The Daily Challenge

Three words: Treat your self

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:32:12 PST

As a Parks and Rec enthusiast, I couldn't help but think of this clip from an episode earlier this season in which Tom and Donna celebrate their annual "Treat Yo Self" day. The episode is hilarious but more importantly, brings up a good point. Sometimes you just have to indulge in a bit of TLC to unwind. And honestly, who doesn't love some well-deserved pampering?

This thought actually stems from an accidental occasion last week in which for two days in a row I left my phone charger at work, and came home each evening feeling slightly disconnected and discombobulated with a dead battery and no chance for revival! (Have you ever left your phone at home and felt like you're missing something? It's the strangest thing.) Suddenly the phone calls I had to make and the tasks I'd stored away in my ColorNote app were unattainable, and I was left with no choice but to embrace it.

My unintentional "disconnect" from constantly checking emails, updating my Twitter status, or sending text messages left me with a freedom I don't often experience as I am constantly connected through two Smartphones, a laptop and an iPad - a self-confessed technology junkie I'll admit! In any case, it was with this new found free time that I decided to treat myself to an evening of setting aside the to-do list, turning off the computer and enjoying a book instead, and satisfying my pizza craving with a local award-winning pie that I'd only ever dreamed about trying. It was a relaxing mid-week break and while I typically do enjoy the hustle-and-bustle of the so-called daily grind, the change of pace was welcomed.

So with that, I challenge you to Treat Yo Self this week! Share your stories here.

--C

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Keep moving!

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:42:38 PST

Every week, Saturday and Sunday come and go and still to (mostly) everyone's surprise, Monday morning arrives. Without fail, the phrases I hear every week include:

"The weekend just wasn't long enough."
"Just a few more days until the weekend!"
"Hooray -it's Friday!"

OK yes, I do love the weekends. It's great to sleep in and have a bit of down time. However, as the other five days of the week take up more of my time - I think focusing on how to make these just as great is really important for having a quality of life. Counting down the minutes until the next weekend is overlooking all of the great things that Monday through Friday have to offer.

So for the past hour as I've been getting things in place for the week, I've played Mr. Scruff's "Get A Move On!" on repeat and I've never been more eager for a Monday morning! This eight minute song is guaranteed to get you movin' & groovin' and ready to take on whatever this week has to bring. Also, if you're a Spotify user, subscribe to my Good Morning Playlist for additional good-mood-jams.

How do you start your week off stress-free?

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Five minutes to re-energize the day

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:19:54 PST

My typical morning routine is timed to the exact number of minutes it takes me to get ready, grab a cup of coffee and a quick breakfast, and head out the door. It certainly is not the most relaxing way to begin the day and I often find myself wishing I had a couple of extra minutes. Herein lies the secret - not hitting the snooze button! It may seem obvious but when in that groggy-half sleep-state of mind, it is easy to convince yourself why you need those extra 300 seconds of sleep, when in fact it probably doesn't do much after an entire night of sleep. A new way to spend those extra five minutes may add an extra burst of energy to your morning which carries throughout the day.

Make breakfast. And no, having cereal in place of an on-the-go granola bar doesn't count. Try eggs, peanut butter and banana toast, or a protein shake to start the day out right. You may even ward off the 10:00 a.m. hunger to last until lunch!

Pump up the jams. My go-to playlist is Graffiti6 Pandora radio station. I find that leaving it on in the background is a great mood-booster and with favorites from Graffiti6, The Black Keys, Jimmy Eat World, and Cage the Elephant, you'll be ready to take on whatever the day has in store. Today's favorite is "A Little More Time" by Zox.

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Catch up with a friend. OK so maybe 6 a.m. isn't the ideal time for a phone call, but sending an email or writing a quick card to say hello may just make their day!

What adds a burst of energy to your morning?

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328 reasons to ride

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:37:45 PST

As I begin training for the Pan Ohio Hope Ride and chatting with others about the event, I am struck by the consistently supportive responses from everyone. The unfortunate truth often comes down to many people can relate to the devastating effects of cancer, and its life altering implications. And all I continue to remind myself during the days I am searching for motivation to get to the gym is the millions of lives touched by the American Cancer Society and their phenomenal work. (This overwhelming thought alone is an instant motivator.)

