When Life's Kicking Your Butt, How About a Theme Song ~ December

Once again, my pal, Robyn, over @robgirlbooks, has us creating a soundtrack for our lives. This challenge is all about sharing the music you listen to when you need motivation, or to celebrate, or when you're happy or sad, or when you're cleaning, etc. Sounds fun, yeah? Here's how it works... Robyn gives us a theme every month and we post songs that fulfill that theme as it applies to us. Then at the end of the year, we'll have a playlist!

The playlist for 2014 can be found here (youtube link) if you're interested. I enjoyed sharing my family's musical tastes with y'all and I enjoyed being introduced to some new music. I'll post the playlist for 2015 once Robyn has it ready. 

***

I've been just awful with this meme this year. This is only my 7th post. But I wanted to go out with a bang. ;) Robyn picked a great theme for December ~ a song that makes you feel optimistic about 2016. I'm feeling like 2016 is gonna be a great year - one where I'll get these posts done every month. ;)

Here are our choices:

My Pick
Dixie Chicks always makes me smile and since 2016 will be a year where Sky will be leaving for her own Wide Open Spaces, I thought this song was fitting. :D

James' Pick

James had a hard time picking but ended up being able to find something relatively optimistic by Death Cab for Cutie. ;)

Sky's Pick

Sky 's pick is from a band I took her to see back in October...A Silent Film.

Berk's Pick
Berk's choice is...from a musical. Naturally. ;) 

Jax's Pick
Jax is still a fan of Finding Nirvana, so his pick is Tomorrow. 

When Life's Kicking Your Butt, How About a Theme Song ~ August

Once again, my pal, Robyn, over @robgirlbooks, has us creating a soundtrack for our lives. This challenge is all about sharing the music you listen to when you need motivation, or to celebrate, or when you're happy or sad, or when you're cleaning, etc. Sounds fun, yeah? Here's how it works... Robyn gives us a theme every month and we post songs that fulfill that theme as it applies to us. Then at the end of the year, we'll have a playlist!

The playlist for 2014 can be found here (youtube link) if you're interested. I enjoyed sharing my family's musical tastes with y'all and I enjoyed being introduced to some new music. I'm looking forward to doing it again for 2015!

***

I've been a bad girl! I haven't done a theme song all summer long. So it's fitting that, August's theme is "It Takes an Entire Album". I know I'm coming in just under the wire but better late than never, right?!?

Here are our choices:

My Pick
My pick is Ed Sheeran's album entitled X. And my song is One. My reasons...well, I think Ed Sheeran's voice is sexy and I love anything he sings. I've been listening to him while getting in the 'mood' to write. ;)

Sky's Pick
Sky says her pick is Instant Crush from the album Random Access Memories...she really likes this song and she's gotten into Daft Punk recently.

Berk's Pick
Berk's choice is the soundtrack for the musical 13. It isn't one of the musicals when we were in NYC, but it's a favorite this month. The song she picked is Any Minute... 

Jax's Pick
Jax really likes Finding Nirvana, so his album pick is Not Even Once and his song pick is Closer. 

When Life's Kicking Your Butt, How About a Theme Song ~ May

Once again, my pal, Robyn, over @robgirlbooks, has us creating a soundtrack for our lives. This challenge is all about sharing the music you listen to when you need motivation, or to celebrate, or when you're happy or sad, or when you're cleaning, etc. Sounds fun, yeah? Here's how it works... Robyn gives us a theme every month and we post songs that fulfill that theme as it applies to us. Then at the end of the year, we'll have a playlist!

The playlist for 2014 can be found here (youtube link) if you're interested. I enjoyed sharing my family's musical tastes with y'all and I enjoyed being introduced to some new music. I'm looking forward to doing it again for 2015!

***

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

This month's theme is All About Mom. We had to think of songs that made up think about our moms, our kids, etc.
Here are our choices:

My Pick
My pick comes from the movie Stepmom and this song always makes me think of my kids - because there ain't no mountain high enough that would keep me from doing anything from my kids!

James' Pick
I've used this song as one of my picks previously, but since it *is* our song, James picked this one. :)

Sky's Pick
Sky said any song by the Avett Brothers makes her think of me. My love of this band is one of things that made Colleen Hoover a favorite author. Her use of quotes from their songs (in Slammed) and as a commonality between Lake and Will - well, it endeared me to her since I felt I was one of the few people who'd heard of the band. :)

Berk's Pick
Berk picked this song as one that makes her think of me. Can you guess why? I'll give you a hint...a little movie starring Bella and Edward. ;)

Jax's Pick
I believe I've mentioned I am a bit of a Foo Fighters fanatic. ;) Jax said any song from them makes him think of me. But he picked a 'mellow' version of one of my favorites. *ha*

When Life's Kicking Your Butt, How About a Theme Song ~ April

Once again, my pal, Robyn, over @robgirlbooks, has us creating a soundtrack for our lives. This challenge is all about sharing the music you listen to when you need motivation, or to celebrate, or when you're happy or sad, or when you're cleaning, etc. Sounds fun, yeah? Here's how it works... Robyn gives us a theme every month and we post songs that fulfill that theme as it applies to us. Then at the end of the year, we'll have a playlist!

