Tune in Tuesday : Sleigh Bells

My "Best of 2010" album list is already forming. Near the top of the list? Sleigh Bells' Treats. Here's one of my fave songs from the album, "Rill Rill". It just makes me want to get in the car, roll down the windows, and drive.

Another Sunday Share on Monday

So sue me!

This weekend was pretty awesome. Friday afternoon, I picked up a new toy, Saturday I got to watch an exciting soccer game (even though the US lost ... BOOO) and hang out with my dad, and Sunday I watched the Royals kick the Cardinals' butt from the comfort of our non-shaded seats at Kaufmann Stadium.

And today, I learned that from this point forward in my life, I can be referred to as Four Eyes. At least I'll look cute (I got the Satin Plum). Oh, and eye allergies can be pretty awful. A case of the Mondays, indeed!

Now, for another trip down college memory lane ...



From my Studio Lighting class, junior year. Shot with a Nikon F4 using Kodachrome (I think) slide film.

Fiesta!

OK, I had this big post about my Mexican heritage planned out ... but trying to write something that detailed is hard when I'm also trying to watch this soccer game (GO USA!). So I'll save that for another day (maybe in a few weeks, when the annual Fiesta Mexicana hits town).

In lieu of my family history, here are a few photos I've dug up on Flickr. Some are just pretty Mexican-themed shots. Others are from the places in Mexico from where my family hails, or where I still have family members residing.

[source]

[source]

[source]

[source]

[source]

[source]

Organization

I finally got tired of living in a cluttered mess. We live in a small (somewhere in the 600 sq ft range, I believe) downtown apartment that only boasts 3 closets. As you can imagine, I have a hard time finding room for everything. Enter the ClosetMaid 9 Cube organizer. I picked it up on sale at Target last night for $39.99 (along with 5 metal storage bins), and I LOVE it. I've got space for my craft books, binders, journals/sketchbooks, yarn, fabric, felt, paints, misc. scrapbook embellishments, AND a whole cube left over! I know, right?! It takes up way less space than the old entertainment center I was previously using for storage ... plus it's way cuter. Check it out! Oh, and sorry it's so dark. I was too lazy to get my digicam out, so I just used Hipstamatic on my iPhone instead.

What are some of your favorite organization tips?

Tune In Tuesday: Dad Edition

Since Father's Day was this past Sunday, I decided to make a playlist that totally, 100% reminds me of my dad. He's the reason I have a (self-described) awesome taste in music. Oh, and for those of you that don't know ... my dad named me after Hall & Oates' "Sara Smile". I'd like to think that musically-influenced choice set a course for the rest of my life.

Enjoy!

Mmm Mmm Monday!

[source] -- not my salad from today, if that wasn't obvious

I am SO happy the stormy weather that has been frequenting the area held off over the lunch hour today, since I had a date I didn't dare break. After my short shift at work, I drove over to my grandmother's house, picked her up (along with my sister, who was there visiting), and we headed over to New City Cafe. Before we even walked in, I knew what I would be ordering ... the Killer Salad. There's nothing else quite like it on this planet. And while I don't have the recipe (I WISH!), here's a little guide to help you build your own version.

[the following is an excerpt from a story written in The Topeka Capital-Journal, found here]

... chopped romaine lettuce speckled with sliced cucumber, orange and grapefruit chunks, Gorgonzola cheese crumbles and caramelized nuts (pecans, peanuts and walnuts). Drizzled on top is a spectacular, tangy raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

Seriously ... YUM. It was perfectly refreshing for this hot, sticky first day of summer.

Sunday Share: Father's Day Edition

Whew ... first, let me just say thanks for letting me get yesterday's post out of my system. Sometimes, just talking things out really does a lot of good. On a lighter note ...

Happy Father's Day to my amazing dad (and to all of the other amazing dads out there)! Thanks for giving me life (well, thanks to Mom for that, too), passing down your appreciation for art, awesome music, and good food, teaching me the importance of family, and just being the best dad we could ever ask for. I love you!

Dad (the baby on the right) with four of his brothers. Grandma and Grandpa had eight kids!

Dad, me, and my little sis

Weathering the Storm

 [source]

Yesterday was a rough day. Really rough. My families (my own, as well as my boyfriend's) endured some pretty tough blows. One situation appears to be on the up and up (after long hours spent in the hospital waiting room), but the other ...


Let me be really honest here. Over the years, my relationship with the big man upstairs has been tumultuous at best. There have been many days that I have questioned and doubted his entire existence. Needless to say, I don't really do a lot of praying, because I'm fairly convinced that it's falling on deaf ears.

