Love Story

My Top 25 Taylor Swift Songs 

Hello Lovlies. I'm Jordan Nicole :) I know that this post could rub some people the wrong way. Not every one likes Taylor and that is completely understandable. There isn't anything or anyone that every person is going to like. I however have made it pretty clear on my blog over the years that I love her. Taylor's music has gotten me through so many things in my life and I just think she is an inspiration. In honor of all those times that I have turned to her music when I didn't have anywhere else to turn, here is a list of my top 25 Taylor Swift songs. They range from songs about life, heartbreak, crushes, true love, and mistakes but at their core they all share one thing; they are completely open statements about how it feels to experience those things. They give you something to connect with when you think you are the only person who has ever felt that way. They give you something that shows you aren't alone. At the end of the day Taylor is a real person who has real emotions and she is amazing enough to share those with us in an effort to show us that it is okay to feel things. It is okay to not always be happy. It is okay to fall madly in love more than once. It is okay to forgive. It is okay to not know what you want. It is okay to learn lessons along the way. For that I will always be grateful. 

Taylor Swift Era

A Place In This World

"I don't know what I want, so don't ask me. Cause I'm still trying to figure it out."

Cold As You

"Every smile you fake is so condescending counting all the scars you've made."

Should've Said No

"I can't resist. Before you go tell me this: Was it worth this? Was she worth this?"

Fearless Era

Superstar

"I'm no one special, just another wide eyed girl who's desperately in love with you."

Forever & Always

"I looked in your eyes. Thought I knew you for a minute, now I'm not so sure."

The Best Day

"I know you were on my side, even when I was wrong."

Speak Now Era

Back To December

"And then the cold came, the dark days when fear crept into my mind. You gave me all your love and all I gave you was 'goodbye'."

Dear John

"You are an expert at 'sorry' and keeping lines blurry. Never impressed by me acing your tests."

Enchanted

"I'm wonderstruck, dancing around all alone. I'll spend forever wondering if you knew."

Innocent

"I hope you remember today is ever too late to be brand me."

Last Kiss

"So I'll watch your life in pictures like I used to watch you sleep and I'll feel you forget me like I used to feel you breathe."

Ours

"Your hands are tough but they are where mine belong."

Red Era

Treacherous

"I can't decide if it's a choice, getting swept away. I hear the sound of my own voice, asking you to stay."

I Knew You Were Trouble

"And the saddest fear comes creeping in that you never loved me, or her, or anyone, or anything."

All Too Well

"You call me up again just to break me like a promise. So casually cruel in the name of being honest."

The Last Time

"You wear your best apology but I was there to watch you leave."

Everything Has Changed

"Your eyes look like coming home."

Begin Again

"And for the first time what's past is past."

Come Back... Be Here

"This is falling in love in the cruelest way. This is falling for you and you are worlds away."

State of Grace (Acoustic Version)

"We learn to live with the pain. Mosaic broken hearts."

1989 Era

Blank Space

"Love's a game, wanna play?"

All You Had To Do Was Stay

"I've been picking up the pieces of the mess you made."

Wildest Dreams

"Nothing lasts forever but this is gonna take me down."

Clean

"The water filled my lungs, I screamed so loud but no one heard a thing."

You Are In Love

"And you understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars, and why I've spent my whole life trying to put it into words."

Each of these albums have helped me to get through things in my life but these songs specifically have at one time or another been the only songs I listened to for days at a time. These are the kind of songs that just speak to your soul. No matter your opinion on Taylor Swift, she is forever due the credit of how brave it is to honestly put your feelings out there for everyone to see. I have struggled with putting my feels out there for the people I love to see. I can't imagine doing it on a global scale.

