CALL ME MAYBE - THAILAND EDITION

Along with thousands of pictures and memories to remind ourselves of the wonderful trip we took to Thailand with EF College Break, a few friends and I took this opportunity to film a music video for "Call Me Maybe" by Carly Rae Jepsen! I think we filmed a good number of places we visited in Thailand including our ride to the Floating Market, Ayutthaya, Pung Waan Resort, Cha Am Beach, Bangkok, Red Light District, Night train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, Death Railway, Night Market, Mr. Changs, paper umbrella factory and a few other random places :)

Here's to hold you over while I edit my 1,500 pictures.
Enjoy!

Kudos to Katie D. for having an awesome camera and editing the video!
We just uploaded the video yesterday, so let's make it viral. Ready...go!

TUESDAY TUNES v.14 | LOVE IS MAKING ITS WAY BACK HOME

What is another cool factor of music? The music videos.
I appreciate the work that goes behind the authentic music industry. The industry that truly focuses on the art and talent of musicians. I respect every position that goes into creating an amazing album from the sound engineer to the artist of the album cover. Music videos has been a drag (primarily if you're watching MTV), but there are still some cool ones out there.

Josh Ritter's "Love Is Making Its Way Home" music video was created with 12,000 pieces of construction paper! Read more about making of the video. Talk about respectable artists. So much kudos thrown your way design team! Plus, this song is fantastic.

I love when you can truly respect the art of art itself.
Construction paper is not so "elementary" any more is it? :)

Tuesday Tunes v.13 | Safe & Sound

So, I don't know if you know but I definitely jumped The Hunger Games bandwagon this past Spring Break.

Yes, I finished all three books.
Yes, I am officially obsessed.

So in honor of finishing the books right in time for the premiere of the film, I thought it would be appropriate to share "Safe & Sound" by The Civil Wars + Taylor Swift. Of course all you Hunger Games folk already know about this song/have played it a million times and probably have shed a tear..or two..or three, but come on, could you really tire of this song?



Aside from the trailer, I think this music video nailed things right on the head of HG. Ah, the little details! I won't say much to not spoil as much as possible, but man! I am so excited. I haven't been obsessed with a book series in at least a couple years (due to my lack of reading anything other than text books) but fiction world, I'm back!

Ps - Any Taylor Swift fans? Well, here's a confession. I am. Did you notice that the Tuesday Tunes post is #13? If you're a fan, you'd know the significance. Honestly, it was not done on purpose. What a fun little added bonus :) Funny how that worked out.

Okay, I'm going to go watch the trailer like 100 times now. Bye.

I have an obsession, and it's called Mumford & Sons.
I will probably write an obsessed series post on them in the near future.
Today I wanted to share a video series they have on YouTube called "Acoustic Bookshop Sessions" where they played an acoustic set at a bookshop in London called Treadwell's. Although their studio recordings are as epic as epic can get, acoustically you can really feel the raw talent they all possess.

I actually saw them in concert this past June in Asheville. Hands down, the best live show I have ever been to and I did not anticipate the headache I got trying to get my hands on their tickets! I thought Mumford & Sons was my little secret a while ago, but I can't help but be overwhelmed with happiness with their current success.

Enjoy the wonderful acoustic songs of Mumford & Sons. I assure you, you will hear more about them in future posts :]

So happy Monday everyone! Here's some music to start your week off right.

Music[video] Monday 007

It's about time that I shared a music video.
Today was a bit of a struggle to find a video, just because I wanted to find the absolute perfect one.
Sure, perfection doesn't exist, but when it comes to this song, it sure comes close.

I am sharing "Rootless Tree" by Damien Rice. Live version from Abbey Road.
If you ever come across any sort of account name I had in the past, the term "rootless tree" should sound familiar. I do warn you, there are a few lines in this song that are explicit, but with the version I'm sharing it's very limited.

Damien has a way of being able to reserve words for when they count.
This song has been there for me for years, ever since it first came out in 2006/2007. The meaning of "rootless tree" changes every time I hear it and I don't know if I'll ever grasp the complete meaning, but I think that's the point.

"What I want from this
Is learn to let go
No not of you
Of all that's been told."

Does anyone remember this day?

It started off horribly and ended wonderfully because of the people surrounding me.
And guess what? The ones that mattered the most stuck.

Sunday's Someday 004 | Music[video] Monday 007 | Hiatus

Hello all,

I know, I know.
I haven't been keeping up with my "day-of-the-week" blog posts, but I've been quite the traveler.
I've spent the past couple of days in Concord, New Hampshire to stay with my Dad enjoying some time exploring the little town. I even went to the theatre alone for the first time. Very liberating. I suggest it!
I'll upload some photos soon of my time in Concord.
For now, I've condensed three days of blog posts into one :]

Hiatus ---

First off, for the next couple weeks I will be the Philippines!
We're spending five days in Manila and the rest in a small province called Leyte.
I may have an opportunity to shoot a blog post every now and then, but considering our itinerary, I most likely won't. So just in case you bloggers wonder why I won't update, it's because I'm in another country :]

Sunday's Someday ---

I'll keep this one short.
Someday, I would like to own a mini cooper.
One kind of like this :]
Someday when I'm successful and my daily attire includes pencil skirts of some sort.
I'm giving myself in the next 2-5 years. *crosses fingers*
The mini cooper will eventually represent the day I am completely independent.
That's why it has deemed a lot of meaning for me.

Image source

Music[video] Monday ---
This week's music video comes from Casual Bedlam's recent blog post. I became obsessed the moment I saw the video and knew I had to share it with my friends and family. It was produced by Drew Barrymore. Pretty cool, huh? The video also showcases many of Holllywood's up and coming actors, so kudos to you young actors! I love music videos with story lines. Enjoy.

