-39-

This post is for the most wonderful man I know. 

Happy Birthday Dad! I love you.

You're a talented artist, musician and cook. 

You're incredibly selfless and have not one bad bone in your body.

I am so proud to call you my dad. 

Love you man!

-38-

Guys, it's hella hot outside!

HOPEFULLY, you've been getting your asses out of work and heading to the beach or some body of water to cool down! Everyone wants to come back from their weekend escapades with a stellar tan, crazy stories, and a relaxed mind set. There are some products you should use pre, during and post your summer shenanigans to make sure you have good-clean-fun!

Let's start at the bottom, shall we?
If you're like most of my guy friends, your feet probably look like the Crypt Keeper's, (Go ahead- look him up f you don't know who that is) which means your little piggies are in desperate need of a some TLC. Hop in the shower, lather up your feet with soap and use a pumice stone to get rid of nasty dry spots. Moisturize your feet and then goop those bad boys up Kiehl's Cross Terrain "Dry Run" Foot Cream. It'll protect your feet when you run around doing whatever you are doing. File and cut your nails, the whole bit.

Next, your bod-ay. You need to be smart when you're going to be in the sun for a long period of time. Protect your skin. Excessive freckles and wrinkles are not fun, so maybe you should avoid them by using Jack Black Sun Guard Sunscreen SPF 45 Oil-Free & VERY Water Resistant. Seriously your body is a temple, take care of it. Also check out Lab Series Power Protector SPF 50.

FUN FACET: Applying sunscreen just once will not help you. Depending on the SPF is how frequently you should reapply your sun tan lotion. SPF 30, every 30 minutes, SPF 45, every 45 minutes, I think you get it. However, anything above SPF 60, should still be reapplied every hour.

So we need to talk face protection. Obviously a baseball cap covers most of your face, but you should also use a good facial sunblock. Guys often forget to cover up their ears and end up with sunburnt and crusty ears, (which by the way... is disgusting). Use Kiehl's Facial Fuel UV Guard SPF 50+ ALL OVER!  Entire face, nose, lips, neck, back of neck, ears- for real! DO IT!

No matter what soap you use, sunblock has a tendency to get stuck in your pores. Clogged pores = breakouts. Using a mild exfoliant will not rub your tan away, (I promise) it will clean out your pores so you will be even more radiant than you already are. Try Baxter of California Facial Scrub.

Finally, if you do happen to get a sunburn, use Decléor's Aromessence Repairing After-Sun Balm. I swear to you, I live by this stuff. I absolutely love this healing balm! Scoop a little out, cup the balm in your palms to warm it up and then rub it around in your hands. When the balm is soft enough apply it to your burns. It's a great product and will last you quite some time.

You get the point, take care of yourselves. Despite what you think, girls will notice if you show your skin some love. You won't look like a pussy for applying sun block. You'll actually feel a lot smarter than the guy who is so burnt, it's painful to look at. He will be the red idiot in every photo you guys take. So help a brother out, and tell him to cover up before he drunkenly passes out in the sun.

Summer Jamz

Ellie Goulding, Burn

Azelia Banks, 212

Marina and The Diamonds, Shampain

Tegan and Sara, Closer

-37-

This is a lil shout out post to my very talented photog friend Andrew Kelly. AK wears many hats but he is especially nifty with his camera. He takes some sweet pictures of weddings, friends, babies and, OH YEAH, he also snaps pics of a little band called The Lumineers!
Don't know if you've heard of them? I kid, I kid!
Check out his awesome blog and portfolio HERE! 

Great job AK! 

Downtown, Petula Clark
Monday Morning, FleetwoodMac
Back In The High Life Again, Steve Winwood
Classy Girls, The Lumineers

-36-

When I was in 5th grade my mom bought me a pair of Vans slip on sneakers. She was tired of telling me over and over again to tie my shoes. It's not that I didn't know how to tie them, it's more that I just chose not to. I was never a skater girl, (no wait... sk8er gurl) because 1) I couldn't skate, and 2) I was no where near as cool as Avril Lavigne. However, I really fell in love with the sneakers and throughout the years I have acquired quite a few pairs.

