Don't Warn the Tadpoles!

Living Room Dance Party!

2011-03-07T21:53:00.003-05:00

Put on your red shoes and dance the blues, March's mix is here!

Tracklist:

Chromeo / Fancy Footwork
Kate Miller-Heidke / Can't Shake It
Regina Spektor / Dance Anthem Of The 80's
The Beach Boys / Dance Dance Dance
Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse / Valerie
The Ramones / Judy Is a Punk
Those Dancing Days / Those Dancing Days
The Wombats / Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)
Architecture In Helsinki / Like It Or Not (Version 2)
David Bowie / Let's Dance
Bishop Allen / Middle Management
Black Kids / Hurricane Jane
Rooney / When Did Your Heart Go Missing
Thao / Cool Yourself
Rilo Kiley / Smoke Detector
Chris Merritt / Dance Karate
Lykke Li / Dance Dance Dance

DOWNLOAD IT HERE!

Stream it from 8tracks:

xoxo

Humpday Listday: It Isn't Wednesday.

2011-02-07T14:59:00.003-05:00

I know it isn't Wednesday, but it's been so long since I've posted a list, I decided it didn't matter what day it was. This list is a two-parter.

Things that are ruining my day:

Burned my hand on my curling iron this morning. All 5 fingers and a little palm. Big Ouch.
Had a fender-bender on Friday in the rain. So I don't have a car until mine gets fixed.
It's still raining. The proof is coming in through the roof of the shop where I work and landing in a bucket.
I stepped in a puddle in my new shoes (that have the cutest cut-outs that let the water in) when I went out to the curb to get the lunch that the Hubs so kindly brought me to work.
Also, my hair got soaked and now all the hard work I put in with the offending curling iron is ruined.
I'm working all day at the shop and can't leave. Even though there hasn't been one. single. customer. All day.

Things that are making me smile anyway:

I'm editing engagement photos for Jessica & Justin and there are quite a few that make me get all mushy inside and go "Aaawwwwwww!"
I have a dinner date with Jessica tonight!
Cranking up the radio at the shop since there are no customers. :)
Getting emails that people are "liking" my mixes on 8tracks.
Having the will-power to get the fruit-cup as a side at Chick-fil-a instead of fries.
Watching City Slickers and City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold this weekend.

xoxo

Less Than Three

2011-02-02T21:55:00.001-05:00

It's heeeere! 17 sugary-sweet songs to get you through Valentine's day with your somebody special. I do so hope you enjoy it.

Tracklist:

Van Morrison / Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)
Those Darlins / Red Light Love
Her Space Holiday / Sleepy Tigers
The Do / At Last
Devendra Banhart / Lover
Lay Low / My Second Hand Heart
The Wannadies / You and Me Song
Pains of Being Pure at Heart / This Love is Fucking Right
Girl In a Coma / As The World Falls Down
Roy Orbison / You Got It
Old 97's / Valentine
Seabear / Arms
Nina Simone / To Love Somebody
Mum / If I Were A Fish
Wilco / You And I
Viva Voce / Mixtape=Love
Karen O and the Kids / All Is Love

DOWNLOAD IT!

Or, there's always 8tracks! (Ps... if you listen there, please register and "like" the mix. It makes me all mushy inside when I get that little notice in my inbox!)

xoxo

Sweethearts on Parade

2011-02-02T21:22:00.000-05:00

Don't get too excited yet.... this mix is from last February. This year's will be up shortly. Until then, enjoy some lovey-dovey sounds from last year.

Tracklist:

Mika / Love Today
Lisa Hannigan / I Don't Know
Feist / Mushaboom
Nouvelle Vague / Just Can't Get Enough
Pixies / La La Love You
Frank & Nancy Sinatra / Somethin' Stupid
The Morning Benders / Lovefool
The Flaming Lips / Do You Realize??
Björk / All Is Full of Love
Cake / Love You Madly
The Cure / Lovesong
John Lennon / Oh My Love
The Raveonettes / Last Dance
The Smiths / There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Colin Hay / I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You
Death Cab For Cutie / I Will Follow You Into the Dark
M. Ward / Sweethearts on Parade

DOWNLOAD IT! (direct from dropbox.com)

OR, as always... listen via 8tracks.com!

Frank Signed My Secret!

2011-02-02T21:02:00.004-05:00

Georgia Southern hosted a Postsecret event tonight and I got Frank Warren (founder of Postsecret) to sign my secret in the book. Aaaaand on the back where it appears on the dust jacket. AND he said it was a very important part of the book. So exciting!

xoxo

Errmmmm....

2011-01-20T15:37:00.003-05:00

So, um.... no January mix. I actually put the mix together, but when I listen to it, it just doesn't excite me. It doesn't make me happy. It's just not good enough. So it will most likely never see the light of day. I may poach songs from it for future mixes.

There is some good news, though! I'm working on mixes for February and March already, so it isn't too bad. Also, I'm packaging last year's "Sweethearts on Parade" mix for download and 8tracks, so you'll have a little bonus mix.

xoxo

Don't Look Back

2011-01-19T12:47:00.001-05:00

Obsessed with the new She & Him video. Have a peek:

She & Him - Don't Look Back from Merge Records on Vimeo.

Cover Me Mondays: God Only Knows

2011-01-03T21:52:00.004-05:00

It's my favorite Beach Boys song. It's about time I did this one.

The Beach Boys, God Only Knows, Original, 1966:

Neil Diamond, (with bonus psychedelic video), 1977:

David Bowie, 1984:

Elton John, live, 2001:

Julia Nunes (YouTube sensation), 2007:

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., 2010:

Rivers Cuomo (of Weezer), 2011:

And the verdict? Original is best. The Beach Boys will always win in this fight.
Happy Monday, Happy New Year.
xoxo

Holiday Road

2010-12-23T12:45:00.001-05:00

Chris and I are leaving Statesboro tonight for his parents' house in North Georgia.

Here's hoping you have safe journeys on the "holiday road" this weekend.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.

xoxo

The Joys of Retail

2010-12-21T14:55:00.002-05:00

I received this phone call at work yesterday:

Me: "Bellies & Babies, this is Katie."
Lady: (very quietly) "Ummm.... I was just wondering.... I was in there last week......."
Me: "Mmm Hmm?"
Lady: "And I was just wondering..... do you still have that dress?"
Me: "Um... was it children's or maternity?"
Lady: "It was real pretty and it had blue flowers on it."
Me: "Do you know what brand it was?"
Lady: "It was blue."

xoxo

PS... More adventures in retail here.

Cover Me Mondays: Pink Moon

2010-12-20T11:17:00.002-05:00

What a lovely, lovely song. I could listen to Nick Drake's voice forever.

Nick Drake, 1972:

Beck, 2005:

xoxo

Snow, weddings, football and weird dreams.

2010-12-13T15:51:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, on our way home from Chris' parents' house (which is in the North Georgia mountains) we got SNOWED ON. It was so pretty. And COLD! It didn't stick to anything, but it was snowing just the same. I wish I'd thought to snap a picture.

Also, I thought I'd share that my Sister-in-law Emily (but I like to just call her my Sister) got engaged on Thanksgiving to a great guy named Tyler. Here's a picture I'm stealing from facebook:

That's the actual proposal! Aren't they precious? I love them. AND I'm going to be a bridesmaid! And Chris is going to be a groomsman! I couldn't be more excited about this wedding! Emily was there every single step of the way for our wedding. I mean, I wouldn't have found a dress without her! So we're really looking forward to returning the favor.

In other really exciting news, Georgia Southern won yet another playoff game on Saturday (my Birthday). We beat Wofford 23-20! This means the team will go to Delaware next Saturday and if we win there, it's off to the National Championship for us! It's very exciting. We take our football very seriously here in Statesboro.

And now I thought I'd share my really weird dream from last night. Let's start with some background info:
1. On the Georgia Southern campus, there is a central grassy area called "Sweetheart Circle."
2. When I lived in a house on Marvin Ave., the five of us girls used to pack up some food and blankets and have picnics out in the grass. We called them "Sweetheart Circle Picnics."
3. Emily made a Red Velvet Cake for this weekend, from my Grandmother's recipe. It was delicious.
4. I've been re-listening to my Coconut Records albums alot lately, wishing for a new one soon.
5. I watch Doctor Who. And I'm kind of obsessed with it. I just re-watched series 1 & 2, and I'm halfway through 3.
6. There is a new UK version of Law & Order that comes on BBC America... starring Freema Agyeman, who played Martha Jones in series 3 of Doctor Who.

So, last night I dreamed that I was having a Sweetheart Circle Picnic with Jason Schwartzman. There was a basket and quilt and everything. We were eating the Red Velvet cake Emily made for Christmas. And he was performing the new (non-existent) Coconut Records album for me while I ate. And then I heard the TARDIS noise and after it had appeared, out popped the 11th Doctor (Matt Smith's version), who asked me if I'd seen Martha Jones. I told him, "She's not Martha now. She's on Law & Order." Jason Schwartzman says, "That's a pretty good show." Then I woke up. Talk about a surreal dream. I think it was the cough medicine I took just before I went to bed.

What's the weirdest dream you've ever had?

xoxo

26 Before 27

2010-12-11T19:05:00.000-05:00

Here are my goals this year:

1. Redesign my blog.
2. Go on a spontaneous roadtrip.
3. Grow out my hair. Only trims this year!
4. Get a new job!
5. Date night with Chris once a month. (This means a movie/show/dinner. Not fast food at the apartment!)
6. Find a new livingroom chair!
7. Do a better job of remembering Birthdays and sending great gifts.
8. Go down at least two dress sizes.
9. Take at least one picture every single day. Document it.

(Cell pic rom yesterday. We were packing to go to the in-laws' house and Lemon wanted to make sure we didn't forget to pack her.)

