Christmas Time Is Finally Here

I know, I know. Half the world has already dusted off their MoTab records and wound the tape back into their Bing Crosby cassettes. But not me. I like to hold off on the music until after Thanksgiving.

Of course, that doesn't mean I hadn't already started watching all the Christmas specials. (Charlie Brown is so awkwardly amazing!)

Anyway, so now that it's officially the Christmas Season, here are some awesome songs to start you off.

Christmas without Sufjan Stevens is basically unthinkable.


An old classic and one of my favorite Pogues songs. I actually listen to this song all year round. It's a bit rash for Christmas, but it's really fun to sing along with someone.


If any of you listen to KDKB, you'll be sick of this song by New Year's. But I still love it!


Merry Christmas!

Dear Nora

Not to be confused with the last post, Dear Nora is actually the name of this artist. I am not writing to them. Although I should, just to scold them for disbanding.

Dear Nora was formed in Portland, Oregon in 1999 by Katy Davidson, Marianna Ritchey, and Ryan Wise. Their first album, We'll Have a Time, was released in 2001. Soon after, Davidson moved to Florida, leaving Ritchey and Wise behind in Portland. And that, in my opinion, was the end of that.



Of course, Davidson still recorded under the name Dear Nora until 2008, but... *shudder* It's just not the same.

Here ya go:
'Round and 'Round
Since You Went Away
Number Twelve (instrumental)

Dear Darwin Deez,

I know you're really little now,
but I hope one day you will become popular
so you can be a cameo in some uber-indie film starring one of the Arrested Development alumni.
Also, you should come back to Arizona
so I can see you live
and not be jealous of my sister anymore.

Love forever,
Louise

DARWIN DEEZ

The Dodos

I discovered the Dodos during the summer whilst melting away in my tiny garage apartment. I loved them at first listen.

While researching them, I found this on Wikipedia:
"In an April 2008 interview in the L.A. Record, [Meric] Long revealed the origin of the name of "Visiter". 'The reason it’s misspelled is because it’s from a drawing this kid gave us. We played a show for a bunch of kids in South Central L.A.—Dorsey High. A friend’s sister [Barbara Lempel] is a special-ed teacher there, so we went down there to her class and we played for the kids and it was super fun. Then it came to the kids asking us questions and then one of the kids came up to us and he gave us a drawing with that written on it. The drawing is the cover actually of the album, and just—I dunno we liked it. Actually we used all of the drawings that the kids made in the artwork on the album. It was definitely a fun, interesting venture for us. We’d never played for kids before—we didn’t know what to expect but they were clapping and dancing.'"

That made me like them even more.


Take a listen:
(I'll probably always use Lala.com to post songs. You only get one full-length listen, unless you restart your computer.)
Fools
Walking
Eyelids

And then the song that started it all (for me, at least):

Row Your Boat

Hey, guys. Still no idea what I want to do with this blog. I was thinking of deleting it, but too many good memories in this thing. I mean, how else am I going to remember to make fun of Kaitie's brother for almost getting mauled by an emu?

So, in light of a few requests (okay, maybe two), I've decided to post every once in a while about music. I'm not exactly an expert on the subject, but I do know a lot of good music that doesn't get exposed to enough people.

The Casting Couch is a band I kind of recently discovered. I'd heard of them before (I mean, who can forget a name like that?), but I didn't try them until about a month ago. Immediately my first impression was Rilo Kiley meets Lucinda Williams, but better. They also kind of have that '90s riot grrrl heartbroken feminist vibe.

From what I've heard so far I really like them. They use a wide array of instruments, including my favorites: the trumpet and the accordion. A lot of their songs are fun and upbeat (I would probably use Strawberry on a mix for my niece), and their slow songs are so gorgeous and ethereal I can listen to them over and over. (I especially love the use of the saw on Song About Dying.)

To hear a few full length songs, go here.

Here's Something To Get Lost In

Square America
A gallery of vintage snapshots & vernacular photography


Click a picture and see hundreds more. It's so addicting!

I Really Want To Make This!

A faux feather wreath.

Don't you just love turquoise doors?

Check It Out

Alicia made a music video, and I just have to say it's amazing!

Song: "The Energy Song" by Blackblack from the album Blackblack

This Is How Cool Portland Is

They have a food magazine that you can pick up for free in any grocery store.

If only Phoenix had that... All we get is shopping guides. And a calendar of concerts for bands like Def Leppard and the Eagles.

Anyway, here's the link to the website where you can read their current and past issues.

Edible Portland

Someday

I will camp like this.

Source: J. Morgan Puett

For All the Vintage Nerds

Gift tags!

Source: doe-c-doe

Anti-Butterick

Every spring/summer I begin to make-believe I'm creative. I search for more craft zines. I imagine attempting a recipe requiring a rue. I crave the industrious hum of the sewing machine. In the end, my need for self-expression results in a few more Portland Blogs added to my bookmarks. (Portland Blogs are blogs written by insanely intelligent women in Portland, Oregon, who take cooking, sewing, and any other domestic duties to the next level.)