The playlist for 2014 can be found here (youtube link) if you're interested. I enjoyed sharing my family's musical tastes with y'all and I enjoyed being introduced to some new music. I'm looking forward to doing it again for 2015!

***

This month's theme is blogger's choice. Since my family participates, I asked them for theme ideas. My son tossed out one that we all liked. So our theme for April is...*drum roll* 
Songs You Both Love & Hate, Depending on Your Mood. 
Here are our choices:

My Pick
I have always been a fan of Rush but for some reason, as I've gotten older, I really have to be in the right mood to listen to them.

James' Pick
He says this really goes for any Journey song. :)

Sky's Pick
Sky has a love/hate relationship with songs from Legally Blond because she played in the musical pit orchestra for the high school performances...while she had mono. :/ The songs have been stuck in her head for the past 2 months.

Berk's Pick
Berk just has a love/hate relationship with Taylor, period.

Jax's Pick
This is something since he's a huge Beatles fan. *ha*

When Life's Kickin' Your Butt, How About a Theme Song ~ March

Once again, my pal, Robyn, over @robgirlbooks, has us creating a soundtrack for our lives. This challenge is all about sharing the music you listen to when you need motivation, or to celebrate, or when you're happy or sad, or when you're cleaning, etc. Sounds fun, yeah? Here's how it works... Robyn gives us a theme every month and we post songs that fulfill that theme as it applies to us. Then at the end of the year, we'll have a playlist!

The playlist for 2014 can be found here (youtube link) if you're interested. I enjoyed sharing my family's musical tastes with y'all and I enjoyed being introduced to some new music. I'm looking forward to doing it again for 2015!

***

This month's theme is... the perfect song for that book.  So I asked my family which song makes them think of that book. Here are our choices:

My Picks
This was hard for me. Although I love music, I'm not really a person who thinks of a particular song while immersed in a story. I'm more of a person who hears a song that reminds me of a book. But I can never remember those. So I've gone with the obvious - but this song always makes me think of Katy and Daemon from Jennifer L. Armentrout's Lux Series.!

James' Pick
Okay, he picked a song by the author of the book...Fall in Love Again by Sammy Hagar makes him think of Sammy's autobiography, Red.

Sky's Pick
Sky says My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark makes her think of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. 

Berk's Pick
All-Star makes Berk think of Notes from an Accidental Band Geek by Erin Dionne. 

Jax's Pick
This song makes Jax think of Beyonders by Brandon Mull.

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When Life's Kicking Your Butt, How About a Theme Song ~ February

Once again, my pal, Robyn, over @robgirlbooks, has us creating a soundtrack for our lives. This challenge is all about sharing the music you listen to when you need motivation, or to celebrate, or when you're happy or sad, or when you're cleaning, etc. Sounds fun, yeah? Here's how it works... Robyn gives us a theme every month and we post songs that fulfill that theme as it applies to us. Then at the end of the year, we'll have a playlist!

The playlist for 2014 can be found here (youtube link) if you're interested. I enjoyed sharing my family's musical tastes with y'all and I enjoyed being introduced to some new music. I'm looking forward to doing it again for 2015!

***

This month's theme is... go big or go home - big production.  So I asked my family which song they listen to when they think of big music...  I hope our choices!

My Picks
I'm showing my age. ;) I was never really an MJ fan but everyone liked Thriller!

James' Pick
It must be said that my hubs is a dork - and this is from one of his favorite movies from when he was a teenager. :)

Sky's Pick

Berk's Pick

Jax's Pick

**When Life's Kicking Your Butt, How About a Theme Song?**

It's a new year! There are new challenges and resolutions and chances to kick your butt into gear. I'm sure many of you use music to motivate. I know I do! Once again, my pal, Robyn, over @robgirlbooks, has us creating a soundtrack for our lives. She will give us a theme every month and we post songs that fulfill that theme as it applies to us. Then at the end of the year, we'll have a playlist!

The playlist for 2014 can be found here (youtube link) if you're interested. I enjoyed sharing my family's musical tastes with y'all and I enjoyed being introduced to some new music. I'm looking forward to doing it again for 2015!

***

This month's theme is... any song that you rock out to. So I asked my family which song they listen to when they need to get going, power through something...  I hope our choices!

My Picks
I believe I've said before that I'm a huge Foo Fighters fan!

