Friday, March 30, 2012

Busy Busy Busy!

I KNOW, I KNOW...
I've been terrible lately.
Well... as Forrest Gump would say...
It Happens.

Here's a few pics of what I've been up to to tide you over until I get back in the swing of things.

Jo and I before the Lady A, Darius Rucker, Thompson Square Concert



















Thompson Square and Darius Rucker
My favorite picture of the night of Lady A

I also went to LA last weekend to celebrate my good friend Britt's birthday
The birthday girls is the one standing behind us.

I'll post more next week!
Happy weekend loves!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Music Wednesday: The Cab

This weekend I went down to LA to celebrate my good friends 23rd birthday! But, more on that tomorrow.

For now, my Music Wednesday pick of the week.

This week I'm going with The Cab.
You may have heard their song "Bad" (video above) if you listen to Top 40/Pop radio, but I recently took a listen to the rest of their album and it is not half bad.

They are playing a free unplugged show here in Fresno on April 3rd (the day before my birthday). I thought the show might be a fun way to celebrate my bday with my friends here in town, so I listened to the rest of their album to see if it was something I might be able to convince some friends to go to.

They are nothing amazing, certainly not my favorite by any means- but if you like bands like The Script, or you were ever a fan of Boys Like Girls or The Maine, then you might enjoy these guys too.

My personal favorite song on their album Symphony Soldier is "Temporary Bliss". Side note, I think the album cover for Symphony Soldier is super cool looking.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Going Out Of Town On Weekends...

... always throws my blogging off.

I'll be back tomorrow.
 I promise.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Midnight Movie Hangover

I am currently running on just over 3&1/2 hours of sleep, but it is so so worth it because I went to see THE HUNGER GAMES at midnight last night!!

I've read the book three times, watched all the clips online, and attempted the Katniss side braid in my own hair, so it is safe to say I was dying to see this movie!

It is an INCREDIBLE movie.

Like any movie there were things I liked and didn't like, but I won't go in to that here because I know many of you are probably seeing it this weekend (I'm seeing it again... tonight... twice in less than 24 hours... feel free to judge me now).

Let me know if you have plans to see it/already saw it, and what you thought of it!

Happy weekend!
Happy Hunger Games!
And may the odds be ever in your favor!

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Ticket To Ride

It is quite likely that I may be taking some plane flights in the near futuring (visiting grad programs- I found out yesterday that I got in to Texas A&M, still waiting to hear from Purdue and South Carolina).
That in mind, I laughed while listening to this Sara Evans song.

I wouldn't mind meeting my soulmate on an airplane.
My favorite line:
 "Lord knows I've tried to find a decent guy
It's hard to do
The way I hate to shop, how I love football
You'd think I'd have two"
That's me.
Although hate is too strong of a word for how I feel about shopping, it's more like I've just got to be in the right mood...
Luckily the girl in the song finds love right there on that plane.
I'll let you know if that happens to me... 
Somehow I predict I'll be sitting next to an old woman who chats my ear off the entire time.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

The Hunger Games: Songs From District 12 And Beyond

Surprise, surprise... You all had to know that this Music Wednesday I was going to be sharing my thoughts on The Hunger Games Soundtrack.
Ever since I heard Taylor Swift and The Civil War's "Safe and Sound" way back in December I've been looking forward to the release of this album (almost) as much as I am looking forward to the release of the movie this Friday.

This album is AMAZING. It features bits of country, folk, rock, and indie influences from a range of artists- some of whom you probably know (Taylor Swift, Maroon 5, Miranda Lambert, Kid Cudi), others who might be new to most. Each song embodies the tone of The Hunger Games so perfectly, the music that flows throughout seems serious and a bit somber, matching the lonliness Katniss often feels, but still themes of hope and family find their way in through certain songs lyrics.

I truly love this album as a whole. I will admit though that I think it could have done without the inclusion of Kid Cudi's "The Ruler and The King". That songs seems extremely out of place to me. That one misstep aside, here are a couple of my favorites:

Daughter's Lament- Carolina Chocolate Drops: I was introduced to Carolina Chocolate Drops recently and through the power of Spotify I was able to become a fan of their music. Rhiannon Giddens vocals stand nearly alone on this track that could easily be a scene from Katniss' life at age 11 when her father died. I got chills when I first listened to this song. I love it.

Eyes Open- Taylor Swift: Taylor puts herself in Katniss' shoes in this song, which also parallels the perils of fame in her own life. It's T-Swift. She's amazing. As always.


Run Daddy Run- Miranda Lambert and The Pistol Annies: I saw a clip of the Pistol Annie's at the Hunger Games permiere discussing how they each connected with Katniss and sought to be on the soundtrack. Unlike other artists they were not initially asked, but pushed their way through to be part of this project because they felt so strongly about the series.

Just A Game- Birdy: I have never heard of Birdy, but oh my goodness this girl has a beautiful voice. The lyric that closes this song "We're all just pieces in their game" is (almost) literally a line straight out of the novel.

Overall, I am not sure I have ever been so impressed with a soundtracks ability to interpret a novel in to relevant music. It is also possible that I have never cared quite so much about a soundtrack. Regardless, I am so pleased with The Hunger Games: Songs From Districk 12 And Beyond and hope that it only signifies more amazing things to come in the movie this weekend.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Sometimes/Always

Linking up today. Let's get to it!

Sometimes: I love rainy weekends at home.
Always: I prefer the sunny ones.
The sky couldn't decide if it wanted to be cloudy of sunny on Friday evening.
Sometimes: I wish I had more artistic/creative talents.
Always: I am reminded that I just wasn't born with those gifts... as demonstrated by my horrendous drawsomething drawings.
Seriously, these are probs two of my better drawings... Can you guess what they are supposed to be?
Sometimes: I think I might be a little bit TOO in to my favorite TV shows.
Always: Shows like One Tree Hill have me on the edge of my seat and yelling at my TV.


Sometimes: Blogging every(week)day seems a little overwhelming.
Always: I remember this is my blog, and its totally okay if I miss a week day or two.

Sometimes: I skip every song on my iPod while "shuffling" because they just aren't right...
Always: I feel so satisfied when the right song comes on... Whatever that may be at the moment. 

Sometimes: Working out 4+ days per week feels soooooo daunting.
Always: I feel so much better, and have so much more energy when I do make the effort to get to the gym.
Sometimes: I think I might explode because of how excited I am to see The Hunger Games this Friday!
Always: I know I'll probably see it at least two more times after Friday, so I think I'll survive =)
I thought Jennifer Lawerence's dress for the Premiere was PERFECT.
Linking up with the fabulous Megan from Mackey Madness. Go do it!

Monday, March 19, 2012

I'm Back...

... and I have some exciting news to share with you all!

As many of you may remember I spent the months of January and February studying for/taking the GRE and applying to grad school. Well, I have recently gotten my first acceptance! 

I've been accepted to the Master of Labor and Human Resources program at The Ohio State University!
Me and Brutus!
Throughout the whole process, Ohio State has been at the top of my list. Of the four programs I applied to, it is the only school I have already been to. My best friend, Alex- who you may remember from THIS trip, got her bachelors degree from OSU and is currently getting her masters. Also, one of my best friends from UCLA is a Columbus, OH native- she is in the pic with me on the far right of the collage below.

I am certainly going to wait until I have received decisions from all of the schools, but it was amazing to have my first acceptance come from the university I had been most excited about.

Even though I am a true blue Bruin and we strongly dislike those red-wearing Trojans from across town, I definitely think I could wear red scarlet for the Buckeyes! Heck, I already have =)

These are from my November 2010 trip to visit Alex
Hope you all had a fabulous weekend! Thanks for being understanding of my little break last week! Even though I was not writing, I was definitely still reading all your blogs!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Week Off

Just wanted to stop in and let you guys know that I decided to take a quick little week off from my blog- I know you were totally wondering where I was this week... right? Don't answer that.
This is kind of exactly what I feel like this week.
 I'll be back in full swing next week.

Talk to ya'll then!

Friday, March 9, 2012

It's The Freakin Weekend Baby I'm About To Have Me Some Fun

Hooray!
It is FINALLY Friday!
Did this week feel terribly long to anyone else?

