Music

À tout à l’heure

You know that feeling when you’re immersed in something entirely new and different and every experience starts to feel a bit like poetry for the senses? All of your excitement and fear runs together and makes you wish you could write songs or spit rhymes so that you could accurately convey all it is that you’re seeing, hearing, thinking, feeling.

I have been given the opportunity of a summer in Manhattan, brimming with the potential for adventure, exploration, self-discovery and development. I will be the advertising intern for Daryl Roth Theater; I start Monday and I’m teetering at the edge of a big, long diving board, just waiting to dive in. I’m a little nervous, very excited and, hopefully, I will make a splash.

Sure, I am living in a 100 square-foot apartment (get ready for a “room tour” — no really, it’s just one room so the tour will be short). Sure, I still question whether I am cut out for all of this. But I am starting to realize that all of these challenges and changes are just a part of a larger, more beautiful equation. And in this city, I feel electric.

A dear friend told me not too long ago that he thought my spark had dimmed and I acknowledged that there was definitely some truth to his words. This semester I chose to push to the back burner a lot of things that gave me joy, sacrificing them for the sake of school work and other responsibilities. While it’s hard to feel the every day impact of giving these things up, looking back on the last three months, I knew that I had become less happy with myself for not putting more into these outlets.

It has been a long time since my last post, and I am so thrilled to be throwing myself back in the saddle, especially when it feels like my life has gone from “pause” to “play”. And now, I will rewind to give you all a better glimpse at a couple landmark moments from the past few months worth sharing:

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Many more big city adventures to come, and for this I couldn’t be happier.

365 Days of Love

I spent yesterday compiling a playlist of my friends’ favorite unconventional love songs to share with you all. Valentine’s Day is now a full year away, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still celebrate love all year round.

unconventional love songs by Madeline Beard on Grooveshark

Happy Friday readers! More adventures to come, for now I am off to enjoy the first night of spring.

Treat Yo’ Self

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

Okay, I know what you’re probably thinking: “Here we go, a nice big post filled with photos of puppies in baskets, children dressed up as baby cupids and old couples holding hands next to a scenic lake or mountainscape.” Now everyone utter the obligatory collective groan and give me a chance to explain.

None of the following will be included in tonight’s ramblings. I will, however, try to point out the redeeming qualities of the holiday. First of all, let’s all remember this: it’s a holiday. A time for celebration. Sure, you may not get the day off of work, and maybe you don’t have a “valentine”, but this is no reason to keep yourself from having fun. From the wise people at Parks & Rec, you gotta treat yo’ self:

Valentine’s Day is as good of a time as ever to treat yo’ self — I mean, it is a holiday all about love, so who better to love than yourself? Sounds good, right? Right. In case you need a bit of inspiration, I have come up with a little list of my favorite day-to-day indulgences…

but first, you’re required to listen to this India.Arie song:

Now, on to the list:

1. Bake something decadent — then share it with friends!

Photo Credit: Madeline Beard

Photo Credit: Madeline Beard

Photo Credit: Madeline Beard

2. Wear something wild

Photo Credit: Madeline Beard

Photo Credit: Madeline Beard

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3. Wear mustaches for the hell of it

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These things stray from the standard treat-yo-self collection of massages, mimosas and fine leather goods that seem popular around this holiday. When I think about treating myself, it’s less about the material and more about what will make me feel the best… and let me tell you, there is no better feeling than sporting a fake mustache for a night. What do you do to treat yourself? I hope this post will spark your desire to celebrate yourself and those around you — it’s Valentine’s Day guys, might as well just spread the love.