The 11/11/11 Santa Claus must really like me. :D

Hello! Did you make a wish? I forgot. :O
Guess I'll try again at 11:11 PM! Wish or no wish, I had an awesome day... Yeah, that's right. I. Went. Shopping. And it left me thinking, "MY GOD, Urban Outfitters is the GREATEST store in the WORRLLLDDD!!!" I really do love that place... They have awesome clothing and even though the prices of said clothing make me saddd, they still have really cool non-clothing stuff there that isn't expensive but equally fantastic!! Not to mention... AWESOME SALES! And that's why I'm so happy. :)
Maybe because it's 11/11/11, I walked into Urban Outfitters and found out they were having this MASSSIVE sale!! That's right. All caps and an additional 'S'. I'm telling you, it was huge. Anyways, there were a ton of cool shoes, but sadly, none of them fit because of my giant hobbit feet. :( But that's okay! Because I found two SUPERCALIFRAGILISTIC bags!! And guess what? They were 50% off of the SALE'S price!!! (Get used to the all caps, I intend to exploit them to the fullest btw.) Lucky you, I had some pictures taken of me with my awe-inspiringly affordable and gorgeous bags. :D (I will also be exploiting emoticons.) :D:D:D

Unfortunately, my maman has yet to learn how my fancy-smancy camera works, so all the pictures she took were super blurry... And when a picture is mega blurry, my solution is: turn it black and white, pump up the definition and darken the shitaki mushrooms out of it. So that's what I did... And then I made the pictures I took B&W as well so they would all match. So I guess we're gonna have a black&white-hipster-artsy photo theme today. Enjoy...?

So this is the first bag that I found. It's SUPER adorable, and a great size and black and white (in real life, so it goes with everything!) and, as my lucky 11/11/11 would have it, the PERFECT size to hold my itty bitty laptop!! So now Mini has a home! :D  (That's my computer's very unoriginal name...)

Now here are a few pictures of me with my new best friend:

Now here is the second bag I got!! It's sort of like a backpack/purse and it's super colorful and makes me very happy. :) I also discovered while we were taking the pictures that it has several super convenient pockets that I hadn't noticed... Another 11/11/11 miracle! <3

And again, some pictures of yours truly being totally out-shined by the unbelievable awesomeness of her new accessory... The first picture actually captured me finding an extra pocket on the side. That is a GENUINE expression of utter bliss mixed with disbelief. ......Hmmm. My expression of bliss and disbelief looks a little chipmunky, doesn't it?

Now here comes the really cool part. Guess how much I payed for that first bag? I'll tell you the original price: $58. And guess how much it was for me!!?? GUESS. Fine. You're really bad at guessing. ......DRUM ROLL PLEASE..... $4.99!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll give you a minute as you sop up the mess from that spit-take you just did upon reading those numbers.... Go on, take your time. I'll just sit here and stroke my $5 UO purse.

Now the second was not quite as impressive, but it was still pretty great. I think it was $15 down from $58! *siggghhhhhhh* I am utterly content. :)

Annndddd, on top of my purses, I also got some reallllly great Christmas presents for a couple friends. ;) Like I said, I lovvvve Urban Outfitters. And I love shopping! Hmmm I need a steady job so I can do it more often.. (Even though my bags were so beautifully priced, I still went home with a significantly lighter wallet.)

I hope your 11/11/11 day went well too! If it didn't, just let me know. I'll gladly send you a little of my happiness via telepathic communication. Byeeee. :D

Mix Tape #5: Great Music--Indie-time, Indie-where

To begin with: AHAHAHAHAHAHA. Do you like my horribly cheesy pun? Yeah, me neither. I think my mom is rubbing off on me... But it gets the point across. ....does it?
Today, we are going to be looking at a super awesome list of great Indie Pop/Rock songs. I lovvee Indie Rock (and btw, I'm including Alternative Rock w/ Indie Rock here) and it's probably one of my favorite genres just because it's so diverse and dreamy and personal and real... So making this mix was fun!

