All The Ordinary

Music Monday: Mumford & Sons

2010-09-13T09:41:00.001-07:00

Image

Oh, Mumford & Sons you complete me, at least lately you do. I have been forcing a bit of a transitional period in my life, actually a bit is an understatement, I'm going for a full overhaul of everything. It might have a little to do with my quarter century birthday looming closer everyday but it also has a lot to do the fact that change is good and I'm ready for it—even if I have to force it. So, Mumford & Son's song The Cave has been my theme song for getting things done and making change real. Corny, huh?

Aside from all that, I have a soft spot in my heart for folk-y indie rock and they fit the bill perfectly. Also, they are one more band making the banjo cool and I'm all for that.

Instax Photo Friday: Leah Beah

2010-08-13T06:15:00.000-07:00

Leah is an all around great friend and recently an awesome freelancer who makes the projects I work on look pretty—if you're ever in need of a graphic designer she is your one woman powerhouse or as she would say "the bomb dot com".

Things I have learned from Leah:

Papyrus is the worst.
Bad kerning is just as terrible as Papyrus.
Your hair can be your best accessory.
Being camera ready at all times is necessary.

Things I love: Fro Yo

2010-08-12T06:09:00.000-07:00

Image Via WeHeartIt

I am in love with frozen yogurt—otherwise known as fro yo if you happen to be enjoying it with me.

I love that I can convince myself that it's healthy since the majority of the flavors I enjoy happen to be fat free and I like dressing up my cup with ~~candy~~ fresh fruit. Regular yogurt is usually a part of my lunch/snack time throughout the week but frozen yogurt always seems special. So special that I've made an eating schedule for it. Yep, I'm that neurotic and I have a schedule for eating fro yo.

I have frozen yogurt nearly every Wednesday evening, it's my midweek treat to myself (sometimes I refer to it as my "date night" since it's the most consistent date I've had in nearly two years). I think it's nice to have something to look forward to every week and the more I buy the closer I am to getting a free cup. That yummy marketing scheme gets me every time!

Flash Mobs

2010-08-11T06:49:00.000-07:00

I'm obsessed with the idea of flash mobs. To organize one would be my ultimate Guerrilla PR/Marketing fantasy come true. Unfortunately, that opportunity has not come up yet. Although, I am certain it will—to participate in and plan a flash mob is on my list of career "to dos", strange? But until that day arrives I will have to live vicariously through other people's fun guerrilla campaigns. Below are two of my favorites:

Frozen at Grand Central Station. This was done by an Improv group, not exactly a planned PR/Marketing campaign but it's a great example:

H&M Kids Fashion Flash Mob. This was executed beautifully. H&M happens to be just around the corner from Union Square in San Francisco making it the perfect location for a flash mob that garners lots of tourists and shoppers during the day. Who doesn't love kids dancing their little hearts out in trendy affordable clothes?

Gratitude Tuesday: Smile

2010-08-10T06:43:00.000-07:00

It seems kind of silly, but I completely agree. A smile is the difference between a stranger and a new friend or a good day and a bad day. So, I'm going to smile at at least one random person today. It may not bring me a new friend or turn around that persons entire day but the simple act of smiling does make me feel happier. You should try it, you might be surprised.

Music Monday: Electric

2010-08-09T06:27:00.000-07:00

Image via WeHeartIt

I made a mix of a few of my favorite bands that require extra outlets. My favorite on the mix is So Many Dynamos, they need to some back to California so I can dance. But until then I'll have to listen to this mix and swivel in my desk chair at work.

Gratitude Tuesday: Strangers

2010-08-03T06:02:00.000-07:00

Image via WeHeartIt

Today I am grateful for the kindness of strangers.

On my morning commute to work I found myself doing what I do nearly every morning: listening to KROQ while driving with my windows down because in the summer months I consider an air dry commute to be the perfect solution for not blow drying my hair.

While stopped at a red light, I must have been laughing at something said during the Kevin and Bean Morning Show because all of sudden I heard someone yelling "Hey!". I looked to my right and there was a little old man in a pickup truck perfectly in line with my passenger window, I realized he was yelling at me and instantly thought I was going to get yelled at about my driving. But instead he said "Hey, you're happy aren't you?" I was confused since I had expected to get snapped at so I replied "Well, I guess so... yes, I'm happy". Then he smiled, laughed and said "You have the nicest smile so I hope you're happy".

I had no idea what to say to that but thank you. After that I didn't know what to do, what is the etiquette for red light conversations with strangers? By the time I ran through what may have been a nice reply the light turned green and we went our separate ways. I don't know what made him want to talk to me but I appreciated it and I thought about it for the rest of day, especially since a morning drive to work isn't always the happiest thing. Since I didn't get a chance to say something nice back to him I figured the next best thing I could do was pay it forward to a co-worker. So, I complimented the small detailed things that get over looked but are still very special.

That little old man really made my day and all he had to say was "You have the nicest smile so I hope you're happy."

Music Monday: Mason Jennings

2010-08-02T06:28:00.000-07:00

Whenever I listen to Mason Jennings I feel like a changed person. Not because his music is so powerful that it has caused me to become a different person but because I remember who I was when I first fell in love with his music and the difference between that version of myself to who I am today is infinitely different. I love that music can hold so many memories, his album Bone Clouds has become a time capsule of sound for me. If I ever choose to revisit myself I can always listen to Mason Jennings. In fact, his song Which Way Your Heart Will Go embodies that feeling. You never know where your heart will lead you and how much change (for better or worse) can come from it.

Wordless Wednesday: Bears, Oh My

2010-07-28T06:03:00.000-07:00

{One amazing afternoon in Sequoia National Park}

Gratitude Tuesday: Bean

2010-07-27T06:35:00.000-07:00

I'm so grateful for the unconditional love of dogs, specifically my little mutt mix. She's always happy to see me, a good listener, always willing to take walks & cuddle, makes me smile everyday and never complains. Now that I think about it she is akin to what I want in mi media naranja. Dogs, other half, same difference? In only the best way of course...

Music Monday: Gym Tunes

2010-07-26T06:09:00.000-07:00

Instead of doing a usual MM post of one band and thought it would be nice to have a mix. I recently made a mix on 8tracks of songs I like to listen to at the gym. I really only listen to my iPod at the gym if I have shown up too late to join in on a class. Gym equipment (like the treadmill) and I don't really get along. I have to listen to something upbeat to distract me from my grumpy "I hate treadmills" attitude.

So, here it is in all its poppy, indie, eletro, sweaty glory:

Image via WeHeartIt

Gratitude Tuesday: Risk

2010-07-13T06:06:00.000-07:00

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It's okay, try it. Risk it. You just might get everything you've always wanted.

Music Monday: Telekinesis

2010-07-12T06:52:00.000-07:00

Coast of Carolina by Telekinesis reminds me of sun, ocean, flirting and first kisses. Perfect for summer, right?

Instax Photo Friday: Argyle Pimpin'

2010-06-25T06:25:00.000-07:00

Friends (they're all so cute) at an Argyle Pimps gig. Their shows are legit—catchy hip hop that doesn't objectify women and a jazz band supplying the beats. Unfortunately, they don't have too many live shows but if you're in the area when they're playing you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not checking them out.

Things I love: Summer

2010-06-24T06:33:00.000-07:00

This week marked the first week of summer. Here are a few of my favorite things about this time of year:

X

Ah, baseball how I love thee...

X

The 4th of July is my favorite holiday.

X

I'm not great at barbecuing but I am really good at eating barbecue.

X

I love soaking up the sun on my longboard.

X

Roadtrips and car rides with the window down are the best.

X

I turn into a fish when I'm at the beach, it's hard to get me out of the water.

X

Bonfires under the stars are great, add marshmellos and you've got a party.

