To Take Flight or Sit Tight? Late Night Contempations

I am a college student and I'm over it.

Thats right.

Done.

Well, almost. I finish my second associate degree in a few months and I am excited, but I admit a large portion of my excitement is not registering for another semester, or figuring out classes, and not having to do homework. I have been in school my entire life and I want to be out of school for a little while. Seems reasonable right? I find it terrifying. Why? Because I have yet to realize my final educational goal which is going to school for and receiving my Bachelors degree in Cinematography and Film Production. Part of me feels like a quitter and part of me feels secure in the thought that I am merely taking a deep breath and relaxing, I am in no hurry. Or am I? This internal conflict of mine is really getting on my nerves!

A few months back I started re-looking at colleges I want to attend to complete my bachelors degree and I found some great options, but I realized that I would not be ready to move over the summer to start this new adventure. As much as I love being wild, starting goals, and adventuring, I realized that I also love friends, family, and taking it easy for awhile. So, I contemplated my dilemma. Do I leave quickly or do I stay for a bit longer? I decided to stay because I realized that I have no need to rush. I want to relish my life not run through it and miss small moments. I have a tendency to overload myself and become so busy that I pass up opportunities to celebrate the value of living and I do not want that anymore.

Also, I have two degrees already why not use them right?! I am excited at the thought of financial stability. Due to my education thus far I have the ability to receive some phenomenal job opportunities which will only further my career and life experience. I have the ability to gain an income that allows me to stabilize and work on aspects of my life that have been lacking or set aside so that I can concentrate on my education.

Also, friends. I love them. Five years ago I moved to a place where I knew only my brother and my sister in law. Now I have the pleasure of knowing some of the most amazing people I have ever met and I am grateful to call them my friends. The love I have for my friends is so deep and so vast it is inexplicable. I cannot leave them, it hurts my heart to think about moving to another place and not having them near me. I wish I could pack them all up in a box and just take them with me, but life doesn't work that way.

When the time comes, leaving will be one of the most difficult decisions of my entire life. To tear myself away from the life I have now will nearly break my heart. I can feel the ache just by thinking about it. I am sure I sound dramatic, and that is okay because I am full of so much love that it truly hurts to leave it.

I know about skype, face-time, email, phone calls, etc. I know. But it isn't the same as going out for coffee, giving and receiving hugs, or relaxing in each others company.

I also know that new adventures and relationships await me wherever I go and I look forward to it. But when I go I will look back into the faces of the people I dearly love and I will promise to visit. I will not break that promise, it is too important to let go.

xoxo

~Stevi

For the Love of Music: New Discoveries and an Old Favorite.

Music holds a special spot in my heart. I would never want to live in a world where music didn't exist; music makes you move your body and your mind. It inspires, suggests, dazzles, captivates, and provides a colorful imaginative world.

It has been awhile since I have ventured out in search of new music, aside from a few discoveries in the last 5 months, I have not listened to anything new on my own. I only heard new stuff if  Pandora, a friend, or a store played it in my presence and more often than not I didn't actually listen. For awhile music took a back seat and I miss it. So, I decided that once a month I would add a "For the Love of Music" blog post to help motivate me to find some new music that I like.

I have 5 musicians to present today. One of them is my ultimate favorite, and not new to me at all, Emilie Autumn. Two are musicians I discovered in the last five months, and two are brand new discoveries from this last week! I will start in order of discovery, oldest first.

Emilie Autumn. Emilie Autumn Music
This is her music video for "Fight Like a Girl":

Emilie Autumn is my favorite musician. I have gone to multiple concerts, at least once a year and I was able to meet her the last time I went. She is more than a musician, she is an experience. 

Unwoman. Unwoman Music
This is her music video for "City":

I discovered Unwoman when I went to the Steampunk Ball in Virginia City (Fall 2013). I loved her live performance and I am so stoked that I got to see her live before I even knew who she was!

The Impossible Girl. The Impossible Girl Music

This is her music video for "Animal":

I discovered Kim Boekbinder (The Impossible Girl) through reading Veronica Varlow's blog. Her music has a great feel and is so awesome I don't even know how to describe it. 

