tunes perfect for night driving with the windows down and the heat on

I love fall, and one of my favorite things to do (which Sean hates because it's pretty wasteful) is to drive with the windows down on a cool night and blast the heat. This is especially fun when you're by yourself and have your iphone handy with some amazing tunes.

There's really nothing quite like it. It's relaxing and it makes even the worst days feel pretty great. Today was actually pretty perfect, so I felt unstoppable tonight as I drove home from dinner at my in-laws house.

What are my favorites, you ask? Check it:

First Aid Kits cover of the Tiger Mountain Peasant Song 

Anything Holly Ann, but in particular I fancy Every Night

Actually, I can never get enough of First Aid Kit in the fall. My favorite song is Pervigilo and I usually listen to it twice for good measure.

Mumford & Son's... my favorite is White Blank Page (I listen to it at least 10 times per day, no joke)

And finally, being the hardcore Copeland fan that I am, The Lulls in Traffic (Aaron's new band). My favorite is The Rope to Pull Yourself Together.

What are some of your favorite bands? Don't you agree that some songs fit specific seasons perfectly?

Irene's Theme Song

This is kind of rude, but in all honesty I'm really looking forward to Irene's arrival. I say this, because I don't think Richmond will see much damage... at least I hope not. We live on the flood wall, so we're kind of screwed if the James River decides to flood on us, but other than that..... I'm excited to snuggle on the couch all weekend and watch movies.

Don't you think afternoon naps are the best when it's storming out? I'm looking forward to that!

Here is the perfect song for Irene lounging, in my humble opinion:

I'm obsessed with Bjork. I also think this vlog is the cutest thing I've seen in a very long time!

in all seriousness though, stay safe wherever you are this weekend! :D

my weekend in pictures..

Meet Henry, my best friend's adorable pug & partner in crime ;)

Friday I got a jump start on my weekend by leaving work early. I was feeling really dizzy and nauseous and had convinced myself that I was experiencing vertigo. Yup, it was that bad. Not cool. So I rushed to Patient First right after lunch and sat in the waiting room for 2 hours. Needless to say, the "doctor" told me that nothing was wrong and that, although he believed me, he was not going to prescribe me any "drugs." Direct quote. Why is it that every time I visit this place I get accused of being a drug addict!? Nice. Anyway, I am feeling much better today... even if I am more than a little tired. Guess it really wasn't vertigo.

So after my adventure at Patient First I got paint supplies together and decided that it was time to kiss {most} of our white walls goodbye. We haven't had a rainy Saturday in quite sometime, so it was a good day to stay indoors. I tend to feel less at home and somewhat uneasy around white walls. Not to mention bored. out. of. my. mind. Anyway. My gracious friend Brittany {whose adorable pug is pictured above} volunteered to help me out, and 5 hours later we were *officially* done... it was not easy, we were totally and extremely exhausted, and we didn't consume anything the entire day other than coffee and a glass of iced water. We worked our butts off! Check it out:

Our downstairs is slowly being transformed into a guest bedroom. i would've provided more pictures... but it's too dark down there at the moment. Pics to come once the bed comes in and it's finished :)

Obsessed with this new beachy color! I'm thinking about getting a yellow mat and matching bath towels... thoughts?

Of course Samson tried helping... I don't know if you can tell but he dipped his entire face in the paint. There was blue everywhere. Sean was freaking out! How can I stay mad at a face like that?

I actually had a blast spending girl time with Brittany... and I hope she had fun, too! The best part was our dinner date and then grabbing ice cream afterwards. After that we watched the movie An Education... if you haven't seen this I reccomend that you do -
so e p i c.

Not from this weekend, but nevertheless a lovely picture of my gorgeous friend! Brittany ~ I am forever in debt to you! Thanks for all of your help this weekend! xo

Sunday was really awesome in the fact that it was so so sunny and bright outside. Pete & I got up early and went to the river with some friends. This pup loves the river... which is awesome because Sean & Samson... not so much. He looks so funny swimming through the rapids, wish I got a pic! Gosh, I love him!

{photo credit} I didn't take this one, but this is the exact spot we spent our day! Pete even took a ride with one of the kayakers - so nice of him, by the way!

Sunday night we went to a Counting Crows/Augustana concert ::girl cruuuush!:: I am so obsessed with Adam Duritz that it's really not even funny. It's actually really pathetic how I stood there like a 12 year old screaming at the top of my lungs, but who cares. The beginning of the show was a disappointment {they had a little too much fun before everything started, if you know what I mean} but they totally made up for it towards the end. They did a really freakin good cover of Just Like a Woman {oh, Bob Dylan how I love you!}... ohmygosh amazing you have to witness this here.

