Here I Am Alive.

"They say you don't grow up,

you just grow old.

It's safe to say

I haven't done both."

-Yellowcard.

Laughter is the best medicine. After a rather mediocre day filled with mundane classes and chilly weather, I need a pick me up. SNL: Sports Edition and endless amounts of pizza saved the day and made my life. Well, at least for the past two hours. And I guess tomorrow's Friday, which I really need right about now. 

The weekend holds better things than the present and the week ahead will be a breeze. If stress hits my path, I swing right back and do me. That's what I need right now. To focus on my mental health and keep things light. The light keeps me going. That and summer alt songs. And $20 pizza deals. And raunchy skit humor.

Yep, story of my life and proof of my immaturity.

La Copa De La Vida.

"Here we go,

allez, allez, allez.

Go go go!

Allez, allez, allez."

-Ricky Martin.

I'm not lying to you when I say that I have been singing this song for the past three days straight. While I'm cooking a corn dog, it's there. When I'm doing my makeup in the morning, on repeat. When I'm trying to not get frustrated in Media Writing class, it is my hope. Plot twist: I haven't listened to this song since I was about seven. Like what. I think my mind needs a better sense if prioritizing.

Let's get it stuck in your head for the next, I don't, ETERNITY.

Yellow.

"Look at the stars.

Look how they shine for you

and everything you do."

-Coldplay.

Figuring out that this is one of my favorite songs ever was the greatest discovery I've had in a while. Enough to share this new classic for Tune Tuesday. Coldplay gets the best of me no matter what song it is. And this one is one for the ages.

I'm Coming Out.

"I'm coming out.

I want the world to know.

Got to let it show."

-Diana Ross.

The Motown mood makes life a tad more musical and more meaningful. Or so it seems after conducting what I would like to think as the best interview to date. The team of Megan + Monica proves to be a perfect partnership and I could not be more stoked to tell the world about their creations and visions. 

Revivalist is not just about fashion. It's about a culture. It's about empowerment. It's about self-respect. It's about regaining confidence. It's establishing the right of dressing and feeling like a woman. It's about embodying the femininity of a piece of clothing and allowing it to add to your fierceness or power or whatever strength you may have. And that's why this up-and-coming brand is so important for me to write about and publicize. 

Simplistic silhouettes and classic crowns celebrate the true nature of beauty within each individual woman. We are His daughters and we deserve to feel loved and capable. Clothes can make a woman and bring out a side within her that she may never recognize. 

Revivalist is the beginning of a change in the fashion industry. I'm sure of it. It's where the vintage meets the modern and the sophistication meets the flirt. 

We must all hang on the fall deadline for the release of this line, but until then, imagine a world of haute hues and pretty patterns. Become a Revivalist.

revivalistbrand.squarespace.com

Follow Your Arrow.

"You're damned if you do

and you're damned if you don't,

so you might as well just do

whatever you want."

-Kacey Musgraves.

The Grammys had one heck of a show tonight and if you didn't catch them...boy, you totally missed out. From the 30+ marriages on stage to Beyonce's banging chair dance, that stage was on fire. It's been a great while since I've seen Staples Center light up like it did tonight. Man, oh man. 

The fashion was on point as well, considering I didn't see any dresses (or suits, if I may add) that I hated. Everyone had their own magnifique to bring to the carpet and here are just a few I'd love to highlight for you:

She's surely a winner...and a stunner. Kacey Musgraves bringing out the glittery and whimsical side in this pale pink confection by Armani Prive. Cheers to you and your gold statues.

And you can call her Queen B. Forever praising Beyonce for her always glamorous fashion. Stunning in this white Michael Costello number...floral design and all.

It's true what they say about pregnant women glowing. Ciara, pulling off this golden design by Emilio Pucci, sparkles brighter than ever before. Plus, her hair and makeup are on point.

Cane? Check. Grills? Check. Ralph Lauren suit? Triple check. Madonna is truly a living legend, donning a signature single glove and her beautiful blonde locks. All hail.

Red dresses are honestly my vice. The delicate yet edgy neckline made this Ezra Santos dress fit Colbie Caillat to perfection. Sheer beauty.

XO.

"Your face is all that I see.

I'll give you everything.

Baby love me lights out."

-Beyonce.

Facetime is great time. I got to video chat with one of my long lost favorites whom I haven't seen in about three years. And yet, through everything, she and I are as close as ever. And she's one of the few that hasn't changed even though we both have grown so much. It's such a beautiful thing to have a friendship with someone like her. What a light.

It also occurred to me that my best from the east turned the big 2-0 today. LOVE MY BOO. Another one with the whole 'long time, no see' but she's still one of the first I go to for absolutely everything. She's my Virginia sister and I wouldn't change it for the world.