10. Get back to blogging each day.
11. Call a friend at least once a week.
12. Mixtape every month! I did it last year, I can do it again!
13. Go to a concert.
14. Legally change my name.
I was born Stephanie Kathryn. But I've always been called 'Katie.' When we got married, I assumed I could drop my first name on my Social Security card, keep my maiden name and add my new last name. I was wrong. I have to appear before a judge and pay an exorbitant fee and legally have my name changed. The notice even has to run in the local paper for four weeks. I find this whole thing to be ridiculous.
15. Make homemade jam.
16. Get tipsy more often. (I tend to be a little tightly wound sometimes. I should let go more often.)
17. Write at least 10 letters. On paper. And send them!
18. Put together a recipe book of family recipes.
19. Sleep in a tent under the stars.
20. Read a classic novel. Or three.
21. Give up something for Lent.
22. Finish my Long Distance Quilt. It needs to be done.
23. Enter something crafty in the Fair.
24. Stand on top of a mountain. Take a picture.
25. Start collecting t-shirts from St. Simons for a t-shirt quilt.
26. Purchase a piece of vintage furniture.

Let's see how I do this year.

xoxo

Last Year

2010-12-11T18:19:00.002-05:00

It's that time. Time to review my 25 before 26 list one last time.
Let's see how much of my list from last year I got accomplished before I post this year's.....

Buy a sofa. YES!
Make a headboard. No, but we did paint the bedroom and hang my embroidered heart above it.
Open an Etsy shop. No..... it's going to happen, but I'm not going to put it on a list. It'll happen when it happens.
Start a record collection (and buy a record player). Oh yeah! We have tons of records now!
Finish LDQ & Arrows quilts (and make another!) No.... I'm putting this on list for next year again.
Find a great rug for the living room. Well, no... but right now, our livingroom doesn't really need it.
Camping on Cumberland. Take a picture of a wild horse. Sigh.... another no.
Make health a priority. Yes. Did this.... and I'm pretty proud of my progress.
Bake a Red Velvet cake. I never did this. I did, however, get a copy of my Grandmother's recipe.
Make a 17 song mixtape playlist for every month. YES! Well, every month but October, but I'm calling it a win anyway!
Write a letter every week. Ha. No.
Read 20 books that aren't Twilight or Harry Potter. I read 10 Sookie Stackhouse novels... and one or two others. Does that count?
Sew something wearable. I did... I'm not crazy about the dress I made, but I made it anyway.
Fill the pages of a sketchbook. Aaaaaalmost.
Mail 5 care packages for no reason. Yep.
Go to a state I've never been to. I'd never been to Virginia. Now I have.
Make a painting and hang it in our apartment. Yes. Although it's not up right now due to Christmas decorations.
Design a website. No.... redesigned my blog a few times, but no website as such.
Watch 5 movies in theaters. Yes. I even went to a movie by myself once.
Get a really great haircut. I did, and I loved my bob. But now it's time for another change.
Drink a bottle of wine worth more than $20. Yep. Well.... we spent $75 at the wine store.... I say that counts.
give at least 1 trash bag of clothes to Goodwill. I think I gave 3 or 4.
Buy Chris something he'd never buy for himself. I did. But it's his Christmas present, so shhhhhhh!!
Eat a whole lobster. No.... had a few claws about a month back, though.
Make business cards for myself. Yes, but I'm thinking of making new ones.

New list will be up soon!
xoxo

This Antelope Is Yours

2010-12-04T10:00:00.009-05:00

In my defense, I had the mix ready last night at 11:00. Then I found out that 8tracks has gotten rid of their "network tracks" which meant I had to upload ALL of them. Took forever! But nonetheless, it's here now! May I present.....

...This Antelope Is Yours! Hopefully this will get you (and me) through the holidays.

DOWNLOAD HERE!

Tracklist:

Rilo Kiley / The Frug
Darwin Deez / Radar Detector
Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas / Bad to Me
Paul Simon / Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
Coconut Records / Nighttiming
Feist / I Feel It All
Bombay Bicycle Club / Always Like This
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! / Satan Said Dance
Hey Marseilles / Rio
Neutral Milk Hotel / Holland, 1945
The Shins / So Says I
Beck / Gamma Ray
Okkervil River / Unless It's Kicks
The Flaming Lips / Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Part 1
Chris Merritt / Sugar
The Head and the Heart / Ghosts
Sufjan Stevens / Decatur, Or, Round of Applause for Your Stepmother!

As for the image on the cover (and the title, for that matter) it was a shot I found going through our pictures from Washington D.C. from the summer. It was taken at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum... hence, the antelopes being "yours." Really, I just thought it was a nice image with pretty colors, so I used it.

Listen on 8Tracks:

Enjoy the music!
xoxo

PS to Citymouse: I just couldn't make Morcheeba fit. I tried and tried. :( Next month?

2010-12-02T15:57:00.002-05:00

It'll be a little late, but I'm working on December's mixtape now. Tonight or tomorrow. In the meantime, here's a preview:

Deez is the man. Word.
xoxo

Free Font Friday

2010-11-19T12:30:00.001-05:00

Who loves free fonts? ME! And hopefully, YOU! Here are 5 free ones from MyFonts.com.

Budmo

Arca Dash

Duality

Lesser Concern

Home Sweet Home

And here's a little bonus on account of it being Harry Potter day and all:

Harry P, from Dafont.com

xoxo

Harry Potter and the Extremely Tired Katie

2010-11-19T10:27:00.003-05:00

Okay, so it's been over a week. Oops.

Last night, Jessica and I did this:

I laughed. I cried. I yawned a lot.... but that had nothing to do with the movie. I was just really sleepy at 3am.
I'm going to be super tired today for our trip to Furman (our biggest football rival, in Greenville, SC). Chris says I can sleep in the car.
But you should know: Harry Potter is always worth it.
If you weren't one of the crazies at the theater last night at midnight, you should go see it ASAP. Like now. Seriously... go.

xoxo

PS... I think there may be some free fonts coming up in a bit (since it's Friday and all). We'll see.

Whose house? Our house.

2010-11-09T11:24:00.004-05:00

This is what we did with our Saturday afternoon:

I don't usually post about football games (or any kind of sports at all), but we are Georgia Southern Eagles to the core. Every home game, we're in the stands, yelling and clapping and cheering with our group of friends. We've had an up-and-down season this year, but this week's game made it seem like none of that mattered. And it felt damn good knock #1 ranked Appalachian State down a peg or two.

Way to go, Eagles!

I got a brand new pair of rollerskates....

2010-11-05T11:21:00.001-04:00

Damn HP commercial got this song stuck in my head last night. I thought I'd share.

Happy Friday.

Cover Me Mondays: True Love Will Find You In The End

2010-11-01T10:00:00.002-04:00

I used this one on this month's mixtape (see previous post), so I thought I'd use it for 'Cover Me Monday' too.
Just a warning, there are a million covers of this song out there. Really, really a lot. These are just a few....

Original, Daniel Johnston, 1984

Wilco, 1999

Beck, 2004

Matthew Good, 2007

Richard Walters, 2009

Mates of State, 2010

Mates of State: True Love Will Find You In The End from Amplified on Vimeo.

xoxo

This Is The Day

2010-11-01T08:00:00.005-04:00

Happy Monday, how was your Halloween? Are you ready for a new mix? Good. 'Cause November's mix is heeeeeeeeere!

Tracklist:

Lykke Li / Get Some
Belle and Sebastian / White Collar Boy
Miniature Tigers / Cannibal Queen
Voxtrot / Raised By Wolves
Asobi Seksu / Thursday
Viva Voce / Believer
Atlas Sound / Walkabout (w/ Noah Lennox)
Beck / Volcano
Pains of Being Pure at Heat / Young Adult Friction
Wild Beasts / All The Kings Men
Band of Horses / Dilly
The The / This Is The Day
Tokyo Police Club / Bambi
Telekinesis! / Coast of Carolina
Sleeping At Last / Next To Me
Coldplay / Green Eyes
Daniel Johnston / True Love Will Find You In The End

DOWNLOAD IT!

Or, if you so choose, stream it from 8tracks:

xoxo

Re: October Mixtape

2010-10-26T14:50:00.002-04:00

Sadly, I just could get myself together enough for a mixtape this month. So, there will be no October tape.

HOWEVER! I'm already working on November's and it's shaping up to be pretty damn great. It'll be out on Monday, November 1, and I'm going to try my hardest to keep up a regular mixtape schedule (First of every month).

Thank you for your patience (or indifference)
xoxo,
K

Cover Me Mondays: Statesboro Blues

2010-10-25T19:13:00.003-04:00

If you're a fan of Blues music or the Allman Brothers, you know this song. Well, I happen to live in Statesboro, GA. I can see the William McTell walking trail from my back door. I live in the birthplace of Statesboro Blues. Some days, I have the Statesboro Blues. So as a tribute to our fair town, here's the original version, plus the Allman Brothers version you're bound to know, along with a few others. Enjoy.

Blind Willie McTell, 1928

Taj Mahal, 1968

The Allman Brothers Band, 1971

Bonus Bluegrass Version!

xoxo

Free Font Friday: Halloween Edition

2010-10-22T11:15:00.000-04:00

It has been quite a while since I've done a 'Font Friday' and with Halloween only a little more than a week away, I thought I'd do a spooky-themed version! Here are 6 completely free and spooky fonts!

FrankenDork

Skeleton Sketched

Jack Lantern

Dirty Ames

Dead Secretary

And because it's by favorite show, and quite a good font for Halloween, I give you......

Buffied

All of the above fonts are from DaFont.com.
Have a happy Friday!
xoxo

Humpday Listday: Excited For Fall

2010-10-20T18:06:00.003-04:00

Here are 9 things that make me excited for fall. This list may seem like it's a bit late, but the first item on the list should clarify why it doesn't feel like fall here yet.

