Fav Friday Finds

Oh Wedding Bells! I'm so excited, and yes I got up super early to watch all the festivities! Let's have a little fun with Fav Friday this week shall we?

1. Music -


2. DiY - Birdcage Veil - I kind of think if you did this in black it could be cute for a fancy evening in general. Or navy or olive green? hmmm. Check out this fun DIY from Once Wed

3. Etsy - I adore these earrings! I would so wear these at my wedding! They also come in white.

4. Fashion - Beautiful Project Runway Kate Middleton dress sketches. Are these gorgeous or what? I love them, here are just a few favs  of the 50 sent in. Love these.

5. Pintrest -

Source: None via Brenda on Pinterest

Tune-age Tuesday

Spring Fools - Matt Pond PA

I can't help but gush over Matt Pond PA. I just can't help it. It's such good music, and when I found out about this new EP I was stoked. I found it this morning via hype machine, went to the blog to read the article about it, MOKB, then I bought it here and have been listening to it all day. Spring Fools is quickly becoming something that's going to carry me through the summer. There is even a bonus with an added female vocal on the title single Love To Get Used which is burstingly lovely. Austin-based singer-songwriter Ariel Abshire in a cameo role adds finishing touches to a fantastically catchy tune. If you aren't familiar with Matt Pond PA, while he has loads of great music, I would say Spring Fools isn't a bad place to start.
Love to Get Used

Fav Friday Finds

1. Music - Sparrows, Matt Pond PA. I'm just really liking this song lately. I go through Matt Pond PA phases once in awhile. Something about his music can cover what it is I seem to be missing. It just fits into all my moods I guess. I don't know if his music is necessarily the most diverse sound I listen to but I guess, for me he is that go to artist I never get tired of. Ever.


2. DiY- I saw this on pinterest for the first time and loved it. I'm making this this weekend I think. It would be perfect for my patio. Btw, this whole Dollar store crafts is brilliant. Check out the whole DiY here. 

3. Etsy - Look at these beautiful paintings! Found this shop when I stumbled onto this gorgeous painting of the Owl. I love the style of this work. I don't know whether I'm a water color fan or not, I just really thought these were something special.

 

4. Fashion - So I was going to post something else until I saw this dress looking for my Pinterest post and I fell in love with it. It just says, 'I'm hot and I'm cool.' I love it. Hmmmm. Could I make this dress? I wonder.

Source: shop.nordstrom.com via Amber on Pinterest

5. Pinterest - The Fantasy continues in Dublin. reminds me a bit of that part in Avatar where they are in the floating mountains or hanging mountains.. Wonder if you can spend the night here.

Source: roombyroom.tumblr.com via Brittany on Pinterest

Tune-age Tuesday

Birdy -
This little British born Bird has not only a lovely voice, but great taste in music.

When my music soul mate Tuck sent me this I was in awe. I love Bon Iver and Skinny Love was the first songs I fell for from this band. I think this cover is pretty brilliant. 
It's hard for me to love a cover where the original has no flaws, but I've always given cross-gendered covers a chance and I'm so glad this one was no exception. 

Her real name is Jasmine Van den Bogaerde, but her stage name is Birdy. Darling Birdy plays piano and sings, and man can she sing. I love how she takes the low notes and belts the heavy moments in the song. Oh and did I mention the most disturbing part? She's only 14 ladies and gentlemen. No, for reals.

Good for you Bridy, not doing some weak ass Bruno Mars or stripped down pop princess song.

Listen to the original first, if you don't know this band, I'm sorry. Link is above. Some of my favs include, Skinny Love (duh), Blindsided and this collaboration called Roslyn with St. Vincent

Bon Iver- Skinny Love

Birdy- Skinny Love

And the video if you are interested. This little thing made the UK top 40 charts at number 25 just a week or so ago.

Kate and William spoof

I'm super excited for the Royal Wedding. this morning I was sent his video and about dies laughing! The actors look so close! And it's a hone ad? Brilliant. I just had to share.
Speaking of weddings, the Mister and I went to a gorgeous one this weekend. Photos soon. Congrats to Jamie and Scott(-ish) Have a great week Lovlies!

