ROADTRIP!

FRI Nov. 30, 2012

Off to Wilmington this weekend I go!

Some of my best of best friends live in Wilmington so what better way to end the month than to spend it with my second family? I foresee lots of catching up, a trip to Hobby Lobby, hazelnut coffee in the morning, Flaming Amy's and just the best of company. On a not-so-fun note, we are sending off a dear friend of ours as he makes a move to Philly. I will miss you Sean! I never thought we would get to know each other so well and have countless adventures, but I hope they treat you well up there. North Carolina will always keep her arms open for you ;)

Okay, I should go pack and make a kick-butt playlist for the trip or something.

Have a safe and wonderful weekend friends! xo

TUESDAY TUNES v.16 | FIREPLACE SONGS

TUES Nov. 27, 2012

 

Noisetrade is one of my favorite sources to find new indie artists, or those special live sessions with the well-known indie musicians. Since it is officially POST Thanksgiving, it is only appropriate we start playing the Christmas music! Noisetrade is always offering free music downloads so I am constantly checking out new artists...and you should too.

This week The Music Bed came out with a Holiday Sampler featuring artists such as Amy Stroup (featured here), Drew Holcomb, Katie Herzig and Matthew Mayfield to just name a few. I have listened to this sampler about five times all the way through already and I highly recommend it!

If you are looking for the not-so-typical Christmas music that doesn't include 90's Pop covers or "Santa Baby", here is a mix that gives you the perfect mix of holiday cheer without the side effects of a broken record. Who wouldn't want an indie Christmas?

To listen to the songs before downloading them, just click on the play button to your right and let the music speak for itself. If you like it enough, go ahead and download it for free :) I have been downloading music from Noisetrade for quite some time so I can promise you it is safe, completely legal and properly licensed.

Let the Christmas music season begin!
Do you have any favorite holiday music must-haves?
I would love to hear them and check them out!

Also, I am not sure how long they will be offering this free sampler, as The Music Bed offers several throughout the year, so be sure to download asap! The links may expire sooner than later and may not work in the future.

View other Tuesday Tunes posts here.

This post was not sponsored in any way by Noisetrade. I just consider them to be a great, reliable source for legal free music.

001 >> INSPIRED BY

MON Nov. 26, 2012

quote | print | photograph

These are just a few things that are inspiring me this week//

- Focusing on the present

- Changing of seasons

- The little details that go unnoticed

What is inspiring you?

Follow me on Pinterest.

WHEN THE LITTLE THINGS ARE THE BIG THINGS

SAT Nov. 24, 2012

Little things I appreciated this week//
knitted sweaters
time passing slowly
tea time with best friends
Thai food
when shuffle plays all my favorites
lyrics
pillows
alarms turned off
One Tree Hill
walking the aisles of crafts stores
buying presents for others
buying presents for yourself
peppermint mochas
a new [knitted] scarf
Christmas lights
Bon Iver
discovering new music
Pinterest
polka dot socks
snow globes
chalk paint
lunch breaks
creating

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things."

I forget to remind myself of this sometimes. I get caught up in the big picture and let my worry of the "big things", such as finances or the future overwhelm me that I forget to sit back and appreciate the little things in life. A peppermint mocha isn't just a peppermint mocha.. it is the peppermint mocha that my mother bought me while we bonded over Black Friday. The snow globe isn't just a snow globe.. it's the first piece of Christmas decoration my mother bought me that I can have in my home for many years to come. The chalk paint isn't just chalk paint... it's the chalk paint I used to make time to create something on my diy to-do list. It gave me a chance to put deadlines on pause. 

They may seem like meek or mundane things that may go unnoticed, but they are everyday sources of happiness that are right under our nose. What are the little things you appreciated this week?

top photo: (c) Melissa. Thankful card template created by Oana Befort.
bottom photos: Instagram. Follow me @mashleyvega

GIVING THANKS

THURS Nov. 22, 2012 - Thanksgiving Day

Smells of baked goods and turkey from the kitchen, laughter from the living room and homes filled with love... welcome again Thanksgiving! It is refreshing that we take a day from our busy lives to sit back and reflect on the wonderful things to be thankful for. Even though Thanksgiving can mean running around the grocery store like a man man, staying up late planning for meals and Black Friday sales or the thought of hosting all your family members making sure they're comfortable and well fed... keep in mind the true essence of this holiday - being thankful for life, love and everything in between.