I bought these bad boys last year. It was too cold to wear them at the time, but now they are very much part of my wardrobe. The beautiful thing about Vans is that there are so many styles, colors, prints, patterns and designs, they can be worn for all occasions. They are pretty affordable ($65+) and super comfortable!

Vans are sneakers that can last for ages no matter how broken in and beat up they get.








I'm really digging their California collection:

• CA Buck Authentic Decon CA ($70)
• Hiker 106 Era Hi CA ($85)
• Hiker 106 Vulcanized CA ($70)
• Sk8-Hi Binding CA ($70)

Oh, and I tie my shoes now.

I've been posting music after my posts for sometime now, I recently discovered that I can attach a Spotify playlist to my post for easy listening!

Enjoy!

-35-

Just because it is summer doesn't mean you're going to be rocking some shorts or swim trunks the whole time. Let's take a look at some pants that are pretty hot right now.

Not all chinos are created equal! When most guys hear "chinos" they think of their dad's double pleated dress khakis with the intense crease down the front of the legs. Well gentlemen, I've got news for you, there are now slimmer cut, pleat free, sans crease chinos that come in a variety of colors and are pretty awesome. NN07 (No Nationality 07) makes beautiful chinos that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Pssssst! Some of them even have cargo pockets! And don't hate on the idea of cargo pockets. Remember when you all rocked those pants that zipped into shorts?? Those always had cargo pockets and everyone was sporting them. Well NN07's are not so 'cargo-y' and very clean looking.

You also must, Must, MUST check out GANT's WWII inspired Rugger Pre-Fall 2013 Collection. The collection as a whole is fantastic but the trousers are by far the best of seen. Slim fitting and tailored bur relaxed.

Sid Mashburn's classic but colorful trousers are just so fancy. They are tailored beautifully and have all the features of a well crafted pant.

I have wholeheartedly become obsessed with Bleu de Paname and their take on menswear. They make clothes for men and women and have been featured in plenty of editorials! Great Parisian brand! Just pause on reading and go check out their blog! 

Topman, another brand that I really like, seem to be big on the chino game. The flat images of the pants look like the pants have curvy legs like Beyonce, but don't worry, they actually fit really nicely. Don't get me wrong, Beyonce has fantastic legs... for a lady. Some of Topman's prints are a little ambitious, but I do like the tapered leg at the bottom of the pants.

Edwin is a Japanese based brand that is incredibly fun and eccentric. I really like the Chino 55-Dot Cotton Denim pant.

You might notice that a lot of guys lately are cuffing the bottom of their pants.
STYLING FUN FACT: If you're on the shorter side, might I suggest not cuffing the bottom of your pants. A cuff generally accentuates the length of your legs. It is almost like an exclamation mark, your leg is the line and the cuff is the dot at the bottom. It appears that your legs are shorter than they actually are. If your pants are a bit too long, have them tailored to a particular length you are comfortable with. A nice, shorter hem is right above the bottom of your fibula, (your ankle bone that pops out.)

That's all I have for you today! If you have any style tips, questions, feelings - whatever, let me know and I'll try to help you out! I've also posted some tunes for your below!

Happy listening

• Midnight Dancers, Wolf Gang
• Mine is Yours, Cold War Kids (The entire album is phenomenal)
• This Charming Man, The Smiths
• 1957, Milo Greene 
• Big Parade, The Lumineers

-31-

Covers!

Here's my second post dedicated to covers of some great songs. 

(They might even be better than the originals!)
 You can also check out the ones I posted on April 19, 2012

Mree - Blood, The Middle East

 

Tori Kelly and Angie Girl - Thinkin Bout You, Frank Ocean

Ben Howard - Dancing In The Dark, Bruce Springsteen

-27-

It was earlier this year that I was introduced to Ben Howard's music. The man has an absolutely sensational voice and an exceptional talent when it comes to playing the guitar. Sam's boyfriend played one of his videos for me. I just loved his voice and the way he harmonizes with India, one of his band members. The whole group is just so gifted! The video we watched was him singing 'Only Love' and there is something so charming about him. He exudes that very charm in his covers of Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen and Bruce Springsteen's Dancing in the Dark.