1. "Fluorescent Adolescent" by Arctic Monkeys
I really, really like Arctic Monkeys. They're one of those bands where I kind of like everything they do, you know? What I mean is, there are artists who have really great stuff that is totally your style, but then they also have stuff that makes you go "gaaacckkkk". Then there are bands like Arctic Monkeys (in my case) where, no matter which one of their songs you're listening to, you have a good time. So yeah. I hope you have artists like that. :) Here's an idea: share them with me!! Anyways, this song by Arctic Monkeys is particularly amazing.

2. "Phantom Limb" by The Shins
I like "Fluorescent Adolescent", but I LOVE this song.... It was one of the first Shins songs that I ever heard and it is my favorite of allll their music. Which is saying something, cause I also really love The Shins! It's just.... so... goooodd. When I listen to it, I get this sort of warm and tingly sensation and it puts me in a very dreamy, philosophic mood. There's just something indescribably magical about this song, you know? I love the lyrics too, even though they don't make any sense. The Shins are really good in general, I think, at making songs that at once make no sense at all, but leave you feeling like you've just transcended into this higher level of worldly understanding and infinite wisdom. I just reread that, and I sound like a crazy person. That's what happens when you try to describe the indescribable...

3. "Paris is Burning" by Ladyhawke
I only recently started listening to Ladyhawke, but I really like her. I love the rhythm of this song (it's really good for dancing fyi). I also love that it's about Paris, but in a very non-cliche kind of way, you know? Most songs are like: Paris.. BAGUETTES! EIFFEL TOWER! ROMANTIC DINNERS FOR TWO! TRUE LOVEEE... And this song is more a partying in Paris sort of thing, which is cool. There's also this TV Show that I really love called Gilmore Girls. It had 7 seasons and it was super witty and hilarious and it had great characters. One episode was called "Paris is Burning" and it involved a character who was actually named "Paris". Before, I thought they just made up the title around that character, but now I realize, they probably named it after this song!! I love making discoveries like that...

4. "In The Sun" by She & Him
This is Zooey Deschanel's band! She has such a unique voice.... Have you seen her new show, "New Girl"?? IT IS THE BESTTT. I have to say, she's my girl crush. She's just so gorgeous and totally hilarious.

Ohhhh Zooey... <3

 I like this song because even though it's sort of talking about something a little sad (being rejected/unwanted by someone you love), it's still really frothy and happy and makes me smile. I always feel like skipping around in the sun when I listen to it. :)

5. "40 Day Dream" by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes
I kind of LOVE Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes. Their music is sort of a combination of Indie folk and Alternative Rock and it's just so different and magical and happy and I looovvvee it. And I loveeeee this song so much... It's the kind of song that just turns my whole mood around.

6. "Pumped Up Kicks" by Foster The People
This is a song that I thinnnnnk has become pretty popular lately and I have to say I agree with the masses on this one. It's surreal, you know? That's how I'm gonna describe it. I just don't want to sound crazy again like I did when I tried to articulate my thoughts on "Phantom Limb" (though let the record show that The Shins still kick Foster The People's butt). I think I heard this for the first time on SNL... and that just automatically makes it awesome. Well.... not necessarily. But I love SNL, so I like to think only really awesome music is ever played there.

7. "How To Save A Life" by The Fray
I know what you're thinking, okay!! "My god this is an old and unoriginal Fray song! What were you thinking?" Sorry, if that's not what you thought, I'm just an insecure and untrusting person. :P Anyways. Yes. I do know this is an old song. But it's still my favorite Fray song so THERE.

8. "The Ghost Inside" by Broken Bells
This band has James Mercer from The Shins so... you kind of know it has to be great. And it is. "The Ghost Inside" has an epic beat and some pretty crazy lyrics (does that remind you of any other songs? Hmmmm? *nudge nudge*) Apparently the band is a collaboration between him and this band called "Danger Mouse", which I'm ashamed to say I'd never heard of until now... Sorry... I'll go check them out later.

9. "Where Does the Good Go" by Tegan and Sara
Okay, I really, really, really like this group. Tegan and Sara are two identical twin sisters who both play guitar, keyboard, write and sing! Their voices are very similar (because of the whole identical twin thing DUH..), but they are incredibly unique and I kind of love them. I don't know how to describe just how fantastically original their voices are (today isn't a good day for me, description-wise) but trust me, they are awesome. And I love this song and the lyrics to it and the beat to it and it's just great. They should really be more popular than they are, in my opinion.

