It's been all over CNN, MSNBC, Huffington Post, MTV and the Daily Mail just to name a few.
Ben Breedlove, passed away on Christmas Day.
He was an 18 year old Westlake High school student from Austin, Texas. Born with a heart condition and cheated death 3 times. Most recently a few weeks ago. His video blog below talks about his experience in 'heaven' from when his heart stopped and he was pronounced dead earlier this month. I hope this post doesn't offend anyone but this video makes it really hard to doubt a higher being.
To see someone so young but yet sofull of courage and wisdom is such a gift.
Can't wait to spend it in Austin with all my family and loves. It has been one wonderful year. 2012 is already lined up with exciting changes, a much anticipated trip to Australia and a few weddings to some fun destinations.
Well the hippie chick in me definitely does. I am obsessed with Damien Jurado. He is based out of Seattle, Washington and started playing in the mid 1990's. His sounds have changed through out the years as his vibe was " folk indie" but his latest single Nothing is the News take a different turn, a turn in a very uncharted music sound for the 2000's. His upcoming album titled Maraqopa will be available in Feb 2012 and judging the album off of his latest single Nothing is the News it will be nothing short of Woodstock material.
"Mansions on the Moon are like a lazer light show for your ears. They’re relaxed and cool, layered and distorted, and the vocals are completely hypnotizing. But even though much of their sound of dominated by electronic timbres, they’re just as comfortable singing a Kimya Dawson-style narrative over an acoustic guitar (“Tower of Gold”). Okay, so maybe the vocals are still bolstered by computerized production techniques, but it’s what give Mansions on the Moon a signature.
Mansions recruited Pharrell Williams to produce their upcoming Lightyears EP, and they’ve hit the road in support of the album. Fans can download tracks for free from their website up until the release date.
Lane Shaw, Ben Hazlegrove and Ted Wendler – the fellas of Mansions on the Moon - are bringing their synthesized, ethereal electronica to the masses."
You will hear their name a lot in 2012. I promise you that.
Download the Paradise Falls presented by Diplo and DJ Benzi for a few songs by MotM here.
"I know many different people who keep on falling in love, with the idea of love
Take your head out of the clouds, carefree vagabond, it comes to all of us"
This weekend was very rewarding. I ran the Venice Christmas 10k and it was my 3rd 10k. I ran it in 58 minutes. This is by far my personal best so this means my mile avg is around 9:30 which isn't TERRIBLE. I ran it with 3 other gf's (Dana, Libbs and Linds H.!) although we didn't end together it was great to know that we were all in it together.
Additionally, Kansas basketball beat the #2 ranked team Ohio State on Saturday which even sweetened the day!
Venice
Christmas Run: 10k
Venice,
CA
Time:
58:01
Mile
avg: 9:35
I ran a 5k last month. Next to my house. It was so wonderful just to wake up and walk to the start line. Pan Pacific Park. Ran it solo. I really enjoyed running through my neighborhood, down 3rd street and having people cheer you on. Next 5k I will go for 28:30. Goals Goals and Goals.
"Girl Walk // All Day" is a 75-minute video using Girl Talk's most recent mashup album All Day as its soundtrack. The film, made by the creative agency Wild Combination, follows three dancers through various New York City locations as they dance to every second of the album. (Girl Talk himself was not involved in the film.)
It took me until yesterday to finally get into the Christmas spirit but I suppose it was because I had to finish writing my Christmas cards to everyone. Such an adult thing to do but as we get older it is a way to keep in touch now that everyone is so spread apart. I always love receiving things in the mail, I miss that from my childhood. Facebook msgs, txts, emails have taken over and it all seems so impersonal. All the Christmas cards I have gotten recently are just so lovely and creative.
Also, Pandora's Indie Christmas station is not bad at all.
Check it out lovelies!
Anyways, see you in two weeks Tejas - without the snow.
So my lovely roomie miss m shared this song with me with Goyte featuring Kimbra. So Goyte is brand spanking new to my ear drums and I am kinda diggin' his quirkiness. I have loved Kimbra for a long time and one of my fav's is a song below. Enjoy.
As November comes to a close I can truly say that I am thankful for everyone and everything that has gotten me here in my life today but I don't even think the word "thankful" is even enough. I feel so lucky in life with having a healthy family, wonderful job and friends. Blessed.