James' Pick

Sky's Pick

Berk's Pick

Jax's Pick

**When Life's Kicking Your Butt, How About a Theme Song? ~ December**

Happy December! As y'all know, my pal, Robyn, over @robgirlbooks, issued a challenge for 2014. She wanted us to come up with a song - one a month - that we turn to when life is getting us down...when we need a pick-me-up...when we need motivation...well, you get the picture. :) Well, 2014 is almost over and we've created a fabulous playlist. This was a fun challenge. I've been introduced to some new music, which is always nice. And I've enjoyed sharing some of my family's favorites. I hope you've enjoyed them as well!

***

This month's theme is... Holiday of course! ;)  I hope these songs put a little pep in your step and some holiday spirit into your day!

My Picks
I couldn't choose just one. :) Obviously, I like instrumentals. And since my kids and I always participate in the Polar Express Night every year @B&N, I couldn't resist sharing Hot Chocolate!

James' Pick



Sky's Pick

Berk's Pick

Jax's Pick

**When Life's Kicking Your Butt, How About a Theme Song? ~ November**

My pal, Robyn, over @robgirlbooks, issued a challenge for the year. She wants us to come up with a song - one a month - that we turn to when life is getting us down...when we need a pick-me-up...the song we turn to when trying to get motivated for cleaning the house...the song we hear when we need inspiration...well, you get the picture. :) At the end of the year, we'll have quite the playlist for life!

***

First of all, I just realized I never published my post for October! The theme was Austin City Limits Music Fest. I love ACL and it was where I first saw The Avett Brothers. If any of y'all have read Slammed by Colleen Hoover, you know of the band. When I read Slammed, I'd thought I was one of the few who knew of the band, so it was awesome to see them highlighted and know someone else loves them just as much as I do! Here was my choice:

This month's theme is Foreign Language. ;)  My pick comes from my t.v. watching days - anyone remember Providence? James' pick bends the rules a bit because it's an American band - the song just happens to be in French. My girls' picks? Japanese, of course, And Jax picked an instrumental song! Do you have a favorite song in a foreign language? Here are ours:

My Pick 

James' Pick




Sky's Pick

Berk's Pick

Jax's Pick

**When Life's Kicking Your Butt, How About a Theme Song? ~ September**

My pal, Robyn, over @robgirlbooks, issued a challenge for the year. She wants us to come up with a song - one a month - that we turn to when life is getting us down...when we need a pick-me-up...the song we turn to when trying to get motivated for cleaning the house...the song we hear when we need inspiration...well, you get the picture. :) At the end of the year, we'll have quite the playlist for life!

This month, the theme is Oldies ~ and I have to say it was really difficult for me to choose a song! ;) And then I ask my kids and Jax wants to pick a song from the 90's because that's Oldies to him. :/ I am NOT an oldie! LOL And then Sky goes and makes me feel old anyway with her pick. :) So, what are some of your favorite oldies? Here are ours:

My Pick 





Sky's Pick




Berk's Pick




Jax's Pick

**When Life's Kicking Your Butt, How About a Theme Song? ~ August**

My pal, Robyn, over @robgirlbooks, issued a challenge for the year. She wants us to come up with a song - one a month - that we turn to when life is getting us down...when we need a pick-me-up...the song we turn to when trying to get motivated for cleaning the house...the song we hear when we need inspiration...well, you get the picture. :) At the end of the year, we'll have quite the playlist for life!

This month, the theme is Movie Soundtrack ~ any song from a movie that makes you happy, giggle, feel good! ;)

My Pick 





Sky's Pick




Berk's Pick




Jax's Pick

**When Life's Kicking You Butt, How About a Theme Song ~ July**

**When Life's Kicking Your Butt...How About a Theme Song?**

My pal, Robyn, over at robgirlbooks, issued a challenge for the year. She wants us to come up with a song - one a month - that we turn to when life is getting us down...when we need a pick-me-up...the song we turn to when trying to get motivated for cleaning the house...the song we hear when we need inspiration...well, you get the picture. :) At the end of the year, we'll have quite the playlist for life!

This month, the theme is Love ~ any song that makes you think of L-O-V-E. This was a fun theme - especially for my kids. ;)

My Pick (I'm channeling my inner Rock Chick ;)




James' Pick




Sky's Pick




Berk's Pick




Jax's Pick

**When Life's Kicking Your Butt, How About a Theme Song ~ June**

**When Life's Kicking Your Butt...How About a Theme Song?**

My pal, Robyn, over at robgirlbooks, issued a challenge for the year. She wants us to come up with a song - one a month - that we turn to when life is getting us down...when we need a pick-me-up...the song we turn to when trying to get motivated for cleaning the house...the song we hear when we need inspiration...well, you get the picture. :) At the end of the year, we'll have quite the playlist for life!

