I Like This Stuff: August Playlist

Hello guys! I'm back with more music that you may or may not like. I think Ellie Goulding has been on all my monthly playlist so far. I'm just a fan. Lost and Found gives me good feelings in my soul and Around U is so fun and upbeat.

I used to listen to Lord Huron a bunch but over time I just stopped. This month I had a revival. Lord Huron has such a distinct sound and I love it a lot. Fool for Love is especially beautiful.

My cousin introduced me to Best Coast and I'm so glad she did! The music has such a fun beat that is perfect for the last days of summer.

I recently discovered Lenachka and man oh man I love her music. She only has a 5 song EP and I need a full album. The opening notes in Breaking Down are too good. I replayed the beginning of the song so many times. If you listen to any song from this playlist, make it Breaking Down.

I saw the Legend of Tarzan last week and Better Love plays during the credits. Hozier created the song just for the movie and let me tell you when the chorus kicks in it hits you. I'm so happy to have new music from him. His voice kind of blows my mind, it's so good. 

I'm a fan of Taylor Swift but I would listen to for king and country's rendition of Out of the Woods over the original any day. 

Listen to the full playlist here! I hope you find something you enjoy to add to your music collection. Make sure to leave a comment telling me what you've currently been listening to!

Art Journals with Anne from Merging Threads

Happy Sunday, guys! I teamed up with Anne from Merging Threads to share an inside peek of our art journals. Anne is so creative and all her posts are so well organized! It kinda blows my mind how she manages to make every post so cute and interesting. Not to mention her Instagram feed is incredible. Yeah, I'm a little jealous. 

We both enjoy adding cute quotes, doodles and fun pictures in our journals! I saw one of her post of a journal page on Instagram and immediately wanted to do this collaboration. 

Don't forget to check out Anne's post here. She shares here journal and gives you some great tips on starting your own art journal! Also, today is her sixteenth birthday so go give her some love on Instagram or her blog! 

Alright, let's get into it. I hope you enjoy!

One of my favorite things to do is to add a journal entry after reading a book I really enjoyed. I'll write down quotes as I read and then add some sort of visual after I finish.

I like drawing flowers. (Fun Fact: All my succulents are named after book characters. This is Charlie in honor of Perks of Being a Wallflower.)

I like drawing flowers a lot.

Okay, I probably like drawing flowers a little too much.

I'm a proclaimed dog person and allergic to cats, but they're still fun to draw every now and then. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

This is a little ironic considering, if I can help it, I always sleep right through the morning. It's a morale issue. I'm working on it.

I snagged this picture of JFK from one of my Pinterest boards. I wouldn't have minded sailing with him.

Audrey, what an absolute QUEEN.

I just got my first set of watercolors. I'm diggin them big time. Oh and look more flowers.

You might remember this little doodle from my 4th of July post.

I made a mistake on the numbers. Don't look too closely, let's pretend it didn't happen. Okay, thanks.

You thought Houston actually might not be in one of my blog posts. Nope here he is, I wouldn't leave him out.

How to Create Your Own Social Media Icons in Any Color

When I was designing my blog I remember it was extremely difficult to find a set of social media icons I liked that blended well with my theme. There were some great blogs that offer free icons but they often didn't have the sites or specific color I was looking for. I was a little bummed because I didn't have editing software like Photoshop to make my own or the money to buy a custom set on Etsy. However, after using PicMonkey for a while, I realized I could actually create my own customized icons. I'm going to share how to do that. Don't you worry, it's actually super easy and completely free.

1. Click on a link below to open the white PNG (portable network graphic) for the social media icon you would like to create. If you're not a big fan of the icons I have listed, you can google "white (insert social media of your choice) PNG icon".

White social media icon PNGs:

Pinterest // Instagram // YouTube // Facebook // Twitter // Snapchat // Spotify // Google Plus // Bloglovin // Tumblr // Vine // RSS Feed // E-Mail // Etsy

2. Right click the PNG and save it to your desktop. I like to save all mine into a file to keep them better organized but you do whatever floats your boat.

3. Open the online editor PicMonkey and then select design.

4. Click on custom and enter the dimensions 500 for the width and height.

5. Once in the editor click on overlay (the butterfly icon). Then find the geometric section and select whatever shape you want. Express yourself. Live free. 

6. Now, change the color of your shape to match your website. You can choose a preset color or some thing more specif using a hex color code ( i.e. ff6698).

7. At the top of the overlay section, find the button reading "Your own". By clicking the button you'll be able to upload the PNG icon you saved earlier. 

8. Resize the icon and move it around till your happy with the finished product. 

9. Once your happy with everything click "Save" at the top left hand corner. Rename your file and save to your computer. Congrats, you did it! 

If you need any help at all, leave a comment and I'll get back to you! Also if you'd like to see more design tutorials, let me know and give suggestions!

Independence Day Weekend

S A T U R D A Y  ,  J U L Y   2 N D

See post on Instagram.

I've neglected doing anything in my art journal for too long so I decided to do an entry every day. So far, so good!

Forever21: Dress (similar)

The majority of the afternoon was spent with my mom's side of the family. We played board games, ate too many brownies and drank blue holiday themed Kool-aid.

S U N D A Y  ,  J U L Y   3 R D

By coincidence my older sister and I wore white and blue dresses so naturally, we made my younger sister wear red. Go USA. 

We were actually slightly late for church, so we had to walk in front of everyone in our patriotic church outfits which was a little embarrassing. 

We attempted to take some cute pictures with our pup and you can see how well that went. He was not in the American spirit to say the least. 

We ate lunch at McAlister's and as always I got the Sweet Chipotle Chicken. You should give it a shot. It's good stuff. 