10. "Bedroom Hymns" by Florence + The Machine
This is a pretty new song, I'm pretty sure their new album "Ceremonials" only JUST came out. I. Love. Florence. She is supercalifragilistic. Her voice is beautiful, in my opinion, and her music is really passionate and I don't know why but it pulls a really emotional response from me... This song has a lot of religious references (which is something I've always been kind of intrigued by, even though I'm not really very religious). It kind of reminds me of Lady Gaga in that way. But going back to Florence, the song is really powerful and the whole album in general is fantastic so you should check it out.

11. "No Illusions" by 78 Saab
I found this song through the TV Show "Grey's Anatomy" which has (or at least had) really great, obscure music in it. I don't know if I really like the band's collective work, so much as this one particular song of theirs, but I think I will check out a little more of their music before I make my final decision. But yeah, this song is really nice. It's just very beautiful and relaxing and it's good for calming me down after a lot of rowdy music. That's why I figured it would be a good end to the mix.

Well, that's it! I hope you like Indie Rock/Indie Punk/Alternative Rock/Indie Folk.... Cause if you don't... Well then, I've sort of wasted your time. Heh. But you've also wasted mine, SO THERE. Hm, I just thought about that and I'm not sure that makes any sense. Oh well. It's already typed and I'm too lazy to delete it. I hope you liked my Indie Mix and my random goofy shot of Zooey Deschanel... Until next timeeee. BYE.

One pretty huge reason to love Weird Al

I have made possibly the most ground breakingly awesome and life changing discovery of my entire life. Get ready, it has to do with pick up lines. .......wow. I can just see you shutting your computer and walking away after reading that but I command you to STOP. TURN AROUND. RETURN TO MAGIC PICTURE BOX. Please give me this moment to bathe in the glory of my fabulous discovery...

Okay, enough suspense. I'm just gonna say it: I discovered that in 2003, Weird Al included a song on his album "Poodle Hat", that is nothing but an indubiously fantastic combination of all the worst and most hilarious pick up lines in the world. I don't know about you, but I find this absolutely SPLENDIFEROUS. The song is SO funny and full of so many pick up line classics, as well as hysterical innuendos, you have no idea. Well actually, I guess you do since I just told you about it. But anyways!

The song contains such gems as:

• I'll bet you're magically delicious, like a bowl of Lucky Charms.
• Well, how'd you get through security? 'Cause baby, you're the bomb.
• Baby, you've seen my picture, it's in the dictionary under "Kablaaam!"
• Girl you must be Jamaican, cause... JAMAICAN ME CRAZY!!
  

Why don't you have a listen? Unless you don't like the occasional Weird Al (aka you have no soul). No, but seriously I get it. His voice gets so annoying, I get to the point after I've listened to too many of his songs where I just want to decapitate him. It would be messy,  but at least he'd stop singing. Ya dig what I'm saying, ma home skillet? ....that was weird. Just go listen:

Yeah. Soak in those sweet, smooth lines. Play this song for your gal/guy and you know you've sealed the deal. <-- Notice the sarcasm laced with a subtle undertone of embarrassing seriousness. 

It's like when someone says: "Man, I HATE that Justin Bieber guy, he's just so stupid and his voice sucks." and you're like "Haha yeah... Such a loser...." But at the same time you're thinking: "Though that one song he did a while back was kinda okay... I mean... And that other one wasn't so bad either.... Kinda catchy... Oooh and his latest was actually... Oh but of course other than that he totally sucks. ......Right...?"   You know what I mean? It doesn't have to be Justin Beiber, that's just an example. Sorry if none of that made any sense.

ANYWHO. Just wanted to tell you how much I love my new pick up line song. I will definitely have it memorized by tomorrow... Until then, DO SVYDANIYA!

Let's talk Katy Perry

So when I was surfing around on YouTube, avoiding my homework (obviously), I came across this old Katy Perry song that I had completely forgotten. It's called "Ur So Gay" and it's from the time when she was really completely unheard of and just trying to introduce herself to the music world before releasing her songs predicted to become hits ("I Kissed A Girl" and "Hot n Cold") back in 2008. The music video to "Ur So Gay" is actually really funny and I remember watching it before I knew who she was and before I'd even heard "I Kissed A Girl". It uses barbie dolls. Mhmmmmm. 