What's better than watching him on youtube or listening to him on itunes? Seeing him live, and we got to do just that!

Terminal 5 is a pretty cool venue to see bands. I had seen Passion Pit and Donald Glover (Childish Gambino) there and had a fun but sweaty time. The crowds were pumped, pushy, hipsters all dancing or trying to rap along. I couldn't imagine a Ben Howard show being like that.

The craziest part? The crowd was just as big and just as excited as I had seen them before. But there was more of an appreciation and respect for the man on stage. People weren't jumping or shoving, but swaying and listening. It was so peaceful and epic all at the same time. You couldn't help but fall in love with the performance.

He is already on his way to stardom but even when he is on stage you can see how much he cares about his music and the crowd. That he is so grateful to have all of these people there to support him.

Willy Mason, another talented musician, opened for Ben Howard and he too was an absolute delight to listen to.

Play either of these musicians for ANYONE and they will love them and you.

Have a listen
Old Pine, Ben Howard
Depth Over Distance, Ben Howard
The Wolves, Ben Howard
Oxygen, Willy Mason
We Can Be Strong, Willy Mason

-21-

So this week was maybe the craziest week of all weeks. Hurricane Sandy came pummeling through the Northeast leaving millions without electricity. Manhattan was eerily quiet and abnormally dark. I traveled uptown and camped out at Sam's apartment during the storm. We stocked up on dry foods and lots of bottled water, all ready to brave Sandy together. We kept busy more or less, did some yoga... more like TRIED TO DO some yoga, stuffed my face with Honey Nut Cheerios, and played lots of Boggle. We took full advantage of this "Hurri-cation" (get it?) and watched lots of movies, walked around, (when it wasn't a torrential down-pour with 80 mph winds) and obviously ate a lot!

When I was finally able to make it back down to my apartment, I was relieved to find that my building was fortunately up and running, however, my internet was all messy. I called my mom with every intention to complain about my internet woes. Before I could even begin to drown her in my sorrows she started to tell me about all the people we know who are dealing with the aftermath of Sandy. Family whose houses are in shambles, friends with destroyed roofs from fallen trees and neighbors whose cars are totally mangled from the flying debris. She said that she and my dad were keeping positive, that they are alright, just without power. She practically sang the following words into the phone, "Problem or inconvenience...right?" And just like that, I felt like the biggest ass. I'm over here with a cold refrigerator, hot water and lights while some people don't even have a home to go to. I could not believe I was being so ridiculous, that something as insignificant as getting on the internet seemed like a big deal to me. I very quickly, shut up.

"Problem or inconvenience" refers to a story I was told the summer I was 16 years old. A very wise individual read this small anecdote to myself and my group of friends. It changed our lives. I then read it to my mom, she said it changed hers. Maybe it'll change yours. 

Sigmund Wollman's Reality Test

by Robert Fulghum

It was the summer of 1959. At a resort inn in the Sierra Nevada of Northern California, I had a job that combined being the night desk clerk in the lodge and helping with the horse-wrangling at the stables. The owner-manager was Swiss, with European notions about conditions of employment. He and I did not get along. I thought he was a fascist who wanted peasant employees who knew their place. I was 22, just out of college, and pretty free with my opinions.

One week the employees had been served the same thing for lunch every single day. Two wieners, a mound of sauerkraut and stale rolls. To compound insult with injury, the cost of the meals was deducted from our paychecks. I was outraged.

On Friday night of that awful week, I was at my desk job around 11 p.m., and the night auditor had just come on duty. I went into the kitchen and saw a note to the chef to the effect that wieners and sauerkraut were on the employee menu for two more days.

That tore it. For lack of any better audience, I unloaded on the night auditor, Sigmund Wollman.

I declared that I had had it up to here, that I was going to get a plate of wieners and sauerkraut and wake up the owner and throw it at him. Nobody was going to make me eat wieners and sauerkraut for a whole week and make me pay for it and this was un-American and I didn't like wieners and sauerkraut enough to eat them one day for God's sake and the whole hotel stunk and I was packing my bags for Montana where they never even heard of wieners and sauerkraut and wouldn't feed that stuff to pigs. Something like that.

