Happy TunesDay: Collection 18

Happy TunesDay: Collection 18

Spring has officially sprung!

This week, I’m trying to keep busy as can be with research, scheduling interviews, and catching up on some reading.

With a new season, I’m feeling more focused and refreshed.  But maybe it’s also because I bought new natural face products from Lush. (Can I just say how much I love that store?  If they ever want to give me free things, I’m totally fine with that).

To keep my motivation going, this week’s playlist is packed with electro-pop fun.  I’m especially fond of track 3, Madeon ft. Passion Pit.  I forgot how much I enjoyed Passion Pit.

What kind of music keeps you motivated?  Sound off & let me know!

A big ol’ spring thank you to Brit + Co for the pretty floral background.
Happy TunesDay: Collection 17

Happy TunesDay: Collection 17

I always forget how much I appreciate the notion of home.  Coming back to my hometown is usually a much-needed break from the monotony of everyday life.  Being home reminds me that I am not always the independent, sometimes haughty adult that I feel like I need to be.  It places me in the context of other people who knew me before I was who I am now and loved me even when I was a tiny mass of skin and blood and bone.

It is reassuring. Coming home, wherever that home may be for you, is clarifying and brings joy you may have forgotten you needed.

But, it also reminds me that I have grown- physically, mentally, and spiritually in some ways.  Sometimes that growth aligns you with your home, but sometimes it also distances you further.  It is a natural occurrence and though it’s sometimes surprising or overwhelming, everyone is an amalgamation of their past, present, and future–the people and places that comprise every aspect of each moment, and to me that’s a lovely thing.

I hope you all had a rejuvenating weekend, wherever you may have been.

Love and laughter to you and yours,
Christina

Background image from Design Love Fest made by Juliet Meeks.
Happy TunesDay: Collection 16 – Int’l Womxn’s Day

Happy TunesDay: Collection 16 – Int’l Womxn’s Day

Happy Tunesday and Happy International Womxn’s Day to you all.

I’ve always had issues with days dedicated to specific things we celebrate–shouldn’t we celebrate the achievements of womxn and other minority groups everyday, and not just on a specific day or month?

But, as I’ve grown a little and seen different perspectives, I know how necessary it is to have a day that we consciously recognize our contributions to society–where we take up space and have our presence known in physical and non-physical (like the Twittersphere) places.  It is crucial that we as womxn acknowledge our own strength, abilities, and intelligence.  Having a day where the whole of society is forced to reckon with that reality is a small, but important step.  I hope that it doesn’t stop there, though.  Because on every day of every month of every year, I know womxn who struggle, persevere, and refuse to give up in the face of adversity.  We deserve human dignity and respect on every day of our lives, not just in rare moments of societally-pressured clarity.

With that said, I hope this week’s playlist puts you in a good, loving mood.  We all need a healthy dose of love, whether you identify as a womxn or not.

And to all my sisters in the world, know that you are important.  Know that you are stronger than your weakest thought.  Know that whatever has happened to you in the past, however many hurts you’ve faced, you aren’t alone.  We are all survivors, not victims.  I refuse to be perceived that way, regardless of how many backhanded, slut-shaming comments we get.  I won’t give up on creating equitable spaces for us to finally, truly feel safe, and I hope you won’t either.

With all the love a small womxn can give,

xoxo Christina

background image from The Lovely Drawer.
Happy TunesDay: Collection 14

Happy TunesDay: Collection 14

February is soon drawing to a close.  Already.

The constant rate at which time progresses never ceases to amaze, and horrify, me.  I always have to remind myself to take advantage of the days ahead and not sleep my mornings away.  But, dreaming is such an appealing alternative to living the life we want, especially when that life is seemingly confusing and full of decisions to be made.

Hopefully this set of tunes will jolt us all out of the sedentary lifestyles, both physically and mentally, and remind ourselves to seize every opportunity possible.

Several Tuesdays of 2016 have already come and gone, and there are so many more wonderful Tuesdays ahead–we just have to remember to not be weighed down by the everyday.

Tell me how you keep motivated and focused during seemingly stressful & overwhelming times.  Does music help?  Does having company & friendships help?

