Kick List: Jazzy July

1 Dinner Parties:

I am such a nutty hostess and I absolutely love to throw dinner parties. It works out perfectly: Brett is a great cook, I am good at making things pretty, and our friends and family love to eat. It’s the greatest set-up ever. Hopefully someday I can make the parties even better when I have more time and more funding– but for now I’m left with only my creativity. I will have to start documenting some of our dinner parties with the food, decor, people, so on and so forth. With the move we haven’t been able to have people over lately, but after the move…oh, it’s on.

2 Bagels with Cream Cheese:

I have such bitter-sweet feelings about bagels– for starters, they are delicious, but in terms of health…they really aren’t the best for you. They are high in calories, contain significant amounts of saturated fats and one bagel is the equivalent of three to four slices of bread. But, all of that aside, bagels are great. Last week, I had my first bagel with cream cheese (I always did peanut butter or butter) and I am hooked. It was a blueberry bagel with a little bit of strawberry cream cheese– yum yum! So now that I’m eating healthy, I “treat” myself to a bagel every once in awhile and the whole cream cheese topping is a new kick for me!

3 Architecture in Helsinki:

I received a copy (a free one) of an Architecture in Helsinki CD and I honestly wasn’t sure what to think. It was truly unique and unlike a lot of things I had heard before, so I think my brain didn’t know how to properly translate it. But…after listening to it because Brett plays it in the morning, it started to really grow on me via getting stuck in my head.  I posted a video of one of my favorite songs, “That Beep“, and I encourage you to first play the video and not watch it and then watch it. The video is weird and a bit distracting if you’ve never heard the song before, but the random video fits them perfectly. Listen to them, love them!

4 Do-it-Yourself Magnets:

I’m sort of in love with switching out the magnets on my fridge with either magnets that I’ve found while out and about, or even better–ones that I’ve made myself using magnetic strip, like these Avery Printable Magnet Sheets. I’m a basic crafter and these are right up my alley– they’re easy to use and you can turn pretty much anything and everything into a piece of fridge art. Just be careful what you make into a magnet, let me give you an example of this. Several years ago, my Mom was testing out her new camera phone and snapped a not-so-flattering-but-hilarious picture of my Nana. Well, because the picture made me laugh so much, I made it into a fridge magnet. Long story short, she came over and saw it and was none to pleased with it’s presence on my fridge, but has a good sense of humor and granted me permission to keep it up there, hoorah! But because I won’t put it up here for all to see, there’s a cute-as-hell Anne Taintor magnet to take it’s place.

5 Pitchmen–Tribute to Billy Mays:

The Discovery Channel has been doing a marathon of Pitchmen as a tribute to the life and times of Billy Mays. I actually was really upset to hear that Billy Mays died because I think he seemed like such a nice guy and I was enjoying the show Pitchmen. The Discovery Channel has been airing a lot of really sad/uplifting specials about his life and it kind of made me step back and think, “Wow…he was a celebrity from doing infomercials“. That has to be such a hard gig to land and he managed to do it and be incredibly successful. I just really liked the guy and it’s sad to see him go, but we’ll all remember his yelling voice. My little tribute is sort of late compared to all the rest, but at least I got it in there.

My Top 5 Favorite Desserts

—The Sweet Tooth Edition

1 Carrot Cake:

I get a lot of beef for liking carrot cake because a lot of people question the “dessert title” because it has a vegetable in it (and who wants to eat a veggie in their dessert?). But– when done correctly– I think that carrot cake is one of the most delicious things in the dessert world. In fact, I sort of consider myself to be a carrot cake aficionado. In Columbus, my favorite carrot cake is the 10-layer Carrot Cake at Mitchell’s Ocean Club. It is huge (it takes me at least two days to eat all of it) and it is perfection. I can’t be the only person that likes carrot cake, right…!?

2 Bananas Foster:

This is another one of those desserts that is either delicious or really gross– I’ve never had just an “okay” bananas foster. Bananas Foster is a dessert made from bananas and vanilla ice cream, with the sauce made from butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, dark rum, and banana. You put all of the ingredients in a skillet, pour in the rum and then light it on fire and let it all blend together to make one delicious dessert. If it’s not lit on fire, it’s just really not bananas foster to me.

3 Strawberry Shortcake:

I am very, very picky about my Strawberry Shortcake. I do not like it when they make it with a biscuit or a cookie because the flavor is too overpowering for me. I prefer mine to be made with a pound cake or sponge cake, fresh strawberries in a strawberry sauce, vanilla ice cream and then cool whip on top. Mm… delicious, it’s one of my favorite summertime desserts, especially because the strawberries are the best in this season. My favorite Strawberry Shortcake is homemade because you can customize all of the ingredients to make sure that everything is just right– and of course, that you’re using sponge cake or pound cake!

4 Cheesecake:

I am a sucker for cheesecake– oh my gosh. There are so many different types of cheesecake, too! The American Style which is basically cream cheese, the New York Style which is similar to the American style but it uses heavy cream and eggs, the Chicago Style which is hard on the outside and soft on the inside, Pennsylvania Dutch with the use of cottage cheese, and Roman style that uses honey and ricotta cheese…just to name a few. I prefer the New York Style above them all and I’m pleased to report that I’ve tried all of the ones listed!

5 White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies:

I’ve been told that I could possibly be the human, real life version of Cookie Monster. While I think there are plenty of other people out there that fit the better far better, I can admit that I am a nut over cookies, especially cookies with delicious nuts. I first had this type of cookie at Max & Erma’s and I’ve been a fan ever since. My mom actually whipped up a delicious batch of these cookies for Christmas and I ate a ridiculous amount only to realize that this has to be my favorite type of cookie. Mmm. . but I won’t turn down a plain old chocolate chip, either!

Top 4 Reasons That I Prefer the “Hermit Lifestyle”

—During Red, White and Boom

1 Location, Location, Location:

I live downtown, I get home by driving through the middle of the city on a daily basis. For this reason, I am annoyed by my location and the fact that it seems like everywhere around the downtown vicinity is a “prime location” for fireworks watching. People set up camp on the side of the road and pretty much anywhere and everywhere that there’s a good shot of the skyline at night. I can’t even go to the store because they have a Red, White and Boom party in the parking lot and close early!