No wonder I can barley hold my head up this morning! All in all, an epic weekend :)

Flower Child.

Sometimes I wish I was a girl in one of Ray Lamontagne's songs. She always seems so particularly sad, yet so real and painstakingly familiar. Actually, she doesn't really seem all that real at all. She's more of an earthy goddess, so in touch with nature that she may actually have been born from a wildflower or out of a single rain drop. Sometimes I close my eyes and picture myself as her, bare feet stepping along stones in the forest and feeling individual blades of grass in between my toes. She makes dirty knees seem so romantic. And soft, pale skin. Maybe he found her when he was out wandering one afternoon, and she disappeared the moment they finished making love. Maybe she isn't sad at all. Maybe she enjoys appearing and disappearing as she pleases. She enjoys playing those games and then retreating back to the mountains where she sings along with the birds and dances with the leaves in the passing breeze. Maybe she only exists in his imagination, and he pulls her out whenever he's feeling lonely. And she is a secret that he keeps only for himself. And she enjoys being that secret.

Sleepy Monday.

{i wish i was here.}

{this works, too!}

This weekend was amazing. I honestly didn't realize just how emotional I would be at the last Copeland show Thursday night... but I needed a good cry and it felt good rocking out like I was the only other person in the room!

I am absolutley in love with Alexandria, Va... the place is gorgeous and the weather was perfect! DC was awesome, as usual. I am still plotting ways to convince Sean to move here!

It was so good to see my pups this morning... I have missed their cuddles. It was really really really hard for me to get out of bed for work... we didn't get home until around 11 o'clock and I still wasn't ready to leave knowing my puppies were still snuggled up in our warm bed.

We leave for NC on Wednesday and so it looks like another road trip for me and the hubster. I have a lot of work to catch up on in the meantime.

I miss you, bed.

"Drove from Paris to the Amsterdam Hilton / Talking in our bed for a week / The news people said / 'Hey, what you doin' in bed?'/ I said, 'We're only tryin' to get us some peace!'" {John Lennon}

May sleep envelop you as a bed sheet floating gently down, tickling your skin and removing every worry. Reminding you to consider only this moment. {Jeb Dickerson}

Ode to Copeland:

This Thursday I am making the trek to Maryland to wish one of my favorite bands farewell.

I remember almost 10 years ago, when my husband & I sat in our car and opened their first record Beneath the Medicine Tree. It wasn't long before Copeland became the background music to many important events in my life, both happy and sad.

There have been many summer nights when Sean & I would blast the music from his car radio, while singing along with the warm wind blowing in my hair and across my face. You never really appreciate a band until you find out they're breaking up.

I am so excited to see them this weekend, but also sad because I know it will be the last time they are all together on stage. Their shows are so personal, and I feel like I am losing a dear friend. I know they will each go on to do amazing things in the future, & we will be there to support them as we always have.

{us with aaron marsh... a looong time ago!}

Snow! Snow! Snow!

{Me with 2 of my college roommates a few years ago - Enjoying a snow day!}

I have been constantly checking the weather all week... and I seriously think we are in for a major snow/sleet storm this weekend {I could not be more excited}! It's not that I enjoy cold weather... trust me, there's no place I'd rather be than a sunny beach enjoying the ocean... but I have fell in love with the weather this year -- and it is not somthing we are used to around here! I love spending the day in my PJ's and being with my husband and pups for hours on end with nowhere to go. Sleeping in is also a plus :)

Depending on the weather, after work I am planning on going shopping so that I can really get a jump start on my Macrobiotic diet. Some favorites on my grocery list include: Wakame, Bancha Twig Tea, Nori Seaweed Sheets {for my chip addiction!}, Quinoa, Barley Miso, Dried Beans, Whole Wheat Spaghetti, Buckwheat Noodles & Pancakes, Couscous, Apple Sauce {great egg substitute for cooking!}, Corn, Shittaki Mushroons, Soy Milk & Cheese, Tempeh, Tofu and unrefined white sea salt. I'm not much of a cook, so I am really excited to see what my hubby Sean is able to cook up for us this weekend! Also -- one thing I have noticed in the past two weeks is that chewing your food completely makes you full faster! A lot faster! I love this! :)

Whatever happends this weekend, I am looking forward to spending time with the people I love. If it doesn't snow, I'm going to see Citizen Cope with some of my best friends and my parents will visit on Saturday. There's really no doubt in my mind that either way, this weekend will be spectacular!

Waking up this morning I smile.

Twenty-four brand new hours before me.

I vow to live fully in each moment

and to look at all beings with the eyes of love.

{Thich Nhat Hanh}