I guess you could interpret it as homophobic, but personally, I think it's more just a commentary on some metrosexual guy who's trying to act all cool and hipster with his hybrid car, Hemingway quotes, soy food and skinny jeans. The music video also kind of makes you think it's about some guy who's really superficial because he's only interested in getting together with her after she changes her look. 

Check it out:

It's interesting to see how much she's changed her style since then...  She used to be much more quirky and genuine, I think. It makes me sad. :( I'm not saying I don't like her music now though. Don't get me wrong, it's still fun to jump around to, ya know? 

The second Katy Perry song that I noticed, which I had not heard before, was "Thinking of You" from all the way back in 2009. I clicked on it because her music videos usually make me happy, but this one was really sad! :'( If you want to see what I mean, you can watch it:

It has the guy from Kyle XY. I never saw that show but I saw a lot of ads for it. Wait, is it still going on? Huh. I don't know, and I really don't care enough to check... But do you see what I mean? Sad!! But the clothes are really awesome.

Just to balance out the sadness of that last video, I'm gonna include a happier one. Have you seen the video for Hot n Cold? Yes? No? Yes? Make up your mind already!! You're so HOT AND COLD!!! AHAHAHAHA. EEZ FUNNY, BECAUSE DEE SONG EEZ CALLED "HOT N COLD". (Family Guy joke.) You can't see it but I'm slapping my knee. ....Okay now I just feel stupid.

So to conclude, I must admit I like her music videos... and I find a lot of her music catchy and fun to sing along to. She's a really great entertainer and performer, but I think as a musician, I don't like her all that much. She doesn't have a good voice unless you edit it (you should hear her live, it's horrible), and she doesn't even write her own music! I think she's mostly popular cause she's insanely gorgeous (you know it's true), her songs are catchy, and she's so often found shooting things out of her boobs. Again, you know it's true.

Okay, to conclude this post on a goofy note, is this not the most adorable thing you've ever seen?

Ya, I know it's not related to Katy Perry. But look at that!! Doesn't that just make your day??

"How are you?" "I'm good." "WRONG. HOW ARE YOU?"

Heyyy. How are you? I'm good, THANKS FOR ASKING. Ahahaha that reminds me of this really funny thing that happened to my friend in my old musical theater class. Since I don't really have anything else to talk about, I'm gonna tell you about it.
So two years ago I was in this musical theater class and one day my friend, who we will call Jenny, came in for some reason after it was over and we were packing up. She kind of hated my vocal teacher in that course (she still does btw) and you might get why in a moment... This is about how their conversation went:

Jenny comes in and sees Christopher (vocal instructor).

Jenny: Hi Christopher.
Chris: Hi Jenny, how are you?
Jenny: I'm good, thank--
Chris: WOAH WOAH WOAH. That's not right.
Jenny: What?
Chris: You didn't ask me how I was!
Jenny: ...I was answering your question.
Chris: It's polite to ask "how are you" back.
Jenny: ...I know...
Chris: Okay then, let's try again. Hi Jenny, how are you?
Jenny: Good. How are y--
Chris: No! You have to ask me first!!
Jenny: What??
Chris: You ask me how I am, then answer how you are.
Jenny: That's definitely not right.
Chris: (Stares down Jenny.) How. Are. You?
Jenny: ....uhhhh I'm good. How--
Chris: HOW ARE YOU?
Jenny: What???
Christopher: NO. HOW. ARE. YOU.
Jenny: ................. How are you, Christopher?
Chris: I'm doing well.
Jenny: ....Me too.
Chris: I'M DOING WELL.
Jenny: ...? I am also doing well?
Chris: Good job. THAT'S how it's done.
Jenny: .... Nobody does that.

Sorry if that wasn't at all interesting but you just kind of had to be there... It was SO FUNNY! Jenny and I still crack up about it even though it was two years ago. We actually have so many inside jokes about it. Well, we have inside jokes about everything. I'm not kidding. Just a few of the things we have jokes about are: male deer, boxed lunches, Herman Cane (but who doesn't?), a chemical accident at Schonebeck, Germany in 1996 (don't ask), toast, sheep puppets that dance to Lady Gaga, and a woman we named "Anne the Storyteller". Needless to say, nobody ever really understands what we're talking about. If you wish to see totally random posts about our inside jokes with absolutely no explanations, go to: http://i-tell-stories.tumblr.com/ If you have a tumblr, you should follow us! It would actually make Jenny sooo happy. :)

Well now... I've sort of forgotten what I was initially gonna blog about... Oh well! Bye!

