenomenal cocktails, which makes the wait very enjoyable. We started out with warm goat cheese with kiwi and asian pear on crostinis, next we got poached farm egg, tasso spiced ham, and sherry onions with frisée and celery root, we then got
flatbread of spicy fennel sausage, romesco, arugula and crescenz. Throw in a few fresh squeezed cucumber lime cocktails, an IPA, and some veggies for good health and you have yourself a meal. Top 5 meals and cocktails of my life without a doubt. I would recommend it to anyone. 

After our amazing dinner, we made our way over to The Independent to see the band Imagine Dragons. Along with my expertise in food, I've also seen a lot of live shows. Maybe it was thoughs cucumber lime cocktails that got me, but Imagine Dragons was not only one of the best bands I've seen perform live, but the most fun. The Independent is the perfect size venue, to where you don't have any wannabee punk rock preteens stepping on your feet or getting hit in the face in a mosh pit. I danced for over 2 hours straight, looked like an idiot, and had an amazing time. Check out my upcoming blog post on some of my favorite songs by Imagine Dragons. 

We met some people from Cornell University at the venue who were really great, and continued our fun at Madrone Art Bar. It was Michael Jackson and Prince remix night, so things got pretty crazy. Suzanne told me that Madrone often has a "Smiths Remix" night where a DJ comes who remixes a bunch of songs from The Smiths. I'd die to see this.

Us and MJ

 I had a pretty bad hangover the next morning, but memories that were well worth it. If you haven't been to San Francisco yet, go. It can change your life, and you may just have the best day ever.

(Insert Cliche 2013 Quote Here)

So you're probably thinking, "Oh great. Another cliche 'this is my year!' post about how you're going to lose 10 pounds and 'live, laugh, and love' through life." Well I can be cliche, but I promise I'm not that bad. Actually, I'm scared as hell for 2013. I have a semester left of college, I have to get a big girl JOB, and I won't have my lovely father putting money in my account every month. Well shit, 2013 sucks already. Ha, I'm kidding...but not really. So yeah, I'm a little scared. But I'm also insanely excited. I've had this winter break to kind of prepare myself mentally for the job search in the coming months. Thankfully, I'm confident enough in my self and have the self motivation to not give up until I get a job, and hopefully get one I love. I decided I'm going to stay in Dallas for a few more years. I'm not ready to leave Texas yet. I know I'd always wonder what would have happened if I left.  Love ya California, but this is something I just know I need to do. So..back to this 2013 issue. I think with each year, good and bad things happen to us. Take 2012 for instance. I can sit here and say that it has been the best year of my life so far. However, it wasn't sweet bliss the whole year through. Shit happens. So in 2013, I'm just going to go out there and try my hardest. As cliche as it sounds, I really am planning on embracing every single moment of my last semester of college. And when it comes to jobs, I'm handing my anxiety and worry over to God and I'm just going to make it happen. I'll figure it out, we always somehow do. So cheers people, here is to 2013; the good, the bad, the ugly, and the fabulous. Let's do this.

Oh and here is one of my favorite songs to start your year off right:

Can You Tell- Ra Ra Riots

Must See Movie: Silver Linings Playbook

I saw Silver Linings Playbook a few weeks ago, and I haven't been able to get it out of my head. For that fact alone, this movie deserves to win an Oscar, sorry Les Miserables. There are very few movies out there that make you think more after seeing them, and that is what makes this movie so great. David O. Russell, the director of another one of my favorite films, The Fighter, has a way of capturing his characters in such a real and relatable light to his audiences. In each of his characters, the audience is able to see someone they know. The movie is about a man who catches his wife cheating on him, and beats the man almost to death. Instead of prison time, he is ordered to spend time in a mental institution and is diagnosed as bipolar. After his mother brings him home from the hospital, an unexpected love story unravels. Although the story line seems "heavy," I actually found myself laughing more than crying. What I love most about the movie was the ending. I won't spoil it for anyone, but it reminds us that all of us are a little crazy. Yes, some more than others, but we all are nuts whether we admit it or not. Sometimes life won't go as planned, but no matter what, there will always be a silver lining. Now go see it...

Artist of the Day: Broken Bells

For all you indie lovers out there, say hello to Broken Bells. What I love most about this American indie rock band is that each of their songs are unique and has it's own sound. It is hard to come across bands like that anymore. The High Road, The Ghost Inside, and October are three of my favorite songs. Click below to listen.

