This post has nothing to do with Star Wars, the Kardashian family, or Donald Trump. I was merely attempting a ruse in order to get you to click on the post. Apparently it worked ;)
The other day, I was feeling badly because I haven't posted in a long time. I am working on another Moments post, but didn't have the energy to finish it. Then I was struck with an idea. To start, I have two problems.
1. Everyone has a list of artists, songs, blogs, websites, books, movies, shows, etc. that they have discovered and aren't yet popular. Sometimes they keep their list secret because it feels good to have your own personal discovery. I don't feel that way. I want everyone to know about these great things that I've discovered (with the help of friends and family). I name today, December 10th, National-Share-Your-Hipster-Secret-Awesome-Discoveries-With-Your-Friends-Day.
2. When I get online, I have a list of blogs and sites that I periodically check. I get frustrated when there isn't a new post on any of them. I am a people pleaser and don't want to be a source of frustration for anyone who might have my blog on their personal list. I am going to kill two birds with one stone and share my list with you and provide you with other options to browse if I'm not posting.
One warning for you. If you don't like something on this list- don't tell me. Pretend you haven't read this post. It'll be better for you because I hold this list very dear. If you do find something that you like, tell me immediately.
Okay, here we go in absolutely no order.
One more warning-these are things that aren't the most popular. Of course I love Lord of the Rings, Taylor Swift, Buzzfeed, and To Kill a Mockingbird. These are hopefully introducing you to something new.
-The blog Nurse Eye Roll http://www.nurseeyeroll.com/2015/11/24/nurses-thankful-every-shift/ This is a blog from a nurse. Some of her posts are advertisements for nurse equipment, but every once in a while she write a post that strikes home and makes me dissolve in a puddle of tears. This link leads to one of her recent posts that I loved.
-The band Oh Honey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15pMHi9h8rI. I love this band and got to see them last year. Their music is positive, clean, and happy. This link is to their most popular song which you might have heard and I've adopted as my life anthem. Check out their other stuff too!
-The books The Wednesday Wars and Okay For Now by Gary Schmidt. My entire family loves these books and don't you dare say anything bad about them. If you don't like them, you're doing it wrong.
-The soundtrack to the musical Hamilton. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUSRfoOcUe4avCXPg6tPgdZzu--hBXUYx This is one of the most bizarre things on the list. It's a new musical that is a hip-hop/rap approach to the story about the founding fathers. Is is explicit at some points, but it's brilliant and fascinating and new and clever and fun.
-The blog Kisses with Katie http://katiedavis.amazima.org/ . This blog is an incredible story about a girl who left her life similar to mine in the United States to go to Uganda and serve there. She started a non-profit organization, adopted thirteen Ugandan girls, and wrote a book. I have followed her story for years, and am inspired by her faith every time she writes a post.
-The book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I promise the book is better than the title. It's a book someone recommended to me this year, and I loved it. It's entirely written in letters, so you have to pull out what's really happening for yourself. It's sweet and easy to read. I highly recommend it.
- The Hillywood Show. https://www.youtube.com/user/JckSparrow/videos?spfreload=10 This is a youtube channel run by two sisters who are geekier than anyone I've ever seen. They make parodies about topics like Lord of the Rings, Supernatural, Doctor Who, and Harry Potter. They are insanely clever. They are the most well-made parodies I have ever seen with amazing attention to detail. The two sisters play a part in every parody. Hilly is one of the sisters and she successfully looks exactly like Frodo, Captain Jack Sparrow, Dean Winchester, Katniss Everdeen, the Doctor, and Harry Potter. It's crazy.
-The Instagram account muradosmann and his #followmeto series. You might have seen this before, but it's a man who travels the world with his girlfriend/nowwife. He takes incredible pictures of her leading him to these amazing sights. The photography and scenery is beautiful.
-Us the Duo. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBsate-JQAo. Another youtube channel made by a husband/wife duo. They do covers and are working on their own original album. They're insanely cute and talented. I attached a video of them singing an original song at their own wedding because it's adorable.
-She Reads Truth Shereadstruth.com is an online devotional that you can subscribe to. I get an email every day, and a lot of the topics are very applicable and well written.
-The book The Scarlet Pimpernel. One of the most underrated classics ever. It's a little trickier to read, but so fun and clever and exciting. It takes place during the French Revolution. If you're having a hard time getting into it, come talk to me.
-Walk Off the Earth. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgD5p1XiVT0. Oh these people are brilliant. They write and cover music. Here's the thing though. They can all play 18 instruments (approximately), they throw instruments to each other, they play 6 instruments at a time, and often hide somewhere in the video. You never know what to expect. This link is a video of them playing the song Royals. I don't know how they pulled this off.
-The instagram account thewaywemet. Cute, short, love stories. What could be better?
-RightNow.org https://www.rightnow.org. This is a very recent discovery. I'm still looking into it, but it appears to be the wealth of Christian media. The Christian Youtube. From Francis Chan series, to Veggie Tales, to lectures from Christian conferences, to other cool stuff. Look into it!
-The Piano Guys https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmKurapML4BF9Bjtj4RbvXw. Everything they do is amazing! So many feels! So much good study music! So much creativity!
-Duolingo. Duolingo.com. A free, online place to learn a new language. I love free :)
-Coursera.org. Free courses you can take online! A whole lot of subjects that are mostly free.
-The instagram account ferdalump. It's a mom who lives in Florida and makes her little girl the most amazing dresses and costumes mostly based on Disney. They go to Disneyworld on a regular basis and take adorable pictures and videos with characters. Her dresses are seriously amazing, the girl is adorable, and it's a magical account.
-Here are a few bonus recommendations that are a little more popular and therefore don't deserve their own section. Kurt Hugo Schneider, Lindsey Stirling, Pentatonix, Twenty-One Pilots, Rachel Platten, and Newsies.
That's all I got time for today folks! I hope you find something you like!
-C-
