Help my Friends, Help Yourself

....to this excellent album.

So, if you are not a big music fan, you can tune out this post, but if you are a person who loves to discover new music, then you should definitely check out Damion Suomi & the Minor Prophets. 

I know, I know, everyone has a friend who is in some band, but I promise, these guys are for real. Yes, I tend to love them because I've known a lot of them forever and they played at our wedding reception (mostly same guys, different band.) But I would love their music even if I didn't know them. Or if I knew them to be a bunch of bastards. Good thing they aren't. (p.s. My husband sings background on a couple of the songs on the album.)

The album was just released today and it is already #8 on iTunes singer/songwriter chart. It's inevitable that they will move higher than that, but I'm doing my part by spreading the word here. Plus, I really want them to at least move above that silly Steve Martin bluegrass album. (WTH Steve?)

You can also buy it and listen to samples on Amazon. Which is very cool, it just doesn't help my Steve Martin mission. 

Also, if you really like music, particularly live music, you should catch them on the tour they are currently on-

Actually, first watch how much fun they are live on this video, then see the tour dates here to see if they are coming near you. 

On the Interwebs

I really love these dripping wall murals by Ben Slow.

This cereal box scenery (with downloads) is just about the funnest.

This might be my new front-runner in the search for a nursery print.

2 guilty pleasure songs, powers combined, making your life better.




I've been thinking about making new curtains using this genius technique.

Do you love horseradish like me? Here's only about 90 things we can try.




Let's be honest, fashion week in China always looks way more fun than it's NY counterpart.

And one of the million reasons little girls are awesome:

(via.)




Happy weekend. Have a foolish day :)

3 Things to Look Forward To.

We are going to see the Civil Wars tomorrow night. If you don't know them, you should probably listen to this song. Then you should probably love it.





Reds Opening Day is tomorrow. I would love to take Hendrix downtown for the parade, but it's going to be pretty cold and dreary, and Nick is working lunch anyway. But I can't wait to take him to a game soon. We took him a lot 2 years ago, when he was tiny (he was born on opening day), but not at all last season when he just would have been a pain to look after in the ballpark. I'm thinking this year he will be able to appreciate at least a few innings. He is really obsessed with "bee-boo bats" lately.

And finally, these perfect baby shoes are on their way from this shop. I spotted them a few days ago and caved last night. How could I not?  Per. Fect. 

On The Interwebs

I really love this collection of past pictures set against their present-day scenes. Makes me want to attempt it with some of my childhood photos next time I'm in Florida.

Really cool iphone cases. You can upload your own image to be printed on them.



Look at the beautiful mug rugs Tara made out of some of my scraps from the exchange. Gorgeous! I didn't know I needed mug rugs, but I do now.

Artist Tara Donovan makes the coolest pieces from mundane things like buttons and styrofoam cups. I love this kind of stuff. (Thanks Janee.)



I want to make an itty bitty city. 

Sweet Paul kid's edition, I love you. Just the recipes in this online mag delight me. Nay, even just the photos of the recipes.



And you must watch this precious 91-year-old woman talk about creating and her culture.







And guess what glorious, wonderful, scrumptrulescent thing happened yesterday!? The UPS man brought my brand new Brother sewing machine!! I can't wait to play with it all weekend and tell you more next week!

Perfect No-Mayo Egg Salad

I'm not sure exactly where my hatred of Mayonnaise comes from. I didn't get it from my family, because I remember that ominous jar always being in the fridge when I was young. I think my dislike is only about half because of the taste. I feel like if I ate any amount it would coat my throat with loathing and make my voice sound like the Target Lady. The other 79% of my dislike just comes from the way it looks in the jar- all jiggly and unholy.

Despite this, I do love _______ salad sandwiches; chicken, tuna and eggy-egg. Today I had the strong (hormonal?) urge to whip this up, and it is quite delicious. One for the mayo-haters.

4 hard-boiled eggs

2 small celery stalks or one large diced

about a quarter of a large cucumber diced

a couple spoonfuls of dill relish

small handful of sliced almonds (or pine nuts would be good. I really love pine nuts.)

JUST enough Italian dressing to get everything conglomerated

few shakes of parmesan cheese

Slap it on some bread and grind a little fresh pepper on it. That is a good sandwich. 

Hendrix wasn't crazy about it, but he did eat about three bites. That usually means if I give it to him 2 or 3 more times he can be won over. 

In other food news, I am quite excited to try making this hot chorizo dip for game day festivities tomorrow- 

And because my mind works in assorted cultural references and analogies, I can't get the Target Lady out of my head now-

P.S. I don't know if you knew this about me, but I love JT unashamedly. 

Happy weekending!

Put a Bird On It!

This video cracks me up. Aren't we this ridiculous sometimes in the crafting world? You could really replace bird with deer, owl, unnecessary ruffle, whatever the next trend is...Of course I'm guilty of it too. (Stick a doily on it! Stick a mustache on it! Make an obvious tutorial about it!)

What good are we if we can't pull the that mod-podged stick out of our butts and laugh at ourselves?

Video Test (with awesome video)

Saw it first here.

Youtube has done something different with their video coding and I am having trouble posting vids to the photog blog, which is wordpress. Blogger, surprisingly, seems to have no trouble. Anyway, how fun is this video?

Childhood in the Suburbs

I've already told you I think the new Arcade Fire album is amazing.


But I just had an experience that takes it to another level.


Artist Chris Milk created an interactive film that is a customizable music video to "We Used to Wait." It actually uses Google maps images to take you down your childhood street, to the very house you grew up in.


It is brilliant.


I tried it, not knowing what would happen. I had a very good childhood in Florida with lots of running and playing outside and memories with family. But I haven't been to that house in years. Just seeing it during the song made me a little emotional. There is something sad about the fact that you can never be a child again, I guess. The experience ends with a chance to write your childhood self a letter while the song  and experience is still going on. You don't have time to think, you just write and draw. Then you can choose to send the postcard in and it might be used in Arcade Fire's tour.


Here is mine:

I think I'm going to go do it again....right here.

Garth and Kat are my FAVES.

Remember a few years ago when SNL went thru a dark age? So glad it's funny again. And thankful for Hulu.




"We came all the way from Epcot!"

Toddlers just gotta dance.

So we don't watch TV in our house, but have recently introduced Hendrix to the wonders of youtube (not all of the wonders, mind you.) It's a double edged sword- a quick video here and there is a great distraction when I need him to, um, be distracted. But then when video time is over he has to be distracted again or else a big tantrum ensues. Also, he now thinks every computer and iphone in the world exists exclusively for him to watch videos, and he starts dancing and whining as soon as he sees one. (Cue all parents marveling at how babies these days can use phones and computers... then we all realize what geezers we are for saying it.)

This is by far the best kid's video I have found yet on youtube. HG goes nuts for it, and I don't find it terribly annoying- the perfect combo.



A close second-




Anyone know any other good ones? They are hard to find. The annoying techno gummy bear song, however, is easy to find in a dozen languages. SO WEIRD.

LOL-ing out loud laughing loud really loudly. LOL.

I love improv everywhere. So funny... and not like whose line is it type of improv, I kind of hate that stuff. I know, I know- snob. But you have to be distinguishing about your improv.

Have you seen these kids yet?!?!

I love this song. I love these kids singing it. Awesomeness.



Or would you prefer Coldplay?

Lady Gaga?

Journey?

The Cure??

Bjork?!?!?

Jay-Z?!?????

There are so many more to love, just go look around their youtube channel.

Virtual Field Trip

Let's go to the MoMA. It will only take two minutes.





Happy weekend! (found here.)