So what stops me? The Perfect Dress Pattern. I can never find that wonderful waist-cinching, hip-hugging, leg-lengthening dress pattern. Something so unbelievably beautiful that it will force me to finish learning to sew. Why can't I find it? Because Joann's doesn't have it!

Thus, I've decided to become anti-Butterick. I'm going to find alternatives. I'm going to find that Perfect Dress and the fabric worthy of it. And, hopefully, I'll finally have something lovingly made by me, for me. (Other than that purse made from my Velvet Underground t-shirt and my dad's old tie. That was made out of desperation to avoid parting from my favorite shirt.)

Of course, I'll probably never stop looking through the torn, wrinkled pages of Joann's pattern catalogues. Old habits die hard.

Here is my beginning:
colettepatterns.com

-Louise

The IT Crowd

You guys have got to try out this show. Lance and I are addicted to it! Sadly, it's British, so it's hard to find without subtitles.

Here's the first season:
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6

Enjoy!

Cute Fabric On Sale

This weekend Fabric Place is having a sale!

For every yard you buy, you get a 1/4 yard free! Just mention this promotion in the conversation.

A few examples of her wares:


Ah Etsy. Tempting me to spend every time I log in...

Vampires Vs. Serial Killers:

Has anyone else found the whole Twilight saga strange?

Boy meets girl. Boy falls in love with girl. Boy... wants... to... eat... girl?

And somehow girls find this insanely appealing.

Stephenie Meyer actually created the whole series based on one very dark dream.

I myself have strange dreams. The most recent of which was about a handsomely robust serial killer who kept complimenting my "heavenly eyes".

I should write a book about this.

Then everyone would be in love with serial killers.

"I love you, but I want to disembowel you."

The Camaromance

Why don't more people know about this girl? I'm really surprised at her obscurity. I remember a couple summers ago one of the XM stations played 28 Balloons over and over. All summer. It was amazing! Her voice was beautiful! Her lyrics were gorgeous! Her music was both haunting and empowering! Yet she still has under 2000 MySpace fans and barely 100 on Facebook? She also has only two videos on YouTube (they're not that great), and she doesn't even exist on playlist.com. Come on, people! Wake up! This girl is amazing!

Or maybe it's just me. :) (And Alicia, of course. She is the one that downloaded that oh-so-brilliant album, Different Paths. Perfect for a desert drive alone.)

Oh, and her MySpace is incorrect. She doesn't sound like The Details. The Details suck. She does not suck. Hence, nothing in common.

It's Late and I'm Hungry

http://everybodylikessandwiches.blogspot.com/

Doesn't her food look so good??

Quote of the Day Part 6, We Think

Louise: Did you like that documentary about blind people?
Alicia: You mean deaf people?
Louise: Yeah, whatever, same thing.

Conversations With Grandpa

Every afternoon at work Louise recieves a call from Grandpa Baker (during commercials, of course.) It has developed into her favorite part of the day, and usually leaves her with a few amusing stories.

Grandpa: I received a wedding announcement from a very beautiful granddaughter today.
Louise: Really? You got it already?
Grandpa: Yep. Grandma and I were admiring how good you two look. I finally have another granddaughter getting married. I have three in Ohio (Grandma corrects him in the background. She does that a lot.) No, uh, two in Ohio, one in Illinois, and one in Phoenix. And now you.
Louise: What about Utah?
Grandpa: Who's in Utah?
Grandma: Jill, Dad!
Grandpa: Oh, yeah! Jill!
Grandma: And then all of Randy's girls!
Grandpa: Oh, Randy's girls, yeah. Grandpa don't remember anything. I guess there are a lot of married granddaughters...
Louise: You know, Alicia drew the yucca plant in the invitation.
Grandpa (quickly): Oh, really? That's neat, I'll tell Grandma. Weloveyoubye!
(All this happened in five minutes, which is how long commercials last.)

Louise hopes he calls every day after she's married!
More to come!

My Lovely Desert Day

Louise here.

My engagement photos (taken by the lovely Michelle Shirley) have finally been uploaded!

Check 'em out.
Make fun of 'em.
Do whatever.


P.S. A couple posts will be posted as soon as the writer's block lifts. Also, an new serial entitled "From the Archives" is in the works.

Have a wonderful day!

Our Melody
Our Melody Pt. 2

Quote of the Day Part ???

Does anyone know what number we're on?

Louise: I should tell her, "You look like a booby make-up slut, Curly Hair!"


On a bike ride:
Louise (to herself): Man, the water bottles in this bag are getting heavy. My neck hurts from the weight. But I'm doing it for Alicia.

Alicia (to herself): I wonder if she knows she can put those bottles in my bike basket... Oh, well. I'll tell her later.