I raved in this way for 20 minutes. My monologue was delivered at the top of my lungs, punctuated by blows on the front desk with a fly swatter, the kicking of chairs and much profanity.

As I pitched my fit, Sigmund Wollman sat quietly on his stool, watching me with sorrowful eyes. Put a bloodhound in a suit and tie and you have Sigmund Wollman. He had a good reason to look sorrowful. Survivor of Auschwitz. Three years. German Jew. Thin, coughed a lot. He liked being alone at the night job. It gave him intellectual space, peace and quiet, and, even more, he could go into the kitchen and have a snack whenever he wanted to - all the wieners and sauerkraut he wished. To him, a feast. More than that, there was nobody around to tell him what to do. in Auschwitz he had dreamed of such a time. The only person he saw at work was me, the nightly disturber of his dream. Our shifts overlapped an hour. And here I was, a one-man war party at full cry.

"Lissen, Fulchum. Lissen me, lissen me. You know what's wrong with you? It's not wieners and 'kraut and it's not the boss and it's not the chef and it's not the job."

"So what's wrong with me?"

"Fulchum, you think you know everything, but you don't know the difference between and inconvenience and a problem. If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire - then you got a problem. Everything else is inconvenience. Life is inconvenient. Life is lumpy."
"Learn to seperate the inconveniences from the real problems. You will live longer. And will not annoy people like me so much. Good night."

In a gesture combining dismissal and blessing, he waved me off to bed.

Seldom in my life have I been hit between the eyes so hard with truth. There in that late-night darkness of a Sierra Nevada inn, Sigmund Wollman simultaneously kicked my butt and opened a window in my mind.

For 30 years now, in times of stress and strain, when something has me backed against the wall and I'm ready to do something really stupid with my anger, a sorrowful face appears in my mind and asks, "Fulchum. Problem or inconvenience?"

I think of this as the Wollman Test of Reality. Life is lumpy. And a lump in the oatmeal, and lump in the throat, and a lump in the breast are not the same lump. One should learn the difference. 

Good night, Sig.

Stay safe everyone, good luck with getting back into your regular routines and if you can check out the music below!

Take a listen!

Runaway, Mr. Little Jeans

Not In Love (feat. Robert Smith), Crystal Castles

Angels, The xx

Never Mess With Sunday, Yppah

Oblivion, Grimes

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!

-18-

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DEAR SWEET AMERICA!

Today is probz my most favorite day. 

On the list of things I love most in life, America, (and by America, I mean 4th of July) is in my top 5. Soon I will post my official list, but for now, there's America.

S'mores

Fireworks

Red

White

Blue

STARS N' STRIPES 

Have fun, play with friends and be safe

Listen to these

Miracle, Ghost Beach
Little Talks, Of Monsters and Men

Saw You First, The Givers (Click forward to 1:40)

Take a Walk, Passion Pit

-17-

School is over, (for now at least) and I am so ready to embrace summer. It's nice to get out of the city for a while and live in the peace and quiet of suburbia.  Unfortunately, it is incredibly humid and rainy all the time, but no worries. I've been busy unpacking, (I now have 100% more crap then I ever did before) Things are just accumulating in piles around my room and I occasionally see one of the piles moving, my dog will then creep out from underneath it. Not sure why she finds it necessary to burrow herself in my stuff, but she's cute so whateva, (and it makes for the most ADORABLE instagram pics.)

Anyways, I've been working on a "chillface" playlists- ya know, the songs you listen to relax, get your chill...face on. I've developed one that I think is pretty super, but ya'll let me know. And by ya'll, I mean the 3 people who actually read my blog, one of which is my mom. So thanks mom for making my blog views number go up. Much appreciated. I will also have more time to doodle!! YEAYYYY!

In the mean time, grab the ones you love, relax, nap and enjoy the start of summer-

Here's the Chill-Face Playlist: 

(FUN FACT- if you click on the highlighted song title it will take you to that song's youtube page!)