Jill Tracy. Jill Tracy Music

This is her music video for "The Fine Art of Poisoning":

I just discovered Jill Tracy about a week ago by accidentally clicking on something. I have never been happier to stumble upon an artist. Her sound is seductive, dark, and classy. Put on a slinky dress, light a candle, and drink some wine and rock out her music!

Bad Wolf. Bad Wolf Website

 This is Bad Wolf's music video for "Drowning Beautiful":

I found Bad Wolf when I found Steamfaerie's YouTube channel (steamfaerietv). Steamfaerie is adorable and I love watching her channel, she makes some cute creative things. I love her costumes and discovered she sang and had a band so I hopped over and checked out Bad Wolf. I like their style and thought I would share.

These are all indie bands, and many of them allow you to download their music for free on their websites (I linked them all for you!). If you like it, please donate some money to these wonderful people! 

Until next time....

Razzle Me, Dazzle Me,

~Stevi

The Ambiance I Create When I Read

I love to read. Some may say I am a bibliophile and I am more than okay with that.

I read often, and every time I do I make sure it is special. I love getting lost in a book; wandering through pages, caressing every word, and allowing myself go to a new place (or a well loved older one) is exhilarating every time. Books are magical, and I let the magic consume me.

But who likes to read in a bad environment? Not this girl! Bad doesn't necessarily mean a dirty home, it can be cluttered, dark, loud, or just uncomfortable. I make sure to create a magical environment around me to accompany the magical environment I experience in every book I read.

I light candles, drink tea, take a soothing bath or shower while playing some good music (Before reading, of course). Sometimes I like to pick up my own little noise maker and make my own before opening the page.

I want to share a book I just finished reading, along with some elements that create the perfect ambiance for my reading time.

I discovered Sarah Addison Allen a few years ago with her book The Girl Who Chased the Moon and I fell in love. I fall in love with her books each and every time I read them. The best way I can describe her books is with the term Magical Realism. They all take place in beautiful southern settings with a variety of characters you will enjoy and empathize with. There is magic in every world she creates, but not in the Harry Potter kind of way. Sometimes there is a tree with a personality of its own, wallpaper that changes based on the mood of the inhabitant of the room, flowers you can eat, or a lake with a mysterious alligator. The magic is beautiful, captivating, and comes to life. Sarah Addison Allen's latest book is Lost Lake, it came out in mid January of this year. I had the book pre-ordered and gobbled it up upon delivery. Lost Lake is a story about second chances, misfits, hope, and making your own ending. It is not my favorite book by Allen, but I am in love with it just like all her others. My favorite remains being The Girl who Chased the Moon. Sarah Addison Allen

I always light a candle when I read, I love the mood the flame creates along with the scent of the candle. I am a huge fan of creating an atmosphere with scent, so I always have some kind of deliciously scented candle at the ready. A candle I just discovered is called Orchid by Salt City Candle Company. Orchid is a refreshing clean scent, with light floral undertones. Imagine the scent of a garden in the early morning right after it rains. Salt City Candle Company

Next, I always brew a cup of tea. I am an avid tea drinker and have at least twenty different types of tea in my home at any given time. A new tea I discovered is called Field of Purple Flowers by Talbott Teas. I was pleasantly surprised by Field of Purple Flowers; it is a green tea with purple cornflower. The taste is amazing, it is light but flavorful and the tea itself is GORGEOUS. I cannot get enough of it. I paid about ten dollars for my tin of tea and it came with 15 sachets. If you love tea and want to try out something new I definitely recommend this. Talbott Teas

Last, but not least, is my little coconut shell musical instrument thing. I honestly have no idea what it is called, the woman i bought it from called it a hand piano. It is a fun little thing to play, you pluck away at it and it creates some very pretty sounds that remind me of a wind chime. I love to sit with it and pluck away as I get lost in my thoughts. When I finish a book I usually contemplate it; my musical coconut keeps my hands busy and creates a relaxing atmosphere where I usually find inspiration. 

I love finding magic in everything I do, and I love creating my own magical place that I can get lost in.

Pick up a good book and get lost in her pages ;) Until next time...

Razzle Me, Dazzle Me,

~Stevi