Cinnamon and Honey

Monday's Muse: What a Gal!

2011-08-08T08:00:00.002-04:00

Surprised to see me? Yeah, I know, it's been a while. I'm bringing back the Muse (and the blog) out of retirement thanks to Jeff who introduced me to a great song. (I'm not going to do the meme thing, but feel free to join in or borrow.)

Here's what's very cool about this tune: all the instruments are vintage, so are the mics and the recording equipment. Which is what gives "North Side Gal" a truly authentic funky 50s swing.

"North Side Gal," JD McPherson

Not surprisingly JD is being compared to Johnny Cash and a young Elvis thanks to his upbringing in rural Oklahoma and an affinity for American roots music. Every 10 years or so, this sort of song comes back in style (remember 1997's "Zoot Suit Riot"?) but JD tackles it without any slickness or forced irony. Try to get this one out of your head. Impossible.

Be sure to check out JD's latest album and more videos.

What's inspiring you?

Will the Real Justin Bieber Please Stand Up?

2011-04-06T08:00:00.001-04:00

I'm coming out of my blog coma just so I can post this. (Warning, language makes this NSFW.)

"Love the Way You Lie," Eminem cover by Dani Shay

Amazing, right? This screen shot alone is enough to fool you. But then the real singing begins. Be sure to read through the incredulous comments Dani's YouTube channel. She's also got an album out, so check it out.

Monday's Muse: Step It Up!

2011-01-24T07:58:00.000-05:00

Welcome to Cinnamon & Honey! Want to know more about Monday's Muse, my meme about all things inspirational? Click here. Don't be afraid to jump right in.

A friend of mine posted this video on Facebook over the weekend. Thought it was pretty clever so I am borrowing it for today's Muse.

"Piano Stairs"

How true that we're motivated mostly by what's fun. Deep down, we're like little kids when it comes to stuff like this. (Remember that scene with Tom Hanks in Big?) I try to take the stairs as much as I can, especially in the subway since it's great exercise, but I'm often in a rush or too exhausted or carrying too much crap to bother. Something creative and clever does slow you down and remind you that the mundane can be transformed into something totally enjoyable.

What do you think could use a fun makeover?

What's inspiring you? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. We'll get you linked up here. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

A Year in the Life...

2011-01-20T17:49:00.008-05:00

Amazing right? Though I wish fall, which is such a gorgeous season, lasted just a little longer. But this is pretty accurate since winter feels like forever. (With another snowstorm on the way, that's sort of how I am feeling right this very minute.)

Want to know how this was done? Go here.

Wishing You a Happy 2011!

2011-01-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T19:00:00.002-05:00

"Christmas All Over Again (live)," Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers

The Handmade's Tale: PaintinByFaith

2010-12-21T07:58:00.007-05:00

The Handmade's Tale introduces you to independent, self-taught artists who toil away creating beautiful and inspiring pieces. Please welcome the lovely indie artist and blogger Vanessa Taylor.

Who: Vanessa Taylor
What: Jewelry designer
Where: PaintinByFaith
When: Vanessa has been making her pieces for a year now.
Why: "I am a creative soul," says Vanessa. "I have felt the need to make things since I was a little girl. I have this incredible urge inside of me to be some sort of artist."
Her Philosophy: "I don't work in a certain style or set genre. I do what feels right."
Her Inspirations: "My inspiration is life. Everything in it... one day my kids might say something that kicks off an inspiration. The next time it might be a leaf on the ground. Then the color of a shirt. I look at everything as some sort of art. I don't let my imagination ever turn off. Everything has beauty in it somewhere. Our job is to find it."

Hearts in Bloom, $28
Earrings made from sterling silver and hand-cut, texturized copper. Lightweight, hangs from sterling silver hoops.

Love Song, $28
Necklace made from hand-cut, texturized copper and sterling silver. Hand-stamped hearts; sterling silver music note shaped by hand. Hangs from black leather wire held in place with copper wire.

Love Earth Tree, $65
Necklace made with sterling silver with a heart and the word "earth" hand-stamped. Tree is shaped by hand. Hangs from brown leather cord.

Follow Your Heart, $69
Silver square pendant with hand-cut, textured copper, hand-shaped wire and sterling silver heart. Hangs on a toggle clasp chain.

A Flower For You, $39
Copper and sterling silver pendant with a sterling silver flower. Hangs from a leather cord.

Where to Buy: Check out Vanessa's blog where she debuts her newest pieces and offers a peek into her personal life! Then head over to her Etsy shop where you can browse through her amazing collection of earrings, pendants and necklaces. You can also become a fan of Vanessa's work on her Facebook page. Interested in a custom design? Vanessa is happy to create something just for you. What an easy way to pick up a one-of-a-kind gift for the holidays!

Want to be featured in Cinnamon & Honey's Handmade's Tale? Please leave a message here or send me an email by clicking on "Contact Me" at the top of this page.

Monday's Muse: The Handmade's Tale Returns!

2010-12-20T07:58:00.003-05:00

Welcome to Cinnamon & Honey! Want to know more about Monday's Muse, my meme about all things inspirational? Click here. Don't be afraid to jump right in.

Back when I first started this blog, I had a column called the Handmade's Tale which featured the work of indie artists from across the US and Canada. Not only is it an interest of mine (I make my own greeting cards) but there's something about handcrafted work I've always loved. Perhaps it's the originality and personality that tends to get lost in many mass-produced items. And unfortunately there are a lot of amazing, hard-working artists out there who don't get the recognition they deserve. Many are good friends of mine.

Anyway, the column has been on hiatus for more than a year now (if you can call such a long time a "hiatus,") but the time is right to bring it back! I'm excited to have recently met two really talented designers and will be featuring one of them tomorrow. So please be sure to stop by and check it all out.

Do you know how to make anything? (Even dinner counts!)

And what's inspiring you? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. We'll get you linked up here. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

Monday's Muse: Now on Tuesday!

2010-12-07T11:37:00.008-05:00

Welcome to Cinnamon & Honey! Want to know more about Monday's Muse, my meme about all things inspirational? Click here. Don't be afraid to jump right in.

I love random covers. There's something extra fun about hearing something familiar in a totally unexpected way. Like this:

"Hey Ya (Acoustic Version)," Obadiah Parker

Confession: I know nothing about Obadiah (dig the old-school name!) but this video got well more than a million hits on YouTube. So clearly I am late to the party. He's got a website and has been recording his own album in addition to touring around the US. Seems like a pretty cool guy so go check him out!

What are you into lately?

And what's inspiring you? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. We'll get you linked up here. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

Happy Hanukkah!

2010-12-01T19:25:00.002-05:00

"Miracle," Matisyahu

Monday's Muse: All in the Family

2010-11-08T07:57:00.005-05:00

Welcome to Cinnamon & Honey! Want to know more about Monday's Muse, my meme about all things inspirational? Click here. Don't be afraid to jump right in.

I'm always looking for new music here at C&H so I was especially grateful to my good friend Randi (from the crazy reality I like to call real life!) for sending me this:

"Brown Eyed Handsome Man," Teddy Thompson

Turns out the son of British folkies Richard and Linda Thompson isn't as new to me as I'd first thought. Years ago, when I saw Linda Thompson at the Botton Line in New York City, Teddy joined in on a beautiful version of "Dimming of the Day." (He sounded exactly like his dad, very cool since Richard and Linda no longer sing together.) Here, though, he's got a fun rockabilly thang going on, faux Texas twang and all. Nice to see him breaking away from the family's signature sound. He's got an album coming out early next year. Definitely check him out.

What new music are you listening to?

And what's inspiring you lately? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. We'll get you linked up here. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

Charlie Sheen: Higher Than the Rent!

2010-11-05T16:21:00.007-04:00

I didn't think it was possible for the Rent Is Too Damn High guy to be any funnier. (Yet another reason Jimmy McMillan should have been elected governor of New York.)

(Note: language makes this NSFW)

"Charlie Sheen Is Too Damn High"

Monday's Muse: The Big Dilemma

2010-11-01T07:58:00.002-04:00

Welcome to Cinnamon & Honey! Want to know more about Monday's Muse, my meme about all things inspirational? Click here. Don't be afraid to jump right in.

Many of my original bloggy pals have called it quits over the past year. And I can't say it's not something I've also considered. Mine is hardly a traditional blog, you won't find a whole lot of confessional stuff here, and at times it's hard to know whether the direction I take is ever successful. Hence, the age-old question:

"Should I Stay Or Should I Go," The Clash

Have you ever thought about quitting the habit? What keeps you blogging?

And what's inspiring you lately? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. We'll get you linked up here. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

Wordful Wednesday

2010-10-27T07:57:00.000-04:00

Every fall means a visit about 40 miles north to a really nice farmer's market for some fresh produce. These wacky guys are always for sale there and although one never comes home with me, I always take a picture. The guy on the right cracks me up. If you had blue hair, you'd probably be making that face too.

For more Wordfuls check out Parenting By Dummies.

Monday's Muse: Cover Me

2010-10-25T07:57:00.003-04:00

Welcome to Cinnamon & Honey! Want to know more about Monday's Muse, my meme about all things inspirational? Click here. Don't be afraid to jump right in.

Yesterday (heh... you'll see why in a second) I heard an alternate version of "Yesterday" (see?) on the local oldies station. Apparently it's the only one the Beatles ever recorded (or likely, the only one they've allowed for official release). The chord progressions were a little different and Paul switched up the lyrics, by accident perhaps. Really, really pretty. Unfortunately there's no way to post it here because studio versions are not available online. (See: my complaint about Yoko.)

Good thing there are more than 3,000 covers of "Yesterday," the most of any song ever written. Supposedly, it's playing somewhere around the world every second of every day. And while I'm not a huge McCartney fan (George is my guy) he did write an incredible song. Here's one of my favorite versions:

"Yesterday," Marvin Gaye

Motown's best voice doing modern music's most famous song. How can you go wrong? (I could go on and on about Marvin but I'll save that for another post.)

What are some of your favorite covers?