November Highlights
Turning 27 and feeling so <3'd by everyone
Thanksgiving with my older sister in Seattle, Washington
A.B. coming down from Canada to meet up in Seattle
Pacific Northwest's Ballet The Nutcracker
Buying myself the most amazing gift ever (check out my bucket list!)
Signing up for a course at UCLA!
Signing up to volunteer at the boys and girls club
gobble gobble day
27th bday brunch at 26 beaches
pretty seattle
This month was a month of action for me. I signed up for things that I had been wanting to do for ages - things out of my comfort zone. I have taken this month to reevaluate my life and do things for me, to better myself in the ways of school, travel and volunteering. This to me is what life is all about, learning and growing, and taking yourself out the comfort zone. The past few years I had been really comfortable with my life in LA that I didn't see the need for changes. That characteristic is not me at all. I don't even know how I got to be so set in my ways. So this year of being 27 will be all about change. One day at a time. Who knows where I will end up when I am 28.
Put yourself out there, take risks.
oh make some big jumps, big jumps you afraid to break some bones
come on make some big jumps, big jumps life is your saulte
you hold your head up, your head up high like you think i do
Rediscovered this little beauty while watching re-runs of My So Called Life. Angela Chase, I oddly wanted to be her when I was younger. Those crush velvet dresses, plaid baggy shirts and doc martins, oh yes a style to envy. Oh and that, Jordan Catalano and all that teenage angst. I recommend watching it if you haven't' ever. It captures the mid 90's to the T.
ARMS was one-time side project transformed into a full band, ARMS synthesizes former Harlem Shakes guitarist Todd Goldstein’s years of bedroom experimentation and sharpens them into a single bright blade. Sonically adventurous and emotionally raw, ARMS’ full-band debut, Summer Skills, tells a fractured tale of love under supernatural circumstances. You will not be disappointed.
The designer, Magda Sayeg, of the 'stunna nitta" shades above started the craze of yarn bombing (yes, it started in ATX.) and has now moved to sunglasses. These are limited edition styles (pictured above) are available for $130. Also! As part of its partnership with the charity foundation OneSight, $30 from each pair will go to help support and restore clear vision for people in need. So technically you are really spending 100 and giving 30 to charity. Win - Win. Go get 'em!
To the left is the Texas capitol yarn bombed, isn't it so pretty. These little yarn thangs are all over the city. This type of creativity is what makes Austin such a fabulous city.
In December her yarn bombin' will be displayed at the downtown Standard Hotel in Los Angeles. I'm definitely going.
Oh Good Lord. They are simply ALLsoul. OK, maybe 1/3 rock but this high school quartet have so much talent its kinda insane. Take a gander at the song below. You will be impressed.
NoiseTrade is an awesome site of upandcoming (yes that is now one word) artists that share their music for the masses. You can technically download their music for free but you should 'give' a little to these artists. They are def hit and misses but there are some amazing downloads that I have gotten over the years. Check the out the site. Today they are featuring Young The Giant so naturally, I freaked out and downloaded it.
This song (Haida) is in the same vein as what most of this new record is being written about, which has a lot to do with just seeing ourselves as another piece of natureand not really necessarily being superior. I think I get kind of a wrong perception living in a city of being in control and feeling like you can kind of decide what factors around you but I think it’s good to be in the wilderness here and there to remember that we’re pretty small things, you know, in the scheme of the whole earth.
"Starting in 2010, "The Classroom Sessions" has been an opportunity for Lawrence High School film/media students to meet professional artists and talk art (film, music, etc.), storytelling and creativity in a classroom setting. The "Classroom Sessions" are also an opportunity for students to get "hands-on" experience in live film making. The sessions are filmed and edited by the students of Room 125 Productions."
This high school is a college town in the heart of Lawrence.KS and home to the Jayhawks. I am not surprised that this opportunity for kids is coming out of 'larry' (as we like to call it). The town is very eclectic and music savvy. There are tons of amazing minds in that little area west of Kansas City. I did grow up in Austin which is also very much like Larry but never was exposed to something of this magnitude. The only thing we had to match this was something we called Dylan Day. Yes, we had a whole day were students sang and performed Bob Dylan songs in our auditorium. We could skip class/lunch (ahem if you had the 'cool teachers' ) if we wanted too and jam out the entire day. While that was cool and all, it doesn't compete with this. Check out their site. It is something very special and I fully support.
