12.29.2009

Sweet randomness that's makin' my day

These precious babes from The Animal Blog. The California Avocado sandwich from Atlanta Bread Company, sans onions.Image via here

This tune I can't get outta' my head, which I'm totally OK with since I love it so much! (P.S. Jay-Z's new album is the deal. Get it!)

"Labor Day parade, rest in peace Bob Marley Statue of Liberty, long live the World Trade Long live the king yo I'm from the Empire State that's . . ."

Claims that Sienna Miller and Jude Law are back together. I always thought they made quite a pair!Image via Just Jared

Anything David Beckham.
Image via Pink is the new Blog

12.18.2009

Please, no more sweets! Well . . .

I swear, I've probably gained 15 lbs. from all the cookies, cakes and brownies that have showed up at work since the holiday season began. Stop the madness!!! Right now, I'm staring at the last little bit of peppermint bark a friend made. Yep. I've eaten almost the entire bag . . . and could probably finish off another. On top of that, tonight is our Clogging Christmas Party, and I know there will be tons of food there, not to mention Family Christmas tomorrow. Anyone who knows me knows I've got quite a sweet tooth (especially for peppermint!) Check out Paula Deen's peppermint bark recipe.

Image via here

Ingredients:

Peppermint flavorings, optional (Paula says use about 2 teaspoons, to your taste)
2 lb white chocolate
Crushed candy canes, to yield 1 cup

Directions:
Place candy canes in a plastic bag and hammer into 1/4-inch chunks or smaller. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Combine candy cane chunks with chocolate (add peppermint flavoring at this point if desired.). Pour mixture onto a cookie sheet layered with parchment or waxed paper and place in the refrigerator for 45 minutes or until firm. This is a gifts from the kitchen recipe, see all of the recipes from this feature. Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

Servings: 2 pounds
Prep Time: 15 min
Cook Time: 45 min
Difficulty: Easy

12.17.2009

Jibber Jabber

I can't get enough of this Jib Jab. My ex-ASU co-worker, Tunisia, did the dancing elves last year, and I couldn't stop laughing. This year, my current co-worker, Paula, made the one below, and now I'm hooked.



12.16.2009

Band Beat

Image via here

I love these high-pitched dudes from Cambridge, Mass., and since I've been in a Passion Pit kind of mood, I decided to post them in Band Beat. They remind me of everything summertime, of lightness, of torso-dancing with eyes closed and fingers snapping. Love them. I think they're movin' on up (didn't they play at the VMAs this year?) which is super, right? My favorite tune of theirs is Sleepyhead from their album, Chunk of Change. If you listen to this without torso-dancing, we need to talk.

From a review in Paste Magazine:

"Passion Pit’s falsetto vocals sound like Bon Iver being sampled and sped up by Kanye West."


12.15.2009

Blah day and pretty MKA

It's one of those days. One where:

1. You feel bloated and really, really wish you would've chosen a different pair of pants to wear to work. You've had muffin top all day.
2. You didn't wash your hair this morning because quite frankly, you did
n't want to, and now (3:49 p.m.) it's so greasy you could fry a pork chop. Gross. Everyone in your department is probably disgusted.
3. Your nose has been clogged up and bloody all day. Getting sick again? Sure as hell hope not.
4. You (yet again) didn't listen to your favorite weatherman, Sam Champion, and wore a sweater, scarf and heavy jacket to work. Sure, the scarf and jacket are removable. But your boss probably wouldn't appreciate you taking off your sweater.
5. Your cell phone has been on the fritz all day, so you haven't received the precious text messages your boyfriend keeps sending you. What is with you, Mint Chocolate?!
6. You've got the burps, and your co-worker
doesn't appreciate it. It's one of her pet peeves, and you continue to let her down on a daily basis. Get your act together and stop burping so much . . . even if you can't help it.
7. You've dedicated some time today to looking at your favorite magazine photos of MKA because, well, you appreciate them (the photos, not the twins. You don't really know them).

MK in Elle (UK) September 2008Ashley in Nylon August 2006
MKA in Got Milk? ad (my favorite)
MKA in Vanity Fair January 2002


12.11.2009

12.09.2009

Quote Wall

This one's definitely for the Quote Wall.

me:
Oh! My adult cloggers got me a $60 gift card to Victoria's Secret for Christmas. Victoria's Secret, I know that's weird. But $60! That's a lot of panties!

Band Beat

Image via here

Ever hear of Pandora Internet Radio? M'kay, if not, tune in now. My co-worker, Paula, turned me on to it a couple of weeks ago, and it's super addictive. It's also where I heard Sweet Disposition by the Australian band, The Temper Trap . . . and fell deeply in love. (Wasn't it featured in 500 Days of Summer too? I'll have to investigate.) How can you not like it? See for yourself below! And check out this album review from Pitchfork.

Sweet Disposition
sweet disposition

never too soon
oh reckless abandon
like no one's
watching you

a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh
a kiss, a cry
our rights, our wrongs
a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh
a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh

just stay there
cause i'll be comin over
and while our bloods still young
it's so young
it runs
and we won't stop til it's over
won't stop to surrender

songs of desperation
I played them for you
a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh
a kiss, a cry
our rights, our wrongs
a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh
a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh

just stay there
cause i'll be comin over
and while our bloods still young
it's so young
it runs
and we won't stop til it's over
won't stop to surrender

a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh
a kiss, a cry
our rights, our wrongs (won't stop til it's over)
a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh
a kiss, a cry
our rights, our wrongs(won't stop til it's over)
a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh
a kiss, a cry
our rights, our wrongs (won't stop til it's over)
a moment, a love
a dream, a laugh
a moment, a love
a moment, a love (won't stop to surrender)

12.07.2009

Let it snow!

Are snow globes back? I had about a billion of them when I was younger. Maybe I should've kept them around, huh? Check these out! It's a toss-up between the tree and bunny for me.

Snow Globes $29

12.04.2009

Lovin' what Target has to offer me right now.

Red Berry Branch $9.99Glitter Pear Fillers (I love anything pear!)
Smoked Triple Eucalyptus Stems $29.99
Wood Cut Decorative Ball
Hydrangea Wreath $21.99
Faux Berry Wreath $22
Cranberry Wreath $39.99

*Obviously loving red wreaths this year.

12.02.2009

Band Beat

Image via here

The xx is a foursome from South London whose single, Basic Space, has become quite popular this year. I love singer Romy Madley Croft's voice, particularly in this single. And bassist Oliver Sim's voice? Hot. Below is a snippet of a review from Pitchfork. And check out the Basic Space video below that!

Strongly influenced by modern R&B-- the group made hay with an early cover of Womack & Womack's "Teardrops", while UK copies of xx come packed with their version of Aaliyah's "Hot Like Fire"-- the xx use a drum machine to complement their copiously tidy compositions. Unlike contemporary R&B fetishists Hot Chip or Discovery, who have clearly spent long hours internalizing Timbaland, the Neptunes, and other radio cognoscenti, the xx incorporate more abstract elements of the genre: a liberal use of bass tones and an unwavering focus on sex and interpersonal relationships.