With all the reminiscing and old friends, I'm going to pull this blog into an Instagram and put up a #TBT. Back to the good ol' days, where DC was my city of choice and goodbyes were filled with love and endless tears. Ah, taking it back to one of the best weeks of my life. Hands down. 

Hey soul sister, raise your glass and be fly like a G6.

Young, Dumb & In Love.

"Put your hand with a feather tattoo

on your wrist

on this skinny little white boy's

fat hustling hips, oh oh."

-Mat Kearney.

What day is it? What day is it...?

HUMP DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY.

That's right. We've made it halfway through Week 3, people. This is exciting news. And lots of good stuff is on the rise...

1. SB2K14--going back to the love of my life, California. Well, it's actually going to turn out a bit like ASAP says..."vacate in Atlanta then she going back to Cali." Quick stop where the Georgia peaches grow to see my brother graduate military training (again). Then onwards to the sunny state I love too dearly. 

2. Why not celebrate my 20th birthday a little early? Like, I should jump right into my twenties, you know? How about I treat myself to a little skydiving...because that really might happen. March 15. Jumping out of a plane. Happy Birthday to me...a month in advance. YESSSSSSSSSSSS.

3. One of the bests I've mentioned from time to time on here has said yes to the adventure of our lives. Two college girls are roadtripping on Route 66 from the Music City lights to the warm beaches of California. 2000 miles. 5 days. 2 girls. A trip of a lifetime. 

4. For all of you non-morning people, I have a proposition for you: sunrise yoga. Nothing is as therapeutic as breathing away your worries as the dawn fades to day. And that's coming from someone who loves to lounge in bed. Trust me...yoga mornings are good mornings.

5. Shall we do a Want Wednesday? Why not.

Faux Real. by kelly-brickey featuring a brown purse

Talk Dirty.

"You know the words to my songs.

No habla ingles."

-Jason Derulo feat. 2 Chainz.

Please just watch this. It'll brighten this chilly Tuesday. Trust me.

Best Day Of My Life.

"I'm never gonna look back.

Woah, never gonna give it up.

No, just don't wake me now."

-American Authors.

It's a been a while. A long while, as a matter of fact. From physically getting sick on Friday night to my roomie roadtrips to Franklin this afternoon, life has been a whirl. Recap on my MIA lifestyle.

Birthdays and bowling are some of my favorite things. Add fried chicken and dressing up to the mix and you get Kelly's 20th birthday party. Sure, the night didn't really end in my favor (I'll save you the sick details), but it was a good one. Welcome to the twenties, girl.

With a three day weekend in store, we made the best of our holiday by soaking up the rare January sun in Franklin. Stumbling into stores and feasting on French fries, some of my favorites and I spent the afternoon in the glorious 60-degree weather. It was THE BEST. My main purchase came from a little store called Anthropologie. No, I'm not going bohemian chic. But my creativity will definitely be sparked with my new writing book. Maybe, I'll even share a few topics on here from time to time. And if you love to write, I deffo recommend this one for those of you who need a pen and paper to tell your story.

Gold Rush.

"And maybe you should learn to love her,

like, like the way

you wanna be loved."

-Ed Sheeran.

Writing is the hardest thing. As much as it is one of my favorite things to do, it sucks. Does that mean I'm doing it the right way? I have no idea. People tell me all the time that if your dreams don't scare you, you are thinking big enough. Eh, I like my comfortable life, thank you very much. It's easy without change and life is simple when there is no responsibility on my shoulders.

I don't know where this lack of motivation came from. Maybe I wore myself out as a kid, but that's a dumb excuse. Really I'm just rambling right now because like I said, writing is hard.

And so is life. Ugh.

Made it half way through the week, guys. Group hug. Two more days. Two. More. Days.

Little House.

"I love this place,

but it's haunted

without you."

-Amanda Seyfried.

What's up, Tune Tuesday? This week, I'm going in a different direction. Back to my high school favorites. You may have heard this song in a little movie called Dear John. I'm going to be honest and say that every Nicholas Sparks movie has the best soundtrack. Dear John is not an exception in that rule. 

From beach bum music like 311 to singer-songwriters such as Rosi Golan, the CD has the best of the best for the chill jams. Surprisingly enough, Amanda Seyfried knows how to sing...and very well, if I say so myself. Her vocal vibrato and flawless tone leave for a raw performance on this acoustic hit. 

Perfection, truly.

Details In The Fabric.

"If it's a broken part, replace it.

If it's a broken arm, then brace it.

If it's a broken heart, then face it."

-Jason Mraz.

I promised the continuation of a fashion best and worst. Here continues the saga of red carpet style at the Golden Globes. Worst...