1. Cooler weather. It's still getting into the mid 80's here in good ol' Statesboro. I'd like for that to stop soon.
2. Going to the Fair and eating pancakes 'n' sausage, deep fried Twinkies, and cotton candy 'till I barf. (Heads up, the fair is in town this week, so this is probably happening tonight.)
3. Making a new wreath for our front door that borrows heavily from this very pretty one.
4. Young Frankenstein and Rocky Horror Picture Show on Halloween. It's a tradition.
5. V For Vendetta on November 5th. It's also a tradition. But this one has "V" cookies.
6. PUMPKIN PIE!
7. Breaking out the scarves that have been imprisoned in my closet and/or bottom dresser drawer for 9 months.
8. Thanksgiving with the fam. Mostly for my grandma's famously delicious Pumpkin Roll.
9. *whispering in a bad English accent* Harrrrry Potterrrrrrrrr! Is there a geek alive that isn't excited about Deathly Hallows?? Probably not.

Is it fall yet where you live?
xoxo

Cover Me Mondays: You Can Call Me Al

2010-10-18T08:00:00.002-04:00

I must confess: I heart Paul Simon. I heart You Can Call Me Al even harder. It's in my top 10 favorite songs of all time. (Maybe that's a list I should put to paper sometime...)

Original, Paul Simon, 1986
The video also features a highly amusing Chevy Chase.

Jens Lekman, live, 2007

Noah and the Whale, 2008

Which is your favorite?
xoxo

Cover Me Mondays: Almost Grown

2010-10-12T10:26:00.003-04:00

I'm still having trouble blogging regularly. Please be patient.

Here's another Cover Me Monday... on Tuesday. It would seem that I'm all about the 50's music lately.....

Original, Chuck Berry, 1959:

Chuck Berry with Keith Richards, 1986:

Cover, David Bowie, 1979:

xoxo
PS... Do you know how many people have covered Johnny B. Goode? Wow.

Cover Me Monday: Earth Angel

2010-10-05T11:04:00.006-04:00

The Hubs and I got back late last night from St. Simons for our first anniversary, so I'm still trying to get myself together from being out of town. I have a few pictures of stuff from the weekend that I'll share tonight or tomorrow.... including the best ever anniversary gift from Chris' parents.

For now, I'm just going to jump right back into blogging, starting with what I missed yesterday....

Cover Me Monday....on Tuesday!

I've been obsessed with Death Cab For Cutie's version of Earth Angel since I heard it a few weeks ago. It just makes me happy. It also makes me think of Back to the Future, but that's neither here nor there....

Original, The Penguins, 1954:

Death Cab for Cutie, 2005

BONUS COVER: From Back to the Future, featuring Marty McFly, 1985/1955

Happy Tuesday.
xoxo

Look what paint can do!

2010-09-27T17:31:00.001-04:00

Well, paint, ink, water, and vibration....

Symbion Project - "Exploited & Exposed"

Very cool video.
xoxo

Cover Me Mondays: Addicted to Love

2010-09-27T09:00:00.000-04:00

Original, Robert Palmer, 1986:

Cover: Florence + The Machine, 2009:

**Note: Just so you know, this was not the song I originally picked for today's cover. But after careful consideration, I decided that MGMT's cover of NIN's Closer wasn't exactly rated PG. Oh well.

Humpday Listday: While I Was Gone

2010-09-22T08:00:00.001-04:00

10 things I did while on my little blog-break:

1. Read all the Sookie Stackhouse books.
2. Bought a new pair of boots.
3. Got really sick and ended up in the emergency room twice in 24 hours.
4. Got better.
5. Started eating a banana every morning... because I was tired of yogurt.
6. Had satellite installed at the apartment... with DVR! Happy!
7. Went to a funeral in North Carolina. Sad.
8. Realized that organizing the toys at the shop where I work is a fruitless effort.
9. Watched the Bourne Trilogy for the first time.
10. Played The Black Keys' album Brothers approximately 1 thousand times.

xoxo

This is a story about sausage.... and rolls.

2010-09-21T10:47:00.007-04:00

What kind of people go to FOUR grocery stores looking for Sister Schubert Sausage rolls?

Apparently, Chris and I are that kind of people. Four grocery stores just so I could have sausage rolls and Cheerwine for dinner.

Crazy? Maybe.
Healthy? Absolutely not.
Delicious? Definitely.

xoxo

Not Punctual: Better Late Than Never!

2010-09-20T18:15:00.006-04:00

Nothing for a month, then two posts in one day?! Cover your head Chicken Little, the sky is falling!
But look! New mix! Woot!

Yeah, I thought I'd use my punctuality fail for the title. Clever, huh? I'm a clever girl.

TRACKLIST!

1. Vampire Weekend - Jonathan Low
2. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Sink/ Let it Sway
3. Zeus - Marching Through Your Head
4. Best Coast - Goodbye
5. Bishop Allen - Dimmer
6. The Unicorns - I Was Born (A Unicorn)
7. Surfer Blood - Floating Vibes
8. Brandon Flowers - Magdalena
9. The Black Keys - Never Give You Up **Note: I totally RickRolled myself a few times trying to find this one on 8Tracks. Not awesome.
10. Wavves - King of the Beach
11. The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio
12. Pepper Rabbit - Older Brother
13. Band of Horses - On My Way Back Home
14. Delta Spirit - Devil Knows You're Dead
15. Sonny & The Sunsets - Too Young To Burn
16. Ra Ra Riot - Keep it Quiet
17. The Working Title - Can't Sleep 'Til Sunup

DOWNLOAD IT HERE! (direct link via dropbox)

And as always, you can preview before downloading below via 8tracks. And look! A new flash player with album artwork as the background! Fancyyyyyyyy.

Enjoy your new music and have a lovely, lovely day.
xoxo

Cover Me Mondays: Dancing In The Dark

2010-09-20T14:14:00.004-04:00

No apologies for being gone, I needed the time. Now, if you don't mind, I'll jump right in with one of my all-time favorite covers.
Now, I've never really been a huge fan of The Boss, but this song has always been one that I love.

The original:
Bruce Springsteen, 1984

Pete Yorn, 2001 (Bonus track on his album, Musicforthemorningafter)

In other news, I am very very close to being done with September's mixtape. Today or tomorrow. Better late than never.
xoxo

PS... I'm not making any promises, but I think I'll be back to a regular blogging schedule soon. Thanks for stickin' around.

Phone Calls

2010-08-28T10:16:00.004-04:00

Working at a little local shop is sometimes boring. Sometimes it's redundant. Sometimes it's frustrating. Sometimes it's just plain hilarious. Here are two phone calls I've gotten in the last few weeks:

Phone call #1, 10 minutes ago:

*ring*
Me: Bellies and Babies, this is Katie.
Lady on the other end: Is this Martha?
Me: No, Ma'am. I think you have the wrong number.
Lady: Are you sure?
Me: Yes, Ma'am. I'm sure.
Lady: Okay, thank you.
Me: Bye.

This conversation leads me to believe one of these two conclusions must be accurate:
1. The lady just didn't listen when I answered, completely ignoring the "This is Katie" part.
OR
2. Her friend Martha likes to pretend she's other people when she answers the phone. Maybe Martha always answers the phone a different way.... "Hello this is Greg, thank you for calling Pizza-Hut."
Either way, the "Are you sure?" was my favorite part.

Phone Call #2, about three weeks ago (keep in mind we're a maternity and children's clothing store):

*ring*
Me: Bellies and Babies, this is Katie.
Lady: Could you please tell me what your hours are?
Me: From 10-5:30 on weekdays and 10-4 on Saturdays.
Lady: Okay, great. Now, where exactly are you located?
Me: South Main Street, right across the street from the bank.
Lady: Okay, I know where that is. Now, do ya'll sell the live chickens and ducks or what?
Me: .............
Lady: ...........
Me: Ma'am, we sell maternity and children's clothing.
Lady: Oh.
*click*

There are absolutely no conclusions I can draw from this one, folks. But I think this is the best phone call I've ever gotten.

Happy Saturday.

Baby Preacher

2010-08-24T23:43:00.001-04:00

I know. I haven't been around for a week now. I'm taking a little mini-break. But this is seriously the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. Enjoy.

Cover Me Mondays: Hey Ya!

2010-08-17T12:47:00.002-04:00

It isn't Monday, but "Cover Me Tuesdays" just doesn't sound as catchy.

If I had posted yesterday, here's what I would have posted:

Original, OutKast, 2003:

Cover, Obediah Parker, 2008:

You may have seen this one before. It's pretty popular, but I think it still deserves a nod.
xoxo

Break

2010-08-17T12:41:00.003-04:00

It would seem that I took a break from blogging for a little while. I've been a bit burned out. And kinda in a funk. It's hard to blog when you feel like that. It's hard to do anything but necessary things when you feel like that. I'm going to try to be better about blogging. It really is my favorite outlet. It's where I can take thing that make me smile and share them... even if nobody else is looking.

Now, so that you don't think this was a totally pointless self-pitying post, here's a video. A really weird video. I love Kristen Bell, and I love Yeasayer, but I still can't get over the weirdness of this video.

Humpday Listday: Reasons I Shouldn't Have Gone Outside to Help Chris Clean The Grill.

2010-08-11T20:02:00.003-04:00

1. mosquito bites on my arm.
2. mosquito bites on my leg.
3. mosquito bites on my other leg.
4. ant bite on my finger.
5. mosquito bites on the back of my knee.

Next time, I'm staying inside.

I Love My Dad.

2010-08-10T21:12:00.005-04:00

This is why having your parents as friends on Facebook can be rewarding:

This made me laugh so hard. I'm not sure exactly why. It just did. And since I know he's reading this, I love you Daddy!
xoxo

Cover Me Mondays: Respect

2010-08-09T13:11:00.006-04:00

Everybody knows this song. Everybody. Really, your grandma knows this song. Everybody. People sing it in the shower, while cooking, alone in their cars, and of course, doing karaoke.