When The Night Comes, Dan Auerbach

Runaway, The National

Rivers and Roads, The Head and The Heart

The Dreamer, The Tallest Man on Earth

Been Listening, Johnny Flynn
Towers, Bon Iver

Just your daily dose of the cutest freakin creature

Side note: Check out NAKD Apparel,  they're going to have some great new stuff coming!

-16-

I am so excited to write this post for a number of reasons:
1)It's Friday
2) I'm that much closer to being done with school
3) It's about my beautiful friend, Jess

Jess and I met in the Menswear program at FIT. She immediately stuck out to me as the sassy Latina chick with big hair. I instantly wanted to be her friend and as soon as that happened was dubbed the name Lil' Whitey by Jess and a few other we hung around with.

Jess was always full of smiles and explained to me all the things a girl should look out for in life. Boy problems, girl problems, city problems- you name it, Jess prepared me. She is an incredible multi-tasker- Girl was workin' it back in the day! School, a job, sewing homework and making time for family and friends.

Jess and Matias make their first public appearance together

She moved last year out to California for an incredible design job and she has come so far from being the sassy Latina chick running around NYC! Don't get me wrong, she still is that sassy Latina chick, but she will have to juggle one more thing in her busy schedule...

...A BABY!

Matias Ramon will be arriving in a mere 67 days and I can hardly wait! I do partially feel responsible for the birth of little Matias. No I did not get Jess preggo- that is impossible! BUT I did sorta kinda set her up with her other half.

Her BF was also in the Menswear program with Jess and I. He wore glasses. I thought he was cool. I remember sewing my life away with him, he was impressed by my rap skills and surprised that I was singing the old stuff, (Nice and Smooth, NWA, older Beastie Boys, you knowwww.) Jess told me she thought he was cute. A lil' bit of Lil' Whitey's magic and they are two happy little clams, peas in a pod, the peanut butter to her jelly, the cookies to his milk... I think you get the point. Of course there is more to that story, but that story is their story, so I'll leave it for them to tell Matias someday!

They are going to be amazing parents and I am so excited to see their beautiful future together. I also can't wait to meet Matias! He is going to be the tall, dark and handsome type- look out ladies!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I hate to close on a sad note, but the world said goodbye to a legend. RIP Adam Yauch, you were amazing, thank you for your music. 

Adam Yauch, The Beastie Boys

LISTEN!

Brass Monkey, Beastie Boys
Intro, M83

Comes Let Go, Xavier Rudd

Breathe Me, Sia

-15-

It is finally May! I cannot believe how this year has flown by! If you're like me, you're probably up to your eyeballs in work and most likely praying for the next three weeks to be over. I should not be pinning on pinterest nor should I be blogging under the circumstances. But JEEZ, CAN I LIVE? Everyone needs a break every once in a while.

One assignment I am excited for is a research paper I am writing. I honestly never thought I would even utter those words but yes ladies and gents, that just happened. My paper is all about movies- Darren Aronofsky to be exact. I recently had to catch up on a few of his films. So I sat down this past weekend with two of my friends and we watched The Wrestler, Black Swan and Requiem for a Dream. Heavy shit man, that's for sure! He is an extraordinary director but his movies are so dark. I guarantee you will have seriously deranged dreams if you watch them all in a day. I know I did!
My friends were so surprised that I had never seen Black Swan before. To be honest, I was even surprised I hadn't seen it. I love movies! I could not believe it has taken me over a year to finally sit down and watch it. Needless to say, it was a fantastic film. 

When I finish my paper, I will be sure to show y'all a snippet! 

In the mean time, here are some movies, that if you have not seen, you should 100% check out.

Where does the cow go on the weekend?

To the mooooovies! 

Mesrine: Killer Instinct

Mesrine: Public Enemy #1

Black Swan

Star Wars 1-6

The Wrestler

Goodfellas

Pulp Fiction

Crash

2001 A Space Odyssey
Say Anything *Guilty Pleasure*

Anyways, those are just a random handful of movies I thoroughly enjoy-

For those of you in a musical mood:

Is there a Ghost, Band of Horses

Myth, Beach House

Boats, Songs Of Green Pheasants

 Summer Skin, Death Cab for Cutie

-14-

Even though it doesn't feel like spring outside, spring cleaning sure has begun in my house. I went home for a bit and helped my parents out. It was so fun to reminisce, looking through old pictures I had drawn, journals I had kept and the strange things I collected, (A Star Wars sticker book and Milk Ads seemed to be my thing.)

