Christmas Music

Music Monday - Christmas Edition

I am one of those who refuse to put on Christmas music or decorate until Thanksgiving is over.  In fact, Christmas doesn't really feel in full swing for me until December. Back in the day, I remember having our huge stereo CD changer in our family room. All throughout December I'd have Christmas music playing. Here's a peek at some of our old CDs ...

Neil Diamond, Amy Grant, Kurt Bestor ... they were our family classics. The CDs in the photo are quite dusty, as they haven't been used in years. With modern technology, I ripped all the songs into  MP3s and have them on the computer and ipods/iphones for playing ... although I must admit, I haven't been much in the mood this year.

There have been a few Christmas songs hitting the Zumba classes . 

This one, from Marian's class,  is a favorite ...

As for MY personal favorite? It would have to be a little known number called "Gift of Love" by the Boone sisters. I don't remember where I heard it originally. It was played on the radio, back when I had a tape deck, and attempted to record it so I could have my own copy. As we moved more into the digital age, I looked for it, to no avail. A neighbor said they had a digital copy, and I finally got it that way (it IS available on Itunes and Amazon now). I love the harmonies, and it's acapella, which adds to the interest and simplicity.

So here you go, sharing my favorite Christmas song ...  

Do you have a favorite Christmas song? 

When do you start listening to Christmas music?

What do you do with your old CDs when you don't need the physical copy any more?

Unstoppable Songs

Another edition of Musical Mondays! 

 

I was looking for an image to go with my "Unstoppable" theme ... Love it!

When I first started working out, music was my inspiration. After a while, I switched to TV. But that doesn't eliminate music from my exercise routine. Some of my favorite song discoveries come from television. Background music, intro or credits ... I try to keep my phone handy to Shazam any songs that really strike me. "Grey's Anatomy" has had some awesome covers, familiar yet so different. I always notice the music in that show! "Finding Carter" (and MTV production) unsurprisingly had a lot to offer. I just finished up the CW show "Containment" ... I'd noticed and liked quite a bit of the music in it. I even looked it up to see if there was a soundtrack available.  I found an awesome website that showcases music from anywhere, a great resource! It's called TuneFind (and here's the Containment Soundtrack).

The other day I was catching up on the new Fall Premiere "Pitch" when some music made me pause my elliptical, grab my phone and find out what it was.

I stopped ... for Unstoppable. 

A new song by Sia. I liked the theme of the song, as well as the music itself. Plus, it sounded like a song that would work as a soundtrack for when I make muvees of my boy's basketball games.  It worked perfectly I think. So instead of linking to the official video on YouTube to introduce the song to you, here are the highlights from a recent basketball game ... (my boy is #5).

Didn't that chorus just grab you? Great lyrics! Inspirational song!
I love it more each time I listen to it.

My husband was in the room as I was finishing up the muvee and the song was playing. He asked "What song is that?" and he really liked it too. Love songs that grab you the first time you hear them!

Ironically, it's not my only Unstoppable song I used as a basketball soundtrack.
I'd used another one with the same title earlier in the season!

This song is by Kat DeLuna ... from the "Confessions of a Shopaholic" soundtrack.
Movies are a great source for new music finds too.

Do you notice background music in movies and television?

Do you use Shazam or other apps to find out the name/artist of a song you like?

Musical Monday - Car Crash

It's been interesting listening to music in the car again. I have SO many songs in my Itunes library. I just put the playlist on random and see what comes up next. Music from my teenage times, musicals, obscure soundtracks, and Top10 from recent years have all spouted from my speakers.

Several times in the past couple weeks, my 13-year old has turned to me and asked "WHAT IS THIS?". Silly boy hasn't been properly exposed to Billy Joel and some of the other 80s greats!

When familiar songs come on ... it's another issue. In our little morning carpool, a couple of our carpooletts start singing along. Loudly. The slightly off-key crooning is driving my son to distraction. Seriously stressing him out (anxiety issues). I may need to create a "carpool playlist" of only songs I'm sure the kids do NOT know to appease my son (or he's taken to wearing headphones with his own music blaring to drown out any annoyances .. like everyday conversations).  