Blank Space

Taylor Swift's 1989 Deluxe Edition Review

"These songs were once about my life. They are now about yours." 
-Taylor Swift 

Hello Lovlies. I'm Jordan Nicole :) If you are new here you may not know that Taylor Swift is my personal obsession. If you aren't new I apologize for yet again dedicating a post to her, but this is my little corner of the internet to talk about things I love and she happens to be one of them. I have been in love with Taylor Swift and her music since she released her first single, Tim McGraw. I bought her first album the week it was released and have yet to miss a release week since. Everything she does speaks to me on a personal level and as she has grown, so have I. I am so grateful to have had her music to help me along my way. I am sure that most of you have purchased or at least heard 1989 but I wanted to do a little review of the album anyways :)

Tracks

Welcome To New York

"Like any true love it drives you crazy but you know you wouldn't change anything."

This was the third and final song that Taylor released pre-album release date. I understand its place on the album and how it sets the ton for what is to come but it is certainly not my favorite. I rarely click on it. That being said, when it comes on shuffle I sing my heart out and dance around. I am going to New York for the first time in less than a month and I already know this will be the soundtrack of my trip (sorry I'm not sorry, daddy).

Blank Space

"Darling I'm a nightmare dressed like a daydream."

I knew this song would be a hit the first time I heard it (meaning at midnight on the release night). The beginning played and I said "This will be her next number one." right away. Taylor recently made history with this one even. She was the first female artist, ever, to replace herself in the #1 stop on the Billboard Hot 100 (kicking Shake It Off out of the spot). There is no reason to question why this song is such a hit. The lyrics. The beat. The rhythm. Everything about it is catchy and it certainly deserves every bit of praise it is receiving. If you haven't seen the music video yet (where have you been?) then I would highly recommend heading over to Youtube right now to watch it. The video even had an app through American Express (just search American Express Unstaged Taylor Swift in the app store). It's super interactive and fun :)

Style

"You've got that James Dean daydream look in your eye and I got that red lip classic thing that you like."

I knew this would be one of my favorite tracks before the album even came out. This was the song playing in the background during the Target adverts for the exclusive deluxe edition of the album. The 30 seconds I heard was enough for me to be hooked. That really is how catchy this one is. Who doesn't have that one person that your relationship never seems to go out of style?

Out Of The Woods

"But the monsters turned out to be just trees."

This was the second song Taylor released from the album pre album release date and let's just say that it was on constant repeat for weeks. I have had this feeling more than once and could never have put it into words as gracefully as Ms. Swift. Regardless of who this one is about it is a wonderful addition to the album and I still haven't grown tired of it.

All You Had To Do Was Stay

"Why'd you have to go and lock my out when I let you in?"

Taylor said this one came to her in a dream... she is literally a lyrical wizard. This is by far my most listened to song on the album. I love this song. Like, I love this song. Have I made it clear that I love this song? All jokes aside, I don't think I have as strong an emotional attachment to any other song on the album (a big statement to make). Even the ones that I could sing and cry about (which I do, frequently) don't translate into my life as much as this song. It may be because I recently went through a situation that was word for word these lyrics but I think regardless of who you are it is easy to connect to this one.

Shake It Off

"It's like I got this music in my mind saying it's gonna be alright."

The first single from the album, this song is definitely the anthem of 1989. My three year old cousin heard it once and walked around singing it for the rest of the day, that is how catchy it is. It is the perfect formula for a #1 song. It was indeed Taylor's second song to top the Billboard charts. You have all heard this one before (on the radio, on the tv, on your phone, in your thoughts, in your dreams...) so I won't say any more about it but you should definitely watch the video if you haven't. It is adorable and even features fans!

I Wish You Would

"I wish we could go back and remember what we were fighting for and I wish you knew that I miss you too much to be mad anymore."

When I heard this one I didn't want to like it. Something about it came across wrong and I instantly wanted to write it off. That would have been tragic because I now really like it. It is far from my favorite but it also isn't at the bottom of my list. The chorus of this one is just so relatable and the music all the way through just makes you want to keep listening.

Bad Blood

"Bandaids don't fix bullet holes. You say sorry just for show."

This is the snarkiest we have seen Swift since Better Than Revenge and I love it. Everyone has had that friend that just burned them so bad that there was no going back. This is the song you are belting out and thinking of someone in your life. It just applies to everyone. Regardless of the controversy over this song it gets stuck in my head all day and I find myself singing it around campus and my apartment all of the time.