Everyone loves a man in uniform

I found pictures of myself when I was little sitting with my grandpa, Stanley. The pictures really made me miss him. He passed away not too long ago but it feels like I haven't seen him in ages. I started looking around my house at other pictures of him and I think my favorite one is his portrait from when he was in the Navy. He was incredibly handsome and seeing him in his uniform inspired me to start dreaming up a nautical menswear collection. In my head, the ideas seemed so cool! On paper, however, the men looked like the village people meets Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid meets the ad for Jean Paul Gaultier's Le Male. I'll make it work but like I said, the pictures made me miss him a whole lot. I think I got my knack for collecting things from him, (I am not a hoarder... I SWEAR!)
He loved his family, could house-break any animal, was a pro at giving directions and had talent for story telling.
My favorite story he would tell is when he first met my grandma, Rose. They instantly fell in love, and from that day on, she was his princess.
Everyone who knew him loved him and even if you heard his stories 5 times before, they never seemed to get old, just made you love them even more.
Love you to pieces Gramps-

Respect Your Elders

I'll Never Smile Again, Frank Sinatra

Begin the Beguine, Artie Shaw

Hey There, Rosemary Clooney

Shake, Rattle and Roll, Elvis Presley (I strongly suggest you watch the entire video)

-12-

Just my mumsie and me '91

This next post is for my mom. I tell her everything and I love that I have that sort of relationship with her. She's creative, smart and although she thinks I always make fun of her, it's just cause she is a mom and that's what we do. She has love for all things lady and has an excellent sense of style. Her favorite things are Mad Men, Love Actually, Sister Sledge, (apparently she spent a  week with them at Club Getaway) photography, fashion, New York City and of course my dad and me. She has a very generous heart, an open mind and a caring soul.
I feel very lucky to call her my mom.

Take a Listen to these

Jump for my Love, The Pointer Sisters

Higher Love, Steve Winwood

Dreams, Fleetwood Mac

Take Me Home -Phil Collins

Love Actually

The Met

Don

-11-

Just a quick little music post, enjoy.

covers, covers, covers

Your Love, Justin Vernon...The guy from Bon Iver (Originally by The Outfield)
Dearest, The Black Keys (Originally by Buddy Holly)

Skinny Love, Birdy (Originally by Bon Iver)

1901, Birdy (Originally by Phoenix)

Birdy

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Greg Laswell (Originally by Cyndi Lauper)

Crazy, Ray Lamontagne (Originally by Gnarls Barkley)

You Really Got A Hold On Me, She and Him (Originally by Percy Sledge)
No one's Gonna Love you, Cee Lo Green  (Originally by Band of Horses)
Higher Love, James Vincent McMorrow (Originally by Steve Winwood)

-10-

--> I have totally been slacking on this whole blog bit, but today we make a change! I am really, really, REALLY going to try and get into a routine of doing it everyday… and by everyday I mean every week.

I have literally been up to my eyeballs in work. School tends to feel like quicksand, you just get pulled deeper and deeper in and just when you think you’ve shaken one limb free…I don’t know…you’re still screwed cause you’re in QUICK SAND! Okay, okay, maybe it’s not quicksand more like a flytrap. The sticky ones that hang from the ceiling and flies get stuck in them and die. I’ve seen a girl get stuck on one-not pretty. Besides, school is supposed to be tough but I just keep telling myself, one more year, one more year-it’s become my mantra.

However, my life does not just consist of me wallowing in my sorrows, full of self-pity by the amount of homework I have. There is some good in my life. No, not good, GREATNESS!