You may think Zac Posen would never look this bad, but it does. Canary yellow is SO not Lena Dunham's color and this dress obviously doesn't fit. No, just don't. You ruined it for everyone.

Honestly, I hate having to do this review. But Zoe Saldana just bombed on this one. Sure, she has some of the best looks in Hollywood at the moment, but this Prabal Gurung number is too much and too much wrong all at once. Yuck.

Ruffles gone wild. Done.

Honesty hour: I hated this gown from the beginning. Kaley Cuoco's Rani Zakhem dress is: washed out, horribly hued, bad bustier. And her hair? PUT IT UP. PLEASE.

Pregnant people should be glowing. Drew Barrymore's smile is trying to cover up the fact that this Monique Lhullier dress is downright awful. Too many florals, so little time. It's like a garden threw up and...yeah, I'll stop while I'm hot.

While I'm at it, here is my latest co-creation for my journalism career. The site is called Spotted and it is the one stop shop for all the hottest trends and greatest outfits by Belmont students. Enjoy!

http://spottedatbelmont.wordpress.com/

Take Back The Night.

"They gon' try to shut us down.

I'll be damned if we gon' let 'em

take back the night."

-Justin Timberlake.

THE AWARDS SEASON HAS BEGUN. I repeat (in a calmer tone of type) the awards season has begun. My time to shine, or well, pick my bests and worsts of the night. As much as most people love the bad news first, I prefer discussing my favorites before the storm rolls in. Just a few picks for the night.

If you don't agree that Kate Beckinsale is one of the most beautiful people alive, you're just wrong. Shining in silver like the star she is in this Zuhair Murad strapless number. 

Usually pregnant people look elegant in a flowy, babydoll dress. But Olivia Wilde breaks that stereotype by stepping out in this gorgeous green Gucci Premiere gown.

This is one of the millions of reasons I want to be just like her. Giuliana Rancic can do no wrong, especially in this maroon Lorena Sarbu dress with beading and mesh. Fabulous, am I right?

I can't believe I'm doing this. I may be delusional because it's late and I was up early. But I actually sorta kinda love this fashion risk Emma Watson took. Dior done right with the half dress-half pants combo. And that back is to die for so...

Praise you, Lupita Nyong'o. Ralph Lauren in red has never looked so good. Hands down best of the night. Done. Ooooh kill 'em.

Amber.

"Launched a thousand ships in my heart, so easy.

Still it's fine from afar,

and you know that."

-311.

Missing California big time today. The beginning of the semester always keeps me guessing for what the future holds, and right now, all my mind is set on is summer. If only four months moved faster than I like.

Thankfully, tomorrow is Friday, giving me my first break of the semester. It's not like I've been working too hard this week, but I'm over this back-to-school deal. It's stressing me out and I ain't about that life. Sorry not sorry.

I wish I could sit here in my new fuzzy blanket (thanks to my lovely roommate, Kelly) and drink Starbucks hot chocolate (another shoutout to the rooms) and watch endless hours of TV. I mean, the life, right?

One more day this week. We got through it guys. Group hug everyone. 

Another Love.

"And I wanna cry,

I wanna learn to love.

But all my tears

have been used up."

-Tom Odell.

Tonight, it was about the people and it was about the choices they make. Well, that got the cheesy intro out of the way. But really now. It was the People's Choice Awards 2014. And here comes the beginning of Awards Season 2014. Bests of the night:

This dress was not love at first sight. But after seeing Miss Naya in a picture, I'm obsessed with the neutral toned, color blocked Michael Kors number. And those shoes are simply solid.

J-Hudson. Just stop. Your skin? Flawless. Dress? On point. Hair? Beautiful. This white KaufmanFranco dress is too fab.

I now understand why everyone and their mother is in love with Jessica Alba. This zippered bandage dress is to die for and her body is...well, let's be honest...banging.

Oh yeah, and Coachella was announced. Saving up for an adventure starts now.

Dark Horse.

"It's in the palm of your hand now, baby.

It's a yes or a no, no maybe."

-Katy Perry & Juicy J.

If I am looking at this correctly, this is the first Tune Tuesday of the New Year. To start it all off for 2014, I'm using one of the Top 40 charts. I know I usually try to branch out and find something a little more on the odd side, but this song is the jam. 

Let's be honest: I hated this song at first. I thought it was a sad attempt for our little KatyKat to be "gangster". But the more this song has gotten ingrained in my head, the more I think it actually works. Surprisingly enough, it's another one to add to her list of hits. 

Without further ado, here comes your Tune. (And for most of you readers, I believe you've heard this one more than once lately, eh?)

Letter To Me.

"And I'd end up saying

have no fear.