Get More: MTV Supervideo, Music, Best Coast

I wish you all safe travels to any where you are going during the last weeks of summer vacation. Enjoy them!

Music[video] Monday 006

I bring to you today - The Weepies
Possibly one of the cutest music videos I've seen.
I like stop-action films a lot and actually attempted to do one myself. (I'll have to find it later)
I am just constantly impressed with videography today and what technology can do,
even the simple music videos are the best.

Again, like to do "Music[video] Monday" because I think most of us forget they exist.
There are so many great music videos out there that are creative and deserve some spotlight.


What are some of your favorite music videos?

Happy Monday
and a happy August!

Music[video] Monday 005

Maybe from Joanna Cosper on Vimeo.

I love your music Ingrid.

Simple as that.

Music[video] Monday 004 + Grandfather Mountain!

I realize I haven't done Music[video] Monday in ....ok, I'll admit it, months.
But it is officially BACK - ON.

Today I share with you "Silver Lining" by Rilo Kiley.
The intro of the song is currently my text ringtone.




Rilo Kiley - 'Silver Lining' from the infantry on Vimeo.

My friends and I got rid of the Monday blues by being tourists and visiting Grandfather Mountain! Located in Linville, N.C., Grandfather Mountains sits, I believe, 5,946 feet above sea level. It was absolutely beautiful. It reinforced my love for the mountains and the area that I live in. You can actually do a lot in Grandfather Mountain aside from the beautiful views. They have an animal exhibit of bears, deers, cougars, eagles and otters, along with trails for easy walkers, or the intense hikers. You can also have picnics all around the area. They provide you with an audio cd when you first enter to help you make your way around (with blue grass music of course) but the views are enough to make the trip 20 minutes from Boone worth it.

During the month of APRIL, they have a great deal for those who live in the High Country. The entrance fee for Grandfather is only a dollar! My friends and I have already planned some picnic trips and hiking exursions!

In conclusion, today was a good day. I spent the rest of my short work day playing donkey kong (no wonder why I have a high heart rate) and watching The O.C.

Oh, and I just signed up for the GRE.
Yeah...life doesn't stop for anyone.

(C) MELISSA VEGA

I'm still a believer.

FYI:
I'm venturing off to Chicago this evening with some of my family!
I am very much excited. First time, but definitely won't be my last (I can feel it)
I'll leave you with something life changing.
Thank you Bon Iver for always singing right into my soul.


"I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bon Iver

"Morning will come,
And I'll do what's right;
Just give me till then
To give up this fight.

And I will give up this fight. "

Music[video] Monday 003

Technically it's Tuesday - also one of my roommate's birthday! Yay for 21st birthdays!
Nonetheless, I'm still doing "music video Monday"

Today - it's Coldplay's "Strawberry Swing"
It's a great song, creative and you know it took time & patience to make.
The imagination is wild,
and it brings me back to sidewalk chalk days :)

It seems like I'm only giving weekly updates :/
Work wise, these two past weeks have been dedicated to serving those hungry stomachs at Primo's. From April 26 to May 8,  I clocked in 64 hours. Remind you, this includes the week of FINALS. Ha. Ha. I might've been a little work heavy these past two weeks, however, I only work one shift this week and then it's Raleigh, (possibly Wilmington) for the next five days or so!
FINALLY - AN ACTUAL BREAK.

Other than that, I've just been wrapping up some internship things and treated myself out to a few items from J. Crew. Initially, the purpose was to find a birthday present, but I eventually did that too. Forty percent off already reduced prices? But of course, little horse!

Some other news include:
- Going to the Philippines in mid August! I do get an international trip this summer (yes!)
- I need to make a serious workout plan. I love my clothes too much to not fit in them.
- I am currently on the fifth Star Wars movie, but technically second movie...if that makes any sense.
& overall really enjoying the things happening in my life right now. Of course, there are some things that could potentially be "better". Sure, you can have everything, but no one said at once.

Good night!

Alas, great days in Boone = picnics! Here are some snapshots of a wonderfully spent day in Boone.

newly purchased picnic basket!

 my beautiful friends!

beautiful [alive] butterfly that posed long enough for us to take 2, 345, 643 pictures!

Music[video] Monday 002 + Update

This week the music video I chose is Sufjan Steven's "For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti"
Sufjan is one of my favorite artists & I'm still getting to know his music.
This music video is the acoustic version of his song, but if are not aware of Sufjan Stevens, I promise you'll fall in love with him as much as I did.
This is one song I could listen to over and over and over and over again.
Especially, on vinyl.

UPDATE:

So in the past couple weeks, my life has gotten exponentially busy...in a very resume building, putting money in my savings account, planning naps throughout the day kind of busy. After getting my acceptance for an internship at Appalachian State's University Department of Communications with one of my favorite professors, I was also offered a position as a press intern for Musicfest 'N Sugar Grove. Along with helping with distributing the press releases and making contacts, I am responsible for their social media, including their Twitter account, Facebook, etc. My manager at Primo's also asked me to admin their facebook page, along with my doubled shifts this week (thank you Graduation and Mother's Day) Hahaha One of my other professors also asked me to help facilitate a focus group in May for a few days! So exciting things are happening but my summer will be busy, busy, busy.

Spring semester officially ends this Wednesday!
I just have to get through a week of working and then it's off to Raleigh I go.
To enjoy a little break before I go hard core on these public relations opportunities.
I'm excited to see my friends from their study abroad programs, celebrate their arrival, internships and life! Family and friends are what I need the most & I look forward to being in the same city as them for once!

I'll explain more about Musicfest 'N Sugar Grove in another blog, but for now, you should follow us on Twitter and Facebook!