In The Pursuit Of Truth, Justice, & The KERRI Way: January 2012

Monday, January 30, 2012

These Times

I had these thoughts while driving this weekend and I'm going to try my best to regurgitate them into written form. For some stupid reason my best thoughts are always while I'm driving and have no way to take anything but a mental note and that obviously isn't the best note taking around.

I was listening to my iTunes and SafetySuit's new song "Hard Times" came on. It was a free download from iTunes a week or so ago and while I'd listened to it a time or two, I never really took the time to LISTEN to it.

I needed this song and songs like the ones I posted the other day right now. I need them & their message. I need them to be out there for others who need them & their message.

That is what I love about music. It soothes. It heals. It keeps you company. It shines a light in the darkness. I know not everyone connects to music but for those of us who do music helps. Somehow it does all that I've mentioned and more.

I, also, realized that all of these songs (and more I haven't shared) have come at the exact time that I need them. They have always come at the exact times that I've needed them.

I've always wondered how God chose to speak to people. I never understood when people said you just have to listen.

I get it now. I listen to music, it speaks to me.

Now I understand that he speaks to me through music, making sure the words and messages I needed are there when I need them.

Whether it be to cheer me up, to give a soundtrack to fun times, to get over a break up, or to morn the loss of a friend I have always had the music I've needed.

And sometimes having the music I've needed has given me the words I needed when I couldn't find words of my own.

"These Times" SafetySuit

"These Times"

These times will try hard to define me

And I’ll try to hold my head up high

But I’ve seen despair here from the inside

And it’s got a one track mind

And I have this feeling in my gut now

And I don’t know what it is I’ll find

Does anybody ever feel like

You’re always one step behind

Now I’m sitting alone here in my bed

I’m waiting for an answer I don’t know that I’ll get

I cannot stand to look in the mirror, I’m failing

I’m telling you these times are hard

But they will

And I know there’s someone out there somewhere

Who has it much worse than I do

But I have a dream inside, a perfect life

I’d give anything just to work

It’s like I’m only trying to dig my way out

Of all these things I can’t

And I am sitting alone here in my bed

I’m waiting for an answer I don’t know that I’ll get

I cannot stand to look in the mirror, I’m failing

I’m telling you these times are hard

But they will pass

They will pass

These times are hard

But they will

These times will try hard to define me

But I will hold my head up high

Sitting alone here in my bed

I’m waiting for an answer I don’t know that I’ll get

I cannot stand to look in the mirror, I’m failing

I’m telling you these times are hard

But they will pass

And I know there’s a reason

I just keep hoping it won’t be long ’til I see it

And maybe if we throw up our hands and believe it

I’m telling you these times are hard

But they will pass

They will pass

These times are hard

But they will pass

Friday, January 27, 2012

Fill in the Blank Friday #17

Joining at The Little Things We Do

1. My favorite place I've ever traveled to is I think it may have to be Virginia. The East Coast is about as different from the Southwest as you can get. All the historic places I visited were mind blowing.

2. Ireland is somewhere I'd love to go someday.

3. I pass the time on a plane (or bus, or car ride or train) by well, it’s different for each mode of transportation. Plane, I sit clinching my fists & teeth, keep my eyes closed as much as possible and I avoid looking out the windows at all costs. I haven’t traveled (far) by bus and any buses I’ve been on have been fun trips so I guess I pass the time goofing off with friends. Cars I talk to whoever I’m with, eat sunflower seeds and sleep if I can. Not real sure about trains. Sadly, boats aren’t listed but I’m adding them…boats I try to avoid. If I’m on one it’s a scenic thing and I’m doing whatever it is you do on boats and getting sea sick. So the breakdown is I’m not the best traveler .

4. My three must-haves when I travel are sunflower seeds, music (iPod, CD’s & now my iPhone and a blanket.

5. My favorite travel companion is my sisters & my BFF, Karie.

6. The craziest thing that ever happened to me while traveling is the time I took Dramamine before the plane ride back from VA to AZ. It made me totally CRAZY! I would have rather thrown up the whole plane ride from Virginia Beach to Chicago. IT. WAS. THAT. BAD. Then when we finally got to Phoenix we couldn’t land and then when we could we had to wait on the tarmac for over an hour because we couldn’t get to a gate. If I had an uzie I would have blasted my way off the plane & taken out anyone who even looked at me wrong. Dramamine totally made my claustrophobia a million times worse and added about a hundred other aggravators to the list.