Wildest Dreams

"Say you'll remember me standing in a nice dress staring at the sunset, babe."

The entire feeling of this song just shots it straight to the top of my list. I only had to hear the beginning to know that the vibes of this song were so up my ally. I know it has gotten a lot of comparisons to Lana (whom I adore) but I don't hear it as being similar to anyone else, so much as I see it being Swift in a softer light. This entire album just has such an original sound in my mind that I can't compare it to other artists. The lyrics in this song are a lot more mature then Swift's past material and I love that her music has never failed to age with her. I am 21 and have grown through her albums with her. This song fills a hole I needed to be filled with this album.

How You Get The Girl 

"Remind her how it used to be.  Pictures in frames, of kisses on checks."

This is my least favorite song on the album. It is catchy and I listen to it when it comes on but I do not ever select this song to start of my 1989 playlist jam session. It supposedly isn't a song about her personal experiences. Maybe thats why I don't connect? I always seem to connect most with the songs about HER experience with love. I don't know. It is catchy. I like it enough, it just isn't my favorite.

This Love

"When you're young, you just run but you come back... to what you need."

I have listened to this song in the shower and as I lay in bed countless times. It is the ballad of the album and the concept of "if you love someone let them go and if they love you they will come back to you" built into this song is so moving. I would love to hear her sing this live, alone on stage. Just her and her voice (okay and maybe a piano, I'm always a sucker for Swift and a piano). I know that this song doesn't have the driving beat that some of the other tracks have but I find it even easier to listen to than the "hits" on the album. I simply adore it.

I Know Places

"Loose lips sink ships all the damn time, not this time."

From that first note on the piano you know that this dark and edgy sound is going to lead to an amazing song. The writing in this is so clever and the music complements the lyrics perfectly. The storyline here is something so many people experience. There is always that relationship you are trying to make successful while people on the outside are trying to make it fail. I have faith that Taylor truly does know places to hide from those people and all of their harmful words (even if it is just in this song).

Clean

"The water filled me lungs, I screamed so loud but no one heard a thing."

In an interview Taylor said that if her fans could only remember one song off this album that it would be Clean. I completely agree. This songs makes me so emotional. It is just so universal and you can hear how personal it was to her. I love it and it is the ultimate "break up acceptance" song. She really does have a song for ever emotion doesn't she?? This one was definitely a wonderful addition to the spectrum of emotions that her albums cover. The lyrics have to be one of the most gorgeous ever written (not just by Swift but in music period).

Bonus Tracks

Wonderland

"You search the world for something else to make you feel like what we had and in the end in wonderland we both went mad."

This is my favorite bonus track. If I think any of them should have been a part of the main album then this would be it (maybe replacing, say, How You Get The Girl?) hands down. I play this song so much and have actually spent a 45 minute drive only listening to it. It seems like a song Swift should have had on an album long before this and the concept is so true to love.

You Are In Love

"You can hear it in the silence. You can feel it on the way home. You can see it with the lights out."

This is widely known as Lena Dunham's future wedding song. Swift wrote it with Lena's boyfriend Jack Antonoff (whom also wrote Out Of The Woods with Swift). I love hearing this song late at night, driving under the stars. It is such a soothing ballad and the specific details in it make it feel so relatable (its funny how songs always feel more personal to you when they are personal to the artist). This one isn't at the top or bottom of my list. I have nothing bad to say about it.

New Romantics

"Cause baby I could build a castle out of all the bricks they threw at me."

There is a large following of fans who believe that this song should have been on the actual album. I really enjoy this song and it is definitely an anthem made for belting out with the windows down while you drive. The problem with this is that 1989 already had an anthem in Shake It Off. You can only have one anthem. I think she chose right with SIO because it is much more relatable to all ages. This song is perfect for those people in their early twenties who are having to find a new way to experience dating and finding love.

Voice Memos

These were a great idea on Taylor's part. Everyone always wants to know how she writes songs and these provide such a great "behind the scenes" look at her process. She included three different methods of her song writing and introduces each clip depicting how the writing took place.

