Best workout songs EVAH!

Every self-respecting fitness addict knows that the key to a killer workout is a rocking playlist! Now, I have googled many a "workout playlist" in my day, and I never find playlists that I like usually the songs aren't my style, or all the songs are inappropriate....all of them. So here's the deal. I compiled a list of all my favorite songs to listen to while I work out! Enjoy these tunes knowing you are safe when you press play :)

1. Cameo Lover-Kimbra
2. Black horse and the Cherry Tree-KT Tunstall
3.One more round-Barlowgirl
4.Rise Up-Matt Maher
5. Eye of the Tiger-Survivor
6.Stop Time-Landon Austin
7. Zero to Hero-Hercules soundtrack
8.Undignified-David Crowder Band
9.Titanium-David Guetta
10.Mr. Saxobeat(radio edit)-Alexandra Stan
11. Good Girl- Carrie Underwood
12. Come and Get it- Selena Gomez
13. Roar- Katy Perry
14. DJ Got us falling in love-Usher, Pitbull
15. Sweet Serendipity- Lee DeWyze
16. Best Song Ever- One Direction
17. The Power of Love- Huey Lewis & the News
18. Counting stars-OneRepublic
19.What made us-Everlife
20. Best day of my life-American Authors
21. Aint it fun-Paramore
22. Can't remember to forget you-Shakira, Rihanna
23. Feels like I am just too close-Boom Masters
24. Feelin' Good-Christina Grimmie
25. Chainsaw-The Band Perry
26. Easy Street-Annie soundtrack
27. Ya Got Trouble-Music Man soundtrack
28. Happy-Pharrell Williams
29.Wannabe(radio edit)-The Spice Girls
30. Don't you worry Child(radio edit)-Swedish house mafia
31. Brighter than the sun-Colbie Caillat
32. Outsiders-Eric Church
33. Wide awake-Katy Perry
34. My paper heart-Francesca Battistelli
35. Second chances-Veggie Tales soundtrack
36. We are the Champions-Queen
37. Resistance-Everlife
38. I'm letting go- Francesca Battistelli
39. Open Heavens- Barlowgirl
40. Daydream believer- the monkeys

Total time:  2hrs. 30mins.

The Perfect Picnic Dress

     A few weeks ago, I decided I wanted to make myself some new clothes. (Side note, I often have different, random ideas and then I'm like, "I SHOULD DO THAT!" and sometimes... it actually happens.) Anyway, I created this picture in my head of the perfect summer dress: Kind of 1950's style (think ModCloth) with a swingy skirt and high cut in the front and the back (who wants to be worrying about the front of their dress gaping open when they are running around playing volleyball or going on long walks in the woods or whatever it may be?). I wanted a dress perfect for picnics, work, church, gardening... Basically I wanted a dress to live in for the summer.

And then... I found my new favorite pattern of all time: Simplicity 2444

     The funny thing about this pattern is the actual dresses that are created from it look nothing like the cover of the envelope.... They are a million times better! I don't think I would have even picked this pattern up if I hadn't been google searching dresses with my mom and stumbled across someone's creation from the pattern, because the cover doesn't look like what I had envisioned.

HOWEVER, the proof is in the pudding! Here are some dresses that I found that made me think this pattern was/is perfait!!!!

1. via What I Wore

2. via Berni and I  

3. via Experiments and Accidents

4. via Experiments and Accidents 

5. via Kollabora

6. via Sylkotwist

     You can make quite a few different styles of dress from this one pattern. I think that's the idea behind the whole "Project Runway" thing... you can use the included pattern pieces to kind of design your own dress. I, however, happened to really like the very basic version of the dress. I'm making a short-sleeved version right now, but I'm also thinking of making a sleeveless version as well. 

     The hardest part so far was figuring out what size I should make, and how much fabric I needed. The fabric cutter lady at Joanns stared at the back of the envelope for quite a while before deciding how much fabric I needed, lol. 

    However, besides that, it has been a pretty painless dress making process. I have never actually made a dress start to finish before... I've altered clothes and I've made other projects but never an actual dress. I was able to get a bulk of the sewing done a few days ago in a four hour sewing session. All that's left is the zipper (that's the part I'm scared about...) and finishing up the hem/sleeves/neckline. 

     I am so excited with how mine is turning out, and I want to make more after this one!! If you want an easy-to-make dress for spring or summer, then I would suggest you go out and buy this immediately. Seriously.