Sit Still, Look Pretty.

"Sure I'm a pretty girl

up in a pretty world.

But they say pretty hurts

and I don't wanna sit still."

- Daya.

THIS. SONG. IS. SO. BEYOND. LIFECHANGING. (insert clap emojis in there somewhere.)

I am all about this whole trend of women empowerment lately. Granted, it's been going on since suffrage (thank you 19th Amendment), but still, I feel this modern take on the idea of feminism. As I always put it, snaps and all, we can be independent women and kill the game all the same. 

Daya is ma gurl when it comes to that. She may be only 16 and not signed to a major label, but she knows how to be successful in her own right. She has got it made, and this song is just the beginning for her. 

Be on the lookout because she is about to blow up your radio like no tomorrow. She is just climbing her way to the top all by herself.

(courtesy of: Youtube, Daya)

New Americana.

"We know very well who we are.

So we hold it down when summer starts."

- Halsey.

I love my Bruin Recruiter family. Let me say that again. I LOVE MY BRUIN RECRUITER FAMILY.

Being a part of this organization for a couple years now, I've definitely seen the highs and lows of it. 

Lows: waking up before the sun is around, standing in 30-degree weather on the sidewalk, eating pulled pork.

Highs: getting to see some of my favorite people all the time and having a laugh at all of the shenanigans that go along with this club.

In this case, the pros outweigh the cons. No doubt about it.

Especially now that I'm not only a Bruin Recruiter, but a tour guide and welcome desk worker, I pretty much live in the Office of Admissions. But there is no better place to eat too many Skittles from the candy jar or answer...interesting...phone calls. 

Simply put, I love it. I love our Preview Days and our tours and early mornings at the desk more than lots of other things at the moment. To be honest, I was having a conversation the other day with another senior in the program and thoughts about our last Preview Day came up. As we both looked at each other to ponder the idea, we (mid-tearing up) were like, "Never mind, let's not even mention that right now." 

So, yes. I love it. 

BRUIN RECRUITERS 5EVER.

John Cougar. John Deere. John 3:16.

"And I learned everything I needed to know

from John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16."

- Keith Urban.

Yet another year of exploring the Tennessee State Fair and another year of explaining what FFA stands for to my friends.

While I'm no country girl with cowboy boots and a Carhartt to match, I do know my way around the agricultural industry. I grew up having "green hands" for friends and played with 4-H animals out at the farm. Besides, the main event of every summer from my hometown is the fair and we like to hoedown, for sure.

But my pals from California, New York and Florida, respectively, don't know squat about being a little hick. I went to the fair in hopes to pet the cows and eat some corn straight off the cob. They went to the fair to try their hands at carnie games and see the "sugar gilder" animal. Umm...what?!

Despite our slight disagreements on getting down and dirty in the dust, we all stuffed our faces on fried Oreos and walked around in the glow of the Tilt-a-Whirl lights. It signified a bittersweet kiss goodbye to summertime in the South (which I'm still not sure if I'm prepared for).

But give me the smell of alfalfa and the overcrowded overall scene and I am, once again, at home.

On My Mind.

"You don't mess with love,

you mess with the truth."

- Ellie Goulding.

MY GIRL IS BACK, GUYS.

Ellie Goulding has become pretty much my #WCW over the past year. I was a little late to the party, but Ellie knows how to slay the game. She's been away for a while, making new stuff, and in the meantime, I have been catching up with the old music. 

But she released a new single today and I don't think I'll ever get over it.

I've never been a huge fan of the whole EDM trend, but I do like a good dance tune. You know, a little bit of Calvin and a little bit of Disclosure. But nothing where the beat breaks your eardrums. No, that ain't allowed.

Ellie brings the cool to the pop with this one and I'll be shocked if this doesn't become every girl's break-up anthem. Heck, I'll be surprised if this doesn't become everyone's pump-up jam. Because I can definitely say I'm going to be getting ready to this song for the rest of the school year. It's just the absolute JAM.

Can I just be you, Ellie? Please. You're my new hero and you ROCK MY WORLD.

Listen to the song on Spotify below:

On My Mind--Ellie Goulding

Long Gone.

"I will not be defined by you."

- Worry Dolls.

You know what's the weirdest yet coolest thing right now? London friends becoming Nashville friends.

Kelly and I met up with Zoe and Rosie, or Worry Dolls, while we were across the pond. We went to a couple of their basement pub shows and even met them for dinner near the O2. And now, they live in Nashville. What even is life?!

Reverting back to our London ways, Kelly and I crashed their first Nashville gig in, coincidentally, a bar. Same idea, different place. 

But they did not disappoint the American audience. They killed it, for sure.

I'm loving this whole idea that London still hasn't left me yet. It might be thousands of miles away, but the love and the memories of it isn't far at all.

It's right where I want it to be.

21.

"That's the way that we're doing it, doing it.

We go big or we go back home."

- Hunter Hayes.

Hunter dared us to give our 150% during the show. He wanted us to go crazy with him. Meanwhile, Sam Hunt told us that we needed to bring the house party game up a notch and to jump around. Then, Lady Antebellum wanted us to remember those who lost their lives so we could be dancing and singing along.

But last night was definitely worth the last-minute splurge.

Tori and I entered the war zone that is Downtown on a Friday night. We had no tickets and not a lot of cash, but we had the determination that wouldn't be challenged. After a random lady stopped us mid-mission to tell us the show sold out during the day, we felt a tad discouraged. But we weren't giving up. We couldn't. We needed in.

15 minutes and a quick conversation later, we found ourselves in 106 with direct contact to the catwalk. Basically, we could see them and with the lights on, they could totally see us. (Shout out to Sam Hunt for waving to our section.)

It may be silly, but I judge concerts on a lot of different aspects. One of which has to do with the playlist before each artist comes out to perform. Sam Hunt was first up, and his prelude was the 1975. Guys. HE PLAYED ROBBERS BEFORE HE CAME ON.

From then on out, it was official: this concert was going to compete with all the rest for best show ever.

Oh, and let me tell you. It competed and I'm pretty sure I can tell you it's now in my top 5. Like, ever. 

I laughed. I cried. I got chills. 

And after every single song, I either screamed of pure joy or just couldn't stop saying, "That was so cool/amazing." No joke. 

Every. Single. Song.

That show made me remember why I love concerts. It reminded me why I choose to spend money on shows over food or clothing. That show made me think about how much music matters. That, my friends, is such a rewarding feeling.

Goodness gracious. Post-concert depression over that one will never leave me. It was just too good for words or life. 

And we didn't go home.

WE WENT BIG.

Take Your Time.

"I don't wanna blow your phone up.

I just wanna blow your mind.

I don't have to take your heart.

I just wanna take your time."

- Sam Hunt.

GUYS. I MET SAM HUNT. 

You know how we all just love Fido? Well, that's pretty much the popular opinion around this town. No matter who you are or what you do, you've definitely been to Fido and you definitely like something from there.

With that in mind, Tori, Kelly and I made our weekly visit to our favorite place just for kicks. Who knew that Sam Hunt would have the same idea as us and would walk through the door? Great minds think alike, I hear!

After a good 30 minutes of contemplating and deciding this opportunity was worth more than our pride, we went for it. And said hi. And asked for a picture. And kept a conversation with him.

LIKE WHAT.

Sure, we might not be able to show our faces in Fido anytime soon (sorry, ego), but we can check off meeting a celebrity in public off our college bucket lists. Boom boom to that.

Also: thank you Sam for taking a couple minutes out of your busy schedule to stop for us. YOU ROCK OUR WORLDS. Truly. From losing our minds when we listened to you in London to making you the CD of the summer, we love you.