Tag: playlist

Happy TunesDay: Collection 37

Happy TunesDay: Collection 37

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This week’s set is an ode to womxn-led bands & duos whose vocal prowess never fails to make me sing loudly along in my car…or weep emotionally next to a pile of warm laundry. The laundry thing doesn’t happen as often as you’d think though.

Growing up, I always wished I had a super silky, smooth singing voice. Unfortunately, it’s always sounded like scratchy, tone-deaf mush. But, that doesn’t stop me from trying to harmonize with these bad-ass ladies in my car and shower…and in the kitchen while I microwave rice.

Who were/are your favorite womxn vocalists? I’m always looking for recommendations to add to my collection, and let me know your thoughts on this week’s set!

with love & beautiful musical vibes,
Christina

Happy TunesDay: Collection 36

Happy TunesDay: Collection 36

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For most, Labor Day weekend means an extra day off of our normal work week. But something about a jam-packed weekend also means a required wind-down session.

These tunes are some of my late-night go-to’s after long drives, intense heat, sore feet, and much needed rejuvenation.

Even though you’re (begrudgingly) back at your routine, let the recent memories of your fun-filled weekend fuel you until the next federally-mandated holiday…or until the US realizes that our work week is far. too. long.

Happy TunesDay: Collection 35

Happy TunesDay: Collection 35

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This week’s set of tunes is an ode to my best pal and my old tradition: Cafe Night.

Essentially, we would lay in our living room at night, turn off all the lights, open our curtains, and let the dim glow of street lamps settle in.  Then, we’d play a soothing set of Norah Jones, Geographer, Little Dragon, and other hip n’ happenin’ artists.

This version is a little more indie/alternative/r&b than our original Cafe Night playlists, but like most great things, some changes come over time, but it’s still just as poppin’ as before!

Whether or not you have dim mood lighting, I hope y’all listen to this week’s set and feel an overwhelming sense of calm.  Everyone deserves a Cafe Night once in a while. So start up these tunes and let the music do the work. You can work out your problems another day.

Cute background image comes from SabrinaAdventures.
Happy TunesDay: Collection 33

Happy TunesDay: Collection 33

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I have a problem keeping track of days. I can’t believe I almost let Tuesday pass me by without posting my TunesDay playlist.

Sorry y’all.  Your girl needs to put her TunesDay alerts back on her calendar.

My only excuse is that it is 93 degrees Fahrenheit outside and I am inside with a gnarly sore throat and stuffy nose…to the point where I think I have a headache because my nasal passages are preventing my body from gaining optimum oxygen levels.  It’s a real challenge.

But despite that, I can still put together a bumpin’ playlist!  Let’s just pretend I purposely held off on releasing this week’s playlist until 5:45PM so you could enjoy it on your sad, lengthy, frustrating-beyond-belief commute home.  Hopefully this helps turn your car/subway/bus/uber/walk into your own dance party.  You don’t need anyone’s permission except your own to let yo’ body do it’s thang.

Dance responsibly, friends.

TunesDay: Collection 30

TunesDay: Collection 30

by christina ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

This week is a relaxed sort of craze.  Being on your own schedule can be extremely liberating, but if you’re like me…you need some semblance of forced structure.

I’m trying this new thing to keep me focused. For me, being busy means running around everywhere for meetings, errands, and work sessions.  But, over the almost year that I’ve been on my own schedule, I haven’t gotten nearly as much done as I wish I have.

So, I guess that means I need an overhaul in how I’ve been sorting out my time. As my poppa says, I need to “buckle down” and get my stuff in order.

Essentially, what I’m saying is, if I call, text, email, Facebook message, LinkedIn inbox, or Twitter message you…ignore me. Or, make sure it’s on a weekend or not during typical 8-5PM work hours.  I beg of you…hold me accountable and don’t let me schedule meetings with you unless its for legitimate work! It’s beginning to be an actual problem.

I need to get my life together.  But, maybe this week’s tunes will help me destress. If you have any tips for how you schedule your time or if you experience similar difficulties in your freelance life, drop me a line.

Sending you all wishes of productivity and clarity!

TunesDay: Collection 29

TunesDay: Collection 29

by christina ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Oh, hey there!  TunesDay is back.

It’s been a minute.  But, I’m back and feeling…more focused.

It’s strange.  With the horrible things happening all over the world, and especially in the US, I’ve gained an incredible amount of clarity, with a smattering of hopelessness that subsided after a couple of days.

I have had great conversations with thoughtful and insightful people from all walks of life, and I am incredibly appreciative of how people are willing to give their time to just talk, with no pretense or no foreseen benefits for themselves.