Aretha Franklin, recorded 1967 (Not sure the date of this video):

But what you may not know, is that Aretha's oh-so-famous version of this song is NOT the original. Whaaaaaaattt????

Yep, it's true. Aretha recorded the anthem in 1967. Otis Redding wrote and recorded the song in 1965, two years before Aretha's version. Now, I don't know about you, but that fact pretty much blew my mind. I had no idea! Did you?

Otis Redding,

So there you go, a little education with this week's edition of "Cover Me Mondays."

And truth be told, I think I like Mr. Redding's version just a little bit better.
(no offense, Aretha...)

xoxo

Best Coast

2010-08-06T11:05:00.004-04:00

I've been drooling over this album (specifically this song) for like two weeks now. I have a husband, but I go around singing "I wish he was my boyfriend....." in my head all day. Give it a listen:

PS... I got a facebook message from my friend Anna this morning saying she was listening to one of my mixtapes. I have no way of seeing if or how many copies of my tapes get downloaded unless someone tells me they got it, so the message was a real treat. It's good to know somebody out there liked it. It made my morning! So, if you've downloaded a mixtape, let me know! Leave a comment!

xoxo

Free Font Friday

2010-08-06T10:24:00.005-04:00

Happy, Happy Friday!

Here's 5 more sweet fonts for your growing font collection. All of these can be found on dafont.com.

All Hail Julia

Budmo Jiggler

Airstream

Frida

Ballpark Weiner

xoxo

Delta Spirit/ Bushwick Blues

2010-08-04T10:00:00.001-04:00

The new Delta Spirit album is killing me with how awesome it is.
Today I love.......

xoxo

Humpday Listday: Someday House

2010-08-04T08:00:00.008-04:00

Chris and I often talk about our "Someday House." You know, the house you aspire to live in someday. The house where you'll raise your kids and friends will come to stay for long weekends. Where your most treasured possessions will all have places of their own. The house you'll always think of as home.

Right now, we live in the very small, very old, very cheap 2 bedroom apartment that Chris has lived in since before we got married. We decided that as long as we live in Statesboro, we'll stay in this apartment and save money for when we have a "real" place. We're always trying to make our current place better, though. We've painted the kitchen, dining room, living room, bedroom and bathroom. Those little touches make it not-so-bad for right now. But we're constantly dreaming of our "someday house."

Here is my "Someday House" wishlist. I realize that it would have to be a pretty spectacular house to have all of these things, but can't a girl dream?

Big, glorious, floor-to-ceiling windows in at least one room.
Beautiful hardwood floors throughout, with soft, luxurious rugs strategically placed for preventing cold tootsies.
A kitchen with a big farmhouse-style table. Big enough for at least 10 people.
Speaking of the kitchen, I'd like tons of storage, and more counter space than anyone could possibly ever need.
A turret with a roof that looks like an upside down ice cream cone.
A secret room or hidden passageway. I've always wanted one of those.
A backyard with grass as soft as carpet where you'd never need shoes.
A little outbuilding in the backyard (with the soft grass) that looks like a tiny house that I would use as a studio. Must have hanging baskets of colorful flowers.
An antique claw-foot tub.
Hummingbird feeders outside. With hummingbirds.
A big, strong oak tree with a tire swing and tree house for the someday-kids.
A Weasley-sized fireplace. (You know, one big enough for the whole Weasley family to fit in to travel on the Floo Network.)
A wraparound front porch. With rocking chairs.
A red front door.

What's on the list for your perfect house?
xoxo

Camp Meeting

2010-08-03T23:02:00.005-04:00

This year was my first year going to Camp Meeting with Chris' family. It's a Hucks tradition passed down through Chris' Mom's family. I'll admit I was very nervous before we got there, because I didn't really understand what exactly it was. I'll try to describe it for you.....

It's really quite difficult to tell somebody else what exactly Camp Meeting is. We talked all weekend about how to describe it to other people. This particular Camp Meeting is in Denver, North Carolina at Rock Springs Campgrounds. There are 3 rings of tents all around the central arbor and the 'thing to do' is to walk around the circle holding hands with your sweetheart. There are worship services held several times a day at the arbor and people are free to come and go as they please. The tents are not movable canvas type things, but permanent structures made of wood. You share walls with the tent next door, like rows of townhouses. Most tents have been owned by families for a long time. The Hucks' tent (Chris' mother's family) has been in the family for 50 years. They're two stories, like townhouse-type shacks. There is power and water, but of course no air conditioning or hot water. Ours has a teeny-tiny bathroom under the stairs. It's really a sink and toilet under the stairs separated from the downstairs bedroom by a sheet. All the rooms are separated by sheets. Upstairs is one large bedroom area with a little shower room that was added a few years ago. It has a tin roof that makes it difficult to sleep when it's raining really hard like it did on Saturday night. Camp Meeting lasts for 3 weeks and some people leave their houses and move into their tents for that time. Some live locally and don't sleep there are all, they just come for the festivities at night. I'm not sure Camp Meeting is something that can really be described without seeing it for yourself. Here are some pictures:

Tent 135. It's been in the Hucks family for 50 years. I felt incredibly lucky to be a part of such a long and strong tradition. I had a blast and can't wait to do it again next year!Our tent. No air conditioning, but we have a toilet and a shower. And an awesome swing built by Chris' uncle Jimmy.

This is the kitchen..... ham biscuits are apparently a Camp Meeting tradition. Emily approves!

Chris' mom is the undisputed Queen of paddleball in the Hucks/Wilson family.

The entire family. We were only missing cousin Jenny, who was out of town for work.

We made chocolate ice cream.

This is Heck (yes, Heck.) and Mary. They were friends of Chris' grandparents and still have the tent across from the Hucks. They're like part of the family, too.

Having a little fun down by the arbor.

Emily and I had a little impromptu photo shoot. It's so much fun having a sister!

This is the silliness I married into. I'm a lucky girl.

Aren't Chris' parents the cutest ever?!

Total Christmas card material. Amazing.

So that's Camp Meeting. If you ever get an opportunity to go to one, wherever it may be, you should go. It's like summer camp for whole families. And it's so so so much fun!
xoxo

Cover Me Mondays: Handle With Care

2010-08-02T22:54:00.003-04:00

Oh goodness! Chris and I got back less than an hour ago from North Carolina! We left at 2, but got a call around 3 that my grandmother's in the hospital with pneumonia or bronchitis (we'll know more tomorrow), so we made a detour and went through to see her on the way back. She's getting much better now, though. We're pretty tired, hot (we turned the A/C waaay up before we left), and missing our kitty- she's still at the boarder's until tomorrow. So this will be short. I'll try to get pictures from the weekend up tomorrow. But for now....

In the late 80's George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan formed the supergroup Traveling Wilburys.

Here's their original version of Handle With Care, from 1988 (see it on YT here, with better quality):

Traveling Wilburys - Handle With Care
Uploaded by manon42. - Watch more music videos, in HD!

Here's the version I heard first, by Jenny Lewis, with the Watson Twins, Connor Oberst, M. Ward, and Ben Gibbard, from Jenny's album with the Watson Twins, Rabbit Fur Coat (my faaaaaavorite album ever!):

And here's a video of Jenny with Connor Oberst and Johnathan Rice doing the song live (the sound quality isn't great):

Now, I'm going to go watch this week's True Blood and try to relax.
xoxo

Some Other Sky

2010-08-01T08:00:00.006-04:00

Hello August!

As promised, here's a brand new mix for you! I wasn't really going for a "theme" but it turned out that it's the perfect mix for lat summer anyway. So, download, listen, and enjoy!

DOWNLOAD HERE !

Or listen below:

Have a happy Sunday!
xoxo

2010-07-30T12:29:00.007-04:00

Chris and I are leaving for North Carolina in the morning to spend the weekend at Camp Meeting with his family. It's a tradition in his family and this will be my first time. I'm really excited for all of it except the part where there's no air conditioning.... that part I'm a little worried about. But it's supposed to be much cooler there than it's been here. We made a big batch of trail mix last night and have all our board games ready to go. I'll be sure to take plenty of pictures of all the fun!

We'll be back on Monday night, but I have a few posts scheduled while I'm gone, like August's mixtape! It's already done and scheduled and should be up Sunday morning.

Aaaaand here' s where I apologize for not being around very much this week. I'm sorry! I had every intention of making several posts that never happened. They will happen soon. I went to see both sides of my family last weekend and got a few goodies from each (Granny sent me home with an entire box of homemade preserves!). I also got a ton of my Mom's old records and a box of old stuff from when I was a kid out of storage. That'll make a fun post sometime soon.

So, enjoy your weekend and I'll see you Monday!
xoxo

Cake in a Cup!

2010-07-30T10:33:00.004-04:00

I eat yogurt for breakfast almost every day. My brand of preference is Yoplait- usually Yoplait Light. The problem is that for so long, there were only so many flavors. I can only eat harvest peach so many times before I get tired of it. So when I sent the Hubs to the grocery store to pick up more yogurt, I said "PLEEEEASE get me some different flavors!" So he did. He picked up flavors like Lemon Meringue, Raspberry Cheesecake and.....

Red Velvet Cake! It's not quite my Granny's recipe, but fro 110 calories in a cup, it's pretty darn good! The fact that I made an entire blog post about it should tell you how much I like it. You really should try it.

xoxo

Humpday Listday: TV Shows I've Seen

2010-07-28T18:36:00.003-04:00

Here's a list of TV shows I've seen every episode of. I went a few years without cable, so I downloaded and Netflix'd a bunch of TV and watched it while crafting. Most of these are shows that have ended (some long ago), but a few are still going. Also, please keep in mind that not all of these have tons of episodes. Some had very few. And it's not like I watched these in one sitting. It has taken quite a few years to compile this list of geekery.

