saint motel – Living off Leesh

Spring mixtape

Published on March 27, 2017May 27, 2018 by Alicia4 Comments

Hi everyone! I made a fall mixtape in September and had planned on making one for winter and never did. However, after making a playlist for my long plane rides in the coming days, I have decided to make another for Spring. Let’s get started.

Machine-Misterwives: You all know my love for this band and this song is no different. Off of their second studio album (released May 19th), machine is an alternative jam that I listen to almost every day. It has such great vibes going along with it and has a bit of a political hidden message in it and when they played it at the concert, I sobbed. Give it a listen.
Where Does the Good Go-Tegan and Sara: This song is over 10 years old but I just discovered it within the last month while watching Grey’s Anatomy. It sort of reminds me of leaving and new beginnings which is what I will be having in a week so I felt it needed to be here.
Paris-Chainsmokers: I know this is a ‘basic’ band or whatever but this song sort of screams wanderlust to me and since basically half of my spring I will be in Peru, I felt it needed to have a place on this playlist.
Midnight Movies-Saint Motel: I was listening to this song when I decided I wanted to make a Spring mixtape. This was never one of my favorite Saint Motel songs but it has a weird tempo, not too fast paced for a summer feel but not slow enough for a fall song. I have learned to appreciate this song more recently and I definitely recommend it.
Girls like Girls- Haley Kiyoko: This song was just released and I love this song. It is quite a catchy tune and I find myself humming it even when it isn’t on.
Ophelia- The Lumineers: This song has a more fall vibey tempo (it could just be the album cover) but it is a beautiful song sung by an amazingly talented person. This is a song I love to listen to with my windows rolled down when it’s late and no one is speaking, just enjoying music and each other’s company.
What a Feeling-One Direction: Harry Styles is releasing his first ever single on April 7th so that song would make this playlist (even if it was just him playing the triangle for 5 minutes), however, it isn’t out, so I thought I would give one of my favorite One Direction songs a place on this playlist.
Work this Body-Walk the Moon: This song always makes me feel very confident in myself and like I can do anything. I am living my dream next month so this song is being put to life for me.
Art Exhibit-Young the Giant: I don’t really know to describe this song. It’s sort of magical and it isn’t a very well-known song by the band. Nevertheless, it is a wonderfully elegant and beautiful song.
Fire Escape-Andrew McMahon: This song is another song like Machine, an alternative jam. It has a weird beat so it’s upbeat but not super upbeat… if that makes any sense. It has become one of my favorite songs as of late and I listen to it all the time. I had never heard of the artist before this song but I have started to listen to more of his music besides this song, and I really like the sound he puts out.

What would be some songs on your Spring playlist?

Alicia

Nine in the Afternoon

Published on March 13, 2017May 27, 2018 by Alicia3 Comments

Hi everyone, and Happy Monday to all of you! This past weekend I was able to see three of my favorite bands in concert… together! Panic! At the Disco invited the bands Misterwives and Saint Motel to join them on the Death of a Bachelor tour. Coincidentally, I love all of these bands with all my heart and so does my sister and one of our best friends. Casey, Jesse (Casey’s sister), my sister Madi, and I have been waiting for this concert since September when my mom and I pre-ordered these tickets. The second I got the notification that the Misterwives Instagram account and posted a photo, one depicting that they were to be joining Panic! And Saint Motel on this tour. I screenshotted this and sent it to our group message where we immediately agreed that we had to attend. And Bam! 6 months later and it was a reality.

Saturday night we set out to have an amazing night. After a quick Dunkin Donuts stop and a bit of traffic we were at the Allstate Arena and absolutely ecstatic for the hours to come. After leaving my phone in the car, running back to the car, waited in the cold until they opened another door, dealt with a crotchety old woman, saw the 4-mile long merch table, decided against the merch line for the time being, and then made it to our seats.

Saint Motel was amazing. I saw them in October with Casey and our friend Alec. They didn’t play our two favorite songs so we were pretty bummed, but we’ll live. They are so incredible live and I love AJ (the lead singer) and his cool hat-wearing, piano-paying self.

After Saint Motel was over, and we were thoroughly satisifed, we made a run for the merch table. I needed my damn shirt. Both lines were incredibly long so we decided to head back to our seats to await my all time favorite band Misterwives. I fell in love with this band when I started watching Finding Carter. Their song Vagabond was the theme song for the show and ever since I had heard this song, I have been a huge fan of their band. I have waited 3 years to see them and I finally was able to do it Saturday.