Fav Friday Finds

1. Music - Wye Oak - Civilian
This album has been out for while and just now I'm getting around to listening to it. I really like her, her haunting style is really interesting to listen to. I suppose I mean her sound has lots of layers. 
Listen to the Title track
Civilian
Or my fav song off the album
Alter

2. DiY - Check out this awesome Diy honeycomb wall shelf! So cute. I love interesting shapes like this. I also love the colors, would be super fun in a dining room or kid's room. From Design*Sponge

3. Etsy - Love this new shop I stumbled onto. I even bought these beauties below (just the B). She has some adorable re-purposed wood wall art. I just love it, and frankly best prices I've seen. Check out her stuff sometime.

Also, these! What a cool idea! I know ink blots are typically black and white, but what about navy on creme? I think it could work. And check out the rest of this awesome shop

4. Fashion - Love these color combos

Source: glamcheck.com via Tiffany on Pinterest

Source: lookbook.nu via Tiffany on Pinterest

Source: fashion.telegraph.co.uk via Agnieszka on Pinterest

5. Pintrest - It only took 3 weeks, but I guess Fantasy Places is the theme this month :D Love this.

Source: tumblr.com via Marjorie on Pinterest

Weekend Report

The Mister and I had so much fun this past weekend I really wanted to share. I worked Saturday on cleaning up patio, emptying out the old dirt form the pots, reworking the little corner plot, getting out the old plants, putting new top soil on it and adding in the new potting soil. I was pretty pumped when it was all said and done. Saturday morning the Mister and I went down to the city market, which about our most favorite thing to do ever and bought 4 plants. They are so cheap and honestly, last year we did that and the plants we got at the market lasted until October! Anyway, we got banana peppers, ancho chilis, serranos and a new pepper we hadn't seen before but is supposed to be hot called a Burning Bush.

I should have taken pictures at the market, next weekend I will for sure. We have some herbs and tomatoes still working, we started (well my Dad started, Thanks dad!!) that aren't quite ready to plant, so soon there will be lots more happening. I cannot wait!

On another note, The Mister and I are planning a little vaca where we end in Michigan to see my little sister graduate high school.
We are starting in Springfield, do some antiquing in Champaign and then heading up to Indianapolis! I'm secretly mostly excited for Indianapolis because it's looking like a great great city. Lots of little parts like the Fountain district, Cultural district, Farmer's Market, plus tons of places to play golf! (yes I play golf, like real golf, I'm left handed which made it a little weird for The Mister to teach me but it worked out.) I've been scouring over this great site with all the best stuff about Indy. Insider's Guides,  top 10 lists, there's so much! Has anyone been to Indianapolis? Do you have any good suggestions?

Fav Friday Finds

1. Music - T-Swizzle covered Mumford and Sons. What? Look, I know I get crap for having, "pop novelty track" tastes once in awhile, but even less often is when the two collide for what I think is a smash. I'm sorry, but Taylor Swift's cover of Mumford and Sons, Blank White Page, is great. She takes the song down into a deep dark place that had me almost in tears. Until I saw this I hadn't heard the song, so after I watched the video, I immediately went here and bought it. I'm a lyric girl, and really it was the lyrics that grabbed me, but hearing it from a female perspective took it to a more personal level for me. I hope you enjoy it. I've posted both songs for you compare. :D 
Taylor Swift Blank White Page
Mumford and Sons Blank White Page

This is her video from BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge


2. DiY - Sorry, but this P.S. I made this has me hooked. This cut up sweatshirt is super fun. I'm considering thinking of a summer version.  Also I think I'd add in the shoulders in a different fabric.

3. Etsy - I ADORE this chair. I want it as my new reading chair. 

4. Fashion - Queen Victoria, I don't know about you but I've got royal wedding fever. I'm so excited to see who the designer is of Cate's dress and in the mean time, I'm loving this look from Polyvore.com The hat, the shoes,this is the kind of look I love, easy.I also just recently bought a hat like this one (not the one she's wearing), but I haven't had the guts to wear it yet.

.