2 Schweaty, Schweaty People:

If there is one thing in this world that I cannot handle well it is a mass of sweaty, smelly people. And if I had to describe Red, White and Boom in two words I would use sweaty and smelly. I almost wish that they had deodorant kiosks around the streets to hand out to people who wanted it and more importantly– needed it.

3 The Rude Factor:

This event seems to pull out all of the rude people in the surrounding area and put them right smack dab in the middle of the action. Grown adults push children out of the way to catch a better glimpse of the fireworks. Drunk adults stumble over people…sober adults do the same. People seem to forget that the show isn’t in their honor and it’s for everyone to enjoy.

4 It’s on TV.

Yep…

I’m just anti-large schweaty crowds, what can I say? I’ll tell you what I can say– I’m staying home and eating pizza and avoiding downtown traffic like the plague. But, I mean, if people are new to Columbus I encourage them to go or at least watch it on TV because it is really a magical experience (especially if you’re indoors in a hotel room)!

TCC Red Flag Regulations

—Taken from actual Craigslist headlines…

1 “Great location in a nice, quiet neighborhood“

2 “Beautiful unit with modern updates“

3 “Immaculate unit for the discriminating renter“

4 “The Chosen One“

5 “AMAZING RACE contestant’s condo for rent–very cool living space!”
(Brad and Victoria of Season 14..fyi. Oh, and let me continue– one picture of the exterior of the unit, two pictures of Brad and Victoria. The post is signed by Victoria herself.)

6 “Upscale Duplex“

1 Life: This category is going to cover– yep, you guessed it– my life. I don’t have one of those crazy interesting lives that make for great biographies, but I do have little events that happen that might be of interest and more importantly, it’ll shed a bit more light on who Morgan Howard is. But– I am very particular with my “life” content; you aren’t going to read about how I just saw a red cardinal and I made a wish on it, because quite frankly: who the hell cares? It will be things where I’d make it a point to tell someone in a daily conversation. Oh, and of course more Liam…

2 Music: Like most of you– I love music, specifically indie music, but I’ve been considering bringing more of an eclectic blend into the mix. Eventually, this might branch out into entertainment as a whole, but for now– music music music. I always love the conversation that springs out of the music article.

3 Scraps: It is what it is– scraps. Interesting things that can’t really be categorized as anything other than just scraps of information that make for a good read. Most of the blogs that I’ve been writing lately can fall under scraps and I really (times a billion) love writing these. Who knows, in the future, it may just take over to be the overall content of Mo-Ho.com.

Horoscopes

Aries

1 March 21 — April 19:

Aries are noted for courage and leadership qualities, primarily because you are always ready for action. The need for excitement pushes you into new territory — and as long as you are ahead of others while demonstrating confidence, chances are that they will follow you. As self-ordained leader of the pack, you fight for what you believe to be important. But it’s not that Aries are fearless. Your courage is more of a commitment to face your fears and overcome them. Aries motto is “Ready, fire, aim!” While others are gathering information to make informed decisions, you are already on your way. You could suffer from false starts. In fact, you Aries are so good at starting things that you can be off onto your next project before completing the previous one. As you Aries mature, you learn to slow down your reaction time in order to think about the consequences of your actions.

Taurus

2 April 20 — May 20:

Taurus are noted for determination. You get to where you’re going, not because you are exceptionally fast or clever, but because Taurus will not be distracted from your goals. Your need for stability and simplicity can motivate Taurus to create a life for yourself that is quite functional, though it might seem boring to someone else. Taurus motto might be “Take care of the senses and everything else will take care of itself.” It may be that your attraction to material things is less about the objects themselves than it is about the pleasure they bring to your senses. Comfortable living and working space is important to Taurus, along with nice linens, clothing, food and music. And, as one of the most practical signs, Taurus outlook on life is usually quite sensible. As Taurus plod along in life, getting what you need in order to survive, don’t forget to look at the beauty that is beyond the material world of material possessions.

Gemini

3 May 21 — June 20:

You Geminis are curious, talkative, versatile and mentally active. Your mind can bounce around from one topic to another with great ease, making you the champion of cocktail party chatter and lighthearted social encounters. Others will think that Gemini are fun to be with, but your ability to change with the changing winds can also lead others to see Gemini as shallow. Gemini motto might be “A rolling stone gathers no moss.” You are the eternally youthful child, no matter your chronological age. A razor-sharp wit can have you verbally dueling with the very best of opponents, who moments later are your best of friends. As you fly through life, don’t forget to take time to smell the flowers.

Cancer

4 June 21 — July 22:

Crabs have large pinching claws, and Cancer can hold onto things, especially from the past. Cancer are fiercely loyal and have a difficult time letting go. But Cancer are also quick to bring those you love inside the safety of your outer shell while you nurture them. Cancer love is protective, but unless tempered, can be smothering. Cancer motto could be, “A good defense is the best offense.” Like a Crab in its cave, your attack can consist of baiting your opponent into your territory. What appears to be a retreat to others can be your best aggressive tactic. As you feel your way through life, building your security by developing your home and family relationships, remember that unexpressed anger can turn into resentment and depression, so find someone you can trust and share your feelings.

Leo

5 July 23 — August 22:

Leo are warm of spirit, eager for action and are driven by a desire to be loved for what you bring to others. Leo are a magnanimous leader and a faithful servant. Once scorned in love, however, Leo will withdraw your affections and the light, once brilliant, can go cold. Leo motto might be “What you see is what you get.” You tend to live your live straightforwardly and with a flair for drama. In fact, many Leos are attracted to the theater, the performing arts and public relations, for you truly understand the importance of putting on a good presentation. As you blaze gloriously through your life, remember to take time to acknowledge the feelings of those around you. If you forget, you could unconsciously hurt someone you love. But, if you remain aware your impact, others can benefit from your presence.