(* denotes that the show is still airing)

Drama

The West Wing
My So-Called Life
The L Word
Gilmore Girls
Dawson's Creek
Ally McBeal
House*
Grey's Anatomy*
Dexter*
Bones*
Rome

Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Angel
Firefly
Dollhouse
Battlestar Galactica
Dead Like Me
Stargate SG-1
Stargate: Atlantis
La Femme Nikita
The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Farscape
True Blood*
Supernatural*

BBC shows (because they really are in a category all their own)

Doctor Who*
Torchwood*
Secret Diary of a Call Girl*
Robin Hood
The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Comedy

Freaks & Geeks
Pusing Daisies
Sex and the City
Big Bang Theory*
Weeds*
Wonderfalls
The Office*
30 Rock*
How I Met Your Mother*
Community*

Notice which category I've watched the most. Yeeeahhh. I'm a huge nerd.
xoxo

Cover Me Mondays: Love Vigilantes

2010-07-26T21:08:00.003-04:00

I decided to give you a double dose of Cover Me Mondays today. To make up for the lack of communication this weekend. Enjoy your present. :)

Love Vigilantes

Original, New Order

Iron & Wine (I posted the live version so you'd have something to look at):

looooove.
xoxo

Cover Me Mondays: Wonderwall

2010-07-26T20:14:00.006-04:00

I've loved this song since the first time I heard it.

Original, Oasis, 1995

Ryan Adams

Cat Power

Sorry there wasn't more thought put into this one. I'm pretty tired today. Maybe next time.
xoxo

2010-07-26T13:24:00.002-04:00

I know, I know! I haven't posted since Wednesday! I've got "Cover Me Mondays" coming up a little later today and a two-part "Stuff From When I Was A Kid" series later this week (in addition to Humpday Listday on Wednesday).

Also coming up this week, Sunday is August 1, so you know what that means! A brand-spankin'-new mixtape! And this one's gonna be a good one! The perfect mix for late summer. I really can't wait!

So, really... it's not as if I forgot about you. I didn't. I've been thinking about you all weekend. Pinky swear.
xoxo

Humpday Listday: I Want...

2010-07-21T15:13:00.004-04:00

It's Wednesday and I owe you a list.

Here are 10 things I want right now:

1. a nap
2. a pair of TOMS wrap boots.
3. an iPad. I just can't help it. They look so cool. Maybe when the second gen comes out....
4. for it to be fall already! We've had a heat advisory every day this week.
5. to miraculously not have to work this Saturday. All the girls on my Mom's side of the fam are getting together and I can't go! No fair!
6. better cuticles. I bite mine and they look horrid right now.
7. a shower. I got my hair trimmed yesterday afternoon and didn't wash it this morning. My stylist loads me up with gunk every time!
8. my to-do list to take care of itself.
9. to go watch old episodes of Daria in bed.
10. my cat to curl up next to me while I watch Daria in bed.

Oh well. All my lists can't be winners.

xoxo

Blue Wall!

2010-07-20T11:00:00.001-04:00

Chris and I painted one wall in our living room blue this weekend. I thought you might like to take a peek.

The formerly very ugly wall. It had so many nail holes! We used tons of Spackle to fill in.

If you couldn't already tell, the wall used to be ugly.

Bluuuuuuueeee!

Lemon approves.

The paint sample said "Atlas Blue," but now that I'm really thinking about it, I think it's pretty close to TARDIS blue and that makes me soooo happy in a very nerdy way.

xoxo

Dopp Kit

2010-07-20T10:00:00.000-04:00

Ooooh... I just saw this Zippered Dopp Kit on the Purl Bee. It makes me want to give zippers another chance (I'm notoriously bad at zippers) and make one for myself!
It's not like I really need another toiletry bag, this one's just so pretty!
xoxo

Su Blackwell

2010-07-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

I came across Su Blackwell's work yesterday on The Jealous Curator. I was instantly enamored with her book sculptures!

Today, I love Su Blackwell's amazingly beautiful book sculptures!

There are lots more at her website! Go check 'em out!

xoxo

Cover Me Mondays: With a Little Help from My Friends

2010-07-19T17:09:00.002-04:00

From the first time I saw an episode of The Wonder Years, I've loved this song. And you know what? I bet you love at least one version of it, too.

With a Little Help from My Friends was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and released on The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967. People started covering it immediately.

The original version, The Beatles, 1967:

The Beach Boys, 1967

Joe Cocker, 1968

Barbara Streisand, 1969

Ike & Tina Turner, 1973

Easy Star All-Stars, 2009 (because there's always a Reggae version)

So, what's the verdict this week? Which version is your favorite?
xoxo

Chicken and Biscuits

2010-07-16T16:43:00.001-04:00

Jessica posted this gem of a video on my facebook wall earlier today. It made me laugh until I cried.

Halloween (not the holiday)

2010-07-15T21:33:00.001-04:00

I'm having a Ryan Adams kind of night.

Today I love this song. And the piano in the background. It's pretty much perfect. So is Ryan Adams.

Home Ec!

2010-07-15T10:34:00.003-04:00

Leigh-Ann of Freckled Nest, Rachael of Smile and Wave, and Courtney of Courtney Janelle Sews are teaming up to teach a beginner sewing class in August!

The projects look so cute and I think we could all stand to learn a bit more about our sewing machines (even a geek like me who read my machine's manual from cover-to-cover). The fee is $60 and the class starts August 10. I'd really love to take this one, but we'll have to see. But if you have an extra $60 laying around, you should definitely sign up! LA's classes are always amazing. I took her Indie Business 2.0 class a while back and looooooved it. I learned SO much and had such fun. And online classes are always a great way to meet fellow crafters!

xoxo

Humpday Listday: Children's Books

2010-07-14T11:45:00.004-04:00

Happy Wednesday!

While it will probably be a long, long time before I actually get to do it, here are 10 books I loved as a kid and plan on reading to my future kids.

1. The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis. They're the only books I really remember my Mom reading to me as a kid, and I've always loved them. They're classic and so incredibly wonderful. I remember thinking that maybe, just maybe there was a secret land at the back of my closet.
2. The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss. This was my favorite "over and over and over again" bedtime story. My grandmother read it to me almost every night I stayed at her house. This book made being 'green' cool when green was just a color. I remember desperately wanting to save the Truffula Trees. I didn't realize what an important lesson it imparted until I was older, I just really thought those trees were the prettiest things I'd ever seen and the Lorax sounded like a pretty smart guy, too.

3. Where The Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak. I was painfully shy and very quiet as a kid, so I didn't really understand Max or exactly what a wild rumpus entailed. But I loved the book anyway. Didn't we all? (And I totally loved the movie, too.)

4. Peter Pan, by J.M. Barrie. It's probably the most beloved children's book of all time. And what's so amazing about it is that it's just as wonderful as an adult. Of course I love Peter Pan. With pirates and redskins and fairies and flying, really, who doesn't?

5. Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson. I remember my teacher crying as she read the very sad part of this book aloud to our 4th grade gifted class. I don't think I'd ever seen a teacher cry before... or since.

6. D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths. I still have a copy of this book on my bookshelf at home. It's a very simplified version of the very complex Greek Myths, but it got me interested nonetheless. And I still look at it every now and then if I need a refresher.

7. The Complete Tales of Winnie-The-Pooh by A.A. Milne. I was an avid Winnie-the-Pooh fan as a child. Lydia and I would get up extra early on Saturday mornings (when we'd spent the night at one another's house) and watch Pooh. I can only hope my someday-kids love Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet, Christopher Robin and the rest of the gang as much as we did.

8. Because a Little Bug Went Ka-Choo! by Rosetta Stone. Yes, I do believe that is the author's real name. This was another bedtime favorite. It's a slightly lesser-known kid's book, but I really loved it. Especially when whoever was reading it to me (usually my grandma) fake-sneezed. That really got some chuckles out of 4-year-old me.

9. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. I think I had both the regular and pop-up versions of this book. To this day, I think the illustrations are some of the most beautiful in the world.

10. A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein. I looooved this book. And you know what? You probably did, too.

And that's it, another list! What were your favorite books as a kid? What books did you/will you read to your kids?

xoxo

Again...

2010-07-14T00:47:00.004-04:00

I have (once again) re-designed my blog. The other just wasn't working for me. Who knows how long this will last. I'm fickle that way.

For now, I'm mega-tired. Off to bed I go!

xoxo

PS... This made me laugh pretty hard. It might have something to do with how tired I am....

(via weheartit)

Cover Me Mondays: Crimson and Clover

2010-07-12T16:26:00.000-04:00

Hello again! I have decided to add a new weekly feature to my dear ol' blog: Cover Me Mondays! Lots of people do Music Mondays, but I couldn't really limit myself like that with music. I'd feel weird posting music on any other day. So, I've decided that every Monday, I'll post the original version of a song and one or more cover versions. And who doesn't love a good cover? I do. Sometimes more than the original song.

Today's cover: Crimson and Clover (because I was watched Joan Jett videos on YT for over an hour after watching The Runaways.)

Originally recorded in 1968 by Tommy James and the Shondells, Crimson and Clover has to be one of the most covered songs ever. It seems like everybody does it!

The Original, Tommy James and the Shondells, 1968:

Reggae version, The Uniques, 1969:

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, 1981:

Dolly Parton, 2005:
(Please excuse the god-awful video)

Prince, 2009:

Broken Bells, 2010

Apparently Cher, Kelly Clarkson, and several foreign bands cover the song as well. And tons of bands sample from it.

So, what do you think? Which is your favorite? Least favorite? For me, even though I love Dolly with my whole heart, she just didn't quite get this one. Not my cup of tea. And of course Joan Jett's version is my favorite. The Hubs and I even put it on our wedding CD.

Suggestions for future Cover Me Mondays? Leave it in the comments!
xoxo

But I Am Le Tired.... (And a movie review!)