Keep on moving and grooving until next Tuesday, friends.

xo,

Christina

Thanks to Jessica Chow for the sophisticated marbled background image.
Happy TunesDay: Collection 13

Happy TunesDay: Collection 13

A long weekend always gets me in some type of mood.  I’m anxious for the upcoming weekend, but know I shouldn’t be since I just had such a good break.

This past weekend was full of quality Galentines fun. For those of you living under a rock and/or have not ever been exposed to the wonder & awe that is Parks & Recreation, Galentine’s Day is celebrated the day before Valentine’s Day and is supposed to celebrate friendship with your best and closest gal-pals.  Seeing as I don’t have a typical romantic Valentine, I spent the long weekend amongst my close friends.  I gave myself some proper self-care and rejuvenated myself in the presence of those I love.  We ate good food, drank coffee, shopped, strolled the beach, and fell asleep lulled by the simple company of truly wonderful people.  I am, for lack of a better term, lucky.  I don’t know how else to explain the reasons for why I am surrounded by magnificent and good people–like truly good and brilliant people. (s/o to my roommate and old roommates and their friends and sig. o’s.)

Despite the hardships that come and pick at me, weekends like this past one remind me to be grateful and to take advantage of the time we have together with our friends.  They are, after all, the family we get to choose.

This TunesDay, I put together some feel-good tunes that hopefully get you through this minimized work week so you can spend the upcoming weekend fully present with those you love.  I know Valentine’s/Galentine’s Day is over, but that doesn’t mean the lovin’ has to stop!

How will you keep the love going this weekend and beyond?

xo,

Christina

Big thanks to the lovely Piper Winston for the simply wondrous background image.

Happy TunesDay: Collection 12

Happy TunesDay: Collection 12

Starbucks rolled out a limited edition line of Valentine’s Day inspired drinks.  I guess like the multibillion dollar franchise, I’ll hop on this love bandwagon.

This week’s playlist is a series of tunes that I turn to when I need to feel hyped up about this little thing we call love.

Just as an aside, my playlist for heartbreak and sad, mushy feelings is entirely different, but maybe we’ll save that for another time.

To listen to some lovely tunes, click below!

Whether you’re single, in a relationship, or it’s complicated, love yourself and treat yourself right! How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day?

As per usual, credits for the fun background image goes to Design Love Fest.
Happy TunesDay: Collection 9

Happy TunesDay: Collection 9

It’s 2016.  It’s 2016.  It’s 2016.

I have to remind myself over and over when I write the date, or else it becomes some weird 5 with a messy loop at the end.  Y’all know what I’m talkin’ about.

This week has been particularly difficult for me to focus already (I know, it’s only Tuesday, for the love of all that is good.)  I’m sick and just want to sprawl in my teensy twin bed all day.  But, this week’s tunes will hopefully help me gather what energy I have and refocus on my tasks for the week: studying for the math section of the GREs, reading some books on poverty & violence for my research, and finally doing some errands (grocery shopping, cleaning my room, and sorting out my medical benefits situation).

I hope your week is as or more productive than mine!

Sending lots of love and good listens your way,

Christina

*Cute watercolor graphic for my featured image comes from Angie Makes.  Send her some love!*
Happy TunesDay: Collection 6

Happy TunesDay: Collection 6

Winter Solstice is today…I celebrated with my grandma and we paid respects to our ancestors by making traditional Chinese soup and lighting incense.  It’s usually pretty low-key for our family, but it was nice to make food with my grandma and learn some of her tricks!  My lovely mother provided translations for me, which was super helpful so I could understand my grandma telling me that I’m going to be an old maid.

Love you too, Gramms.

 

Anyway, this Tunesday is full of some electric, house-y, upbeat sounds to perfectly combat the chilly & stormy weather.

Happy Tunesday, friends!  How do you celebrate the Winter Solstice or did you even know it was today?  Let me know below!

 

Credits to DesignLoveFest for the wonderfully sparkly background image!

Happy TunesDay: Collection 4

Happy TunesDay: Collection 4

Tuesday is such a whatever kind of day.  It’s not the beginning, not the middle, not the end.  It’s just sort of…there.

Make the most of your whatever days by listening to good tunes.

Tell me what kind of music you want for your whatever days!

*credits to DesignLoveFest & Lindsay Gardner for the lovely background of my TunesDay image*