Untitled by KATARINA-KAJA featuring a leather cross body bag

5. Pintrest -Lately I'm dreaming of being somewhere like here.

Source: appleday.tumblr.com via kalani on Pinterest

Sunday Book Report

I, like most students wasn't ever a fan of the dreaded book report. Which is also a little ironic because I was in the book club, the name escapes me[BOOK IT!! (the Mister remembered)], where if you read so many books that you got the free personal pan pizzas at Pizza Hut. After a year or so of doing that I had so many free pizzas, my Dad, my brother and myself could have pizza anytime we damn near wanted. Which, in a house where we hardly ever ate out or got McDonalds, or junk food for that matter (the first time I ate pizza rolls was freshman year of college), Pizza Hut was kind of a big deal. Needless to say I kind of kicked ass at book reports.
So I read a lot. This year especially, which is funny because I have added so many things to my life's "I ________" fill in the blank, that it's a wonder I find time to do most of it. Anyway, I've read quite a few books this year, in the last three months, and I know some of you out there read too, so I'm hoping by sharing what I've read, I'll get some good recommendations.

Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen
I won't lie, or try to pretend there wasn't an obvious reason I picked up this book. Of course I saw the trailer for this movie, and of course I saw R Patts was in it. And THEN I found out it was a book. A fantastic book actually. And I do plan to see the movie but I wanted to read the book first because, if you read, you know the books are ALWAYS, always better than their movie. It's a proven fact. My first memory of a failed awesome book to movie was Bridge to Terabithia. More on that some other time.
I opened this book and the first four pages are full of fabulous review statements by all of the most popular magazines, newspapers etc. as well as a page of famous authors. Pretty promising right? It did not disappoint.  It was full of amazing imagery of the gritty, grimy, unsanitary life of the 1930's train circus.

From big tops to midget clowns, to "roustabouts", rubes, performer relationships, to elephants stealing lemonade who speak Polish and like whiskey. The vision of this this time in history was highly fascinating. The book is also set during prohibition but a "quick stop in Canada" allowed the entire train to stock up on "fine Canadian whiskey." I don't think a chapter goes by without a drink.

The story begins with an Ivy League boy who is about to graduate from veterinary school when his parents are tragically killed. After the bank seizes his home and everything his parent's owned he is left homeless, and jumps hap-hazzardly on a train into a world he didn't know existed. A crazy spiral of drunken mischievousness, back alley hand shakes, police raids and even murder is flawlessly mixed with an old man's realization he is on the outs, whose family has forgotten him, and a take no shit nurse who has to keep him in line when the other fading minds around him make mistakes.

It's a roller coaster of the best kind if you are looking for a quick fun read I would recommend you pick this up. Also, note worthy is the interview with the author in the back of the book discussing her research in to the circus world and animal behaviors. You'll be surprised how much of it is true.

Fav Friday Finds for April!

I've never been very good at pranks. So typically I opt out of the Fool's part of April. But there is something else special about today! A few things actually.
1. Music - April Mix Tape! Here it is lovelies!! This was a hard theme this month. Luck and chance sounds like a great idea in theory but it's really hard to find the good stuff. Luckily I know a bit about searching for music.
1. Beginner's Luck - Eels
2. The Kids don't Stand a Chance - Vampire Weekend
3. Second Chance - Peter Bjorn and John
4. the Lucky Ones - Tim Myers
5. Down on Your Luck - The Booze
6. Trying Your Luck - The Strokes
7. Fate - Lydia
8. The Gambler - Kenny Rogers
9. Let's Win - Alex Ebert
10. Casino Queen - Wilco
11. Good Bye Good Luck - Thao with the Get Down Stay Down
12. Money Grabber - Fitz and the Tantrums
13. Luck be a Lady- Frank Sinatra
14. Money Box - Eliza Doolittle
15. This is the Song - Punch Brothers
16. the Luckiest - Ben Folds
17. Out of Luck - Camaromance
Download the .zip
2. DiY - I accidentally stumbled onto this fun site called P.S. I Made This What a great name right? Anyway, I remember making long yarn lanyards like this in elementary school! Is anyone with me? What a fun idea. I will be making this.

3. Etsy - With all this shitty weather, it's got me shopping for scarves again, which I really dont need to do. But this shop has some adorable scarves! I love this look and the colors, they are so much fun!

4. Fahion - J Crew's 2011 fall collection is full of bright fun. Via Fashionologie

 
5. Pintrest - Ugh, considering the past few weeks. I wanna be right there.

Source: houseofturquoise.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Expect another post tomorrow. I'm so excited. One of my most favorite projects I've gotten to do in awhile. I've been working on it for months, pouring over the details and it's finally arrived!! More soon!