Hello from the other side (of September)

Well hellllooooo!

It's been a minute. How've you been? Cool, cool.

After a busy stretch at work and some much needed R&R time last week it appears that nearly a month has passed since CMF has done the rounds. I swear it was August and then I blinked and all of a sudden October was just around the corner in all it's orange, pumpkin spice glory. Anyone bought their pumpkins and candy corn yet?? Haha ha, I'm just kidding*... Speaking of inappropriately timed holiday accoutrements, please let me know if you find the snack-size individually wrapped Reese's cups anywhere - my annual hunt has started. 

*Okay actually I'm not. I bought both edible and decorative pumpkins last week.

The First: I'll Name The Dogs by Blake Shelton

He👏 is👏 back👏 !! It was a rough stretch there with all his bitter somber contributions to the world of country. I'm accepting this song as his second wind of greatness. And *spoiler alert* his second wind is adorable. Not only is the song really sweet but somehow so is the music video (thank goodness). All in all, well done sir.


The Second: Slow Dance In A Parking Lot by Jordan Davis

Mr. Davis is quickly stealing my heart, y'all. This song kind of just makes you want to fall in love, doesn't it? That's 50% why I enjoy it. The other 50% is definitely because it reminds me of old school Tswift. You can spin me around by a Walmart sign any night, Jordan. Here's another gem from him if you're so inclined.


The Third and Not-so-Final: It's Working by James Barker Band

You know what's working? James Barker Band, that's what. It's catchy song after catchy song from these delightful Canadian boys. I attribute the catchy-ness of their songs to the strong beat. Anything that's clap-along-able is wonderful and deserves being played on repeat for hours if you ask me.


The Bonus: Hometown Kids by The Reklaws

You get a bonus song today because a) I've got too many songs to share and b) I feel bad for being a little MIA. Don't say I never give you anything.

I've been on the white picket fence (was that appropriately small town or what??) about this song for a while because it's pretty pop-y but I ultimately like it so here ya go. It also has a distinctly summery sound and I've been told that some people could still use one final desperate grasp at summertime. And finally I'm sharing it because Mr. Dimples there charmed me into it.

I have nothing planned this weekend and I truly could not be happier about it. Maybe I'll even get a jump start on next week's post so that it's not another month of static over here. Who knows??

Thanks for listening!
Karla

School Dance Reenactments Included

Well hellllloooooo! Apologies for the missed post last week... Some weeks you meal prep, go to bed on time, get your workouts in, manage to be a charming and social person, write CMF, etc. Other weeks you... don't. You get one guess on what kind of week it was last week.

The First: Happy People by Little Big Town

New stuff from Little Big Time always makes me a happy person. I like this song for many reasons but mostly because don't we all need to be reminded what the keys to happiness are these days?


The Second: Skin and Bones by Eli Young Band

If I was in high school again (but actually, let's all be thankful that's not really a thing that has to be re-lived) and I was at a dance, I suppose this would be a decent song to slow dance to. Turn on this song and follow this link for a look at what that would be like.

The Third and Final: Chills by James Barker Band

So to be honest, I was kind of feeling pretty meh on this song when I first heard it. But then the chorus came on and I was like heck yes! because it's so fun and catchy and now we ALL got chills. Also yes, fine, the music video is cute. Bonus: these boys are Canadian.


Can you believe it's April tomorrow? APRIL. Twenty seventeen. What? How. I feel like the guy in the Maxell tape ad with how fast time is whipping by. I'm simultaneously confused, sad, confused again, and excited that another academic year is wrapping up and summertime is on its sweet way.

Also, just because it's the best April Fool's Day prank I've ever successfully pulled, let's remember last year because I'm still so proud of it.

Thanks for listening!
Karla

Driving is boring.

So last week Goose, my car, decided to no longer have a working radio and it's all very dramatic because, in case you weren't aware, driving is painfully b.o.r.i.n.g. without a radio to keep you company and to sing along with. Like... what's the point? For the first few days I tried to just sing songs a cappella but turns out I don't know lyrics very well without musical accompaniment and it's exceptionally frustrating to not remember the words to songs when you're also unable to look them up.

Needless to say it's been a harrowing, music-less week. But thankfully I still have three new songs to share with you today.

The First: Just Sayin' by the James Barker Band

Starting with this groovy number to kick us off! I was having a little dance party (surprise, surprise) to this song the other morning and just knew it would need to be part of this week's selection. Also, am I the only one who thinks of this when they hear "I'm just saying"?


The Second: She Is by Lady Antebellum

A new single from Lady A! Ohmygosh! I've missed their harmonies and uplifting melodies so this song was welcomed with open arms. Plus, I too like Sundays and champagne so I feel this song really gets me.


The Third and Final: Time by Dean Brody

You know, I've always been a Dean Brody fan but this song has really solidified things for me. The slow build in tempo and storylines is so good but doesn't detract from the main message of the song: time doesn't care. Or in other (perhaps kinder) words: you never know how much time you'll really have with the people you love or to do the things you hope to do. Not in a scary way, but more in a today's the day kind of way. So carpe diem this Friday!

Today kicks off a week of staycation for me. It's a staycation because I failed to plan appropriately for my days off from work like a fool. So instead I'm going to spend the next week catching up on life things that have kind of fallen to the wayside since... August. Wish me luck!

Thanks for listening!
Karla

Be an Optimist Prime, Not a Negatron.

If I cut to the chase, this title was really just a not so round about way for me to share with you my secret love of transformers, the movie. Opinions of Shia Lebeouf aside, that first movie had me gasping for air at times because I was laughing so hard. Was it supposed to be as funny as it was? Probs not. Did I buy it on DVD anyways? You bet your bottom dollar I did, Annie. (PS the Tony's are this Sunday.)

Moving along, this week's selection has a little splash of optimism for you, because why the heck not?

The First: Lawn Chair Lazy by James Barker Band

Fingers crossed for a little bit of this over the weekend! Just kidding. It's gonna be real rainy. So it will probably turn into something more akin to couch time lazy which, sadly, has much less of a ring to it. Does anyone else feel like that guitar slide in this tune is very Dierks Bentley circa Drunk on a Plane? Because it is. It really, really is.


The Second: Old Boots, New Dirt by Jason Aldean

When was the last time we heard from Jason on here? A while ago, that's for sure. I stumbled upon this song (that came out a while ago) recently and love it! I think I can get on board with this whole whole Optimistic Country sub-genre. Especially since the entire reason CMF started was in an attempt to convince a colleague that Country wasn't "the most depressing genre of music."


The Third and Final: The Shape I'm In by Joe Nichols

I have so much love for this song. I love the message and the story and that it's just plain wonderfully uplifting. Because everyone can use a glass-half-full perspective at the end of a long week or some trying times. Right? Right.

Hope that was a nice way for all y'all to enter the weekend! And in the spirit of optimism, I'm going to spend my likely rain-driven couch time this weekend thinking about how wonderful it is that all the places that need rain are maybe gonna get some tomorrow. #optimistprimeftw

Thanks for listening!
Karla