2010-07-12T10:46:00.007-04:00

I'm so tired today. I stayed up way past my bedtime crafting last night. Then I couldn't go to sleep when I did get to bed. Then I kept waking up every few minutes once I finally got to sleep. It was a rough night. But at least I got some quality crafting done! I'll show you what I was making soon. It's a little something for one of my favorite people (who I know is probably reading this) so I don't want to spoil the surprise.

In other news, I finally watched The Runaways last night.

Has anybody else seen it? I'm curious what other people think. Here are a few thoughts (in my extremely unprofessional opinion):

1. I love me some Joan Jett. All the way to my core.
2. It was weird seeing Bella Swan drop the f-bomb every 5 seconds.
3. It was weirder seeing Dakota Fanning snort coke lines.
4. Kristen Stewart is just plain awkward. No matter who you dress her up as.
5. Even with all the sex, drugs and rock & roll, it somehow was still "soft" to me. I don't mean this as a compliment. I wanted it to be slightly more gritty.
6. It had the emotional range of a cactus.
7. Okay, so the scene where the guitar instructor tries to teach Joan how to play "On Top of Old Smokey" made me laugh.
8. "K-Stew" really does look like a young JJ in the movie. She does not, however sound like one. No more singing, please.

Conclusion: It certainly wasn't the worst movie I've ever seen. I'd watch it again... if I caught it on cable and there was nothing else on.

And now, the actual Runaways:

Happy Monday!
xoxo

I made this!

2010-07-11T22:32:00.005-04:00

#13 on my list.... DONE!I made a dress from an old fitted t-shirt, 1 yard of fabric, and some elastic. It took about 3 hours total and most of that was figuring out exactly how to do it. But in the end it was really, really easy.

It's just the teeniest bit wonky, but nobody has to know about that (besides you, dear reader). It's comfy and cool. And I've been hoarding that blue floral forever. I'm so glad I finally used it. And I bought some pretty black & white gingham and blue & white stripe seersucker to make more cute dresses! All I need is a few fitted tee's that I don't plan on using otherwise.

What's that? You're asking me about a pattern? Yeeeeeahhhh... about that..... this was copied from an Old Navy dress I bought a couple of weeks ago/out of my head. If you really want to know how I did it, just ask. Otherwise I'm not going to bother posting instructions here.

Later this week I'll share before & after shots of a (now) super cute mirror I found at Goodwill last week. Hope you had a great weekend!
xoxo

Free Font Friday!

2010-07-09T10:47:00.005-04:00

Hello there! I haven't done a "Font Friday" in a while, so I thought it was about time! Here are some fun (and free!) fonts for you on this fabulous Friday!

Summertime

Mamma Gamma

Tattoo Ink

Hamburger Heaven

Market Deco

All these fonts (and plenty more) can be found on dafont.com.
Happy Friday!
xoxo

Sometimes

2010-07-08T10:00:00.001-04:00

I was thinking of putting this song on August's mix (I don't even know what the "theme" will be yet), but I couldn't wait that long to post it.

Today, I love Beach Fossils' Sometimes.

xoxo

Humpday Listday: 9 Very Pretty Things

2010-07-07T12:44:00.010-04:00

ACK! I was almost too late! Apologies!

This week's list is purely eye candy. And really, don't we all need a little eye candy every now and then?

Here are 9 very pretty things.

1. Anthro Ole Dress. It doesn't come in my size and it's waaaaay out of my price range, but it's just so pretty.
2. I Heart Georgia necklace from Truche. I bet they have your state, too.

3. You Are My Sunshine print from The Wheatfield. It's a cuteness overload!

4. Madeline Necklace from Nest Pretty Things. I could never in a million years pull off this necklace, but it's just soooooo gorgeous.

5. The new "Lost on the Midway" series from Emily Martin (The Black Apple). I just can't get over how ridiculously talented she is. These are my very favorite paintings she's ever done. Just perfect! Oh! And there are prints available in her shop.

6. Glamour of Glitter Dress from ModCloth. That flower! So pretty!

7. The prettiest egg plate you ever did see! I have a weakness for egg plates. This one from Anthro takes the cake!

8. This pretty Poppy Plum apron from Red Velvet Art.
9. And lastly, a pretty song with an even prettier video.

Hope your humpday was filled with pretty things! Goodnight.
xoxo

California Love

2010-07-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

A few months ago, I posted a very unlikely video here on my dear blog. I shared my 2nd favorite rap song of all time (Beastie Boys not included, of course) and told you I'd someday share my most favorite in the world. Today is that day.

As I've already told you, when I was a kid, I idolized my older cousin's taste in music. After all, he introduced me to the Smashing Pumpkins at a time when I was more of a Shania Twain kind of girl (I can't believe I just admitted that). Anyway, one day after school sometime in 1996, before Tupac died, but before we were old enough to hear it, the three of us (Drew, Lydia and I) sat on the floor and listened to the remix version of Tupac's California Love. I'm not sure exactly what it was about the song that made me love it so much. Maybe it's the crazy ending. I have no clue. All I know is that I did- and still do- love it to pieces. It's my favorite rap song. And since I don't like rap music, that says quite alot.

Today, I love Tupac's California Love.

Here's the video version.

What's your all-time favorite rap song?
xoxo

Happy 4th!

2010-07-04T00:33:00.002-04:00

Happy Independence Day! While you're watching your fireworks and eating your hotdogs this weekend, don't forget to take a moment to think back a couple hundred years to what today's all about.

Happy Birthday, America! You pretty much rock!

(all photos via we heart it)

xoxo

These Songs Are Okay!

2010-07-01T03:47:00.005-04:00

Welcome to July! This month's mix is a little different. When I was a kid, I listed to country music almost exclusively. Until the day I heard Alanis Morissette's Ironic, I never ventured outside my little country bubble. This mix pays homage to my country roots. It's a little bit old school, with a little 90's country, and a wee bit of alt-country thrown in there. These aren't the only country songs I like, but they are among the select few. Download it HERE.

Tracklist:

Tanya Tucker - Delta Dawn
Dwight Yoakam - Little Sister
Kitty, Daisy & Lewis - Going Up the Country
Old Crow Medicine Show - Wagon Wheel
Ryan Adams - Let It Ride
Dolly Parton - Tennessee Homesick Blues
Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn - Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man
Garth Brooks - Callin' Baron Rouge
Sawyer Brown - Some Girls Do
Patty Griffin - Love Throws A Line
Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash - Jackson
Dolly Parton - Jolene
Reba McEntire - The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia
Dwight Yoakam - I Sang Dixie
The Watson Twins - Darlin' Song
Billy Bragg & Wilco - Ingrid Bergman
Neko Case - Poor Ellen Smith

Listen to it before downloading below (via 8tracks):

PS.... I stayed up until almost 5am getting this thing ready (mostly because I can't put something down once I start). Show me love.
xoxo

Humpday Listday: The Lipton 10

2010-06-30T14:30:00.000-04:00

If you've ever seen Inside the Actor's Studio with James Lipton, you know all about "the questionnaire." If not, you should really go watch it. It's absolutely fascinating. At the end of every interview, Mr. Lipton asks the same 10 questions to the interviewee. Originated by French TV personality Bernard Pivot, the questionnaire is my very favorite part of the show. And to me, the most interesting questions the actors answer the whole time.

Here's Hugh Laurie answering the questions:

I've actually posted my answers on my blog before, but it's been such a long time that I thought I'd do it all over again. Here are my answers to James Lipton's 10 questions:

1. What is your favorite word?
Rambunctious. I love the word, how it sounds, what it means, and how it feels to be rambunctious.
2. What is your least favorite word?
Stupid, when used to reference a person. Or quiver. Quiver gives me the heebie-jeebies.
3. What turns you on?
Honest-to-goodness laughter. Not a fake chuckle, but really hearty, from-the-the gut, uncontrollable laughter. The kind where your sides hurt and you pee yourself a little. It's the best thing in the world.
4. What turns you off?
Snobbery. Any and all kinds. Yuck.
5. What sound or noise do you love?
A harmonica being played well. Nothing better than a song with good harmonica.
6. What sound or noise do you hate?
God, I hate my alarm clock. And snoring. Basically, anything that keeps me from sleeping.
7. What is your favorite curse word?
Shit, in any variety.
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
A baker. Making pretty sweets all day and going home smelling like sugar would be wonderful.
9. What profession would you not like to attempt?
Any sort of politician. I can't imagine anything less appealing or scary to me.
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
"Welcome home."

If you were to ever sit across from James Lipton, what 10 answers would you give him? Leave it in the comments!
xoxo

Hi.

2010-06-28T23:21:00.003-04:00

Just a quick hello to say that this is NOT the finished product. I got tired of staring at my computer screen, so I gave up for a while. I'm hoping to finish everything tomorrow, but tonight I've pretty much gone cross-eyed.
*Sigh* I really wish I was better at this side of computering (the code-fiddling part). Or that I had a friend who was... and would work for free. Oh well.

Goodnight.
xoxo

Spring (Summer) Cleaning

2010-06-28T20:10:00.004-04:00

Just as a heads-up, I'll be working on a new blog design tonight and tomorrow. It's about time, right? Since I'm doing it all myself and I am NOT a professional, things may be a little wonky for a while, especially if you view this thing the normal way (in your browser). If you view it through a reader (i.e. Google Reader), I haven't the foggiest idea what may happen. Again, I'm not a professional. Most of what I can do is self-taught trial & error. But all should be resolved and the dust should be settled in a day or so. And hopefully, I'll have a pretty new blog design to show you! Yay!

In the meantime, here's a teensy preview....

(tape via puglypixel.com)

xoxo

Wild Nothing

2010-06-28T00:53:00.002-04:00

I've been listening to this song for weeks now and I'm not showing any signs of getting tired of it.