Yesterday, I prayed.

I understand that what happened wasn't ever fully outside the realm of possibilities. I get that. It's just really hard to comprehend why these things happen. So I prayed that whoever is up there help my family find the strength to cope with the things we don't understand, and may never understand. Any prayers, good vibes, or positive thoughts (whatever you're into) for my family would be appreciated. My family is a strong, supportive, loving group, so I know they can get through this. But extra help never hurts.

I need this.

 [source]

Well, not this specific one (although it is quite beautiful) ... but another tattoo. I need one. And I already know what I want, I just have to do it.

Tune in Tuesday

If there's one thing in life I'm guilty of, it's spending too much time buying, reading about, and researching music. Just a couple of months ago, I listed a bunch of new music I had recently gotten my hands on. Well ... it's about that time again! In those two months, I've acquired even more music I'd love to share, and what better day to do that than on a Tune in Tuesday? I've also thrown in a song from each album that I think you might love as much as I do. Get ready for a TON of music!

Oh, and if you have any recommendations of music you think I'll like, please feel free to share!

(Also -- if the music player looks funky, please let me know! It looks OK on my computer, but I'm running Firefox on a Mac, so I have NO idea how it looks on other browsers or operating systems. Thanks!!)

----------

Local Natives - Gorilla Manor

[source]

"Sun Hands"


Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (II)

[source]

"Violent Dreams"


The Big Pink - A Brief History of Love

[source]

"Dominos" (not a typo ... that's how they spelled it)


Holy F*ck - Latin
(just saw them live on Sunday, BTW ... absolutely amazing. See them if you ever have the chance!)

[source]

"Latin America"


Tiesto - Kaleidoscope
(another must-see!)

[source]

"Feel It In My Bones" (feat. Tegan and Sara)


Major Lazer - Guns Don't Kill People ... Lazers Do

[source]

"Pon de Floor" (ft. VYBZ Kartel)


The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - S/T

[source]

"Young Adult Friction"


La Roux - S/T

[source]

"In For the Kill"


Bassnectar - Art of Revolution
(yet another MUST MUST MUST see!)

[source]

"Art of Revolution"


Black Keys - Brothers

[source]

"Tighten Up"

Sunday Share ... on Monday

You might notice that today isn't Sunday. It was an incredibly busy weekend around here, so I'm just getting around to getting this week's Sunday Share posted. Here's another one from the archives ... this one was taken in either my sophomore or junior year of college (I am SO bad of keeping track when I did things) during my Advanced Photo Techniques class. This was one of my first experiences with a Holga AND with double exposures, so there was experimentation all around! This is an untitled piece from my ongoing "Bailey" series.

(As usual, this is my image. If you decide for any reason to post it anywhere, please give me credit, and I would appreciate a link back here. Thanks!)

Freebies on Friday ... DONE!

After two short weeks, I've decided I'm not going to do Freebies on Friday anymore. I've noticed a number of other similar weekly posts on other blogs, and I'm not about being a big ol' copy cat. That's not to say I still won't post links to some awesome free stuff ... it's just not going to be on a regularly-scheduled basis.

So while I figure out what the crap I'm going to be posting every Friday, get yourself pumped up for the weekend with a little bit of daily affirmation (no, not the Stuart Smalley kind). I'm pretty sure this has been making the rounds lately, but it reminds me so much of a friend of mine, I just can't resist getting in on the action. Happy weekend, everyone!

My world is imploding

OK ... that might be a little dramatic. My world really isn't imploding.

I do, however, have a confession to make.

I am a serious -- nay, rabid -- fan of college sports. And don't worry, I'm not going to go into great depths here, as to not bore the non-sports fans in the crowd. Within the past couple of days, it has become increasingly evident that my beloved Kansas Jayhawks may be in trouble. I find it disheartening (and more than a little unbelievable) that a team that just two short years ago won a national championship in basketball and a major bowl in football could soon be without a conference to call home. Throwing tradition, rivalry, and (in my opinion) common sense aside, money has become the root of everything in sports. Not that this is really a shocking revelation, I suppose.

Sports talk over. For now.

While I continue to scour the internet for the latest news on the potential Big XII collapse, I leave you with this:

[source]

And Rock Chalk Jayhawk, go KU!