Wordless Wednesday: I'm On Fire

2010-06-23T06:00:00.000-07:00

{Car accident seen from my dash on my morning commute to work.}

Music Monday: El Ten Eleven

2010-06-21T06:46:00.000-07:00

El Ten Eleven is a band that makes you wonder why they haven't gotten the commercial success they deserve. On one hand, I can be a bit of a music snob and enjoy keeping some of my favorite music to myself as if the band is my special secret only for me to enjoy. While at the same time you can love a band so much that you just want to show them off and hope others fall for them too. I feel both ways about this band. A part of me wants to be greedy and keep them to myself but I wouldn't mind being surrounded by others who think they're awesome too.

Wordless Wednesday: Office Window

2010-06-16T06:01:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I get to watch people fish/play in the water/have picnics from my desk window. Bittersweet.

Gratitude Tuesday: Unknown

2010-06-15T06:29:00.000-07:00

X

I think everyone has heard the following:

"Everything that's happening is supposed to be happening" or "It's about the journey, not the destination". And we're supposed to take comfort in these phrases.

The more I think about those things the more I find them to be true. However, I use the universe as my reason for the unknown. I often think:

"The universe will bring it to me when I'm ready"
"The universe is trying to teach me a lesson"
"The universe must have brought this person or thing into my life for a reason"
"The universe is recongizing my karama" and so on...

So, what does that make me? Religious? Careless? Faithful? Unaccountable? Existential? Metaphysical?

I would like to believe that I am a universalist who takes trust and delight in the unknown. Which somedays is just a nice way of saying: I don't know what the hell is going on but I'll find some kind of humor in the unknown until I can wrap my head around my often strange life.

Music Monday: Phantogram

2010-06-14T06:24:00.000-07:00

I saw Phantogram a few weeks ago and if you're even slightly into electronic beats you need to pick up their album Eyelid Movies. They're so great that after seeing them I bought it. I rarely if ever purchase CD's but they charmed me, although their set was a little shorter than I would have liked I think it may just be their way of letting me know I'm going to have to catch them when they're back in California.

Instax Photo Friday: Napa

2010-06-11T06:44:00.000-07:00

I spent a sunny Sunday afternoon in Napa with two of my favortie ladies in the whole wide world. This photo was taken in front of Domaine Carneros Winery. It was such a gorgeous day—sipping on sparkling wine, munching on cheese & crackers all while having some laughs was perfect. I signed up for a chance to win a $500 gift card to Domaine Carneros, I am still waiting for there congratulatory email/phone call... it could happen! If you ever happen to find yourself in the area I recommend going, it's a picture perfect place. Next time, I would love to do an early morning hot air ballon ride followed by brunch and sparkling wine. Ah, a girl can dream.

Music Monday: George Winston

2010-06-07T06:04:00.000-07:00

I recently discovered George Winston and his album Summer. I don't think I could have stumbled upon it at a better time. It has been perfect to listen to as I make my morning and evening commute back and forth to work since much of it is on a two lane road through the countryside. I really feel that this album brings this time of year and my surroundings to life, I love it when music can do that—just enhance everything around you and make it that much better.

Currently, this song has been playing on repeat for me:

There's Stars In My Eyes And There's Sun In My Hair

2010-06-03T18:38:00.000-07:00

I have been a slacker in terms of blog posts this week. But I've had to play catch up, having Monday off for Memorial Day was such a blessing as I needed the break but ended up being a burden when I had an inbox full of ~~fun~~ emails to go through.

I'm still feeling the afterglow of an awesome mini vacation despite my office workload. I hopped on a train to Oakland to see two of my favorite people and see one of my favorite bands, She & Him. I was so stoked to see them live. Zooey Deschanel is my style muse and seeing my girl crush in person was rad. M. Ward has got this effortlessly cool vibe about him that gave their set a seasoned feel even though they're a relatively new band with only two albums under their belt.

One of the best parts of the night (it's kind of hard to pick what's best since seeing my best friends, beer tasting at Pyramid, cute merch and a free drink ticket at the show were pretty darn awesome too) was the fact that they had two encores, totally unexpected and completely satisfying. I loved every minute of it. I took some video, which is surprising because I'm usually too busy singing/dancing when I'm at a show to even think twice about video but I love them so much I have to share:

Instax Photo Friday: Xena

2010-05-28T06:45:00.000-07:00

The story of Xena (or as I like to call her, Beaner) is awfully sweet. My family didn't necessarily pick her so much as she picked us. She was a stray dog wandering around our neighborhood when I was about 16. For some reason she decided hanging out in front of our house would be a good place to be, so naturally we felt sorry for her but tried to keep our distance since we already had a dog at the time and didn't think two would be a very good idea. Well, she was persistent and would spend entire days outside of our house and chase our cars down the road when we would leave.

Eventually, I caved and gave her food, played with and pet her. I fell in love pretty fast. She must have too, because the next day I came home and she was in our house. The only strange thing about this was no one let her in. She dug a hole under our fence and let herself in through our doggy door. After that we decided she was ours, or rather she decided we were hers.

Beaner and her "don't steal my soul with your camera" face.

After about a month of calling her random names a kid who lived in a nearby neighborhood identified her as Xena. She had been his dog and his family was going through some rough times and as a result she was forgotten about. Upon seeing how happy she was with us he told us to keep her. She has been a sassy pain in the butt ever since, but I do love her very much. Who doesn't love a pint size dog perfect for cuddling?

Wordless Wednesday: Originality

2010-05-26T06:49:00.000-07:00

Imitation is the highest form of flattery, although sometimes it doesn't feel like it. But having someone be so inspired by your art that they use yours as a basis for their own does sound pretty darn flattering—that is if you choose to look at it that way.

Twenty Five Things: Characture

2010-05-25T06:10:00.000-07:00

Some of my twenty five before twenty five are really ridiculous, like this:

Yeah, unfortunately I'm that corny. Or maybe fortunately? Unless you happened to be with me while I was getting it drawn, then that's unfortunate for you because:
a) Lots of people felt the need to stare at me like a zoo animal
b) I was pretty darn giddy and couldn't stop laughing during it
c) You had to let the general public know that we're friends, embarrassing...

I didn't realize I had a such a giant forehead until this was drawn. Maybe I should get bangs to cover that monster up. Although, the man who sketched me advised that I make a few hundred copies for all my boyfriends. Flattery works on me because I gave him a nice wink and a tip. Oh boy!

Music Monday: The Black Keys

2010-05-24T06:29:00.000-07:00

The Black Keys' new album Brothers came out last week and I was pleasantly surprised by how great it is. If you're ever in the mood for some no fuss blues/rock The Black Keys are a great place to start. I have already been peeking at their tour dates trying to decide which one's would be best to skip work for. At this point, I'm sure any would be great.

This is the first single off the album, Tighten Up:

"He smells like ranch dressing"

Instax Photo Friday: Dawes

2010-05-21T17:05:00.000-07:00

I really like Dawes and this was my third time seeing them live. I almost didn't make it due to only getting four hours of sleep the night before. The sleepless Angela mind works in mysterious ways, meaning I convinced myself that sleep is overrated and I could do without it. "I'll sleep when I'm dead," yeah I said that, sleepy Angela has ovaries of steel because I only got another four hours of sleep the next two nights. 12 hours of sleep over a three day period = major case of the absent minded goof.

Aside from the lack of sleep, Dawes was great and I had a good time. This song was their big finish and it's one of my favorites off their album North Hills:

Things I Love: Missed Connections

2010-05-20T06:07:00.000-07:00

Missed connection postings can be creepy because let's face it, Craigslist is just creepy in general but I really love coming across the sweet ones even though they are few and far between. The hopeless romantic in me wishes that the post is stumbled upon by the right person and the two of them can have a date to go along with their meet cute. I don't believe in coincidences, I like to think that all things happen for a reason and that maybe missed connections is a second chance at not taking advantage of a good thing in the moment. I'm sure it's rare but wouldn't that be a great story?

