Stevie Jewel

The 10 Best Songs of Christmas Music

Today I want to share something that I love so much.  Music! Specifically, CHRISTMAS MUSIC.

Music has been my life for so long, and just like anything in life – we’ve had our ups and downs.  But that doesn’t mean that anything has changed about how much I love music.  Or how much it moves me.  
Christmas MusicChristmas Music

When I was a child I was part of a group of children who got to perform all over our city throughout the year, but ESPECIALLY at Christmas! Which means that I’ve listened to A LOT of Christmas music, and usually from about August through to January 1st.  Because of this, I feel like I just HAVE to share my favorite Christmas songs with you!  Having listened to so so so many, and so many versions,
throughout the years – I consider myself a connoisseur of Christmas songs.
Here is my top 10 for Christmas songs – including my new favorites and my all time favorites, and some instrumentals!
  1. Angels from the Realms of Glory – The Piano Guys
  2. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy – Lindsey Stirling
  3. Christmas Canona – Trans-Siberian Orchestra
  4. Ave Maria  – Celine Dion
  5. Snow – Danny Kaye, Trudy Stevens, Bing Crosby and Peggy Lee
  6. Santa Baby – Eartha Kitt
  7. Cold December Night – Michael Bublé
  8. Night Divine – Josh Groban
  9. What Are You Doing New Years – Karen Carpenter
  10. Carol of the Bells – David Foster

What’s Your Mission Statement and Why You Want One

Napoleon Hill called it your “definite purpose” and now we call it a mission statement.

MissionMission
It’s mostly used by business to define the mission of the brand or business. I recently started reading a book called “Principles” which is what it sounds like –  a book about principles.  It essentially touches the same idea – that humans work well with a guiding mantra for their life – a mission statement.
Mission
It sounds DAUNTING, I know. “How do I define my life and what I stand for in one short sentence?!” But it’s actually somewhat simple.  It’s a statement built around your:
  • Beliefs
  • The kind of person you are/want to be
  • Principles
  • Priorities
Why a mission statement for your life can be so helpful is because it is a guidance system by which all decisions can be measured.
Mission
As I mentioned business have them.  Starbucks’ is “Our mission: to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.”  What I like about mission statements is that they transcend goals but they can change!  It’s like having a compass in your pocket to pull out when you start to feel confused or overwhelmed.
Mission
It allows you to define the terms on which you will live your life and it will make decision easier because you have defined who you are and what you stand for.

“Am I Doing It Right?” and Why It Doesn’t Matter!

I know I’ve asked myself this, and I’ve definitely asked this in school, in art classes, and in many other scenarios I’m sure…”Am I doing this right?”.

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mission
But I recently came to a wonderful realization – IT USUALLY DOESN’T MATTER.  Occasionally it does – if you’re a doctor, your cooking raw meat, or it’s life or death, or you’re driving a car; but those situations are different because it’s a legitimate concern. In day-to-day life or in creative endeavors it’s not actually about whether your doing it right or wrong – it’s the FEARof making a mistake or the FEAR of being wrong. So what does matter?
  • Are you doing your best?
  • Do you have good intentions?
mission
That’s usually all you need to be focused on.  It’s not about getting it right.  It’s about learning to enjoy the journey, the experience, etc.  Save yourself the stress and stop worrying about “right”, what does that mean anyway?  That your wine and painting class masterpiece will look exactly like the instructors? Does that matter? It will you uniquely yours and it will be because you didn’t worry about being “right” and just enjoyed the process!
mission missionmission
We can all give ourselves a little more grace and compassion when we’re learning and trying new things.  A good measure stick is to say, “Does this have serious consequences if I get it right or wrong?” and if the answer is “no” then you can stop worrying about being RIGHT.

Life Update August 2018

I took a little break over the end of July and August to focus onget spending time with my family and thinking over what I’ll be working on next!

I now find it crucial to follow my intuition and when I need a break to take one! It helps me write and create the best music, content, and keeps me refreshed!  Now, I’m ready to finish the summer strong and head into the fall!
So here’s a little update.

I GOT MARRIED!

 It sounds so new to say “husband” but I’m excited to start a fun adventure with my love.  We got married on 8/8/18 and I’ll probably share the pictures once I get them back from the photographer!
Life Update

WRITING NEW MUSIC UPDATE

It’s been a fun time this year already! What with planning a wedding, releasing an album, having a wedding, and now starting to write for a new project!
Life Update
Life Update

MY 16-YEAR FRIENDSHIP WITH MY HORSE

My 29 year old thoroughbred crossed the rainbow bridge a few days ago.  It’s never easy to say goodbye to a horse, especially one you’ve had so long.  He was the perfect horse; beautiful, big, kind, sweet, gentle, and a true gem.  He will always be one of the most special horses to me and I will love him always.  I know he’s at peace now and I’m glad we got to spend so many wonderful years enjoying each other’s company.
Life Update

SOMETHING NEW UPDATE

I’ve decided it’s really important to me to make empowering people, especially women, a consistent part of what I do.  I want to help them, and all people, find their power, the things they’re passionate about, and to live life to the fullest!  I’m not totally sure what that’s going to look like, but I’m working on it!
Life Update
It’s been a busy summer and now I’m excited to focus on the blog, new music, and empowering through speaking and music!  Tell me about your summer!

Kintsugi

I heard about Kintsugi several years ago.  I love Kintsugi…and let me tell you why.

I’ve heard people refer to themselves as broken.  Which always makes me sad because people are not broken.  They may need help, they may have shortcomings, but that’s just imperfect perfection.  It does NOT mean you’re broken…it means you’re HUMAN!

 

 

kintsugikintsugi

 

 

I think people call a heart broken when it aches, but it’s actually more like the pain you feel when you really hurt yourself and the pain is so intense it doesn’t register right away. It’s a slow rising brutal ache. But it’s not a break. 

 

kintsugikintsugi

Your spirit can’t be broken. It can be changed. You might feel broken. But it’s really kintsugi. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of golden repair. If a bowl breaks it is repaired with a gold filing to bind the pieces back together. This is you. When something “breaks” you your spirit has the magic of kintsugi inside and it can fill you with gold too. Youll be even more than you were before, you have new golden magic sewn into your story. 

kintsugikintsugi

 

So you can carry your “broken pieces” around with you cradling them in your arms forevermore or you can let your self love and your spirit do what it does naturally; take your experiences and spin them into gold to add to your being. 

 

kintsugikintsugi

 

The pain is just the opening where the golden light gets in. 

Pick Me Up Playlist

Obviously I love music, but I’m fairly particular about what kind of words I want to hear. Which is why I sometimes want a pick me up.

I think the music we listen to really matters, and that we should only be putting good thoughts in our minds!  These are some of my favorite songs to listen to when I might need a reminder to keep a positive attitude. What better way to show you what I’m talking about than the share the songs with you!  Every one can use a pick me up, especially half way through the work week! So here are 10 songs that I love to listen to to remind me of who I am and what I can do.

Pick Me Up Pick Me Up Pick Me Up

I hope it does the same thing for you!

Pick Me Up Pick Me Up Pick Me Up

Pick me up playlist

  1. Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles
  2. Fight Song – Rachel Platten
  3. All I Do Is Win – DJ Khaled
  4. Legendary – Welshly Arms
  5. Shake It Off – T Swift
  6. Happy – Pharrell Williams
  7. Walking On Sunshine
  8. Good Vibrations – Beach Boys
  9. Don’t You Worry Child – Swedish House Mafia 
  10. Shake It Out – Florence and The Machine

 

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