I Know Places. I Wish You Would. Blank Space.

Every physical copy also came with one of five packs of polaroids. Each pack contained 13 (DUH) personal polaroids from Swift (I pictured a handful above) with lyrics from the 1989 songs. It is such a sweet touch and a great marketing strategy to get more people out to buy the physical album. I personally purchased the digital version on iTunes (well preordered it) and downloaded it at midnight but I also went to Target later that day and purchased a physical copy. If you are going to buy the physical cd then I think it is definitely worth getting the deluxe version, which is only available at Target.

Have you purchased Taylor's newest album? What is your favorite song from 1989? What's your favorite Taylor song of all time? Let me know in the comments :)

***Polaroid pictures are all taken from Tumblr. The only pictures that I took in this post were of the album itself. 

This Love

October (& Some September) Favorites

Hello Lovelies. I'm Jordan Nicole :) This is going to be a longer favorites than I usually post because I dropped the ball last month and didn't post a favorites blog. I wrote one and had it done in time to post but I just felt like my favorites from that month were lacking; as if I hadn't had enough time to accumulate new favorite things. But I didn't want to just leave my favorite things from September out  so I decided to just lump them in with the many new favorites I have from throughout October. So without further ado here are my favorites from the last two months! 

Fashion

Salt Lick T-shirt 

When I was younger I worked at The Salt Lick (it is kind of famous, google it) and recently my friend Clay started working there. He gave me this work shirt after it shrunk in the wash and I have found myself reaching for it a lot in the last month. It's always nice to have a go to t-shirt.

Longhorn V-Neck

As we are in the midst of football season I have been wearing a lot of UT things in support of our team, especially on game days. This is my go to game day shirt :) It is perfectly subtle. HOOK'EM HORNS!

Accessories

Longhorn Hair Bow

This goes along with the team spirit theme from above. I have been wearing this on game days. I basically just adore bows and will take any excuse to wear one. I am a five year old girl and I'm not sorry.

Flower Cartilage Earring 

I wear this almost every day. It was a family members and I love it. It is just a little different than wearing a normal stud in my cartilage piercing. People notice it a lot more with this earring in than they used to with the one I originally pierced it with.

New Phone Case & iPhone 6

My dad was so sweet and bought me the iPhone 6 before I even asked for it. I love it. I personally don't think it is to big. It still fits in my pocket and watching videos on the bigger screen is so nice. My favorite part is how round it is. I got my case off of Etsy. I have been getting personalized cases for a few years now and I adore them. People constantly compliment it too.

Beauty

Garnier Hair Oil 

I have been getting a little lazy with doing my hair, more than usual even, and when I am wearing my hair in my natural curls they can be a bit frizzy and wild. When I just want to leave my hair down without styling it I will just put some of my hair oil in and it helps to keep it under control. It has been so helpful over the last month. When I do take the time to straighten or curl my hair it also helps to make them last longer and look pretty for more days between washes. Just be sure not to put to much close to your roots so that they don't start to look oily between washes :)

Revlon Nail Polish in Posh

I saw this when I was shopping for some new make up and was instantly intrigued. I had been looking for fall nail polish colors and thought that this one would be a good addition for some diversity. I usually only go with deep reds in the fall, I wanted to be a little adventurous. I didn't buy it that first time I saw it though (I chickened out). It stayed with me for a few days though and the next time I saw it I picked it up right away. I figured that if a nail polish can still be on your mind days after you've seen it then you should probably buy it. I was right, I love it. It is actually the nail polish I am wearing in these pictures :)

Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner

I just posted a review of this eyeliner a few days ago so if you want to hear more about it check that out. I have been wearing this a lot. It is definitely a part of my everyday makeup routine. I like that it has a matte finish as opposed to the shinny finish of liquid eyeliner.