In The Pursuit Of Craftiness: Anti Stress Kit

2010-05-18T06:58:00.000-07:00

It seems like I have been coming across a lot of people feeling stressed lately whether it is from work, school, family, wedding planning, you name it. So, I thought it would be nice to do a post for an Anti Stress Kit. Honestly, this is so simple to do it probably shouldn't be classified as a "craft" since all you need are a few supplies and a thoughtful mood.

Supplies:

Paper bag
A hole punch and paper (to make confetti)
Pennies
Rubberbands
An Eraser
Snickers
Starburst
Hershey Kisses
Marbles (unfortunately I couldn't find any but if you can, add them)
Something to write with

List each item on the bag and what they can be used for to reduce stress:

Eraser: To make all your mistakes disappear.
Pennies: So you will never be broke.
Rubberbands: To help you stretch beyond your limits.
Starburst: To give you a burst of energy at the end of the day.
Marbles: To replace the ones people say you've lost.
Snickers: Laughter is the best medicine.
Confetti: When you feel like throwing something.
Kisses: To always remember that someone cares.

Just toss all of the items in the bag and give it to your sweetheart, friend, co-worker etc. It's a little corny and won't relieve any serious stress but I do think it will put a smile on the face of a person you care about.

Music Monday: Explosions In The Sky

2010-05-17T06:22:00.000-07:00

The quickest way to make time pass for me at work is to listen to music. But music with lyrics can distract me sometimes, especially when I'm coding so I try to stick to instrumental music like classical or jazz. For the past week I have been listening to Explosions In The Sky while trying to be a code poet and Your Hand In Mine is one of my favorites:

Music Monday: Nick Drake

2010-05-10T06:37:00.000-07:00

I was recently watching yet not watching TV (you know, that kind of it's on for background noise but you're not really paying attention, kind of TV viewing) and all of a sudden I heard Nick Drake playing in a commercial. I stopped what I was doing and took in the moment. The first time I heard his music was years ago in a commercial for Volkswagen, they used his song Pink Moon and I instantly fell in love, figured out who he was and bought the album. Turns out that folk music is great for advertisements, who knew?

His song From The Morning was playing in the commercial that stopped me for a moment:

Things I Love: Income Tax Wish List

2010-05-06T06:03:00.000-07:00

I got my income tax money back and if I weren't such a guilty shopper (I tend to talk myself out of purchasing anything that is not on sale or isn't deemed a necessity in my mind) I would snap up these things pronto:

I want the Fujifilm Instax Mini so bad. Since I can't get my hands on any Polaroid film (The Impossible Project is amazing but man, that film is pricey) this would be the next best thing for instant photos, besides that, I think it would be fun to have.

I love this geeky necklace. Don't you wish that ctrl+z could work in real life sometimes?

I have this vision of a wall covered in photographs and art, it's basically a jumbled mess of ornate frames but somehow they all flow beautifully together. I'll have that someday and I would like this illustration to be among those random beautiful things.

And I would like a wicker basket for my bike since I have Farmer's Market trips planned out in my head and will need a basket to hold any food that doesn't get consumed by the time I make it back home and a weekend trip filled with sun/sand/water would be lovely too.

Cinco de Mayo Snack

2010-05-05T06:29:00.000-07:00

Feliz Cinco de Mayo! Mi español no es muy buena, mi Spaniglsh es mejor. Te prometo que soy mitad Mexicana, pero no lo sabría.

(Photo via WeHeartIt)

Translation: Happy 5th of May! My Spanish isn't very good, my Spanglish is better. I promise I'm half Mexican, but you wouldn't know it.

Today is Cino de Mayo and you'll probably want a yummy snack after you're done polishing off a few Mexican beers or Margaritas, right? This snack is really simple, even Gringos can handle it:

1. Take a flour tortilla and heat both sides on your stove. No pan needed just toss it on your gas burner and flip that baby with your hands, of course be careful not to burn yourself. No one wants to spend Cinco de Drinko in the hospital.

2. Take the tortilla off the burner and put a pad of butter on one side. Spread the butter around so it melts evenly.

3. Sprinkle a little cinnamon and sugar on the buttered side of the tortilla.

4. Roll up and enjoy!

This used to be one of my favorite snacks as a kid and was a cheap/quick dessert in college when I had no money to buy something to curb a sweet tooth attack.

Hope everyone has a fun and safe Cinco de Mayo!

Music Monday: Passion Pit

2010-05-03T06:26:00.000-07:00

Have you ever met someone and just had an awful first impression? They didn't look/act like someone you would want to spend your time with and to top it off the converstion was labored and went no where. But then upon running into each other again, something just clicks and it turns out this person is amazing and you wonder how the heck you had ever thought any different of them?

Well, that's how I feel about Passion Pit. It was tough for us to find common ground in the beginning, I thought we wanted different things but it turns out they were just what I needed. The more I listen to them the more I fall in love. I can't get their song Seaweed Song out of my head. "Nobody knows you the way you know you, but I think I do" keeps playing in repeat in my mind.

What's Your Favorite?

2010-04-30T06:17:00.000-07:00

I've been lagging on blog posts this week and I read Liz's fill in the blank post and decided it would be a quick way to get another post without much planning or thought. I know, lame, but I've been busy. Or at least that's my story...

1. Favorite Hobby?

I love going to shows. Music makes me really happy. I don't care if I know who the band is or what style of music it is (well, sometimes I care).

2. Favorite TV show?

The Office is ridiculous, it makes me smile every Thursday and any girl who doesn't want a Jim of her own is either in denial or has no need to want because she already has hers... jerk.

3. Favorite restaurant food?

Chow Mein? Good. Affirmation wrapped in a yummy cookie? Good.

4. Favortie thing to shop for?

I had a tomboy phase for um... forever until about 3 years ago and now I'm obsessed with wearing dresses and rarely wear pants.

5. Favorite animal?

This was a hard decision because there are so many photos of cute puppies that I would love to make mine...

6. Favorite song?

In My Life by The Beatles is my favorite song of all time. Look up the lyrics and you'll see why.

7. Favorite word?

I almost never get to say it but pamplemousse is one of my most favorite words.

8. Recent favorite YouTube video?

Being Mexi-talian I happen to do an awesome chola impression, I even named my alter ego Rosa. She pretty much sounds just like this chick. "Don't be talkin' to me like you know me!"

9. Favorite movie?

I could watch Almost Famous a million times and never get sick of it.

10. Favorite childhood memory?

On family road trips my Grandma would sit in the backseat with my brother and I. Growing up in a rural area we would always pass by ranches and whenever we drove past a ranch with a white horse she would say "White horses are good luck, spit in your hand, make a fist with the other & rub in into your palm and make a wish." So, we would pretend to spit in our hand and smash it into the other and make a wish. Every time I see a white horse I think about this and make a wish.

Want to play along? Copy & paste the prompts below, answer each with a photo and a description.

1. Favorite hobby?
2. Favorite tv show?
3. Favorite restaurant food?
4. Favorite thing to shop for?
5. Favorite animal?
6. Favorite song?
7. Favorite word?
8. Recent favorite youtube video?
9. Favorite movie?
10. Favorite childhood memory?

Music Monday: Os Mutantes

2010-04-26T06:25:00.000-07:00

Os Mutantes are a Brazilian psychedelic rock band and their song A Minha Menina reminds me of summer. Now it's not quite summer yet but after having an awesome sunny 80 degree weekend I felt it was time to start listening to this song:

If you're not fluent if Portuguese, they're basically singing "she is my girl, I'm her guy, she is my love". Now mind you this is my interpretation and not an exact translation since I'm not fluent in Portuguese and that's pretty much the most I understand lyrically from the song.

