So I LOVEEEE to travel, and unfortunately it is something that I don't get to do as much as I would like. The fact that I currently live in Indiana only makes the travel urge grow stronger. In between dreaming and planning my next trips, I like to live vicariously through some amazing Instagram accounts that remind me how beautiful the world is, how amazing our ultimate creator is, and how much of the world I still want to explore. Here are some of my top photographers, explorers, and nomads (in no particular order) that highlight the incredible earth we are a part of.

// Dirk Dallas // - Creator of "From Where I Drone" - @fromwhereidrone


// Michael Matti // - fellow IWU alum, amazing photographer- @michaelmatti

// Chris Burkard // - "Have Camera, Will Travel" - @chrisburkard


// Jimmy Chin // - National Geographic photographer-  @jimmy_chin
// Fantastic Earth // - Pics from all over the world! - @fantastic_earth

// Kyle Kuiper // - Calvin alum, Dutchie, makin' it big - @kdkuiper

Well, fall is in full affect... the leaves are changing, sweaters are out, and I'm getting sick of all my summer songs... This means a new "2016 Fall" playlist has started, and I have not been disappointed! There have been some great new ones I've recently discovered, so I'm excited to share with you my Top 10 Playlist to get you through the rest of your week. Enjoy!


1. "All We Know" by the Chainsmokers and Phoebe Ryan
            (MAN! I love the Chainsmokers... everything I hear gets stuck in my head for 2 months)
2. "All Time Low" by Jon Bellion
             (While it's quite the depressing break up song, it is catchy!)
3. "This Town" by Niall Horan
              (It's official, 1D is never, ever, ever, getting back together)
4. "Home We'll Go" by Walk Off the Earth
           (Build up, build up, build up, drop that... BANJO SOLO! Heck yes)
5. "This Girl" by Kungs vs Cookin' on 3 Burners
            (Head bobbin, hips swayin, my kind of jam)
6. "The Greatest" by Sia and Kendrick Lamar
           (Oh Sia, how I wish I could sing like you...)
7. "Mercy" by Shawn Mendes
           (I feel like I want to be friends with Shawn, he's just a nice guy)
8. "Hell No" by Ingrid Michaelson
           (Angry girl anthem, huzzah!)
9. "Side to Side" by Ariana Grande
           (Work it girl)
10. "Numb" by Witt Lowry
           (Cause you should know by now how much I love ending a playlist with some rhapsody)

Night music lovers!
Much Love,
Tracy

I was perusing through an old edition of Contract Magazine (May 2015), and came across a profile it did on the new floor design of Uber Technologies in San Fransisco. The up-and-coming company had an existing headquarters in a building on the 4th floor, but due to its popularity and growth, Uber expanded, leasing the 11th floor in the same building. This floor was to have a variety of great spaces for collaboration, with a refined definition of the scrappy vibe that comes with start up cultures. As said by the principal at Studio O+A (designer of the project), is was a "more rebellious cousin of the Uber headquarters (4th floor). We wanted this to feel like a start up but in an elevated and refined way."

Artist: Walk Off the Earth
Formed: 2006
Hometown: Ontario, Canada
Members: Sarah Blackwood, Gianni Luminati, Ryan Marshall, Joel Cassady, Mike Taylor
Website: http://www.walkofftheearth.com/


All this week, there was not a single time I logged onto Facebook where I did not see WOTE's cover of "Closer" by the Chainsmokers and Halsey at the top of my news feed. People have been sharing it like crazy, and I don't blame them... IT IS AWESOME!! Walk Off the Earth is one of those that I can forget about them for a little bit, and then they come out with something like "Closer" and I remember why I enjoy them so much. I think they are one of the most creative bands/cover artists out there. You can tell all the videos they shoot are lower budget, but that is the beauty: all you focus on is their amazing voices, the unusual instruments they use, and the raw talent each member has.

They first started gaining a large fan base after their cover of Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" went viral. I remember seeing their video and just watching with my mouth open in awe. They had one guitar, and created the whole song with each person having a specific part to play. No gimmicks, no big production... just a big guitar and lots of talent. I loved it!

Every video since then has not disappointed. They make each song have its own vibe, and even though they cover another artist, WOTE makes the song their own by putting their own creative spin on it. I love that each is in a different location (tour bus, beach, garage, etc.), with different instruments, but you can tell it is their sound as soon as you hear it. You can see the passion they have behind every song they do, whether it's a cover or an original, and that is what makes them so great.

Because "Closer" has been so popular, I thought I would share my favorite songs performed by WOTE. Enjoy!

TOP 5 FAVORITE WALK OFF THE EARTH COVERS:
#1: "Closer" (The Chainsmokers and Halsey)
#2: "Hello" (Adele)
#3: "Somebody That I Used to Know" (Gotye)
#4: "Cheerleader" (Omi)
#5: "I Knew You Were Trouble" (Taylor Swift)

TOP 5 FAVORITE WALK OFF THE EARTH ORIGINALS:
#1: "Hold On (The Break)" Album: Sing It All Away
#2: "Red Hands" Album: R.E.V.O
#3: "Gang of Rhythm" Album: R.E.V.O.
#4: "Home We'll Go" Album: Sing It All Away
#5: "Sing It All Away" Album: Sing It All Away

Have a safe and happy weekend music lovers!
Much love,
Tracy