Virgo

6 August 23 — September 22:

You Virgos have the uncanny sense to see what’s wrong with a person, a situation or your environment. It’s why Virgo makes such natural critics. Virgo practical analytical abilities are second to none. Your mental process may not be the most creative, but Virgo’s razor-like thinking is highly effective. Virgo might be a “clean freak,” but most Virgos have a messy closet somewhere or a disaster under their bed.The Virgo motto could be “Perfect is almost good enough.” On one hand, this trait makes you very employable, for you’re not likely to do shabby work. On the other hand, you can be so finicky that you put limitations on your interactions and experiences before they happen. You’ll be happier if you can learn to be selectively less critical, both of others and yourself.

Libra

7 September 23 — October 22:

The greatest balancing act is between self and others, and it is here that many Libras focus their energy. Here, in the realm of interpersonal relationships, you are a champion. Libra know how to be the charming host or hostess. Libra can sense what others want before they ask for it. And you can make the needs of others a higher priority than your own. In fact, Libra is the shuttle diplomats of the zodiac. The Libra motto might be “To every action there is an opposite and equal reaction.” It is your innate sense of cause and effect that makes you so effective as a strategist. Whether it’s playing chess, relationship counseling or civic planning, you know how to be effective while staying in the middle of the road. Your easygoing attitude can serve you and others well, but don’t forget that your needs cannot go totally unfulfilled or you won’t have anything to give to others.

Scorpio

8 October 23 — November 21:

Scorpio is about metamorphosis. Scorpios transform the painful poisons of possessive passion into a higher consciousness based on universal love. The Scorpio motto might be “What is hidden is more interesting than what is obvious.” You are the detectives of the zodiac. Your magnetic personality draws others to you. But you can also be secretive yourself, for you learn early on that when you express everything, others may be scared by the power of your feelings. You desperately want to have someone to merge with your feelings, but can become cold and withdrawn when hurt in love. You have the magic to light up the dark, but sometimes you would benefit by looking at the positive side of things rather than going into the darkness at all.

Sagittarius

9 November 22 — December 21:

Sagittarius often look at the sunny side of life and the silver lining to any dark cloud. Sagittarius are honest to a fault, for you can say what’s on your mind before you realize that someone’s feelings might be hurt. Since the Sagittarius is part horse, there is also a connection between Sagittarius and horses, be it a love of riding or an emphasis on the most powerful part of a horse: its legs and thighs. In fact, many of Sagittarius love outdoor hiking and long distance running. The Sagittarius motto is “It is better to know how to learn than to know.” You seek knowledge and wisdom, never tiring of the quest for what is yet to come. Others enjoy being with you when you are in your outgoing and joyful mood, but you can become more sullen if you feel that your wings have been clipped. Even in a restrictive situation, however, you’ll not lose hope–and it is this inspirational perspective that leads you to your greatest success.

Capricorn

10 December 22 — January 19:

Capricorn can dance out on the edge of a cliff, but will never fall. Why? Stability plays an important role, but so does practice. As a typical Capricorn, you may appear reckless, but chances are that your actions will have been very well planned, and probably also rehearsed. Capricorn is always calculating what will happen if you do something. You Capricorns are energetically conservative, only expending enough to get you to where you want to be. No silly impulsive actions for you. The Capricorn motto might be Milton Berle’s “If opportunity doesn’t knock, then build a door.” But this doesn’t mean that if there are no mountains to climb that you must build the mountain. For you, hardships can be your path to fulfillment, but for the sake of happiness, it would be good for you to learn to appreciate what you have, instead of always striving to reach the next plateau.

Aquarius

11 January 20 — February 19:

Aquarius can be good communicators as long as you stay in the mental realms. Aquarius are friendly, but can become uncomfortable as you discuss your feelings. In fact, your friends are very important to you and Aquarius might be involved with groups of like-minded people in a social club, a political action group or a public service group. The Aquarius motto could be Einstein’s “Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” And yours is a great spirit, sometimes erratic and sometimes brilliant. You know much about yourself and the world, but knowing everything can be an obstacle to your own happiness. Your practice is twofold. First, you must learn how to separate your crazy notions from what is important. And second, you need to learn how to respond to the opposition you encounter without making it difficult for yourself.

Pisces

12 February 20 — March 20:

Pisces are spiritual in nature and emotional in expression. Pisces intuition and imagination are at once Pisces strengths and weakness. Pisces are attracted to the mystical side of things, and herein lay potential danger, for when pulled beneath the currents of everyday life, the realms of imagination and the subconscious offer little structure. Without the foundation of reality, it becomes easy to lose direction. Pisces own salvation can come from helping others less fortunate than yourself. The Pisces motto might be “Reality is just a shared illusion“, and, in a higher sense this may be true. Nevertheless, you still need to survive in this “shared illusion” of reality, and sometimes this becomes a struggle for you compassionate Fish, who can feel the pain of the world as if it were your own. There’s no easy escape for you. Your best path is to follow a creative or spiritual pursuit while doing your work in the real world.

Cohesion in a Blender

—New Tunes with Old Jams

1 “There is a Light That Never Goes Out” —The Smiths (1986)

The Smiths have made a big reappearance in my life, especially since Morrissey was just here and I missed the show– but let me tell you, tickets were so expensive! I love this song. This is a quintessential song for The Smiths and the sound is perfect and really sets the flow for the rest of the playlist.

2 “Little Thoughts” —Bloc Party (2004)

This is a great band that just released a new album that I haven’t heard much off of yet, but I am looking forward to it! This song has a great start to it with that melodic charm that the band has often been associated with and I think it’s a strong follow-up to The Smiths, which is a hard act to follow!

3 “Age of Consent” —New Order (1983)

I actually heard this song two weeks ago on the radio and called Brett to have him Google some of the lyrics to figure out what the song was. The lyrics I heard, “And I’m not the kind that likes to tell you, just what I want to do. I’m not the kind that needs to tell you, just what you want me to.” To my surprise and delight, this song came back with our lyrical search and it’s received a high play count on my iPod ever since. It’s one of those songs that I’ve heard many times before but never linked it all together, and here it is in the playlist.