Mix Tape #4: Wanna hear a secret? I kinda love you.

Since my first three mix tapes have been pretty silly and cheery, I've decided to throw in some sappy love songs for the heck of it. Hey, at least I made it 3 weeks before busting out the mushy stuff. Be grateful for that, if nothing else... But seriously, I love love songs. There's a reason that stuff is so popular. All the most incredible songs are about great love or great loss, if you think about it!
Okay, soo... there's this guy. Yeah, we're going to talk about boys now, pull through it! Or skip this paragraph, that works too. Basically, I don't really know him all that well and I don't have any classes with him but he's really cute... I work in the cafeteria and he started getting his lunch there everyday with his brother and I don't know why but he kind of.. this is going to sound weird but, "caught my eye". Yeah. I feel like a creeper. Anyways, every day he has this really cute smile and he looks at me in this way that makes me feel all fuzzy. That's the only way to describe it, I think. Fuzzzzy. And I really don't know him that well but every day we talk a little when he comes through the line. He always gets a chicken sandwich, except for when there are cheeseburgers (that's the only thing I definitely know about him so I decided to include that...) and I like to make fun of him for getting the same thing everyday but I secretly like it because it means I get to see him every day (chicken sandwiches are on my side.) The other day he "officially" introduced himself and his name is going to be Patrick as far as you're concerned. :) Haha anyways, that's why I thought I'd put together a little "crushing" mix tape. Whether you're in the same kind of situation or happily in a relationship/living comfortably with your cats, these songs are still great and I think you're bound to like at least one of them. Check 'em out!

1. "Gray or Blue" by Jaymay
I absolutely adore this song! It has an incredible voice to it and the lyrics are great. The words just feel like they've been ripped from your own feelings and thoughts and it's just a really great song that isn't nearly as popular as it should be! The ending of it is kind of sad and sometimes I listen to it and I don't really feel "better", but I feel understood. Miss Mixie, if you're reading this, I think you should listen to this song. I miss youuu, gorgeous! <3

2. "You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift
Of course, no crush mix tape would be complete without a couple Taylor Swift songs. She is the country pop queen of cutesy love/crush songs. Fun fact: She's also my little brother's first celebrity crush!! Adorable, right? Now I decided to limit myself to one only so it was between this and "Teardrops on My Guitar". That was the first song I ever heard by her and also my little bro's favorite! But truthfully, it is far from my fav Taylor Swift song.. Sorry C-Dawg! And all you Taylor Swift haters out there... I hope you slip on a banana peel and twist your ankle! Losers. Sorry, but I fully support Taylor Swift. Yes, some of her songs are rather similar, but she has a good voice, she's very young, she writes ALL her own music, she's beautiful but not in a sad, fake way and I think she has handled her fame and success very well. That's all I'm gonna say on the subject. Conclusion: I'm pro-Taylor Swift.

3. "I'll Kiss You" by Cyndi Lauper
This is a little less sweet and subtle, more "AHHH LEMME KISS YOUUU!!" but it's also great. I love love love Cyndi, how can you not? She is fabulous and this song is great. Basically, she gets a potion from a gypsy that will give her the courage to go up to the guy she likes and kiss him. It's funny and awesome for singing along to and great for dancing too. Listen, it'll cheer you up after pining long and hard for your big crush. :P

4. "Crushcrushcrush" by Paramore
So this is not quite a normal lovey-dovey kind of song, it almost seems like she's using the word "crush" as in "smoosh" or "destroy". But I like Paramore and this is a good song with a very appropriate name. Something different about this is that it's more from the point of view of someone who knows they are being crushed upon.