Today I Love....
Wild Nothing - Chinatown

xoxo

Kentucky Fried Eew

2010-06-26T21:29:00.003-04:00

About a week ago, Chris and I decided to be adventurous for dinner. I hadn't eaten at a KFC since I was in High School and was forced to on a band trip. So we decided to be brave and try that new chicken "sandwich." You know the one... the one that's just two pieces of chicken with bacon and cheese in the middle. The one that's supposed to look like this:

Doesn't look so bad, right? Well, if it had actually looked like that, we might have enjoyed ourselves, but instead, it looked like this:

Granted, that's after I'd had a few bites, but that doesn't account for the fact that it was soggy and greasier than anything I've ever eaten. We both left feeling more than a little sick and decided that waiting another 10 years to eat at KFC again wouldn't be such a bad idea.

So, what does this teach us? That the word "Sandwich" shouldn't be used on anything that doesn't include bread. And that sometimes, I make very poor food choices.

xoxo

Tiny Desk Concerts

2010-06-24T16:08:00.003-04:00

I've been watching/listening to these all day and I just love them and thought I'd share.

Today, I love: NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series!

Here are a few of my favorites:

Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeroes

Thao Nguyen

Dr. Dog

Phoenix

xoxo

Barracuda!

2010-06-23T18:47:00.003-04:00

I grew up on Heart. My Mom had the cassettes. I've always loved this band, and this song. I woke up with it in my head this morning, and hummed it all through my shower and getting dressed. When I heard it on the radio at Subway while eating dinner, I decided it was fate...

Today I love: Barracuda!

Pssst! Want to know a little secret? This song always makes me think of Nash Bridges.

xoxo

Humpday Listday: Too Hot

2010-06-23T14:25:00.003-04:00

The Mister and I live in South Georgia. If you've ever been to South Georgia, you'll know why it's so miserable in the summer, here. It's like being in a sauna fully clothed from May to September.

Here are 6 things it's just too damn hot to do in Statesboro in the summer:

1. Cook any slow-simmering stews or hour-in-the-oven cakes. Pot roast? No thanks. I'll just have a sandwich.
2. Have leather or vinyl seats in your car. If you have them, a well placed towel will be your best friend.
3. Blow-dry your hair. Adding even MORE hot air is just asking for a heat stroke.
4. Wear socks. Flip flops, sandals, and slide-on shoes only, please! My feet need to breathe!
5. Crochet. I try and try every summer to get ahead on crocheting for the fall, but it's just too hot. It's like wearing a sweater on your fingers. And yarn doesn't react too well to sweat. Eww.
6. Be outside for more than 5 minutes at a time. Seriously, it's soooooo hot here. And it'll only get worse until August.

And one thing it is NOT too hot for, This song...

xoxo

Jenny & Johnny

2010-06-22T17:25:00.006-04:00

Let's take a moment to talk about how excited I am about this:

Jenny Lewis & Jonathan Rice doing an album together!

Download the first single, Scissor Runner from here for free. And you should put an ASAP on that. You can also pre-order the album (for which there is no release date yet), and check out tour dates.

I'm soooooooo excited!

A Day Late

2010-06-21T12:51:00.003-04:00

Why am I always a day late with things like this? Oh well, better late than never.

Happy Father's Day!

Don't worry, I did actually tell my Dad yesterday... I'm not that behind.

Remembering

2010-06-20T08:00:00.002-04:00

I was born in 1984. So, when I stumbled across I'm Remembering yesterday, I completely dorked out for like an hour.

Do you remember these 80's/early 90's things?

Tan M&M's. Before blue, there was tan. I totally remember the switch. Do you?

Stick-on earrings. When relatives didn't know what to get me for Christmas, I ended up with tons of these. I'm pretty sure there's even a picture of me putting them on my Grandpa...

Legends of the Hidden Temple on Nickelodeon. Every day after school. The Temple Run was always my favorite part, especially the Shrine of the Silver Monkey.

Hairbows made from shoelaces. I am absolutely certain that I had some blue & gold ones (my school colors from kindergarten until I graduated high school. W-W Tiger Pride!)

Life is like a hurricane, here in Duckburg
Race cars, lasers, aeroplanes - it's a duck blur
You might solve a mystery.... or rewrite history
DUCK TALES, a-woo-ooo!

Lydia, I know you remember this one! It was our favorite!

I think it's safe to say I'll be following the I'm Remembering blog from now on for the sheer happiness 80's/90's nostalgia brings me.

What were some of your favorite things from childhood?

Jumpin' on the Bandwagon

2010-06-19T11:14:00.004-04:00

.....but, it's a really cool bandwagon.

I've seen this video posted on several blogs that I follow, but it's just so awesome and fun I thought I'd post it, too.

Today, I love...

xoxo

I Can Do Anything Good!

2010-06-16T10:43:00.001-04:00

This little girl is a lesson in positivity. And I think we could all use a little bit of her attitude.

I pretty much love her.
xoxo

Humpday Listday: Chris' Birthday Edition!

2010-06-16T07:00:00.001-04:00

Today is the Mister's Birthday and I thought I'd share a few reasons I'm glad he was born!

1. He helps me build forts out of the couch cushions and blankets in the middle of the bedroom floor when I ask.
2. He's a much more efficient shopper than I am. Without Chris, I'd spend hours in the grocery store aimlessly wandering around until I've spent $200.
3. He likes to drive around and explore just as much as I do. Maybe even more.
4. My skepticism is balanced out by his amazing ability to be eternally optimistic.
5. I'm not computer illiterate; actually, I'm pretty proficient. But whenever I can't figure out what's wrong with the computer, he always can.
6. By marrying him, I gained a whole new (really awesome) family.
7. He makes me laugh at the most unexpected times.
8. He gave me a kitty for my birthday.
9. He has more faith in me than I do in myself.
10. Because he knows how crazy I am and loves me in spite of (or maybe because of) it.

And now, a song:

Crash Into Me

2010-06-14T13:30:00.001-04:00

I found this video of Stevie Nicks covering Dave Matthews Band's Crash today. I must say, I've never been a huge fan of this song, or DMB, but Stevie doing it is just heavenly.

Today I love:

Now I'm off to listen to more Stevie/Fleetwood Mac. I'm in that kind of mood today.
xoxo

Hey Katie

2010-06-14T11:27:00.003-04:00

I'm sitting at work right now. As usual, I have pandora.com playing in the background and a few minutes ago, it got really quiet, then I heard a loud "Hey Katie!" from across the room. It was this song....

So what if he wrote it about Katherine Heigl? My name's Katie, too. And it made my morning.

25 Before 26: Update!

2010-06-11T08:00:00.002-04:00

Six months ago today, I posted this list of the 25 things I wanted to do before I turn 26.

Well, I'm halfway there. Have I done everything on the list? Not by a long shot. But I have done a few. Here's what I have accomplished in the last 6 months:

Buy a sofa. Yes! We bought our sofa a few months ago and we all (Me, the hubs, and the kitty) agree that it was a very smart purchase!
Make a headboard. Not yet. But we did paint the bedroom and move it around, get a comforter, and hang my embroidered heart above the bed. There may not be a need for a headboard now.
Open an Etsy shop. I'm working on it. And I'm so close. Just a few more things to do before I can!
Start a record collection (and buy a record player). Yes! We bought a record player and have been collecting vinyl like crazy. We've found that the two best places to find records are Goodwill and our parents' old collections. We have some real gems!
Finish LDQ & Arrows quilts (and make another!) Oh gosh. I honestly haven't even touched either of them. I still have 6 months, right?
Find a great rug for the living room. We took a step in the right direction. We got rid of the old rug that just wasn't working. Great rugs are expensive and it's not exactly a priority in the budget. We'll see if we stumble upon something great in the next 6 months.
Camping on Cumberland. Take a picture of a wild horse. This is planned for the summer or fall. We really wanted to make a trip in the spring, but we just haven't found a free weekend yet. Fingers crossed.
Make health a priority. Yeah. I need to do that more.
Bake a Red Velvet cake. I still haven't done this one! And I can't believe it! It's an afternoon easy-peasy project, but it just hasn't happened. Soon.
Make a 17 song mixtape playlist for every month. YES! I'm proud that I really have done this. And now my mixtapes are downloadable!
Write a letter every week. Oh. I think I completely forgot about this one. Uh oh!
Read 20 books that aren't Twilight or Harry Potter. I've read 3. I'm working on it! Give me time..... geez!
Sew something wearable. Nope. Still no Katie-made wearable. It mostly stems from the fact that I have a hard time making anything and keeping it for myself.
Fill the pages of a sketchbook. Working on it! I'm about halfway there!
Mail 5 care packages for no reason. I think I've done 2 or 3. I'd better get to mailing, right?
Go to a state I've never been to. Yep! Just got back from Virginia/DC. This wish will probably always be on my list. I think I'll always want to go places I've never been.
Make a painting and hang it in our apartment. The painting 3/4 done! I swear!
Design a website. This one's tricky. I've registered my domain name (it leads here, to my blog) and talked to a friend about helping me out with this one. I'm pretty sure it won't be a full-blown website, but a sort of splash page that goes to my blog and etsy shop (when it's opened.) So, at the very least, there has been progress on this one.
Watch 5 movies in theaters. One. I've seen one. With plans to see another in June. Chris and I just don't go to the movies. I always go with Jessica. I guess we need to go more often!
Get a really great haircut. Done! My new bob is comfortable, easy, and cool for summer. I really kinda love it. I do miss my long locks, sometimes though. Pictures of braids on weheartit get me a little misty-eyed.
Drink a bottle of wine worth more than $20. Ummm... we just got married. $20 is a lot of money to spend on one bottle of wine. We did go to a local wine shop and spend around $75 on 4 bottles. That almost makes the cut.
Give at least 1 trash bag of clothes to Goodwill. I'm calling this one done. The bag is ready, packed and sitting in our bedroom floor and they're going with me the next time I make a Goodwill trip.
Buy Chris something he'd never buy for himself. Hmm... I can't say I've done this one yet. I'm still working out what exactly to do for him.
Eat a whole lobster. Nope. No excuses. Just no lobster yet.
Make business cards for myself. Sadly, no. But I am working on it! There should be progress on this one in the next month or so.

