Empire of the Sun | Musings on Momentum

Our 2017 End of Year Vlog

December 27, 2017

It is finally time to bid farewell to 2017 and, nearly everywhere I turn, the refrain, “Good riddance!”, rings out. It seems that 2017 was a rough year for just about everyone, myself included. That fact makes writing a tidy year end wrap-up next to impossible. So, instead of even attempting to do so, I am going to choose to focus this post only on the positive aspects of this year, much like our 2017 end of year vlog does.

If you are a longtime reader or follow me on social media, you might have already guessed that, in keeping with all areas of my life, this vlog is full of international travel, adorable puppies, a bit of soccer, and a whole lot of amazing live music, including an entire section shot at Coachella 2017 that we were not able to previously share. More than any prior vlog, this vlog gives a real glimpse into our daily lives, including an official introduction to our new puppy, Flynn! It is not quite as aesthetically stunning as our travel vlogs normally are, but it is 100% us and shares some incredible moments of our year together. I hope you all enjoy our 2017 end of year vlog!

Music Mondays – November Playlist

November 14, 2016

This November playlist is a bit of a departure from the upbeat one that I shared with you last month. As the days grow shorter, I’m finding myself longing to stay in with my husband and be cozy at an increasing rate. This playlist was created with cold, dark, and snug days in mind and features moodier and, at times, bluesier, sounds from an eclectic mix of songs and artists. Most notably? The xx have made the list with a brand new single that I’m absolutely loving. It features the haunting melodies the group is known for paired with rather poignant lyrics about missing out on love.

I have been a big fan of The xx since I first saw them in 2013 at the Hollywood Bowl. My now-husband took me to that show relatively early on in our relationship and now listening to them always makes me reminisce. Their live shows are beautifully stripped down and raw. I highly recommend checking them out in concert if you haven’t already.

I hope that this November playlist helps get those of you that live in colder climates through the early days of winter!

Music Mondays – September Playlist

September 12, 2016

This month’s playlist is quite a departure from the cheery compilations of songs that got us through the long and hot days of summer. We started off the season with an upbeat June playlist that took me back to the days of my youth when I made beginning of the summer mixes that epitomized the months of fun to come. In July I bemoaned the fact that the summer of 2016 was severely lacking in the classic anthems that we all hear so many times that we love, hate, and then finally love again as they continue to remind us of specific sunny day memories. August brought a mix filled with hit after hit that goes down as my favorite playlist to date, certainly one that I will continue to listen to for months to come. And here we are…the summer of 2016 is officially coming to a close in a little over a week and our hearts and minds are falling headfirst into autumn, as represented in this September playlist. So bundle up, marvel over the beauty of the falling leaves, and get ready to enjoy the pumpkin spiced lattes to come.