Home

Bath & Body Works Fall Candles

Candles are one of my favorite things and one of my favorites brands is Bath & Body Works. Fall is also my favorite season. I don't know if you can tell but all of this adds up to one of my favorite things during the year being stocking up on the fall candles right after they are released. I always have one lit and it just gets me in the fall spirit. The scents I have in the picture are: Autumn Sky, Tailgate, Mahogany Teakwood, Pumpkin Caramel Latte, Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin & Apple Ale (which was a scent from last year and unfortunately didn't get produced again this season, I was really disappointed). They are all great and B & B Works have 2 for $22 sales all of the time (but be sure to wait for one because they are $22.50 each if you don't and thats just not smart).

Fall Pillows

I got these pillows at Ross at the beginning of September and have had them out ever since. They add so much to my apartment and were really affordable. Cushions are the easiest way to completely change the look of a space.

Food

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

This is me being a completely stereotypical girl but I had my first PSL this year right after they came back out in an attempt to get into the fall mood. I was skeptical on how good they could be but I have been loving them since that first sip. If you want to drink fall from a cup then give it a try :)

Thomas Pumpkin Bagels

I have bought anything that incorporated pumpkin in it over the last two months. I have had pumpkin english muffins, muffins, granola bars, kind bars, breads and various other things. I basically love pumpkin. While nothing can beat a good slice of pumpkin bread these bagels come very close. I just put regular cream cheese on them and they are delicious. A great meal.

Entertainment

Zoe Sugg's September (& Some Of October) Vlogs 

Zoe Sugg (Zoella) decided to vlog her September and I could not have been more thrilled. It is such a treat to sit and watch Zoe's day. She is always so lovely and has the most soothing voice. If you have never seen any of Zoe's main channel videos I highly recommend them and I recommend her vlogs just as highly. Her written blog is also wonderful. I will leave all of her links at the end of this post :)
*She also decided to carry on vlogging into October, so there are plenty to watch if you head over there!

Taylor Swift's 1989

I am not going to go on and on in this post because I am sure I will be doing a post completely dedicated to this album soon, but I will say that it is amazing and everything it was promised to be. My favorite tracks so far are All You Had To Do Was Stay, Style, Blank Space, Wildest Dreams, I Know Places, This Love & Out Of The Woods. I just named half of the songs... I love them all alright! They are all amazing. Just go get the album. It is worth it. If you buy it at Target you also get 3 bonus tracks and 3 original voice memos of Taylor creating the songs. It is only $13 and also comes with 13 polaroid pictures of Taylor. Do it. 

Stalker & American Horror Story: Freak Show

I have a ton of new favorite shows but seeing as this is an October favorites I am just going to name these two super creepy ones. Stalker is very much a thriller and I have screamed at least once watching it. If you live alone I would recommend not watching it after dark, it can really mess with your mind. AHS has been a staple in my TV schedule for a few years so of course I have been looking forward to this season. It hasn't gotten as scary as it is weird yet but it has had its moments. It is twisted and if you enjoy that sort of thing then you will love it. I will be doing a post on all of my fall shows really soon but these two both air on Wednesday evenings.

Well that is it! I know this was a long one but I really do love all of the things included. I also added the home category this month because I have found that because I'm living alone I am constantly having to think about those types of things. I hope that you enjoyed this post and as always let me know what your favorite things this month were in the comments! Enjoy your November & have a lovely Thanksgiving (yes it is nearly here, crazy)!

*Links*
The Salt Lick: http://www.saltlickbbq.com
Etsy Phone Case Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/simplymonogram
Garnier Hair Oil: http://www.garnierusa.com/products/haircare/sleek-and-shine/Treatment/Sleek-and-Shine-Moroccan-Sleek-Oil-Treatment.aspx
Revlon Posh Nail Polish: http://www.target.com/p/revlon-nail-color/-/A-14047760
Bath & Body Works Candles: http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=4147333
Thomas Pumpkin Spice Bagels: http://www.thomasbreads.com/products/pumpkin-spice-bagels-0
Zoe Sugg: www.youtube.com/zoella & www.youtube.com/morezoella & http://www.zoella.co.uk
Taylor Swift 1989: http://smarturl.it/TS1989