Today, I am thankful–for you and for every person who challenges themselves and the people around them to truly think.  I am grateful that we are who we are because of our experiences and each person I have met (and/or reconnected with) over the past month in Costa Rica and back home in California, has had experiences that blow mine out of the water. And still, we come together and share and just…be.  And that is such a beautiful thing to me.

I’m not going to blame my emotionality on my menstrual cycle, but it definitely might have something to do with it.  Regardless, I love you and I like you and I am always, always wishing you peace and happiness.  May you find whatever it is that you need to keep on going in this world.

Background image from Julia Contacessi for Design Love Fest.
TunesDay: Collection 28

TunesDay: Collection 28

by christina ♥ 1 Comment

Sorry for skipping last week.  Disappointed in myself that I did, but I think I need a break from social media for a little while.

I can only say that I am tired, of waiting for change to happen, of being scared, of being outraged over the violence that consumes us.

I’m not as hopeful as I used to be, and I can only say that what I have written on my Facebook about the happenings of this past week is what I have to say for now.

I believe that I am lucky in a way to be leaving to Costa Rica to start the Birds of La Cangreja project because it will help to clear my head and figure out what role I can and should play in social justice movements and in fighting overall as an ally and as an activist.  But, my travels also comes at a bad time because it feels like to leave is to abandon the communities that need strength here at home.

Though I am torn, maybe because I have the privilege of being able to step away, I should so that I can return and be ready to really tackle the problems that seem so daunting and hopeless.

I have no answers and no real moral to the story or uplifting note to end this on.  I am just grateful in that I know there are so many dedicated and motivated, angry, beautiful, loving activists in the struggle–in the queer, Latinx, and Muslim communities who are holding it down.  I could only hope for an ounce of the strength they have, and do my part in calling our elected officials for gun restrictions, in calling out homophobia, Islamaphobia, anti-immigrant sentiments, and the other forms of oppressive hatred that plague this country.

With this, I hope to continue on with TunesDays upon my return.  I just need some space.

Wishing you all love, healing, and more strength.

Background image comes from The Debrief.
Happy TunesDay: Collection 27

Happy TunesDay: Collection 27

by christina ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

 

Sometimes you just need to sleep 12 hours, eat food you know isn’t the best for you, pet a cat, and spend time with people who you love and who love you.  Fight past your initial, cerebral worries that you aren’t doing what you should be doing, because maybe our needs and our cognitive “shoulds” don’t always match up.

Try as we might, not everything we do and not everyone we spend time with will be good for us or will help us “in the long run”.  But, I think that that’s okay.  We can’t always be moving forward–sometimes we have to take steps back in order to make our progression more meaningful.

And maybe the feeling of things ultimately working out and being okay can be attributed to my youth.  I feel like I have time on my side, though I know that life is unexpected and days move by much more quickly than I’d like.  At twenty-three, I think I’ve experienced quite a lot, and still nothing at all.  Despite so many forces working against me as a womxn and as a person of color, I am privileged in so many ways, and that’s probably another reason for my air of confidence in time.

Regardless of what it is, I’m sure that even in our crazed panic to get things done, we can accomplish a lot more if we take the time to consider what we really want or need each day.

I hope that this week’s playlist can help you do that.  Try to set aside ten or fifteen minutes for you to just think–not about the tasks you need to finish before 5PM rolls around, but about how your body and mind is feeling.  You also deserve the time and care you put into the things and people around you.  And if you want to start a new Netflix series instead of “being productive”, maybe you should do it, just this once.

Background daisy globe image comes from Pinterest.
Happy TunesDay: Collection 26

Happy TunesDay: Collection 26

by christina ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

This week, I’m trying to remember to be mindful of time, trying to take advantage of every moment I have and ensuring that each day is meaningful.  It’s kind of alarming when you remember how fast time can fly by.  It feels like 2016 just started, but I blinked and it’s almost halfway over.

Anyway, I’m trying to finish a bunch of home errands and organizing my physical realities before I get into my goals & aspirations.  I got a haircut yesterday and it’s interesting how something so arbitrary as your hair can weigh you down, not just physically, but mentally as well.  I feel like I am more free– to move about, pursue my real joys, and not stay stuck in my mind.  But again, I need to pace myself and take things a step at a time, something that’s very difficult for me.  Sometimes I feel like a baby kangaroo, wanting to hop about the world, but I know I’m not ready yet!

And now…to the tunes!

My tunesday picks for this week are alternative, mellow R&B/R&B-influenced vibes..  They relax me and help me reframe my brain when its moving too fast for me to keep up with.

What music helps you keep calm and gain clarity?

Background image comes from Cassie Byrnes.