I'm gonna keep this post short and sweet.
 This weekend I am heading off to my favorite city by the bay (SAN FRANCISCO) with this girl.
To do some of this:

(that's actually the mall I will be in)
and probably a little of this...
disclaimer- I stole this pic from google... I don't know these people...
And see this girls new apartment.

And just generally enjoy a weekend of being with friends, eating, shopping, and playing in one of the best cities in the country.

Happy weekend friends!

*snaps to you if you noticed that my title was from R. Kelly's "Ignition Remix"

Thursday, March 8, 2012

I Need A Little Extra Motivation Today

It's Thursday, Friday is only a day away (and now I'm singing Tomorrow from Annie in my head... great) and I need a little extra something to give me the motivation to push on through to the fabulous weekend that I have planned. I decided to look back through my favorited photos on my Tumblr (it was like my Pinterest before I had Pinterest!) and here's a few that made me smile for different reasons. 
I love this girl. I want to look like her, sing like her, dress like her... Basically I just want her life.

Floppy puppies make me happy


Yes.

How could these lil cutie pies not make you smile?
Doesn't this seem even more appropriate considering the current Dair situation that Gossip Girl has goin on?

Watch out!
Well I feel better now. Ready to take on the next two days of work. Hope y'all do too.

XOXO

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

The Good Mad- Set The Lights Just How You Want To...

If you watch "The Lying Game" on ABC Family, you may have heard of The Good Mad, if not you probably haven't. Now, I realize I easily could have alienated serious readers by mentioning an ABC Family show, but don't let that deter you from checking out Allie Gonino, Adam Brooks, and Andy Fischer-Price's music.
Allie plays Laurel Mercer on The Lying Game, and the writers have taken her musical talent to the screen incorporating her actual band mates in to the show. If asked, I'm sure they would say that the appearances on the show have been a huge stepping stone for them in the pursuit of their musical careers.


This trio is an extremely talented group. Allie plays the violin which I find incredibly awesome (mainly because I used to play the viola and I have tons of respect for people that play strings instruments) and mandolin. Between the two boys talents they've got guitar, ukulele, bass, and harmonica covered. And they all sing.
Their music has influences from folk, country, and a bit of indie rock (both boys were in an indie rock band prior to forming The Good Mad). They describe their music here as "part of the new folk generation... It's an earthy, folk-americana sound." I think that is a perfect assessment of their music although they claim it still needs work. 


It's almost too easy to compare them to the Civil Wars; both bands have male and female vocals with folk guitar based sounds. But overall I think The Civil Wars have a much softer tone than The Good Mad. The stronger tone and voice of The Good Mad's music can easily be attributed to Allie's violin contributions, in my opinion.


The band currently has only four singles out on iTunes, but I've read that they are hoping to get an EP together soon. I know I am certainly looking forward to more new music from this band.


Check them out on Twitter, or YouTube. And enjoy my favorite of their four singles, Follow Your Heart, below.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

I've Got An Interview!

I received my first request to interview for one of the graduate programs I applied to yesterday! Aside from being completely shocked by their super quick turnaround with my application, I was immediately hit with a wave of nerves.

You would think that as an aspiring HR professional I would be comfortable with interview situations, but interviews always make me nervous. I've had many phone interviews, a skype interview, in person one-on-one interviews, and group interviews; none of them have been particularly comfortable situations. Some have gone well, others I've left wishing I had said or explained something differently.



To turn this post in to more than just a rant about my current grad school progress; here are my top five interview tips.

1. Appearance- Before a word leaves your mouth you will be judged by whether or not your presentation is appropriate. Stand tall, give a firm handshake (weak handshakes are an EXTREME pet peeve of mine), smile, and make eye contact. All of these things, along with appropriate attire, will allow you to exude confidence.

2. Do your homework- Research the company/school/organization you are interviewing with prior to your interview. Be as knowledgable as you possibly can about the position and the company in general.

3. Have an answer for the very simple "Tell us a bit about yourself"- You will inevitably be asked some variation of this vague question towards the beginning of your interview. Don't get stuck on something simple like this. Have an idea of the most important things about yourself that you can easily articulate with out rambling. Make sure you throw in a few details that they would not already know by reading your resume.

4. Use specific examples when answering questions- When asked about your strengths, don't just say "I have strong communication skills." Instead, have a short anecdote in mind to demonstrate your communication skills. In preparation for an interview, I always make lists of different experiences I've had and think through concrete examples which demonstrate skills I could bring to a company.