This time of year, I don't mind all the "annoying" posts about Thanksgiving and what we are each thankful for. Honestly, I think every news feed should be filled with that kind of energy instead of the negativity I see. So I welcome all the Thanksgiving posts and "annoying" hashtags because it is great seeing people saying thank you once in awhile.

THANK YOU FOR:
- The solid relationships I have built over the years and the family that support + stand behind me throughout my life. I have these people to thank for helping me through the bad times and celebrating through the good. There will be many people who come into your life and some that stray, but every person in your life came in for a reason, and you should thank them for that. (I could write a whole novel on these people <3)

- The moments I wake up in the morning knowing I have another day.

- The jobs and opportunities I have come across throughout life, especially post grad. My future shines a little brighter because of you!

- Experiencing love and all it has to offer.

- The little things in life that sometimes are not so little: mixed cds, handwritten letters + cards, opened doors, lunch dates, lazy days, nutella, pumpkin cookies, pattern, yoga pants, yoga, knitted scarves, vinyl, holding hands, Skype, sale racks, Mulan, etc.

- Moments when time passes by quickly and moments when time passes slowly.

- People who walk in as strangers and stay as friends.

- Travels that end safely.

- Gatherings around the fire place.

- The mere joys of road trips.

- Not only being alive, but truly living.

Just remember to have some reflection today and say thank you today, tomorrow and the days that follow.

Picture via instagram, @mashleyvega and card template created by Oana Befort, www.oanabefort.com.

MY LOVE FOR RECORDS

MON Nov. 19, 2012

During my weekend in Boone, I visited one of my favorite record stores, 641 RPM and just had to splurge. Because of my gypsy lifestyle (ha, not really), I had been separated from my records + record player for over three months (yikes!). In celebration of our reunion, a visit to record store concluded with my purchase of four new albums: Mumford & Sons, Jose Gonzalez, The Lumineers and Bon Iver. Quite the finds! I think my wallet will be okay about these :)

I will not pretend to be well educated on the practice of vinyl collecting nor do I consider myself enough of a music snob to "know" what I am talking about, but I just love the idea of collecting records. There is a definite difference in the experience of listening to music from a record player in comparison to an iPod, computer speakers, etc. It is so much more intimate. You physically see the connection of how the music is played and it just feels raw and right. I just jumped on board a few years ago after a good friend of mine bought me my first records, but I am quite positive this will be a lifelong hobby.

I don't know about you but I am head over heels that records have made a "come back".
Go keep your local record stores in business and GO VINYL!

Bottom two photos are via instagram. Follow me at mashleyvega!

WHAT HAPPENED?

WED NOV. 15 | 2012

A month without blogging? What happened to you Melissa?
Well, life happened and it surely does not slow down for any one.  There have been lots of changes professionally, personally and generally. From your best friends getting married to landing a full-time job, post graduate life isn't so bad, right? First and foremost, here are some quick updates to cushion my apology for being such a lame and uninteresting blogger >>

THE JOB(S)
About a month and a half ago I started working for a mortgage banking company as a Loan Processor. Like any full-time position, there are dull moments, moments when I want to pull my hair out, moments when I feel really secure and moments when I feel like I don't know what the heck I am doing! More so on the latter. It has absolutely nothing to do what I initially wanted to do professionally, but has created some wonderful opportunities for me. It is definitely a challenge, but who doesn't love those?

Even though I help process loans in the day, by night/weekends, I am a graphic designer & content developer part time! In college I interned with a wonderful business, Yoga G33k Health Promotions (YGHP), founded by Courtney Pearce, and in September she officially hired me. THIS my friends, is my absolute dream job. I get to work with the most inspiring, creative and down-to-earth person I have ever met and express myself creatively through my work. It may be just part-time right now, but my heart is in it one hundred percent. We have some big plans in the works and I can't wait to share it with the world soon enough!

ETC, ETC
Other than work, I have taken a few small road trips, become a god mother, spent some time with family/friends and started creating my post-graduate life. Moving back to Raleigh was never in the plan, but that's the funny thing about life, plans change. At first I was really bummed out I was back in the town I called home through most of my life, but Raleigh is quite a different city in your twenties. I plan to explore more of this city and find all its hidden gems! It's not where you are, it's who you're with ;)

I have some great posts in the works, but if I suck at blogging, feel free to follow me via Twitter & Instagram! I am trying to stay connected to the blogging world but forgive me if I start to slack again. I need to start finding that "extra hour" as my blog advocates.

*Photo (c) Melissa Vega
Taken in Washington D.C. during a weekend trip for my Dad's marathon.