Top Ten 2008

So here are some lists of my top ten favorites of 2008.

BANDS:

These aren’t necessarily my top favorite bands of all time but ones that I discovered this year and LOVE! I have probably listened to these bands more than any other this year. (Despite Death Cab who has been my favorite for a few years. Also the Shins, Stills, and Stokes.) I could add a ton more to this list. I have found more great unknown bands on my own this year than I ever have. I have gotten tired of all the same old unoriginal popular music and have learned that there is a ton of great music out there that not a lot of people know about. It has sort of become a hobby of mine in finding new music.

1. Band of Horses
2. Rogue Wave
3. Death Cab for Cutie
4. The Stills
5. The Shins
6. Matt Costa
7. Fleet Foxes
8. Built to Spill
9. The Strokes
10. Regina Spektor

SONGS:

1. “Noones Gonna Love You” Band of Horses
2. “First Day of My Life” Bright Eyes
3. “Chicago x 12” Rogue Wave
4. “White Winter Hymnal” Fleet Foxes
5. “Gone for Good” The Shins
6. “Free bird” Lynryd Skynyrd
7. “A Movie Script Ending” Death Cab for Cutie (or pretty much anything by them)
8. “The End Has No End” The Strokes
9. “Else” Built to Spill
10. “Shiver” Coldplay

BOOKS:
I have grown to love reading more than ever.

1. The Age of Innocence
2. Wuthering Heights
3. Jane Eyre
4. The House of Mirth
5. The Fountainhead (I’m not nearly finished but so far its amazing!)
6. The Catcher in the Rye
7. The Thirteenth Tale
8. Twilight Series (I don’t necessarily think they are the best written books but I enjoyed reading them.)
9. Angels & Demons
10. Marley and Me

MOVIES:

This one was actually hard for me to find 10 of. There have been some amazing movies out this year but not as many as I thought. I still haven't seen The Curious Case of Benjamin Button which would probably make the list.

1. Ironman
2. Definitely, Maybe
3. The Dark Knight
4. The Incredible Hulk
5. Cloverfield
6. 27 Dresses
7. Quantum of Solace
8. 21
9. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
10. Valkryie
11. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist

TV SHOWS:

1. The Office
2. Heroes
3. Chuck
4. Pushing Daisies
5. That 70's Show
6. Privileged
7. Bones
8. Seinfeld (always a favorite)
9. Scrubs

HAPPY 2009!

So this is Christmas...

So I haven't updated this whole month and it has become overwhelming because so much has happened! December is usually a busy month for everyone with holiday shopping and parties but this month was especially crazy for us. My sister Ashley was in the hospital because of complications with her pregnancy and she ended up delivering via C-section 2 months early on Christmas Eve. His name is Grant Mitchell Carlon and he is a tiny 2 1/2 pounds but growing! He will have to stay at the hospital for a couple months but should be a healthy baby boy soon. On top of that Jason's mom was in a car accident which totaled her van (not her fault) on Dec 23 which caused a mild heart attack. It may have been a good thing because they found some blocked coronary arteries and she had a triple bypass surgery on Christmas Eve as well. (Yes, this is the same van that I sandwiched Jason into and dented the door. Now we don't have to fix it.) It was strange because she had her surgery not only the same day as Ashley's C-section but they were both at 12:00! It would have been great if they were at the same hospital to make visiting easier but Jason's mom was in Phoenix and Ash in Mesa. They are both doing great and are at their homes now. Even though things were a little stressful we were still able to have a great Christmas! We are very grateful that Ashley and Jason's mom are both healthy again.

Jason and I Christmas tree shopping
She couldn't wait to get a drink at home

We got our gorgeous tree for only $32 at a lot! It was supposed to be $60 but the guy was very nice and helped us out.

Gingerbread decorating with the family

My family's new baby goat Coco!!

My parents got Jason and I a gorgeous bed frame for Christmas! Jason and I at the hospital

It is crazy that another Christmas has already come and gone. This whole year has sped by for me faster than any other. Christmas time is always a great way to end the year because you get to spend a lot of time doing fun things with the family. Even though this Christmas was different because Ashley was in the hospital it made me remember what is most important. I'm so grateful to have such an amazing family!