Do you sing along with songs in the car?

While I was driving with my 16-year old son (HE was driving, gotta get those practice hours in) the music was playing as usual. I wasn't paying particular attention until my son muttered "that song really isn't appropriate you know!"  No - it wasn't some explicit version with foul language, it was "Car Crash" by Matt Nathanson. I had to laugh a little ... as I skipped the song. 

I can't help but notice the beat on this song ... it was on my "running" playlist, one that I could jog to. Those rare times I jog to music, my footfall MUST MATCH the beat exactly. This one is actually a bit on the fast side for me (since I'm sllloooooowww). I looked it up at Jog.fm to catch the BPM ...

I'm more of a 5mph gal (12 minute mile) myself, but for those times I need a challenge and inspiration, I'll have to give this one a try, and continue to make sure it doesn't appear on the playlist when my student-driver is at the wheel. *Ü*

Musical Musings

I love music. When I first started my exercise routine over 10 years ago, I had dozens of different playlists ... one for every mood. I collected songs with a 5mph beat, to pace me when I'd attempt jogging. I'd put music on while I'd clean up the kitchen or drive in the car ...

Over a year ago I did a "Music vs Silence" post ... I had some forced silence (broken radio) during drives, and I was drawn to it. I liked the quiet. As I chauffeured the kids, it prompted some great conversations.

At home, I converted to audiobooks while I worked around the house, or killed time between basketball games (even if there was a track, when previously I might have jogged or walked to music).

But I've missed music ...

With child #4 in middle school, and a school carpool in place ... the silence was a little uncomfortable. So I spent some time in Itunes, prepping a playlist, adding songs I haven't listened to in forever.  I have so much forgotten music! Songs I haven't listened to in years. Sometimes I hear one of my old "jogging" songs, and I feel that urge to try it on the track (although I have resisted said urge, my few treadmill times have still been to the television). 

Of course, with my Zumba Mon-Thursday, I still got in a lot of music this past year. Some songs stay in that "Zumba" zone, but others cross over into my everyday. I'll often stop quickly to Shazam and/or ask the instructor about a song that hits grabs me. One piece, introduced during the cool down/stretching really hit me hard ... It was created to promote a movie/movement really highlighted here in Utah. Operation Underground, "The Abolitionists". I never got around to seeing the movie, but I HAD to look up the song. It's sad and haunting and beautiful ...

... I figured, as I rediscovered some of my music, I'd do some "Musical Monday" posts and share some favorites, old and new, with you too. Play on ...

Music vs Silence

I LOVE music. I grew up playing the piano. I sang in high school and college. Music has such a profound power ... motivating you, making memories, affecting mood. In many ways, I think it's almost essential to exercise. To jogging anyway ... I am one that must match my footfalls with the beat. Of course music is mandatory for Zumba! I've posted about my music several times on the blog.

But something interesting has happened lately.

I always listened to music in the car. I can't stand commercials, so I'd generally go with an ipod plugged into the stereo system. Occasionally, we have to do a car swap in the family, and several months ago I ended up driving #1 son's truck for a bit. The sound system doesn't work in the truck. No itunes, no radio. And I actually got used to the silence.

I'm back in my burb now, with a working sound system ... but I'm finding I'm not turning it on. I've learned to enjoy the silence. I'm comfortable with it. It gives me time to think, or just be, without any noise.

I still love music. As far as exercise ... I'm going to continue to play my music (or in my home gym, TV takes the place of music much of the time). I know there are some runners who just run, without music. I've never understood that. HOW? I need that music to drive me (and who am I kidding, I'm not much of  a runner anyway). I know it's actually recommended for safety, to be in tune with the surroundings. But maybe, those runners have discovered the secret of silence. Of listening to their own breathing, their heartbeat, just being ...

In the car, there are times we'll turn on the radio or the ipod playlist, but most of the time now ... I'm driving in silence, and I like it.

Just Thinking Out Loud this Thursday.

WWI #49 & Five "Slow" Songs (160 BPM)

It's Friday. Time for the weekly weigh-in and Friday Five.