I was introduced to two wonderful gentlemen through a friend. They had a vision that they wanted to start a brand that represented our generation. Their names are Matt and Brian Bank, two brothers who happen to sit at the top of my favorite people list. They are smart, funny and have incredible heads of hair, (eat your heart out Beiber). The boys discussed their vision for the brand and explained its back-story. The brand is called NAKD Apparel and it stands for Never Attempt Killing Dreams. They started saying it when they were younger and it sort of grew into their motto. NAKD is an homage to all the dreamers, the driven, the hopeless romantics, the individuals and the people just trying to make it. They want their clothes to grow with the customer and be worn by virtually anyone. They have bright color pallets but also neutral tones that cater to boys, girls, men and women.

Matt and Brian are extremely hardworking and steadfast in raising this NAKD baby, and I most definitely see great success in their future. Although they have just a few t–shirts and tanks to their name, NAKD already has growing fan base at Penn State University and is making moves across the Unite States. NAKD is loved by so many and I feel so fortunate to be part of the NAKD team!  
Keep an eye on their site because you never know when new stuff may appear!

Listen to these! (It’s Friday! Get hyped)

Back in the Day, Ahmad

Express Yourself, NWA (rip EAZY E)

Paranoid, Kanye West

11h30, Danger (skip through the first 15 seconds)

Calabria 2007, Enur

-9-

Nug

They say home is where the heart is... I don't really know who the "they" refers to, but that's what they say so I'll say it.
I was lucky enough to go home and spend time with my family and my wonderful pup, Penny Lane. She is not a puppy anymore but she still acts like one. I also never call her by her real name, I just call her Nug, (or any variation of the word Nug: Nug-face, Nuggito, Nuggie, etc.) Needless to say I am obsessed with her, let alone obsessed with all dogs. I do NOT have a T-shirt with her picture on it, I do NOT have a mug with her face on it and I do NOT have bumper stickers on my car that say, "I ruff my dog" but lets just say all the photos in my iphone are predominantly her. She's a fun little dog and I am so happy she is mine.

I feel very fortunate to live in such a wonderful city, but I think it is nice to get out of the noise and lights every now and then, and embrace some peace and quiet. You'll be surprised what a full nights sleep will do for you and no matter what, sleeping in your own bed just happens to be the best. Unless you go to some fancy-shmancy resort and sleep in one of those beds that has a down mattress, (oh you fancy huhhhh) then you are just plain lucky. Also, there's nothing better than your own shower. Everything is exactly where it's supposed to be. Go home, eat comfort food, take a hot shower, sleep in your own bed and tell the people in your life how much you truly love them.

Take a Listen

Love Is All- The Tallest Man on Earth

Sit Down By The Fire- The Veils 

Ho Hey- The Lumineers

Cannons- Youth Lagoon

-8-

It's hella pretty outside! Get your fitness on and go running! Grab your I-pod, some fresh kicks and get out there!

Listen to these to pump yourself up!

Dedication to My Ex (Miss That)- Lloyd {NSFW}Just thought I'd give a heads up!

Rolling in the Deep (Remix) ft. Childish Gambino

-7-

Happy St. Patty's Day! Don't get too crazy!

Go Green

 

Go Listen To

 Green Shirt- Elvis Costello
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right- Bob Dylan

Paper Ships- Dead Man's Bones

-6-

THIS IS A TRIPLE THREAT POST!
3 BIG things have occurred in the past few weeks. No no no not big, HUGE.
1) I turned 21!
2) I saw The Black Keys at MSG
3) I got to hang out with the most coolest up and coming band

So to start, I turned 21 and it was pretty cool. My license came in the mail and my picture looks like I ate everyone in the DMV just before they snapped that brilliant photo. Yes, I look like a cow meets Mrs. Potato Head but that beautiful mug is what got me into 13th Step on the Lower East Side. SO WHO CARES!?
I felt like hot shit, (excuse my french.) There I was, ridin' dirty, passing the bouncers because I LEGALLY COULD!
Earlier that day, I bought a fun little one shoulder dress from American Apparel. Paired that with black tights and black, suede, high-healed booties, Maggie and Sam did my hair and makeup and I was good to go.
Maggie looked stunning in a flowy Zara top, hot pants, and some crazy high heals. Sam kept it super chic in a little tank, tight jeans and pretty little flats.
Even though the weather absolutely sucked, (it rained) 13th Step was packed with people of all sorts. I had an assortment of people wishing me a Happy Birthday and then they looked really shocked when I told them it was my 21st. They thought I was 17... They also told me "It all goes down from here." (Real encouraging world.)
I could not have been happier with how the night went and I was so stoked to be out with the people I care about most, friends old and new!
We somehow found ourselves at a Taco Bell and then ended up at Sam's apartment.