They played some of their best songs, a few new ones, and the lead singer, Mandy, is engaged to the drummer, Etienne, debuted a song that she had written just for him. It was super cute and I want that sort of love one day.

The second the Misterwives set was over we dashed to the merch table and got our shirts. Madi, Casey, and Jesse got Saint Motel shirts and I got a Misterwives shirt. As we were waiting in line, we kept hearing screams. Panic! Wasn’t supposed to come on for at least 15 minutes when we began to hear these screams so we were worried that we were missing the openng or that something else was going on. We later found out that there was a timer to countdown to when Panci! Would come on stage and people would scream after each minute had passed.

When Panic finally started It was almost an out of body surreal experience. There are not many bands that are better live than on the record and I can say that Brendon Urie’s voice is some sort of God-given gift created to better the world. The way he can hit any high or low note you can think of it maddening. Every time he would hit a note that wasn’t how it was on the album, Casey and I would look at each other, jaws dropped and completely in awe of how a person’s vocal cords can create those beautiful vibrations.

Our seats were on the floor, however, they were a bit towards the back of the floor so I was a little dissapointed that we wouldn’t be able to see as well. After a few songs, however, Brendon left the stage and a video of him and Pete Wentz started playing on the screen. I assumed he was going to change and all of a sudden casey and I thought that Pete was going to join Brendon on stage. We began holding hands and freaking out in anticipation when all of a sudden a spotlugt appeared about 10 feet from where we were sitting. Immediatlely everyone in the vicinity ran to crowd around the spotlight when Brendon Urie, sitting at a silver piano ascended from the ground and began playing This is Gospel while rotating and confetti fell from the sky.

Everyone was crying and screaming and recording and it was an amazing few minutes. Everything past that was a blur of hoarse voices, runny makeup, and sweating bodies pressing agsinst each other.

Sadly, the concert had to come to an end. We made our way to the car with confetti and streamers in our hair, coats, shoes, and purses and smiles on our faces. After being trapped behind a girl giving head to her boyfriend for 10 minutes we finally got out, headed to McDonald’s for a large water and shamrock shakes for everyone else, we stopped at WalMart because we couldn’t bare to have the night end, walked around and bought candy before parting ways for the night.

I hope one day you all find something that makes you as happy as these three bands make me. This night will forever have a place in my House of Memories.

Let Them Celebrate

Published on November 6, 2016November 6, 2016 by Alicia1 Comment

If you saw my post about the Cubs winning the World Series, then you can probably imagine that I am still ecstatic about the win. Friday morning was the parade celebrating the end of the 108-year drought here in Wrigleyville. I wasn’t in attendance because it was honestly an anxiety attack waiting to happen. There were anywhere from 5-6 million people in attendance and despite how much I wanted to go, I would rather not start hyperventilating in the middle of millions of people and I also had a concert that night and knew I would be up super late anyway (people starting leaving their homes at 5am for a parade that didn’t start until 11)

Anyway, I have seen so many people complaining that all of these people celebrating aren’t true Cubs fans. I have seen tweets and facebook posts, and received texts and so on and so on saying “Are you really a cubs fan if you don’t remember Starlin Castro, Ryan Dempster, and Sammy Sosa” “I remember the first time I ever saw the ivy, do you?” “so many people are bandwagoning the cubs and it’s not fair” etc, etc.

LET THEM CELEBRATE. Yes, I remember all of those players, I remember other players that weren’t as ‘good’ or ‘popular’ as Sosa and Castro. I don’t remember the first time I saw the Ivy because I wasn’t even a year old. People are bandwagoning because they are Chicago fans. If the Cubs hadn’t made it that far and the Sox had, you know damn well we’d all be rooting for the Sox. LET THEM CELEBRATE.

I have been a Cubs fan my entire life and the fact that basically the entire state of Illinois has banded together with the Cubs is so amazing. For so long the Cubs had been one of the worst teams in the MLB and it has taken us 108 years to get on top. Let people celebrate. Let die-hard Sox fans buy Cubs gear and cheer them on after they won. Let people who don’t know how many positions there are in baseball celebrate. The Cubs winning has created such a sense of community for this entire state and hating people who bandwagoned isn’t impacting anyone but yourself. The entire city of Chicago is colored Red, White, and Blue for this team and if the entire state of Illinois wants to celebrate, let them.