4 “Red Rabbits” —The Shins (2007)

This is a little bit of a detour from the rest of the songs, but there are elements of this song that work with the rest. It’s interesting to me because while the resemblance isn’t as noticeable as some of the other tracks on the playlist, it’s there– and it’s wonderful. This has to be one of my favorite songs from The Shins and it’s dreamy. I’d even go so far to say if you were only download one of the songs on this playlist– I’d recommend it to be this one!

5 “Heaven” —The Psychedelic Furs (1984)

The Furs get a lot of play around here at Mo-Ho.com and I’m actually (surprisingly) not even that huge of a fan of them! I think that they had a couple of really great songs and a couple of “eh’s” but all in all, they had a defining sound that John Hughes really brought out in his movies (which used a lot of their big tracks, namely, “Pretty in Pink” in the movie of the same name). This song is a good middle of the road song, it’s a good connector.

6 “Kim & Jessie” —M83 (2008)

When I first heard this song, I was shocked to find out that it was just released in 2008 because it sounds like it was created back in the 80’s with all of the older songs on this list. But alas, it’s one of the newer ones and is a definite nod to the older style. The song is stated– it’s not overstated or understated so I guess it’s just, stated. The vocals are paled to give way to the airy music and keep it all cohesive without one overpowering the other. I really like this song, especially if I need music that doesn’t require too much thought and this is one of them. The video is definitely…different…

7 “Just Like Honey” —Jesus and the Mary Chain (1985)

Along with The Shins, this is the other song that I highly recommend any indie rock fan to download and love. This is a classic. I love how Sophia Coppola used it at the end of Lost in Translation, it just fits so perfectly. I heard this song on the radio a few weeks ago, had Brett Google the lyrics, and then had an “Ohhh yeaaaah” moment. It’s a great song and I love it dearly.

8 “Can’t Say No” —The Helio Sequence (2008)

If I had to pick a song that would work on a Springtime playlist, this would definitely be it. It’s one of those songs that is really easy to like and then once you hear it, you want to hear it again, mainly because it also easily gets stuck in your head. This is one of those Oregon bands that really, truly– rock. Seriously, great bands come out of Oregon. Check them out if you get a chance because they’re great and they deserve their spot on this list.

9 “Bring on the Dancing Horses” —Echo and the Bunnymen (1985)

This is one of those songs that when people bring it up I go, “Oh! Great song!” And it’s the truth– this is a great song that continues on with the great sound that is present in all of the older jams that I have on here. I like to call it, “pretty music” because it’s airy and well, it’s just pretty sounding. You may be asking yourself, well…what’s ugly sounding? I don’t want to offend anyone, so I will keep that to myself. Love this song– loveee it.

10 “Young Adult Friction” —The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (2009)

I really like this band, specifically this song which I first heard on Sirius Satellite Radio on the Indie channel. It’s another song that’s easy to like and sort of sticks with you after the first time that you’ve heard it, which seems to be somewhat of a theme with the songs on this list. They are a fun band and I’m anxious to hear a lot more from their self-titled record.

Kick List: for May

1 Gourmet Caramel Apple From RMCF:

Oh my gosh– this is my absolute favorite place for caramel apples. The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is home to a slew of delectable chocolate treats and chocolate dipped everything (pretzels, strawberries, marshmallows, potato chips)– and they are also the place to go for a gourmet caramel apple. The apple featured to the right is an English Toffee Caramel Apple, a.k.a.: “heaven on a stick”. It is a Granny Smith apple covered with caramel, rolled in almonds and sweet toffee pieces and drizzled with chocolate. Mm… I’m lucky enough (or actually, it could be quite dangerous) to have one of these close to my house, but I saw that you can order things online! Check out their products: rmcf.com.

2 North Market in Columbus:

This place is wonderful. Basically, the North Market is one big building that has “35 distinct markets in 1 big place“. It has many little shops for all types of food, flowers, wine, jewelry and much more. Every little turn is something different– and usually (in the case of food) delicious. You can pick up a Greek lunch at Firdous Express and then get an ice cream from Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream. They are on the outskirts of downtown and a lot of people walk over to the North Market for lunch (it gets a little packed in there during lunch hour, but is definitely worth it.) Do you have a North Market type place in your town? Check it out at: northmarket.com.

3 Finding “New” Music in “Old” Music:

Do you guys ever do that? I was trying to find some new music to put on my iPod and coincidentally, the new music that I found was made in the late 80’s/early 90’s, so it technically isn’t “new’– but it is to me! A lot of it I knew about,  but forgot all about– so it was sort of new all over again. I’m kicking this concept so much that I’m actually developing a playlist for a post about the cohesion of older songs with newer songs to make it sound like it’s all meant to go together. Mhm, I am looking forward to it!

4 Pitchmen on the Discovery Channel:

I know some people have said that they’re against this show– but I am all for it. Who knew that the life of a pitchman was so exciting or that Billy Mays actually has an interesting personality behind all of that yelling and pumping up strange products?! Well– now I know, and you can, too! I haven’t decided if I believe this portion of the show yet or not, but they actually do test these products out before they pitch them to get reviews on them. I’d hope that they would do this before they pumped it up so much, but it’s interesting to see what happens. Is anyone else out there bold enough to admit to watching this show? Yes, no? Check out the show’s information on the website: discovery.com.

You know, speaking of Pitchmen, my friend sent me this video last week that features a remix of the SlapChop ad that features Vince (also known as the ShamWow Guy) in what appears to be an old school rap video. The remixing is pretty funny, so you can watch it here!

5 Mitchell’s Ocean Club:

This place is phenomenal and has to be one of my favorite fine dining restaurants in Columbus, OH. Brett and I decided to celebrate my birthday by going to this gem of a restaurant and we had a wonderful time, way too much food, but it was delicious. I have recently developed a new saying that I am “drunk on food” and if that’s the case, I was “plastered” after this dinner! Everything about the dinner was phenomenal from the cocktails to the 10-layer Carrot Cake that I had for my birthday dessert. I’ve always had a fantastic experience when I’ve gone here and my birthday dinner was one of the best. And on top of the food being delicious and the service being perfect, the interior is gorgeous and makes me feel glamorous when I dine there. I can’t wait to go back! Check it out at: mitchellsoceanclub.com.