I've mentioned before ... I can't run very far or very fast. I get in a ton of steps everyday on my Fitbit from other activities (elliptical, Zumba, even the stationary bike).  I do try to get some "running" in but, I don't run, I jog (and I still generally keep it to one mile).  I find motivation in music, and the OCD in me MUST match my footfalls to the beat of the music. I've found that 160 BPM is my comfortable pace (it's 5mph on my treadmill) and I've been collecting a big playlist of perfect songs, and sharing some of them here.

I shared my Favorites, Top 20, Pissed Off Playlist, in the past weeks,  and today I'm sharing my "Seemingly Slow" playlist. These songs don't come off as "jogging" songs. They would be a "slow" song if played at a dance, or a cool down for most aerobic activities. Yet ... the beat is there. When I set my treadmill to 5mph, my feet fall perfectly with the pace and the beat.  I don't know that I would listen to all of these back to back, I do like a little more lively songs to energize me, but I really enjoy when one of these comes on interspersed with my other music. Just thought I'd point these five songs out, as they are ones that can easily be missed when compiling a jogging playlist *Ü*

You can give them a listen below 

(although they are all pretty mainstream)

Linking up with I Wore Yoga Pants To Work.
Back That Azz Up Friday
Check it out for more music recommendations :)

Also the Five on Friday (Courtney, Mar and Cynthia), Friday Favorites at Running4Cupcakes, Friday Favorites at Housewife Glamour, High Five Friday at LaurenElizabeth and Five Things Friday at Fitting It All In.  

Now onto the weigh-in and week recap ...

So - DOWN 2.2 pounds! Now, before you are all "great job, congratulations" ... unfortunately this is a pretty normal fluctuation for me.  I have been hitting it pretty regularly, just the past couple weeks, my Friday morning happened to be my highest number, while today it was my low. The goal is still to drop below 150 and STAY below 150. I'm close ... but close can feel so far. 

NUMBERS: My average was also down, but much more minor a change (-.24). High for the week was 154.4 (Monday morning) and the low was today and Wednesday (Thursday was pretty much the same too).  I did have a weekly deficit of 2043. My intake was up a little, averaging 2329. I did have a really low day, so I must have had some high days too. Burn up slightly too, 3039. Happy to actually get the average up over 3000, it's been a while (I have many days over it, but usually a couple low days that drag the weekly average down). 

It was a busy week. The boys had a basketball clinic, which meant I was running to the high school four times a day. Got in my Zumba every day. Elliptical too. My "mile" and bike were a little more sporadic. I got in weights twice (last Friday and on Monday) ... not sure I'll get them in today though. It's a bit crazy here.

I'm linking up with  Fitness Friday with Jill and Aubrey  

and a late Weigh-In Wednesday.  

WWI#44 & My "Pissed-Off Playlist"

It's Friday. I don't say that with the same glee most of you do. I prefer the Mon-Thurs routine. I just do better with eating and exercise during the week. But Friday is time for my weekly weigh-in and Friday Five post. I do like checking in each week ...

Sunday was Mother's Day ... food and fitness were NOT good on Mother's Day. Ate too much and didn't exercise. So it was no surprise when the scale bumped up Monday morning. Then as I got into my Monday-Thursday routine, the numbers went down ... one pound by Tuesday, another pound down by Wednesday, another Thursday. Not that I actually gained/lost three pounds, but I was happy to at least see the scale moving in the right direction. Still nothing under 150 ... maybe I can get back to that this week!

NUMBERS: Weight is down .8 from last Friday's weigh-in, although my weekly average was up just a bit. High was Monday morning at 154.8. Low was yesterday at 151.2.  I had a weekly deficit, but only -1312.  I really thought I had done better eating/exercise wise this week, but I guess my bad Sunday threw the averages off. Average intake 2214. Average burn 2691.

I'm linking up with Fitness Friday and Fantastic Friday and a late Weigh-In Wednesday.  

 Time for my 

Friday Five

Courtney at Eat, Pray Run shared Five Reasons To Run Without Music in her blog post today.  But ... I NEED music, it really motivates me. I've collected a grundle of songs with a BPM of 160, which is my perfect pace (just 5mph for me). Songs where my footfalls match the beat of the music. I've shared a couple playlists before (TopPopHits and FavoriteInspirations) and still have more that I'm organizing into categories. Today, I thought I'd share my...