Thanks high school/college Spanish courses for making me fluent in Spanglish and picking up partial Portuguese!

Catchphrase

2010-04-20T06:49:00.000-07:00

Catchphrase is defined as a phrase or expression recognized by its repeated utterance.

I tend to utter this far too often:

Lame.

It usually sounds dragged out like "laaame" and I'll use it to express frustration and annoyance. Ex: "Internet Explorer is lame, I wish everyone would stop using it." On the flip side, it can also be used to express jealousy or disapproval. Ex: You just told me you're going on an all expense paid trip to Hawaii. My reply would be "LAAAME!"

Realizing that I say lame far to often I've thought about making a conscious decision to start using something else but have since convinced myself that saying lame sounds much more intelligent than repeating another phrase often overused by others like "stupid" or "gay". That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

What is your catchphrase?

Music Monday: Camera Obscura

2010-04-19T06:47:00.000-07:00

This week Coachella is coming to me and I couldn't be happier about it. Camera Obscura has a sixties pop sound that I adore ~~and dance embarrassingly to~~. There is something charming about them that I can't quite put my finger on. I'm convinced I will have to travel to Scotland and scope out their home base of Glasgow to have a better understanding of what makes them so endearing. Any excuse to travel is a good one, right?

This is the title track off their newest album My Maudlin Career:

Music Monday: The Growlers

2010-04-12T06:52:00.000-07:00

The Growlers are a surfer/psychedelic/rock/blues/dark/weird... they have their own thing going on. They're currently touring in an old school bus and after seeing them play for a second time I am convinced they are legit when it comes to living a "rock n roll" lifestyle. I'm not sure what the hell they're on but I'm into it and want some more.

Someone Something Junior from WhiteLion333 on Vimeo.

Things I love: San Francisco Giants

2010-04-08T06:31:00.000-07:00

It's baseball season! Which means sunny afternoons and cool summer nights filled with over priced beer & hotdogs all while being able to cheer and heckle like a crazy person and not be judged for it. What's not to love?

I was raised a Giants fan. Some of my first memories of baseball consist of being 4 years old and watching the Giants play on TV with my Dad, which we continue to do. But there is nothing better than being in AT&T Park and watching a game. I love San Francisco and being able to take in the city, the bay and my favorite team all at once is like having a little piece of heaven—it's truly that good. Even if you're not a diehard Giants fan I suggest you see at least one game at AT&T park, it really is beautiful. A Dodgers fan once broke down and told me that they liked the stadium. So, if a crappy Dodgers fan can appreciate it, anyone can.

Note: I wouldn't be a real fan if I didn't take a dig at the Dodgers, sorry!

Nighttime view of AT&T Park, across McCovey Cove (San Francisco) from David Berry on Vimeo.

You can catch me at the stadium sporting my black on black Giants cap, panda ears and a big ol' smile on my face.

Gratitude Tuesday: Kindness

2010-04-06T07:08:00.000-07:00

I'm grateful for kindness, whether it's from a loved one or a total stranger. To me, the greatest acts of kindness are often seen as the smallest. But lately I feel like kindness doesn't amount to much if you can't be kind to yourself. I really need to work on that. Being your toughest critic is rough when you're stuck with yourself. I figure if I can give myself a break and be kinder then giving away that kindness will be effortless.

"Well, you made the best of this life where you never knew one day from the next. Dig your heels in a little girl put them to the test. You gotta be kind to yourself." -She & Him

P.S- I'm in love with She & Him Volume Two. I've been singing/dancing around like a fool to it non-stop. Pure bliss.

Music Monday: BlakRoc

2010-04-05T06:24:00.000-07:00

Blakroc is comprised of The Black Keys (one of my favorite blues/rock bands) and a host of collaborations with hip hop and R&B artists like Dirty Ol' Bastard from the Wu Tang Clan and Q-tip of A Tribe Called Quest.

The Black Keys + Mos Def+ Jim Jones=

Wordless Wednesday: Secret Garden

2010-03-31T06:33:00.000-07:00

Spring time always reminds me of The Secret Garden. There is something dreamy and calm about a spring rain, blossoming flowers and sunny afternoons. I hope everyone who is on spring break this week (lucky ducks) is enjoying it.

All images from weheartit.

Free Time Gets Weird

2010-03-30T13:32:00.000-07:00

I'm not very good at having free time. As much as I may dream of having a break with nothing to do, I honestly can't handle it. Whenever I have a totally free moment I end up feeling restless and my mind takes me places I didn't know I had.

Now sometimes that mind travel can be great, other times it can be bad and then there are times like today when it's just plain weird.

While on my lunch break at work I actually took a real break instead of working through my lunch, reading a book, listening to my iPod, or talking/texting someone I know who isn't busy. It was just me, my food and my thoughts. Thoughts like:

"Has Angela Lansbury been old her entire life? It's like she found the secret of never aging only she found it when she was 65 and has to stay a senior citizen permanently."

"When do clothes become laundry and laundry become clothes?"

"Why is hair gross when it's not on your head? It's my own hair but once it's on a comb or gotten loose and found on an item of clothing it's instantly disgusting."

"Sometimes people will refer to a group of men hanging out together as a 'sausage fest', what do people say about a group of women hanging out? The first thing that comes to mind is 'taco stand' and the fact that that's the first thing I can think of creeps ME out."

Luckily, I only have 30 minutes for lunch so I didn't get much further than that. Lord knows how much other weird stuff I could have dug up. This is why even in my downtime I need to remain in a constant state of activity.

Music Monday: Temper Trap

2010-03-29T06:11:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I've already blogged about The Temper Trap.

BUT

I like their song "Love Lost" & the music video for it and since this is my blog I can do whatever the hell I want, so there.

I promise to blog about other awesome bands/music next week, one repeat doesn't hurt right?
Also- I bet it takes that video host a long time to get his hair to look that perfectly disheveled.

"Keep me in mind. When you're ready, I am here to take you every-time"

Conversations With A Cat

2010-03-23T06:49:00.000-07:00

One out of the three cats that reside in my office happen to be very bossy. And of course the bossy one has become my shadow. At first, I was not ok with this but now Fancy (she should have been named Sassy) and I have a dialogue going. She gives me death stares and meows at me with a nagging undertone and I talk to her as if she cares about what I have to say.

Example:
A photoshoot was being set up for some product shots at work. Fancy being the attention loving cat she is always feels the need to hop in the light box and pose when the camera is out. Not having time for shenanigans no photos were taken of her. This made her grumpy, so I tried to talk her through her bossy mood:

She avoided me for the rest of the day after this.

Music Monday: Van Morrison

2010-03-22T06:04:00.000-07:00

I made the decision that Van Morrison's "Jackie Wilson Said" is an excellent song to dance around with reckless abandon to.

In the spirit of dancing with reckless abandon I thought about all the other songs I like that are good for dancing around like a fool in your underwear. ~~Which happen every once in a while~~ Not that I do that...

But if I were to do such a thing, that mix would include Van Morrison and few others like these:

Things I love: Musical Adventures

2010-03-18T06:27:00.000-07:00

I like music but I love live music, I get off on the energy and finding new albums to get lost in. 9 times out of 10 if I'm out and about it's because I'm going to see a show. This spring promises plenty of musical adventures. So far I've got these on my "to see" list:

The Growlers: Last time I saw them they opened up for Vampire Weekend. They're worth another listen.

Ra Ra Riot: I may not be able to go to SXSW (Wouldn't that be so much fun? I need a partner in crime!) but I can see them when they roll into town.

Camera Obscura: I love their 60's pop-esque sound. I hope they play "Lloyd I'm Ready"—instant smile on my face if they do.

Best part is, those are just a few bands I plan on seeing in April. I'm excited for even more fun music this year.

The Highway Rocks, Literally.

2010-03-17T06:27:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely sunny weekend and I decided to take advantage of it by looking for some thrift/record store finds and enjoying a pint... or two. On my way to begin that adventure I found myself in the middle of this:

For about 20 minutes highway 41 was covered in rocks. But after it was all cleaned up I was the only one on the highway. Mind you, I was the only one for about a minute or two but those couple of minutes are hard to come by on a usually congested highway.

Speaking of enjoying a pint, I suggest everyone take a break from their crazy midweek schedules and indulge in at least one green beer for St. Patrick's Day. You totally deserve it. If not, pretend you do.

Gratitude Tuesday: Truth

2010-03-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I need a pick me up when I'm at work. Most people reach for a cup of coffee but I'm not much of a coffee drinker because I have a low tolerance for caffeine. I turn into an antsy mess—an A-Type running on caffeine can be scary.

I needed a boost today so I made myself a cup of tea. One of my favorite brands of tea is Yogi because 1) their green tea energy blend gets me going without feeling like an ADHD kid 2) they have affirmations on their tea bags.

This was my affirmation today:

Music Monday: I Met The Walrus

2010-03-15T06:08:00.000-07:00

It's not a band or a song, but I really love the I Met The Walrus video. And since the video centers around John Lennon I think that it counts as a MM post:

Etiquette For Social Media

2010-03-10T06:49:00.000-08:00

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Last week I hosted a webinar for an MLM company to help clients begin using social media for marketing. After the Q&A portion of the webinar I got to thinking about how social media and marketing don't go together. It should really be known as social media and public relations. I get the feeling that most people see marketing as an active way of finding an audience and sending them their message. But to me, social media is a passive way (aside from SEO) of sending your message and allowing your audience to find it.

That being said, here are a few points I covered about "sending" messages via social media. I like to think of it as a good starting point for corporate social media etiquette:

Be real.

Is social media a great way to market to your audience? Yes. Should you accost them with marketing messages/strategies? No. Well, not all the time. The point of being real is just that- engage your audience in a conversation. Ask and answer questions, learn about what's important to them and every now & then toss out a message. It will be better received after building audience trust rather than acting as an internet billboard for your product/service.

Add value.

Think of value in terms of your everyday conversations: you're either listening or waiting for your turn to speak. Be the listener and respond by adding value to the conversation. You've already worked on being real and building trust so now add to that trust by offering your expert knowledge. You want to be the first place your audience goes when not only wanting answers but also information.

Respond.

Be present in the conversation. Remember, listening or waiting to speak? Listening is great but if you're not around to respond in a timely manner then you're ruining all your hard work. Too many people think they don't have enough time for social media. These are the same people that think they need a hand in all areas of social media. Narrow your focus, learn where your audience is going to share & receive messages and make those social outlets your new home base.

Give Praise.

This is where most people get lost. Why would you want to praise others when your goal is to build and keep your audience? Because you're being real, remember? If you find a piece of information that your audience would like to hear about share it. Give praise to others that are adding value to your niche. It's another way to start more conversations, add value and build audience trust.

Be Original.

Not everyone is going to want to read an informational article or even a 140 character status update. Present content with images, video, audio... the possibilities are endless and originality makes for a more meaningful conversation.

Music Monday: Beirut

2010-03-08T06:45:00.000-08:00

Beirut has a great vibe. It's something like Gypsy/Eastern European/Brass Band with Spooky Russian Grandpa Vocals. That might not sound great, but it is. What's even better is the band is fronted by a white dude from Santa Fe New Mexico. I would like to think that whoever or whatever influnced the bands sound had a lot to do with Amsterdam. Speaking of, does anyone want to take an adventure to Holland? Because I imagine Holland sounds a lot like this:

Music Monday: Chopin

2010-03-01T06:47:00.000-08:00

Today marks Frédéric Chopin's 200th birthday, so naturally it's this weeks MM post. The timing is too perfect too pass up! I love how music can be unphased by time. True works of art really do last forever, isn't it amazing?

This might be a bit TMI but Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 is really good to listen to in the shower. I don't have a definitive reason as to why, so the next time you hop in the shower you'll just have to see for yourself:

Since Chopin was a child prodigy I had to add this one in. It also doesn't hurt that she's pretty darn adorable too:

Gratitude Tuesday: Failure

2010-02-16T06:41:00.000-08:00

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Today I'm grateful for failure.

I'm grateful for all my clumsy moments, the awkward situations I've found myself in, the stupid things I've said (and done), the things that I should have said (and done), the risks, honesty, emotion, vulnerability etc.

As all of these things happen (and will continue to happen) I always tell myself "If I could just go back and change it with what I know now things would be different." I'm right, they would be different. But I would never learn anything from my so-called failures. Just because it feels like failure now doesn't mean that it isn't a step toward success and just because you've messed up once doesn't mean you can't try again. I'm a firm believer in second chances, maybe even thirds if you're really lucky.

Ah, I love this glass half full feeling. Though it's rare, I love it. It's time to make some ch-ch-ch-ch-changes.

Did you get the Bowie reference? If so, I like you. If not, listen to some Bowie today.

Music Monday: Billie Holiday

2010-02-15T06:58:00.000-08:00

Billie Holiday is probably my all time favorite female singer. That's kind of a bold thing to write because I often say "so and so is my favorite" but no one can sing like Lady Day. Her voice is so unique. I have yet to hear anyone who has a comparable voice to hers. Covers of her songs like Strange Fruit (which almost always gets me misty) have been complete let downs. In my mind there's no touching her voice and the soul behind it.

My favorite song happens to be Autumn in New York. I know its not autumn and that I don't live in New York. But whenever I hear this song I imagine the energy of the city being exactly like this in the fall. Maybe someday I'll get to experience autumn in New York for myself, but until then I have Billie.

Wordless Wednesday: Love

2010-02-10T06:53:00.000-08:00

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All photos below are by Chris Craymer.

Aren't they lovely? He's a great photographer. He is currently selling a book of all his "Romance" photographs. I want it sooo bad!

Gratitude Tuesday: Kiss

2010-02-09T06:38:00.000-08:00

Found through StumbleUpon, anyone know who made the original?
Note: Since it's Valentine's week I've decided to make every post this week about love. I know, I know, it's kind of nauseting but everyone no matter who you are loves love in some way shape or form so get over it and just enjoy a moment of sweetness that might make you barf.

I like this quote a lot because all kisses should be this way, whether they're on the cheek, hand, blown in the air, sweet, simple, soft, tender or passionate. Kisses for hellos, goodbyes and everything in between. A kiss with a purpose is a wonderful thing.

Music Monday: Alexi Murdoch

2010-02-08T06:26:00.000-08:00

Alexi Murdoch is lovely, a wonderful friend turned me onto him and I've been listening to the song below on repeat ever since. He reminds me of Mason Jennings with a dash of Nick Drake, both are a great combination of acoustic goodness.

It's a simple, yet mushy-lovey-dovey song, perfect for Valentine's week. Enjoy the nauseating bliss:

Things I love: Daisies

2010-02-04T06:05:00.000-08:00

"Don't you think daisies are the friendliest flower?"
-Kathleen Kelly, You've Got Mail

I love that quote, becuase they really are.

I don't know what it is about daisies, but I just love them. They're simple, yet cute. Daisies aren't some stuffy, fancy, expensive, over done bouquet flower but just your everyday, happy flower. I love them but my all time favorite Daisy is the Gerbera Daisy. They come in every color under the sun and make me smile just looking at them:

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Is it spring yet? I miss flowers.