Tune in Tuesday - Japandroids vs. Vitreous Humor & The Regrets

"Young Hearts Spark Fire" - Japandroids


I've been listening to a lot of Japandroids lately. It's sort of like I've taken a time warp back to the early- to mid-90s when emo was still good, and indie rock actually rocked. I think part of the reason I'm so into them is because they remind me a lot of Vitreous Humor, one of my favorite bands from the 90s (and natives of my hometown). There's no big-label polish to these guys, just such a DIY sound that I can really appreciate.

While Vitreous Humor never made it as big as they should have -- I've heard stories of them nearly signing with Sony, until a major internal collapse. And then Modest Mouse and/or Nada Surf got involved, but I don't really remember how they fit into the equation -- they still have a huge place in my heart. After VH fell apart, several of the members reformed as The Regrets, who is equally as awesome. Take a listen, and enjoy.

"Why Are You So Mean to Me?" - Vitreous Humor


"Inflated Passions" - The Regrets


** EDIT ** I just figured out that the Regrets song cuts off before it's done. I can't find any of their other music on YouTube, so that'll just have to do. Sorry!

Creativity Boot Camp, Days 1 & 2

I recently joined in on the fabulous Madeline Bea's Creativity Boot Camp, and just two days in, I'm already glad I did! Every now and then, I need a little something to get the creative juices flowing, and this was just the ticket. Each day, we are provided with a journal prompt, as well as a word. We then create a piece in our chosen medium (mine is photography. I thought about painting, but that would be WAY too time consuming) that represents the word of the day. There are SO many talented people taking part, and I'm loving the group's Flickr pool. Check it out!

Day 01 - "Ivory"

Day 02 - "Picnic"

What gets you going, creatively? Do any of you have any other great artistic pick-me-uppers?

Mmm Mmm Monday!

For some insane reason, I decided to do a straight raw food diet this week. So basically, it's all fresh fruits, veggies, and raw nuts for me until next Monday. OK ... it's not really all that insane ... I've put on a few pounds I really need to get rid of, and eating all those healthy fruits and veggies certainly can't be bad for you! I'm just really jonesing for a nice tall glass of chocolate milk right now, and I can't have any.

But no worries! This fruit salad [original source] makes me forget all about my chocomilk, if at least for a few short moments. This, plus a tablespoon of flax seeds, was my breakfast this morning, and it was total yumsville. It's so perfect for this summer-like weather we've been having lately. Enjoy! (And look! I took my own photo this time!)

Radiance Fruit Salad
From Ellie Krieger | Prep Time : 20 mins. | Serves: 6

Ingredients
Salad:
1/2 cantaloupe, cut into 3/4-in. chunks (about 2 c.)
1-16 oz. container strawberries, quartered (about 3 c.)
5 medium kiwis, peeled and cut into 3/4-in. chunks (about 2.5 c.)
Dressing:
3 tbsp. honey
3 tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 tsp. lime zest
3 tbsp. finely chopped fresh mint leaves

Directions
Place all fruit into a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk the honey, lime juice, zest, and mint. Right before serving, pour the dressing over the fruit and toss gently to combine.

Side Note -- I'm a big dumb dumb and forgot to pick up the mint at the grocery store last night, so mine didn't have any included. It tastes just fine without it, but I'm sure it's even more spectacular when included!

----------

Do you have any favorite summer dishes?

Sunday Share

Before I get to this week's Sunday Share, I would like to make a note that I have fulfilled my 2-week obligation to my blog! Hooray for me! (Hey, I'm not above tooting my own horn sometimes). Needless to say, it's renewed my love of blogging, so you'll be seeing a lot more of me around these parts. I've got some changes on the horizon, so it can only get better from here.

Stay tuned!

I'm hoping to have more of these to share this week. These are 2 of my favorite photos from last week's vacation to Colorado. My Dad has a number of old photobooth strips of himself, my sister, and me from back when my sis and I were much younger, so we had to continue the old tradition and add an updated photo. Apparently we weren't paying attention for the first couple of snaps, but that's sort of what makes it even more special.

Oh, and if you ever have a chance to visit Manitou Springs, do so without hesitation. This was my second time visiting, and I loved it even more this time than the first.
 
What are some of your favorite vacation memories?

Home

[source]

I'm finally back home after an amazing vacation to the Rocky Mountains. My camera has been uploading photos for awhile now, and I'm still not halfway through getting them all on my computer. Hopefully I'll have a nice vacation post to share soon.

In the meantime, I wanted to play along on this A-Z list I've seen on some other blogs lately. Enjoy!

