Living Room Dance Party!

Put on your red shoes and dance the blues, March's mix is here!

Tracklist:

1. Chromeo / Fancy Footwork
2. Kate Miller-Heidke / Can't Shake It
3. Regina Spektor / Dance Anthem Of The 80's
4. The Beach Boys / Dance Dance Dance
5. Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse / Valerie
6. The Ramones / Judy Is a Punk
7. Those Dancing Days / Those Dancing Days
8. The Wombats / Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves)
9. Architecture In Helsinki / Like It Or Not (Version 2)
10. David Bowie / Let's Dance
11. Bishop Allen / Middle Management
12. Black Kids / Hurricane Jane
13. Rooney / When Did Your Heart Go Missing
14. Thao / Cool Yourself
15. Rilo Kiley / Smoke Detector
16. Chris Merritt / Dance Karate
17. Lykke Li / Dance Dance Dance
    

DOWNLOAD IT HERE!

Stream it from 8tracks:

xoxo

Humpday Listday: It Isn't Wednesday.

I know it isn't Wednesday, but it's been so long since I've posted a list, I decided it didn't matter what day it was. This list is a two-parter.

Things that are ruining my day:

1. Burned my hand on my curling iron this morning. All 5 fingers and a little palm. Big Ouch.
2. Had a fender-bender on Friday in the rain. So I don't have a car until mine gets fixed.
3. It's still raining. The proof is coming in through the roof of the shop where I work and landing in a bucket.
4. I stepped in a puddle in my new shoes (that have the cutest cut-outs that let the water in) when I went out to the curb to get the lunch that the Hubs so kindly brought me to work.
   
5. Also, my hair got soaked and now all the hard work I put in with the offending curling iron is ruined.
   
6. I'm working all day at the shop and can't leave. Even though there hasn't been one. single. customer. All day.
   

Things that are making me smile anyway:

1. I'm editing engagement photos for Jessica & Justin and there are quite a few that make me get all mushy inside and go "Aaawwwwwww!"
2. I have a dinner date with Jessica tonight!
   
3. Cranking up the radio at the shop since there are no customers. :)
4. Getting emails that people are "liking" my mixes on 8tracks.
5. Having the will-power to get the fruit-cup as a side at Chick-fil-a instead of fries.
6. Watching City Slickers and City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold this weekend.

xoxo

Less Than Three

It's heeeere! 17 sugary-sweet songs to get you through Valentine's day with your somebody special. I do so hope you enjoy it.

Tracklist:

1. Van Morrison / Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile)
2. Those Darlins / Red Light Love
3. Her Space Holiday / Sleepy Tigers
4. The Do / At Last
5. Devendra Banhart / Lover
6. Lay Low / My Second Hand Heart
7. The Wannadies / You and Me Song
8. Pains of Being Pure at Heart / This Love is Fucking Right
9. Girl In a Coma / As The World Falls Down
10. Roy Orbison / You Got It
11. Old 97's / Valentine
12. Seabear / Arms
13. Nina Simone / To Love Somebody
14. Mum / If I Were A Fish
15. Wilco / You And I
16. Viva Voce / Mixtape=Love
17. Karen O and the Kids / All Is Love

DOWNLOAD IT!

Or, there's always 8tracks! (Ps... if you listen there, please register and "like" the mix. It makes me all mushy inside when I get that little notice in my inbox!)

xoxo

Sweethearts on Parade

Don't get too excited yet.... this mix is from last February. This year's will be up shortly. Until then, enjoy some lovey-dovey sounds from last year.

Tracklist:

1. Mika / Love Today
2. Lisa Hannigan / I Don't Know
3. Feist / Mushaboom
4. Nouvelle Vague / Just Can't Get Enough
5. Pixies / La La Love You
6. Frank & Nancy Sinatra / Somethin' Stupid
7. The Morning Benders / Lovefool
8. The Flaming Lips / Do You Realize??
9. Björk / All Is Full of Love
10. Cake / Love You Madly
11. The Cure / Lovesong
12. John Lennon / Oh My Love
13. The Raveonettes / Last Dance
14. The Smiths / There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
15. Colin Hay / I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You
16. Death Cab For Cutie / I Will Follow You Into the Dark
17. M. Ward / Sweethearts on Parade
    

DOWNLOAD IT! (direct from dropbox.com)

OR, as always... listen via 8tracks.com!

