whatever

Kelli - Found the coffee mug here at Crate & Barrel. 🙂 http://www.crateandbarrel.com/kitchen-and-food/coffee-mugs-teacups/coffee-mug/s191345

tasha roe - ahhhhh the gun show. 😉 When hubby and i first started dating he worked construction. yum! that’s all i can say about that. lol

Mary Beth - The BEST thing about the empty house is THE GOING BACK TO BED!!!! No guilt. You earned it back in the newborn daze. 🙂

Rach - I need to remind myself of this much more often…
*my house can be messy while also being a good wife and mama.
Thanks. 🙂

Lisa - I love reading your blog and rarely comment for some reason. I’ll try to not remain a “lurker”! 🙂 Now this has nothing to do with your post (although I also totally related to the sock picture!)
I was making my husband watch a youtube video of Beth Moore cause I think she is a gifted teacher/speaker and we watched a promo video that her ministry put together. Anyway, I could have sworn I saw you in the audience! hahaha Its probably not you but to someone who only sees pictures of you on your blog and doesn’t know you in real life, it looked a lot like you! Here’s the link just in case you want to look. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2qyvsly2Cw
Back to your post… I am also looking forward to the days of all kids in school. I think I will exercise more when that happens! 🙂

Laura - you have a new craft for Thursday..dog crap art!

Katie - We actually have a laundry basket in the kitchen! Even though all the bedrooms are upstairs we have a ton of clothes on the main floor! Little ones:)We did the birdhouse project today…lots of fun for my 6, 4 and 2 year old!

Amy G - You are absolutely WONDERFUL!!!!! Things for making me happy!

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Socks… they are little creatures aren’t they!

Courtney Walsh - I want that coffee mug! How cute is that??
and what is with the dirty socks?? I have been finding them everywhere!!!

Sandee - Oh my gosh.. I’m so glad I’m not the only one that finds that many straggler socks in the kitchen and all over the house for that matter… Can’t wait to see the finished product of what you’re painting!
Lovin’ all your thoughts on being 35 now.. I’m turning 35 in a week and half!

Brook - Ugh the socks!! I am ALWAYS picking up socks. So glad I’m not the only one with socks strewn all over. Can’t wait to see what the dresser looks like finished.

Marie Tere - You know Meg….I like you for just the way you are. I hope you don’t feel like you have to explain what you mean…justify your thoughts. It is YOU! And that’s why I like you!

Heather - If that went into the dog – what colour will it be when it comes out? Could be interesting.

jennifer - Oh my goodness! I thought I was the only one who had a dirty sock collection in my kitchen. One of my kids pulls them off and sets them on the counter. Lovely!

Sara @ It's Good to be Queen - Is all that painting for your dining room??? can’t wait to see it! i love that pic of your kids too. that’s happy stuff. and i think i need to rent a jack hammer and make my husband jack hammer something…

julia - You have such a happy and colorful home – even your dog has colorful poops.

angela carter - i am so wishing i could do all those things after dropping my kids off at school….i however took the route of getting a pt job while they are at school, which i love, but darn it some days i just want to drop them off and crawl back into bed! enjoy

Michelle Whitlow - I think you’re going to have a colorful yard pretty soon!!!
And, umm, I think I need to get my husband a jackhammer 😉

becky@oursweetpeas - For you it is dirty socks and for me it is hot wheels cars. I counted 20 after just cleaning my family room. 🙂 We are about the same age (turned 34 in june) but at different stages of this parenting thing. Right now grown up time is close to non-existant with twin 3 year olds and an almost 3 month old. I love reading your blog and as I think I said before, (sadly, I cannot remember if I have commented before) I love the fun you have being a Mom to your kids. I too try to get sucked into their little world as often as possible. 🙂

Lori - Whoasie – impressive…and I think you know what I’m referring to. Also, I LOVE the coffee cup. Where did you find it?

carolyn - it drives me crazy when socks are inside-out. i hate sticking my hand in and fixing them…

Amy Lynne - That pile of socks looks so familiar…are you sure you didn’t sneak out to CA again? I have to tell my boys they need to put their sock colonies in the laundry room all the time!

Trish - yay… rainbow poop! 🙂

shelly - Oooooh a free gun show, nothin better 😉
I was Just yelling…ummm…politely asking WHY we had so many socks in the kitchen! They’re like one room from the laundry room…really?!?…Really?!?

paige - i absolutely love that everytime i swing by here
i open up a blog written by a real woman
a gorgeous woman
raising a real family
(apparantly married to a hottie or at least appreciate a hottie workman)
who loves the Lord
& who keeps it real
i love that
you rock meg . you just do.

Grace - Love the header photo—very vibrant!
The photo with the socks—we are living the same life, only yours is multiplied since you have more children. But everywhere my son goes, there are socks on the floor. 🙂

ky - Beg my pardon…I mean ‘gawk’.

Andrea Howe - Are those Craig’s arms?!?! Oh. my. word. Nice 🙂

Lisa - Yummy…and I’m not talking about the coffee or the oil pastels. 😉
We had a similar incident with oil pastels, and then we were scooping rainbows from the yard for the next couple of days(sorry if that’s a little crass – but it was pretty funny at the time).

Kelly - Oh that first photo makes me miss color days in kindergarten from when I was teaching. I’d try to find out the color & dress in it too and then find songs for each color that we could do in music class.
Sean’s watermelon question cracks me up.
I hope you get good rest and feel so much better. I can relate. I have *not* been able to fall asleep this week. I just lay there and lay there, ugghh . . . then I’m a tired mess the next morning. blech . . . God answered prayers for a better night sleep last night. Praise Him!
Oh and the mosaic. You *could*! It would be wonderful. Dare you . . . 🙂 Kelly

Dianne Avery - I was really into mosaic furniture in the 80’s. Don’t start, it’s addicting!!

kathy b - It’s so nice of you to post photos for our enjoyment even though you don’t feel that great!
Kathy b

amber - hahahahahaha 🙂 that always makes me giggle.