A- My AIR CONDITIONER is set on:78 degrees. It was off (and broken) almost the entire time we were away.

B- My BEDROOM theme is: Tornado-struck. We don't have enough storage, so stuff is just kind of everywhere. I hate it.

C- The CAR in the driveway is: A black Volvo S40. I don't have a driveway, though. Just a parking spot.

D- My DESK looks: See the answer for "B".

E- The EXACT time I wake up daily is: Either 5 a.m. or 6 a.m., depending on if I showered or not the night before.

F- The FIRST thing I wash in the shower is: Hair

G- My GARAGE is filled with: Nothing, since it's nonexistent.

H- My HOME is: Messy. It seems to be a common theme.

I- If you peeked INSIDE my bathroom you'd see: The one clean room in the apartment! Tiny white hexagonal subway floor tiles with white fixtures, a nautical-ish blue and white striped shower curtain, dark brown rug and towels.

J- My favorite JUICE is: Cran-apple.

K- The best part of my KITCHEN is: Pretty much nothing. It's way too small, has no dishwasher, and the world's tiniest fridge and stove. I do love the big basin porcelain sink, arched doorway and original built-in display cabinets, though.

L- The LAST person who visited my home was: The AC repairman.

M- The last piece of MAIL for me was: A catalog for some shop I've never heard of. Athleta? It looks pretty nice.

N- My NEIGHBORS think I'm: Loud? I tend to raise my voice when I get mad. Or frustrated. Or excited.

O- If you OPENED my fridge you'd see: A lot of condiments, and a Britta pitcher. Give me a break, we've been gone for a week!

P- My last house PARTY was: Christmas.

Q- A QUICK meal I like to fix is: Anything with pasta.

R- My favorite ROOM of the house is: "My" room. It's my studio space, and where my computer lives.

The SHAMPOO brand I use is: Biolage. My hair is picky.

T- My largest TELEVISION is: The only TV in the place, which in the living room. It's pretty big.

U- UNDER my bed you will find: Random shoes, and roll-away storage for our off-season clothes.

V- The last time I VACUUMED was: Pretty recently. We try to keep on top of the vacuuming, at least in the living room.

W- Looking out my WINDOW I see: Office buildings.

X- I wish I had X-TRA: STORAGE. And room.

Y- My YARD is: Again, nonexistent. I live downtown.

Z- ZZZZZZZ My bedtime is: Usually about 11 P.M. on weeknights.

Freebies on Friday - Embroidery Patterns

[source]

• doe-c-doe's Spanish dancers
• The fabulous Mollie's virtue of responsibility pattern
• Badbird's Maneki Neko
• Almost too cute for words
• Creepy-cool patterns from Corvus tristis
• The Parterre du Feu pattern is my fave
• A sweet birdcage
• J'adore Sublime Stiching

I put on for my city ...

Justin Marable's "Rowhouse" [source]

Taking a cue from the lovely Liz and her rockin' Sac and the City post, I've complied a list of a few favorite bits of my own city, Topeka, Kansas. No, it's not a giant metropolis (our total metro population is something like 225,000, with 125,000 or so actually in the city), and the name doesn't lend itself to snazzy title posts (unless you think "This City's the TOPS!" or "Take a Peak at Topeka!" are snazzy) but there's a lot I really love about my hometown. In fact, I actually surprised myself with how much I'm leaving off of the list, simply because I don't want it to be a mile long. Oh, and, not to brag, but Topeka was just named one of the ten best cities for the next decade, keeping company with the likes of Austin, Seattle, and D.C. Not too shabby for my li'l hometown!

Oh, and if you crack any Dorothy jokes, don't think I won't turn this car right around and ... just kidding. But seriously, enough of the Dorothy jokes. We get it.

Downtown Farmers Market
I'm ashamed to say that I don't hit this up nearly as often as I should ... considering I live pretty much across the street. I know, right? But the Market has amazing local produce (Kansas is a farming powerhouse, remember), and just about everything else you could hope to find. And the burritos. The BURRITOS! They're 100% authentic, and 100% to die for (Fun fact about Topeka: We have a thriving Latino community, and no shortage of excellent Mexican cuisine).

First Fridays Art Walk
I am so happy to see this has been growing in size and popularity over the past few years. In fact, last month there were 28 galleries, museums, and shops that participated, and it seems that number only continues to grow. While the name is a bit misleading (the galleries/museums aren't in one general location, so you could walk to each one, theoretically, it would just take you a long time), it is such a fabulous way to connect with local artists and the art community (Fun fact about yours truly: My last art show opening was during First Fridays, the day a massive amount of snow was dumped upon the city. It was still a blast!).