The High Road- Broken Bells

                                                      The Ghost Inside- Broken Bells

                                                            October- Broken Bells

Artist of the Day: Big Boi (New Album: Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors)

Big Boi's new solo album "Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors" will be released on December 11, 2012. I've been able to get a little sneak peek of this album, and all I have to say is: pure gold. Previous member of OutKast, Big Boi, is one of the few rappers today that I still listen to. Make sure to get his new album next week..you won't regret it. Check out the song above:

She Hates Me- Big Boi ft. Kid Cudi 

4 Songs To Get You Through Finals Alive

So my computer fell off my sink a few nights ago, which caused my hard-drive to completely crash. It wouldn't have been too big of a deal other than I lost a 15 page paper due the next day. I had a major panic attack and wallowed in my own self pity for awhile, but then I realized I had to get over it. My fault for having my $1200 laptop sitting on the side of my sink while getting ready. It's life. For awhile I thought my life was over. I lost all my music, all my documents, everything. Then I realized something: If the worst thing to happen to me this year is having my hard-drive crash, I'm a very lucky person with a lot to be thankful for. So you know what I did? Sat my ass down in the library, put on my head phones and re-wrote my paper. I discovered these 4 songs in the process, and have to say, they made rewriting that paper a whole lot easier. Hope they bring you as much joy as they brought me. Happy finals week yall.

1. Shooting Stars- Bag Raiders

2. Come Together- PNAU

3. Beat Connection- The Palace Garden

4. Tennis- Origins

Song of the Day: SBTRKT-Hold on

This song is by no means new, but it somehow just came onto my radar. SBTRKT first started as a DJ in East London clubs and has now remixed songs for artists such as M.I.A, Radiohead, and Basement Jaxx. I've had this song on repeat all day. Perfect song to get you through upcoming finals week ahead. Look into his other songs on iTunes.

Song Of The Day: Disclosure- Latch Feat. Sam Smith

I may have an unhealthy obsession with this song. It may have become a little "mainstream" by now, but it is definitely worthy of a post. This is a song that needs to be added to everyone's playlist. Enjoy it.

Artist of The Day: John Legend

In a desperate attempt to find something to distract me from doing school work, I decided to go through my entire iTunes library. Upon doing so, I rediscovered one of the best albums in the history of music, John Legends "Once Again" album. Pure brilliance. This my friends is real music. You can listen to the entire album here: http://www.last.fm/music/John+Legend/Once+Again and make sure to check out a few of my favorite songs by Mr.Legend listed below. Pour yourself a glass of wine, get a good book, and just sit back and listen. This is an artist I need to add to my list of artists I need to see.

"Where Did My Baby Go?"-John Legend

"Slow Dance"-John Legend

"Coming Home"-John Legend

Artist of The Day: Ellie Goulding

Ellie Goulding rose to fame from her songs "Lights" and "Starry Eyed" that were released last year. This is a perfect example of a great artist that became quickly over played on the radio. She was good, but her songs got a little too repetitive for me. Well, I might be biting my tongue now because Goulding's album "Halcyon" was released at the beginning of October, and I can not stop playing it. Here are two of my favorite songs from the album: "Anything Could Happen" and "Only You." Great talent from this English songwriter.

Song of The Day: Electric Guest- American Daydream herr vogel remix

Enjoy this. 

SNOWGLOBE 2012 LINEUP

I went to SnowGlobe last year as a last minute thing for New Years Eve, and ended up having the time of my life. Well, the SnowGlobe 2012 lineup just came out, and I can not be more thrilled. Wiz Khalifa alone would fulfill my New Years Eve, but throw Big Gigantic, Boombox, Zion I and recently featured artist on TheRealShit, CHERUB into the mix and you're guaranteed a weekend to remember. Hope to see you there friends.

Song Of The Day: Doses & Mimosas-Cherub

 I think I may have found my new favorite duo on the scene and their called Cherub. They describe themselves as "a sexy, avant-garde, electro-pop duo that is the dance love-child of 80’s funk, and pop-music from the future." The members of Cherub, Jordan Kelley and Jason Huber, share a love for honest original music and vibrant live performance, with a common goal to share a little bit of sex, a little bit of drugs, and a whole lot of love with people across the globe. I'm not sure about the sex and drugs part, but I'm pretty sure they've got something great here.

Check out there song: Doses & Mimosas

Songs Of The Day: NEW RAC REMIXES..YESSS.

Why Even Try-Theophilus London (RAC mix). Could be the best remix of a song i've heard in awhile. 

Two Hours-Theme Park (RAC Mix) Lovin this jam.

Part Of Me- Katy Perry (RAC Mix). Katy Perry was one of our biggest artist this summer at Capitol, so to say I have heard "Part Of Me" at least 100 times would be an understatement. However, when I heard this RAC mix I didn't want to stop listening. They are great at putting a different spin on songs that can be seen as any other overly played pop song.

Song Of The Day: Daydream(Noah Hyde Remix)-Youth Lagoon/ Noah Hyde

Daydream (Noah Hyde Remix)-Youth Lagoon. Enjoy.