Julianne Brimner - Okay the claustrophobic cracked me up because it reminds me of another story. One of my friends owns a vacation cabin in the woods where there are lots of places to explore, including caves. Her son told his aunt, “Mom, can’t go in the caves because she’s lactose intolerant”. Thought you’d enjoy the flip side.

Janie Fox - Love the claustrophobic… you are not allergic to milk. I truly laughed out loud. I miss the days when my kids were driving me crazy… well sometimes! haha!!

Kori - during your stay in cali i was moving away from cali! i was born and raised in orange county (huntington beach), but needed a change…so here we are in spokane, wa. so far so good…loving the weather. anyway, i read amy’s blog and got a little sad at the pics she had of all ‘my’ places. i had to laugh when shopping at the spectrum was mentioned-went there a lot as right before our move we lived in irvine. did you hit up fashion island? south coast plaza? the antique shops in capistrano? i hope so. ok, take it easy and get some much needed rest….zzzzzzzzzzzz
😉

Kristy - I wish my Charlie could meet that Annie. He’s also in Kindergarten and loves his chuck taylors with patterned socks pulled way up….or his cowboy boots with shorts depending on his mood 🙂 He’s just yummy! One more song for your ipod when you are back to running – “Freedom” by George Michael. Great for cleaning house too. Feel better mama! 🙂

mandy friend - I love your blog and your randomness. And I love that your house always sounds as chaotic as mine!

kristin - I freaking love your video clips!

julia - The best thing for you is sleep – don’t feel guilty about it.
That mosaic wall is great. Maybe Annie could come over and go through my closet for me – I need some pizzaz!

purejoy - making the mosaic i’m afraid would not be nearly as much fun as the smashing part…
i seriously love the way your kids think. a watermelon head and then debating why the cat didn’t like being in the file cabinet. and having the freedom to make wall art on a dry erase board.
i wish you’d adopt me.
think of how colorful my life would be!

jennifer - Love that clip! Really needed that laugh this morning.
Go back to sleep and get well soon!

amy jupin - i’m with ya meg. me need sleepy. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!

heidi @ wonder woman wannabe - That mosaic is so pretty! That would be fun!
Have you seen the movie “How to Make an American Quilt”?
One of the characters was creating a whole mosaic wall made out of ceramics that she’d smashed over the years –
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Make_an_American_Quilt

visart-dali.com - Red day! Awesome idea, why we don’t have that?

Trish - love tommy boy. thanks for the laugh. i felt the same way today, blah. how come when we have to go somewhere the kids are super hard to get out of bed, but when we nothing to do… they are out of bed earlier then they need to be? i will never understand that!

susan - believe or not …sugar sugar by the archies :0 its just fun

Andrea - I don’t see any of these above, so…
One Hot Momma – Trace Adkins
Undo it – Carrie Underwood
The way you make me feel – Michael Jackson

Re - ‘Jealous of My Boogie’ by RuPaul!!

carla - Among my favourites are AC/DC, especially Thunderstruck ((the opening riff will have you running a six minute mile :-)) and most of palookaville by Fat Boy Slim, especially Wonderful Night. Hth

Terri - Oops! I forgot by new favorite. I LOVE the new Eminem and Rihanna song “I love the way you lie”. Again, I could go on….

Tracy - Hey! Hey! by Superchicks and Last Dance for MaryJane by Tom Petty are good ones. The Petty song has a strong beat, almost like a cadence. I will look for a few more too. Also go to C25Kplaylists.com they have some set up for the Couch to 5K running program and even if you are not following the program, you might find there playlists (at least the song choices) helpful.

elz - Mine are listed here http://elzabelz.blogspot.com/2010/08/i-like-to-move-it-move-it.html
My favorite is How Low by Ludacris, I has a great beat! You simly can not stay still with it playing.

Kiki Craig - Have you ever heard of Robbie Williams? He’s a favorite of mine. Some are lovey soft music, and some have a great beat! And he’s nice on the eyes….

April Brown - I just found this website yesterday because I was having the same problem. All of my music was too boring or too repetitious. I LOVE all the different choices of styles and energy (and the fact that you could listen to them on the site). http://www.inthegym.net/

Denissa - I’ve been sucking wind BIG time on my runs lately 🙁 but Pink ,Lady Gaga, and some Kelly Clarkson are always good ones to give me that little extra when I have no more! 🙂

deb meyers - from The Apostle soundtrack (and my Sun. a.m. workout):
“I’m a Soldier” … Lyle Lovett
“Victory is Mine” by Sounds of Blackness
deb meyers

Courtney - If I worked out more than once every six months on average I could answer your question, instead I have a little story for you. One time, while I was pregnant with my daughter, I was so nauseous I couldn’t hold it any more and had to use the walmart restroom to vomit. Talk about wanting a Germ-X bath when you get home.

Dana - I read every comment to see if anyone suggested these. My fav is
Shewolf- Shakira

Mary Ann - Great post! I need new music as well and I’m constantly scrambling for a pen and paper when I’m in the car to write songs down! A few that I love:
Cha-Ching – Hedley
Rock & Roll – Eric Hutchinson
Hey There Delilah – Plain White Ts
Feel Good Inc. – Gorillaz
Cursed – The Swell

Karyn - DEFINITELY Mika. My ‘treadmill playlist’ has “Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)”, “Relax, Take it Easy”, and “Love Today.” More of a power walking tempo, but still great.
Jennifer Lopez “Let’s Get Loud” is great too!