Branded (I'm amazed at how horrible their website is. Sorry!)
If there's one thing Topeka lacks, it's an abundance of good vintage, second-hand and thrift stores. Sure, there's the Goodwill and the Salvation Army, but beyond that, there's not a lot to choose from. Branded is sort of our shining star for nice used clothing (well, that and Plato's Closet, but since it's a chain, I'm not including it here). There's never a shortage of Banana Republic, J Crew, Gap, Express, or any of the rest of the labels I love, and there are definitely always a few quirky gems to be found. And Chanel purses. I'm still wishing I would have picked up that beauty when I laid eyes on it, but some other lucky gal took it home instead.

Maj-R-Thrift
This one's my newest fave. It's something of a glorified Goodwill, but with a better selection. On my last trip, I found Cole Haan and Michael Kors heels (too big and too small), an FCUK dress (too big), an abundance of Seven jeans (way too big), all sorts of Juicy gear (too Paris Hilton), and a Louis Vuitton and a Fendi bag (a bit dingy and not my style). And the prices? Almost unbelievable. The place looks a bit dumpy at first look, but is well worth the visit.

The Row House
[pictured at the top of the post] Located in a beautifully renovated row house, this three-story gourmet restaurant is a newer addition to the city, and UH-mazing. Hands down, the best food in Topeka. It's a bit pricey for these parts (think about $40/person for a meal), but worth every penny. Marcus took me there last Valentine's Day, and we were treated to a button-busting seven course meal of some of the best food I've ever had the pleasure of eating. The menu changes weekly, so it's hardly ever the same experience. They also recently opened Below the Row, a swank cocktail lounge in the basement level. Something tells me we'll be checking this out again soon.

PT's Coffee Roasting Co.
PT's is a nationally award-winning (2009 Roaster of the Year, anyone?) local coffee roasting company dedicated to ethical coffee trading. And they make a damn fine cup of joe while they're at it. They've only got one retail location left in Topeka (it is still served in restaurants all over the city), but it's always been my favorite coffee house in town. Something tells me there's a reason we only have one Starbucks in Topeka, and I'm betting it has to do with our devotion to the local guys. Give me a cup of PT's any day!

Blind Tiger Brewery
One of my favorite things to do on a summer evening is drive across town to BT and order a couple of frosty beers from the patio with some good friends, soaking up the last bit of sun for the day. I almost always go for the Raw Wheat, but I've been known to throw back a couple Raspberry Wheats or Java Porters in my day, too. Pair one (or three) of those with an order of stuffed mushrooms, spinach and artichoke dip, or Tiger tips (some of the best rib tips I've ever had), and I'm in heaven! I've yet to try out the take-home growlers of beer. I think this is going to be the summer I give it a shot!

Cafe Holliday
Eating at Cafe Holliday on Saturday mornings is the next best thing to eating at my Abuelita's. Located just a short walk from our apartment, we've been known to frequent this place on weekend mornings, eating up the homemade pozole (I like mine with lime, cilantro, cabbage, and onion) like it's going out of style. And it helps knowing the owner/cook ... I think she always makes our batch extra special, because it's always spot on. The sandwiches at lunch and Mexican food at dinner are also pretty fantastic, but it's the pozole that always keeps us coming back.

----------

OK, OK ... so that may have all been just a little too much like a travel brochure, but it's all in good fun. :) Seriously, this place has a way worse rap than is deserved. It's pretty much like any other Midwestern city ... friendly, laid-back, and never in short supply of a few characters. And it's where I've lived for almost 26 years. For better or worse, it's home. And I love it.

Quick Picks: In the Garden

source

Some fave recent garden finds on the internet, inspired by my own little patio garden (fingers crossed I got rid of the nasty little bugs eating my cilantro!)

• Cute inspiration
• Amber's awesome new garden
• Rubyellen's home garden posts are SO awesome
• Maybe Rachel can give me tips for getting rid of plant-eating critters?
• Flowers to refresh and inspire
• Bottle Gardens from d*s
• Only the essentials, right?
• Create a faux garden with this crochet flower tutorial

Tune in Tuesday

I realize I put this song on last week's playlist. But I'm obsessed. Ever since my bestie posted the video on my Facebook wall ... I was hooked. I've been a fan of Mumford & Sons for awhile now, but their new album is total, absolute bliss. Get your hands on a copy. You won't regret it.