The Postal Service

Okay, okay... I know I've probably gushed enough about the Postal Service lately, but I had to share this fun little video about the duo and the making of Give Up (the 10th anniversary album of Give Up is out today!)

And when did Ben Gibbard get so cute? Probably when Zooey broke his awkward little heart.

Via NPR

Silver & Gold

Okay, I know I'm breaking the cardinal Holiday rule by talking about Christmas before Thanksgiving... but I just can't help it. This morning, as I was working on my Christmas Spotify playlist, I discovered Sufjan Stevens' new Christmas collection: Silver & Gold.

The collection, divided into five EPs, is an interesting compilation of traditional carols and original songs that feature a mix of banjo, piano, flute, and many other instruments blended with experimental electronic beats. In typical Sufjan fashion, the songs swing from angelic carols to songs that deal with topics of holiday consumerism and greed.

If you're looking for a nontraditional mix of Christmas music, I suggest adding Silver & Gold to your playlist. My favorites so far are "The Midnight Clear," "Angels We Have Heard on High," and a particularly beautiful rendition of "Let it Snow!" So good.

Happy Summer!

Summer is officially here! It seems like summertime is all I ever write about lately, but I just can't help it. Everything is warm and moving and so full of life. The sunshine, the green grass, the breeze off the lake... summer is my favorite season by far.

I have a little tradition once summer hits that's honestly a bit of a guilty pleasure: anytime I get in my car, I roll the windows down and listen to Alabama at full blast. Their greatest hits CD is in heavy rotation from June to September and Christopher hates it. I have a few favorite songs that I turn to time and again, but my all-time favorite is Dixieland Delight. The tempo change at the end gets me every time.



Did you enjoy that twangy guitar? How about the cheesy, poor quality 1980s footage? The southern sweethearts? And that awkward makeout scene at the end? Fantastic.

Let me tell you a little something about my roots... I was born in Oregon, grew up in Alabama, finished growing in Indiana, went to college in Illinois, and now reside in Michigan. Even though I've spent majority of my life in the northern Midwest, my southern roots run pretty deep, y'all. Boiled peanuts and sweet potato pie. Bright pink azalea bushes and hunting for crawfish in the creek. All you can eat catfish and fried okra.

When I listen to Alabama, I'm reminded of all my favorite southern things and family road trips in our blue Aerostar minivan, where the Alabama tape was played on repeat along with Billy Joel and Raffi. To be honest, aside from a few hits from the 90s that remind me of my grandpa (and Taylor Swift, who am I kidding), I'm not much of a country music fan, but I think I will always love Alabama. So what if I'm the only 20-something that feels this way (aside from my brothers, that is.)

Today also happens to be the longest day of the year. Are you doing anything special to celebrate? Or am I the only one who celebrates the most random things like they're holidays? Chris and I will be spending our evening in his sister's pool -- and with this week's 90 degree highs, there's not a better day for it!

Somebody That I Used To Know

This song. On repeat in my head. All day long.

We Are Young

Have you heard the single "We Are Young" by Fun. yet? It's been playing on repeat in my head all week. A friend of Christopher's shared it with us last week when it was a free single on iTunes, and I can't get enough of it. The music video isn't quite what I imagined (no sunshine and open fields) but it's definitely worth a watch. Or three.



Sometimes, between marriage, work and making ends meet, I need to be reminded that I'm still young. At 24, I may be done with my childhood but I have my whole life ahead of me. Anyone else feel that way? Listen to this song and be reminded... it's hard not to feel invincible when the chorus breaks out.

This is going to be my summer ballad... windows down, hair whipping in the wind.

Holiday Tunes

It may still be November, but Christmas is in full swing in my little world and I love it. This of course, means Christmas music. Lots of it. Aside from A Very She & Him Christmas, these albums have been my go-to favorites for years now...

1. A Very She & Him Christmas - She & Him  2. Songs for Christmas - Sufjan Stevens  

3. Christmas EP - Sleeping at Last  4. A Charlie Brown Christmas - Soundtrack  

5. Maybe this Christmas Tree - Various  6. Christmas with the Rat Pack - The Rat Pack

Christopher and I have a gigantic holiday playlist (appropriately titled CHRISTMAS!!!) with a whole slew of musical Christmas goodies: Wham!, Coldplay, Lady Gaga, the Weepies. It played on loop all weekend as we trimmed the tree and decked the halls. Admittedly, we've been listening to Christmas music for weeks now. We haven't busted out the eggnog or gift wrap just yet, but it's definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Inspired by this post by Jaime from A Pair of Pears.

Simon and Garfunkel: Greatest Hits

Happy belated Halloween! Did you dress up this year? Chris and I went to a friend's costume party on Saturday as Simon and Garfunkel, a la their greatest hits album:

And if I do say so myself, we totally nailed it...

Amazingly enough, we had nearly everything for this costume. Both of the jackets were Chris' and I borrowed the shirt from his mom. The Garfunkel wig was the only blonde (white) afro we could find, and it was massive... we trimmed it down to about half its size. I could honestly make another wig with all the scraps we have. Totally worth it, though.

Unfortunately, hardly anyone at the party knew who Simon and Garfunkel were. What has become of my generation? When we listed off a few of their hits, someone responded, "Oh, I thought the Beatles sang that." No. The Beatles did not sing the Sound of Silence. It practically broke my heart... I bought my first Simon and Garfunkel album in seventh grade. You know the Beatles didn't sing the Sound of Silence, right? Right??

Anyway, I hope you had a great Halloween. Onward to Thanksgiving! :)

The Dog Days Are Over

Is it really Monday again? Last week was as stressful as it was awesome, filled with car problems, a second job interview and a sequential job offer (!!!), a day trip to Illinois to visit my dear friends Abby and Sarah, some tasty BBQ ribs on Father's Day, and not enough sleep.

Since I received the job offer on Thursday, I've been playing "Dog Days Are Over" on repeat. I suppose you could call it my full time employment ballad. And who can resist a song with handclaps? Not me, that's for sure.  

Did you watch the video? Interesting, right? Not exactly what I'd expect from Florence + the Machine... but I love the song, regardless. It makes me happy.

The Cave

I can't get this song out of my head, and that's a-okay.

Mumford & Sons "The Cave"

Oh, Mumford & Sons. Four young men from West London in their early twenties, with fire in their bellies and romance in their hearts (or so their biography says.)  Featuring lyrics drawn from Shakespeare and Steinbeck, banjos, manly harmonies, and lead singer Marcus Mumford's raw and stirring voice, what's not to love?

Go buy their album, Sigh No More, if you don't already have it.