7. The most exotic food I've ever tried while traveling is I’m not sure if I’ve ever tried anything exotic while traveling. It seemed pretty exotic at the time but it wasn’t, it was just different…while in Virginia I was CRAVING Mexican food so we finally tracked down a Mexican restaurant and what they served was NOT the type of Mexican we in Arizona eat. I don’t think I’d ever had black beans before that day. How the East Coast does without pinto beans & REAL Mexican food is beyond me!

8. If I could live anywhere else, I'd live in California, maybe. Some place by the ocean.

9. I have been to 12 (stayed in 9 but been to 12) states in the U.S.

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Currently L.O.V.I.N.G...

I am SERIOUSLY loving these songs so much right now!

Carry On Lyrics

I Won't Give Up Lyrics

I absolutely CANNOT wait for "Some Nights" from Fun. to be released (Feb. 21st) and for the new Jason Mraz album to come out (currently set for May 8th but who knows)!!

Someone Worth Dying For Lyrics

Karie posted this on FB yesterday and I love it! Pretty much perfect timing!

P.S. This song has been stuck in my head all week. I wake up singing it and it stays in my head during my shower. Love it but I don't know why it's so stuck in my brain...

We Are Young Lyrics

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Remember this and keep it in your heart.

Something I found on Tristan Prettymen's always inspirational blog...

"It is a mystery why we fall in love. It is a mystery how it happens. It is a mystery when it comes. It is a mystery why some loves grow, and it is a mystery why some loves fail. You can analyze this mystery and look for reasons and causes, but you will never do any more than take the life out of the experience.

Love is more than the sum of the interests and attractions and commonalities that two people share. And just as life itself is a gift that comes and goes in its time, the coming of love must be taken as an unfathomable gift that cannot be questioned in its ways.

You need to treat what love brings you with kindness. If you find yourself in love with someone who does not love you, be gentle with yourself. There is nothing wrong with you. Love just didn’t choose to rest in the other person’s heart.

If you find someone else in love with you toward whom you feel no love, feel honored that love came and called at your door, but gently refuse the gift you cannot return. Do not take advantage; do not cause pain. How you deal with love is how love will deal with you, and all our hearts feel the same pains and joys, even if our lives and ways are very different.

If you fall in love with another who falls in love with you, and then love chooses to leave, do not try to reclaim it or to assess blame. Let it go. There is a reason and there is a meaning. You will know it in time, but time itself will choose the moment.

Remember this and keep it in your heart. You don’t choose love. Love chooses you. All you can really do is accept it for all its mystery when it comes into your life. Feel the way it fills you to overflowing, then reach out and give it away. Give it back to the person who brought it to you. Give it to others who seem poor in spirit. Give it to the world around you in any way you can.

Love has its own time, its own season, and its own reasons for coming and going. You cannot bribe it or coerce it or reason it into staying. If it chooses to leave your heart or the heart of your lover, there is nothing you can do and nothing you should do. Be glad that it came to live for a moment in your life. If you keep your heart open, it will surely come again."

- Kent Nerbern

Friday, January 20, 2012

Friday Funnies #7

I have never loved Rachel Bilson more than I love her after watching this.

And I really love me some Rachel Bilson!

NSFW. Also, not safe if children are around. Ms. Bilson swears like a sailor!

"Call Me Doctor."

I don't know about you all but this Friday Funnies post came just in time. They say laughter is the best policy.

I don't know if its the best policy but it sure does help!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

"Swim"

If you do nothing else I've ever suggested please do this...

Listen to this song, take time to read the lyrics and take both with you. File it into your brain, stick it into an imaginary pocket to carry around with you and when things get rough, you get sad or feel surrounded by darkness pull it back out and repeat it.

Repeat it

and swim.

Also, please take time to tell the people you love that you love them and all that they mean to you.

Tell those who have touched you in even the smallest but profound way how they have changed you.

Tell them how they have bettered you day...your life.

Just take a moment and let them know what they mean to you.

Don't worry about how silly it may seem. How dumb you may sound. Don't worry about feeling embarrassed, or worry about how something could be taken the wrong way.

Telling someone you love them is never wrong.

Love isn't wrong.

Letting someone know how special they are isn't wrong.

It just takes a moment.

Then take another moment and do it again.