Quintessentially Autumn Day

Published on October 25, 2016May 27, 2018 by Alicia3 Comments

Hi everyone, being the ‘basic’ white girl that I am, I believe fall is an amazing season. I just wish that fall didn’t involve getting sick (I type after downing any cold relief medicine I can find and surrounded by tissues). Nonetheless, there are some quintessential fall activities that I love doing and feel are truly necessary to do in order for my autumn to be complete.

Last year, living in San Diego, there was no fall. I went to a pumpkin patch with my sorority (tbt lol) and that pumpkin patch was in the parking lot of a mall. They had scattered bales of straw and loose straw all over to make it seem more realistic, but I KNEW. Everyone in my sorority had no idea that there were legit pumpkin patches and not just lame excuses for pumpkin patches like the one we were currently in.

This year, I was able to go to a pumpkin patch ( a real one mind you) with my sister and some of our friends. It was really nice being able to go out in the crisp fall air and search for the best pumpkin.

As fun as searching for the biggest and best-shaped pumpkin is, I always seem to forget that pumpkins are heavy… and expensive. So, after looking through every pumpkin we could, all of us opted for a ‘pie’ pumpkin rather than a traditional carving pumpkin because I’m balling on a budget and we didn’t want to carry around these huge pumpkins all day.

After picking our pumpkins, we managed to see a children’s zoo. Curious as to what it was, we each paid the $13.50 (I can only pay $3.29 for a pumpkin but I’ll cut off my own leg to see some animals) entrance fee and headed in.

Preface: Not sure how many of you know, but I have an absolute love of goats. I don’t know why but I do.

As we took in our surroundings, we saw many animals. There were ducks, rabbits, chickens, roosters, pigs, cows, and GOATS. We checked out the duck pond (my sister used to think she was a duck when she was little and her Instagram handle has the word duck in it) and then crossed a cute covered bridge to make it to one of the many goat pens.

I immediately broke into tears as I saw my first goat. I then proceeded to tear my purse apart to find any quarter in my bag to buy feed to feed the goats with. My friend Casey finally found 2 and I was able to feed the goats and cry more.

Random note: I guess I freaked out so much when I saw the goats I touched my mouth with my hand and then my face to get some hairs out of the way so for about 100 photos and 30 minutes I have lipstick all over my face. Good job Alicia… you idiot.

Note the lipstick above my lip and by my eyebrow

After we saw all of our animals, we did a cute corn maze. As we first walked in I said something along the lines of “wow I wish there were more dead ends instead of going straight through.” Right after I said that there were so many dead ends we got lost an insane amount of times. You get what you wish for I guess.

This was in front of the corn maze. There were only 4 of us so this little boy (whose mother took the picture) stepped in for us. Also my sister didn’t stick her head in far enough but she’s there

When we finally were able to escape the corn maze, we headed back to the main part of the patch. We bought apple cider donuts, chocolate covered pretzels, apple cider, hot chocolate… you know the works, and finally took a ton of cute photos.

my sister moved so the pano was sort of ruined

Once we purchased our pumpkins and had fulfilled our visit, we drove around and got lost (not really lost because I knew what city we were in and recognized most of the streets) while listening to good music. Good music, good friends, good weather, what more could you ask for? I love my pumpkin pals. My heart is happy and it was such a good day.

Until next time

Alicia

PS. This was my 99th post so my next is 100 (yay for counting) and my blog turns 1 on the 29th so the next post from me will be on the 29th. I feel like 100 posts and my blogiversary are both big things so why not combine them? Anyway, adios.

P.P.S. Enjoy some more cute photos from Saturday

Petting another goat who tried to eat Casey’s pumpkin

Goat filter for a goat filled day

A goat tower

Casey was confused as to why the

Bittersweet

Published on October 20, 2016May 27, 2018 by Alicia2 Comments

Over the past month or two I have blogged a bit about getting a new babysitting job, hating that babysitting job, wanting to quit, and finally telling the family that enough was enough.

Something that always lacked for this family was communication. Yesterday the dad was the only one home when I left and he said that I had Saturday off however would continue coming part time until they found a replacement nanny. I was totally fine with that and despite still being present on laundry days, I wouldn’t have to deal with the parents nearly as much.

After picking the girls up and sitting down for a snack, Aadya asked me “Miss Alicia, is today your last day?” Confused I told her no and that I would still be coming for the next few weeks, and tomorrow as well.

As I was getting the girls showered and ready for bed, the dad got home. A few minutes later, I heard the garage door open again, signaling the mom’s return home as well.

Upon finishing upstairs, the girls and I emerged from their room and made our way downstairs. I don’t really remember the whole of the conversation because I was so confused and my face probably resembled the Mr. Krabs meme, but nonetheless, I was told that today was my final day.