Georgia - My favourite ‘Happy’ song at the moment is-
PACK UP – ELIZA DOOLITTLE
But im also loving…
Beautiful Monster – Ne-yo
Club cant handle me – Flo rida
Airplanes – B.O.B

Jenna - It’s embarrassing, but … Shakira “Hips Don’t Lie”

jody - try no music,
listen to nature, to the quiet,
to the rhythmic striking of your feet on the ground…
God always speaks to me on my runs…if i listen.
just my 2 cents…
keep running!:)
xo
jody

Jenny Wren's - I love that Ke$ha song too! At the moment, I seem to work out best to the real rocky tunes on the Marie Antoinette SDTRK, Hong Kong Garden is one of my favorites, for some reason I seem to walk faster or “ski” harder to it. The slower songs are good for your down time or when you are just warming up. I also go through phases of 80’s soundtracks and “Footloose” is at the top of the pile at the moment! 🙂

becki - You listen to Pandora radio, right?
Crank it up one day when the kids are gone and you’ll get some inspiration there, too.

Brandy-Rena - After Midnight – Travie McCoy
Peacock – Katy Perry
DJ Got Us Falling in Love – Usher
Dynamite – Taio Cruz
Bobblehead – Christina Aguilera
369 – Cupid
Damaged – Danity Kane
I Don’t Care – Fall Out Boy
Club Can’t Handle Me – Flo Rida
Lose Control – House of Heroes
Winner – Jamie Foxx
Can’t Be Tamed – Miley Cyrus
Swing – Savage
Feel It – 3 6 Mafia

Shelly - I have a friend that runs a lot, she told me the other day that Lady Gaga is good… a lot of upbeat stuff.

Cheryl @ a pretty cool life. - I’ll confess I totally listen to Ludacris when I’m running. So, so, completely, entirely offensive…but good workout music nonetheless. I’m sure no one would ever guess that’s what I’m listening to by looking at me. 😉
Of course, Eye of the Tiger gets everyone pumped up, too. Happy running!

Dana@Bungalow'56 - Megan,
Thank you for this post as I am bookmarking it for myself. This is an amazing list. I’ve been wanting an exercise soundtrack for awhile now. Hopefully a lot of these will work for us walkers too.
Dana

Kimberlee J. - So fun to read what everyone is listening to during their workout…and that so many are working out. Inspiring.
And now at 4:30ish in the morning all I can think about it Roy’s BBQ sauce. Buy a few bottles and bring them home. You won’t regret it.

Sarah-jayne - just had to say that i came to america a few months ago from englad and had an amazing time. i have a supermarket obcession and spent alot of time in walmart (terrible i know)
Just had to say that i listend to Ke$ha – your love is my drug all the time over there and love it!!!
Your blog is brilliant and i always look forward to reading what you have been up to.

LibraryGirl62 - In Walmart~I once saw a VERY pregnant woman who was all of 4’10” tall with a shirt that said : ” I have the pu$$y, I make the rules” I threw up in my mouth a little…

Leanne - i would have to say that my top 2 albums (okay, some songs i skip) for working out are linkin park “meteora” and P.O.D. “sattelite”.

april - Those are great storm pics!!! You wont see anything like that when you come to Cali…lols

Julie - I think that if I actually ran, I would listen to (the tempo seems right):
C’mon C’mon – The Von Bondies
A-Punk – Vampire Weekend
Starlight – Muse
Bulletproof – La Roux
Borderline/Open Your Heart – Glee Cast
Kids – MGMT
Under the Milky Way – The Church
Just Like Heaven – The Cure
Times Like These – Foo Fighters
Everlong – Foo Fighters
Glass of Water – Coldplay
I Melt With You – Modern English
Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful – Seabird
Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap
And then when you are back home, enjoy some ice cold water and listen to:
A Beautiful World- Tim Myers

janelle - Run to The Killers…most songs are good for it.
Vampire Weekend…makes you happy while you run – crazy but true.

Hilary - Cobrastyle by the Teddy Bears!
(so fun)

erin - had lots of the same suggestions that were already mentioned, but these are a couple of my new favorites:
“sleep now in the fire” by rage against the machine
“imma be” by black eyed peas
“it’s a new day” by will.i.am

Kendra - The Killers. Mumford & Sons.

Sally - I second so many of these songs, but I have this horrible problem of getting bored of a song and then wanting to switch it and then not finding just the “right” song. You are probably really going to laugh, but when I was training for a half marathon, I actually got the Harry Potter series on cd from the library and put them on my ipod (shhh! don’t tell the library!) Honestly, it was the best idea I ever had. Very distracting so I wasn’t thinking about how much I hate running and entertaining at the same time!

Ashley B. - Panic! at the Disco (that’s the name of the band, exclamation point and all) has some weird song titles, the main one I’d reccommend is “The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage,” but I like the entire CD called A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out (which has that song on it). Interesting lyrics with a catchy, very energetic beat.
Also, Fallout Boy…they’re my main workout soundtrack. The two CDs I have that are my fave (I put my CDs on my Zune, which I take to work out), are called From Under the Cork Tree, and Take This to Your Grave.
I’m 23, and like rock music, but I consider these pretty tame, so I hope this helps 🙂
PS-I love your blog!!! Lol the colors and content both, they make my day 🙂

kat - Here are a few fun ones to get you moving… if nothing else, you’ll be shaking your groove thang…
Party Up (Up in here) DMX
Imma Be (Black Eyed Peas)
Stayin’ Alive (N-trance)
Say my name (Destiny’s Child)
No Diggity (Blackstreet)
Ghetto Superstar
You Can Do it (Ice-T)
This is how we do it (Montell Jordan)
Young Forever (Jay-Z)
Empire State of Mind (Jay-Z)
Country Grammar (Nelly)
Rump Shaker (Wreckx n effex)

julia - oh, my husband had me download “Welcome to the Jungle” on my iPod between my first and second half marathons last year. My time improved by 10 minutes.

Dawn - I like all music so it’s really hard for me to suggest. I have a teenage son and when I get in a music rut I have him download some stuff for me. Sometimes it’s really cool. If you don’t have a teenager, ask a neighborhood kid. They’ll do it and maybe even enjoy it, go figure. Anyhow I really wanted to comment on the storm. I grew up in Iowa and I really miss the great storms we used to have. Nothing like that in Southern California.
Dawn

Mary-Beth - Green Day’s American Idiot has the best beat to set up a running pace…if you run in line with the music, you’ll be at a 10 minute mile pace. I have been using this song for about 4 years now to get me through the last leg of each run! It works. I also start with Patty Griffin’s “Love throws a line,” though mostly for the words, not the tempo.

Jennifer O'Steen - this is totally random, but it reminded me of something you would like
http://www.etsy.com/listing/30010671/hostess-yarn-wreath-with-retro-mixer-in

Julie - MJ-Smooth Criminal Black Eyed Peas-Imma Be, or anything they sing

Tonya @ More Than Enough - Great storm pix!
I’ve got some of the already mentioned songs on my running/workout list. Here are some that I haven’t seen:
Smooth Criminal by Alien Ant Farm
You Can’t Stop the Beat from the Hairspray soundtrack
One Week by Barenakes Ladies
I got a feeling by Blackeyed Peas
Take a Chance On Me from the Mama Mia soundtrack
1 2 3 4 by Coolio
Salvation by The Cranberries
Gives You Hell, Lady is a Tramp, Bad Romance from Glee
American Idiot, Holiday, Welcome to Paradise by Green Day
Family Affair by Mary J Blige
A Girl Named Tennessee by Needtobreathe
Get This Party Started, So What by Pink
All Mixed Up by 311
I love seeing what other people are working out to!

Teresa - Me Against the Music – Britney Spears
California Gurls – Katy Perry
Hot n Cold – Katy Perry
Lose Yourself – Eminem (great song that gets me pumped up when I feel like quitting.. seriously)
Not Afraid – Eminem
Get Up – Ciara
Promiscuous – Nelly Furtado
All For You – Janet Jackson

Lana - My 3 faves…
“Run” by Collective Soul
“Ordinary” by Train
“Yesterday” by 30 Seconds to Mars

Routhie - Once upon a time, I clubbed all over the world. I still find that same dance music is a good motivator to keep moving and it’s fun remember when…. Best part is, most of the albums play like one long cd with no breaks in between. It’s no wonder I used to be skinnier! They are a fast, strong beat. I recommend the Ministry of Sound Annuals–I am currently enjoying 2000 but a lot of late 90s and early 2000s are really good. Most dance music compilations are pretty good if they are coming out of the UK.

Betsy - I just ordered the “doodle me” notepad from lobotoME yesterday for my mother’s b-day. I saw them in Real Simple. I want one too!

Heather - I am not really a runner. I need good music as a bribe for myself to even go work out! Here’s my current playlist:
Kids- MGMT
Electric Feel- MGMT
Africa- Toto
All the Small Things- Blink-182
Zak and Sara- Ben Folds
Beautiful Life- Ace of Base (go ahead, laugh- the beat is good and it reminds me of Night at the Roxbury!)
Billie Jean- Michael Jackson
Dead Man (Carry Me)- Jars of Clay
Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough- Michael Jackson
Eye of the Tiger- Survivor (this one is ESSENTIAL for me!)
Float on- Modest Mouse
The Fox- Nickel Creek
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun- Cyndi Lauper
If- House of Heroes
Hello Hurricane- Switchfoot
Here is our King- David Crowder Band
New Shoes- Paolo Nutini
Jessie’s Girl- Rick Springfield
Kick Drum Heart- The Avett Brothers
Life In Technicolor ii- Coldplay
Lift Your Eyes- Leeland
Sadie Hawkins Dance- Relient K
More than Fine- Switchfoot
My Future Decided- Hillsong United
Mykonos- Fleet Foxes
O Valencia!- The Decemberists
Oxford Comma- Vampire Weekend
Telephone- Lady Gaga and Beyonce
Since U Been Gone- Kelly Clarkson
Somebody Told Me- The Killers
Spaceman- The Killers
Stole My Heart- Little and Ashley
Uptown Girl- Billy Joel
What’s my Age Again?- Blink-182
You don’t know me- Ben Folds feat. Regina Spektor
It has to be A LOT of songs so I can skip freely!! Funny that it’s mostly alphabetical- guess that’s how I added them. 🙂

the whyte house - i just added on my player:
the heavy-how you like me now(kia commercial song!)
radiohead- 15 step
paramore- brick by boring brick
foo fighters-everlong
linkin park- faint
florence and the machine- kiss w a fist, dog days are over
two door cinema club- i can talk
muse-(they have a lot fast paced tempo music)
hyper music
map of the problematique
uprising
stockholm syndrome
assassin

patti - i love working out to Gwen Stefani and OK Go. Also old rap…like Rob Base and DJ Easy Rock.

Kirsten P - In August my son discovered that “Animal Arithmetic” is the best running song ever written.

Danielle - I don’t run….but if I did this would definitely be on my playlist……Say Hey (I Love You)—Michael Franti and Spearhead

Brianna - 2 Step Remix – Unk
Pump It – Black Eyed Peas (or most anything Black Eyed Peas for that matter!)

Vicki Esh - Wow! There’s a ton of suggestions on here! I may end up redoing my running playlist. Here’s what’s on mine:
I Gotta Feeling (Black Eyed Peas)
She’d Be California (Rascal Flatts)
Earthquake (Family Force 5)
Summer Nights (Rascal Flatts)
Jai Ho! (PussyCat Dolls)
Last Name (Carrie Underwood)
Pump It (Black Eyed Peas)

Jennifer - Your so funny! Love your blog. My favorite song right now while I workout is Here in this moment by Beckah Shae (Christian). It’s awesome. You’ll run sooo fast listening to it!!!

Molly - Dispatch
-the entire album Bang Bang
– especially songs The General, Bang Bang, Two Coins, and Out Loud.
Matisyahu
-unique is my dove
-ancient lullaby

Krista - What a good idea for a post, I got a lot of good ideas, I’m scribbling them down so I can hit iTunes later and add them. I agree with Ke$ha and Lady GaGa, they’re awesome for running. Recently, I downloaded a bunch Wham and George Michael songs, good tempos and make me wish I was 16 again. 🙂

beth - Guess I may be weird one…I have been playing Zumba music and it gives me so much energy.

Liv Hochhausler - Right now, anything by Passion Pit, INDEPENDENT by Webbie, Calabria by Enur ft. Natasja.

allison - What really keeps me going…K’naan..”Wavin’ Flag”
I will have to look up the rest….

Meg - for running and/or just working out these get me moving and make me feel so stinkin’ liberated:
Are you gonna be my girl – Jet
Baba O’Riley – The Who
Back to Life – Soul II Soul
Bad Romance – Lady Gaga
Band of Gold – Freda Payne
Don’t you forget about me – Simple Minds
A Dustland Fairytale – The Killers
Gangsta’s Paradise – Coolio
Gold Digger – Kanye West
*****Goodbye to you – Scandal (I LOVE THIS SONG)*****
Groove is in the heart – Deee-Lite
I’m coming out – Diana Ross
Say Hey I Love You- Michael Franti and the Spearheads
I could go on and on and on… but I think this is a mixed bag of songs. Enjoy!

Maria - Here are some of my most recent favorites:
Take it off-Kesha
Rock that Body-Black Eyed Peas
Boom Boom Pow-Black Eyed Peas
Run this Town-Jay Z (careful, there is a clean version of this available, but I accidentally got both)
Bad Romance-Lady Gaga
Fuego-Pitball
Jump-Flo Rida/Nelly Furtado
as you can see, lots of pop/rap/hip hop…all courtesy of my ZUMBA classes for the most part…

ellen - Here are my faves:
1. “Jealous Again” –The Black Crowes
2 “Airplanes” –B.o.B.
3. “When I Get There” –Ben Rector
4. “Mr. Mailman” — Ben Rector
5. “Friday I’m in Love” — The Cure
6. “Little Lies” — Dave Barnes
7. “Rusty Old American Dream” — David Wilcox
8. “Video” — India Arie
9. “Human” — The Killers
10. “Heartless” — Kris Allen
11. “Undeniable” — Matt Kearney
12. “Sailing on a Ship” — Phil Wickham
14. “A-Punk” — Vampire Weekend, really anything by them!
15. “Almost Everything” — Wakey! Wakey!
16. anything by The Cross Movement

Bailey - Oh, and I LOVE those pictures! Would love to experience a midwest thunderstorm some day!

Mariah Fraser - Get Me Bodied- Beyonce
We Run This- Missy Elliot
Hey Mama- Black Eyed Peas
Firestarter- The Prodigy
She Wants to Move- N.E.R.D
Toxic- Britney Spears
Crazy in Love- Beyonce
Pump it- Black Eyed Peas
Dum Diddly- Black Eyed Peas
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’- Michael Jackson
Little of your time- Maroon 5
Gettin’ Jiggy with It- Will Smith

Christine - I have the perfect mix of songs. It’s on my “Nike Workout” playlist that I use with my Nike running thing.
Airplane – B.O.B.
Animal – Neon Trees
Anthem Part Two – Blink 182
Baby – Justin Beiber
Blah Blah Blah – Ke$ha
Bulletproof – La Roux
California Girls – Katy Perry
Can’t Be Tamed – Miley Cyrus
Daylight – Matt and Kim
Disarm – Smashing Pumpkins
Empire State of Mind – Jay-Z
Fix You – Coldplay
Getting Over You – David Guttea
If I had You – Adam Lambert
Impossible – Shontelle
It’s Over – Drake
Kids – MGMT
Lisztomania – Phoenix
Lose Yourself – Emenim
My First Kiss – 30H!3
Naturally – Selena Gomez
Not Afarid – Emenim
OMG – Usher
Party in the USA – Miley Cyrus
Rock that Body – Black Eyed Peas
Savior – Rise Aganist
Say Ahh – Trey Songz
Sexy Bitch – David Guttera
Sometime Around Midnight – The Airborne Toxic Event
Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap (MY FAV! From 500 Days of Summer and many commericals :))
This Too Shall Pass – OK Go
Tik Tok – Ke$ha
Time To Pretend – MGMT
Your Love is My Drug – Ke$ha (I know you already have this)
1901 – Phoenix
I’m 20 so these are so hip songs 😉 Enjoy!

Lindsay - Some of my favs to run around Newton!
Somebody to Love – Glee
Bust A Move – Glee
Proud Mary – Glee
Gives You Hell – Glee
Dream On – Glee
4 Minutes – Glee
Sexy Back – Justin Timberlake
Senorita – Justin Timberlake
Rock Your Body – Justin Timberlake
Anything by Journey

becky - well, it’s good to know that walmart is filthy all over the country. it’s making me less of judgmental of my fellow townfolk – and by townfolk, i mean filthy disgusting poo smearing pigs. okay, i have a ways to go with the less judgment thing. at least i have a gallon of hand sanitizer in my purse in the meantime. and back when i used to run, i ran to pink – girly rock anthems are the best for running…and don’t judge me – i love me some angry eminem when i’m running. good luck.

raquel - tick tok, say hey, fergalicious, i gotta feeling, steal my sunshine, i wanna be sedated, mr brightside, viva la vida

lcmarschall - Try Podrunner free downloads on I-tunes. The interval training ones are great for just zoning out and getting it done!!! Great storm pics, I live in Florida, we get cool looking clouds coming in off the Gulf.

katie - i love you meg, but not enough to type out my whole list. 🙂 my absolute FAVORITE music to run to is Vampire Weekend.

Leah - Dang..people really have some great ideas! I listen to Skillet and Heath McNease a lot!

Sandra K - Oooh, I can’t wait to read everyone’s suggestions because I need new music, too! Here goes:
Mama Said Knock U Out – LL Cool J
Crazy in Love – Beyonce
Waking up in Vegas – Katy Perry
Beautiful Day – U2
Love Lockdown – Kanye West
Gold Digger – Kanye West
Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond (oh yeah!)
Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
Blister in the Sun – Violent Femmes
Chelsea Dagger – The Fratellis (excellent for running)
Dani California & Higher Ground (2 songs) – both by Red Hot Chili Peppers
First Time – Lifehouse
Freedom – George Michael
Groove is in the Heart – Dee Lite
It’s the End of the World… – REM
Jump Around – House of Pain
Just a Girl – No Doubt
Mercy – Duffy
Redneck Woman – Gretchen Wilson
Rehab – Amy Winehouse
Shattered (Turn the Car Around) – O.A.R.
4 Minutes – Madonna & J. Timberlake
Yeah! – Usher

Suzanne - Wow, the pictures are awesome.
I started with “Jazzercise” in the 80’s so I have my ole’faithfuls like:
Technotronic – “pump up the jam”
Technotronic – “move this”
Cake – “short skirt/long jacket”
And lots more that I will keep to myself. I’m such a nerd!
My family ignores me when I come down the street from a good long run! I tell you, a nerd!

Kait - Little Lion Man by Mumford and Sons
Tighten Up by The Black Keys
Bulletproof by La Roux
Folding Chair by Regina Spektor
Magic Trick by M. Ward
Ruby by Kaiser Chiefs
Show Me What I’m Looking For by Carolina Liar

jennifer - Move and Rawkfist – Thousand Foot Krutch.
Ain’t Nothing Wrong With That – Robert Randolph
And a lot more that’s already been suggested. 🙂

Sarah Friesen - I don’t remember if I’ve left a comment on your blog or not, but I’m local — go to GCC…Was with you at the crafting weekend back in December in McPherson. I really don’t have any good music recommendations for you, BUT I just have to say I’m jealous you’re eating Roy’s BBQ…My husband introduced me to that place when we were dating, and to this day, it’s my favorite BBQ place. We don’t get to go there often, though. I hope it was tasty.

ali - All time favorite running playlist. Its titled….
“SHAKE IT SISTER”
Lady Sovereign- Random
Shut Up-Black Eyed Peas
Get Right- Jennifer Lopez
99 Problems/One Step Closer- Jay-Z/Linkin Park
One Thing- Amerie
Everything-Sisqo
Can’t Stop-Red Hot Chili Peppers
Lose Control- Missy Elliot
Lose My Breath- Destiny Child
Hollaback Girl- Gwen Stefani
B.O.B. – Outkast
She Wants to Move – N.E.R.D.
Crazy In Love- Beyonce
4 My People- Missy Elliot
Love Missy Elliot, she has great beats and fun songs!

Sarah - Oh my gosh! People really know their music. I love Neal Diamond. You don’t want any music advice from me.
I LOVE those storm pictures. Summer storms are my favorite. Those pics are beautiful.

Debi - Let’s Get Loud- Jennifer Lopez (I KNOW!)
Fine (radio edit) Mary J. Blige
Family Affair (radio edit) Mary J. Blige
Right Back Where we Started From- Maxine Nightingale
Jam for the Ladies- Moby
Into the Night – Santana

siobhan - toby macs new album tonight has so many awesome songs,and i like good old madonna and brittney:)

Meredith Salmon - I have different play lists for different work outs. Slower music in the beginning and the end. One of my favorite play lists is Madonna – Ray of Light and then Prodigy (there beats are great) I like that because I tend to sing while I am running and then feel like a fool. Love Prodigy!!!
Breathe
Fuel my Fire
FireStarter
Smack my B*&#@ up
Just a few of my favorites

melissa*320 sycamore - Almost forgot: sounds crazy, but “Call of the Champions” by John Williams and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Not kidding. It was the theme of the 2002 Winter Olympics~I blast it and it gets me through my last loop on my run. So inspiring…it makes me think I’m in the Olympics. Or something 🙂

tasha roe - i have 2 work out mixes – one for pop and one for rock
pop mix:
Nightlife – Anja
Brass Monkey – Beastie Boys
Crazy in Love – Beyonce
Single Ladies – Beyonce
Pump it – Black Eyed Peas
Womanizer – Britney
Bootylicious – Destiny’s Child
Till I Collapse – Eminem & Nate Dogg
Fergalicious – Fergie
Glamorous – Fergie
SexyBack – JT
Lovestone – JT
Rock Your Body – JT
Gold Digger – Kanye
California Gurls – Katy Perry
Tik Tok – Ke$ha
Blah, Blah, Blah – Ke$ha
Milkshake – Kelis
Superstar – Kimberly Cole
Peep Show – Kimberly Cole
Bad Romance – Lady Gaga
Love Game – Laday Gaga
Poker Face – Lady Gaga
Electric Feel – MGMT
Ride Wit Me – Nelly
When I Grow Up – Pussycat Dolls
Break Your Heart – Taio Cruz
Dynamite – Taio Cruz
Don’t Trust Me – 3OH!3
In da Club – 50 Cent
Me, Myself, and I – De La Soul
now for the rock list:
Back in Black – AC/DC
Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution – AC/DC
Do It For Me Now – Angels & Airwaves
Light of the Morning – Band of Skulls
Unconditional – The Bravery
Holiday – Green Day
My Hero – Foo Fighters
Everlong – Foo
In Your Honor – Foo
No Way Back – Foo
All My Life – Foo
Stacked Dead Actors – Foo
Take Me Out – Franz Ferdinand
This Fire – Franz Ferdinand
The Fallen – Franz Ferdinand
Do You Want To – Franz Ferdinand
Tick Tick Boom – The Hives
Hate to Say I Told You So – The HIves
Change Your Mind – Killers
Bling – Killers
Are You Gonna Go My Way – Lenny Kravitz
American Woman – Lenny Kravitz
Dashboard – Modest Mouse
Bulls on Parade – Rage Against the Machine
Bombtrack – Rage Against the Machine.
I could really start an alternative list too….hmmmmm
now that i think of it i have a classic rock one too. lol
i heart playlists. 🙂

Kari - We do Rihanna’s “Shut up and Drive” at Jazzercise…. also a song called “Evacuate the Dance Floor” but I’m not sure who sings it.

Juli B. - A few of my favorites are –
Fat Bottom Girls – Queen (obvious reasons)
Over My Head – The Fray
When You Were Young – The Killers
Freedom – George Michael
Crush – David Archuletta
Crazy – Seal

Christa - “Your Love is my Drug” is my favorite right now too! I also like Kanye West’s “That that don’t kill you makes you stronger” (I know that’s not the exact title, but it’s something like that), Justin Timberlake’s “Bringing Sexy Back” is always a classic (sometimes I even do that “yeah!” parts out loud at 6am on a dark street by myself). And I also like Carrie Underwood’s “Undo It.”

PinkPeanutButter - LOL! “I twitter naked” …then why are you wearing a shirt?

Stephanie - What gets me all pumped up are the funk-beats of the Red Hot Chili Peppers! I love it!!

Molly - Pump It- Black Eyed Peas. Disturbia- Rihanna. Forever- Chris Brown.

Sara - I was going to suggest Ke$ha! I love that song for working out. I also like Dynamite by Taio Cruz, Matt & Kim- Daylight & Good Ol’ Fashioned Nightmare, REM- The Great Beyond, Dashboard Confessionals- Vindicated, Cage the Elephant- Back Against the Wall, & The Script- Breakeven.
Hope you get some good music. I CANNOT workout without an ever changing playlist. It completely makes or breaks my workout.

Nichole - Here are some of my favorites:
Dynamite by Taio Cruz
Airplanes by B.o.B
California Girls by Katy Perry
Ignition by TobyMac
Awake and Alive by Skillet
Hello Sunshine by Barlow Girl
Million Voice by Barlow Girl
Love The Way You Lie by Eminen

pam - I feel moved to start praying that you get a Target closer to you….there is no reason for your suffering through Wal Mart to continue.

Michelle - One of my favs – has a GREAT beat for running/working out is called “Movin'” by Group 1 Crew.

Martina - I’ve been loving One Republic’s album Waking Up for quite a while now. I don’t exercise but they’ve got some really rhythmic stuff… “Make for You” “All The Right Places” “Everybody Loves Me”

karen - This is going to date me, but I LOVE Jackson Browne’s album, “I’m Alive.” It’s supposed to be about his breakup with Darryl Hannah, and the title song is so full of energy that it makes me want to punch the air. The other songs vary in intensity, so if you are doing a run-walk, it’s great. I also love the Beach Boys, the OLD Beatles’ songs & Elton John, and anything by James Taylor. Hope this helps you get your motor running again!

Amanda Jo - Anything by David Crowder Band – so worshipful and energetic!!!! Reliant K is also very good.
I also like to revisit 90s songs – Third Eye Blind, Matchbox 20, Everclear, Pink (her new stuff’s ok too, but I like her older songs), NKOTB…

Cutz - Here are my favorites from my running playlist (not that I’m a runner or that I use it regularly). In general, I do not listen to a lot of music with profanity…but somehow it just seems to fit when you’re running.
1. Supermassive Black Hole – Muse
2. Pump It – Black Eyed Peas
3. Just Dance – Lady Gaga
4. Here It Goes Again – O.K. Go
5. Check Yes Juliett – We the Kings
I’m a Jazzercise instructor so a lot of these songs are also Jazzercise songs. The first two are my favorite. (and coincidentally are the only two non-Jazzercise songs)

Leadia Jarvis - I’ve just started running again and I just added these to my iPod. Even though some of these are not necessarily my favorite songs, they are just the right “speed” for me.
“Magic” by B.o.B. featuring Rivers Cuomo: happy and bouncy
“Tightrope” by Janelle Monae: fun and funky.Love this one.
“Burn it to the Ground” Nickleback: my boys tell me this is a WWF theme song but it’s hardcore in a “get pumped” sort of way.
“Waking up in Vegas” by Katie Perry: sort of overplayed but it has a great beat for running
Same goes for “I Like It” by Enrique Iglesias and Pit Bull.
“F*** You!” by Cee Lo Green The “clean” version is “Forget You” It’s a great kiss-off song with a good beat.
“Take it Off” by Ke$ha. It’s a good rhythm for running and kind of silly.
I like the Glee version of “Defying Gravity” and Beyonce’s “If I were a boy for warmup/cooldown.
What are you listening to now?

kristin - Great Post!
“A Little Less Conversation” Elvis (The Las Vegas ((TV Show)) Edit)
“Suspicious Minds” Dwight Yoakum
“You’re Gonna Go Far Kid” The Offspring (adult only lyrics!)
“L.O.V.E.” Ashlee Simpson
Those are a few that got my lazy butt trained for my first 1/2 marathon! Good luck!

Beth K. - Okay, this is really dated, but I still like the Rocky soundtrack. I used to have the tape (dating me)in high school and used to run to it all the time. I still like it – good beat in a lot of the songs. I think it is actually the fourth Rocky movie (when Apollo dies) – it has “Living in America” on it. Now I must go and dig through boxes to see if I can find the tapes that I still have so I can pull out that tape! 🙂 I just have to tell you – your blog makes my day everyday – it is one of the first things I check every morning and then again a few times a day. You just brighten my day!

mandy friend - Toby Mac, Hawk Nelson, Todd Agnew! They’ll work out your spirit as well as your body!

Danielle @ Transforming Home - I love Chris Joss’ Discotheque Dancing – really funky, fun, I can’t listen to it without running around.
Have a great weekend..
Danielle

Pati - I am sure you have these already, but these get me through my workouts. Katy Perry/ Timberland “If we ever meet again”. Bryan Adams with Mel C “When your gone”. Paul Simon “Kodachrome”. Brandon Flowers “Crossfire”. Taio Cruz “Break your heart”
Enjoy!
Love your blog <3

Tammi - A few faves from my “Gym” Playlist
“Teenage Dream” Katy Perry
“Can I Graduate” Third Eye Blind
“Never Let You Go” Third Eye Blind
“Shake It” Metro Station
“Headsprung” LL Cool J (dont laugh! good beat!!) haha

RLG - I really like the soundtrack to Twilight (esp the 1st song).
LOVE the pics of the storm. Very cool. xoxo

Sara @ It's Good to be Queen - wow, you’re shoes are so orderly. mine are in a huge pile that i have to dig through on my closet floor. i’m beginning to not believe you when you say you are not clean. just sayin’. . .

jennifer - Too Funny!

heather - agreed…that’s a lot of heels! i have a closet of flip flops and then the oddball running shoes & heels! 🙂

Juli - Sesame Street song…were we all just that dumb back then because that is such a no-brainer, even for my 2 yr old. How could we have possibly found that entertaining?!

kristine - *er, they hurt my feet just looking at THEM not ME! too late to be typing i guess…going to bed (unusual since it’s ONLY 10pm). hope you’re having a great holiday weekend!

Jen - You have some sassy shoes, girlfriend!
Love the retro video clips this week!

Dineen - You are just too funny with your You Tube videos!! I remember this song! Thanks for making me laugh the past two days. I really, really needed it! : )

Lisa - Are those all your heels??? 🙂 I’m impressed if they are cause my shoes would look the opposite. Lots of flats and tennis shoes with 1 pair of heels! I’m not very fun in that way!

Julie - Yeah, not like the others, but you need the one to look great in the others! 🙂

anna. - I sing that all the time and crack myself up! Love it!

Janie Fox - I wore a rust dress almost exactly like that when I worked at a local chicken restaurant during high school summers..It was our uniform.Yikes!! Hated that job and that dress!!

eds - Audrey Hett was a counselor of mine at some camp! (can’t remember if it was church camp or Tabor camp)

Christina - I don’t know what it was exactly, so many things, but I LOVE this post. And the picture of you and Craig is awesome.
Annie with the cat? I laughed out loud.
And your Wizard of Oz celebration?! I wish I were half the mom you are. 🙂

pve - I just hate it when I neglect to visit. You tug at my heart, all these emotions, flashbacks and photos.
Wowie woman, you are awesome.
pve

Holly - how cool is that postcard?! And the poster contest cracked me up….dont light matches around haybarns!

Gemma @ Musings of a gem - Love the photos!! Especially the one of you and Craig – Lovely!
Gemma x

Karen Lehmann - DUDE(ette) – SERIOUSLY – I don’t know which is funnier, the giant Margarita picture or the kitten strangling one – I’m still laughing…
xoxo your retarded photography friend in VA – K

Kelly - The piglet your husband is holding is SMILING!!!!!!
And then comes the strangled kitty…

the domestic fringe - My kids are watching The Wizard of Oz right now! Amazing pictures. You have a beautiful family.
-FringeGirl

deborah - ahhh…and my dear sweet grandma–was a dorothy. i’m livin’ random. it’s either that or the self-diagnoses adult-onset ADHD. Oh look…a strangled kitty. poor sweet kitty. lovin’ your photography.

Michelle Rotner - margarita picture=awesome. you rock.

amy jupin - i’m giggling at these. especially annie choking the kitten and you and that margarita. let’s just say, i can relate to every single one. in a weird, almost eerie, way. thanks for the laugh today!

beth - Oh I love that picture of all the kids too! Boy do they grow up so fast….you were a cutie also.
Thanks for always sharing a part of your family…I look forward to reading it everyday…

tara pollard pakosta - cute pictures!!!
look what a few years did to your kids, grew them all up way too fast!!!! Esp. your youngest and oldest, wow!!!! LOVE the one of them on the beach!
tara

Heather - Loved these random photos. Annie and the kitten is so great. The expression on both their faces!!

Taryn - So my oldest daughter, Tyah is pretty artistic……do you know how many times i have thought of you when i look at her drawings!?!?!? I was always so amazed at your artistic abilities and always remember you winning the poster contests!!!! I DO NOT remember being a part of this little contest and have always wondered where Tyah gets her artistic gifts. There are many days that i think shipping her to your house for a couple of weeks would do her creative spirit a WORLD of good! It seems like we could use a few boys around this house of girls….wanna swap a few for awhile!?!?!:) Love ya!:)
ps — the parted bangs are killing me!

Dawn Eshnaur - I know what you mean about them growing up so fast. I just finished bawling my eyes out after taking my son back to college. Where did the time go???? It’s a sad day for this mama 🙁

Jessie - Annie + Cat = hi·lar·i·ous!!!

Tiffany - Robert Downey Jr!!! Sweet!

Michele - Great photos! The last photo in the background–your daughter has great shooting form!

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - The black and white one of you and Craig… so stunning. Have a great day!

Julie Weaver - I’m a HUGE Wizard of Oz fan, so I must correct you. The anniversary was August 12…eeek. I’m sorry to be such a know it all. I’ll celebrate again tomorrow so you are not alone.

Elizabeth - I have 3 sons and 1 daughter and I think this is the year that I can talk them into the Wizard of Oz for Halloween!

a pocket full of posies - Lovin’ your random…we think alike! 🙂 and the Wizard of Oz…one of our all-time favorites!!! (even more so after we lived in Kansas!)
Blessings!
Jill

Amanda - The margarita pic and the kitty pic had me grinning. Boy, that would be cool if it were Robt Downey Jr, huh?

Marie Tere - Robert Downey Jr. That’s my guess.
As you know, Talby looks just like you, so evident in your old school picture. And obviously, whether you are making posters about hay or sewing, you have always been gifted artistically. It makes me smile thinking how your kids will have that too.
Annie and Sean look most alike, there was a pic a while back, I think she was pulling off her shirt during a craft project, I thought it was him!

Amber - that baby pig is so cute! and lauren always looks so composed! 😉

Ali - Oh, the cat killer one just slays me!!

melissa @ the inspired room - So much cuteness. 🙂

Staci - Do you miss your long hair???? Just wondering…was tempted to cut mine off today….but I can’t part with my ponytail 🙁