music

My mom informed me the other day that a local radio station had started playing all Christmas music. Friday afternoon I headed into town and listened to the Christmas station the whole way. I got to the first stoplight in town and looked to my right. There was a truck pulling a trailer FULL of Christmas trees. I’m sure I smiled like a goofball but I couldn’t help it. It was suddenly like signs of Christmas. That evening I spent forever combing the aisles of Hobby Lobby. I looked through every row of Christmas ornaments and decorations. I decided I should take inventory of my Christmas decorations before I start buying new stuff. My goal for the beginning of the week is to go through all of my decorations and plan everything out. This way I can decorate on Sunday!

I already have started the morning off with the Elf Soundtrack. Gosh, I love Christmas. I can’t believe it’s on its way already.

That’s my friend, Nicole, and I…at a country bar. Saturday night I went along with Nicole to hear the band Trent Willmon. Anyone who knows me even a little bit knows that I’m not a fan of country music (to put it lightly). I did go through a phase for about 6 months in high school but I eventually snapped out it.

Walking into the bar, I felt immediately out of place. Dangit, I had forgotten to wear my cowboy hat and confederate flag t-shirt. Nicole and I found a place to stand by a counter. Within 20 minutes of being there a very drunk man came by and gave us a hug. An opening band that I assume was local played a lot of cover songs (although they were all new to me). We met a bachelor party that was making a pit stop until they hit the strip club. One of the guys from that group was busy smacking girls’ butts as they walked by him. Of course that particular drunk guy wanted to ask me to dance when I slow song came on. I was never so happy to tell him I was married.

Here is a video clip that I shot with my camera to prove I was there. Unfortunately when I turned the camera around it’s too dark to see me. Oh well.

All in all it wasn’t too bad. I do think I heard enough country music to last me at least five years. But I got to hear some really crappy pickup lines and hang out with my good friend…it could have been worse.

You never know what might inspire you. Music, art, random things you walk past… Here are some things that have inspired me lately.

Music
I am completely obsessed with the song Fidelity by Regina Spektor. I caught the video on TV a week or so ago and have listened to the song about a hundred times. Great video.

Yesterday I listened to Ben Kamen for awhile. Totally rainy day music…

I was perusing Pure Volume and happened upon these guys: The Elliot Project. Very enjoyable.

Art
I ran across the artist Rania Hassan. Check out these awesome paintings that incorporate knitting. I love them! I think they would be perfect for my craft room.

I’ve been enjoying the Flickr group: get crafty!

Also check out Tiny Showcase. I ordered this one in June.

Creativity
10 Steps for Boosting Creativity – “Don’t watch TV. Experiments . . . show that watching TV causes your brain to slowly trickle out your ears and/or nose. It’s not pretty, but it happens.”

Surviving a day job with your creativity intact

I don’t know if it was the double shot of espresso in my latte or the time I spent with my friend Emily but I drove home tonight feeling so inspired. We talked a lot about photography and I just really feel like I’m supposed to develop my couples portfolio. We talked about me doing some pictures of Emily and her husband. I just feel like I have loads of ideas for cool couples shots. So I drove home talking a mile a minute to Josh on my cell phone. I decided that I’m going to do as many pictures of couples I know to expand that portion of my portfolio. I already have some specific ideas for my brother and his girlfriend and they don’t even know that they’re going to be models for me. I want to take pictures by old buildings, in alleys, by brick walls…my list could go on and on…

I have been addicted to this song by Hellogoodbye called “Oh, It is Love”. I think that has inspired me as well. Anyway, I’m excited to start on this. I think I could just keep rambling about this. This is me hopped up on caffiene, feeling really tired but very I.N.S.P.I.R.E.D. It’s a good feeling. More to come…

I was a busy little bee last night. Although I was a grump, Josh ran into town with me to pick up some things we needed. (For one, video tapes to tape Jess’s wedding!) We got home and I worked on some graduation party postcards I’m doing. I finally got them to print right… [side note: I seriously am a perfectionist.]

So while those were printing Josh and I worked on our OUT OF CONTROL cd collection. I don’t know how it happens … actually I do know how it happens… We don’t put cds back in the binders for like six months. I really need to do some revamping to get the new ones alphabetized but for now they’re semi-organized. After the cds were organized, we went through and pulled out music for Jess’s wedding reception. I volunteered to make some playlists of music for the dinner time. I love doing that stuff. The only problem is getting it done before I leave tomorrow!

Luckily I finished all of the wedding programs on Monday night. Whew. I talked to Jess last night and she was saying how she did pretty much nothing all evening! She played in make-up with a Mary Kay lady and chilled out. She says, “So basically you’re saying that you were more productive than the bride”. Um, yeah but that’s the way it should be just a few days before the wedding!

I was a busy little bee last night. Although I was a grump, Josh ran into town with me to pick up some things we needed. (For one, video tapes to tape Jess’s wedding!) We got home and I worked on some graduation party postcards I’m doing. I finally got them to print right… [side note: I seriously am a perfectionist.]