A few people close to me have recently been affected by the disease and I feel more compelled than ever to find a way to support each of them. So I've decided that while I'm no scientist, researcher, or million-dollar grant provider, I can write and share their stories. Three hundred and twenty eight stories, in fact. One to represent each mile along the four-day ride through Ohio.

And to do so, I'll need your help. Photos, quotes, stories, memories - anything you can share. I want to create a community of these inspirational stories as a reminder to "Celebrate Life."

Please pass this along and send your thoughts to TheDailyChallengeBlog@gmail.com

Peace & love.
-C

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Cookies for a Cause: Pan Ohio Hope Ride 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 20:03:35 PST

It is always around this time of the year I feel extra compelled to give back, find ways to get involved in the community, and set goals for the upcoming new year. I mainly associate this with the reality that I am often surrounded by people who go above and beyond to provide a happy holiday season to those in need, and I am uplifted by this compassionate attitude. In any case, as I was thinking about how I'd like to give back for the holidays, I committed to attending an informational networking meeting for the 2012 American Cancer Society Pan Ohio Hope Ride.

For those who are unfamiliar, the event is a four day, 328-mile bike ride from Cleveland to Cincinnati. It is the only multi-day cycling event of its kind benefiting the American Cancer Society and since its beginning six years ago, has raised over $1 million for Ohio's Hope Lodges and other critical programs to fight against cancer.

The event was this evening and in the short 90 minutes that I was there, something significant happened. As a brief background, earlier in the day I received news that a friend was recently diagnosed with cancer. It is never easy news to digest and more often than not, it seems that we are invincible to these sort of happenings until we are faced with them. I digress. In any case, I was feeling more compelled than ever to get involved with the ride after hearing the news and had high hopes for the event. Immediately upon entering the room everyone was immersed in conversation sharing stories, laughs, tears and training tips. It was like walking into a family room on a Sunday evening. Everyone was supportive, uplifting and passionate about the cause. It was a truly phenomenal occurrence to witness.

It was evident after speaking with participants, team captains and cancer survivors that I not only want to ride the 328 miles, but I want to share their stories with anyone and everyone who will listen.

I am reinstating the Cookies for a Cause initiative this month to start raising donations and awareness for the ride. I have a few holiday favorites (Hershey Kiss Cookies, Peanut Butter Cup Blossoms, and Chocolate Graham Cracker Toffee, to name a few) and will send an assortment to anyone who would like to donate $25 to the 2012 American Cancer Society Pan Ohio Hope Ride.

Send any questions to TheDailyChallengeBlog@gmail.com or send me a tweet. Keep spreading the holiday cheer!

-C

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Simply Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:25:58 PST

Sundays are typically filled with comforting traditions - family, friends, good food, football and relaxing. As it's the nearing the holidays today was spent venturing for the Perfect Christmas Tree. Among the many spindly Charlie-Brown-tree-types we found "the one" which has comfortably made its place in our home. I also ventured into trying a new recipe - fudgy pretzel brownies - a delicious combination of all of my favorite sweets in one gooey dessert. Yes I'd say it was a simply wonderful day.

Pause the hustle & bustle

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:03:44 PST

Yes, Thanksgiving is a couple of days away. Followed by Black Friday. Then weeks of shopping chaos. Then Christmas. Until suddenly it's all over and everyone breathes a sigh of relief...Maybe it's time to pause the madness for just a sec.

Take a moment to put down the shopping ad, set aside the to-do list and forget about the pumpkin pie you still have to bake. Enjoy these simply beautiful photos, stories and links.. and maybe you'll be reminded of the essence of the joys of life and the holiday season.

@TwitterStories - amazing stories of how Twitter has touched people's lives.
A dog's seeing eye dog - via one of my new favorite websites, 22 Words.