What's been inspiring you lately? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. We'll get you linked up here. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

Wordful Wednesday

2010-10-20T07:58:00.003-04:00

Oh, how I wish I still lived in New York. If only so I can vote for this genius guy:

Hey Jimmy! If you don't get elected as governor of New York, please! please! please! come across the river to New Jersey. You won't have to change your platform or your strategy at all, the rent here is out-of-control-ridiculous too. Though you might have to tweak the name of your party just a bit. You know, make it a little more Jersey so you'll fit in better. May I suggest, The Mother-Effin' Rent Is Too Freakin' High So Let's Bust Some Kneecaps. Whoa!

I think you can handle it.

(Yes, I know this isn't exactly a Wordful photo, but it's funny as all hell. So I think the new host, Parenting By Dummies, will let it slide just this once.)

Monday's Muse: Desert Island Disc

2010-10-18T07:58:00.005-04:00

Welcome to Cinnamon & Honey! Want to know more about Monday's Muse, my meme about all things inspirational? Click here. Don't be afraid to jump right in.

I love listening to my iPod on long car rides. It makes the longest, crappiest, traffic-filled drives around this area so much more tolerable. Yesterday, during one of those trips, this came on:

"The Finer Things," Steve Winwood

I was in high school when this song was released (shut up...). I loved it so much, I rushed out to the mall to buy the album on cassette (no, really...) and would listen to it in my crappy hand-me-down boat of a Buick, flipping the tape over and over to play it again and again. For years, I'd probably counted "Back in The High Life" as one of my desert island discs; each song just seemed so hopeful, so upbeat, even the ones about love and loss. I eventually replaced the tattered tape with a CD but somehow it got pushed to the back of my collection. It's finally on my iPod now. I'd forgotten just how much I loved it.

What are some of your desert island discs? Share with the class!

What's been inspiring you lately? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. We'll get you linked up here. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

Blogging Mama Andrea

Monday's Muse: Led It Be

2010-10-11T07:58:00.002-04:00

Welcome to Cinnamon & Honey! Want to know more about Monday's Muse, my meme about all things inspirational? Click here. Don't be afraid to jump right in.

The past few Muses have been about new music, so it seemed appropriate to go classic this week. The weather has been amazing here in the Northeast, perfect for driving with the windows down and the radio cranked up loud. And this:

"Over the Hills and Far Away (live)," Led Zeppelin

Many times I've loved/And many times been bitten/Many times I've gazed along the open road...

I'll admit I came late to Zeppelin, probably in college. I should have jumped on board back in junior high when the boys I crushed on would wear Zeppelin t-shirts to school. But I was too busy grooving to top-40 which definitely wasn't as cool but seemed way more fun at the time. When I listen now, I'm taken with Led Zeppelin's timelessness. It's hard to believe this song is almost 40 years old. Oh, and the opening guitar riff? Gorgeous.

Who are some of your favorite classics?

What's been inspiring you lately? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. We'll get you linked up here. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

Random Tuesday

2010-10-05T07:57:00.001-04:00

It's Tuesday! Time to get Random!

You know I love me some Conan. This promo for his new fall show (can't wait!) is kinda, well, hot!

TBS Promo, Conan O'Brien

Anyone want to see Jay Leno soaping up? Thought so.

Where else but the dentist would you be told that everything "looks great!" to the tune of another appointment that will set you back 700 bucks? I must have the most positive, nitrous-happy dentist ever. (I kid, I kid... uh, careful with that drill, Doc!) I can't even imagine what he'd tell Keith Richards. (Who, not-so-randomly, was in the lobby during my last visit.)

In honor of the Yankees landing the wild card (much to the misery of my Red Sox friends and family... next time guys, next time... riiiiight!) I wanted to give a shout-out to my pal Andrea and her new blog, The Virgin's Guide to Baseball. While we don't agree on who should win the Series (she's a Reds fan) Andrea is a lot of fun and her posts hit it out of the park. (How's that for an appropriate analogy!) Go check it out and tell her C&H sent ya.

It feels like someone hit a switch and turned on fall full-blast. And I was wandering around in flip-flops just a few days ago! Oh well. As long as I can score just one caramel apple before Thanksgiving, I'll be reasonably happy. (Which incidentally might explain my unfortunately close relationship with my dentist.)

We all wish we could be unfortunately close to Keely. For more randoms check her out.

Monday's Muse: Sara's Smile

2010-10-04T07:58:00.004-04:00

Welcome to Cinnamon & Honey! Want to know more about Monday's Muse, my meme about all things inspirational? Click here. Don't be afraid to jump right in.

A while back, I'd written about Sara Bareilles and how much I loved her "Winter Song." So it's no surprise that I'm really into her latest:

"King Of Anything," Sara Bareilles

So you dare tell me who to be/Who died and made you the king of anything...

Here's the cool thing about Sony restricting the official video: I found a live version! As I've always said, if you want to know if someone can really sing, listen to an acoustic performance. No heavy studio tricks and cover-ups here. She's got such a clear, pretty voice. And while girl guitarists are all the rage (and, yes, pretty cool) it's still nice to see her behind keyboards.

Which female singers are your favorites?

What's been inspiring you lately? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. We'll get you linked up here. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

GigiDiaz

Monday's Muse: The Amazing Mumford

2010-09-27T07:58:00.003-04:00

Welcome to Cinnamon & Honey! Want to know more about Monday's Muse, my meme about all things inspirational? Click here. Don't be afraid to jump right in.

I've kind of been into new music, for the first time in what feels like forever. Lately I've been digging this song from British folkies Mumford & Sons. It was huge across the pond last year and is just now making its American debut.

*Warning: Includes some language not safe for work*

"Little Lion Man," Mumford & Sons

It was not your fault but mine/And it was your heart on the line/I really f-ked it up this time/Didn't I, my dear?

Yeah, those lyrics are a little unexpected in what's overall a fairly poetic song. But I'm more taken by their sound, especially the stringed instruments, which are always a favorite of mine. (The banjo is a particularly cool touch. And did you catch the guitarist playing with a violin bow? Extra points!) I love it when they break out into a bluegrass jam.... what a fun, unexpected surprise. Apparently the band trades instruments several times during live performances. Now that's talent.

So, what are you listening to lately? Recommend something for the old iPod.

What's been inspiring you lately? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. We'll get you linked up here. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

GigiDiaz

A Forest Frolic

Random Tuesday

2010-09-21T07:58:00.005-04:00

It's Tuesday! Time to get Random!

Last week I heard a radio commercial for the Radio City Christmas show. Just in case you saw the word Christmas and suddenly were daydreaming of sugar plum fairies, hot buttered rum and mistletoe (or whatever tickles your Yuletide fancy) and missed it, I said last week. Now I know they need to promote in advance and blah, blah, blah. But, really? So for the hell of it I hit up their website to check things out. And the show actually starts a little later than I'd expected: November 4. So again, really? Shilling for a Christmas show during back-to-school week? Isn't that cruel and unusual punishment? Especially for all the really young kids who don't get that Santa isn't coming for another freaking three months. And for all the parents who have to give the same stock answer dozens of times a day every day for another 90 days: not yet, sweetheart, not yet.

I've been having lots of bad car-luck lately. (Bad car-ma?) A few weeks ago I suffered a mild fender bender with Thurston Howell. Then I got yelled at by some nutjob for stealing his parking space. A nifty little trick, except that we were in a one-way lot. So I would've had to pass him and then cut him off to nab the spot. Which I didn't do. But being the nice idiot that I am, I got back in the driver's seat and was about to give up the space. That is, until he called me an a-hole. Moron. So I popped right back out and gave him a happy little wave as I walked past his unparked car. (And prayed that he wouldn't key me as revenge. Luckily, he didn't.)

One of the things I like about my apartment building is the nice mix of cultures and nationalities. People from all around the world have settled down in this area. Which leads me to this conversation I had at the elevator:

Woman: (Thick Russian accent) From here?

Me: Sorry?

Woman: (Gesturing around with hands) From here?

Me: (Here, as in, this building here? Doesn't my laundry cart give that away? Or here, as in, this town here? It's literally four blocks long. No one is from-from here. Or maybe here, as in, New Jersey here? Ugh, I hate when people ask me if I'm from New Jersey. Then the what's-that-smell or what-exit-jokes start... even Russian people know those, right? Oh, she's waiting for an answer.... ) Yes. I am from here.

Woman: (Giggles loudly. Then looks away.)

Me: (Laugh it up, lady. I know where they bury the bodies around these parts.*) Have a nice day!

*I kid, I kid. (Cough!TheMeadowlands!Cough!)

For some weird reason, I've always liked this song in all its 80s-cheese-misogyny. Talk about random: Who would have ever put these two together?

"Easy Lover," Phil Bailey and Phil Collins

So what do you think of Keely's new RTT logo? Edgier, right? (She's also got a fun new blog design.) But what's with the ham? (Seriously, is that some sort of UnMom inside joke that I missed along the way?) Be sure to stop by and say hello.

Monday's Muse: Up A Tree

2010-09-20T07:58:00.006-04:00

Welcome to Cinnamon & Honey! Want to know more about Monday's Muse, my meme about all things inspirational? Click here. Don't be afraid to jump right in.

Both the local new-rock station and the dance-rap-hip-hop-zoo station are playing this song. Which doesn't bode well for this new band's street cred. (Neither does being the first rock band to cover Justin Bieber. Clearly they disagree with me on that strategy.) But I'm guessing they'll take any play they can get.

"Animal," Neon Trees

Here we go again/I feel the chemicals kicking in/It's getting heavier/I want to run and hide...

A fun little pop-rock song, right? And I'm really digging the girl drummer. That's not something you see all that often. Thumbs down, though, on lead singer Tyler Glenn's flat-Stanley mohawk. That thing's gotta stay upright to be any sort of cool.*

*That's what she said... oh, too easy!

What new music are you listening to?

What's been inspiring you lately? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. We'll get you linked up here. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

Blogging Mama Andrea

GigiDiaz

Monday's Muse: Traffic Jam

2010-09-06T07:57:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Cinnamon & Honey! Want to know more about Monday's Muse, my meme about all things inspirational? Click here. Don't be afraid to jump right in.

If you're spending part of your Labor Day weekend in the car, take heart. At least the music on the radio doesn't suck. That's because stations are rolling out their best-of, top-million songs of all time or whatever creative countdown they can come up with. This came on when I was stuck in traffic and instantly I was in a better mood:

"Somebody Told Me," The Killers

Not too sure about the whole boyfriend-looking-like-his-old-girlfriend thing... but hey, different strokes, right? Such a fun, catchy song. And for some reason, I thought the Killers would look a little more punk with a cool name like that. (An aside: What is up with labels restricting the posting of official videos? So annoying!)

Where are you stuck in traffic? More importantly, how are you saying goodbye to summer?

What's been inspiring you lately? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. We'll get you linked up here. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

Wordful Wednesday

2010-09-01T07:10:00.005-04:00

I have mixed feelings about September. Remnants of a long history with the back-to-school grind. The end of warm weather and endless, hot days summer. Trading shorts and cute sun dresses for cords and heavy sweaters. Sigh.

Not a huge fan. But then again, there's this:

"September," Earth, Wind and Fire

The outfits alone are enough to make you smile. For more Wordfuls, check out Angie's place.

Random Tuesday

2010-08-31T07:57:00.005-04:00

It's Tuesday! Time to get Random!

Did you watch the Emmys on Sunday? I'm not a fan of award shows (though I've had to watch too many for work purposes) but I have to admit, this one wasn't bad! I actually liked Jimmy Fallon and his I'm-so-gosh-darn-happy-to-be-here! earnestness. And then, there was this:

"Born To Run," Jimmy, Tina, Jon and the Cast of Glee
After that hardcore effort, how can you not like this guy? Even just a little? Plus, it takes serious cojones to try to recreate the Boss's signature bravado. Live, no less, in front of millions. The best opening to a ceremony I've seen in years.

I got hit while getting on to the GW a couple of days ago (that's the George Washington Bridge for you lucky non-locals) thanks to the ridiculousness of jockeying through 100 lanes of traffic to get to the EZ-Pass toll. My little Mazda was barely poking its nose into the left lane, my foot hovering over the gas for that nanosecond window to surge ahead, when... cruuuuunch! (Oh, shit!) Some dude plowed right on through. After making it past the toll, we pulled over to assess the damage. Which suddenly was the least of my problems. That's because in this area of New Jersey, there's always a high potential that a Real Housewife or a Real Soprano will be getting out of that car and heading over your way. (I'm not quite sure which one would scare me more.) Much to my surprise, a grey-hair in a pink Oxford, khakis and boat shoes sauntered over to inspect my bumper, all ascot-and-Thurston-Howell, while Lovey sat patiently in the front seat. He was super-nice, too. Turns out, it's nothing a little elbow grease can't buff out. Whew.

Now I'm a vegetarian, so automatically I'm not going to get this. But still. Can someone please explain the rabid appeal of peanut butter, chocolate chunk and bacon* cookies? You had me at PB and C, one of my all-time fave combos. But pig pastries? Really? More for you, I guess. Anyway, if you want to enjoy some good food-porn, go visit Vanilla Kitchen. Her photography rivals her recipes. (At least the ones without bacon in them.)

*My mild disgust may have something to do with an extremely low-level tolerance for bacon. This veg-head can sit in the steakiest of steakhouses without issue. But send the smell of greasy bacon wafting my way? What up, Chuck? Can't explain it.

You know who'll never make you barf? (How's that for a ringing endorsement?) Keely. Go check her out.

Monday's Muse: Getting My Fix

2010-08-30T07:57:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Cinnamon & Honey! Want to know more about Monday's Muse, my meme about all things inspirational? Click here. Don't be afraid to jump right in.

The rare time I spend in the car, I've usually got on a local rock station that plays new music. Because, really? There's just so much Stairway one person can listen to. A couple of days ago, I heard this:

"The Fixer," Pearl Jam

Now here's what's funny about today's Muse: I absolutely hate Pearl Jam. Can't stand them. Loathe them. Despise them. Eddie Vedder? Annoys me. That nasal-y mumbling. The faux tortured posturing. The butt-ugly flannel. Ugh. I've been changing the station since they first made their debut in the grungy early 90s.

But you know what? I actually like this song from their latest album, Backspacer. And you know why? It sounds a little like.... oh dare I say it... you-know-who. (Yes, I know you're understandably rolling your eyes. Don't I write about anyone freaking else?) Which isn't all that surprising since Eddie counts Tom as one of his big influences. You really notice the similarities in the lead guitar's chord progressions. Close your eyes and you can almost hear his voice, too. (Sorry the official video is off-limits for posting.) Not bad, right?

Have you ever really, really disliked something or someone only to later change your mind?

What's been inspiring you lately? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. We'll get you linked up here. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

Random Tuesday

2010-08-24T13:23:00.018-04:00

It's Tuesday. Time for some Randomness.

Remember my friend who was expecting but didn't want to know what she was having? It's a girl! Just like I'd predicted. And my amazing track record with these things continues! Congrats to my good friends across the pond on the birth of Rosie May. (Cute, right?) Now I'm gonna run out and buy all sorts of adorable, frilly girlie stuff. She did all the work, I get to have all the fun.

I heard on the radio this morning that Huey Lewis and the News is doing an album of soul covers. Which is completely random for a million reasons... who knew he'd even made it out of his skinny tie and pompadour 80s coma?... but a soul album? Not quite sure I see the musical leap from his brand of synthesizer pop, but ooookay. He's doing a remake of The Staples Singers' "Respect Yourself." Which won't be as bizarre as this version:

"Respect Yourself," Bruce Willis

If you're as old as I am, this video took you right back. If you're not, yes this is the dude from The Sixth Sense. (Sigh...) I'm pretty sure this charted way back in 1987. Oh, good lord... a quick google search says that it hit number 5 on Billboard's Hot 100. There are no words.

I should know better than to publicly trash my cable company. I forget that karma can be a bitch. The one time in forever that I planned to rent a movie, their stupid On-Demand service was "unavailable." For an entire Saturday night. So I'm still one of the few people who hasn't seen "Crazy Heart." (A movie you'd think I would've gone to on opening weekend.) Damn you, Time Warner Cable. I mean, I looooove you! Can we be besties again?

The Target near my apartment got a fancy renovation and now offers all sorts of groceries and fresh foods. Which is totally cool because I absolutely love The Target and I now have even more of a reason to shop there every day. What's totally not cool? They've moved every. single. product and now I'm aimlessly searching for basic things I used make a beeline for before. And whoever decided the candy needs to be right next to the stinky fertilizer/plant aisle? Should be buried in that shit.

Okay, I'm running out of the random. Head over to Keely's to fill up on some more.

Monday's Muse: Scrub Up

2010-08-23T07:57:00.007-04:00

Welcome to Cinnamon & Honey! Want to know more about Monday's Muse, my meme about all things inspirational? Click here. Don't be afraid to jump right in.

My name is Robin and I am a body-product junkie.

I love oils and creams and scrubs and sprays and soaps and balms and all sorts of treats and goodies. My one deal-breaker? It absolutely must smell good. Then we can take the relationship from there. On Sunday nights, nothing helps ease me into the start of a busy week quite like indulging a steamy hot shower with my favorite yummies. Currently, this is my latest obsession:

Ginger and Fennel Sugar Scrub by Lush

I brought these babies home from London last summer... a little goes a long way so I've been breaking them apart into small pieces. Typically I'd have no clue what fennel smells like but it's amazingly fresh, like cut grass! Who would have guessed? These scrubs lather up quite nicely, so they're not too abrasive to use every day, and they leave your skin smooth and soft. Mmmm... Lush's products are all-natural and many, like this one, are vegan.

I'm almost down to my last little bit so I was happy to discover that they're now available in the US! Just head over to Lush where you can find a ton of great bath and shower products. The UK-based company has opened shops across North America so be sure to check out their store locator. (Lucky for me, there are several shops right across the river!)

What are some of your indulgences?

What's been inspiring you lately? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. We'll get you linked up here. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

(Blog Note: I wasn't paid to do this post, nor did I receive any products in exchange for it.)

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Heart-Shaped Rock

2010-08-19T07:55:00.007-04:00

You know my good friend Ann from Ann Again... And Again? Not only is she sweet and kind and funny but she's also the creator of the original blog hopping party, Virtual Girl's Night Out. If you've never joined up, you really should... it's such a fun and creative way to meet other bloggers.

Looks like Ann is at it again with the amazing ideas. She's created something wonderful called the Traveling Heart-Shaped Rock Project. I'll let her describe it:

Would you like to participate in a photo project that has a little heart-shaped rock hopping around the globe one blog at a time? Would you like to have your blog highlighted? Then you need to take part in the Traveling Heart-Shaped Rock Project!

While on the Oregon Coast I found this little "gem" and decided I didn't want its journey to end. 'Why not' I thought 'share this symbol with my blog pals?' So, here we are!

How can you, you lovely blogging person, take part in the Traveling Heart-Shaped Rock Project you ask? Here's what you do:

*E-mail your name & address to annharrison@comcast.net. I will add your destination to the list. Once you receive the little heart-shaped gem...

*Take a picture of it with something that represents you; it could be an object, a place, whatever you like.

*Then... post the picture on your blog; let your readers know you are participating in The Traveling Heart-Shaped Rock Project.

*Let me know when you receive our little gem; I'll send you the name & address of the next blogger to mail the rock to.

I know that some bloggers plan on sending the "gem" on its way along with a little trinket/souvenir for the next blogger. I love it! Do what feels right, just have fun. And, don't forget, take pics and post 'em.

I'll be sharing your pics on my blog as well, you will be the T.H.S.R.P. Spotlight Blogger. At the end of its journey I'll create a slideshow of our pics reminiscing about its travels (and wishing it had been me :-> ).

What a fun way to have your blog highlighted. I hope you take part in the Traveling Heart-Shaped Rock Project!