Frank Signed My Secret!

Georgia Southern hosted a Postsecret event tonight and I got Frank Warren (founder of Postsecret) to sign my secret in the book. Aaaaand on the back where it appears on the dust jacket. AND he said it was a very important part of the book. So exciting!


xoxo

Errmmmm....

So, um.... no January mix. I actually put the mix together, but when I listen to it, it just doesn't excite me. It doesn't make me happy. It's just not good enough. So it will most likely never see the light of day. I may poach songs from it for future mixes.

There is some good news, though! I'm working on mixes for February and March already, so it isn't too bad. Also, I'm packaging last year's "Sweethearts on Parade" mix for download and 8tracks, so you'll have a little bonus mix.

xoxo

Don't Look Back

Obsessed with the new She & Him video. Have a peek:

She & Him - Don't Look Back from Merge Records on Vimeo.

Cover Me Mondays: God Only Knows

It's my favorite Beach Boys song. It's about time I did this one.

The Beach Boys, God Only Knows, Original, 1966:

Neil Diamond, (with bonus psychedelic video), 1977:

David Bowie, 1984:

Elton John, live, 2001:

Julia Nunes (YouTube sensation), 2007:

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., 2010:

Rivers Cuomo (of Weezer), 2011:

And the verdict? Original is best. The Beach Boys will always win in this fight.
Happy Monday, Happy New Year.
xoxo

Holiday Road

Chris and I are leaving Statesboro tonight for his parents' house in North Georgia.

Here's hoping you have safe journeys on the "holiday road" this weekend.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.

xoxo

The Joys of Retail

I received this phone call at work yesterday:

Me: "Bellies & Babies, this is Katie."
Lady: (very quietly) "Ummm.... I was just wondering.... I was in there last week......."
Me: "Mmm Hmm?"
Lady: "And I was just wondering..... do you still have that dress?"
Me: "Um... was it children's or maternity?"
Lady: "It was real pretty and it had blue flowers on it."
Me: "Do you know what brand it was?"
Lady: "It was blue."

xoxo

PS... More adventures in retail here.

Cover Me Mondays: Pink Moon

What a lovely, lovely song. I could listen to Nick Drake's voice forever.

Nick Drake, 1972:

Beck, 2005:

xoxo

Snow, weddings, football and weird dreams.

Yesterday, on our way home from Chris' parents' house (which is in the North Georgia mountains) we got SNOWED ON. It was so pretty. And COLD! It didn't stick to anything, but it was snowing just the same. I wish I'd thought to snap a picture.

Also, I thought I'd share that my Sister-in-law Emily (but I like to just call her my Sister) got engaged on Thanksgiving to a great guy named Tyler. Here's a picture I'm stealing from facebook:

That's the actual proposal! Aren't they precious? I love them. AND I'm going to be a bridesmaid! And Chris is going to be a groomsman! I couldn't be more excited about this wedding! Emily was there every single step of the way for our wedding. I mean, I wouldn't have found a dress without her! So we're really looking forward to returning the favor.

In other really exciting news, Georgia Southern won yet another playoff game on Saturday (my Birthday). We beat Wofford 23-20! This means the team will go to Delaware next Saturday and if we win there, it's off to the National Championship for us! It's very exciting. We take our football very seriously here in Statesboro.

And now I thought I'd share my really weird dream from last night. Let's start with some background info:
1. On the Georgia Southern campus, there is a central grassy area called "Sweetheart Circle."
2. When I lived in a house on Marvin Ave., the five of us girls used to pack up some food and blankets and have picnics out in the grass. We called them "Sweetheart Circle Picnics."
3. Emily made a Red Velvet Cake for this weekend, from my Grandmother's recipe. It was delicious.
4. I've been re-listening to my Coconut Records albums alot lately, wishing for a new one soon.
5. I watch Doctor Who. And I'm kind of obsessed with it. I just re-watched series 1 & 2, and I'm halfway through 3.
6. There is a new UK version of Law & Order that comes on BBC America... starring Freema Agyeman, who played Martha Jones in series 3 of Doctor Who.

