obsessing over : the olympics

There are very few things in life that I enjoy more than the Olympics; every time the olympic torch makes a new stop I am glued to my couch for the next two weeks. During which I am more of a sap than I ever am the other 50 week of the year. Seriously, I cry like a baby whenever 1) an athlete's parents are interviewed 2) an American wins and the national anthem starts playing 3) a story of overcoming obstacles is told. I love the triumph and pride that comes with simply competing, don't even get me started on people winning.

When my mom and I visited the Olympic Training Center in CO Springs last year, where I might or might not have seen John Orozco training!

Being the Anglophile that I am, London being the host city only makes me even more pumped. I was supposed to be in London right now soaking up the awesomeness that is a country hosting the games and I guess taking some classes, but sadly (really sadly, I cried for like a week when I found out I wasn't going) the program was cancelled due to some scheduling conflict. So instead I'll be back on my couch, as per usual, which is fine I'm not still bitter about it. Kind of. I won't let my intermittent pangs of sadness damper my Olympic spirit though! I will yell and cry and survive heart palpitations along with the rest of the country.

Rumor has it that the opening ceremony will include a 40-foot Voldemort battling an army of Mary Poppins, James Bond, and of course ending with a sing-along to 'Hey Jude'. And the Spice Girls are reuniting for a closing ceremony performance. Be still my platform loving, girl powering, 90s heart. Oh yeah, and Rupert Grint carried the torch today. SO GREAT.

Here are some of my favorite Olympic Moments:

 Beijing (2008) Men's 4x100 Freestyle Relay

 a.k.a- the day Jason Lezak became a beast. remember sitting on my grandparents' couch freaking out while watching this. I'm not sure I've every been more excited about something that I was in no way involved in.

Athens (2004) Paul Hamm Horizontal Bar Routine

Comebacks seem to be a theme... If you don't know what happened, Paul had fallen on a vault attempt and landed in 12th place. After the next rotation of parallel bars he had made his way back to 4th but the chances of a gold seemed out of reach. He scored a 9.837 on this routine, nabbing the gold and also my love.

Beijing (2008) Men's 100m Final

INSANE. Just like I don't believe the Chinese gymnasts are over the age of 7, I don't believe that this being is a human.

Atlanta (1996) Kerri Strug Vault

Duh, does it get any better or more tissue-worthy than this?

2008 Beijing Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony is an awesome way to integrate culture and creativity into the games, and Beijing complete upped the ante with this one. It was so cool. Danny Boyle is going to bring it this year.

This is but a smattering of the Olympic moments that take up valuable space in my mind, and I am so looking forward to see what London will bring me. Phelps-Lochte showdown. Misty May and Kerri Walsh spiking the competition. Gabby Douglas dougie-ing all the way to the podium. Voldemort trying to figure out how a muggle like Usain Bolt is using magic to run that fast.

Don't miss anything, keep this schedule open at all times!

repeat, repeat, repeat : ed sheeran

Ed Sheeran first caught my attention when he released his video for "Lego House" which featured Rupert Grint as a ridiculous, obsessive fan. As my friend Kara said when I told her about it, "Now I understand why you love him." It's true, I do have a special place in my heart for the miniature pig raising, ice cream truck driving ginger, so his connection to Ed certainly helped.

But what kept may attention after that was how every song on his debut album "+" is great. I am a sucker for an acoustic guitars and for the British, so the red-head was already pretty high in my book. But the album is a perfect mix of jaunt ("Gold Rush","Little Bird"), heartbreak ("U.N.I", "Small Bump"), and attitude ("You Need Me, I Don't Need You"). He's got a way with words that reminds me a little of Jason Mraz (except 50x better), he can spit them out like rapid fire but with an awesome fluidity. On the flipside there are times, such as on "Wake Me Up", when he's pretty much just talking and still manages to keep me hanging on every word. Call me a softy, but the line, "See I could do without a tan on my left hand, where my fourth finger meets my knuckle" gets me every time. His gentleness is conveyed in the former, but the he evokes such power on "Give Me Love" that it gives me chills.
Needless to say, I'm slightly obsessed with him right now. He not only writes all of his own music but also has a writing credit on One Direction's first album and has recently been writing with Taylor Swift. I am real pumped about the latter.

If you like Ed Sheeran, then check out: Tracy Chapman, Of Monsters and Men, Birdy

three things thursday!

here are a few things i'm loving this week.

 finally getting into the millennium trilogy and loving it.

via google images

emmy nominations for new girl and best actress/supporting actor nods for zooey deschanel and max greenfield!

via google images

"Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."

-Colossians 3:12