"Swim"

"Swim"

You've gotta swim

Swim for your life

Swim for the music

That saves you

When you're not so sure you'll survive

You gotta swim

And swim when it hurts

The whole world is watching

You haven't come this far

To fall off the earth

The currents will pull you

Away from your love

Just keep your head above

I found a tidal wave

Begging to tear down the dawn

Memories like bullets

They fired at me from a gun

A crack in the armor

I swim to brighter days

Despite the absence of sun

Choking on salt water

I'm not giving in

I swim

You gotta swim

Through nights that won't end

Swim for your families

Your lovers your sisters

And brothers and friends

Yeah you've gotta swim

Through wars without cause

Swim for the lost politicians

Who don't see their greed as a flaw

The currents will pull us

Away from our love

Just keep your head above

I found a tidal wave

Begging to tear down the dawn

Memories like bullets

They fired at me from a gun

Cracking me open now

I swim for brighter days

Despite the absence of sun

Choking on salt water

I'm not giving in

Well I'm not giving in

I swim

You gotta swim

Swim in the dark

There's no shame in drifting

Feel the tide shifting and wait for the spark

Yeah you've gotta swim

Don't let yourself sink

Just find the horizon

I promise you it's not as far as you think

The currents will drag us away from our love

Just keep your head above

Swim

Just keep your head above

Swim, swim

Just keep your head above

Swim

*I know I've posted this song a long time ago but this song needs to be on every ones playlist!

Friday, January 13, 2012

Fill in the Blank Friday #16

Joining at The Little Things We Do

1. The last thing I ate was Filiberto’s tacos & a tostada.

2. The last song I listened to was “Dear Jack” by Jack’s Mannequin.

3. Using the letters in my name I can spell {Kerri} err, rike, irk, rire, erk.

4. If I had to dress in one color for the rest of my life I would pick black. It’s slimming.

5. If you were to look in my bag right now you'd find my wallet, an Ulta gift card, keys, 3 different chapsticks floating around free, 2 packs of gum, a day planner, a little note pad of paper, travel pack of Kleenex, my camra case (with camera & converter drive), 2 reminder notes (1 shopping list, 1 of things to do), loose change that fell out of my wallet, a Fossel makeup bag (with lotion, powder, 3 different lip gloss, nail clippers, nail file & a little leather dolphin pouch (from Italy my sister got me filled with hair ties, bobby pins & barretts) and a chipmunk pouch (gift with medication in it).

6. When I finish filling in the blanks I'm going to pay bills.

7. My all time favorite song to dance to is something I cannot answer. There is no way I can pick an ALL TIME FAVORITE song. I’ll just list songs that come to mind that I can’t listen to without dancing instead… “Hella Good” No Doubt, “Pump It” Black Eyed Peas, “Apple Bottom Jeans” Tpain, “Yeh” Usher.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

What I Wore Wednesday: Week 20

Joining at The Pleated Poppy

So this week I tackled the dreaded leggings again. This time I didn't obsess over my seams paranoia. Nope, instead I was plagued with guilt about how it felt like I was in my PJ's all day and I was enjoying it way too much. I swear leggings are so comfortable that I'd wear them ALL. THE. TIME. if I could. I wish I had more shirts that were long enough so I could actually wear them more. But then I'd be feeling guilty a lot more so maybe it's a good thing.

Does anyone else suffer from guilt when they wear leggings? Is it something I'll eventually get over? I'm so comfortable that I feel like I need to change before I leave the house.

This time I didn't feel like a bag lady. This shirt is actually the shirt I wanted leggings for and was super excited to wear with them. I've had it forever and only worn it a few times because it's so long but doesn't quite hang right when worn with jeans. At least, in my opinion, not on me anyway. I like it a lot more with leggings!

Tuesday's Outfit...

Cami: Unknown but it's one of those slimming ones. Hee!

Shirt: Target

Necklaces:

short: tiny riveted initials via noisycricket , giveaway win

long: Target

Leggings: Gift

Boots: Xhiliration, Target

Seriously, I LOVE the print on this shirt!

Cheetah's are the bomb! Plus the floral design though it is amazing.

Cami: Unknown

Shirt: Target

Cardigan: Forever 21

Leggings: Gift

Boots: Xhiliration, Target

Cat: Remington

Every set of outfit photos I take have at least one like this.

Jewelry...

Earrings: Target, Early birthday gift

Studs: Gift

I didn't do a good job on getting shots

of my necklaces for this one, oops.

Shoes...

Xhiliration, Target

Wednesday's Outfit...

Navy tank: Old Navy, FREE thanks to Old Navy Rewards. It was on super sale for $4.20something.

Cami: Mossimo, Target

Necklaces:

short: tiny riveted initials via noisycricket , giveaway win

long: Target

Jeans: Old Navy, FREE

Shoes: Xhiliration, Target, $9.98

Cat: Remington (again)

Navy tank: Old Navy, FREE thanks to Old Navy Rewards. It was on super sale for $4.20something.

Cami: Mossimo, Target

Cardigan: Mossimo, Target

Necklaces:

short: tiny riveted initials via noisycricket , giveaway win

long: Target

Bracelet: made by me

Jeans: Old Navy, FREE

Shoes: Xhiliration, Target, $9.98

Cats: Remington & Parker

Shoes...

Xhiliration, Target, $9.98

Jewelry...

Necklaces:

short: tiny riveted initials via noisycricket , giveaway win

long: Target

Seriously love the details on this necklace.

Earrings:

Hearts: unknown

Studs: Gift

Bracelet:

Made by me years ago. It's 2 different garnet beads.

It had a heart dangling off it. Notice the HAD. When I got to work the heart was gone. Seems the end loop that kept it attached to the rest of the dangling part broke off.

I'm massively bummed.

I've had to fix the dangle part a zillion times but only to reloop the end that held the heart on. Guess it finally had enough and broke right off.

Now there is no dangle at all.

Sad face.

Funny story about wearing this bracelet...

I was out for a night of dancing with my girls (possibly for one of my birthday's) and I had this bracelet on one wrist and another bracelet with a dangling part (I think it was a pearl necklace I looped around to make into a bracelet) on my other wrist.

One right dangling bracelet + one left dangling bracelet + waving your hands over your head = handcuffs!

I got them caught together and couldn't get them undone by myself because my hands were handcuffed together. I had to go run to my friends to have them unhook me.

Lesson learned.

Rings:

Pointer: Charlotte Russe, $2.99

Ring: Target, $10

Friday, January 6, 2012

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner #21

The last time I posted a WWCD post was in Oct. I swear I've won stuff since then but I apparently didn't feel the need to share nor can I think of what it is that I've won at the moment. Oh well, I'm not here to share about the things I can't remember... I'm here to share the things I won this week.

Things that I am SO. EXCITED. about.

I won two giveaways this week (or I got notified of winning this week) from giveaways that had multiple winners. The first was the WiC Project Fan Surprise Holiday Giveaway. I haven't gotten it yet so I have no idea what all is in it but I do know a $5 or $10 Amazon GC is included, which is the reason I entered. The second was the INPINK Giveaway on Selective Potential. INPINK was giving away 300 $40 Gift Cards, I have no idea how many entered but Tieka announced that everyone who entered will be receiving a GC. Since receiving my confirmation I've been window shopping. Hopefully by the time I actually get the GC I will have my choices narrowed down.

The giveaway I'm most excited about winning is the$50 Go Chic or Go Home Giveaway La Vie Petite had. I'm just waiting for GCGH to send me my gift card. I asked everyone on FB to chime in on what shoes I should get with my winnings. Everyone was split between the sensible black flats or the go big or go home Madden Girl blue heels with red & pink flowers on them that I was seriously drooling over. After the first vote for the heels I was sold and was going to choose them either way. I was able to choose what retailer I received a gift card from. After looking around I found the Madden Girl shoes in black WEDGES with purple & pink flowers online at Macy's and I was INSTANTLY. IN. LOVE. No question about it. If these puppies are available when I have my GC in hand then I will own them! I've been ever so impatiently waiting for my GC, let me tell you. I seriously WANT. THESE. SHOES!!

How fun are these Madden Girl shoes?! If I didn't have so much already I can wear with the black multi pattern I'd still go after the blue multi patterned ones.

Steve Madden/Madden Girl Mellony

Madden Girl Explode

I also found the black multi pattern it in a heel but lost the link (sorry). I may actually like the heel better but I'm probably safer with the wedge.

I'm a little bummed all 3 of these aren't at Macy's.

Man, now I'm torn... Which ones would you choose if you had the option of all 3??

Thursday, January 5, 2012

2011 Top 25 Most Played iTunes

I've been trying to figure out how to capture my Top 25 Most Played list on iTunes. I'm assuming there's a way to do that but if there is I haven't figured it out. I tried different ways but none of them actually work well for sticking them in a my blog so... I guess I'm going to have to go old school and type it out. Ugh!

I would just like to take a moment to say, as nicely as possible, that I totally think iTunes LIES. I've noticed that it hasn't captured some plays or increased the number of plays on others. I've been watching for the past couple of days to see if my suspicions were correct or not. I have yet to be suspicious when it's not warranted.

Yeah, that's my round about way of saying I was right. Not that it really matters since this isn't anything earth shattering but if iTunes is going to count then they should count and do it correctly.

My iTunes 25 Most Played List:

No. Name Artist Album

1. Konstantine - Something Corporate - Played In Space: The Best of
2. Dear Jack - Jack's Mannequin - The Dear Jack EP
3. Diane, The Skyscraper - Jack's Mannequin - The Dear Jack EP
4. Get Over It - OK Go - OK Go
5. Watch The Sky - Something Corporate - Played In Space: The Best of
6. Amy, I - Jack's Mannequin - People and Things B Sides
7. Pumped Up Kicks - Foster the People - Torches
8. There, There Katie - Jack's Mannequin - The Dear Jack EP
9. Forget December - Something Corporate - Played In Space: The Best of
10. Wait - Something Corporate - Played In Space: The Best of
11. Cousins - Vampire Weekend - Contra
12. Find a Way - SafteySuit - Life Left To Go
13. Megalomaniac - Incubus - Megalomaniac
14. I Woke Up In A Car - Something Corporate - Played In Space: The Best of
15. Oxford Comma - Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
16. Make a Move - Incubus - Make a Move
17. 123 Stop - The Postelles - The Postelles
18. Meet Me on the Equinox - Death Cab for Cutie - The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack
19. Stitch Me Up - fun. - Aim and Ignite Deluxe Version
20. Thieves - She and Him - Merge Records 2010 Digital...
21. The Little Things - Danny Elfman - Wanted Soundtrack
22. Splash, Turn and Twist - Jimmy Eat World - Bleed America
23. Letters from the Sky- Civil Twilight - Civil Twilight
24. Doris Day (Non-Album Track) - Jack's Mannequin - The Glass Passenger Amazon Exclusive
25. Half of My Heart - John Mayer - Battle Studies

I'm a little surprised by the list. I thought for sure there would have been more Jimmy Eat World & Death Cab for Cutie songs listed but if I think about it I guess I listened to both of their new albums (Invented and Codes & Keys, respectfully) in CD form before I got my iPhone (in July). I'm, also, surprised that Thieves by She and Him and Half of My Heart by John Mayer made it to the top 25. I don't remember making a conscious effort to listen to either of those songs. Having Jack's Mannequin & Something Corporate with so many songs listed isn't a surprise, though some of the song choices are.

The top play number is 35, but like I said I swear iTunes is WAY off in their count. Like maybe it ran out of fingers and toes to count on or had a tragic bout of amnesia somewhere along the way.

Since there have been many a time when I've downloaded a ton of new songs at once I've just gotten into the habit of listening to my iTunes on shuffle. It's the lazy way of listening to music but sometimes its just too hard to pick what I wanna listen to, especially when I have so much great music to choose from.

I'm sure no one really cares what I've been listening to, especially since I'm not forcing you to listen with me, but posting it all on here is the easiest way for me to track it. I mean, this is my reference point when my memory fails. I don't know how many times I've checked my past posts to find some sort of information that I couldn't remember on my own.

Anyway, I'm interested in seeing what will be the top 25 for this year.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

What I Wore Wednesday: Week 19

Joining at The Pleated Poppy

Since it was a holiday weekend I didn't take a lot of outfit photo's...not like I ever do but whatever.

I got a little bored Sunday afternoon so I decided to go to Target and spend the gift card I got for Christmas.

I ended up buying the cutest little military looking sweater for $11. I was, also, very responsible and picked up a mattress cover since the one I have was trashed (the side lining rips so easily!) and I wanted to make sure I had something (extra) to protect the mattress foam topper (HEAVEN!) I have from cat barf. I swear it never fails, if I put clean sheets & a fresh blanket on the bed one (if not more) of the cats goes and up chucks all over it. It's rather annoying! I, also, grabbed Season 1 of Due South for $5. Anyone remember that cop buddy TV show about the Mountie & Chicago from the early/mid 90's? Man, I loved that stupid little show! Cute CANADIAN guy, goofy humor, beautiful Husky dog. Yeah, it seem that my love for all things Canadian goes back a lot longer than I thought.

Tuesday: