shoutout to st. george

i've said it before and i'll say it again:

I LOVE ST. GEORGE

i have lived here basically my whole life, and although most people my age just can't wait to get out of this place, i'm not ashamed to say that i adore this little hometown of mine. 

it was the perfect place to grow up. 

it may be hot.

it may be dry.

but it is irresistibly beautiful and wonderfully diverse. 

you can drive 30 minutes and hang out with the vibrant red rock and cactuses, then drive 30 minutes the other direction and find yourself surrounded by pine trees and mountains. not to mention, the sunsets are killer.

so shout out to my pretty little hometown. 

*cue "thank god for hometowns" by carrie underwood*

xo

PLAIN WHITE T'S

prepare yourself for some low quality iphone pics

^this is what i call a progressive selfie. for example: a girl holds out her phone, and before you know it, every white girl within a 1 mile radius comes running so they can be in the picture. its fascinating, really.

pre-concert cuddle pile

girl logic: hey this picture is really crappy, so i'm just gonna turn it black and white and it will be all better woot woot

LOOK MOM LOOK I'M CROWD SURFING

let me tell you about the best $11 i ever did spend. 

three words: PLAIN WHITE T'S

i was driving home from allie's house late one friday night when I heard an ad on the radio that changed my life forever: plain white ts was coming to st. george. 

they're not the biggest or coolest band, but they were coming to st. george. (bands never come to st. george so this was a big deal) being the party seeking teenagers that we are, me and my friends decided to go. we're all poor sophomores so we ended up getting "general admission" tickets instead of "VIP" tickets, but we actually ended up getting the best seats in the entire house. we brought blankets and layed them just to the left of the stage. we had enough room to dance, eat, party, and even sleep if necessary. we got there early and waited in line for an eternity, then we waited, waited, and waited some more for the concert to start. but let me tell you, it was worth it.

quick side note:

 i love live music with a burning passion. from the hobo jamming out on his sax in the DC subway station to carrie underwood singing about how jesus took the wheel... I. LOVE.  LIVE. MUSIC. moving on..

when the band came out onto the stage the entire population of st george went crazy. the band then proceeded to sing a bunch of songs that no one even knew, (except for hey there delilah, 1234, and rhythm of love) and we proceeded to dance our little bootays off. 

about two songs into the concert one of the band members made the mistake had the great idea of telling people they could come up closer. me and my friends, as well as the rest of the teens of st. g, stampeded the VIP section and made our way to the front of the stage. i smiled like a little fan girl as i stood less then 5 feet away from the semi-famous tom higgenson and his hot guitarist tim lopez singing songs that i didn't know, yet i knew i'd never forget.

as the songs got more upbeat, so did the crowd. it started out as a little jumping, but soon turned into a full blown mosh pit. and next thing i knew, i was on top of the crowd, well,,, surfing. yes, I WENT CROWD SURFING. (brb gotta go cross it off my bucket list) crowd surfing is so not overrated. it was soooooo fun. (although i've never had so many people touch my butt at once hahah) 

other highlights of the concert include the lead singer flicking his sweat on me, being with people i love, and learning for myself what it was like for delilah in new york city. lol.

60 years from now when i'm old and gray, i'll be listening to the "oldies" station and plain white tees will come on. i'll stop what i'm doing, shed a few tears and then call my grandchildren around me. they'll all sigh as i, once again, tell them the story of that glorious night in my adolescence when plain white tees came to st. george. yes, it was that good. 

there is something about being sourounded (or rather squished up against) all your best friends screaming the lyrics to a song, that just makes you feel so alive. thanks for a good night plain white t's. (or as my friend calls them... "black patterned pants" HAHA)

small disclaimer(side effects of partying too hard): 

i broke all my toes, (DONT GO INTO A MOSH PIT BAREFOOT) bruised my entire body, (i'm telling you there are no advantages to being short in a mosh pit) sprained all my limbs, (squeezing to the front is harder then you think) lost half of my hair, (don't ever wear your hair down to a concert, i think everyone in st. george took home at least one of my hairs, i'm serious). also, most of the night i was squished up against hundreds of sweaty bodies that i didn't know... BUT IT WAS WORTH IT.

so here's to small town concerts, live music and good friends. 

as plain white tees says so well in their song "1234"...

I LOVE YOUUUU

DROPPING THAT MIX TAPE

100% of the time I am either listening  to a song, singing a song, or have a song stuck in my head... not to mention I speak fluently in song lyrics.

if you know me, you know that music has always been a huuuuge part of my life. i danced for 10 years, i've played the violin for as long as i can remember, and i spent my childhood singing every song i heard and making up my own as well. hahahaha don't ask.

 it's almost like music has some kind of weird power over me. it has a way to tap into my emotions. a good song can instantly make me happy on bad day. a little usher can pump me right up before a game. and there's no better feeling then spitting every verse of a rap when you're feeling gangsta rappy.

as well as overall loving music, I also live alllllllll the music. every genre. all of it. (ok so some screamo is kinda weird..but you get what i'm trying to say). i like everything from hannah montana to alt j to inreka inglesias. oh and I also dig somma that country stuff. sue me. 

my favorite thing in the world is finding a new music. its like that feeling you get on christmas morning. a song comes on your pandora...you freeze, listen to it for a sec, fall in love, and then listen to it over and over until your family and friends want to kill you. yep, its true love folks. (if you ever find a good song... consider it mandatory to hmu and tell me about it. thanks!)

so today, as my blessing to this musically challenged world, i give the gift of some good songs from yours truly, DJ K80. if you don't like any of these songs, thats ok. you probably have good music taste too. and thats the cool thing about music. everybody's taste is different, but it's ok music is purely based on opinion. you might think someone's music taste is horrible, but you like your music and they like theirs, so everything is good.

these are some of my favorite songs off of the top of my head (yeah i know what you're thinking...thats a ton of music to have on the top of your head..but like i said, music is life.)

i did my best to keep most of the songs clean (which really limited my options lol) but no promises.

* country content lol

JAMS

these are the type of songs that you would play on max volume in your car, roll down all the windows, sing all the words really loud, go really fast, and just feel ALIVE.

pumpin blood-NONONO (FAV)

puzzle pieces-saint motel

i drove all night-celine dion 

chocolate-the 1975
wannabe-spice girls

what you know-2 door cinema club
a little party never killed nobody-fergie
unbelievers-vampire weekend

somewhere in brooklyn-bruno mars
something in the water-carrie underwood*

from eden-hozier
acapella-karmin

flaws-bastille 

car radio-21 pilots
american dream-allstar weekend
good feeling-flo rida

lions in cages-wolf gang
all eyes on you-st. lucia
paul revere-beastie boys
little numbers-boy
sprawl ii-arcade fire
its tricky-run dmc
destiny's child -say my name
bust a move-young mc- i can rap this whole dang thing #holla
shut up and dance-walk the moon
all night-icona pop
shark attack-grouplove
chloe-emblem3
american dream-MKTO
midnight city-m83
you can't touch this-MC hammer
breezeblocks-alt j
dance with me tonight-olly murs
thats my kind of night-luke bryan*
time machine-ingrid michealson
replay-iyaz <-- flashback to 6th grade
beyonce-love on top
paper planes-MIA
cinderella-cheetah girls
dj got us fallin in love-usher
dreaming-smallpools
flashed junk mind-milky chance
do your thing-basement jaxx
ugly heart-GRL
we go the party with us-hannah montana
love robbery-kalin and myles
jordin sparks- tattoo

FEEL GOOD SONGS

these are the songs that make you want to lay down, take a deep breath, and cry happy tears because they're just so beautiful.

bloom-paper kites
hearts content-brandi carlile

upside down-goldfield
england skies-shake shake go
climax-ebony day
broken road-rascall flatts*
gravity-john mayer
heart like yours-from "if i stay"

someone new-BANKS

blue ivy-beyonce
step-vampire weekend
skinny love-birdy
i can't help falling in love with you-elvis presley
little house-amanda seyfried
100 years-five for fighting
as long as you love me-jusin briber acoustic
^^^its better then think just give it a listen you know you want to

breathe me-sia 

night changes-one direction-rip zayn

all about your heart-mindy gledhill

gravity-john mayer

empire-shakira

props to you if you listened to any of those.
l8r sk8rs.

SUNDAY THOUGHTS

a few years ago, i found this pretty little quote via pintrest and i haven't been able to get it out of my head.

it is so simple, yet SO IMPORTANT.

too often we get caught up thinking about other peoples opinions, and the truth is… people with judge you. they will. it's just one of those things that we have to get over because people are people and people are imperfect.

maybe you like reading books and having harry potter marathons. people will label you as a "nerd," and although that might seem degrading or hurtful, wear that label with pride because doing what you do makes you dang HAPPY.

maybe you like swig and taking selfies. you will be judged and known as "basic". but hey, its ok. because actually swig is really good and if you can take a good selfie props to you.

maybe you like photoshoots and taking long drives through the canyon listening to hozier. the world will call you a "hipster". but you know what? show the world that your hipster hips don't lie and go on being happy.

the stereotypes could go on and on and on, but my point is, we are all striving for happiness in this crazy little world and although people may judge and criticize, it will all be okay… because you're happy, and when it comes down to it thats all that really matters.

DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY KIDS.

and on that note, happy sunday.

xoxo

KP

ALL TOO WELL

this picture is completely unrelated but i really love those trees...

today i would like to say thank you to a good friend of mine from
every teenage girl ever. 

yes, that friend of mine is the one and only taylor swift. 

although her career started with borderline country and tight blonde curls, her music has branched out so much since then, that now, everyone from my mom to the hipsters will listen.

if there's one truth in this world, its that taylor swift was born to write songs.

so thank you, t swift, for always saying what no one else will. 

thank you for writing 20+ songs about how dumb boys are. 

thank you for backing off from harry styles.

thank you for your style inspiration on pintrest.

thank you for being the next audrey hepburn.

and thank you for writing lyrics that are PURE MAGIC.

i mean read this:

oh your sweet dispositionand my wide eyed gaze

we're singing in a car getting lost upstate.

the autumn leaves falling down like pieces in in their place

and i can picture if after all these days

and i know its long gone, and that magic its not here no more

and it might be okay but i'm not fine at all

(dude its like poetry)  &

cause there we are agin in the middle of the night.

we dance around the kitchen in the refrigerator light.

down the stairs, i was there,

i remember it all too well.

(soooo cute)

& my personal favorite

cause when your fifteen and somebody tells you they love you,
[youfreakoutcauseyourmormonandyoucan'tdateuntilyou're16butyoustilllikehimandyoudon'tknowwhattodocauseyoudon'twan'ttomessitup]
you're gonna believe him.

if you sang all those in your head while reading them, give yourself a round of applause.

thats all folks, your welcome for your daily dose of taylor.

(yes i just wrote an appreciation post for taylor swift now i'm gonna leave before i regret it)

xo KP

p.s. can we talk about fifth harmony's new album or what?

SPRING BREAK 2015

this spring break, my family bounced from brianhead (couple days of perfect skiing), to price, utah (visiting grandma/exploring the town where literally all my ancestors are from), to provo, utah (concert and sleepover with cousins). Although i didn't go anywhere super exciting like hawaii or california with the rest of the population of st. george, i had a dang good time with my little family. it was fun to have a simple vacation and make good memories with the people that matter most.

one of my favorite parts of spring break, surprisingly, was visiting price. it's a tinny little town in the middle of carbon county, but (as you'll see in the video) there are so many cute little houses and the town just has so much character. as i mentioned before, i also have a TON of relatives for m price. actually, i'm probably related to like half the town one way or another lol. both my mom and my dad grew up in price and it's so fun to hear them talk about it and point out all the places they would hang out as teenagers and other cool stuff like that. also, if you ever go to price, be sure to check out the "powell" memorial down by the river. like i said, we owwwwn that town.

now for my spring break in a nutshell (or rather a vimeo):

                    

                                     SPRING BREAK 2015 from Katie Powell on Vimeo.

6TEEN

"sweet sixteen" they call it, and now i understand why. today has definitely been one of the "sweeter" days of my life.

a few days before i turned 16, i was talking to one of my friends asking her if turning 16 even made that big of a difference, i mean people make a pretty big deal about it.

"yeah its totally everything it's cracked up to be" she told me.

and it was.

first of all WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE!??

it seems like ever since i saw "16 candles" with debby ryan on disney channel i've been looking forward to this day.. and its already here! i've accepted the fact that my fairy godmother probably won't show up at my bus stop and grant me 16 wishes like in the movie, but that didn't make me any less excited about today.

being a mormon makes this particular birthday 10x more important because now i'm considered  "dating material" Now, i can finally have a boyfriend!!!! (don't worry mom i'm 100% joking)

..but like seriously, forget boys, the thing that makes turning 16 the bomb.com is that YOU CAN FINALLY DRIVE. and let me tell ya, driving makes a world of difference in the life of a teenager. like you have no idea. as much as i appreciated my parents willingness to drive me places (#sophomoreprobs) i could not be more stoked to drive off in my 2005 acura with the music blaring and no one to tell me to turn it down. (only 50% joking this time)

this morning i woke up and listened to "sweet sixteen" by hilary duff on repeat while i got ready. i've been waiting many years to be able to scream every one of those lyrics on my 16th birthday. lol.

after making myself look super dateable, i rode the bus to school for one last time. i won't miss you, big yellow twinkie. 

it was a rainy short day. and it was absolutely perfect. you know those conversations where you're talking to someone and they remember something important [my bday duh] halfway to the conversation? yeah well i had about 928375973245 of those today, it was hilarious. also, shout out to social media for being home to every ugly selfie i've ever take today. sorry to those who had to see those pictures....

after school all my (girl)friends came over and we ate homeade cafe rio and cupcakes. fun fact: angelie and brook can fit a whole cupcake in their mouths. now thats talent.

after everyone left, i treated myself to the wedding episode of 19 kids and counting, just cause it was my birthday and i could.

when my mom got home we headed straight to the DMV and picked up my drivers license. after going to get insurance, i drove home. ALONE. it felt sooo good.

 per tradition, we had a small family party with my cousins and I GOT A 50mm LENSE AND I CAN'T STOP PLAYING WITH IT I LOVE IT SO MUCH. also some cute clothes and a year subscription to adobe photoshop (is it just me or do i hear some photoshoots calling my name?)

after the family party maddy came over and brought the cutest photo book with a bunch of our memories in it, as well as room to add new ones. we had a little heart to heart and were almost in tears over all the amazing memories we've made together this past year. boy do i love that girl.

just after she left, mariah came over and brought the prettiest yellow tulips, a cupcake, and some ben and jerry's fudge ice cream. (which i ate immediately heheh)

gosh i love my friends, they are the sweetest girls ever and i can count on them anytime, anywhere for anything. me and mariah were talking about how fast my birthday came, and how fast life goes in general. but i couldn't be more excited, BRING IT ON SIXTEEN.

me smoking my candle lol. thug life.

gotta love trick candles hahahaah

as amazing as it feels to finally be 16 and all, i think i might actually miss the lovely age of 15. it is easy for me to say that my 15th year of life was the best yet. it was a year filled with new people and new memories, as well as many new trials and lessons.

15 taught me that relationships are fragile and people are sensitive.

it taught be to try a little harder to be a little kinder.

it taught me that even if you have 3 hours of homework, you should always put others needs before your own.

it taught me that if you want something to happen, the best way to make sure it happens is to do it yourself. (for example if you want a cute happy birthday banner on the fireplace for your 16th bday, just make it yourself--true story)

being 15 taught me that girls are mean and boys are dumb….but it also taught me that everyone has good in them and everyone deserves to be loved.

it taught that i have a loving Heavenly Father who cares about me and will always be there for me, no matter the trial.

15 taught me that change is ok. change is good.

and most of all, being 15 taught me that life is hard, but it is beautiful. it is oh so beautiful.

and though i am faaaaaar from perfect, my fifteenth year of life taught me more then i ever dreamed of and was full of memories and people that i will never ever forget. thanks for being good to me, 15. and here's to you, 16, i'm excited to see what you have in store.

have a happy day lovelies
xoxox