 "Pissed Off Playlist" 
My FIVE favorite songs when I'm a little ornery or off ... or even when I'm not.

These five songs are great for when you're feeling a little angry and just want to pound the pavement (or treadmill, in my case). When you've got things bottled up and you want to let them out. If there is a certain person you might be thinking about as you sing along. Even if I'm NOT ornery, I still get a kick out of some of these tunes.These can't help but get my heart pounding and ironically, put me in a better mood!

 

• Shut Up: The title pretty much says it all.
• What The Hell: Actually, there are a FEW of Avril's songs that could make this list, but this one is my favorite. I can identify with the statement "All my life I've been good but now ... what the hell!" This is just a tad slower (BMP of 150) but I can still make it match the 5mph setting on the treadmill, I just take slightly larger steps or something. La la la la la ....
• Everyday I Love You Less and Less:  This song was in the movie "Run Fatboy Run" which is pretty funny if you haven't seen it. Something about this song just struck me, it's hilarious really. I'm happily married ... but I feel like this would be a great breakup song!
• Leave Me Alone: This song doesn't feel as "hard" as the others, but still has the same angry message. Perfect for any day someone makes you feel like you can't do this weight-loss thing ... just listen to this song! This has been a favorite jogging song of mine for years.
• Awake and Alive: When my hubby first heard this song, he looked at me and asked "YOU like this?" ... yes, yes I do. I really do! "I'm awake I'm alive, now I know what I believe inside. Now is my time, I'll do what I want 'cause this is my life! I'm awake and I'm alive!" It's got such a strong beat and a strong message.

But Jen ... you are so nice and so sweet. Ok, usually I am, but EVERYONE has those moments when they just feel like screaming and shouting a bit, right? In truth, I usually don't listen to all five of these songs back to back (unless I'm REALLY in a bad mood), but I do enjoy having them in my main playlist mix. Just thought I'd share them with you! 

Linking up with my Friday Five Favs ... (in addition to the DC Bloggers), Five on Friday at Hello Happiness, Friday Favorites at Running4Cupcakes, Friday Favorites at Housewife Glamour, High Five Friday at LaurenElizabeth and Five Things Friday at Fitting It All In.

WWI#42 & Five 5mph Favs

I wasn't excited to weigh-in this morning. Sometimes I am! This was very similar to last week.  I remember just a few weeks ago (weigh-in #37) when I managed to get an entire week under 150. This week, I didn't see anything under 150. Boo. It's my eating, I take responsibility for that.

Numbers: Up an ounce from last week. Average is down an ounce. High was 153.9. Low was 150.8. I DID have a deficit for the week of 2720. I'm not great with weighing and measuring my food, but I do try to honestly track and log it all. I try to be generous with my food estimates, and conservative with my exercise estimates. Average intake was 2171. Average burn was 2757.  You can check out details in my Day to Day Doings ...

I need to try and work on my eating. Improving the quality of the calories I consume, and consuming less overall. I'm SO bad with what I eat, that it probably wouldn't take a huge change to make a difference. I need to get the willpower to avoid the temptations. The yummy, yummy temptations that taste oh so good. *Ü* Linking up with Fitness Friday, Follow Through Friday and a belated Weigh-In Wednesday. 

Onto the fun stuff ... Friday Five!

I've really been enjoying music again lately. Not that I ever stopped, but I definitely go through phases. An Itunes update resulted in the loss of all our playlists a few months ago, and I'd avoided syncing my ipod, because I hadn't gotten around to recreating my playlist yet. I finally did, and I've actually looked forward to getting on the treadmill and trying out some songs, seeing if they are a good fit for my 5mph playlist. I'm quite specific ... my footfalls MUST match the beat.

I've been adding some new songs to my list, but today I thought I would share with you my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE FIVE ... those with a perfect beat for my 5mph pace. Those with lyrics that inspire and motivate me. Songs that always make me smile (sometimes cry, depending on my mood).

These are some lesser known songs I think...
Press play and let me tell you a little bit about them.

• Move A Little Faster:  The song lyrics state "You're too slow boy, if you want to keep up you gotta move a little faster!"  It just makes me feel sassy, I'm wagging my finger in my mind ... and it makes ME go a little faster!
• Calling All Friends: This has been a favorite for years and years now. A perfect beat for my jog. With blogging, this song has evolved a bit of a new meaning for me. All the new friends I've "met" and "people I don't even know" ... on the way down (down to a lower weight). It address feeling alone, yet offers hope. I love it!
• Maybe: Don't let the band name (Sick Puppies) turn you off. This is a wonderful song. "Maybe it's time to change...to reach for something more, to want to live a better life" ...I don't know where I first heard this song, but I'm glad I discovered it.
• Breathe: I'd heard this song on the radio and felt under the deceptive slowness, it had a good beat. I was right! The first time it came across my playlist while I was jogging ... wow! "Breathe, just breathe" I kept breathing, and I kept running.
• Chasing the Sun: I like a lot of Sara Bareilles songs ... I LOVE this one. "Remember, that life is not meant to be wasted, we can always be chasing the sun." It also says "fill up your lungs and just RUN."  That line just kills me! Makes me want to run... and live. Love, love, love this song!  "All we can do is try. And live like we're still alive." Maybe an all-time favorite ... and it just happens to be perfect for jogging too!

Check out more music at the I Wore Yoga Pants To Work Friday link-up.

Friday Five Link-Ups ...

Friday Five at Eat Pray Run, Five on Friday at Hello Happiness, Friday Favorites at Running4Cupcakes,  Friday Favorites at Housewife Glamour,  High Five Friday at LaurenElizabeth and Five Things Friday at Fitting It All In 

Had you heard of any of these songs before?

WWI #38 & 160BPMPopularPlaylist

Well ... not a great week. It started going downhill pretty much after I stepped off the scale last Friday. I was so happy I'd hit my "an entire week under 150" goal. I'm not sure if I felt like I had permission to relax a bit, or "reward" myself with a treat ... or two, or three. Food on Friday, Saturday and Sunday was NOT good. My Monday morning high wasn't really surprising. Although I HAD been very naughty over the weekend and had definitely been over calories, I wasn't 18,5000 over (as the scale was reflecting a FIVE pound increase).  It did motivate me to get back on track though.

I was able to turn things around, but still up from last weigh-in ... in fact the increase from yesterday morning I blame on hubby! Yesterday wasn't great, but I'd done okay. My morning was a little off, as the hubs had scheduled some guys to come in and clean the air-ducts in the house. I HATE having people in the house, I just don't feel like I can keep to my regular routine. Then in the evening, Hubs and #2 stopped at Chick-fil-a after running a pinewood derby and brought home chicken nuggets and fries. I can resist their waffle fries, but their nuggets? It didn't add too many calories (300 or so) but I'm totally going to blame that for the up this morning!

Numbers: Up 2.5 pounds from last week. Average is up also, 1.63 pounds. Amazing how much the scale can fluctuate. High was 153.3, Low was 149.0. I actually DID have a deficit for the week. Even with my overages, I managed to come in at -2115 for the week as a whole.  Average intake 2286. Average burn 2825.  At least my MFP ticker is still at 30 pounds lost. I don't like when it drops back into the 29, 28 ... of course not as good as the 32 it was last week. Gotta get back there and beyond!

Linking up with Fitness Friday,  Follow Through Friday & Finish Line Friday.

Onto FUN Friday stuff... Friday Five.

I'm not a runner. The elliptical is easy, I enjoy my bike riding (and reading), I look forward to Zumba ... but strapping on the shoes and jogging. It really takes effort. Unfortunately, it seems to be the best way to actually get my heart rate up and get in a lot of steps in a short amount of time. I've been trying to commit to jogging a quick mile each day. I usually exercise with the TV on for motivation/distraction. 