Doppelgänger: Sarah Silverman

2010-02-03T06:37:00.000-08:00

Wikipedia defines Doppelgänger as: the ghostly double of a living person.

Alright, so everyone on Facebook has been going nuts over "Doppelgänger Week" and although I do not feel that I resemble any celebrity I have heard time and time again that I look just like Sarah Silverman. I honestly I think the only reason people say this is because we're both pale and have dark hair. To me, that's where the comparisons end. But in the spirit of look-a-likes, here we are in all our pale brunette glory:

Seriously, I don't see it. Well maybe our noses... and jaw line... and smile. Crap, I see it now!

But hey, I think she's a pretty good looking lady and she's funny as hell so I don't mind the comparison too much.

Gratitude Tuesday: Music

2010-02-02T06:57:00.000-08:00

I don't think I've found a better quote to define what music means to me—a sweet escape; a way to fill up moments where words would only fail. I really wish that every moment of everyday could be filled with music. Growing up I used to envision life like a big musical, there would always be a song to define every moment and everyone would always know each eight count dance move and never forget a lyric.

I wonder if other people do this? I would like to think everyone does, maybe they don't envision a grand musical but instead they associate music with life. In the kind of way that makes you tie someone, something, someplace, some moment to a song. They're the kind of songs that you can't listen to anymore because they break your heart or the kind of songs that take you back to that exact moment where you can remember what the weather was like, what you were wearing, how you felt, the sights, sounds, smells, tastes etc.

I really wish that every moment of everyday could be filled with music.

Music Monday: Jenny Lewis

2010-02-01T06:18:00.000-08:00

Jenny Lewis, is to me, the queen of all things indie. I mean, c'mon have you seen her bangs? HA. But really I love her voice, there is an innocence there that just makes me happy when I hear it. This video is total vintage kitsch and I looove it:

See Fernando

Jenny Lewis | MySpace Music Videos

Things I Love: Peacocks

2010-01-28T06:36:00.000-08:00

All photos are from weheartit.com unless otherwise noted.

I'm obsessed. But I have my reasons:

Peacocks combine my favorite colors- blue, green & brown
I love feathers.
I have never seen a more gorgeous bird in real life. Find me one and then maybe I'll switch it.

It took me ~~forever~~ two weeks to make my peacock headband. Two weeks in my world is a lifetime—especially when it comes to crafting. Also, notice my love of owls by my vintage necklace & my lovely pal whose last name happens to be Hooten. Awesome, right?

This makeup makes me want to dress up as a peacock for Halloween. *Storing idea away for later*

I really want to get my hands on some white peacock feathers.

Clutch, please be mine?

Wordless Wednesday: W. Eugene Smith

2010-01-27T06:37:00.000-08:00

W. Eugene Smith is one of my favorite photographers.

Gratitue Tuesday: Key Things In Life

2010-01-26T06:19:00.000-08:00

Found through StumbleUpon. If anyone knows where the orginal came from please let me know!

This photo was a simple reminder of what's important for me so I thought I would share it this week. But why compassion so small? Meatphore? Or is my PR background kicking in and making me think that nothing is an accident and everything has meaning? Ah, the joys of being over analytical.

Music Monday: Pinback

2010-01-25T06:12:00.000-08:00

It's been raining a lot lately and whenever it rains Pinback usually pops up on a playlist. When I first started listening to Pinback it was in midsit of a long winter rain storm that seemed to last forever. From then on, rain and Pinback have been synonymous in my mind.

But the song that reminds me most of the rain is Penelope. If raindrops could have their own indie theme song Pinback's Penelope would be in the running.

*Not crazy about the video, but its the song that counts

New Header

2010-01-23T10:31:00.000-08:00

I got bored with my original and told myself I would hop on Illustrator and make something fun. But after using my all my creative ideas at work on someone elses projects I realized I'm all out of ideas for myself. When did being creative become a chore? Ugh. Anyway, the new header that took under two minutes to create is up...for now. Maybe I'll find some new inspiration soon.

Things I Love: Tights

2010-01-21T06:15:00.000-08:00

If you were to look in my closet or dresser drawers you'd find a lot of dresses, cardigans, ballerina-esque flats and my all time favorite—tights. I absolutely love wearing tights, I used to think that jeans were the most comfortable thing to wear but after trading in denim for office attire I realized that tights are truly the closest thing to wearing sweat pants in terms of comfort while still looking like you put in an effort when getting dressed. Besides comfort, I don't think you can ever go wrong with classic black tights. But statement making tights are fun too:

I just snapped up this up, I can't wait till they arrive.

Red tights remind me of "Clarissa Knows It All"

Swiss Dot tights are my favorite.

They're kind strange but I would totally wear vein tights.

I wish I could find these little heart swiss dot tights.

Twenty Five Things: Student Loan

2010-01-20T06:16:00.000-08:00

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I made a plan of accomplishing at least twenty five things before I'm 25. Think of it as a new way to approach a new year's resolution or as a way to help me avoid a quarter life crisis. To be totally honest, its a way to hopefully avoid a quarter life crisis.

Some of the goals are plain silly while others are serious. Paying off my student loan was serious.

I'm really proud that I put myself through school, I worked my butt off for scholarship money and was lucky enough to receive a few grants along the way but my loan is what gave me my last push to receiving my degree. At the time it felt great to not have to ask for help. That is until my loan payments kicked in. Paying for something that isn't technically tangible feels like a waste of money. Yes, my degree got me a job, which I receive a tangible pay check for but it doesn't feel that way when you're paying for college when you're not in college anymore.

As soon as I made my first payment I told myself that I would have it paid off in full before I was 25. I wanted to get rid of it. I didn't want to pay extra in interest or stick to the "ten year payment plan" option that I chose when applying for the loan.

So, after a year of making LARGER than necessary payments, I'm happy to say that my degree is 100% mine, in effort and payments.

One down, twenty four more to go!

Music Monday: Carla Bruni

2010-01-18T06:56:00.000-08:00

Carla Bruni makes me want to learn French and not just the silly French that I do know like, "Je me pelle Angela. Je suis un ananas. Donne-moi tout vous croissant. Uhauhauha!"

Which translates into "My name is Angela. I am a pineapple. Give me all your corissants." As for the laughter at the end, just imagine Pepe Le Pew laughing and that's usually what I do to signify that I'm speaking French. Shameful? Maybe. Funny? It is to me.

On a serious note, she makes me want to jump start the ongoing list in my head full of life's to-do's. Carla is not only a musician, but a former model and the First Lady of France. Jelaous?

Wordless Wednesday: NYE

2010-01-13T07:30:00.000-08:00

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I know the title of this post is Wordless Wednesday but I figured I should do a bit of explaining with words for the first post just so it doesn't seem too out of place. I'm going to try post only photos on Wednesdays. This shouldn't be too difficult to keep up with since I've been rockin' my 365 photo project. I have less than twenty days left to make an entire year documented in photos, I'm pretty excited :].

I am a firm believer in the theory that a good start to your year means a good year. After this NYE, I know 2010 isn't going to be good. It'll be great.

Now, enough words and more photos:

Music Monday: She & Him

2010-01-11T07:32:00.000-08:00

Warning: This post is 100% biased because I have a non-sexual girl crush on Zooey Deschanel. If I could be besties with any celeb it would be her. That way we could share clothes, listen/play music and then I could hang out with Ben Gibbard too.

She & Him is comprised of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward. They're the perfect combination, Zooey has a beautiful soulful voice and M. Ward pulls it all together with a bit of folk/blues guitar.

This video features my favorite She & Him song, Change Is Hard, from the Volume One album. I'm anxiously awaiting their follow up, Volume Two. But until then I will be listening to this on repeat:

Music Monday: Nik Freitas

2010-01-04T19:31:00.000-08:00

I wasn't planning on having a MM post today since I was in San Francisco for the past four days and didn't do anything on the interwebz during that time (that's quite a long while for me... a few more days and I probably would have gone crazy). But someone actually demanded a post. So here it is last minute:

Nik Freitas is my MM this week for a few reasons:

He is a great songwriter
He is from my hometown
He is a really nice guy

What more could you ask for? I've seen him a few times doing his solo act and touring with Conor Oberst as part of the Mystic Valley Band. I couldn't find an "official" music video of my favorite song of his Sun Down but I found some diy video someone made of Youtube which will do. Honestly, just listen to the song... no video needed to make it interesting.

Music Monday: Flute Beatboxing

2009-12-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

Last MM post of 2009! I wanted to post something out of the ordinary so, I figured a guy who plays the flute and then beat boxes into it would be fitting.

On a more serious note, my most listened to bands/albums of 2009 have been:

Mutemath- Armistice

She & Him- Volume One

Dawes- North Hills

The Temper Trap- Conditions

Iron and Wine- Around The Well

I don't plan on blogging for the rest of the week but I'll be back in 2010!

Inspiration: Birthday

2009-12-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

All I really want for my birthday this year is a lot of laughs, good friends, plenty of love and these:

Photos: WeHeartIt

Here's to making 24 a great year!

Music Monday: Vince Guaraldi Trio

2009-12-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

It's just not Christmas without Vince Guaraldi playing softly in the background while baking cookies and wrapping gifts. Maybe I'm a little biased since my home away from home payed tribute to the classic Peanuts characters but listening to this album gives me that warm fuzzy feeling that you're supposed to get this time of year.

Get comfy, have a glass of wine and let all that holiday stress melt away with this:

Inspiration: Mustache

2009-12-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

I don't know what it is or why but I love silly facial hair inspired designs. Looking at them makes me giggle and they have been inspiring my own coding hits and misses at work lately.

All these mustache finds can be snapped up at Etsy.

Music Monday: Foreign Born

2009-12-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

I recently discovered Foreign Born and I think they're going to break my itunes. I've been listening to them that much.

They of remind me of the French Kicks, who I love, so its like a natural progression of goodness.

Honestly, who doesn't love c-walking to indie music?

Gratitude Tuesday: Rain

2009-12-08T07:57:00.000-08:00

We are supposed to get a considerable amount of rain this week. Any rain is considerable since it's California and if we get a light sprinkle every news station in the state beings their "storm watch" coverage.

For the most part I love the rain, I would love it more if I could spend all rainy days in my pjs spooning and watching movies but you can't always get what you want. Here are a few silly reasons why I'm grateful for the rain:

I can use my embarrassingly bright umbrella. I figure if I'm going to carry an umbrella then I'm going to consider it an accessory to whatever I happen to be wearing that day so I want it to stand out.
I can use my embarrassingly bright rain boots (for the same reason as my umbrella).
I like pretending I'm 5 for a moment and jump in a few puddles, with my rain boots on of course.
I use the rain as an excuse for making peaceful playlists. I gather up all my "quiet" music and amplify the already calming effect of the sound of rain with some tunes.
I also like using the rain as an excuse for getting comfy with pjs, a fluffy robe, moccasins and a blanket. No one can say you're being lazy, it's just natural to want to veg out.
Finally, it's the perfect time to watch old classic movies. Deep down I'm an old soul and really enjoy watching Bogart, Grant, Wayne and all my other favortie old timey leading men. I can be a bit of an AMC & TMC remote hog.

Music Monday: Dave Brubeck Quartet

2009-12-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

I'm in love with Dave Brubeck's Time Out album. I've had it for a long time but it never gets old. I really like listening to it in the morning when I make breakfast, there is something about scrambled eggs and Dave Brubeck that just feel right. That might sound strange but listen to the Time Out album while making an awesome Sunday morning breakfast and I swear your food will taste delicious.

Speaking of strange, this video freatures the quartet flying on a magic carpet over what appears to be a crappy freeway in LA. Why can't TV be more like this all the time?

In The Pursuit Of Craftiness: Monogram Tote

2009-12-03T08:06:00.000-08:00

I love diy projects and wanted to share one with anyone who is looking to make their own tote bag.

I got this idea from Design Sponge.

You'll need a tote bag, paper dolies, paint brushes or a sponge and paint. Use fabric paint if you have it, if not acrylic works just as well.

I painted the corners of the bag with the dolie and then went back with a paint brush to touch up and fill in any areas that needed some fixing.

After all the corners were finished I painted my first initial freehand. If you're not comfortable doing that I would suggest printing a font that you love from a word document and lightly tracing it on the bag.

Filling the tote with goodies and giving it as a gift would be a cute (affordable) and thoughtful present.

Happy crafting!

Gratitude Tuesday: Friends

2009-12-01T08:25:00.000-08:00

I'm forever grateful for the people who tease me endlessly for all the random/awkward/goofy/idiotic things I do and say.

I like to call these people my friends. What makes them so great is that they can give me a hard time, remind me that even though I think I'm crazy I'm actually just a normal version of crazy and then sympathize with me because they've been there too.

This is the best description of what friends are in song: (by best, I really mean it makes me laugh and I finally found a good excuse to post it.)

Music Monday: The Avett Brothers

2009-11-30T08:35:00.000-08:00

The Avett Brothers have two of my favorite B's: Banjo & Beards.

Now that that is out of the way, if you've read any of my previous MM posts its no surprise that The Avett Brothers are being featured. I love folk music and their blend of folk and country hits the spot. There is something about their music that has always reminded me of home. When doing my long solo drive from college back into the valley for holiday weekends I would toss on some of their tunes and it became my personal anthem for all things related to the valley. I mean, it doesn't get more country than beards and banjos right? Or maybe it doesn't get more indie... either way this band is perfect for setting the mood of a dusty valley backdrop.

Currently, this song is playing in heavy rotation in my ipod:

Wish List

2009-11-27T10:00:00.000-08:00

Since I won't be out shopping with all the crazies on Black Friday I figured a wish list of the things I would like to have this year would be fitting.

First, the things that are unrealistic to add to my wish list:

Macbook Pro:

It's so shiny and pretty, who wouldn't want one?

Nissan Versa:

I don't know why I like you so much but I want you to be mine.

John Kransinski & Glenn Howerton Hybrid:

Ahhhhh... uh, I got lost in my fantasy, where was I?

Now for the things I really want (Well, I want the things above but that's not gonna happen... at least not anytime soon. A girl can dream though, right?):

Polaroid Notes:
I love sending letters and these are adorable, although I think I would have a hard time sending them since they are so fun.

Turntable:
I have lots of records begging to be played & turned into mp3s on this little guy.

Very Sunny Christmas:
If I can't have a John/Glenn Hybrid then I should at least have this.

500 Days of Summer:
Zooey is my fashion muse. Thus, I need this to stay inspired.

Journal:
I want a fancy leather bound journal for my next 365-esque project.

And if someone could figure out how to give me the gift of time/money to spend on the things I enjoy with the people I love then you can forget alll that other stuff because that's what I really want.

So, what's on your wish list?

Work Shmerk: Fancy

2009-11-23T20:42:00.000-08:00

No Music Monday post today. Mostly because I got caught up doing other things and by the time I realized it was Monday I wasn't feeling motivated to write an entire post about a band.

I would say that I was too busy to do a MM post but really this is what I did at work today:

If you don't know about Fancy, here is a quick run down:

She is a brat.
She believes that my sole purpose in the office is to play, pet and pay attention to her.
She thinks that anything I'm doing she should be doing too including: sitting in front of my computer monitor, trying to "meow" in the phone while I'm taking a conference call, chewing on my paperwork and trying to eat/drink my food during my lunch break.

