Parisian Daydreaming | A Warm Weather Playlist

 

click here to visit this playlist 

 

Our home is many things, but one thing I know for sure, is that it wouldn’t be near as homey if it weren’t for the music we play, sing, work and listen to within these walls the five of us share. Music is the invisible thread that binds us to our experiences, enhancing the ordinary and everyday moments of life at home into ones that feel like a warm weather daydream. Drudgery is for the birds when you’ve got music to get you movin’, am I right?

Washing dishes while listening to Billie Holiday takes me to a pastel place where soapy sudsy are the color of peach sorbet, and anything from the Amélie  soundtrack, no matter if I am folding mismatched socks or chucking summer sweet corn, whisks me off to Paris where I find myself wrapped up my favorite scarf, puttering around the old streets of Montmartre without agenda, aside from dabbling in my curiosities as a wander. Music is what we turn on when we need a bit of a boost, and it’s what we turn up when we’re ready to let loose. It’s what we turn down when we need to be soothed, and it’s what we turn off when instead,  given the gift of birdsong. No matter the time of day, season, or mood, music always adds something. It can’t help itself. And although we cannot see it, it’s very much alive, moving, and present, thoughtfully filling the energy of each and every moment, illuminating all of life in its wake.

With music, a glass of wine becomes a party and a bubble bath a spa. When turned on to mirror the mood of it’s listener, cooking becomes a meditation and gardening a vacation for the senses. It carries with it transcendent qualities that are strong enough lift up sorrow and pain, yet tender enough to whisper a newborn baby to sleep. It’s liquid velvet that you can hear, sounds of the soul that harmonizes with the rhythms of nature. Like a bird, music nests. It drifts and swoops and flies into the home inside of us, where it too makes a rounded, twig-like home in the form of future hums that spring up at random, layered with nostalgic tunes that will no doubt, forever linger.

This seasonal playlist Parisian Daydreams is inspired by the feeling of home I get whenever ponder on my travels to Paris, arguably my favorite place on earth. There is a connection I have to that city, one I can feel signing in the marrow of my bones that makes me homesick in the most hauntingly beautiful and familiar kind of way. There’s a part of me that believes I spent some time there in my past life, on days I think I had those, or perhaps an ancestor like a lively French aunt who lived there and drank in the wild Parisian air for some time. Either way, my soul loves it dearly, and these songs take me to that place that sings my homesong. I hope enjoy it wherever you are, whether on a stroll, kneading bread, or finishing up emails for the day. Let the music make whatever it is you are doing more beautiful than it has to be, for that, my friends, is what music does best.

Extras | You can read more about our Parisian Family Vacation here & listen to more of my playlists on Spotify under the name ‘mamawatters’ as well. This is an instrumental one I enjoy in the mornings!

 

  • Margaret - “With music, a glass of wine becomes a party and a bubble bath a spa.” How true that is! Gosh, I’ve been playing the Amelie soundtrack for a decade now, it just doesn’t get old. Love your playlist, too. I’m getting ready to visit Paris for the first time in a few weeks and feeling very “gimme all the French stuff!” right now 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Myriam - I can totally relate! Billy Holiday is my go-to music for baking. There’s just something about it that just…fits. I’ve been listening to a Waldorf-inspired playlist with the kids when we do our crafts, and I’ve noticed that it really seems to calm them down and focus. My (nearly) 5 year old now sings along as she’s working. Love it! Great idea for a post, thanks for sharing.ReplyCancel

  • Patty - Hi!

    I love your playlists! Thanks for sharing 🙂

    May I ask what sound dock / speakers you use throughout your home?
    Golly, I’m having a hard time finding a good one!

    xx
    PattyReplyCancel

  • Julia - I just wanna say how much I love that you don’t photoshop or edit the pictures you post on here at all – at least it looks that way to me?! Makes this blog just so much more real and honest. Hope you keep it that way 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Eva - Hi Amanda,

    Thanks for this interesting post about music!

    Just a question about the book club and wholeness project, sorry if I have missed something but where can I read posts or discussions related to those? This is in no way to chase or stress you and if it’s quiet here for a while then that’s fine of course 🙂 It’s just I have a feeling I’ve missed something and thought maybe they are taking place in a different forum? I registered for the book club for example but never received any emails or further posts about the books you originally presented.

    I hope it isn’t rude to ask, I love your blog and look forward to any posts (book club, wholesome, and just “normal” free standing posts!) 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Caitlin | Our Natural Heritage - This is wonderful! Thank you for sharing and I’m so excited about your other playlists too 🙂ReplyCancel

  • Yetta - I savor, result in I found exactly what I used to be looking for.
    You’ve ended my four day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great
    day. ByeReplyCancel

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