These are nowhere near

the best years of your life."

-Brad Paisley.

Tomorrow is my last day. Dramatic draw, isn't it? Well, to be honest, I don't know how to feel. That's why I'm letting people make what they want from it. This always happens to me. The start of a new semester makes me anxious because I just don't know. My classes may be hard or I may have easy As on the way. The cold may get the best of me or I could make the best of it. I may land the perfect summer or...well, no matter where I end up, it will be a great summer. Scratch that one. I may get homesick or I could fall even harder in my love for Tennessee. 

And not knowing, for me, is the most terrifying of all things.

I wish I could say I was one of those carefree people who lives a life of "oh well" than "what if". But I constantly fall into the fear of many things, one of them being the future. Yeah, yeah, I need to live for the now, but that's not good enough. I like a plan. I like things in order. I like things where they're supposed to be. And the future, at this point, is not that.

Okay, time to just shut up and take a chill pill. (My key phrase at the moment. Get on my level.) Like my college mantra has become, no matter what, I have my friends. I have my family. I have my health. And I'm alright. Nothing is going to hurt me. Well, unless I clumsily fall down while trying to carry my 50 pound suitcases up to my apartment on Monday. But that's beside the point.

A new semester is another chapter. As frightening as that sounds, things are going to be........

okay.

Signs.

"I believe in anything

that brings you back home to me."

-Bloc Party.

After going through some of the best Chuck and Blair moments, I came across an episode during mid-season 2. Sorry for the spoilers if you're just chiming into the life that is Gossip Girl, but Bart dies. And in the mourning, the love between these two rises. Keeping these moments and this song alive, I plan to use this Friday Five to honor the great Queen B. I'm talking about you, Miss Waldorf. Just some of the best from one of the best.

This dress...it just makes me speechless. Royally flushed do I become after seeing this beauty of a masterpiece. Fit for a queen.

Maybe this moment just so happens to be one of my favorites. But this look with a ruffle, flowy top mixed with the printed pencil represents how carefree Blair is in this episode. 

It seems as if this New York Cinderella has lost a slipper. No fear! Her mod 50s look still looks beyond glamorous, polka dots and all.

No Blair breakdown is complete without a headband. The staple in her wardrobe seems to be quite complemented by her kelly green coat and Alice-in-Wonderland tights.

Elie Saab outdid himself with this one. Blair glows in baby blue with this wedding wardrobe. Three words, eight letters.

Crown On The Ground.

"You couldn't care less.

You love goodness.

You think it's endless,

endless, endless."

-Sleigh Bells.

78. Great number, really. More importantly, it just so happens to be the milestone of age my grandmother passed today. I know women don't typically like others to know how old they are, but when you live the life she does, I would brag about every detail of myself. 

But that's besides the point. I was participating in too many New Years festivities to type about Tune Tuesday. Not as hard as those kids in The Bling Ring, that's for sure. But let's be honest: I was out and this was the last thing on my list to think about. Anyways, why do I mention the Bling Ring? Glad you asked.

I spent the late watching the Coppola portrayal of this "based on real events" film and I'm still somewhat apprehensive about my feelings toward the whole thing. Maybe it was good, but maybe it was a tad annoying. The one detail I made a note of, though, is the on-point soundtrack. Too many dope songs, too little time. 

Here's one of my new obsessions on the Good Vibes playlist. I would like to say it gives off a heavy metal approach to electronic music. But hey, what do I know? Tell me how much of an idiotic music reviewer I am by taking a listen for yourself.

The New Year.

"And we scream and clap

for the end of what was

and what we've become."

-Parachute.

New year, new you. Cliche yet very effective for the year change. I'm not all the way convinced that in a 24-hour period, you can "change" who you are but I believe it's another chance. Another chapter. Another road. 

2013 was one for the books. To sum it up in fragmented statements (my favorite), here's what I did: Experienced California from Wisconsin eyes. Loved summer and home more than ever. Danced to the sounds of Ed Sheeran. And One Direction. And John Mayer...twice. And Selena Gomez. And Taylor Swift. And Tim McGraw. Traveled cross country in a tiny car with a lovely lady. Got old, like sophomore in college status. Ate too much cheesecake. Indulged in Love Actually...a lot. Moved into my first apartment with such good people. Slept outside a Chick-Fil-A. 

I loved. I laughed. I lived. 

I'm proud of last year. I'm happy because of everything. I'm good. And that feels so amazing to be able to admit that statement and know it as the truth. Wow.

2014, you have some shoes to fill. I'm not one to put up expectations, but I want to dare myself. I want to challenge life. I want to broaden my surroundings. I want to be...fearless. And nothing more.

Bring. It. On.