Brushfire Records (Jack Johnson, G. Love, Zee Avi & others) released a holiday album, This Warm December. I've had it on repeat since Starbucks introduced their red holiday cups earlier this month and am especially enjoying Jack Johnson's version of "Someday at Christmas."
...And just for a good laugh, the humorous website Sad and Useless

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Weekly jams: Gone country

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:43:03 PST

I'll admit, while I may not be country music's #1 fan, I can certainly appreciate talented artists. I had low expectations for tonight's CMA Awards and ended up glued to the TV screen after hearing Sara Evans' performance of "A Little Bit Stronger" at the beginning of the show. Hosted by Carrie Underwood and Braid Paisley for the fourth year in a row, the show was entertaining and jam-packed with a quality lineup. The show even included several unlikely duos (Matt Nathansan/ Sugarland and Lionel Richie/Darius Rucker to name a few.) The surprising non-country pair ups highlighted the multi-talented artists' capabilities and added a few unexpected entertaining moments. What I appreciated most about the show was that, unlike the Oscars or Emmys, the hosts didn't attempt to fill time with un-witty humor and rather focused on fitting in as many performances as possible... Which after all, isn't the music the whole reason people enjoy watching a music awards show in the first place?! In any case, to celebrate the brilliant performances tonight and my rediscovered appreciation for country musicians, this week's Wednesday Weekly Jams is a compilation of my favorites from the show.

Nominated in the new artist category, Thompson Square performed their hit "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not." Loved the performance, even though they did not win the award.
Another New Artist of the Year nominee, Eric Church, performed "Drink in My Hand." While it is a bit more country than I'm used to, I find the lyrics entertaining and catchy!
Nominated in five categories, Zac Brown Band performed a jazzy and soulful version of "Georgia on My Mind" on tonight's show. I don't have the video clip from the show, but a ZBB favorite of mine is "Keep Me In Mind."
Vocal Duo award nominee, The Civil Wars, have had a stellar past year. (Admittedly though I've always considered them in the indie/folk category and not country, so I was surprised to see their nomination.) I'm a huge fan of their entire "Barton Hollow" album, but would have to choose "Forget Me Not" as a favorite.
Last but not least, another unlikely duo of Rascal Flatts and Natasha Bedingfield teamed up to perform their new song "Easy." I heard it on the radio for the first time a few weeks ago and was hooked! I think the pop/country balance works well together and I've had this song on repeat since.

Did you watch the CMA's tonight? Any favorite country songs from 2011?

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Happy Monday...

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:14:15 PST

...bringing on the week in style!

Catchy tunes on TV

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:25:20 PDT

Two of my favorite things came together in beautiful harmony tonight - Gabe Dixon's "All Will Be Well" was featured in the newest episode of Parks & Rec. The combination of music in television shows, movies and commercials has always fascinated me and I often imagine what it'd be like to pick out one perfect song to fit a scene. Imaging rummaging through an endless library of millions and millions of song is both exhilarating and fascinating! In any case, kudos to the Parks & Rec music supervisor since the song was a great fit for the episode.

A few other songs recently featured on TV that I'm loving:

The Subaru honeymoon commercial and M. Ward's "Here Comes The Sun Again"

Peter Bjorn and John's "Second Chance" in a Bud Light lime commercial earlier this year.
The season 8 premiere commercial for HBO's Entourage this summer featured "High for This" by The Weeknd.
Chevy's new commercial debuted during the World Series with Ray Charles' version of "America the Beautiful."
Last but not least, my all-time favorite commercial/music pairing - Jet's "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" for the iPod.

What are your favorite songs discovered through TV shows or commercials? Check out the TV Commercial Songs blog for the latest and greatest songs on the tube.

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Weekly Jams

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:07:07 PDT

It's Wednesday. Maybe you need a pick-me-up to get through the week maybe you're having a fabulous week and just want some feel good tunes - but whatever the reason, the new Wednesday Weekly Jams section is being added to The Daily Challenge. Take a listen to this first post of the new section (and as always, your feedback is welcome - this is subject to change!) The Weekly Jams post will be a consistent way to highlight some of my favorite songs to get ya through the week. This week's theme is songs taken from recently released albums. Enjoy!

Florence + The Machine - "Never Let Me Go" The Grammy-award nominated singer released her sophomore album Ceremonials last week and it may be even better than Lungs! Hard to believe but true. I've had it on repeat the entire evening and can't get enough.
Coldplay - "Paradise" I highlighted the album Mylo Xyloto's unique marketing tactics in a post last week but overlooked the minor detail of the incredible new sound the band debuts on this album. I'm loving it. My one gripe? It isn't available on Spotify yet. Although the band definitely deserves the #1 spot in album sales they've earned since the release!
Ryan Adams - "Dirty Rain" The soulful singer/songwriter released the album Ashes And Fire at the beginning of of last month which I first fell in love with on NPR's first listen in September. While he has been out of the spotlight for a while, his bear-it-all lyrics and compassionate sound make for a truly incredible album fans will agree was well worth the wait.

What's your #1 most played on your iPod or that one song you can't seem to get out of your head? Send your suggestions to TheDailyChallengeBlog@gmail.com for consideration in next week's post!

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A-Z playlist project

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:09:56 PDT

To complete the A-Z playlist project, here are a few additional alt rock, indie & folk songs to enjoy in the morning:

"Strings" - Young The Giant

"Taller Children" - Elizabeth & the Catapult

"Up Up Up" - Givers

"Violet" - Thao With the Get Down Stay Down

"Wagon Wheel" - Old Crow Medicine Show

"When My Time Comes" - Dawes

"X & Y" - Coldplay

"You and Your Heart" - Jack Johnson

"You Belong To Me" - Cobra Starship

"Zorbing" - Stornoway

What songs get you moving and grooving in the morning? Spotify users, liisten to the rest of the playlist here.

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Music spotlight: Chris Bathgate

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 19:11:09 PDT

Recently featured on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series, singer/songwriter Chris Bathgate instantly won me over (in spite of being from Ann Arbor, Michigan - Buckeye fans, you'll understand the importance of this!) His new album, Salt Year, debuted earlier in 2011and is his fourth album to date. The single from Salt Year, "No Silver" is easily my favorite. The relaxing beat, resemblant of Bon Iver meets Ryan Adams, puts my mind to ease any time of the day as a perfectly meditative and contemplative harmony. This guy has an incredible voice and the instrumental aspect to his music is pitch perfect.

NPR summed it up best:

"[Chris] invests his songs with warm, rustic beauty — aided by strings, slide guitars and other instruments of emotional devastation — that makes everything too pretty to function as a true downer."

My only criticism is that he hails from the hometown to the University of Michigan. For those of you who aren't familiar with the famous Midwest rivalry... Maybe it's for the best. But in case you're curious, take a look here.

What are your favorite singer/songwriters to listen to on a rainy day?

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Music spotlight: The Sweet Remains

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:50:44 PDT

If you're a fan of Ray LaMontagne, Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers, The Head And The Heart or The Civil Wars... then you may like The Sweet Remains. Or, if you just like the soothing sound of a harmonious trio and acoustic guitar, this band is worth checking out. Ever since discovering their cover version of the song "So Lonely" yesterday through some random Spotify searching, I've had the band on repeat.

Like their Facebook page (and send them a comment - maybe they will visit your city!) Check out the videos below and submit your vote as a comment for your favorite of the two songs.

Would you see them perform live?

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Live from HOB: G. Love & Special Sauce with The Apache Relay

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:02:26 PDT

Saturday was a great night for music at the House of Blues, featuring The Apache Relay followed by G. Love & Special Sauce. I was absolutely hooked since hearing The Apache Relay a few weeks ago and could not wait to see the live show.

The indie/folk-inspired band, originally from Nashville, had the entire crowd jamming by the end of their "American Nomad" set. The lead singer, Michael Ford Jr., was easily the most energetic and entertaining aspect of the evening. He literally did not stand still the entire 45-minute set! He jumped from one side of the stage to the other, hopped on one leg, and completely let the music take over. It was clear that each member of the band truly loved and believed each word and note they sang and played. By their last song, everyone in the room was singing along and having a blast. My favorite song of the evening was "Home Is Not Places." BTW, check out their website for a free MP3 download.

G. Love released his album Fixin' to Die earlier this year and with its bluesy-catchy-beats, I was definitely looking forward to seeing a live performance. He did not disappoint! He opened the set with Milk & Sugar - a personal favorite from his latest album - and did not lose energy or enthusiasm for two hours. What impressed me the most was his amazing talent for engaging the audience (mostly a mix of middle-aged hard core fans since the 90s) and switching between a harmonica, acoustic and electric guitar, blues, hip hop, and even covering Johnny Cash at one point. Talk about multi-talented!

During the encore, he performed a few songs with two of the members from The Apache Relay and I honestly think I could have listened to them all night. I'm hoping they'll just form one big G. Lovin' band and go on tour as a single group! Maybe in 2012?

Check out The Apache Relay on Facebook and G. Love & Special Sauce here to find out when they are coming to a city near you.

Life's delights

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:09:34 PDT

Delightful things come in many forms. Today I'm enjoying a few good tunes, a cup of my favorite cinnamon apple tea, catching up with friends and of course my favorite pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. What are some of your favorite ways to de-stress and enjoy the weeknights?

Suggestions for the A-Z playlist project? Send 'em my way at TheDailyChallengeBlog@gmail.com. Also, don't forget that you can still donate to Cookies for a Cause in exchange for a delicious batch of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. The rainy, chilly weather will make for an excellent excuse to curl up with a few cookies this weekend and these ones are guilt free! (No nutrition facts necessary, just know that they are for a good cause!)

A couple of things to look forward to in the next week:

A review of The Apache Relay / G. Love show at the House of Blues on 10/23
Music spotlight of one of my favorite singer/songwriters, Chris Bathgate
A couple of (hilarious) haunting Halloween songs
Blogs to check out
Holiday music preview 2011 (yep, it's almost that time of the year!)

Have a great weekend.
-C

A-Z playlist project

"Maps" - The Front Bottoms

"Naked Kids" - Grouplove

"Never Had Nobody Like You" - M. Ward ft. Zooey Deschanel

"OK, It's Alright With Me" - Eric Hutchinson

"Power Hungry Animals" - The Apache Relay

"Quiet Little Voices" - We Were Promised Jetpacks

"Ready for Confetti" - Robert Earl Keen (If you've ever received a card from me, I think you'll appreciate this one.)

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Coldplay + social media = #winning

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:17:25 PDT

Coldplay released the video for "Paradise" today (check it out here) and let me start out by saying I absolutely love the song and am eagerly anticipating the album Mylo Xyloto due out next week. However, I do have mixed feelings about the video. I can't get past the ridiculous elephant costume (although I have to admit that the cinematography is gorgeous, and I think I'll be dreaming of paradise tonight as well.) Since most of the video is an implied story, I am not a fan of the lyrics written out on pieces of cardboard as I think it's a bit too literal. But to be honest, Chris Martin can get away with anything in my book and at the end of the day, I will still continue to watch it and share it. Maybe it's the "wow" factor we all crave. In the YouTube era of videos when we are used to watching homemade webcam productions, I guess anything goes!

The band is running a pretty cool marketing campaign to spread the word about their new album. They are taking advantage of the nifty album cover to allow fans to create their own version with their initials to use as a Facebook or Twitter avatar. What better way to personalize your brand for your fans and initiate a grassroots movement for publicity? In our ever-connected-social-media-infiltrated world, standing out is important. In particular, the music industry is having a challenging time profiting and has to be creative. I'd say this idea is #winning!

Any other cool music marketing campaigns you've noticed lately?

In the meantime, enjoy the additions to the A-Z playlist project below, and continue sending suggestions to TheDailyChallengeBlog@gmail.com for your favorite morning tunes. Subscribe to the playlist on Spotify here.

"Gone in the Morning" - Newton Faulkner

"Helena Beat" - Foster the People

"Islands" - The xx

"Just One Look" - Doris Troy

"Kick Drum Heart" - The Avett Brothers

"Learnalilgivinanlovin" - Gotye

"Live in a Van" - Burlap to Cashmere

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Wake up with the A-Z playlist project

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:50:47 PDT

My morning routine typically consists of checking emails and finding something new to listen to on my commute to work. Often times, I'll check out what my friends have shared or songs in their top artists list. I usually need something upbeat, catchy and fun to keep from dozing off on the train. The trouble is, there are so many good ones to choose from! I sometimes find myself switching between genres and artists, providing a challenge in building playlists. Ah, what a glorious problem.

I'm building a playlist from A-Z to feature my favorite tracks right now for starting each day. I'll add a couple at a time (and am open to suggestions - send me a note at TheDailyChallengeBlog@gmail.com with your top tunes and I'll gladly take a listen.) If you use Spotify, feel free to subscribe to the playlist here. Otherwise, enjoy the songs below and keep sending suggestions my way.

Also, thank you for your continued support of Cookies for a Cause. I will be accepting donations in exchange for cookies through the online fundraising page "Celebrate Life" until the end of October for Breast Cancer Awareness month, and if you'd like to find out how you can help, visit this post for more information.

A-Z playlist project:

"Anna Sun" - Walk the Moon

" Behold the Hurricane" - The Horrible Crowes

"Cruel and Beautiful World" - Grouplove

"Don't Gotta Work it Out" - Fitz & the Tantrums (Just published this new video earlier this week, definitely worth watching. It will convince you to buy a ticket to their concert next time they're in town!)

"Dark Autumn Hour" - Frontier Ruckus

"Escapee" - Architecture in Helsinki

"Free" - Graffiti6

What are your favorite artists to jam to in the early morning hours? Tweet me with the link to your current favorite song and I'll consider spotlighting them in a future post.

-C

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Celebrate life... with cookies!

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 19:11:11 PDT

The Celebrate Life donation page is now live. Please visit this link if you would like to make a donation and support Cookies for a Cause. I am in a baking mood this weekend and would love to whip up some Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies!

I appreciate all of your support and kind words for this effort.

As a related side note, I saw the movie 50/50 today. Based on a true story, the movie follows a young man's journey with cancer and how he manages to cope with it. Now, more than ever, I am inspired to give back and I hope Cookies for a Cause is the opportunity to get started!

Have a great weekend.

-C

Cookies for a cause

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:15:12 PDT

A blog I subscribed to, Peace, Love & Bagels, shared a post earlier this year about raising money for Bike MS Pedal to the Point by asking readers for donations. In exchange for a contribution, the blogger sent a batch of her famous chocolate chip cookies. (If you were sitting here right now you would probably see a light bulb go off above my head.) As you may remember, I participated in this ride a year ago and had an absolute blast. I am thrilled to see other people sharing their enthusiasm for the event!

In any case, as it is currently National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (which also so happens to be the season for my you-definitely-can't-eat-just-one Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies) I had a thought. Readers who makes a donation to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure of $30 or more by the end of the month will receive a batch of my cookies as a thank you.

As we've all been affected by cancer in some way, I'd like to share my story.

A few years ago a close family friend passed away to breast cancer. To this day, I remember her uncanny skill for gardening, unwavering compassion and unsurpassed skill for baking. Her famous cakes would outshine anyone's homemade dessert at neighborhood block parties and a plate of her cookies left no trail of crumbs to be found. So while I will be the first to admit that my cookies are no rival to Mary's, I would like to live her motto of "celebrate life" by sharing one of the gifts she instilled in me - a joy for baking and sharing with others.

I realize times are tough and asking for donations is a stretch. Consider skipping the latte this week or asking a couple of friends to pool a few bucks together. Every penny counts and I know collectively, we can work to find a cure. If you would like to make a donation, please email me at TheDailyChallengeBlog@gmail.com.

In the meantime, please pass along this post to any cookie enthusiasts you know! I appreciate your support.

-C

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Song of the week: Fun ft. Janelle Monáe "We Are Young"

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:41:20 PDT

Fun (formed by the frontman of former-band The Format) and Janelle Monáe team up to bring you this brilliant and catchy duet, "We Are Young." It's been on repeat for the past few weeks but in particular this week, I can't get enough. I'll admit I was even belting this one out on the commute to work today. See if you aren't doing the same thing by the second time you listen!

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The blog is a changin'...

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:19:54 PDT

Happy Monday, readers! To start the week off right, I spent some time adding a couple of new features and updates to The Daily Challenge blog.

The Scene & Heard page links to any music-related post I've shared, and the Wise Words page includes favorite quotes. (Side note, but I am always looking for great content to add to the site. If you're interested in contributing or just would like to say hi, email me at TheDailyChallengeBlog@gmail.com.) My blog roll is also updated on the right hand side of the page including a few of my favorite daily reads.

Oh, and the color and font scheme is completely changed. It was time for something new!

More tomorrow...until then, enjoy a new song by Indigo Girls - "Share the Moon."
-C

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Fabulous favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 19:25:53 PDT

Fall is officially here and the leaves are starting to change! It was a beautiful day to be outside and surprisingly my phone's camera was able to capture the gorgeous colors in the scenery. Sundays are great for recharging for the week and spending time outside is one of my favorite ways to do that. On that note, the hike today gave me the time to think about a few of my favorite things I'm currently enjoying.

A great blog, "The Traveling Writer."
Silly children's poems. Maybe it is my memories of reading Shel Silverstein as a child and the nostalgia, but I came across the book on my shelf the other day and couldn't help but flip through it. Here's one of my favorites:

All the Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
Layin' in the sun,
Talkin' 'bout the things
They woulda-coulda-shoulda done...
But those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All ran away and hid
From one little did.

Parks & Rec. It is my favorite show and I only recently started watching it. Last week's episode (available on Hulu if you missed it) was hilarious! If you're looking for a good laugh, I recommend it.
City & Colour - "Against the Grain." The lyrics perfectly describe what we all often question - how do we follow our heart?

Have a fabulous fall week. Until next time..

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A brave and brilliant life

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:35:38 PDT

Steve Jobs devoted his life to defining technology as we know it. His innovation and creativity shaped the music industry with iPods and forever changed the way we do business with tablet computers, among many other things. I remember my first computer at age 5 was an Apple and it introduced me to the wonderful world of technology. I've never looked back.

He courageously lived each day as if it were his last and followed his dreams without letting anything stand in his way. His life is a reminder to each of us to define what it is that truly matters most.

His impact on the world is lasting and remarkable.

Take a moment to read about his life and some of his most memorable quotes.

Live from Beachland Ballroom: The Head And The Heart

noreply@blogger.com (Candice) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:59:56 PDT

Last night The Head And The Heart returned to Cleveland (after their summer show with The Decemberists) at the Beachland Ballroom. If a single person walked in to the venue with a doubt in their mind about how the night was going to go, I am positive they left with a desire to be the seventh member of the band, or at the very least a permanent groupie. In any case, the show was phenomenal and easily one of the best I have seen in 2011. The small venue, voted best live music scene in Cleveland, provided an intimate setting of less than 200 people. Yet again, another reason why indie concerts are some of the best - the audience is practically serenaded by the band. The openers, The Devil Whale followed by Thao with The Get Down Stay Down, set the stage for an evening of high expectations.

2011 has been a big year for the band as they signed with Seattle's Sub Pop Records, released their self titled album and headlined their own tour. And this is just the beginning.

A highlight of the evening was when both opening bands joined TH&TH on stage for an incredible version of "Lost in My Mind" - my personal favorite. As if the 45-minute set wasn't enough, the encore performance of "Gone" had everyone in the audience singing along and tapping their feet. For anyone who enjoys folk music, singer/songwriters, quality entertainment or talented musicians, then this lineup is a top choice. And the best part? Everyone in the band was super chill and went out of their way to mingle with fans afterward. Josiah even rocked a fan's Browns' hat for a brief period of time during the show. Five stars in my book.

Listen to The Head And The Heart here.