New and Old Music for Spring

Prepare yourself, this post features all genres of music. Music videos and links to most of the songs are included. Two former Gossip Girl members are included, if you miss Gossip Girl as much as I do. Enjoy. 

Black Roses by Clare Bowen
A little sad, but a very good song. 
Don't Put Dirt on my Grave Just Yet by Hayden Panettiere
If you can tell, I really like Nashville. 
Moonshine by Bruno Mars 
It's Bruno Mars. Enough said.
Somewhere by Sanders Bohlke 
Anything by Sanders Bohlke is good.

Dreams by Dana Williams and Leighton Meester
Cover originally performed by Fleetwood Mac. It is a great acoustic cover. I love all acoustic music.

Fancy by Iggy Azalea
It is weird, but catchy. 
Lift your Spirit & Love is the Answer by Aloe Blacc
That Girl by Jennifer Nettles

Disclosure by Latch feat. Sam Smith

Empire by Shakira
I did not like her first released single with Rihanna, but this makes up for it. Wait for the chorus.

I love you more than you'll ever know by Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa
If you like soul, you will love this.
Better Man by Beth Hart
Mannish Boy by Muddy Waters 
One of my faves, with a perfect hook. 

Ain't It Fun by Paramore 
Finally, a song from their new album I like.
Dust by Eli Young Band
Love, love, love this song.

Rocket by Beyonce
I would name every song on Queen Bey's album, but this song has a serious R&B feel. Did I mention Justin Timberlake helped with this song.....SO CHECK IT OUT!

Heaven Knows by The Pretty Reckless 
Do you miss Gossip Girl? It's all good, because this is Taylor Momsen's (Jenny Humphrey) band and it is KICK A**! If you feel like hitting the gym hard, jam to this song.

Summer by Calvin Harris
Like most of his songs, it is a great workout song. 

Why do we hate winners?

The winner's mentality, it can be verbal and nonverbal and usually full of attitude. What is the difference between swagger being cool and cockiness being egotistical? I am just as guilty as anyone else. When Richard Sherman pulled his stunt, my inner Red Raider came out in defense for Michael Crabtree. But why get upset at one of the best corners in the game for demanding respect after a Super Bowl determining play? Are we judgmental and hold the moral flag for these athletes? Does the resume/rings make a difference? Do people like graceful winners more than boastful winners?

Richard Sherman. Selected in the fifth round, 48 tackles and eight interceptions, would prove to you he was underrated and was demanding respect when he spouted off after the conference championship. We get mad when we actually get the reaction we want, especially as sports enthusiast and reporters. We live for those moments. Was it his swagger or his confidence that made you upset? In turn people started calling him a thug. By the way, for a "thug," he is an extremely smart man. Now that he has a Super Bowl ring, are we still talking about his post game comments? No. The ring backs up his comments, and if he had not won a ring, we would be laughing at Sherman.

Michael Jordan. First round pick, 32,292 points, 5,633 assists, 5,004 defensive rebounds, and 1,668 offensive rebounds. He definitely lived up to the hype, but people were torn with his attitude. Some people loved MJ, and some hated the fact that he was a ball hog and selfish (compared to Lebron James, and fans get frustrated for James being a facilitator.) He wanted and craved to have the ball in his hands in the last seconds of the game, he welcomed the pressure. When I am drafting a team, I am looking for the guy that can handle the pressure, who is a winner, but sometimes that attitude is not welcomed by people. Team player or a ball hog? 

Johnny Manziel. 4,114 yards and 37 touchdowns, and that is just his college stats. Don't get me wrong, I am the last person to brag about an Aggie, but he is a winner. He will run the ball into the endzone if need be. It's like Tom Brady, you never count him out no matter how many seconds are left on the clock. Manziel will do whatever it takes to win. No matter the off the field shenanigans, you draft him, because that mentality is contagious. 

Allen Iverson. 24,368 points and 5,624 assists. If anyone had a crazy off the court lifestyle, it was Iverson, but ignore his off the court nonsense. Fans thought he was a thug, and out of control. Yet, he had the winner's mentality. He wanted the ball in his hands. Fans did not like his attitude, but at the same time craved more of Iverson, just like we tune into a Richard Sherman post game interview now. 

Dez Bryant. 4,104 yards and 40 touchdowns since being drafted. He has reacted inappropriately (according to some) on the field and off the field, not to mention his random legal troubles with finances or getting into bar fights. However, he has great raw talent and is starting to put the full package together by staying focused during the off season. (Hopefully, I didn't just jinx him.) But because he doesn't have a great playoff or super bowl win, he sometimes doesn't get the cred. I think with a ring on your finger, the respect gives athletes breathing room to say what they wish sometimes.

