INCUBUS need I say more?

It is with GREAT pleasure for me to introduce to all of you who don't know INCUBUS. For those of you who know me, you know that they are my ALL-TIME favorite band. I have been listening to them since a young age and I credit that all to my rad older sister, Haley. Their album, Morning View, was the anthem to my adolescence and I'm pretty confident that I know every word to every song. I canNOT even begin to describe how much I LOVE this band. They have managed to cultivate listeners all over the world with their brilliant lyrics, UNBELIEVABLE vocals and their original sound. I swear I find a new genius lyric/phrase OFTEN when I listen to them. I can't even fathom the amount of talent Brandon Boyd (lead singer) and the band members hold. One of the key components of their songs is their KILLER guitarist, Michael Einziger. I encourage you to listen to Aqueous Transmission in particular because he absolutely rocks your world with the Pipa. My words may seem calm while I'm writing this but I'll have you know that I'm currently BLASTING their album Moments And Melodies and pawing at the youtube videos of Brandon performing live (the biggest heart-eyes EVER). 

Alright, so now that I've embarrassingly ranted about my obsession (which I feel like I still have so much more to say but this post would be more of a novel then a blog entry) I will let you enjoy the greatness of their work. Of course I couldn't just pick ONE song, in fact I wish I could post every song they've created but I have attached just a few of my favorites. And I have been waiting PATIENTLY to post about them until their debut of their new single, Absolution Calling, so, naturally, that is the first track. The rest are those that, if I had to pick only 5 songs to listen to for the rest of my life, these would be the 5. Prepare your ears for some of the best music this world has to offer and I guarantee goose bumps are headed your way.

You're welcome (in advance) 

-sam 

"Perfection is in Perception"

Greetings Earthlings. January is finally coming to an end...YAY! Sorry to be a downer but I kind of hate January. It's cold, for what seems like no reason, and the Salt Lake Valley is depressed with an overwhelming film of SMOG. Bleh. Gross. Usually, I like to keep an open mind about situations so I don't make it worse on myself or anyone else for that matter but now that it's over, I can officially rant about it. But hey! On a better note, it's national Chocolate Cake day. Best day ever, if you ask me. Hehe.

Anyway, I'm just going to get straight to the point. Last week I was sitting in my Visual Merchandising class when the topic of personal preference was brought up. Instantly my ears perked up. In class, we were relating this concept to how we can best market items and who our target customers are. While in discussion, my mind began to wonder on the sole principle: Personal preference. Hmmmmm. It seems so obvious. We either like something or we don't. Well yeah! Whether it be food, clothes, friends, lovers, blah blah blah.... you get it. We all have different taste. But for me, I've never related that to "perfection". My professor, who I think holds great advise and gets my mind really thinking, simply stated, "Perfection is in Perception". That's when it hit me like a train... YES. How simple, yet true a statement! We are all in this world seeking perfection but it's all really just a matter of personal opinion. For me, I have always been on the quest for the perfect body. I go to the gym like your grade A tool, eat right and sleep as much as possible but I wasn't achieving what I thought was perfect. My ultimate goal was to be tall and skinny... like "Brandy Melville model" tall and skinny. Well, genetically, that's impossible for me. Haha for real. I'm 5'4 and I have an athletic build... my chances aren't looking good but that's merely my perception of the perfect body. To others, having muscle is perfection, being curvy is perfection or whatever. This is just an example. This could really be thrown in to any situation but my point is: Is perfection even real? I'm going to have to say NO. With varying opinions and conflicts of interest, there is not one, singular goal of perfection. That may sound cumbersome seeing that we are always trying to be better but I see it as something truly amazing! Personal opinions and preferences bring so much diversity and individually to the world. How sad a life without such color and creativity. I'm forever grateful to live in a time where being different and accepting "the oddly beautiful" is in fashion (so-to-speak). 

I hope my simple realization today impacted you as much it did me and some chocolate cake is sounding real nice right about now. Nom Nom Nom! 

Happy Tuesday!

-sam

Future Islands - Close To None

It's Monday.... yay.... (that was pure sarcasm if you didn't catch it). I've had a funny start to my day. Haha I drove all the way to work this morning at 8:00am and came to realize I didn't have to be there until 1:00pm. Either I failed my day planner or my day planner failed me, depends on how you want to look at it.:) Regardless, I found it rather comical. 