So while those were printing Josh and I worked on our OUT OF CONTROL cd collection. I don’t know how it happens … actually I do know how it happens… We don’t put cds back in the binders for like six months. I really need to do some revamping to get the new ones alphabetized but for now they’re semi-organized. After the cds were organized, we went through and pulled out music for Jess’s wedding reception. I volunteered to make some playlists of music for the dinner time. I love doing that stuff. The only problem is getting it done before I leave tomorrow!

Luckily I finished all of the wedding programs on Monday night. Whew. I talked to Jess last night and she was saying how she did pretty much nothing all evening! She played in make-up with a Mary Kay lady and chilled out. She says, “So basically you’re saying that you were more productive than the bride”. Um, yeah but that’s the way it should be just a few days before the wedding!

Today I feel like packin’ it up and going back to bed. No real reason. I mean, my day isn’t really going bad… I’ve had my coffee… The sun is even shining. Maybe because my bed is so incredibly comfortable. I feel like my life this past week has revolved around when I can go back to bed.

I’ve been working a lot on Jess’s Shower. I’m so excited for it! This is my first bridal shower to host. Right now I’m concentrating on the favors for everyone. Here is the invite I designed (ignore the squiggles):

You know what song I like that’s totally not me? “Control Myself” by LL Cool J. I mean, let’s face it, that guy is so smooth. I can’t help by sing along when that song comes on the radio. And then of course I laugh at myself by how ridiculous I’m sure I sound!

Me: Knock, Knock…
You: Who’s there?
Me: Control Freak
You: Co-
Me: Now you say “Control freak who?”.

I made it to Friday! Some weeks I feel like that’s cause for celebration. I don’t feel like doing a real post so I thought I would come up with a list of some things you may not know about me. Just something fun for a Friday.

So here they are:
-I wiggle my toes when I’m tense or nervous.
-I still think my dad could beat up your dad.
-I drink coffee everyday.
-If I don’t understand something I usually just smile and nod.
-I was sure that I would get married before my 25th birthday when I was in high school. (I made it by 38 days.)
-I almost always have gum and some sort of lip gloss with me.
-I giggle a lot, although I will usually deny it if someone points it out.
-By the time I was in Junior High I could forge my mom’s signature so well that she would have me write out checks for her.
-I hate feet.
-I always blare music and sing along when I’m alone in the car, even at stoplights. I once was singing to “I Like The Way You Move” by Outkast on the radio and a guy in a truck that passed me joined in. He even did some dancing.
-I once smoked a cigar with a friend and almost puked in Walmart later in the evening.
-If it was financially feasible I would love to have ten kids.
-I always want to clean the apartment after I watch home improvement shows.
-I love the circus even though I’m kind of afraid of clowns.
-Although most people say that my brother and I look alike, I honestly cannot see the resemblance.
-I cry whenever I see a marriage proposal on TV or in a movie…doesn’t matter who it is or how it’s done.
-I would wear flip flops everyday (even in the winter).
-I got my only detention ever during my Senior year of high school because I parked my car where there was no lines to park. I sat after school that day with my class’s Valedictorian and the class clown who also parked where they shouldn’t. Apparently the teacher that did the same was not made to do detention. I’m still bitter.
-I hate my teeth (the overbite, more specifically) so much that if we could afford it -I would get braces tomorrow.
-I quote movies constantly.
-Fridays and Saturdays are my favorite days of the week and I always live for the weekend.

Saturday Josh and I took his little sister, Jenna, to The Rocket Summer concert in St. Louis. Josh and I turned Jenna on to TRS around the time we started dating. We were so proud that she was listening to a slightly underground band. For her birthday we thought it would be perfect to take her to the TRS concert.

You may remember that Josh and I were just at The Creepy Crawl for a TRS concert last month. It was so great to see Bryce Avery perform again. He’s just so likeable! Jenna had the biggest smile on her face the whole time…it was great. We also caught most of hellogoodbye’s performance.

Here is what Bryce Avery says about Saturday (from his website): “I also want to thank everyone who came out to the recent tour with my buds Hellogoodbye that started directly after our headlining tour and ended last night with an epic show in St Louis which was such an awesome way to end the year.”

Alright, I’ll stop talking about TRS now. We took some pictures which you can see at flickr.

Last night Josh and I drove down to the Creepy Crawl in St. Louis with my brother and his girlfriend to go to a Rocket Summer concert. What? You’ve never heard of The Rocket Summer? Oh my goodness. Let me tell you about this guy…phenomenal. He writes everything, sings, and performs all of the instruments on each album.

Here is the description of him on his website:

“The Rocket Summer is a very original, piano/guitar filled melodic pop rock
and roll project that not only rocks the party but is filled with passion and
sincerity and has uniquely become a place of acceptance where everyone is
invited. “

I think his passion and sincerity are what struck me the most. It was just so obvious that he loved being up there and had such a good time doing it. Plus he seemed like the nicest guy… At one point he said how we were all friends there tonight and he was always thanking us. No Bryce, thank you! Do yourself a favor and check him out. You can listen to a few of his songs on Pure Volume. He’s coming back to the Creepy Crawl on December 17th and I think we’re going to go. He’s SO worth the three hour trip.