So, last night I dreamed that I was having a Sweetheart Circle Picnic with Jason Schwartzman. There was a basket and quilt and everything. We were eating the Red Velvet cake Emily made for Christmas. And he was performing the new (non-existent) Coconut Records album for me while I ate. And then I heard the TARDIS noise and after it had appeared, out popped the 11th Doctor (Matt Smith's version), who asked me if I'd seen Martha Jones. I told him, "She's not Martha now. She's on Law & Order." Jason Schwartzman says, "That's a pretty good show." Then I woke up. Talk about a surreal dream. I think it was the cough medicine I took just before I went to bed.

What's the weirdest dream you've ever had?

xoxo

26 Before 27

Here are my goals this year:

1. Redesign my blog.
2. Go on a spontaneous roadtrip.
3. Grow out my hair. Only trims this year!
4. Get a new job!
5. Date night with Chris once a month. (This means a movie/show/dinner. Not fast food at the apartment!)
6. Find a new livingroom chair!
7. Do a better job of remembering Birthdays and sending great gifts.
8. Go down at least two dress sizes.
9. Take at least one picture every single day. Document it.

(Cell pic rom yesterday. We were packing to go to the in-laws' house and Lemon wanted to make sure we didn't forget to pack her.)

10. Get back to blogging each day.
11. Call a friend at least once a week.
12. Mixtape every month! I did it last year, I can do it again!
13. Go to a concert.
14. Legally change my name.
I was born Stephanie Kathryn. But I've always been called 'Katie.' When we got married, I assumed I could drop my first name on my Social Security card, keep my maiden name and add my new last name. I was wrong. I have to appear before a judge and pay an exorbitant fee and legally have my name changed. The notice even has to run in the local paper for four weeks. I find this whole thing to be ridiculous.
15. Make homemade jam.
16. Get tipsy more often. (I tend to be a little tightly wound sometimes. I should let go more often.)
17. Write at least 10 letters. On paper. And send them!
18. Put together a recipe book of family recipes.
19. Sleep in a tent under the stars.
20. Read a classic novel. Or three.
21. Give up something for Lent.
22. Finish my Long Distance Quilt. It needs to be done.
23. Enter something crafty in the Fair.
24. Stand on top of a mountain. Take a picture.
25. Start collecting t-shirts from St. Simons for a t-shirt quilt.
26. Purchase a piece of vintage furniture.

Let's see how I do this year.

xoxo

Last Year

It's that time. Time to review my 25 before 26 list one last time.
Let's see how much of my list from last year I got accomplished before I post this year's.....

1. Buy a sofa. YES!
   
2. Make a headboard. No, but we did paint the bedroom and hang my embroidered heart above it.
   
3. Open an Etsy shop. No..... it's going to happen, but I'm not going to put it on a list. It'll happen when it happens.
   
4. Start a record collection (and buy a record player). Oh yeah! We have tons of records now!
   
5. Finish LDQ & Arrows quilts (and make another!) No.... I'm putting this on list for next year again.
   
6. Find a great rug for the living room. Well, no... but right now, our livingroom doesn't really need it.
   
7. Camping on Cumberland. Take a picture of a wild horse. Sigh.... another no.
   
8. Make health a priority. Yes. Did this.... and I'm pretty proud of my progress.
   
9. Bake a Red Velvet cake. I never did this. I did, however, get a copy of my Grandmother's recipe.
   
10. Make a 17 song mixtape playlist for every month. YES! Well, every month but October, but I'm calling it a win anyway!
    
11. Write a letter every week. Ha. No.
    
12. Read 20 books that aren't Twilight or Harry Potter. I read 10 Sookie Stackhouse novels... and one or two others. Does that count?
    
