The Boss of my heart.

I'm one third of an all girl band called The Bossettes, but I'm the only one who really digs Bruce. In regards to my generation, he often gets looked past among guttural screams, auto-tuning, and radio garbage. That stuff might make history for the number of albums sold, but it will never go down in history for content.
Bruce beats them at their game and river dances on their faces.
Bruce Springsteen actually tells a story. He tells a bigger story, the American story. That's why I love him.
I'm so proud that he got the recognition he so obviously deserves this year at the Kennedy Center Honors for telling the stories of the blue color American, often left unheard.
Congratulations Bruce!

War. Humph. Good God, Ya'll.

My holiday trip home left me feeling a bit bummed.
I was thrilled to see my family and my closest girl friends from high school, Gina and Jackie, but I got some really bad news, and some good news too, which is still kind of sad (if that makes sense.) Also Jason and I were apart and I got a nasty stomache flu. Ick!



My friend Anthony has been the most important man in my life, next to my dad and my grandpa since I was in middle school. He's really important to me. He has spent Christmas dinner with my family every year since we were probably sophomores in high school, has been my constant ski companion, the missing son in my family of girls.
When he joined the army out of high school, I was as supportive as I could be knowing that there was a war going on. I was worried and angry at the president and I wished everyday that I could spit in that suckers eye.
That was about 6 years and two tours to the middle east ago, and I've been able to accept that this is a job he signed up for, regardless of how dangerous it is, and how much it sucks, he chose to do something selfless, which ultimately makes me really proud of him.
Okay, so.

Surprise #1:
The day I came home I found out that he got engaged, which is amazing. She was one of three friends I had on my cheerleading squad in high school (I know, it's hard to believe! I was paranoid about college, so I did every extracurricular on the planet.) I'm so happy he has found a girl who makes him happy.


Suprise #2:
He's leaving for Iraq again on January 7th and I was the last to know. Also he's getting married before he leaves, and I'm not going to be able to attend.

Suprise #3:
I got the stomach flu.

And on top of that, I didn't even get to say goodbye to him because he was too busy snowboarding and ignoring my phone calls and texts. I know he doesn't realize he is being jerky, but he is acting so out of character. I don't even know what's up.
I knew this day would come and that Anthony would get married and Gina and I would have to bite the bullet a little. But I was expecting us to maybe lose a pinky toe instead of a freaking leg.
Is it bad and selfish of me to be so upset about this? I feel really guilty for feeling angry at him before he leaves for Iraq again, but I'm just so sad he didn't care enough to say goodbye to me.



I'm sorry for the rant.
I'm just so so sad and hurt.

On a brighter note, here's a few pictures of
The Christmas Kitten.

I like Audrey's voice best.

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Sabrina

Epic Christmas Mix.

I'm leaving for my childhood home on Tuesday where we do not have cable or even the internet anymore, because my mom is the kind of mom who would rather get dirty from gardening than watch the Home and Garden Network.
While I'm in Pennsylvania I'm planning on:

• skiing with my dad
  
• laughing with my sister
• cooking and baking with my mom
  
• having a cuddle-puddle or two with heavily tattooed friends from high school
• hopefully seeing some friends from college if I can use a car
• talking to Jason on the phone
• hearing the festive sound of my sister and dad bickering over Christmas dinner
  
• being car-less
  
• maybe being genuinely bored at times.

Because of this, I am trying to wrap up everything I need to before I leave for the east coast and the pine-laden mountains where I hail from.



So anyway, here is what you've been waiting for!

Epic Christmas Mix

1. "Santa Claus is coming to town" -- Bruce Springsteen
2. "Little Saint Nick" -- The Beach Boys
3. "Winter Wonderland" -- Darlene Love
4. "Someday at Christmas" -- Stevie Wonder
   
5. "The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" -- The Miracles
6. "Sleigh Ride" -- The Ronnettes
7. "Merry Christmas Baby" -- Otis Redding
8. "Frosty the Snowman" -- Fiona Apple
9. "Snow" -- Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera Ellen
10. "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" -- Thurl Ravenscroft
11. "Baby, it's Cold Outside" -- Leon Redbone and Zooey Deschanel
12. "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" -- Judy Garland
13. "Little Drummer Boy" -- Johnny Cash
14. "Angels We Have Heard on High" -- Sufjan Stevens
15. "Away in a Manger" -- Oh, Starling
16. "Kiss Me on Christmas" -- The Canon Logic
17. "Christmas Wrapping" -- The Waitresses
18. "Happy Christmas (War is Over)" -- John Lennon and Yoko Ono
    

Ornament Exchange.

This year has marked many things.
I graduated from college.
I moved halfway across the country.
I fell out of love. Horribly, hospitalized, heart-beakingly out of love. Bad.
I fell in love. Miraculous, unexpected lurve. Amazing.
I adopted an unbelievably naughty and evil calico cat.
And last but not least, I participated in my first blogger ornament exchange with an all around cool woman named Tia, who is best known for being a creator of babies, a safe and happy home, beautiful recipes, her fantastic blog -- Christopher and Tia, and now...amazing Christmas ornaments!


This is my first ornament of my own, in my own home, that I will put on my Christmas tree every year. I'm so happy and thankful that it's this strawberry-topped, handmade treasure.

Here is her tutorial on how to make them!
They're beautiful, Tia!
I love mine so very much!
Thank you!!

Childhood Playlist.

I can't think of any event during my childhood without linking them to The Stones, The Beach Boys, Ray Charles, Patsy Cline, The Supremes, or the like.
Like Belen, I have decided that making a childhood playlist sounded like a lot of fun.
Play along if you choose to!

What's your childhood playlist?

List around 5 songs that captures your childhood memories.
Feel free to provide video/audio.
Put me in your kiddy shoes. :)


"Got My Mind Set On You" -- George Harrison.
This music video is my first vivid memory.


One of my strongest memories as a kid was listening to my dad play his guitar on our porch. He always played "Anna (Go With Him)" by the Beatles for my sister and I, kind of like how this dad is playing for his little ones. I love this video because of that.


"Buffalo Soldier" -by Bob Marley
Summertime roadtrip music.
Driving up and down the coast and sleeping in our van music.


"Don't Be Cruel" by Elvis Presley
I always pictured the muppet chickens singing the backround vocals. Can't you picture it?



And of course, the best for last...

The Abbey Road Medley by the Beatles was on a mixtape my dad my made for my mom which was on constant rotation in her car for almost a year straight at some point while I was in between 2nd and 3rd grade. I can't express how thankful I am now that my parents pushed the fruits and veggies of modern music on my sister and myself so much.
I really don't think I would be the same person today if I hadn't been exposed to it so early.
Thanks Ma and Pop!

My first Christmas in Madison, WI.

Well, I finished recording my free Christmas EP.
I'm really proud of myself for getting back into the swing of recording again, and even just playing music again. There was a period where I didn't even pick up my guitar for almost a month. I didn't feel inspired. And now I do again.
It feels really great.


So here it is.
My Christmas gift from me to you.
I love you all!

I DO NOT MESS AROUND Peanut Butter Cookies.

I like my cookies like I like my friends.
Not too sweet, and full of personality.
I usually don't like peanut butter cookies, however, I made this recipe to fit my standards.
So if you're like me and you roll your eyes at plain ol' PB Cooks because you're maybe a little bit of a cookie snob, you will most likely enjoy my twist on dull, country grandma peanut butter cookies.
Plus, the crunch of sliced almonds just does something for me.
I hope it does something for you, too.


I DO NOT MESS AROUND
Peanut Butter Cookies.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup natural, creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp Salt
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup milk (I used soy milk, but whatever you choose would be fine.)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
  
• 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup M & M's (I used them because Jason and I got a free bag. You could use more chocolate chips instead.)
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350*F.
   
2. Mix together dry ingredients, then wet. Mix together.
3. Let cookie dough chill for 30 mins.
4. Bake for 15-20 mins.
5. Fin!

P.S. Happy snow day, my fellow Mid-westerners!

DIY Bomber Hat

My dad is the hardest person to shop for. THE HARDEST.
A few things to know about him:

• He's a musical dictionary. As a kid, he had a den that had a wall-long bookshelf FULL of records. So this means you can't buy Bridge Over Troubled Water for this dad when you have no idea what to get him for his birthday.

• He's a hardcore winter outdoorsmen. My sister and I have been skiing since we were two, if that's any indication.

Thanks to Threadbanger, I have found the perfect gift.

Free DIY Bomber Hat Tutorial

Picture of Gordy, our hitch-hiker through the Grand Titons.
Photo by Billy Mack.

Beat Baby.

This past week I brought the baby to my apartment to explore and play with all of the instruments Jason and I have in our home. She especially loved the ukulele (hello, who doesn't.), drums, and organ and I just couldn't help but document a bit of it for everyone to awe over, too.
I never post pictures of the girls because I don't feel it's my place to, however, I thought this was tasteful, and respectful of her (and her family's) privacy.

Look at those sweet, little fingers making music!

And now, off to do some holiday baking!

Mountain Dulcimer Love.

Folk music...
What can I say?
I love it.
Modern "folk" music is okay. You know the type. Coffee shop open mic-er's who play Bon Iver covers, but don't sound half as lovely. It's okay. I can deal, but it just doesn't cut it.
What really quenches my acoustic-loving thirst, however, is REAL folk music.
I'm talking droney Appalachian hymns and ballads written while America was still a rose e're blooming and sung and recorded by blind, bearded men during the Great Depression. I don't mess around.

When I say folk music, I mean folk music.

Anyway, I'm ranting because I just found Mountain Dulcimer noter and drone blog yesterday.
Check it our for a look-see into the world of a woman who lives, breathes, and loves Appalachian Mountain Dulcimers. She tabs out songs and talks about different tunings in detail, perfect for the beginner Mountain Dulcimerist. This blog has already helped me tons with my confidence in my playing.
It's love!


And now for my crafty readers:

You can find a free tutorial on

how to make your own Mountain Dulcimer
HERE!

Headboard Alternative.

Jason and I don't have a swanky, velvet aqua headboard for our bed like the Drapers, in fact, we don't have one at all. Jason does however have a pretty mean vinyl collecting addiction, so we head out to $1 basement sales at least once or twice a month to satisfy his needs. This means we sometimes end up with some pretty scratched up records that are either hard to pass up, or completely ridiculous (so how can you pass it up?)

Luckily we were able to kill two birds with one stone with this practically brainless headboard alternative.
We got to put these scratched up records to good use, and we also have the treat of having a little bit of excitement above our heads.



What we used:

• Old, scratched up vinyl records.
• Clear thumbtacks.
• The end.