M O N D A Y  ,  J U L Y   4 T H

See my 4th of July post over on the Instagram.

We spent the holiday with my Dad's family visiting and eating sandwiches. It rained on and off all day but it was still a fun day of family and food.

My shorts are from Forever 21, but I mean they're pretty basic so you can find some blue jean shorts just about any place. 

Forever21: Shorts (similar) 

Gap: Top (similar here or maybe this one)

Good old high-tops, well worn and well loved.

I had a cupcake. It was a good cupcake. I enjoyed the cupcake. Freedom tastes sweet.

I know with the upcoming election and different economic and social issues, it can feel like our country is headed in the wrong direction but America still has an unimaginable amount of good going on for it. I am beyond blessed to be a part of a country where change, growth, freedom, liberty, individuality and love are ideals that are strongly established and celebrated. I'm so thankful for the courageous individuals who built our nation from the ground up and for those who continue fighting to insure the right of freedom.

Thanks for reading! How did you spend your long weekend of freedom? Let me know in the comments!

I Like This Stuff: July Playlist

I should probably put a little more thought into the songs I throw on my monthly playlists because they never end up cohesive. I just add whatever I've listened to most or recently discovered songs. As a result, Vampire Weekend ends up hanging out with Adele and the Eagles.

We all have those songs we'd be a little embarrassed if people found out we had on our phone but we love them nonetheless. Honestly, Hair and You're Such A fall into that category, but I do love them, so here they are on my July playlist. They're catchy, okay. 

But, hey don't judge me too quick. I like some "cool trendy" stuff too. I've been loving The 1975's Somebody Else and She's American. I can absolutely jam to Twenty One Pilot's Ride.

You know me, I had to throw in some of my old favorites like Telephone Line by Electric Light Orchestra and Heartache Tonight by the Eagles.

Well, that's a wrap. I'll see you again next month with 20 more tunes.

If you just can't wait, you can check out more of my favorite music over here.

Let me know in the comments:

What's your top song from July? 

What's a song you love even though it's embarrassing? 

12 Books Set in the Summer to Read This Summer

I love reading but I always find it difficult to read for fun during the school year which breaks my bookworm heart. I take advantage of the summer months to read till my little heart is content. There's lots of summer reading lists but most of the books have 0% to do with summer. That's just fine for some, but as for me, I'm not doing anything exciting this summer so I need to read books that can aid me in imagining a fantastic summer. So, I decided to embark on a mission to discover some books that actually have to do with summer that weren't too extremely clique and generic. I did some digging on the depths of the internet and after reading through reviews and excerpts I dubbed these 12 books as the A team for The Summer Reading List of 2016. There's a wide variety of plots ranging from summer camp adventures to suspenseful murder mysteries. Take a peak and see if you can find something that excites your book loving heart.

American Girls: Goodreads // Amazon

"Anna is a fifteen-year-old girl slouching toward adulthood, and she's had it with her life at home. So Anna "borrows" her stepmom's credit card and runs away to Los Angeles, where her half-sister takes her in. But LA isn't quite the glamorous escape Anna had imagined." Read more from Goodreads

The Summer I Turned Pretty: Goodreads // Amazon

"Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad." Read more on Goodreads

The Summer of Firsts and Lasts: Goodreads // Amazon

"Three sisters. One life-changing summer." Read more on Goodreads

The Last Song: Goodreads // Amazon

"Seventeen year-old Veronica “Ronnie” Miller’s life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Wilmington, North Carolina. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, especially her father… until her mother decides it would be in everyone’s best interest if she spent the summer in Wilmington with him." Read more on Goodreads

Second Chance Summer: Goodreads // Amazon

"Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains." Read more on Goodreads

Summer Days and Summer Nights: Goodreads // Amazon

"Maybe it's the long, lazy days, or maybe it's the heat making everyone a little bit crazy. Whatever the reason, summer is the perfect time for love to bloom. Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories, written by twelve bestselling young adult writers and edited by the international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins, will have you dreaming of sunset strolls by the lake. So set out your beach chair and grab your sunglasses. You have twelve reasons this summer to soak up the sun and fall in love." Read more on Goodreads

Wanderlost: Goodreads // Amazon

"Aubree can’t think of a better place to be than in perfectly boring Ohio, and she’s ready for a relaxing summer. But when her older sister, Elizabeth, gets into real trouble, Aubree is talked into taking over Elizabeth’s summer job, leading a group of senior citizens on a bus tour through Europe." Read more on Goodreads

The Summer Before The War: Goodreads // Amazon

"When Beatrice Nash arrives with one trunk and several large crates of books, it is clear she is significantly more freethinking — and attractive — than anyone believes a Latin teacher should be. For her part, mourning the death of her beloved father, who has left her penniless, Beatrice simply wants to be left alone to pursue her teaching and writing." Read more on Goodreads

Since You've Been Gone: Goodreads // Amazon

"It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just…disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list." Read more on Goodreads

We Were Liars: Goodreads // Amazon

"A beautiful and distinguished family. A private island. A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy. A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive. A revolution. An accident. A secret. Lies upon lies. True love. The truth." Read more on Goodreads

The Girls in the Garden: Goodreads // Amazon

"Imagine that you live on a picturesque communal garden square, an oasis in urban London where your children run free, in and out of other people’s houses. You’ve known your neighbors for years and you trust them. Implicitly. You think your children are safe. But are they really?" Read more on Goodreads

Love and Gelato: Goodreads // Amazon

"Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is get back home." Read more on Goodreads

Thanks for reading! If you decide to read any of these books let me know! I'm going to attempt to read all 12 books but no promises I'll succeed. At the end of the summer I'll review the books I finish and I love to hear what you thought of an of the books you decide to read! What's your favorite summer read? Let me know in the comments!