Rebecca De Leon

Music Monday: “Us” Studio Sessions #1 & #2

Studio Sessions #1: Where Have You Been?

Studio Sessions #2: Call Me Maybe

I recently stumbled upon the duo “US” on YouTube and was instantly mesmerized by their talent. If you are like me, you often wonder where the TRUE musicians and artists are in the current music scene. You probably look for those tunes where the music alone can move you. Take a listen the two renditions this duo does in their Studio Sessions. They take the catchy hooks from two popular songs and add so much pure talent, making these pieces sound like they could be lasting classics!

In the first session, they add a hauntingly beautiful tone to Rhianna’s Where Have You Been, with dramatic piano riffs that would fit in a chase scene in a musical.

In Call Me Maybe, they take the currently trendy sound of folk and use it as a backdrop for the pop lyrics of Carly Rae Jepsen. The banjo, harmonies, and chanting (pulled almost directly from The Lumineers song “Ho Hey”) add such an adorable touch, almost as adorable as the couple themselves.

Check them out on youtube here and download some of their covers AND originals (which are just as awesomely ADORBS!) on iTunes!

Why I…. Wednesdays

I am a curious person… especially when it comes to people! I like to know their thought process, decision making skills, where they get their confidence, and what breaks them! I thought I would share some of my habits, thoughts, tips, as a little insight into WHY I do the things I do.

For starters, I’ll tell you Why I REJECT REJECTION. I spent a lot of my life scared of soo much. I wouldn’t even cross the street unless it was at a crosswalk and the light clearly stated “WALK”. I rarely went out on a limb because I feared rejection. But when people convinced me to actually try, I ended up succeeding sometimes, and that feeling is like no other. Getting into a competitive program or getting a really good job, all things only possible if I TRIED.

BUT, there were many other times I didn’t try…until I was forced to. I spent the first year after graduation applying, interviewing, and being REJECTED. (If you want a humbling experience, get a degree in a field that is not in demand and be mediocre at it… they will crush your pride FOR SURE). For a while, I took that rejection, internalized it, and saw myself as inadequate, incapable…a failure.

But here is why I reject rejection now: I am soo much more than my resume. For so long I had too much pride in the things I did, the school I went to, the opportunities I was blessed with. Putting all your self-worth in a list of accomplishments, allows others’ opinions to create who you are, but ignores where your worth really lies. I found soo much self-worth in the fact that I am here for a purpose. There is a plan for me, a plan much bigger than I can even imagine. Rejection is just a way to keep you moving in the right direction (if that makes sense).

And I know it sounds like I’m just talking about in the career field, but this can be applied anywhere. We are relational beings, so it’s common for us to want people to like us and crave their approval. When those relationships end up hurting you, it’s tough to say “It’s okay. That’s not who I am” and move on. No. Personally, I always felt the need to make them see who I KNEW deep down I am. To set these people straight and prove that I am not who they make me out to be. But others (“friends”, boyfriends, girlfriends, etc.) rejection of you says more about who THEY are than who you are. And the grand plans we are promised beyond our imagination apply to who is put in your life. Rejection in a relationship is just pushing you to move on to SOMETHING BETTER.

I suggest making a new resume for who you are. Mine says I am a conqueror, precious, provided for, and destined for great things! And take that rejection as a guide to move on toward something greater.

Tech Tuesday: “Days” App Review

Since I am a visual geek, I love finding new apps that can do cool things with photos and videos. I just got this app called “Days” today so I don’t know all the quirks it has, but I thought I would share since social media is only fun if you have friends to share it with (so go out and try it out with me!).

The basic concept of the app is to journal your day using photos. You take a photo using the app and it adds the time it was taken. (It would be a tad cooler if you can pull from your library… but we’ll see if it gets added soon). You can add caption to each picture as well. The end result, a photo story of your day.

It won’t let you post until the day is over so there is no posting too soon and missing something at the end of your day.

Another cool thing is the ability to make a Gif. Not a lot of photo apps let you do this so that is a cool feature I was excited to see.

I can’t talk much about the social media factor of it (you can follow your friend’s daily journal) since no one I know uses it yet.

And actually, I’m not sure I want to show others my day-to-day activites. If this is a real journal of my day, it might get pretty boring.

Using this as a travel journal might be the coolest way to use it! I would have LOVED to have this on my trip to Europe last year! Especially since you can add locations to the picture. One day, we went on a walking tour of Berlin. Some pictures I took I couldn’t remember where they were taken once I uploaded them. This would have saved me such a headache of remembering those details.

So go check it out! Follow me: @itsbeckokay. Let me know what you think!

***NOTE: this app is only for iPhone as of now. Developer: Wander***

Mondays

I, like a ton of other people, have a major issue with MONDAYS. I can’t even put my finger on why, but me and Mondays get along as well as Tom and Jerry (I SWEAR THEY ARE OUT TO GET ME!).

I think it has a lot to do with me never coming to terms with the fact I am a grown up. I have a grown up job so when Monday comes, I have to put on my big girl pants and carry the load of responsibility I throw out the window at 5pm on Fridays.

Maybe it is because I change roles over the weekend. I ignore my chores, sleep in, marathon TV shows, hang out with friends where we act like idiots, and dream up what I want to do “when I grow up”. Over the weekend, there are ENDLESS possibilities to where I can go, who I can be. My weekends, I revert back to my teenage self. I STILL want to get a job where I can write, travel, and save people, all while getting paid.

BUT come Monday, those dreams are crushed after opening email after email about a new responsibility I must take on! This wouldn’t be a big deal if it were a Tuesday though. I’d get the job done with ease. But, like I said, Mondays are out to get me. A simple task ends up being a journey where I must slay dragons and goblins to get my assignment completed. I have to deal with creatures that speak another language to get simple paperwork turned in. All the while, I am easily distracted by shiny gold and Elvish swords with magical powers (Pinterest, gchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook… I’m talking about you!)

So maybe my approach to Mondays is all wrong. Instead of putting on my big girl pants, I should put on my armor and prepare for battle. I can shield myself with a LARGE mug of coffee, hearty breakfast, and hope… the hope that 5 o’clock comes running to me like a long lost puppy!

:D