13. Sew something wearable. I did... I'm not crazy about the dress I made, but I made it anyway.
    
14. Fill the pages of a sketchbook. Aaaaaalmost.
    
15. Mail 5 care packages for no reason. Yep.
    
16. Go to a state I've never been to. I'd never been to Virginia. Now I have.
    
17. Make a painting and hang it in our apartment. Yes. Although it's not up right now due to Christmas decorations.
    
18. Design a website. No.... redesigned my blog a few times, but no website as such.
    
19. Watch 5 movies in theaters. Yes. I even went to a movie by myself once.
    
20. Get a really great haircut. I did, and I loved my bob. But now it's time for another change.
    
21. Drink a bottle of wine worth more than $20. Yep. Well.... we spent $75 at the wine store.... I say that counts.
    
22. give at least 1 trash bag of clothes to Goodwill. I think I gave 3 or 4.
    
23. Buy Chris something he'd never buy for himself. I did. But it's his Christmas present, so shhhhhhh!!
    
24. Eat a whole lobster. No.... had a few claws about a month back, though.
    
25. Make business cards for myself. Yes, but I'm thinking of making new ones.
    

New list will be up soon!
xoxo

This Antelope Is Yours

In my defense, I had the mix ready last night at 11:00. Then I found out that 8tracks has gotten rid of their "network tracks" which meant I had to upload ALL of them. Took forever! But nonetheless, it's here now! May I present.....


...This Antelope Is Yours! Hopefully this will get you (and me) through the holidays.

DOWNLOAD HERE!

Tracklist:

1. Rilo Kiley / The Frug
2. Darwin Deez / Radar Detector
3. Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas / Bad to Me
4. Paul Simon / Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard
5. Coconut Records / Nighttiming
6. Feist / I Feel It All
7. Bombay Bicycle Club / Always Like This
8. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! / Satan Said Dance
9. Hey Marseilles / Rio
10. Neutral Milk Hotel / Holland, 1945
11. The Shins / So Says I
12. Beck / Gamma Ray
13. Okkervil River / Unless It's Kicks
14. The Flaming Lips / Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Part 1
15. Chris Merritt / Sugar
16. The Head and the Heart / Ghosts
17. Sufjan Stevens / Decatur, Or, Round of Applause for Your Stepmother!

As for the image on the cover (and the title, for that matter) it was a shot I found going through our pictures from Washington D.C. from the summer. It was taken at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum... hence, the antelopes being "yours." Really, I just thought it was a nice image with pretty colors, so I used it.


Listen on 8Tracks:

Enjoy the music!
xoxo

PS to Citymouse: I just couldn't make Morcheeba fit. I tried and tried. :( Next month?

It'll be a little late, but I'm working on December's mixtape now. Tonight or tomorrow. In the meantime, here's a preview:

Deez is the man. Word.
xoxo

Free Font Friday

Who loves free fonts? ME! And hopefully, YOU! Here are 5 free ones from MyFonts.com.

Budmo

Arca Dash

Duality

Lesser Concern

Home Sweet Home

And here's a little bonus on account of it being Harry Potter day and all:

Harry P, from Dafont.com

xoxo

Harry Potter and the Extremely Tired Katie

Okay, so it's been over a week. Oops.

Last night, Jessica and I did this:

I laughed. I cried. I yawned a lot.... but that had nothing to do with the movie. I was just really sleepy at 3am.
I'm going to be super tired today for our trip to Furman (our biggest football rival, in Greenville, SC). Chris says I can sleep in the car.
But you should know: Harry Potter is always worth it.
If you weren't one of the crazies at the theater last night at midnight, you should go see it ASAP. Like now. Seriously... go.

xoxo

PS... I think there may be some free fonts coming up in a bit (since it's Friday and all). We'll see.

Whose house? Our house.

This is what we did with our Saturday afternoon:

I don't usually post about football games (or any kind of sports at all), but we are Georgia Southern Eagles to the core. Every home game, we're in the stands, yelling and clapping and cheering with our group of friends. We've had an up-and-down season this year, but this week's game made it seem like none of that mattered. And it felt damn good knock #1 ranked Appalachian State down a peg or two.

Way to go, Eagles!

I got a brand new pair of rollerskates....

Damn HP commercial got this song stuck in my head last night. I thought I'd share.

Happy Friday.