Overall Goals

—In the tune of 14…

1 Take More Pictures:

This was actually one of my New Year’s Resolutions that I have slacked on…oops.

2 De-stress and Get Healthy:

Even though my life tends to have a lot of stress, I need to really work on managing it and I feel like adding more exercise into my life would be a great way to do this– while getting healthy in the process!

3 Update the House:

We’re actually moving in a couple of months, but I want to update some of the design aspects of our dining room and family room. Mainly, figuring out what “look” I want to go for and maybe saving up to buy a new entertainment center.

4 Learn to Speak Italian:

This seems random, but it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do! I know Spanish and a little bit of American Sign Language (ASL) and I just want to keep learning more and more.

5 Plan a Party:

I love planning parties…almost more than I like going to them. Eventually, I’d love to host a huge Halloween party for family and friends (extended included). But for now, I’m going to shoot for a “Cute Cook Out”.

6 Utilize the Three R’s:

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, m’loves. My mom is so wonderful at encouraging everyone to recycle and informing us about all of the benefits of the Three R’s and I think I’m going to be more environmentally conscious.

7 Read More:

I wish I had more time to read, really, I do. I’ve got a whole list of books that I want to crack open! I’m going to make a real effort to find the time to do so.

8 Find a Recipe:

I want to find a recipe that I’m just really spectacular at making. You know, that recipe that everyone always talks about and wants me to give them. I’m on a hunt for this!

9 Pay Off Some Bills:

Who doesn’t want to make this a goal? Yep, still working on it…

10 Write More Letters:

I am an avid supporter of writing letters and utilizing post marked mail services. I am also a fan of keeping in touch with everyone– so this is really a goal I can get excited about.

11 Take a Mini-Vacation:

I figure I have an entire year to get this one out of the way…but it’s been over three years since I’ve had a vacation!

12 Take Better Care of My Skin:

I don’t tan, but I do wear make-up and forget to wash it off before I go to bed. While this isn’t exactly a cardinal sin, it isn’t that great for your pores or your skin in general. My skin has been very kind to me, so I need to not slack in my duties in keeping it that way! I’m planning on going to my first annual dermatologist appointment to promote healthy skin!

13 Take Better Care of My Car:

I don’t want to be one of those individuals who make passengers take their shoes off before they get in, but…I should go beyond the routine oil changes and pay more attention to the overall performance of the bug.

14 Employ Vegging Out:

I always feel so guilty when I’m just vegging around the house, but I think it’s okay to do this every once in awhile. To give into indulgences and the occasional chocolate turtle fudge brownie. To watch a marathon of Law and Order on a Sunday. I will embrace these things– in moderation– and not feel bad about it!

My Life via My Purse

—An explanation as to why I carry 6 lbs around on my shoulder on a daily basis…

1 Phone:

I hate to admit to this, but I am one of those people that feels like I am walking outside in the nude if I don’t have my phone with me. Don’t misunderstand that bold statement; I’m not one of those cheap bimbos that has to be on the phone with anyway talking about something because I can’t find something else more productive to do with my time, I actually hate talking on the phone. But! It is the best way– sometimes the only way– to get a hold of me. Thus, the phone has to be with me.

2 Wallet:

Well, the wallet holds the essentials and thus– it is with me. I am partial to Parcel Loop wallets (as you will soon find out). I get loads of compliments on the ones that I have and their durable. Durability is an absolute must in a wallet for me! And cuteness…of course. You can browse through a whole assortment of the Parcel Loop wallets at Urban Outfitters and check out all of the other cute wallets while you’re there!

3 Cosmetic Pouch:

Another Parcel Loop item, this is something that has made my purse a lot more organized and is strictly reserved for cosmetics and medicine. Generally, I keep a bottle of Purell antibacterial liquid goodness, mainly because I come into contact with a lot of people during the day and it’s nice to have on hand– especially during flu season. I also carry my Benefit California Kissin’ which is a blue lip gloss with a mint taste that makes your lips shiny and makes your teeth appear to be white (Blue offsets yellow). There is also a travel size container of Tums, lip gloss, eye drops for contact users and tweezers.

4 Discount Cards and Coupon Pouch:

My former wallets were taking quite the beating from the collection of store discount cards that were accumulating in the side pouch. And then it occurred to me one day…why not just dedicate a little pouch to all of these cards and stop having to clean out my wallet? This is how the Discount Cards and Coupon Pouch came to be what it is today. Brett and I have a ridiculous amount of discount cards to stores and coupons. Because it’s so small, I always throw this into whatever bag I’m carrying around, but it’s especially important when we go on shopping trips–as you can imagine!

5 “Briefcase”:

I get some looks when I pull out this pouch shaped like little boy’s underpants, but really– I think it’s adorable and it’s a vintage classic of Parcel Loop (I’ve had it since high school). There was a period of time when these “brief” cases where quite popular and came in a variety of designs, but I liked this one best of all and it’s lasted me for awhile! This briefcase holds my toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash. I am currently wearing Invisalign braces and I brush after every meal, snack, or beverage that stains teeth (like coffee). So! This little pouch carries all of my travel size dental needs.

6 iPod and Hoodie:

Like I said– pouches and compartments for everything, the iPod is included. My mom got the (RED) iPod for me for my birthday and I love it. It holds my awesome music and a portion of the proceeds went to the (RED) campaign– which is a fantastic organization. I keep my iPod in this bright pink, terry cloth iPod hoodie designed by C. Ronson. I checked at Fred Flare and while they still have a link to the hoodie, it’s unfortunately sold out. I’ve had this thing since high school and it’s gotten many compliments and remarks (uh huh) ever since.

7 Little Notebook:

I have an enormous stock pile of tiny notebooks that I carry with me everywhere. It’s great if you need to jot down the name of a wine, song, or even a “to do” list. Even though I have a drawer dedicated to the many little notebooks that I own, I am constantly buying new ones if I find some that are on sale– it’s a bad spending habit that I am trying very hard to break! Now that I haven’t had time and have started watching my funds, I am proud to say it seems as though the tiny notebook spending budget has ceased to exist and I won’t be buying a new one until I run out of what I have– which won’t happen for awhile…

The Godfathers of Indie Rock

—The Great Five

1 David Bowie:

Mr. Bowie is one of those artists that made such an impression on not only the indie rock genre, but the music industry all together. At the time, many people didn’t know what to think of David Bowie; here was an artist that developed a sub-persona “Ziggy Stardust” that established this whole concept of “artistic rock”. From the stage presence to the overall variety of sound, many indie artists have attributed David Bowie to inspiring their music today. Though Bowie hit mainstream and became very popular and recognizable, his overall sound and his deep cuts (beyond the mainstream) are identifiable with the Bowie sound.

2 The Smiths:

We can thank Morrissey for inspiring many indie rock singers to get out there and feel confident in singing about all aspects of love: the sad stuff, the happy stuff, and making the sad stuff sound like happy stuff. Morrissey can sing– bottom line. The Smiths were such an influential band that are constantly cited by artists for inspiring them both in the overall sound, but specifically in vocal style and lyrical content. There was a fantastic article in Q magazine, a British rock magazine, that was dedicated to modern day artists citing their favorite song from The Smiths and why that song made an impact on them and their music. I couldn’t find a link to it, probably because it was over a year ago– but it made an impression on me just to see how many different groups were influenced by The Smiths.

3 Talking Heads:

In my opinion, David Byrne is an insanely gifted musician. Talking Heads were trailblazers as far as paving the way for performance indie rock (think the “big suits” and over the top stage antics of Byrne). The great thing about Talking Heads is that while the show was visually interesting, the music could hold it’s own without it. The biggest influence that this band provided to modern day groups is the use of world instruments outside of the rock band set, not to mention the use of choirs and guest vocalists. Byrne has such a unique voice that was strong and shakey all at once that made it unusual, distinct and recognizable. Talking Heads are iconic and a favorite with fans and bands alike.

4 Sonic Youth:

If Sonic Youth hasn’t been an enormous presence in the indie rock scene then I guess I must not be listening to the same indie rock as everyone else out there! When I think of Sonic Youth, I instantly think of the insane guitar techniques that they developed for the sole purpose of needing to achieve that sound and not having the money to do it. I particularly enjoyed this quote from their wiki, “[Sonic Youth] could only afford cheap guitars, and cheap guitars sounded like cheap guitars. But with weird tunings or something jammed under a particular fret, those humble instruments could sound rather amazing – bang a drumstick on a cheap Japanese Stratocaster copy in the right tuning, crank the amplifier to within an inch of its life, and it will sound like church bells.” Influential and incredible– that is Sonic Youth.

5 The Pixies:

Aside from making ridiculously fantastic music, the Pixies proved to the indie world that you can be a fantastic musician and look pretty plain while doing it. The Pixies are incredibly influential and have had staying power throughout the years. Their sound is identifiable, but variable. There are still songs that I hear today and have to ask if it’s one the Pixies songs because it doesn’t sound like the rest– but this is pretty typical of their sound as a band. Even their side projects have been fantastic, specifically Frank Black. This is a band that let the indie rock world know that it was okay to rock hard and mellow out– and to kick ass at doing both.

Just in Case PR Doesn’t Work Out…

—Five other occupations I wouldn’t mind doing

1 Food Critic:

How grand it would be to spend your life as a food critic and being paid to eat food and write about it. Oh what a world it would be. Generally speaking, I’d love to do this. It would be great to have such a sophisticated palate that you can spot hints of this or pinches of that, and that sophistication requires a great amount of intelligence. I think the biggest downfall for me would be eating foods that make use of “creative ingredients” like suckling pig in the case of the secret ingredient on one episode of Iron Chef.

2 Professional Organizer:

I am one organized cookie. It is safe to say that I enjoy organizing, especially after you have completed a project and you know where everything is. There actually is such a thing as a professional organizer, but many of them are independent and have to go out and find their own messes to organize. Downfalls of this job: having to sort through  crap and possibly dealing with annoying clients.

3 Talk Show Host:

I have the gift of gab, believe it or not. I wouldn’t want to host a show like Dr. Phil or Jerry Springer, because that’s just not my thing. But! I think having Kelly Ripa’s job would be a pretty sweet gig. You get to talk to Regis in the morning, have a crew of people making you look splendid for the camera, and take advantage of some sweet promotional deals. I think the downfall to this job would be having to be happy every single morning, even on a bad day. But– if they were paying me as much as they do Ms. Ripa, I’d be the happiest son of a gun you’d ever see.

4 College Professor:

I would love to teach a college course for many reasons, but the main one being that it has to be intellectually stimulating to be able to educate young adults about something that could pave the way for their future career or at least provide them with knowledge on something that they didn’t formerly have before taking the course. The downfall of this career is that there isn’t one subject that I am so passionate about that I would be able to teach it for multiple years and still have interest in it. I guess if I had to pick one, it would be something specific like the evolution of women as sex symbols…could be interesting.

5 Indie Rock Singer:

I’ve always wanted to be a rock singer, but I think that most people would love to get that thrill of singing for a band in front of a crowd that is singing along to your songs. Indie rock would be the best genre for me because I wouldn’t have to be  overly scrutinized by the media (these bands often go under the radar) but in turn they have a pretty dedicated following. The downfall to this is the lifestyle and the dedication of time that it takes leading up to success. Small gigs, crappy pay, lots of crammed traveling… eh– that’s the part that balances out the glamor associated with the rock star life.

My Favorite Commercials of Recent Years

—Cute, clever, and corny commercials, alike!

1 Petsmart Bulldog Commercial:

I don’t quite remember when this commercial was released, but it was the talk of my pet-loving family for quite some time! It was one of those instances where we kept asking each other if the other person had seen it yet and then finally we were all on board and could “aw” together. I love bulldogs, I think they’re adorable in their own way– especially the puppies! Aw! Just a little Liam reference, he has many of those dog toys that are featured in that ad. They’re called Loofa Dog Toys and we refer to them as “blue guy” “green guy” so on and so forth.