This month, the theme is Summer ~ any song that makes you think of summer. This was an easy choice for me because there is one song that really reminds me of being on my grandparents' farm, chasing fireflies, catching frogs, watching the clouds, climbing trees, and enjoying the wide open space. I happen to have been lucky enough to live close to my grandparents most of my life and so I spent a lot of time with them. But summertime was the best!

Jax and I actually chose the same song this month:




Sky's Choice:





Berk's Choice:

**A Playlist for Life ~ May**

**When Life's Kicking Your Butt...How About a Theme Song?**

My pal, Robyn, over at robgirlbooks, issued a challenge for the year. She wants us to come up with a song - one a month - that we turn to when life is getting us down...when we need a pick-me-up...the song we turn to when trying to get motivated for cleaning the house...the song we hear when we need inspiration...well, you get the picture. :) At the end of the year, we'll have quite the playlist for life!

This month, the theme is Movie Soundtrack Songs. For me, making a choice was really hard. And I think I changed my mind at least 10 times. There are just so many great songs from movies. I guess I'm feeling sappy today, and so my decision was made. :) 

My choice is:




Sky's Choice:





Berk's Choice:





Jax's Choice:

**A Playlist for Life ~ April**

**When Life's Kicking Your Butt...How About a Theme Song?**

My pal, Robyn, over at robgirlbooks, issued a challenge for the year. She wants us to come up with a song - one a month - that we turn to when life is getting us down...when we need a pick-me-up...the song we turn to when trying to get motivated for cleaning the house...the song we hear when we need inspiration...well, you get the picture. :) At the end of the year, we'll have quite the playlist for life!

This month, the theme is Silly Songs. 

My choices are:






Okay, I had to cheat and list two...Don't Stand So Close to Me was the first song that popped into my head. And my kids insisted I tell you the story behind why. So when I was a wee lass of, oh, about 10, The Police released this song. And I thought it was the silliest thing in the world. WHY would you need to write a song to tell someone not to stand so close to you?!? *hehe* 

The Belly Button Song is pure silly fun!! :)

Sky's Choice:



This song has made for lots of giggling around our house. Why? My kids actually sing to many songs in 'meows'.

Berk's Choice:



Does this song require any explanation?!?


Jax's Choice:

Jax's obsession with The Beatles left no question as to what song he'd choose. :)

**A Playlist for Life ~ March**

My pal, Robyn, over at robgirlbooks, has issued a challenge. She wants us to come up with a song - one a month - that we turn to when life is getting us down...when we need a pick-me-up...the song we turn to when trying to get motivated for cleaning the house...the song we hear when we need inspiration...well, you get the picture. :) At the end of the year, we'll have quite the playlist for life!

This month, the theme is 'musical'. 

My choice is:


Sky's choice:


In case you were curious about how I spend my Saturdays ;), this is an example, on a grand stage, of what my girls do every weekend during winter. Sky plays bells and chimes in the 'pit', which is where the marimbas, xylophones, etc., are located. Berk is on winter guard/color guard, which are the people dancing and throwing flags and rifles. The difference, right now, is that my girls perform separately as a percussion ensemble and a winter guard. But they aspire to perform in drum corps one day. :)

Berk's choice:



Jax's choice:




What are some of your favorite songs from musicals?

**Life's Playlist ~ February**

My pal, Robyn, over at robgirlbooks, has issued a challenge. She wants us to come up with a song - one a month - that we turn to when life is getting us down...when we need a pick-me-up...the song we turn to when trying to get motivated for cleaning the house...the song we hear when we need inspiration...well, you get the picture. :) At the end of the year, we'll have quite the playlist for life!

This month, we need a song that helps you 'Just Do It'! 

My choice is:

I have to confess that really ANY song by the Foo Fighters makes me want to 'Just Do It'. I use them for my alarm because listening to them, I can't help but need to get up and get movin'! ;) I listen to them for exercising as well. I LOVE the Foo Fighters!

Sky's choice:

Berk's choice:

Jax's choice:

Jax is currently obsessed with the Beatles. :)

**When Life's Kicking Your Butt ~ How About a Theme Song?**

Happy New Year, y'all! My pal, Robyn, over at robgirlbooks, has issued a challenge. She wants us to come up with a song - one a month - that we turn to when life is getting us down...when we need a pick-me-up...the song we turn to when trying to get motivated for cleaning the house...the song we hear when we need inspiration...well, you get the picture. :) 

This month, she wants to know what song lifts your mood, makes you dance, makes life fun! My choice is:

This is actually is my and my husband's theme song...it always make me remember that no matter what comes our way, he and I, together can do anything! ;)

I asked my family for their theme songs, and here's what they came up with.

Jax's:

Berk's:

Sky's: