Hello Again.

Source: dryicons.com

It's the end of May in this lovely city of mine and it has basically been pouring for the past 5 days. I choose to look at rain two ways.

1. The main device in the demise of my straight hair.
2. An opportunity to make a Playlist.

Rain has a contemplative quality. There is something to be said for looking out of a window as the wet drops poetically hit the pavement. And for extra contemplative effect, one must add the right soundtrack. Here's what been blasting through my headphones the past few days:

Laundry Room- The Avett Brothers
Under Control- The Strokes
Gravity Rides Everything- Modest Mouse
Black and Blue- Counting Crows
Eyes- Rogue Wave
Gotta Have You- The Weepies
If There's Love- Citizen Cope
Hiding My Heart- Adele

What's your favorite "rain song"?

Hello Fall.

Source: My Backyard '09

Summer has transformed into Fall: favorite season #2. (Spring will always be the love o' my life.) The best thing about Fall besides the pumpkins, gorgeous transformation of trees, warm apple cider and breezy disposition is... Fall Fashion.

Hello boots, leather jackets, fun tights and slouchy hats, I've missed you dearly.

500 Songs of Summer.

Something about the start of summer makes me feel youthful, romantic and spontaneous. The only thing missing from lazy days on the beach, walks in the park and frolics on sunflower fields (I wish) is a grade A, feel good, chillin-out-relaxin' summer soundtrack.

Here are just some of the tracks that are in mine:

PYT (Pretty Young Thing)- Michael Jackson
50 Ways to Leave your Lover- Paul Simon
Pretty Girl From San Diego- The Avett Brothers
Ticket to Ride- The Beatles
Why Don't You Love Me?- Beyonce
Whenever I See Your Smiling Face- James Taylor
Going Back to Cali- Notorious B.I.G.
Kiss A Girl- Keith Urban
Lovers tonight, Friends tomorrow- Dave Matthews Band
(If You're Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To- Weezer
Superstition- Stevie Wonder
A Little Less Conversation- Elvis Presley
Somebody's Baby- Phantom Planet cover
Sweet Child Of Mine- Sheryl Crow cover

Oldies.

There's this tiny place in my heart that is a sucker for oldies. I'm talking Frank Sinatra oldies. Dean Martin. Ella Fitzgerald. Classic oldies with a jazz twist. Wikipedia defines it as Traditional Pop. Blame it on the hopeless romantic in me. Who knows? But sometimes, I find myself swaying my head back and forth to Ray Charles' You Don't Know Me or Harry Connick Jr.'s It Had to Be You.

Therefore, this post goes out to Michael Buble. You have to give the guy credit for letting the good times roll and keeping the Frank Sinatra in all of us alive. I first heard a Buble song when I was in Italy, surprisingly enough. (They go CRAZY for the man in that country. ) Anyway, I heard Home and his voice soothed me in that reminiscent way that only the oldies can do.

Listen to Haven't Met You Yet here:

Be sure to wear flowers in your hair..

Last week, I got back from one of the most relaxing vacations ever. Me and two friends decided to venture to Las Vegas for two days and then head to San Diego for the next five days. There is something about that west coast air. Living my whole life in Jersey, I have always considered myself a city girl. There is no place in the world like New York City and it will always be my first love.

But in reality, I'm a laid back girl. I'd rather lay by the beach all day. I'd rather be surrounded by beautiful sights. I'd rather be surrounded by cute boys playing guitars and playing impromptu soccer games on the sand. That's my Cali side. It's probably the only other place, besides Florence, Italy, that I would move to in a heartbeat (at least for a year).




And while I was there, I decided to make a 'California playlist'. I realized that there are 5.2 million songs about this place. Here are some of my favorites:

west coast-coconut records
san francisco-scott mckenzie
hotel california-eagles
beverly hills-weezer
california love-tupac
california waiting-kings of leon
california girls- beach boys
california dreamin'-mamas and the papas
california-phantom planet
holiday from real-jack's mannequin
ventura highway-america
into the great wide open-tom petty and the heartbreakers

Earth Day.

I love Earth Day. I remember planting trees every year in elementary school and sitting through assemblies and hearing speakers tell us the things we could do on April 22nd to save the earth. I always wondered, why only treat our earth well one day a year? Shouldn't everyday be Earth Day?

Too overwhelmed by saving the earth through planting a forest? Start with little things like turning off the water while you're brushing your teeth or riding your bike instead of wasting gas and energy with your car. Here is a list of more things you can do!

Also, sidenote: If you don't recycle, please kill yourself. I mean that in the nicest way possible.

If we keep neglecting the earth, pretty soon beautiful places and things like this wouldn't exist. Wouldn't that be terrible?

A little taste of my trip to Sicily last summer. :)

Ben Folds and Nick Hornby.

Can this be true? Yes, yes it is!

Ben Folds as in Brick, Kate singer, songwriter Ben Folds is collaborating with Nick Hornby as in High Fidelity, About a Boy novelist Nick Hornby. The album, tentatively entitled Picture Window is set to release in September. Hornby will be supplying the lyrics as Folds' puts them to music and adds his vocals. Three songs from the album "Picture Window", "Levi Johnston's Blues" and "Claire's 9th" have already leaked and are getting me all excited.

Listen to "Picture Window" here:



Being a fan of Ben Folds for years and an avid reader of everything Nick Hornby has ever written, I have to say, this makes perfect sense. They have a lot in common:

• both use simple language and ideas to communicate serious issues.
• both are self-deprecating.
• both are extremely witty and emo at the same time.
  
• both have been married more than once and obviously heartbroken more than 16 million times.
  
• But most importantly, both are beyond talented.

"It seems to me now that the plain state of being human is dramatic enough for anyone; you don't need to be a heroin addict or a performance poet to experience extremity. You just have to love someone."
-Nick Hornby (How to Be Good)

"Next door, there's an old man who lived to his nineties and one day passed away in his sleep. And his wife, she stayed for a couple of days and passed away. I'm sorry, I know that's a strange way to tell you that I know we belong."
-Ben Folds