5. "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You" by Darren Criss (originally by The Black Kids)
A mouthful, I know. If you're one of those obsessive glee fans, you'll know this one already. First off, I watch Glee cause it's a great show and I'M NOT EMBARRASSED AT ALL. But also (mostly) because of DARREN CRISS!!! I lovveeee him... He's my celebrity crush... ;) You know those celeb crushes that make your heart physically hurt? You kind of have to be a teenage girl to get it. Anyways, it's one of those... And this song is just so... SEXY. I said it. (My opinion, obviously.) It's basically about this guy who loves this girl who has a boyfriend. She doesn't realize he loves her and he's saying "I'm not gonna teach your boyfriend how to dance with you, because I don't want you guys to stay together." I know, I didn't see that coming either. <-- (sarcasm, people).

6. "Every Breath You Take" by The Police
Super great song from the 80s! And perfect for this mix tape! I like that it's a guy who's pining too, cause it's usually a girl. Sooo... yeah. Classic song. For me at least. Go listen. :)

7. "The Girl From Ipanema" by Stan Getz & Joao Gilberto
I love this song too. It's very calm and relaxing but also very sad. :( It's about this boy who is in love with a beautiful woman who walks by every day, but he's never spoken to her before and she has no idea he exists. It's truly beautiful and a great way to end this romantic mix tape!

That is our mix tape for today! Sorry if you just can't stand mushy music... Better luck next time. BUT, if you are a hormonal teenager pathetically crushing from afar, or a grown adult falling in love, I hope this mix may have helped you at least a little. Good luck, my little lovebirds! Or not-lovebirds. Whatever. Bye!

Happy Hallowe--MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Did you have a fabulous Halloween?! Whether it was a hilarious blur of sugar highness or a hair-raising trip to a haunted house, I do hope that it was everything you were looking for and more! I got what I wanted. :) You wanna know what I got?? SWEDISH FISH. That's right. Now gimme a minute... these things are really chewy and they're sticking to my teeth...
...
....
.....
Okay, good to go. Anyways... PLEASE tell me you dressed up. I promise, it's scientifically proven that you have 10 times the fun when festooned with a full costume! Okay, I actually lied, it hasn't been scientifically proven, but I will make sure it is if it will make you happy! I have to say, I was actually feeling really down when I got home from school (homework, the future, life: you know how it is). But I convinced myself to get dressed and go downstairs and just have fun. It also helped that I skipped my homework. Heh heh. ........Don't look at me like that! I felt guilty later so I actually ended up getting up at 4 AM to do it so you can relax, okay??
Let's just get back to Halloween. I wore a tan jumpsuit. And red lipstick. And black eyeshadow. And a very special backpack. What do you think I was? What's that? A janitor??? Really?? NO. Janitor's aren't the only ones who wear awkward tan jumpsuits you know. I was a GHOSTBUSTER. BA'AM. <-- I really don't know what I did there.

Wanna see a picture? Well.. I didn't really get any... Which sucks cause I had this really cool inflatable Ghost buster's pack that I found at a thrift store... Here's a picture of me in a sombrero instead:

Sombreros are very happy hats. And they're very heavy... That's all I have to say on the subject.

Now my problem is, how will I get myself back on my sugar-free track!! Miss Mixie, oh how do you do it?? I've caved in and made it a sugar week... I'm so ashamed! (She says as she swallows a KitKat bar whole.)

One more thing before I let you get back to gazing at that glorious sombrero. Isn't it creepy how, almost right after we finish tricker treating, they start playing Christmas Carols on the radio?? It's like, Halloween's over and right as you're about to wipe off your makeup and fold away your mega-awkward, tan colored jumpsuit, BOOOM, all of a sudden you've got Walmarts assaulting you with buckets of Christmas decorations and all the other stores brainwashing you with these big window displays with so much fake snow you think they might have singlehandedly emptied the aforementioned Walmarts!! I walked by this store the first week of October, and they were ALREADY decorated for Christmas. I wanted to walk in and be like "WOAH. How do you think this is making Halloween feel, guys?? Holidays have feelings too! If you're gonna do this, me might as well just celebrate Christmas in July! That way we won't have all that pesky weather interfering with our all important holiday shopping." My goodness. The nerve. Even if you don't feel that crazy about all this, you've got to admit that it is a little weird!
Okay I'm done. I think we got everything in here.. Let's see: rambling... CHECK. ranting... CHECK. sombrero hat picture... CHECK. swedish fish... CHECK. We're set, let's do this.