Cinnamon & Honey will be participating and I can't wait! Why not join in on the fun? And be sure to tell Ann that C&H sent ya!

Random Tuesday

2010-08-17T07:55:00.012-04:00

It's Tuesday everybody, so it's time for some Randomness.

The summer squash survived (as did my apartment) but a couple of days later I scorched my dinner. So I guess they cancel each other out. How do I make this kind of magic happen, you ask? Easy. I'll put something on the stove and walk away from it. Crazy, I know. But I just don't have the patience to hover over something as it's cooking. (It will do it whether I stand there or not, right?) At least now I set a timer so that I don't totally forget. Which used to happen more often than you'd ever believe. And that's progress. Trust me.

My cable provider suuuucks. Every night at midnight, the stupid listings change over and the screen goes dark with a please wait message. Which lasts at least a minute and almost always freezes the damn cable box. I'm half-waiting for the ka-chunk! eight-tracks used to make in between songs. (What? Oh, for the love, Google it.)

I might be the only person on the planet who didn't like the book "Eat, Pray, Love." Actually, I hated it. (Shocker: I won't be seeing the movie either.) Which is surprising because the memoir genre is one of my absolutely pos-i-toot-ly favorites; I really don't mind all the navel-gazing that comes along with it. That is, if it's done well. With "EPL" I found myself skipping paragraphs, then entire pages, and felt like I wasn't missing a thing. Which meant that Miss Graves had overwritten the crap out of her story. (Duh.) So here, let me help: You stuffed your face. You chatted with God. You did the horizontal mambo.* Done! See? Easy.

(*Any time I can work that phrase into a blog post is a good day indeed.)

A couple of weeks ago, I threatened to post a picture of my pedicured feet. Well, the very next day I received a comment from a someone named ToeMailer. (That's some crazy SEO. Thanks Blogger!) Apparently her blog is filled with pictures of feet displayed prominently in famous spots around the world. And you know what? It's not all that weird! I mean, it could be, depending on the feet and where they happen to be residing. But that's fairly simple: Pretty polished piggies look great on the beaches of Bali or at the Sistine Chapel. Skanky-hairy-sasquatchy feet should never be allowed out in public. Foot fetish or not, check her out here.

Has anyone ever asked Keely why there's a ham in her RTT icon? (That is a ham right? What does this vegetarian-Jew know?) Well, I guess it doesn't get any more random than that. So go check her out.

Monday's Muse: Got It Down Pat

2010-08-16T07:57:00.009-04:00

Welcome to Cinnamon & Honey! Want to know more about Monday's Muse, my meme about all things inspirational? Click here. Don't be afraid to jump right in.

Have you ever been stuck in the dentist's chair with the light-schlock station playing? More torturous than a root canal, right? My tooth-guy finally wised up, changing his tune to the local classic rock station. (Which doesn't mean you're not subjected to horrible crap from time to time, but it's an improvement.) At my last visit (ugh...) a few days ago, this came on. What a welcome reprieve from the sound of drilling.

"Promises in the Dark," Pat Benatar

Just when you think you've got it down/Your heart securely tied and bound/They whisper/Promises in the dark

Back when a lot of crap was being made in the synth-pop 80s, Pat Benatar was a rebel trailblazer with the incredible voice, rare inner strength and a sexy bad-ass image. Unfortunately too many people dismiss her as a product of those times. How foolish. There aren't many women, even current hit-makers, who get regular rock-radio play. Her songs hold up so well... this one is 30 years old and could easily do with a cover today.

Who are your favorite blasts from the past?

What's been inspiring you lately? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. We'll get you linked up here. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

Blogging Mama Andrea

Random Tuesday

2010-08-10T07:57:00.006-04:00

It's Tuesday everybody, so it's time for some Randomness.

I happen to have several really talented friends who do some cool stuff. Proof: One of them designs shoes. For a living. Fun, right? This is one of hers:

I really love high boots; the detail work on this one is so pretty. It's called the Penelope by Dansko and it comes in black, chocolate and whiskey (shown). Check out her work for Dansko's fall 2010 collection at their web site. (Yay you, MB!)

Facebook continues to amaze and surprise me. The latest: I was friended (ugh, such an annoying term) by one of my childhood music teachers! (No, not this one.) For close to 30 years, she's had the pleasure of not listening to me play the violin. (Which is a good thing, because I'm pretty horrible, and there's not much worse than horrible violin-playing. The comparisons to a dying cat are made for good reason.) Anyway, she's taught hundreds and hundreds of wanna-be Josh Bells and Hilary Hahns since I left grammar school, so I was extremely touched that she remembered me. As for picking up the ol' fiddle again? Not likely. (You're welcome.)

Those of you who know-me, know-me (as opposed to bloggy-know-me) understand that I don't cook. Ever. (If you care why, click here.) So I feel a burning (get it?) need to tell everyone that I am baking a summer squash right now. In the oven. If I torch the apartment, I'll let you know. And I'll probably need a place to live too, thankssomuch.

One of my bloggy pals Kate recently wrote a beautiful post about getting older. (It's a must-read so be sure to stop by and say hello.) I gave it a lot of thought and decided that I really don't feel my age, and certainly can hold my own with Gen-Z. (Have they officially been given that name yet?)

That is, until my cousin's daughter stopped by. She's 13 now but the last time I saw her, she was a giggly pony-tailed little girl playing chase in the backyard. Now she's all high cheekbones, black eyeliner and skinny jeans. Which shocked me for a minute, but I quickly recovered in time to rock the pop-culture refs. Here's how our conversation went:

Me: So, do you like Twilight? Go team Edward!

Her: (Shakes head)

Me: Right. That's like so 2008. What about Glee? The Madonna ep totally rocked!

Her: (Stares at feet)

Me: Huh. No TV? Good for you! Do you have an iPod? Are you into Lady Gaga?

Her: (Looks at me blankly)

Me: Wow, it sure is hot out, right?

Strike three, ball game over! A few hours later it hit me just how badly I struck out. I must have sounded a hundred years old to this poor girl who only wanted to play with my cat and not be questioned by the old-lady-gestapo. Just like every other teenager. (For the record? Great kid. And also a vegetarian. So we did end up bonding. Next time I shouldn't try so hard.)

Keely never tries too hard. Check her out.

Monday's Muse: Hey Ho! Let's Go!

2010-08-09T07:58:00.003-04:00

Welcome to Cinnamon & Honey! Want to know more about Monday's Muse, my meme about all things inspirational? Click here. Don't be afraid to jump right in.

I happened to stop by a Converse outlet store over the weekend... like I need another pair of Chucks... and now this song is stuck in my head. (Here's that equation, in case you don't follow my madness: Converse + Black Chuck Taylors = The Ramones.)

"Rock and Roll High School," The Ramones

Did you know that a certain someone (guess who?) was asked to be in this movie but he turned it down, so the Ramones stepped in. Hey, ho! Let's go! It's not like it hurt the Ramones' street cred, so I wonder if Tom ever regretted that decision. Oh, and here's another bit of fun trivia: The Ramones and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers were both inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the same year, 2002. (I was lucky enough to be there!)

What reminds you of your favorite songs and movies?

What's been inspiring you lately? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. We'll get you linked up here. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

Oh No, Yoko

2010-08-06T16:41:00.013-04:00

In the mood to "Twist and Shout"? How about "Love Me Do"? Or maybe you wanna just "Let It Be"? Well, then don't bother heading over to iTunes. The Beatles catalog still isn't there, and according to the latest news, it won't be available anytime soon. Practically everything is on iTunes these days. Why not the Beatles? Clearly, someone ain't singing "We Can Work It Out" at the negotiating table. If you guessed Yoko, well koo-koo-ka-choo. (Yeah, I've got a million of 'em.)

Look, we all know this stuff always comes down to money. Understandably she wants, well, a lot. But at this point, you have to wonder exactly how much she's holding out for? (Interestingly, Paul, Ringo, and George's widow Olivia aren't necessarily in agreement with her tight-ass business strategy. But since they are equal shareholders, one veto shuts down the whole deal.) Is it naive to point that this is a woman who doesn't need the cash? She's worth hundreds of millions. For work she didn't even create. I find this maddening.

I think she's just shooting herself in the foot. Sure you can buy a Beatles CD; we did last year when the remastered catalog was released. But I don't know anyone under 30 who's not downloading music. Even my 10-year-old niece has an mp3 player. So if Yoko wants the iPod generation to be familiar with her husband, she might want to rethink her no-deal with Apple. As for the rest of us? We're hoping "It Won't Be Long." (Last one, promise!)

Random Tuesday

2010-08-03T08:00:00.005-04:00

It's Tuesday everybody, so it's time for some Randomness.

Thanks so much for your comments about the Muse. Don't forget, it's not just a music meme. You can write about anything that you're into... a book you can't put down at bedtime, a recipe that's got you licking the bowl, a new gadget that's simplifying your busy life. My post about the inspirational stones is a good example. We're here every Monday (well, we try) so join in!

I've been trying to get back into some sort of blogging groove lately. That said, I'm not going to BlogHer this weekend. It probably would be good for me but I actually have other plans. I will be around on Friday, though, and hope to get together with one of my favorite bloggers. If you're free, drop me a note.

Did you see Sunday's 60 Minutes profile on musical savant Derek? The guy who is unable to button his shirt or tell you how old he is but can play any song by memory? Absolutely fascinating. (I've always been interested in neuropsychology; if I had any sort of talent for the sciences, I would have pursued it in college.) Unfortunately I can't post the video clip here, but you can watch it at CBS's site. Completely worth the 15 minutes.

Last week at the Tom Petty concert (yeah, this could easily turn into a drinking game...) the DEA must have been moonlighting as concert security. They spent the entire show marching up and down the aisles, shining flashlights into the crowd on the faces of suspected tokers. Potheads? At a Tom Petty show? Next you'll tell me there were nerds at Comic-Con and mommies at BlogHer.

I'm not much of a manicure girl. After only a few days on these hands, even the best handiwork gets smudged or chipped, and that bugs me. So not worth the upkeep. But my toes? That's another story. (Thank god there are people you can pay to pretty up your feet.) Lori and I went for pedicures a few days ago; I'm so happy with the results, I was thisclose to taking a picture. But that would be kind of weird. So instead here's the color I chose:

I call it purply-sparkly-midnight. OPI calls it Concord Grape. Yum. My toes are totally rock and roll.

You know who else is rock and roll. So go check her out.

Monday's Muse: Big Mac

2010-08-02T07:57:00.006-04:00

Welcome to Cinnamon & Honey! Want to know more about Monday's Muse, my meme about all things inspirational? Click here. Don't be afraid to jump right in.

Last week at the Tom Petty concert, (which is totally my version of "This one time at band camp...") the boys did a fantastic version of this:

"Oh Well," Fleetwood Mac

Don't ask me what I think of you/I might not give the answer/That you want me to....

Few people know that Fleetwood Mac started out as an incredible blues band, pre-Stevie and Lindsey. This 1969 live BBC performance shows off some of their best work with then-lead guitarist and vocalist Peter Green. Many claim he was far more gifted than his contemporary, guitar God Eric Clapton, but unfortunately Peter left the band just a year later due to a mental breakdown and never quite regained his footing in the commercial world of music.

A bunch of bands like to cover this song but few do it justice quite like The Heartbreakers' Mike Campbell, one of rock's unsung guitar heroes. (Here, Tom is rocking a mean pair of maracas. Only he could make that look cool.)

"Oh Well," Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Have you been to any good concerts this summer? Got any plans?

What's been inspiring you lately? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. We'll get you linked up here. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

Sunday Citar

2010-08-01T08:00:00.006-04:00

Me with my niece

"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men."

— Frederick Douglass

Writer's Workshop: Uneasy Rider

2010-07-29T07:57:00.007-04:00

It's been forever since we've done Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop! So let's jump right in.

This week's prompt: It happened on a motorcycle.

About ten years ago I was visiting Taos, New Mexico, when a biking convention happened to be in town. Which seemed really random because Taos isn't exactly a big place with big highways for big bikers. Hundreds of motorcyclists were literally everywhere you turned as they hogged (get it?) the town's small streets and dirt roads.

By our third and last day, we were mostly used to sharing the local roads with a bunch of leather-and black-clad dudes. (Some even started to look familiar with their special colored bandanas and their hometowns printed on their t-shirts.) We'd just spent a long, hot day touring the pueblos and were eager to get back to our adorable adobe B&B. But our rental SUV was stuck behind yet another bike pack also heading to the center of town. Six ahead of us. Then four. Then two. Then just one.

She tentatively pulled onto the highway, a blonde ponytail flapping in the summer wind, her new bike shining in the New Mexico sun. Maybe if she'd waited just a few seconds longer she would have noticed the black muscle car screeching up the highway, smoke billowing from its oversized tires, fishtailing wildly out of control.

The impact was hard and it was fast. Then everything seemed to stutter in slow motion. Her body helicoptering high into a cloudless sky. The bike sliding across the glistening highway. Sparks flying, metal scraping the pavement. She seemed to soar up there forever. But she landed. Lifeless on the ground.

I was screaming.

And then running towards her body lying face-down in the middle of the road. Jeff was close behind. Don't! Don't!

Still screaming. She wasn't moving. She was dead. She had to be. Ohmygodohmygodoh mygod! He held me back. Don't! Don't!

First the police. Then an ambulance. They took her away. I spoke to an officer, my voice weak, my throat raw. He hit her, then sped off. She wasn't moving. She was dead. She had to be.

I didn't sleep that night. The screeching. The smoke. The sparks. Her body in the air. I could still hear the sound of my screaming. She wasn't moving. She was dead. She had to be.

We stepped into the small fluorescent hallways of the local hospital. Is she here? No, I don't know her name. A nurse pointed to the first room on the right.

Her battered body looked small propped up among too much hospital white. A leg and shoulder in a cast, hands tightly bandaged. A face horribly swollen, purple, cut and bruised.

She wasn't moving. But she had survived.

Random Tuesday

2010-07-27T08:00:00.012-04:00

It's Tuesday everybody, so it's time for some Randomness.

I'm going to break my long-standing rule and blog about blogging. It's horribly meta but bear with me for a sec. Soooo... Monday's Muse. Hate it? Love it? Don't give a flying eff about it? Be honest, I can take it. I'm having a good time but it doesn't seem like anyone else is along for the ride. I guess that shouldn't matter but it's getting kinda lonely here on Mondays. I'm open to suggestions, so feel free...

One more piece of bloggy housekeeping: Has anyone made the leap from Blogger to Wordpress? (Or another platform?) How was the transition? Are you happy with your new home? I'd love to know about your experience, so please leave me a message here or send me an email. Okay, I'm done. Promise.

My oldest niece turned 12 last month. And if that wasn't hard enough to wrap my old brain around (didn't I just hold that sweet cuddly baby in my arms?) the little blonde cherub whose fist used to fit around my finger is now freaking taller than me! And I'm not particularly short, either. She's all elbows-and-knees, coltish with mile-long legs, too. My first question: Is she interested in boys? Not just yet, much to the relief of my poor brother who I actually feel sorry for. It happens fast, so he better be ready. (And not sitting-on-the-porch-with-a-shotgun ready.)

Were you a teenager in the 80s? Here's my teaser: Debbie Gibson. Tiffany. Catfight. Boobs. ('Nuff said!)

So I'll try to not sound too old lady in a creaky rocking chair who's shaking a bony finger at those gosh-darned awful kids. But holy crap, everybody! What the hell is going on with all the over-sharing on Facebook? I won't out anyone in particular, as tempting as that may be. But here's a few hints: Junior's first time pooping on the potty? Dirty deets about your messy breakup that include the word 'whore'? The exact color of your vomit from Saturday's drunken night? I'm talking about you. We're appalled (and kinda grossed out). It's embarrassing and you need to shut up. Now. Please. I'm begging you.

You don't have to beg for some Keely. So go check her out.

Monday's Muse: Precious Stones

2010-07-26T07:57:00.009-04:00

Welcome to Cinnamon & Honey! Want to know more about Monday's Muse, my meme about all things inspirational? Click here. Don't be afraid to jump right in.

For many years I kept a set of small silver inspirational stones in a glass bowl on my desk at work. I'd bought them at a local craft fair; they were pretty and decorative and often found their way into my hands when I needed to breathe just a little. They were always cool to the touch and warmed quickly as you ran your fingers over them in a soothing rhythmic way.

It often struck me just how much other people were drawn to them too. I'd watch as one coworker after another would quietly reach over to take one, always just one, and absentmindedly rub the smooth surface while we'd work. Most people carefully chose a message... dream, love, wish, luck, create, believe, hope, peace... as if the stone could offer a little bit of much-needed magic. A rare few didn't bother looking until after they were done warming the stone in their hands. Either way, I'd always ask which one they had chosen but never said anything more. Some secrets are best kept to yourself.

I packed away the stones when I left my job and had forgotten about them until recently when I went through some old boxes. I'm thinking about putting them out, perhaps next to my bed, so they may be of some use to me again.

What's been inspiring you lately?

Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. We'll get you linked up here. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

Sunday Citar

2010-07-25T08:05:00.002-04:00

"You already have it within you"

I'm loving my pretty silver bracelet from jewelry designer Amy Peters. There's a heart on the front and this message hidden underneath. A perfect little reminder of your inner strength.

I Got Lucky!

2010-07-23T13:57:00.031-04:00

For this past Random Tuesday, I was going to write all about how I don't have tickets for next week's Tom Petty show. And how ridiculously fast these concerts sell out and how much Ticketmaster sucks and how I refuse to pay some sketchy scalper a fortune even though it's Tom and I love him and blah, blah, blah... But I already did that post the last time he toured a few years ago. Nothing changes. I was going to miss this amazing show (with Buddy Guy opening no less. Sigh.) and cross my fingers for the August date in Jersey. Which I probably wouldn't get tickets for either. So frustrating!

But somehow, as his song goes, I Got Lucky, Babe. I just WON me a sweet pair of tickets. (Suck it, Ticketmaster.)

Tom's fan club has been giving away one set of tickets to each show on Facebook. So I randomly put in my name for the date at the Garden. Cause what the hell, right? (Once in a while, I've actually won some cool shit. Remind me to tell you about the time I scored a Fender guitar!) And promptly forgot about it until today when I got the email. My name was even posted on Tom's home page! Can I get a whoop! whoop!

It's me and Tom next week, baby! (And Lori who is coming with me!) Watching him perform (the closer the better) is a pure jolt of electricity that pulses right through you and takes your breath away. I've never left one show without feeling a fantastic sense of euphoria for hours afterwards. I can't tell you how much this came at the perfect time!

Huge thanks to Tom and his fan club. Can't wait for the show.

Random Tuesday

2010-07-20T07:58:00.010-04:00

It's Tuesday everybody, so it's time for some Randomness.

It doesn't take much to convince me that I live in the most unfriendly place in the country. You quickly get used to the cashiers who throw your change back at you. And the guys who not only don't hold open doors behind them but slam them in your face. As well as the drivers who cut you off on the highway and give you the finger. So it's understandable that you'd get just a tad flustered when you travel a few hours north and are subjected to this:

Cashier: Hi! How aaaah ya! How's your day been goin'? Did you find everything you needed? It's really hawt, isn't it? So, so hawt! Yestah-day, I was just telling my sist-uh how hawt it is! Like, wicked hawt! Like, we haven't had a summah so hawt in like, I can't hardly remembah! It definitely wasn't this hawt last summah, was it? I don't think I turned on the air conditionah even once last yee-ah. No suh! I swear-ah I didn't even take the AC out of the cellah! Didn't it rain lots last summah? Like every weekend? Yeah, total pissah!

Me: (Blinks)

Cashier: You not from 'round hee-yah? You don't look famil-yah! I work hee-yah like every day! I was just telling my sis-tuh that I work way too haaaahd! I really could use a vacation, maybe go down Cape or somethin'! I totally need a break, youknowwhatI'm sayin'? Especially when it gets hawt like this! Mothah-o-Gawd, I am sweatin' bullets like you wouldn't believe! Aren't you hawt? You don't look it! No suh!

Me: (Pushes gum a little closer to the register)

Cashier: That's it? Just a pack-o-gum? That's all you want? Well, you have a wicked good day!

Me: (Mumbles weakly) Thanks...

Over the weekend my brother referred to me as "a total Type A" right in front of a bunch of people. Normally I would have been all, TypeA!!!!WhatDoYouMeanI'mATotalTypeA!?!? You know, completely proving his point. (See, also: "You're so sensitive!" and "You're so defensive!") But this time I laughed and shrugged it off. Baby steps, people. Baby steps.

Yes, I skipped out on the Muse yesterday. I was visiting family and planned to do a post there, but technical issues seem to follow me whenever I go. Yep, the PC I was supposed to borrow totally crapped out. (I didn't go near it, I swear!) Yet another reason to get that iPhone. Or iPad. Whichever. But at this point I'm probably not to be trusted around electronics. I must have some sort of negative energy that makes them go all a-flooey. (That's the technical term for it.) I wonder if there's an exorcism for something like that?

Speaking of electronics... I was listening to my iPod on the way home and the amazing Jonatha Brooke happened to pop up on shuffle. Her voice is absolutely lush and gorgeous... I'm still surprised she never made it big in that Sarah McLachlan-sort-of-way. Fame really is horribly fickle. Anyway, I can't find video or a MP3 of the song I wanted to post, the beautiful "Gilded Cage." (It's off the album Plumb. Definitely check it out.) But here's something else that's a must-listen:

"Eye In The Sky," Jonatha Brooke

I am the eye in the sky/ Looking at you/I can read your mind/I am the maker of rules/Dealing with fools/I can cheat you blind...

Yes, that's a cover of the 80s Alan Parsons Project hit. Sounds incredible, doesn't it? If you want to know if someone is really good, just listen to an acoustic performance. There's none of that Auto-Tune electronic bullshit, just serious singing.

You know who's also Auto-Tune free? Keely. So go check her out.

Monday's Muse: They Say It's Her Birthday? (Shhhh!)

2010-07-12T08:01:00.006-04:00

Welcome to Monday's Muse!

It's Cinnamon & Honey's blog meme about all things inspirational. Here's your chance to share something that's currently meaningful to you... a song, a video, a poem, a book, a movie, a person... or anything that's gotten into your head and you can't get rid of. If it's important, I want to know all about it!

One by one, many of my friends are having big birthdays this year. We're mostly handling it pretty well (with some justifiable grumbling here and there...) but we've all wanted to celebrate in different ways. I had a fantastic dinner out with the girls. A close friend wanted to spend a quiet evening home with just her family. Then a few months ago, I got a call from my best friend's husband who asked me to help throw her a surprise party. (If there are two things I love, it's other people's birthdays and surprises. Bring it!)

The big challenge, however, was whether her honest-to-a-fault husband could keep it a secret from his shrewd wife. (Nothing gets past her. She's a lawyer. 'Nuff said.) Secret phone calls had to be made, covert scheming had to be done and little white lies had to be told. Could we pull it off? Would he manage to convince her to get all dressed up and schlep two napping toddlers out for "lunch" on a wickedly hot, lazy Sunday afternoon? Well, the look on her face when she walked into the restaurant said it all. Complete and total shock. It was beautiful.

This one's for you, my sistah Lori. I hope you had a wonderful day. Love you!

"Bridge Over Troubled Water," Simon & Garfunkel
Has someone ever thrown you a surprise party? Are you still secretly hoping for one? Or would you cause serious bodily harm to the person responsible?

What's been inspiring you? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. We'll get you linked up here. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

Down Under Blunder

2010-07-07T08:01:00.003-04:00

So here's a funny entertainment story that's right up my alley...

Did you ever sing this song as a kid? I remember learning it pretty early on in grammar school. (Unfortunately, this long-haired hippie dude wasn't the one teaching it. Our music teacher was more of the school-marm variety, right down to the tightly-wrapped bun hairstyle, permanently pursed lips and reading glasses kept perched on the edge of her nose.)

Well, apparently a court just decided that this hit song sounded a liiiittle bit too much like it:

When you play them back to back, you can really hear it. And then there's this:

Big bummer for Men At Work; this hit song was totally their bread and Vegemite. (Get it? By the way, that's some nasty shit... ) Hope they saved up, cause they owe a huge chunk of royalties to the teacher who wrote the Australian folk song 70 years ago. (Not sure why her estate took so long to lawyer up; "Down Under" was a huge hit back in 1982! Talk about karma coming back to bite you in the butt. )

PS to M@W: Next time, you might not want to "borrow" a fairly well-known song from your own country. Pick someone else's. You know, like what Led Zeppelin did with "Dazed and Confused." Oh wait. They're now being sued too. Well, at least you're in good company....

Random Tuesday

2010-07-06T08:01:00.004-04:00

It's Tuesday everybody, so it's time for some Randomness.

My apartment is filled with the distinct smell of chlorine, thanks to the drying out of various swimsuits, beach towels and flip-flops. Which I don't mind all that much. It actually takes me back to childhood and my first swim lessons at the local Y. When those chemical fumes would slap you in the face and sting your eyes the instant you stepped out of the locker room and into that hothouse of an indoor pool. But I loved it so much I'd still open my eyes underwater at the painful expense of blurry, burning vision for days. My eyes are actually watering at the happy memory.

Speaking of pools, isn't the whole concept a little odd? Like, if aliens were watching us from above (cause that's where they are, right?) they'd totally be scratching their three heads (cause that's what they have, right?). Think about it: a bunch of hot, sweaty, dirty, questionably fit humans bobbing about and marinating inside a large chemical filled cement tub. Strange right? Yeah, I probably shouldn't be thinking about it so hard.

How funny is this? You'll be humming it all day. Trust.

"Habanera"

I've got more good friends celebrating July birthdays than any other month. Five this week, in fact. Which is kind of funny, cause good old Aries (me) aren't supposed play nice with Cancers. Theory is, the rambunctious ram runs all amok, scaring the cautious crab back into its shell. To that I'd say pshaw! That is, if I weren't a classic Aries: a little wild, a tad impulsive, a tiny bit (okay a lot) stubborn with a whole lot of heart. Truth is, I like coaxing people out of their comfort zones. And maybe the friends are proof that I've gotten better at being somewhat graceful about it.

(Side note: I never gave astrology much credence until I found Jonathan Cainer. You have to check him out, his readings are eerily accurate.)

You know who's always eerily accurate? Keely and her random tuesdays.

Monday's Muse: Feelin' Hot, Hot, Hot!

2010-07-05T08:01:00.001-04:00

Day-um it's hot! Not that I am complaining, since the last few summers have been less than spectacular to say the least. Since temps have been reaching well into 90s, the pool has been a very, very cool retreat. (I feel very lucky to have this oasis in the midst of our urban jungle.) Several sweet dips this past holiday weekend reminded me of this great summer song...

"Hot Fun in the Summertime," Sly and the Family Stone

Sorry for the lack of an actual video; I can't seem to find a decent live performance. Sly's crazy outfit is entertaining enough as a screen shot, isn't it? A few years ago, he gave a surprise performance at the Grammys decked out in a suit that made Lady Gaga look boring. He'd perfected that art form long before she was a twinkle in anyone's eye. But I digress...

How are you keeping cool? Are you doing anything fun over this holiday weekend?

What's been inspiring you? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. We'll get you linked up here. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

Wordful Wednesday

2010-06-30T13:16:00.006-04:00

A very good friend of mine is a-havin' her first baby! She doesn't want to know if it's a boy or a girl (!!!) so we're buying everything in neutral yellows and greens. (I am pretty sure I know the gender... remind me to tell you about my amazing track record with these things.) This is the card I made her. She's a big fan of daisies so I thought my latest line was perfect.

For more Wordfuls, stop by my pal Angie's place.

And if you're interested in my handmade cards, check out my Etsy shop.

Monday's Muse: Jet Set

2010-06-21T08:01:00.005-04:00

I heard this one on the radio a few days ago and wondered how something I once liked so much had fallen off my musical radar. (And also never made the leap onto my iPod. That's gonna have to change.)

"Are You Gonna Be My Girl?" Jet

Such a hot rock and roll song: Big black boots/Long brown hair/She's so sweet/with her get back stare....

The opening riff reminds me a little of TP's "American Girl" but it's more commonly compared to Iggy Pop's "Lust for Life." (Once you place it, you can't help but notice, right?) Apparently a big deal was made over the similarities when the song was first released in 2003. But Iggy, being the cool dude that he is, shrugged it off. And admitted he'd ripped off Motown ("You Can't Hurry Love") in his song. Let's face it, everyone borrows. Who cares, it's all good songwriting.

So, what have you rediscovered lately?

What's been inspiring you? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-20T08:01:00.002-04:00

Spill It...

2010-06-18T08:00:00.004-04:00

Making its way around Facebook... (I find this situation so unbelievably upsetting; I can barely watch the news coverage without getting furious. So a bit of humor helps.)

Need more cheering up? Head over to my pal Ann's place for her weekly GNO, good times and some old-fashioned blog hopping. Ann's the coolest, so make sure to check out the rest of her blog. And don't forget to tell her C&H sent you.

Random Tuesday

2010-06-15T08:00:00.007-04:00

It's Tuesday everybody, so it's time for some Randomness.

So, I wasn't feeling very inspired on Monday. I usually like my meme, but yesterday I was all, oh, whatever! So, didja miss me? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? (I am not one to quote movies but you knew that was coming.) Oh, that totally reminds me.... major tangent alert!... I used to date someone whose very large family would often spend all of dinner and well into dessert doing the movie-quote-smackdown-thing:

Me: Well, to tell you the truth, I...

Then-boyfriend's stepbrother: YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!!!

Then-boyfriend's sister and husband: A FEW GOOD MEN!

Then-boyfriend's other stepbrother: JINX!!!

Which, oh my god, was the most annoying thing ever, especially when you're not a) a film fanatic b) a crazy shouter-interrupter or c) a food-chunk-sprayer. (Mouth full, people mouth full!) I never did get one the entire time we were together. And I had a funny feeling they were all judging my date-worthiness based on my sad, half-a-star worthy performance. Now if I were cool, I'd have some witty quote to insert right here. But I am not and I don't. Oh, whatever! (See, full circle!)

My Mac is back! Not better than ever, but it's working. Chances are, it will be making a permanent trip to Apple Heaven sometime soon. In the meantime, I am treating it with kid gloves, practically tucking in and kissing it goodnight when I shut down for the day. I'm okay with that, though. The week I had to use a PC was just the worst. The best way to describe the experience? It's like an American who goes to London on vacation. Things certainly seem familiar: everyone speaks English, you'll find many of the same major restaurants and the bus is slower than the subway. Only problem? You can't understand an effing thing anyone says, the food sucks and they drive on the wrong side of the road. (My Brit pals: Relax. You know I adore you and England.) So yeah, I am glad my computer is fixed.

Do you shop at Trader Joe's? And are you sort of a snob about it? You know, walking in with your head held all high, Little Miss I'm kind to the environment! And to animals! And to other people! I'm socially conscious! I'm shopping GlutenFree!GeletinFree! PesticideFree!DyeFree!FatFree! That is, until you get to the dessert section. And you skip (yes, actually skip) right past the soy ice cream, organic fruit and frozen juice bars and head straight for.... The Peanut Butter Cups! The Chocolate Covered Sunflower Seeds! The Candy-Coated Almond Bark! No? Me neither.

Where has everyone been lately? Summer has barely started and my reader is empty, sad, lonely and depressed. (I am guilty of that too, believe me!) Aren't we all supposed to be inspired since BlogHer is coming soon? (And right across the river from me this year!) Who's going?

Okay, that's enough for one day. Be sure to visit Keely, the queen of Tuesdays and of all things random.

Monday's Muse: Trippin'

2010-06-07T08:01:00.001-04:00

Lately, I've been a tad obsessed with the Travel Channel and their series of world's best beaches/resorts/parks/cruises/restaurants/museums/shopping... you name it. I can't seem to get enough, watching one show to the next to the next. Sigh. (And you know who has THE best freaking job ever? Samantha Brown. Why can't I be her?)

If you couldn't tell, I've been bit with the travel bug. Now, I'm very fortunate to have traveled all over the United States but there are TONS (and I do mean tons) of places around the world I am dying to visit. (Oh, sweet Italia, when will we ever meet?) Unfortunately I don't have plans with my passport in the near future, but one can certainly dream.

Anyway, when I think about traveling and hitting the open road, this song comes to mind:

"Born To Be Wild," Steppenwolf

"Get your motor runnin'/Head out on the highway/Lookin' for adventure/In whatever comes our way..."

Do you have any travel plans this summer? (Come on, make me jealous!) Or share your fantasy trip. Where are you itching to go?

What's been inspiring you lately? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

Random Tuesday/Spin Cycle

2010-06-01T08:02:00.014-04:00

What? A blog post two days in a row? Say it ain't so! It's Tuesday everybody, so it's time for some Randomness.

My precious Mac, the Apple of my eye (heh!) is dead. As in, d-e-d dead. But wait, you say! This sounds very familiar. Didn't your laptop just crash not all that long ago? (Kinda.) And didn't you lose every single piece you've ever written? (Sorta.) And every single digital photo you've ever taken? (Totally.) Last time, it randomly up and died on me. This time? I actually dropped the damn thing. Completely my fault. Which is really unlike me. (I may be a lot of things, but a klutz is not one of them.) Somehow it slipped out of my hands and landed with a crash right on my hardwood floor. (These things never happen on a nice, soft cushy rug, do they?) And I just stood there frozen, as if not moving would undo the stupid thing that just happened. No such luck. So there I was over a holiday weekend telling a ~~Mac Geek~~ highly skilled tech my tale of woe about the second hard drive that was a mere week past its warranty. (He couldn't have been any less interested, by the way.) And shelling out a bunch of cash for yet another (my third!) expensive drive. Sigh.

Here's a good segway: Despite my horrible luck with electronics, I am thinking about buying an iPad. (Which may not mean very much. I also was "thinking about buying" an iPhone and I still don't have one of those either.) I probably don't need it, and thanks to Miss Butterfingers here, I have less money to spend on it. But I was playing around with one at the Apple store (which was packed in the middle of a Tuesday afternoon! What recession?) and absolutely loved it. Does anyone have one? And also own a laptop? Is it overkill?

And in not such a good segway: You know how weird, crazy shit usually happens when you're home alone? So there's no one there with you to witness your neighbor's girlfriend having a hysterical meltdown after being thrown out into the hallway at one in the morning, drunk and half-dressed? (You know, stuff like that?) Well, for the first time I was grateful that Jeff is working nights again. Because that meant he was home when the weirdest, craziest, most awful shit went down. Take a deep breath because this one is bad. Okay? Ready? Someone actually jumped off the roof of our apartment building and landed in the empty concrete swimming pool 45 stories below. Yes, forty-five-effing stories to his death. In broad daylight, for everyone to see. Except for me. The police came to take away the body and I was all, don'tlookdon'tlookdon'tlook. (And I didn't. I don't handle those things particularly well.) So horrendous. And sad.

On a (much, much) happier note, my good friend's son graduated from college last weekend. (College!) Wasn't it just yesterday when the tow-haired kindergartner came to our office to see where daddy worked? Gosh, that little boy was so darned cute sitting there on the floor, drawing with the highlighters I'd given him. Now, that little boy is out there conquering the working world, all khakis-and-tie-and-briefcase clad. (Ugh. I am getting old.) Big congrats to AC and to his dad. These days, putting a kid through college is almost as big an achievement as getting the degree.

Okay, that's enough for one day. Be sure to visit Keely, queen of Tuesdays and of all things random.

UPDATE: My pal Jen over at Sprite's Keeper has graciously offered to include me in this week's Spin Cycle about all things techie, thanks to my pathetic rapport with the electronic world. Definitely go check her out and read up on the other spins.

Monday's Muse: Car Tunes

2010-05-31T08:01:00.006-04:00

So Memorial Day is finally here, which means summer has officially begun! And what would summer be without fab summertime tunes?

"Magic," The Cars

This one is a little cheesy and somewhat predictable for my kick-off-summer choice but it's perfect frothy fun. It also features a classic 80s video with trademark pathetic production values. (I mean, you can see the plexi-glass under Ric Ocasek's feet as he's walking through the pool!) Still, the opening synthesizer sounds take me right back to junior-high summers on the beach.

Ever wonder why there never was a Cars reunion? That would be a fun summer concert, right? Well, before bassist and singer Ben Orr died in 2000, Ric used to give this explanation: "I'd rather have diarrhea for six months than tour with the Cars for six months." Alrighty then!

Ric and his supermodel-wife Paulina Porizkova lived near me back when I called Boston home. And once in a while you'd see them shopping together at the local supermarket. It was always a little odd watching a rock star peruse the produce section, but it was kind of cool to know he took care of such regular-person stuff himself.

Happy Memorial Day! What are you listening to on this first day of summer?

What's been inspiring you lately? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

If It's Not Scottish, It's Crap!

2010-05-27T08:01:00.005-04:00

So, ever since Conan was ceremoniously tossed from The Tonight Show, I've been searching for good late-night tv. Of course I refuse to watch Leno, I've never been much of Letterman fan (he's long struck me as a crotchety old man) and Jimmy Kimmel always seems a little too eager-beaver to me. I'd been mostly channel surfing, lamenting my six-months-til-Conan when I happened to stumble upon Craig Ferguson. Who I never bothered with all these years since, hello, I was busy watching Late Night. But wow, was I missing out!

Now I won't be discussing the effing-hot accent. Or the salt-and-pepper yumminess. Those are a given, okay? Let's just keep the playing field even. This guy is just plain funny. And, yes, I am saying that with a bit of surprise because I wasn't expecting to like him. At all. (I usually don't find British comics funny, maybe because I don't get their brand of humor.) Turns out Craig shares the exact qualities that I love about Conan: he's genuine, he's self-deprecating and he's smart. One episode and I was sold.

To prove my point, I was going to post last year's clip of Craig interviewing Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The ep recently won him a Peabody Award; it's unusually sharp late-night television, especially for a comedian. But then I stumbled upon this and I had to post it instead. (It's long, but worth watching. Trust me.)

The Late, Late Show, February, 2007

This clip of Craig discussing his alcoholism and his 15 years of sober living is such a great surprise. While he could have chosen to play it somewhat maudlin, or even a little self-righteously given his job of poking fun at celebrity downfalls, Craig went with a straight, honest delivery. When was the last time you saw anyone openly admit to their personal demons unless their hand was forced due to some ridiculous scandal? (I'm looking at you, Dave. And Tiger. And Jesse.) Why willingly show such vulnerability? I can't possibly know his reasons, and I am not so naive as to think there wasn't any motive behind it whatsoever. All I know is that it made Craig even more regular-guy relatable and turned me into a bigger fan. So yeah, I'm watching! (When I can manage to stay up that late...)

Do you watch? Who's your late-night staple?

Monday's Muse: Pac-Man Fever

2010-05-24T08:00:00.005-04:00

If you were on Google last Friday, you probably noticed the home page was turned into a game of Pac-Man. That's because the little hungry yellow dude just turned 30 (yes, thirty!). I was the perfect kid-age at the start of the 80s video-game craze, spending many hours and many more quarters in the arcade. My game of choice? Ms. Pac-Man. Eventually I became quite good, making that quarter last 10 screens at my very best. But then I moved on to some other fad, as kids do, and quickly forgot about my gaming obsession.

Until now! While Pac-Man isn't quite the same as his cute little sister, I still managed to play a few games online. (And boy, did I suck!) Google took down their version from the home page but if you're in the mood for some nostalgic fun, you can play online here. Come back and share your initials with your high score!

Were you into video games as a kid? What was your favorite?

What's been inspiring you lately? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

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Monday's Muse: My Favorite Heartbreaker

2010-05-18T08:00:00.007-04:00

Yes, I know, it's not Monday. But who says the Muse can't strike on Tuesday? Besides, you probably knew that this one was coming anyway...

"I Should Have Known It," Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Here's yet another thing I dig about Tom: He could give a crap about charting hits or being radio-friendly. More than thirty years into his career, he's just having a freaking good time with this bluesy/honky-tonk tune. Great riff from a dread-headed Mike Campbell, too. My only complaint, Tom's a little hard to understand in this SNL performance from over the weekend. (In his defense, it's not usually a great venue for sound quality.) Want to see the official video? Go here. The new album Mojo drops on June 15.

Who would you like to see perform on SNL?

What's been inspiring you lately? Be a rebel and join Monday's Muse on a Tuesday by leaving a message in the comments. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

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Wordful Wednesday: You've Been Carded!

2010-05-12T08:00:00.002-04:00

It's been too long since I've designed a new card for my online shop. But a recent visit to a craft store finally got me inspired again! (I can spend hours wandering around those places!)

It's hard to tell from this photo, but the flowers are actually popping up from the face of this card. Cute, right? This particular one happens to have a birthday greeting inside but it also works well as a thank you, get well or thinking of you card too. It can be made with a ton of other colors and patterns (or just one) and can be designed in bulk as gift packs. Have something in mind? Just let me know.

Check out my entire card collection at Cinnamon & Honey on Etsy. Shipping is free and C&H readers get 10% off all orders.

And for more WWs, stop by Angie's place. She's good people!

Monday's Muse: Betty Blue

2010-05-10T14:56:00.005-04:00

I wrote about Betty White a few months ago when she did that hilarious Super Bowl commercial. Since then there's been a lot of buzz surrounding the Golden Girl, leading up to her SNL hosting gig over the weekend. Though much was said about her sharing hosting duties, amazingly she showed up in practically every single skit. Unfortunately, my favorite isn't available online (her metal Mother's Day tribute... genius!) but this one was a close second.

Seriously, I don't know how Betty kept a straight face with Ana Gasteyer and Molly Shannon thisclose to cracking up every time she said the word "muffin." (Further proves she's a great comedic actress.) Not that I blame them... there's something too hilarious about old ladies working blue. Finally SNL got something right.

Did you watch? What was your favorite part?

What's been inspiring you lately? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. (We're going to forgo Mister Linky this week and put up direct links to your posts.) Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

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Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T08:00:00.003-04:00

Monday's Muse: Pass the Tissues

2010-05-03T08:00:00.009-04:00

As it turns out, I am a horrible softie. Which means I get choked up at all sorts of things from cheesy love songs to corny greeting cards to well, stuff like this:

So? Any tears? C'mon, fess up!

This commercial for a high-end London store cost about $9 million to make. (Not quite sure why it would be that expensive but the seamless editing is pretty impressive.) Yeah, the whole life-cycle sequence has been done before but it still pulls at your heartstrings. The Brits really know how do some excellent ads.

So what gets your waterworks a-going?

A Forest Frolic

Ann Again... Ann Again

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Monday's Muse: How Do You Stay Inspired to Blog?

2010-04-26T08:00:00.003-04:00

Welcome to Monday's Muse!

It's Cinnamon & Honey's blog meme about all things inspirational. Here's your chance to share something that's currently meaningful to you... a song, a video, a poem, a book, a movie, a person... or anything that's gotten into your head and you can't get rid of. If it's important, I want to know all about it!

I've been blogging here at C&H for two years now but I've been slowly losing steam over the past few months. Many of my favorite bloggers who started out around the same time as I did, are also showing up less and less frequently in my reader. Some have even abandoned their blogs altogether. Which is completely understandable! What started out as a novelty ended up needing more and more dedication; keeping up can be incredibly challenging.

So those of you who are still dedicated to blogging regularly: How do you stay inspired? What gets (and keeps!) you motivated? Have you ever thought of giving up? What changed your mind? Please leave me your stories, tips and advice in the comments. I'd love to hear what you have to say.

Or, if you want to join Monday's Muse please me a message and I'll put up direct links to your posts. Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

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My Favorite Birthday Present

2010-04-09T12:07:00.020-04:00

April 9, 2000

Over the years, I've taken a ton of pictures on my birthday, thanks to a love of photography inherited from my dad. This picture is one of my absolute favorites. That's me with my grandmother at my 30th birthday dinner celebration. (Which means today I'm... oh, never mind.) It's one of those quick, pose-and-smile-pretty! shots that you take, not realizing it's going to become really meaningful to you one day. And that's because this is the last picture we ever took together.

I adored my grandmother... so much so that it's hard for me to put into words how I felt about her. She was one of those rare people who radiated love; somehow you felt warmer just by sitting next to her. She was also the kindest person I knew. Even well into her 90s she remembered every single detail about your latest job, your new apartment and the guy you were dating. She hated talking about herself and only wanted to hear about you. Were you eating enough? Getting enough rest? Taking that vacation you really deserved? She used to keep my published magazine articles in her purse and proudly show them to random strangers while waiting for the bus. ("Look, my granddaughter wrote this! Isn't she terrific!") She didn't just care about people, she invested in them.

She's been gone for five years now, and I miss her horribly. It's hard to believe this picture is 10 years old today. But it's a wonderful birthday gift that I cherish more and more each passing year.

Monday's Muse: Play Ball!

2010-04-05T11:44:00.010-04:00

Welcome to Monday's Muse!

Yesterday was the start of baseball season. Which means spring is officially here! I've loved the sport since I was a kid and am proud to call myself a third-generation New York Yankee fan. I started out watching games with my dad and grandfather and remained loyal throughout my cough!-cough! years. (None of this fair-weather fan, OMG! Derek Jeter's got such! a! cute! butt! stuff for me...)

Yes, I know they are the team everyone loves to hate. (Such is always the case with dominating winners, no?) And complicating matters? I kinda-sorta married the enemy. Yep, my husband and his family are die-hard Red Sox fans. The best (and sometimes most vicious) rivalry in sports makes for some very intense but way-fun games. But it's all worth it.

So here's to my team, the World Champion New York Yankees. Let's make it 28 this season!

Yankee Tribute Through The Years

Are you a baseball fan? Who do you root for?

When Did I Become My Mom

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Cat Got Your Tongue?

2010-04-02T08:00:00.002-04:00

This totally cracked me up, thanks to a former coworker who came up with the idea:

(Mee-ow!!!!)

(Sorry about the ad... it's worth waiting out the 30 seconds though.)

Hanging out tonight? Be sure to stop by my pal Ann's place for her weekly GNO, good times and a little blog hopping. And don't forget to tell her C&H sent ya!

Matzah, Matzah Man...

2010-03-30T07:30:00.002-04:00

Last night was the start of Passover. If you're wondering what the holiday is all about or more specifically, why we eat those large cracker-thingees (that yes, if you're not Jewish you probably looooove but if you were forced to eat nothing else for eight straight days, would cause a slow, painful gastric distress-induced death) check out this video:

Happy Passover to all!

Monday's Muse: While My Ukulele Gently Weeps

2010-03-29T07:30:00.004-04:00

Welcome to Monday's Muse!

I've written a lot about how much I love George Harrison. And I've already featured this song for Musical Monday. Though I am at risk for repeating myself, this is just too good not to share.

"While My Guitar Gently Weeps," Jake Shimabukuro

Pretty amazing, right? The intricate fingerwork blows me away every time. (George was a huge fan of the ukulele, so he would have loved this gorgeous cover.) I'd never heard of Jake before but apparently he's been famous in his native Hawaii for some time now, and he's often called "the Hendrix of the Ukulele." He's covered a bunch of stuff from Bohemian Rhapsody to the Star-Spangled Banner and also writes his own songs. So talented!

When Did I Become My Mom?

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Monday's Muse: Chain Reaction

2010-03-08T07:00:00.007-05:00

Welcome to Monday's Muse! It's Cinnamon & Honey's blog meme about all things inspirational. Here's your chance to share something that's currently meaningful to you... a song, a video, a poem, a book, a movie, a person... or anything that's gotten into your head and you can't get rid of. If it's important, I want to know all about it!

I'd never heard this song before but when I stumbled across the cool video, I had to share:

OK Go, "This Too Shall Pass"

Now don't you want to watch it again a bunch of times? Yeah, me too! It all by goes so fast, you feel like you miss so much! I had no idea these things were called Rube Goldberg Machines. (And I always wondered how they're so seamlessly put together. I guess they're tested in sections.) Shooting it must have been a blast.... looks like they did it in one take! And it's in perfect synch with the music. Wild!

Apparently OK Go is more famous for their videos than for anything else. But that's okay, at least someone is making fun music videos these days.

What's inspiring you lately? Join Monday's Muse by leaving a message in the comments. (We're going to forgo Mister Linky this week and put up direct links to your posts.) Oh, and don't forget to grab my blog button below!

Adoption of Jane

Shangrila

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Monday's Muse: Under Cover

2010-02-22T08:00:00.023-05:00

Welcome to Monday's Muse! It's Cinnamon & Honey's blog meme about all things inspirational. Here's your chance to share something that's currently meaningful to you... a song, a video, a poem, a book, a movie, a person... or anything that's gotten into your head and you can't get rid of. If it's important, I want to know all about it!

I'm a big fan of the cover song. It's always fun to hear another artist take new ownership of something familiar and loved. While most musicians go for the safer, straight reboot, a rare few creatively re-imagine and come up with beauties like this:

"In Your Eyes," Jeffrey Gaines

I think I love this version more than the original! It has a warmth and soul that's lacking in Peter Gabriel's original. Pretty impressive, right? It's even better live, so if Jeffrey Gaines comes to your area, definitely go see him play.

Do you have a favorite cover?

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