Uncomfortable

I want to get more comfortable being uncomfortable. I want to get more confident being uncertain. I don’t want to shrink back just because something isn’t easy. I want to push back, and make more room in the area between I can’t and I can.      

 --Kristin Armstrong

Music Monday - Florence + the Machine

I have been a massive fan of Florence + the Machine for several years now. I was first introduced when The Twilight Saga: Eclipse was being released. One song from Florence's album Lungs was on the movie's soundtrack and it lead me to discover and devour the rest of her music. Lungs became the soundtrack of my summer that year as I listened to the tracks over and over and over..

Since then, I feel like Florence's musical style has changed in little ways (like collaborating with Calvin Harris on a few songs) but her crazy amazing vocals continue to make her music special. "Spectrum (Say My Name)" has another version with Calvin Harris, but I chose to post the original because you can appreciate her voice and the harp instrumental a little better. You can hear his remix here. I would list a few favourite songs here, but really both her albums and all of her singles are great. Enjoy!

My Oscar Picks

I'm a real sucker for awards shows -- all awards shows. If it's televised, I'm present. From the People's Choice Awards (which is hideously staged) all the way to the Academy Awards, I'm there...in front of the television...judging the red carpet gowns and the acceptance speeches; cheering on my favourites and scoffing at the winners who I find undeserving. The Academy Awards are my favourite though, not because they are the biggest or most influential, but because one of the newspapers in my area puts out this full page spread where you can tick boxes in each category with your predictions. And not just for the acting and directing categories, you get to predict them all, right down to Best Film Editing & Best Production Design. While I'm the first to admit that I'm no expert in the Sound Mixing or Visual Effects department, I do my best to give that award to best recipient! It's really all in fun as I'm usually pulling for my favourites rather than my predictions (and the two are not always the same).

 (all images taken from the Oscar Legacy website)

For the sake of space and small attention spans, I'm going to keep my predictions for this post narrowed to Best Supporting/Lead Actress & Actor and Best Picture. Drum roll please...