Apparently the mother had contacted their old babysitter and asked if she would commute an extra 15 minutes until they had found a permanent sitter. Which completely makes sense so that there doesn’t have to be a key and car seat exchange every other day.

It just really sucks that for the whole day I didn’t know it was my last day. The mom said that over breaks and things if their other sitter can’t watch or if there were other days that I was free that I could give her a call and she would set up a day that I could watch them.

I know this whole time I had complained about being annoyed with their every move but I did love the children a lot, and despite their annoying habits (what kids doesn’t have them) and their over-protective and demanding parents, they were very sweet girls and I love being a part of their lives.

Both parents told me that they have never seen the girls connect to someone as well as they did as quickly as they did. Their point was made because as I was about to leave with my final check and Steak and Shake gift card (I don’t eat either steak or shakes but my dad will enjoy it) I was grabbed by both girls trying to drag me up the stairs to their room so that we could have a sleepover and so that I could stay forever. This is one of those “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone” sort of moments. Like yes, I will enjoy getting a job that is higher paying and I am not being treated like a slave, however, I never really realized how great the kids were until I walked out the door.

So, tonight was very bittersweet. What I had wanted for the past month had finally happened, however, I could definitely go for another game of “Auntie Moma,” “Cops and Robbers,” or “Mister Tortellini.”

I’ll be seeing you, Aadya and Dhiti.

Cancer

Published on October 19, 2016January 2, 2018 by Alicia4 Comments

Hi everyone, sorry this is so late but I wanted to write something and between working and trying to watch the Cubs game I forgot all about it.

As many of you know, October is breast cancer awareness month. This post is about cancer, not breast cancer, though.

6 years ago today (October 19th, 2010) my grandma passed away from Stage 4 lung cancer. I was only in 8th grade at the time and I am so devastated that I missed out on living so much of my life without the amazing woman she was. I have changed so much since eighth grade and I know she would be proud all that I’ve accomplished since then.

I first remember my dad coming into my bedroom earlier that year (March), telling me that she was sick. We sat and cried on my bed until there were no more tears to cry.

Next, I remember going to visit her every weekend that we could until she died, watching her slowly deteriorate before all of our eyes, everyone knowing but keeping quiet about it and only talking about how amazing she was doing.

The worst part about it was, I remember not cherishing the short amount of time I had left with her. I always thought she would get better and everything would go back being like old times. I remember ( and still hate myself for this to this day) her forgetting I had said goodbye to her already so my dad made me get out of the car to say goodbye again. I sulked into the house, quickly hugged her, mumbled goodbye and blew past everyone visiting back into my car. Looking back on it I would give anything to say goodbye to her again.

Upon getting home from a school trip to Washington D.C, my dad wasn’t home (with my grandma) and my mom broke the news to me that she wouldn’t make it much longer and we were going the next morning to see her and say goodbye. She didn’t wake up the next morning. When my dad got home and told us, we cried together for the second time.

Despite all of these sad moments, they aren’t the things I remember most about her. I remember her introducing me to the movie ‘Miss Congeniality” and watching it every time I would spend the night at her house. How that movie also became my favorite overtime. I remember that I stayed at her house for 2 weeks one summer and I got to watch old movies, garden, make woven potholders (a lot cooler than it sounds), make jewelry, and eat cake for breakfast with her.

What I’m trying to say is that cancer is a horrible disease and takes so many people away each day. Please remember, today and every day, tell your loved ones you love them because you never know when it could be the last time you tell them. I love and miss you Grampatty

Alicia

Let’s learn some words, shall we?

Published on October 16, 2016May 27, 2018 by Alicia2 Comments

Happy Birthday Noah Webster, aka Father of the American Dictionary. Dictionaries are crazy things, there are so many words in that huge book that I can’t pronounce, can’t define, or can’t even tell if it’s English or not. However, as a writer, something I should always be doing is expanding my vocabulary. It’s only fitting that I do this on National Dictionary Day.

Here are 10 words I didn’t know the meaning to but now do. I also chose words I can most likely remember to use here and add to my everyday vernacular. Let’s do this.

Lavation– (lay-VAY-shun) | noun *October 16th Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day*
1. Definition: the act or an instance of washing or cleansing
2. Examples: “In Maycomb County, it was easy to tell when someone bathed regularly, as opposed to yearly lavations….”
Odious (o-dee-us) | adjective
1. Definition: arousing or deserving hatred or repugnance : hateful
2. Example: Volunteers gathered on Saturday morning to scrub away the odious graffiti spray-painted on the school.
Guerdon (gur-dun) | noun
1. Definition: reward, recompense
2. Example: “The big hurdle … was early promotion to captain. … This early promotion, this small dry irrevocable statistic in the record, was his guerdon for a quarter of a century of getting things done.
Macadam (muh-KAD-um) | noun *only chose this word because my backyard has a macadam*
1. Definition: a roadway or pavement of small closely packed broken stone
2. Example:The sloping, curved street saw light traffic and had a smooth macadam surface that made it popular with skateboarders.
Impavid (im-pavdid) | adjective
1. Definition: Fearless
2. Example: Giant by thine own nature, Thou art beautiful, thou art strong, an impavid colossus,And thy future mirrors that greatness.
Belgard (bell-guard) | noun
1. Definition: A loving look
2. Example: She left me a belgard from across the room.
Druthers (druhth-erz) | noun
1. Definition: one’s own way
2. Example: If I had my druthers, I’d sleep all day.
Invective (in-VEK-tiv) | noun
1. Definition: abusive language
2. Example: … the explosive role that social media has assumed in this campaign have made for a nasty brew of invective, slurs and accusations….
Haimish (hey-mish) | adjective
1. Definition: (slang) cozy and unpretentious
2. Example: … you would like the candle-lit dining room (below), formerly a watchmaker’s shop, where there are perhaps a dozen tables, a fish tank, and murky paintings–all of which contribute to an ambiance best described as Transylvanian haimish.
Bon Mot (bon moh) | noun
1. Definition: a witty remark or comment; clever saying
2. Example: He was an extrovert and a character, again like his mother, with a knack for tossing off the perfect bon mot. Once at a dinner party, he told his seat mate, “We are all worms. But I do believe that I am a glow-worm.”

I hope you all learned something from these, because I definitely did. Keep an eye out and see if you see me use these in a post in the future 😉

Alicia

Sweetest Day

Published on October 15, 2016May 27, 2018 by Alicia1 Comment

It is Sweetest Day and the closest thing I have to a ‘sweetest’ is my dog. My dog who growled at me this morning because I was far too close to her food (at least 10 feet away).

Despite this, I have decided to talk about some other sweet (sweet as in awesome not dessert-like) things

Time Off Work- I don’t have to babysit until Tuesday (I also had Thursday, Friday, and this morning off) because the little girl is sick… and got me sick lol but at least I get to mope around and do nothing
Saint Motel– I AM SEEING THEM TONIGHT/RIGHT NOW depending on when I post this. May or may not make a post discussing this amazing night.
Oreos– I am curled up in bed eating them right out of the package as I type
Thrift stores- My sister and I went to two of our local thrift stores the other day. I got 2 books, a super cute mug that says “tough *picture of a cookie*” on one side and on the other side it says“smart *picture of cookie*” It was adorable and only $.25 so I had to. I also got a Polaroid camera from 1963 for only $18 dollars!!!!!!!!!! It is so cool and makes a great display next to my two other film cameras on my dresser
Ramen (without the flavor packet because.. you know meat flavor)- As a kid, ramen was always a staple if you were sick. Since I am sick again, I went to look to see if the noodles themselves were vegan (I wAS IN LUCK) and ended up adding some chives, garlic, salt, onion powder, and celery salt for the same smell and even better taste than the original.
Dogs- We are dog sitting for the weekend and instead of my daily dose of one dog… I GET TWO DOGS
Sweaters– that’s all but I have been living in sweaters because it’s cold and it looks like I tried even though I didn’t.
Grid paper journals– I gave into the trend of the graph paper journal, I ended up getting a pack of 3 for half the original price of one so obviously I had to jump on that. Not sure what they will contain, but I have 360 pages of neatness to write in.
Pumpkins- I was at Trader Joe’s the other day and bought myself a $.69 pumpkin. It is adorable. Not only that, but I am trying to coordinate a pumpkin patch visit with some of my close friends. If that does happen, expect a very cute, very orange post about it.
New Appliances- My washing machine like broke but still works but broke. It leaks water from the bottom whenever you use it so when you forget about that and step in it, shrieked can be heard from outside (or so I am told). Our new washer and dryer will be arriving sometime today and I am SO excited to use them!

Just a few super sweet things about my life right now

Happy Sweetest Day to those with a sweetie and those with merely (merely? animals are 100000x better than any significant other you could every imagine) an animal.

Alicia