2 “We Got the Funk” Mastercard Commercial:

When Brett and I first saw this commercial together, I instantly turned to him and told him that it was how I pictured him to be when he was a little kid. He pretty much said, “Yep“. Aw, definitely marches to the beat of his own drum…haha. I love these little kids, it’s such a short and sweet commercial, but I love it. Especially at the end when they do their little robot-esque walk away. And also how his two little friends just run up and join him, no questions asked!

3 “Flea Market Montgomery“– Let’s Make it a Dance!:

So this was one of those cheesy local commercials that, by the grace of Youtube’s power, made it to national– even international– fame. And yes, fame, it’s was an internet craze and its one that to this day– I still crack up when I see it. First of all, that guy…Sammy Stephens…probably spent quite a bit of timing writing out the Mini Mall Rap. Secondly, did anyone even get a chance to see the furniture he’s talking up? I mean, it’s not bad for a flea market, it sort of reminds me of…hm… a mini mall? A Mini- ma-all.

4 Betty Crocker Christmas Commercial:

Okay, so I have a soft spot for cute little kids with bed head in commercials. Especially Christmas related commercials! Brett and I love this commercial, mainly because that little kid is just adorable, but also the dad’s reaction is pretty typical. “We’re going to have these in no time, my man.“

5 Trigon Bluecross Blueshield:

This is another internet craze, but a damn good one– cute little kids being cute little kids. This little boy is so adorable, seriously, he’s the cutest little thing and I love how he get so serious when he gets to the big line, which if you haven’t seen it already, I won’t give it away!

6 AT&T Wireless Commercial:

Hm, another cute little kid commercial– I guess I just appreciate it when the kids are adorable and not annoying (like those Band-Aid Brand kids are). I think there’s a lot of cute stuff about this commercial: the song, the fact that the dad takes pictures of the monkey in different locations, and of course, the end… definitely a cute one.

7 Amstel Bier Valentine’s Day Commercial:

Generally, I don’t like beer commercials, but I thought that this one was pretty funny. Especially the part where the guy plops down into the “romantic bubble bath” and creates a tidal wave that splashes his lady in the face and blows out all of the candles she had lit to set the mood. Ah, Valentine’s Day… ah, macho commercials.

8 Old Spice Swagger Commercial:

I think this is a pretty recent chain of commercials for Old Spice where they have clips of the dorky, younger former self of a macho male and then they tell you that they use Swagger and everything is alright, aww yeah. This has to be my favorite, especially that noise that “LL” does… whatever that noise is…

9 Budweiser Rocky Horse:

Aw, animals are so cute. I think Budweiser actually does a pretty great job with their marketing and creative concept commercials. I still shiver when I think about those damn BUD-WEIS-ER frogs– bleh. Even though I was annoyed by it, it was a huge trademark phenomenon. Kudos to you, buds at Budweiser.I love this commercial, aw, the high five at the end!

10 Cesar Dog Food:

Well, of course I had to show some love to my baby puppy and show off the Cesar commercial which features a Westie! It makes me a little sad to think my tiny little baby boy is going to grow up to be big, but! At least he’ll be a cutie when he’s big, too. They have a whole bunch of these commercials, but I love the way he cuddles up to her in the end, aw.

Spring Things

1 Eat Lunch in Outdoor Seating:

I’m pretty thankful that dear old Columbus has many locations that have great outdoor seating. I’m very pick about eating outside; I generally don’t do it if it’s too hot or humid because at that point it seems much nicer to go indoors and seek refuge from the heat. However! The spring is perfect because it’s sunny and nice and just lovely. In my opinion, the restaraunt with the best outdoor seating in Columbus is Barcelona in German Village (featured to the right). The atmosphere is so lovely and the food is quite delicious. It’s a little bit on the pricey side, especially with the dinner menu, but the lunch menu is affordable and quite good. I would highly recommend anyone visiting the Columbus area to have an enjoyable outdoor lunch at Barcelona.

2 Stroll Around the Metro Gardens:

One of the very first blogs that I ever did on here was documenting my magical experience at Innis Woods Metro Park. I was fortunate enough to grow up very close to this park and it’s always a joy to go back and visit it and get lost in all of nature’s beauty. One thing that I really love about this park — aside from the obvious — is that they manage to change things up every year and add a new feature or rework something that’s already there. I have an eye for detail, if I do say so myself, so it’s always a lot of fun to try to see what’s different this time around. I’m very excited to go to the park and see all of the spring flowers in bloom — I’ll take pictures, of course.

3 Celebrate My Birthday:

I love birthdays  and not just mine, but pretty much everybody else, too! It’s not “just another day” to me, but a celebration of your life and what makes you unique and why the world is different because you’re in it. On my birthday, I generally bake cupcakes for work (I haven’t grown out of that elementary school birthday party phase) and I send my mom a card to thank her for giving birth to me x-amount of years ago and being there for me from then to now. I am very excited for my birthday this year! We probably aren’t going to do anything grand or out of the ordinary, but I’m thrilled that I can spend time with my family and friends and celebrate life!  May 14th, in case you were wondering!

4 Buy Some Tulips:

Ooo, I love tulips– they are one of my favorite blooms out there. Some people are confused with tulips because they’re “top heavy” and sort of droop over, but that’s just their style and in their “nature”. In fact, it is that very characteristic that makes tulips so dramatic if they’re simply put in a vase and not arranged. Someday, I would love to go to Holland and visit a tulip field– they’re absolutely breathtaking as you can see from the picture. Apparently, there is a Spring Tulip Festival in Woodburn, Oregon, this month on April 18th and 19th! Aside from being able to tour the beautiful gardens of the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, you can also taste wine and enjoy food– mm. Check it out at their website: wooodenshoe.com.

Top 3 Game Shows That I Could Possibly Win…

—You will not see Jeopardy on here!

1 Supermarket Sweep:

If I had to assign a favorite, it would be Supermarket Sweep. A food-related quiz show combined with a live action race around a supermarket, well, this is what dreams are made of, m’loves. The original was aired in 1965-1966, but we were partial to the Lifetime revival which aired in 1990-1995. This “revival” was hosted by the charming David Ruprecht and it was a joy of a show. There were three teams of two contestants who would participate in short little sweeps and then the final sweep where one player would run through the store and rack up as much of a bill as they could (go for the big hams and medicines). The team with the highest grand total, including bonuses from the question round, won their Sweep total in cash and the right to play in the Bonus Sweep. I wish this show was still on… it was wonderful.