I suppose we could consider this post to be a MM since there is awesome New Orleans style music playing in the background....

Gratitude Tuesday: Change

2009-11-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

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Bad change.
Good change.
Scary change.
Forcing change.
Trusting change.
Unexpected change.
Running away from change.
Extra change (in your pocket).

Music Monday: The Temper Trap

2009-11-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

When I like a band I wear them out. I will listen to them when I shower, as I'm dressing, eating breakfast, commuting to work.... you get the picture. My entire day will be filled with their music until one day I find another band and start the cycle all over.

In terms of The Temper Trap, I haven't worn out their album as much as I have a specific song. I'm absolutely 100% obsessed with their song Sweet Disposition. It has caught my full attention and has been in heavy rotation ever since.

I’m not in love with their music video, I have a completely different concept of what the song means to me and it has nothing to do traveling beams of light and a roller derby woman. But I like the song all the same:

The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition

The Temper Trap | MySpace Video

Things I Love: Blogs

2009-11-12T08:24:00.000-08:00

Since my last post featured one of my favorite blogs, PostSecret, I figured that I would share a few more blogs that are on my list of daily/weekly reads:

Le Love Image:

Anything and everything about love is featured. I check this blog almost daily; it's romantic, sappy, cute, heartbreaking... you know, just generally girly and nausting. But I can't help but love it.

Design Sponge:

It’s do-it-yourself heaven! I love arts and crafts and this blog is always filling me up with new ideas for projects.

Fuck That Band:

If you take emo/pop/punk/hipster bands seriously don’t check out this blog. If you like making fun of said bands then check out this blog.

Once Wed:

I’m not going to be heading down the aisle anytime soon but I love this blog. The photography is beautiful and I love checking out all the personal touches that are used in the weddings featured. It inspires my own crafty adventures.

Daytrotter:

This site is my ultimate indie music resource. They have great interviews, reviews, videos and unique illustrations.

Any blogs/websites that are apart of your daily/weekly reads?

Gratitude Tuesday: PostSecret

2009-11-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

I love PostSecret. It's become apart of a weekend ritual that closes Sunday leading into Monday. The best part of PostSecret is that it's honest in the most endearing way possible. Good, bad, funny, sad, indifferent- it all makes me feel like not being normal is normal. If you've never checked PostSecret out go to the book store or visit their blog. It'll make you come back for more.

Music Monday: Vampire Weekend

2009-11-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

My pick this week is Vampire Weekend because, well, I'll be seeing them this evening. I don't think I need much more of a reason than that.

I'm expecting a great night with plenty of dancing.

Things I Love: Cheer Up Stuff

2009-11-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

Great TV. It's sad but The Office, 30 Rock and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia always make me laugh no matter how crappy of a day I've had.

Mike & Ike. This candy makes my tummy happy.

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Beaner. She is the only one who doesn't care about anything but sitting with me and sometimes that's all you need to feel better.

iTunes Genius. Perfect playlists every time for every mood. If only iTunes had this for everything else in life.

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Stella. There are much more responsible ways to fix a bad day but sometimes a cold beer is the best remedy.

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So, what are the things that cheer you up?

Gratitude Tuesday: Perfectly Imperfect

2009-11-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

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Today I'm feeling grateful for the little things that other people do that may not seem loveable, special, cute etc. but somehow they are because you love them.

I'm a firm believer that everyone feels this way about the people they love. It's the loud annoying laugh that comforts you when you're feeling down, the outlandish hand gestures that make even the most boring story interesting, the intense squint that lets you know they're thinking long and hard before giving you an answer that wont have them in hot water, the sigh that signals annoyance but they'll never admit it.....

I could go on and on. Whether its a significant other, best friend, family memeber, or co-worker it all counts. So, what are some not so "loveable" things that you love about your favorite person/people?

Music Monday: Dawes

2009-11-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

I'm a sucker for soulful guitar.

That being said Dawes is pure folk rock. Their album North Hills has an old school rock vibe with a dash of folk. Making it safe for purists who believe rock died in the 70's and hipster kids who enjoy "modern" folk (whatever that means).

I was fortunate enough to stumble upon them at my favorite weekend haunt and they were great. As soon as they finished their set I went over to the merch table and snapped up their album. They were that good and I never buy cds. They recently got some press in Rolling Stone, so hopefully that will be the push you need to at least give one of their songs a listen. It wont disappoint.

Five Things: I love about fall

2009-10-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

In no particular order:

1) Hot Chocolate with tiny marshmallows

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2) Hoodies

3) Time change that makes you feel like you've gained an extra hour of sleep

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4) Fire. Be it candles, fireplace or a bonfire.

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5) Rainy days that call for staying in with your favorite movie and a big bowl of popcorn

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Anything you're lovin' about the changing of the seasons? Tell me about it.

Gratitude Tuesday: Happiness

2009-10-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

Every Tuesday (if I can keep to my own schedule) will be Gratitude Tuesday. This has been inspired by a recent website project. The project is all about affirmations and how you can transform your life through positivity. Makes sense, right? I thought so. Gratitude Tuesday will be affirmations, quotes, shout outs to the people and things I’m grateful for, stuff to make you smile, laugh, think etc. Basically, anything that is positive. There is so much in my day that is stressful/weighted with responsibility so why not take some time at least once a week to reflect on the good things in life both big and small?

Music Monday: MUTEMATH

2009-10-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

I’m in love. I’ve enjoyed MUTEMATH for a while now. I was first introduced to them during my college years by good old KSUN and have been listening to them ever since. But to truly experience the full spectrum of their music you have to see them live. I now understand why Alternative Press named them the #1 band to see live before you die.

The amount of energy they have is mind blowing. Drummer, Darren King (pictured above) is a perfect mix of chaos and precision. The lead singer, Paul Meany, makes you feel like he is singing to you and you alone. I have to admit, I have a musical crush on him now. Guitarist Greg Hill played his heart out and bassist Roy Mitchell-Cardenas was the underlying beat that pulled all the chaos together.

If they ever roll through your city, do yourself a favor and go their show.

Rewind and begin again.

2009-10-25T17:23:00.000-07:00

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You can't do that in real life but luckily you can in a blog. I've been a terrible blogger and neglected my blog for far too long. In the spirt of writing more often and keeping up with other web projects I've decided to start blogging again. So, this is my re-introduction. Now I have to conquer the "blank page" and acutally follow through with blog posts. I have a few reoccuring weekly blog ideas bouncing around in my head so if all goes to plan I should be updating often. Maybe even often enough to have regular followers. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Until next time (which should be soon, I promise)!

Nicknames

2009-03-03T19:56:00.000-08:00

I haven't blogged in over a month. Actually, that isn't entirely true. I ghost write several blogs and have been crazy busy with work so that is my excuse for not writing on this blog. Deal with it.

I got into a discussion about nicknames in which I declared that I didn't have any only to realize that I have several. After thinking about it, most people have something specific that they call me by for their own particular reasons, I only wish I could remember what those reasons were. In any case, I made a mental list that will now be a blog list:

Ang
Poo-ca-roo
J
Angel-a
Angeluh
Tangela
gella
AJ
Angelimaca
Angeler

There is more but they get more and more embarrassing... The most obvious nickname you would think I would have no one ever calls me. Which would be Angie. I guess I just don't look like an Angie or just haven't met anyone yet who would think to refer to me as such. My personal favorite has always been Ang, I don't know why, I just like it. But I enjoy all of them because they are all used by specific people, who I know have a perfectly logical reason as to why they call me what they do. The way the mind works and why we do/say what we do just fascinates me. Which leads me to this:
My computer monitor is going to be so effed up... just another day at the office!