Music Monday: Ludovico Einaudi - Nuvole Bianche + Blog Awards!

The first thing on the agenda is to thank Alexis for the awesomesauce blog awards below:



Now I'm supposed to find seven interesting facts about me, so here goes. Bear with my sleep deprived brain for a sec. *laughs*

1) My coffee drink of choice generally includes five, that's right - FIVE, shots of espresso. Usually peppermint white mocha or hazelnut. I actually have one in my hand at this very moment. *grins*

2) I am a complete night owl. Unless I'm severely exhausted, I can't seem to get myself in bed before midnight. I give new meaning to the term "burning the midnight oil". *laughs*

3) I have recently finished my first full length manuscript, which in a few weeks' time, will hopefully be turned from the vortex-inducing pile of heartfail to something shiny and pretty for eventual submission to agents.

4) Music is my soul. No, literally. I can't do ANYTHING without it. Write, work, drive, eat, even watch TV. I know, strange being I am. *laughs*

5) I have two of the awesomest critique partners and one very irreplaceable BFF/beta reader who are solely responsible for getting me to pull my shit together when I thought I couldn't write anymore.

6) I've recently become obsessed with zombies. I drop everything I'm doing just to watch an episode of The Walking Dead. #truestory I blame my husband. *laughs*

7) I can fully and efficiently function on two hours of sleep. How's that for insomniac power? *grins*

Passing this along to seven of my favorite blogs in no particular order:

1) Lori - You Are The Unicorn Of My Dreams
2) Corinne - Ode To Blogging
3) Sophia - Sophia The Writer
4) Krispy and Alz - A Nudge In The Right Direction
5) Jess - Jest Kept Secret
6) Jon - JonYang.org
7) Jeigh - WriterBrained

Go stalk, *ahem* I mean, visit them and see what makes them so stalkable awesome!

Our music selection for this week is a new favorite of mine. No lyrics; just a full 5 minutes and 59 seconds of piano lovefest. Enjoy!

Ludovico Einaudi - Nuvole Bianche


And now for our regularly scheduled pretty...

Music Monday: Nice Guys - nigahiga

I haven't posted in a few...life's just been throwing me a bumload of stuff that I had to deal with. But I thought for today's Music Monday, I'd give everyone a supreme funny that I found on YouTube. Nigahiga was a channel I found via my brother (who's one of the most awesome people on this PLANET, but I may be biased) and the video is basically a parody on nice guys vs douchebags. Featured in the vid are Ryan Higa, Kev Jumba, Chester See, Dtrix, Cathy Nguyen, and Kina Grannis. If you like what you see, subscribe to their channels below.

Ryan Higa - nigahiga
Kev Jumba - kevjumba
Chester See - chestersee
Dtrix (Dominic from SYTYCD) - thedominicshow
Cathy Nguyen - lilcdawg
Kina Grannis - kinagrannis

Nice Guys - nigahiga version


And now for our regularly scheduled pretty...

Music Monday: AJ Rafael - Without You + Contest Reminder!

Today's Music Monday selection is something that is near and dear to my heart. One, because the artist is YouTube sensation and fellow Filipino AJ Rafael, and two, because the video is something that hits close to home. The song describes a want, no a need, so badly to be with that one person that going on without them would be an impossible feat. The video depicts a couple who is going through the five stages of grief as they learn to cope with the circumstances surrounding her illness and the toll it takes on their relationship. It's a touching video and I ended up bawling as I watched it. I still get teary just listening to the song, the images something I just can't get out of my mind.

It has fast become one of my favorite songs and I hope you enjoy it as well! *grins*

**REMINDER** There's still time to enter my blog contest that ends FRIDAY, AUGUST 12TH. SEE PREVIOUS POST HERE. Come stop by for a chance to win a gift card from either iTunes or Amazon! **WHOO HOO**

AJ Rafael - Without You


Lyrics
Bucket full of tears
Baby know I’m here
I’m here waiting

Close your precious eyes
And just realize
I’m still fighting

For you to be with me
Sit under this tree
And we can watch the sunrise
(We can watch the sunrise)

Wake up, feel the air that I’m breathing
I can’t explain this feeling that I’m feeling
I won’t go another day without you

I know it feels
Like no ones around
But baby you're wrong
Just get rid of the fear
Promise that I’m here
I’ll never be gone

So baby come with me
We can fly away and we can watch the
Stars shine

And baby you can be my love

Wake up, feel the air that I’m breathing
I can’t explain this feeling that I’m feeling
I won’t go another day without you (without you)
Hold on, I promise it gets brighter
When it rains, I’ll hold you even tighter
I won’t go another day without you (without you)

This is me tonight
There's no more games and no more lies
And I know it's right
'Cause of the way you look into my eyes
And when I hold you tight
The worries disappear, I’m glad you're in my life...