Shaun White. Two olympic gold medals on the snow, and is notably the snowboarder who put the sport on the international stage. Some of his fellow snowboarders either hate him or admire him. It's the attitude, the ego, the cockiness. Why not? He put snowboarding on the map. He has to have swag in the pipe when he has the sport's expectations on his back. 

Derek Jeter. The Yanks all-time hits leader (3,305), been named to the All-Star Game 12 times, picked up five Gold Gloves at shortstop and won five World Series titles. Is it the dating life that sets you off with the likes of Minka Kelly, Jessica Biel and Vanessa Minnillo? We tune into to games for the investment in our teams, not the athletes personal lives. And Jeter is a winner. Some fans judge an athlete based on their personal life, rather than their resume.  

And many many more. 

I was a horrible free throw shooter in high school. My parents would tell me to convince myself at the line that when I let go of that ball it is going in. When I changed my mentality and played with some confidence, it upped my game. The saying "fake it until you make it" is true in sports and in life. Just like Sherman's comments with Tom Brady, Michael Crabtree and others, he spit some game, but definitely has the ring to back it up. So does it matter if the athlete is a graceful winner or boastful winner? I think it doesn't matter, because with the resume comes the respect. 

Abby Bogle's 20 Minute Outside Workout - LB Productions

When did women become heartless and men become sensitive?

This post will be similar to something out of Carrie Bradshaw and Sex and the City. Fair warning. Yes, I understand she was a fictional character.

I would think most men like an independent woman...,but I can't find that in Lubbock for some reason, even though I am sure there are some of you here. I don't date jerks, I have gone for the nice guy and in turn it has ended worse than dating the douche bags. The nice guys want a needy girl, now mind you, I use to be. If any of my exes are reading this, they know I wanted a relationship and pushed too hard probably when I should have given up. However, guys now-a-days can not take a sign, just as bad as women do not want to face the music.

I am not corny, nor do I say the corny things men expect. After getting turned down so many times, I didn't change myself, I just stopped being scared to be myself. So, I don't beg, I don't keep trying when I know it is not going to workout. I stop communication, focus on myself and get back on track.

It's like this, in high school when I was in a relationship my mother told me to watch my priorities. I didn't realize how important that was until I graduated college and focused on my career. I want to make time for my significant other and I do, but it is still not good enough. I don't want my relationship to consume my life and priorities.

Do I want to feel loved and appreciated, yes. However, it is a little different. I want a guy that is proud of how hard I work and wants to be successful as well. I know I can't expect men to think the same way I do. I am not going to spend the night every night, I am not going to completely change my routine.

The past couple guys I have dated wanted me to put them first, they felt entitled to be in a relationship quickly, they want to exchange sweet nothings early on, and they definitely did not want me to be more successful than them. Now, I am no feminist, but this is turning me into one. From the guys I have gotten to know, they do not want a successful woman, they want a baby maker, stay at home wife or a fun time. These men did not care about my ambitions in life.

It ruins the chase. I am not in a high school mentality where I want things I can't have, but I still want passion and surprise. Movies may be the problem, where you see the successful guy in a tailored suit pick the lady up from work and they go to dinner, have a glass of wine, give each other a kiss and go home. I refuse to believe that does not exist. I want it to be easy and not a chore. If I want to be alone, I just want to be alone. Why take it personal like a woman would? Why make things emotional, sensitive and dramatic?

If I don't talk to a guy after an argument, then I am heartless. If I don't follow through on a make out outside of a bar, I was just "drunk". If I don't want to immediately jump in a relationship, then I am a damaged woman. It is strange. Men complain all day long about women being too clingy and emotional. Well, I guess I have been around the most sensitive men the past few years. If you want more from me, make an effort yourself.

"I'm sorry, but don't give me the cold shoulder."
"Why can't we just go all in? I'm tired of waiting."
"I miss you, I will change, but I need you to do the same."
"I just want you to put me first."
"You work too much."
"I wish you didn't focus so much on your health."
"I want to spend more time with you."

I, I, I. Me, Me, Me.

So, here is what I want just in case anyone is interested.

An ambitious man.
A man without huge insecurities.
A man who is not intimated by me. I am not Erin Andrews, nor do I think I am hot sh**, but I do know my sports, and I hope that turns you on, not off. A man who can watch a football game with me and argue is flirty and attractive.
A man who is confident, not cocky.
A man who is sensitive when need be, and a man who takes control when he knows he needs to.
A man who supports me, no matter the circumstance. I want to hear your opinion, but I want you to emotionally and physically support me.
A man who wants to get to know me.
A man with a great sense of humor, and demands attention in a crowd. Good attention.

The difference is a man vs. a boy. A man is proud to be with his woman, and feels confident with her and respects her. I don't want to be single for the rest of my life. I want to start a family someday. I am not going to apologize that my job takes precedent some days, and I want to be successful. I hope to find a man that can help me balance all my priorities, and respect me at the same time.