Well, it looks like I've got a ton of stuff to do in the next 6 months! But I'm going to give myself a pat on the back for what I have done. I'll let you know in December how many more items I can cross off my list. And what I'll have to keep on the list for next year!

xoxo

Humpday Listday: Guilty Pleasures

2010-06-09T09:00:00.006-04:00

You knew this list had to be coming at some point. Here are some things I love, that I feel at least 20% guilty about.

1. Sonic drinks at happy hour.
Every day I get off work at 2:00 and I drive past Sonic on my way home. Cherry Orange Sprite, Grape Sprite, and Cherry Cokes call my name as I pass. I think, "It's after 2:00. Happy Hour. Half price. I've got enough change in the ashtray in my car....." It's a terrible habit that I'm trying to break.

2. Nail polish. Which I told you all about yesterday. Serious problem.

3. Reading or watching TV in bed. Our bed is one of my favorite places. It's soft and cozy and the comforter if fluffy. Sundays in bed are my favorite.

4. Take-out Chinese food! Sweet and Sour chicken is my weakness! There's a little place between the grocery store and Papa John's pizza that has the best Chinese in town and we loooove it.

5. Haagen-Dazs' Vanilla Honey Bee ice cream. No chunks of cookies or candy or chocolate or fruit or anything else (although I do like those things). Just pure, perfect vanilla ice cream flavored ever so lightly with honey. It's absolutely the most perfect ice cream ever and a rare treat when I get it.
6. Goodbird 's. Next to the Wal-Mart on Northside Drive in Statesboro, GA there's a little drive-thru that serves the absolute best chicken tenders and vinegar fries. They have the best yeast rolls and the best sweet iced tea. It'll clog your arteries and make you chunky, but if you're ever in Statesboro, you should swing through. Your mouth won't be sorry.

7. Yarn! I love yarn! And it really shouldn't be a "guilty" pleasure... but my collection has grown to massive proportions. I have to keep some of it our in our storage closet. It's bad. And I have yarn that's more than 6 or 7 years old... that I've never used. I keep saying that someday I'll make a scrap afghan with just bits and pieces of all my yarn in it. Someday...

8. Chapstick. Lipgloss. Lip Balm. Whatever you call it, I'm addicted to it. I'm the girl who picks up the junk they sell at the check-out line at the grocery store. Burt's Bees, Carmex, Blistex. I have it all. But you wanna know a secret? The best lip stuff ever is Vicks VapoRub. Yep, that stuff you rub on your chest when you're sick. My new sister Emily let me in on that one and I use it all the time. It makes your lips tingly and keeps your sinuses open. And it moisturizes like crazy! It really works!

9. E!
The Soup, Chelsea Lately, The Girls Next Door (before the big break-up), and all those other ridiculous shows? Yeah. I find myself watching E! when nobody's looking. Especially late at night. I can't help it!

10. Twilight. *sigh* Oh lord, do I love me some Twilight. This is probably the biggest one on the list. It's ridiculous, really, as I am not 13 years old. I just can't help it. Please don't judge me.... or my Edward action figure.

And yeah, I already have a date with Jessica planned to see the midnight showing of Eclipse when it comes out.

What's your guilty pleasure?
xoxo

Bazinga!

2010-06-09T08:00:00.000-04:00

Today I love.... Dr. Sheldon Cooper.

More than a year ago, my cousin Rischa told me I should watch The Big Bang Theory. I'm not much for sit-coms. At least, that's what I tell myself. (Thursday nights on NBC tell a different story). But I watched the first season and half the second anyway, as that was all that was out at the time. I immediately fell in love with the show. And with Sheldon. He's probably my favorite TV character right now. If our cat (Liz Lemon) had been a boy, she would probably be named Sheldon Cooper.

Now that season 3 is over, I can't wait for the fall for new episodes! Anybody else out there a Sheldon fan?
xoxo

A Love Affair With Nail Polish

2010-06-08T20:20:00.001-04:00

I have terrible nails, I always have. They're thin and brittle. They chip. They won't grow long. I tend to bite them- which of course doesn't help. And even when I can suppress my nail biting, I bite and pick at my cuticles- so bad that they often bleed. It's horrible, I know. It's my nervous habit. So, I usually paint my nails to make myself feel better about how terrible they look. It also keeps me from chewing them for a few days. You'll rarely catch me without my nails painted.

Today, (and everyday) I completely adore nail polish!

Here's a little mini-tour through my ever-expanding nail polish collection.....

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Fairy Teal. It's a great color, but I'm obsessed with the polish. It lasts forever and the brush is wide and covers so smoothly!

China Glaze, For Audrey. I'm crazy about that color! I know it looks the same as the one above, but it's really much, much lighter.

Rimmel's Lasting Finish PRO in Steel Grey. It also has the wide brush and lasts forever like Sally's, but it's about half the price. And that color? Gorgeously chic. And goes with everything!

As with the rest of China Glaze's Up & Away set, I loooove Grape Pop. I usually find China Glaze a little more work to apply, and a little less long-lasting, but with colors like those, I don't really mind so much.

My go-to dark shade, Essie's Wicked. It's almost black, but not quite.

And lastly, the almost Barbie-pink Shrimply Devine (also Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure). It's summery and classic. And seriously, it's the best brand of polish I've come across... and available at drug stores.

What's your very favorite shade of nail polish?
xoxo

Here Comes The Sun

2010-06-07T11:08:00.003-04:00

On a Monday morning, sometimes you just need a little pick-me-up. This works for me.

Today I love, love, love....

"And I say, it's alright."

Male, Middle-Class & White: Chris Made a Mixtape!

2010-06-04T16:02:00.007-04:00

I'm really excited about this one! This month's mix is a little different and really special... Chris made it!

I asked him about a month ago to make a mix for my blog and he did! He picked the songs, and put them in order. I helped a bit with the title and artwork. It's some pretty good stuff, too, lemmetellya. Lots of classic rock and some 90's thrown in there, too, with just a sprinkling of current stuff including: Queen, Weezer, Vampire Weekend, The Beach Boys, Ben Folds, and more!

Click HERE to download it directly from Dropbox (it's waaaay easier than megaupload, just click and you're downloading!)

Or, listen before downloading below, via 8tracks.

Sorry for the wait, but I think it's worth it. Next month we'll be back to our regularly scheduled Katie-made Mixes. But in the meantime, let us know how you liked Chris' mix in the comment section!
xoxo

Free Font Friday

2010-06-04T12:43:00.000-04:00

Hello again! Here's another batch of super cool fonts that are totally free to download! I think this may be my favorite bunch yet.

Blackout by Tyler Finck

Plexifont by Jess Latham at bvfonts.com

Vintage by Flavia Bocco on dafont.com

Reklame Script by HVD Fonts. This one isn't exactly free, but you can download a free demo from FontSpring.

HVD Steinzeit, also from HVD Fonts, but this one's entirely free from dafont.com!

There you go! Five pretty new fonts to add to your collection!

Golden Years

2010-06-04T11:19:00.003-04:00

Today I love Bowie's Golden Years. It just makes me happy.

I'm hoping to get June's mixtape out tonight or tomorrow. I'm excited about this one... you'll see why...

Happy Friday!
xoxo

Humpday Listday: Girl Crushes

2010-06-02T18:30:00.002-04:00

Every girl has Girl Crushes. Every guy has Man Crushes. It's a fact of life. These are my celebrity Girl Crushes. And I'm sticking to live ones for this... Ms. Hepburn (both of them) will just have to sit this one out.

1. Jenny Lewis. Oh, Jenny. I want her hair. I want her voice. I want her sly smile. I want her way with words. She's just perfect, isn't she?

JENNY LEWIS 'BLACK SAND' from the infantry on Vimeo.

2. Sarah Michelle Gellar. She'll always be Buffy to me.

3. Dolly Parton. Classic and always unapologetic. There's just nobody quite like Dolly.
"I'm not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb... and I also know that I'm not blonde."
4. Billie Piper. Former teen pop Queen (like the Britney of the UK), who's played companion to The Doctor, and a high-class quick-witted call-girl. She's gorgeous, funny, smart and British. Pretty much perfect, right?

5. Summer Glau. She kicked Reaver butt as River in Firefly, and she's been a Terminator, for goodness sake! At this point, I'd watch her in anything!

6. Kate Moennig. You watch her in The L Word as Shane for 6 seasons and just try not to love her. It's impossible!

7. Zooey & Emily Deschanel. They're sisters, so I'm counting them as one. Basically, the prettiest siblings around.

8. Felicia Day. Penny from Dr. Horrible, Queen of Twitter, and writer/creator/star of The Guild. And a redhead! Best. Geek. Ever.

9. Kristen Bell. She's tiny, blonde, and has a wit so sharp it could cut through steel. And she's got mad detective skills in Veronica Mars.

10. Katee Sackhoff as Starbuck. I'm pretty sure she could kick your ass. And everybody else's.

Honorable Mention: Allison Janney (C.J. Cregg is my hero), Tina Fey (Um... our cat's name is Liz Lemon for Pete's sake!), and Alicia Silverstone & Liv Tyler in Aerosmith's Crazy video.

Who's your Girl Crush?
xoxo

I Heart Fish

2010-06-01T11:14:00.003-04:00

There seems to be a never-ending stream of cute over at Badbird. This month's free embroidery pattern is no exception.

Today, I love this walrus pattern from Badbird!

Really, who wouldn't love it?

xox
PS... This is the first "today I love" post in FOREVER! I promise I'll be better from now on. How much better, we'll just have to see....