Wake up, feel the air that I’m breathing
I can’t explain this feeling that I’m feeling
I won’t go another day without you
Hold on, I promise it gets brighter
When it rains, I’ll hold you even tighter
I won’t go another day without you (without you)

And I won't go another day without you...

And now for today's regularly-scheduled PRETTY...

Music Monday: Train - Marry Me (Rachel's Birthday Video)

Today's Music Monday might bring tears to your eyes. It sure did for me. A few months ago, I came across this video that renewed the belief I've always had that love can help us through the hardest of times.

There was some controversy surrounding this video because some people felt that while it was great that Kris made this heartfelt video for his wife, that it should have been something that was kept a private thing.

I disagree.

I think that there are so many things in the world that show violence, hatred, and pain, that making something to show someone they are loved and appreciated is something we all need to see every once in a while.

I don't see a man who was out to cash in on his circumstances, or someone who wanted to exploit anything. I see someone who is grateful to have someone by his side and isn't afraid to show that he feels that way.

The video is set to Train's Marry Me. I hope it touches your life the way it has touched mine. :D
Train - Marry Me

Music Monday: Jason Chen and Joseph Vincent - Hold My Hand Cover

Every once in a while I come across that one song that makes me all swoony with the lyrics and the melody. This song has that, but a little more. It was originally a song by the late and great Michael Jackson featuring Akon, but I have to say this cover takes the cake. Also, there is some nommy eye candy with smooth, squee-worthy voices that help too.

Jason Chen and Joseph Vincent - Hold My Hand (Michael Jackson and Akon Cover)


Do you YouTube and what are some of your favorite videos so far?

And now for our daily eye candy:

Tunes Tuesday: The Fray - Look After You

In lieu of Music Monday, which so happened to fall on July 4th, I bring you Tunes Tuesday. Just as musical, but one day late. *grins* Today's song of the day is Look After You by The Fray just because it's one of my favorite songs as of late.

The song is a bit melancholy, but the lyrics are amazing. See for yourself...

The Fray - Look After You



Lyrics
If I don't say this now I will surely break
As I'm leaving the one I want to take
Forgive the urgency but hurry up and wait
My heart has started to separate

Oh, oh, oh
Be my baby
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
I'll look after you

There now, steady love, so few come and don't go
Will you, won't you be the one I always know?
When I'm losing my control, the city spins around
You're the only one who knows, you slow it down

Oh, oh, oh
Be my baby
Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
I'll look after you

If ever there was a doubt
My love she leans into me
This most assuredly counts
She says most assuredly

Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Be my baby
I'll look after you

It's always have and never hold
You've begun to feel like home
What's mine is yours to leave or take
What's mine is yours to make your own

Oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh
Be my baby
Oh, oh, oh

What's got your music groove on today? ;)

Music Monday: Linkin Park - New Divide

I've seriously been lagging at this whole keeping up the blog thing, so I thought what could be better than having a themed post three times a week? *lightbulb* Starting off this week will be Music Monday and the first song I've picked is one near and dear to my heart.

This has literally been one of the songs playing on loop in my iPod because it so perfectly describes the mood I want to set within the current WIP I'm working on.

Linkin Park - New Divide


Lyrics
I remembered black skies
The lightning all around me
I remembered each flash
As time began to blur
Like a startling sign
That fate had finally found me
And your voice was all I heard
That I get what I deserve

So give me reason
To prove me wrong
To wash this memory clean
Let the floods cross
The distance in your eyes
Give me reason
To fill this hole
Connect the space between
Let it be enough to reach the truth that lies
Across this new divide

There was nothing inside
The memories left abandoned
There was nowhere to hide
The ashes fell like snow
And the ground caved in
Between where we were standing
And your voice was all I heard
That I get what I deserve

So give me reason
To prove me wrong
To wash this memory clean
Let the floods cross
The distance in your eyes
Across this new divide

In every loss, in every lie
In every truth that you deny
And each regret and each goodbye
Was a mistake too great to hide
And your voice was all I heard
That I get what I deserve

So give me reason
To prove me wrong
To wash this memory clean
Let the floods cross
The distance in your eyes
Give me reason
To fill this hole
Connect the space between
Let it be enough to reach the truth that lies
Across this new divide
Across this new divide
Across this new divide

What are some of your favorite songs to write to and why?