I don't think I've ever really been that invested in the idea of resolutions for a new year. I'm someone who is kind of making and adjusting resolutions all the time, anyway; for as long as I can remember, I've been that person who sporadically made lists that included things like "drink more water" and "exercise more," always on the path to self-betterment.

i. weightless : all time low // ii. dog days are over : florence + the machine // iii. breakaway : kelly clarkson // iv. spotlight : patrick stump // v. brand new day : demi lovato // vi. why not? : hilary duff // vii. confetti : tori kelly // viii. revolution : diplo (district 78 remix) // ix. shake it out : florence + the machine // x. be here now : ray lamontagne // xi. come clean : hilary duff // xii. shake it off : taylor swift // xiii. love myself : hailee steinfeld // xiv. confident : demi lovato // xv. centuries : fall out boy // xvi. what dreams are made of : hilary duff

After I compiled this, I kind of realized I apparently—and unknowingly—have a general theme for myself going into this year: empowerment, self-care, confidence, and dreams. Seems appropriate.

♡ Alyssa

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"Candy is childhood, the best and the bright moments you wish could have lasted forever." — Dylan Lauren

Time just keeps rolling on, and you get further and further from the wide-eyed wonder that you once were, dizzy in your own world of blanket forts and make-believe.

I've always been a very nostalgic person—a double-edged sword of sorts. Who doesn't miss being a kid? You don't even have enough life experience at the time to realize that you should be appreciating every moment of being a child, so you just keeping thinking how awesome it'd be to be a teenager. (Ew.)

I guess you could say this is the Wendy version of my Neverland playlist; realistic, and slightly more somber, but tinged with hope. Wendy chooses to leave Neverland, because she decides that staying a kid forever isn't really all it's cracked up to be. She's happier for it.

Maybe we will be, too?

AIN'T IT FUN // paramore

HOWL // florence + the machine
LOSE YOUR SOUL // dead man's bones
EXIT MUSIC (FOR A FILM) // radiohead
YOUR EX-LOVER IS DEAD (FINAL FANTASY REMIX) // stars
GHOST // mystery skulls
BLACK OUT DAYS // phantogram
GHOST BOY // widowspeak
DREAMS // bastille + gabrielle aplin
BLACK NO. 1 // type o negative
BLACK MAGIC WOMAN // fleetwood mac
(DON'T FEAR) THE REAPER // blue oyster cult
WITCHY WOMAN // eagles
DECODE // paramore
BARTON HOLLOW // the civil wars
WITCHCRAFT // frank sinatra
BOOGIE CHILLS // landon liboiron
BONES // ms mr
I NEVER TOLD YOU WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING // my chemical romance
MONSTER MONSTER // the almost
EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE ALRIGHT // alvin & the chipmunks

I. This Summer's Gonna Hurt - Maroon 5

II. I Lived - OneRepublic

III. Right Now - SR-71

IV. Lazy Eye - Silversun Pickups

V. Steal Your Heart - Augustana

VI. Electric Love - Børns

VII. Youth - Foxes

VIII. Island in the Sun - Weezer

IX. All Of Your Love - Hellogoodbye

X. Summertime - My Chemical Romance

XI. Secret - Maroon 5

XII. Style - Taylor Swift

XIII. Young & Beautiful - Lana Del Rey

XIV. Southern Constellations - Pierce the Veil

XV. Where Did The Party Go? - Fall Out Boy

So, recently, something that I try to incorporate into my morning routine is listening to some kind of music while I get ready for the day. I let the music help build me up into whatever mood I want to be in.


Sometimes it's something to amp me up—something like "Centuries" by Fall Out Boy or "Revolution" by Diplo. Sometimes it's something poppy and upbeat like "Happy" by Pharrell Williams or something by Maroon 5. Most times it's something light and relaxing.

Instrumental music is the nicest thing to get ready to for me, because it feels luxurious somehow. Soft and soothing. My favorite instrumental music to listen to is video game soundtracks, but classical does the trick, too.


Favorite picks from my current Spring songlist —

1. Arabesque I - Debussy
2. Yuna's Theme (HD Remaster) - FFX OST
3. To Zanarkand - FFX OST (Kyle Landry's cover)
4. This Sailor Moon piano medley
5. Past Lives - BØRNS
6. Fairly Local - Twenty One Pilots
7. All About You - Hilary Duff
8. Pas De Deux - Dodie Clark (or Doddleoddle)
9. Castle - Taylor John Williams
10. Lilac Wine - Jeff Buckley (Miley Cyrus' cover)

What about you? Do you include music in your morning routine or are you more of a "listen to the birds chirping" sort of person?

I've been feeling more nostalgic than usual for childhood lately.

I think maybe it's the weather. When it starts getting warmer, I always think of some of the most fun times from when I was growing up; running around outside with our puppies, playing pretend with friends for hours, rolling down tall hills over and over until we were dizzy, riding bikes in Summer until it got dark out.

I've also been really into Lights lately. Her songwriting is so poignant, and she's written a couple songs that really fit this sentimental mood I've been in, so I decided to make a playlist, because what else does one do when they're in a mood?

[listen here]

i. never grow up : taylor swift // ii. pretend : lights // iii. the strays : sleeping with sirens // iv. thirteen : big star // v. the house that built me : miranda lambert // vi. we’re going to be friends : the white stripes // vii. wonders of the younger : plain white t’s // viii. home : gabrielle aplin // ix. hoppipolla : sigur ros // x. running with the boys : lights