Me-Maggie-Sam

It was a fantastic birthday!

BLACK KEYS TIME!!

My dad had given me tickets to see The Black Keys for Christmas, (BEST DAD EVER!) I was so excited to go, but with the hype of being 21, I almost forgot about the concert completely. Because Sam is a fellow Auerbach lover, I asked her to come with. Minutes before the show we chowed down on some eggs n' toast and sprinted to MSG! High on life and butterflies fluttering in our stomachs we skipped up to the tippy top level of MSG where we unsuccessfully could not find our seats. We ended up sitting in some random row that most definitely belonged to someone else. Well, we never actually sat, but nonetheless, danced in front of someones seats. We swayed to the sweet, sweet sounds of the sexy Mr. Dan Auerbach and the awesomely awesome Patrick Carney. I know I wasn't there, but it seriously felt like we were transported/teleported/whatever-ported back to the 1970's. There was a screen behind them with there faces enlarged but other than that, nothing crazy fancy. It made you appreciate the music that much more. They played all of my favorite songs and I was practically peed my pants when they started playing Thickfreakness, it was so freakin amazing! We then managed to run down, past the ushers and guards, used our charm on some taller gentlemen and squeezed our way through a few drunk couples until we were very, VERY close to the stage. Well...not that close, but close enough. The boys came back out for an encore and in all the screams, shrieks and hootin' n' hollerin' an enormous disco ball was lowered above the stage. They began to play Everlasting Light and that's when it happened. I cried. It was so beautiful and I just got lost in it.

It was such an awesome night and I was even more proud of myself that it was a Monday, and I was out!

#3
I grew up  in a fairly small town, and our only little claims to fame was that Jesse McCartney went to our school and that Marc Zuckerberg went there at some point. However, that is all going to change very soon! The Enthusiasts are an up and coming band that are rocking this world. Joey, Dylan and G are probably the three coolest kids you'll ever meet and I feel very lucky to be friends with them! I have them to thank for introducing me to The Black Keys, Jay Reatard, (RIP...right?) The Pixies, (I think) and The White Stripes. Well, I was already a fan of Jack and Meg, but they idolized Mr. White a little too much, so I'll give them the credit.
Anywaysss, Dylan messaged me to tell me they were playing at The Cake Shop and to come show my support. So I grabbed my most bad ass Frye boots, a T-shirt with bald eagles on the front and Maggie and headed down to The Cake Shop. It was so awesome getting to catch up with old friends-*sniff, sniff* we're all so grown up! We grabbed some drinks, hugged and chatted and then the boys finally went on to play their set. THEY KILLED IT! I was so impressed with their performance and found myself cheering, screaming and dancing around with Maggie. Joey plays guitar and sings with so much soul, I loved the way he played his way around the room. G swayed and played ever so smoothly managing to never bump into Joey the entire time. Dylan rocked out on the drums and had a few of the ladies swooning when he took off his shirt! They have so much passion for what they do and I strongly suggest you pay attention to them because they are going to take off. I was so in love with their performance I decided to make them my first male doodles of the 10pm blog!

I was inspired by their style, from Joey's jean jacket embellished with rhinestones in a giant "E" on the back, G's clean cut look, to Dylan...well... showing some skin, I doodled them!
Check out their site and listen to their music! It's pretty sweet man!

It's been an eventful March, that's for sure. Oh and Jerry O'Connel got on the subway today while I was on it!
Good week, no no, great week!

Keep on Keepin' on

GO LISTEN TO

Down in Mexico- The Coasters

The Go Getter- The Black Keys

Magic Mirror- The Enthusiasts

The Happy Song- Otis Redding