2 Don’t Forget the Lyrics!:

People who know my family know all too well that we are insane with music, specifically memorizing song lyrics. Granted, we aren’t the greatest singers (our vocal stylings are unique), but we do like to have fun and that is what this show is about. Other than having fun and getting to groove with host Wayne Brady, you also get the chance to win some serious money. For those of you who haven’t seen this game, it’s similar to a big, huge…karaoke party. Except for that you are the only karaoke star and there is a big live studio audience (and viewing audience) cheering you on. You pick one of the two given songs for each genre and sing along like karaoke and then the words go away and you fill them in! I like when the contestants are confident (even if they can’t sing) and are just out there having fun– it makes everybody smile!

3 Family Feud:

Oh, the Feud– you have to love the Feud…or not, there are a lot of people who are annoyed by it. I am not one of those people! In fact, I would love if my family would go on Family Feud. I just am a bit concerned that we would give some answers that aren’t always as PG as they should be… ! But- about the show: you have two families that go up against each other to guess the Top Five/Four/Three answers on the board that were top polled among a surveyed group of people. It seems so easy when you’re playing at home, but it’s probably a lot more nerve wracking when you’re being timed and on the spot! I think one of my favorite Family Feud moments would be the show hosted by Mr. Richard “Romeo” Dawson, watch it below!

Hello Sunshine…

1 Every Occasion:

I love getting and receiving  greeting cards and I am forevermore writing about the importance of sending postmarked mail. If I had the time, I love making a homemade card to give to my recipient. For one, I like to personalize it with an inside joke or a picture of us that I know they’ll love and for the other, it just adds that extra level of a personal touch. It takes time, however, and that’s something I don’t have as much of nowadays…so…I scout the web for adorable cards, like Papyrus, or head over to Hallmark. Actually, Hallmark has a service available on their website where you can design a card online using a personal picture or a combination of provided templates and they will address it, stamp it and mail it for you. I have used this service and it looks really nice. Send a card and send a smile!

2 The Cold or Flu Patient :

One thing that I learned from my mom is how to take care of someone who has a cold and how to make a friend with a cold feel better. One technique that my mom employed that was my absolute favorite was throwing together a get well soon gift basket. It would only cost around $20.00, but it would make the recipient so happy and they were so appreciative. I will have to do a blog on a simple basket later, but basically: start with a basic and fill it with get well soon items. My mom used to make some homemade chicken noodle soup and put it in a mason jar and then some homemade peanut butter cookies and put it in a little tin. She would then add cough drops, magazines, and some tea packs and it was good to go. You can buy pre-made baskets, but it’s cheaper and much more fun to make it yourself.

3 Recent Break-Up:

As easy as it is to tell someone to get over a break up, it’s always so hard– even when it’s so obvious that it was for the best. Depending on if your friend is a man or a woman will determine the gift that you give, but if it’s a female…check out the glorious Anne Taintor (who I am always shouting out to on my site). Anne Taintor combines old school images of pin-up girls with modern day quotes, such as the magnet to the right: “Honey, you couldn’t handle half of me“. I got my mom an Anne Taintor calendar for Christmas one year and it’s been a tradition ever since– she loves it. It gives her a reason to smile and for passerby’s to comment on it. Give the dumpee the gift of encouragement and empowerment via an Anne Taintor gift. Check out all of her wonderful products on her website or at: Amazon.com.

4 Encouragement:

No matter what the struggle may be, there are always times in our lives where we need some additional love and encouragement. Encouragement is one of those things that we can find within, but it’s often easier to receive from an outside source and come on– who doesn’t want a little cheerleader in their corner during a difficult time? (Assuming that they’re not an annoying cheerleader. FOne of my latest and greatest finds for encouragement is this adorable “Bag of Cheer” brought to us by the good people at uncommongoods.com. Each charm represents something special: pineapple for hospitality and friendship, a clover for luck, a heart for love, an angel to watch over you and a dove for peace. They also have a bag of zen charms and a bag of hearts. I love them, I picked up a few the other day and can’t wait to give them to my recipients!

5 Good Luck:

To get someone luck you can turn to another culture, such as the Chileans who believe that three-legged pigs are good luck to their owners. While it may seem pretty terrible to give a three-legged pig to someone, check out this cute Chilean Good Luck Pig from The Hunger Site. I stuck one of these little piggy’s in my mom’s Christmas stocking and she loved it. And– I should note that the small size is very tiny; check out the dimensions on the website, it will fit in the palm of your hand. The pig is, however, just as cute as it looks in the picture. You can find these pigs at multiple sites, but I recommend getting them at The Hunger Site because the site will fund 25.0 cups of food for every pig sold. Sending someone good luck and a smile with this little guy!

6 Send Some Lovin’:

Everybody needs love, sometimes we need as much love as we can get! I always tell my family that I love them, but I tell my friends, too. There are different levels of love, obviously, but I make sure to let everyone who I care for know about it. When times are tough, you can replace the pain in a heart by filling it with love from family and friends. To express love in the form of a gift, I really love these “I Love You” Message Beans which you can find at signals.com. The plant is simple to grow: pop the top of the can, put it in a sunny location, add water and in a couple of weeks the bean will sprout with “I Love You” printed on the seed. It’s a neat concept and one that I, well, love!

7 Occupational Blues:

Generally speaking, at some point or another, people get down about their job. Either that their boss is a real asshole or they feel like they’re not really going anywhere, and nowadays (unfortunately) the constant concern that they may be laid off due to the economic hardship. To attempt to make light of a sucky situation that is just one of those things we have to do in life (work), give your recipient a copy of this book: 50 Jobs Worse Than Yours. I gave a copy of this book to a friend who always said that her job could be on the “Dirty Jobs” show and she was delighted with this book– it even sits proudly on her coffee table! You could also look into the other book, 50 Bosses Worse Than Yours.