Lately ... I've been turning to music again for my jogs ... and it can be SO motivating. I'm the type that needs to have a perfect beat to match my footfalls. On my treadmill, I set the speed to 5mph. That's what I can maintain for a WHOLE mile. I thought I'd share some of my motivational music, my top five 5mph song selection. Ones that I can count on to keep me going~ 

I pulled this screen shot from Jog.fm. I'm not sure about the whole 9 minute mile listing. I do NOT jog a nine minute mile. I need the full 12 minutes. But the 160-165 BPM is perfect for me at 5mph. I'm figuring you've heard these all before, they are pretty mainstream, but in case you want to check them out, here you go ... can you feel the beat? Does it make you want to go for a jog? *Ü*

I have LOTS more songs on my 5mph playlist ... I'll share others in some future posts. 
Do you have a "motivational music" playlist?
Do you need a specific beat for your running/walking?

Linking up with with the FridayFive linkups...

Five on Friday at Hello Happiness
Five Things Friday at Fitting It All In 
Friday Five at Eat Pray Run 
Friday Favorites at Running4Cupcakes
Friday Favorites at Housewife Glamour
High Five Friday at LaurenElizabeth 
 

Feel The Beat

Music can be so motivating! I'm a little picky when it comes to working out to music though, the BEAT is what drives me.  Sometimes I'll see someone recommend some good "running" songs and I think to myself "that song is NOT a running song, it's a walking song" because my foot falls have to match the beat of the song exactly. EX. ACT. LY.  Call me OCD ...

Last year I started challenging myself to run a WHOLE mile without stopping (you read that right, one entire mile! Impressive, I know). To be able to do this, I need to stick with a slow but steady 5mph pace (set to this speed on the treadmill). As I'd do my daily jog, I went through my playlists while I jogged ... some songs were too fast, some too slow, but now I have a nice list of perfect songs for me, that even off the treadmill I think I'd stay at that perfect pace.

Have you heard of Jog.fm? It's a website and an app ... I haven't tried using the app yet, as on my treadmill, I use an older ipod on a speaker, not my iphone, to play my music. Anyway, it's an interesting option to look at your music and perhaps find more songs that will work for you. Each song has the BPM (beats per minute) listed, and you can search for songs with a certain beat, or checkout playlists that others have created and find new songs that way.

I found it interesting that all my 5mph songs fell right around 160 BPM (or 2x80, a "slower" song that still has the same underlying rhythm). Oddly enough, Jog.fm lists this as a 9-minute mile ... which is NOT the case for me. My mile is definitely a 12-minute mile. But the BPM ... all the songs that ended up on my list all were in a very close range as listed on the website.  I did glance around at other songs with the same BPM, and peeked at playlists others had set up that had similar songs. I don't know that I went out and purchased any new songs, but often I'd see one that I knew I had in my library, but not in my playlist, and then I'd be able to try that out next time I hit the treadmill.

I just thought I'd give a little shout out to jog.fm if it was something you hadn't heard of. I know some people can just jog to any music, but if you are like me ... driven by the beat, then having a list of the BPM of your favorite songs may be helpful in deciding which music will motivate you the most. That's my little offering for the weekly Tips and Tricks linkup.

There was an interesting article out just today...
Songs Scientifically Proven to Help Fuel Your Workouts

Does the beat of the music matter to you?

I know there are other apps out there that do similar things? Any good ones you've tried?

Musical Motivation

Music is a pretty powerful motivator when it comes to exercising. When I first started back in 2006, I had a couple dozen playlists. What I would listen to would depend on my mood. I gathered a huge library of "up" songs to exercise to. As we expanded the home gym, a TV replaced much of my music, and I do miss it (of course I can always listen to music if I want to, but I do like watching tv series or movies too). But during those times I leave the comfort of my home gym, I do return to music.  

Now I've always struggled with headphones. The "in the ear" kinds just don't seem to stay IN my ears! The over the ear kinds tend to push on my ears uncomfortably. And then there is always the wire from the headphones to the ipod or other mp3 player. Until I discovered these awesome headphones. These do actually stay in my ears, and there are no wires whatsoever. My little shuffle plugs right into them. They are also very durable. I can just shove them in my gym bag without worrying about anything breaking. Ok ... on a guy, they might stand out a little, make him look like a cyborg. But with my long hair, you can't even see that I have headphones on! These are a great gadget for this girl!