5. Ask good questions- Every interview will end with time for the interviewee to ask questions; have questions prepared before you enter the interview. Nothing is worse than an interviewee who passes on the opportunity to learn more. It can make you seem uninterested. However, there is also such a thing as a bad question in an interview. Steer clear of questions that you could have easily found the answer to on your own pre-interview. Personally, I like to ask the interviewer about their experiences with a company. I find that it helps to make a more personal connection with the interviewer, plus everyone loves to talk about themselves.


I hope you guys found these tips helpful! If you have any tips of your own leave them below in the comments. Also, if you have been through an interview for grad school (especially if it was for a business school) I would love to talk to you about the experience. Leave a comment, tweet me, or email me at acanfield04@gmail.com.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Quick Lil' Rewind

The other day I was feeling randomly nostalgic...

I started thinking about junior high and high school and how much things have changed since then. Believe me, I am SO HAPPY that things have changed since then. But, later I wondered what old photos I could find from back then.

Since I would have to search for physical photos (as compared to digital) to find anything from 7th-8th grade, I thought I would share some of the oldest digital photos I have, from junior/senior year of high school.

Luckily, I guessed the old email address/password correctly and gained access to my photobucket account (which I used back in the day when I had a xanga...) and boy are there some GEMS in that account. I'll save the completely awful ones for another time... instead I thought I would share a few I actually like.


Bullard cheer. Not gonna lie, I really miss cheering. I also love this candid picture.

Prior to a random school dance. I think the theme was "B" Something. I was obviously a baseball player.
High School Graduation. Alex and I have known each other since third grade, and despite going to college in entirely different states, we are still best friends.
Happy to say I've grown up quite a bit since those days, but it is definitely fun to rediscover old pictures that you completely forgot existed.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Things To Come

It's March! And there are so many things I am looking forward to this month!

  • The Hunger Games- Seriously, I can not wait for this movie. I have read through all three books twice, and there is a good chance I will read them again before the movie comes out. I've never loved a book as much as I have loved these books. If I had to choose only one book series to read over and over again for the rest of my life, I would choose The Hunger Games. Do you guys understand how much I love the books yet?


  • St Patrick's Day- Ideally I would find a way to spend St Patty's Day in Ohio with my best friend on her birthday, but considering I don't currently have a plane ticket, the chances of that happening are slim to none. Instead I may go to LA, I may just hang out in Fresno...Either way, I want green beer =)

  • The Lady Antebellum concert- One of my best friends and former roommate, Jo, will be coming up to Fresno to make use of the free tickets I won awhile back.
Candid pic of Jo and I at the TSwift concert in 2010
  • My trip to SF next weekend- San Francisco is one of my absolute favorite cities, and next weekend I will be heading up for a quick weekend of shopping, eating, and visiting with friends. AND I will get the chance to see Bethany's new apartment!
My favorite pic from when I was last in SF
  • The beginnings of springtime- I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we will be getting more and more sun, especially on weekends! Gotta start building my base for my summer tan!

  • Potentially starting to hear back from grad schools- I'm not sure I will hear anything this month, but the more time the goes by the closer I am to hearing a decision. I'm dying to KNOW, so I can decide where  I am going and start planning my move!
  • Planning for the 2nd anniversary of my 21st birthday- Karissa and I have talked about doing a joint bday weekend in Vegas since we are both April birthdays, and as this month goes on we will have to start locking down details!
Vegas
  • Daylight savings time- I HATE when it gets dark before six. I want the time to change and the sun to be up late in to the evening!!

What are you looking forward to this month??

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Call Me... Maybe?

If you like JBiebs, Selena Gomez, or Disney stars in general you will like this song.
Call Me Maybe
P.S. One of my bloggie friends Joey was asking for feel good songs this morning, and one of her friends suggested Carly Rae Jepsen's super peppy hit so I can't take complete credit for this post. But she tweeted this song to her (making me remember it in the process) and then I listened to it at least five times on my way to work. No joke.
P.P.S. Happy birthday to Justin Bieber. He's 18 now, which means I feel slightly less creepy about loving his music and thinking he is adorable.