Considering the cozy, cloudy Monday we're experiencing here in SLC, I thought I throw out a mellow track by Future Islands. I love all their music so choosing one song was particularly difficult but I'd say this one is lovely one.:) Enjoy, relax and have yourself a hot cup of tea:) 

-sam

confidence is everything

Yooooo. Today I'm using this post to blab about my newest and, as of now, my biggest life realization yet. So often, I find myself in social situations being a complete outcast. Hahaha Yeah, guys I'm a total LOSER and I'm so beyond aware of it! Seriously though. Since Jr. High, meeting new people and being confident around others has been my biggest struggle and for so long I haven't been able to figure out why. Either I'm completely silent at a party or I'm killing myself trying to put together the right words to express what I have to say. I've always felt ashamed and embarrassed about, what I used to call "my lack of personality", until now. No. I do NOT lack personality (cause I can be damn funny sometimes) , I have lacked CONFIDENCE. It seemed as if everyone else in this world had it but me. And I can't even begin to describe how awful of a feeling that was. Whether it was being the quiet wallflower at a party or body dysmorphia and the unreeling fear of having my picture taken or worrying about people making fun of my blog (hehe) or feeling like my abilities in anything I did were simply just not up to par, it sucked. It sucked SO bad but it was ALL in my head. The only thing holding me back from achieving anything was ME. 

This year I've committed to change. I have vowed to have confidence in all that I do (I emphasize the "ALL that I do"). Your destiny is in your hands. No one is going to make your dreams come true, or change your attitude for the better, it's completely on you to make things happen. I mean, yeah, I'll probably still be the "woman of few words" at parties but at least I won't feel bad about it anymore, right? ;) We've all heard the quote, "you choose to be happy". Well YEAH! The first step to being happy is being ok with yourself and liking the person you are.  J. Cole just released a new album (and my boyfriend is totally going to make fun of me/ love me for using this because he LOVES J. Cole) but there is a line he uses that I've taken to heart. He says, "No such thing as a life that's better than yours". I have seriously never heard anything more true. Everyone has worth, including YOU. 

There's my tangent for the day. Have a Glorious Tuesday:) There is so much amazing music to be heard, art to be seen and people to love so I hope you take today to include a couple of those things.

Adios!

-sam

PS my entire outfit is from Free People lol. 

Jeff Buckley - Last Goodbye

Today is the day I unveil my embarrassing obsession with the incredible, superhumanly talented, Jeff Buckley. Holy moly. I don't even know where to begin. From the perfectly executed notes, interesting lyrics or the madness he made with a guitar, I dig it. I dig it ALL. You know when you're listening to a song and your eyes are tearing up and goosebumps take over your entire body? Yeah.... this is exactly what I experience while listening to his music. Ahhhh! Yeah, I'm completely obsessed. 

Anyway, a bit of background on this God of Music. Buckley's career started in the early 1990's when he began playing covers at venues in Manhattan's East Village. His unbelievable talent quickly gained a following and he was signed with Columbia where he recorded his first album, Grace, in 1994. He toured all over the US, Europe and Japan through the years being considered "one of the best singers of all time" by Rolling Stone. During the recording of his album, My Sweetheart the Drunk, Jeff unexpectedly died in a spontaneous late night swim. Since his passing, his work has slowly been released. His most popular piece was his cover of Leonardo Cohen's "Hallelujah". It's an absolute shame he lost him so soon at the age of 30 but his music is here to stay and dazzle the rest of us mere mortals. 

Feast in the melodies, my friends.

RIP Jeff "Scottie" Buckley 

-sam

Back from the DEAD < Bear In Heaven - "Autumn" >

 YOU GUYS. I'm alive. For real. My deepest apologies for abandoning my little shblog;) But with the new year, comes a better me. I, like everyone else, have made my New Years resolutions and as of today, January 8th, I've been able to hold strong. Yay for 8 days! Haha. As you can guess, revisiting my love for blogging about fashion and music is on the tippy top of my list. So... here we are! We're back;)

My song choice today is a little number called "Autumn" by Bear In Heaven. To be honest, I hadn't heard of Bear In Heaven...ever. I was lucky enough to find this bad boy through my long hours of looking through new artists on Spotify and I'm soooo stoked I found it. Bear In Heaven originated in Brooklyn, NY in 2004. Their style is a magical concoction of psychedelic and electronic sound. In 2010, the group's album "Beast Rest Forth Mouth" received the "Best New Music" award from Pitchfork Media and, clearly, deservingly so. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!

Till next time pumpkins.

-sam

Mock Necks and Layered Necklaces

Good afternoon ladies and gents! I don't know what it is but today seems like the perfect day to be PRODUCTIVE. Yeah, I mentioned before that I have been off my game in the efficiency aspect as of late and it has been a rough road getting back into it. With a bit of self pep talks and some stepping outside of my new found, lazy comfort zone, I have been able to light my fire again! Thank goodness. 

  

Anyway, I've decided to feature, not only my store, but also one of my favorite new trends; the Mock neck. They have not been very "hip" in recent years but I have been seeing them EVERYwhere. Whether it's Vogue, Cosmo or even just on the street, everyone seems to be picking up on this modest neck line. Needless to say, I am definitely on the band wagon;)

My mock neck tank, sateen skinnies and layered neckalce are all from good ol' Free People. Gotta love that discount (pretty sure I work for trade). The floor length kimono WAS from Lola Bella Boutique and the black booties can be found at Asos.