home away from home

Good thing it's only a few blocks from my house, because I seem to be frequenting the Black Cat more often than not. I just can't help it! Who wouldn't want to stroll down the street to see a great band, whether its a Wednesday or a Monday night - don't hate me because im a groupie. This past week I saw Grouplove and The Morning Benders. Grouplove opened for the Joy Formidable. Twin Sister opened for the Benders, so I got to see some pretty wicked stuff.
If you haven't heard of Grouplove you better get familiar.

And read this article from the LA Times - makes me want to start a band....or travel to Greece.

Next up on the Black Cat schedule is Tame Impala this Tuesday - I highly recommend tuning in. They have a very psychedlic sound that brings me back to the Beatles.

Try to catch a Twin Sister/Morning Benders show while they're touring together- next show is November 18th at Webster Hall in NYC.

what happens when you work on a saturday....

You reminisce about this past ACL Festival....

Best Lights: Deadmau5 (given)

Best Jam: Phish

Best Crowd Surf: Flaming Lips

Best Crowd: MIA

(per usual)

Best Face: Miike Snow

Biggest Crowd I Have Ever Seen @ AMD: Black Keys

Best For The First Time: LCD Soundsystem

Sad I Missed: Gogol Bordello

Best Price for ACL 2011 3-day Pass: $50

Best Quote: "I teach a little, I fest a lot." - TKE

for a good cause

Because people must act in order to make a difference. We should all be able to take a moment out of our day to count our blessings, but show compassion for others. There are thousands of different causes to contribute to, but here are a few that are always on my radar.

Give in honor of James

Help prevent a second disaster in Haiti

Help save Japan's dolphins

Send me ones that are on yours too.

win or lose - this makes every game worth it...

jff (just for fun)

If you are just looking for a little something to brighten up your rainy day - watch this video.

boo!

All in the spirit of the fall season...and Halloween of course. Any excuse to cater my decorating and baking to a certain theme - im all about. Here we carved some pumpkins, which I probably haven't done since elementary school....I chose to rep my hometown team and carve a Longhorn - big surprise there. Kori and I baked pumpkin cupcakes for the event and they were amazing....I highly recommend doing the same and following this recipe. Be sure to make your own cream cheese icing too.

Son muy deliciosas.Pumpkin cupcake recipe with optional cream cheese frosting. Scroll down to see more pumpkin cake recipes and desserts.
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, sift before measuring
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 eggs, beaten until frothy
1 cup mashed cooked or canned pumpkin
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Preparation:
Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg into a bowl. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy; beat in eggs. Blend in mashed pumpkin. Stir in the sifted dry ingredients alternately with the milk, blending until batter is smooth after each addition; stir in chopped walnuts or pecans. Spoon batter into well-greased and floured or paper-lined muffin pan cups. Fill about 2/3 full. Bake at 375° for 25 minutes, or until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Frost with cream cheese frosting, whipped cream, or leave plain. Makes about 24 cupcakes.

and we're back...

Let me begin by saying how sorry I am to have left all (just family im pretty sure) of my readers out in the dead heat of summer. My last post was written in June and I am truly sorry to have waited this long to get back to blogging. Something just kind of clicked yesterday and I decided it was time to get back in touch with my bloggin' self. I have so much to tell/show/teach you now that I am back. However...I will let you know in advance that I will probably be limiting myself to blogging once or twice a week. I am hoping that this way, I won't get burnt out again - I would like to keep you all in my life loop so am going to do my very best to keep it up (girl scout's honor).

a sports fan is born

A lot of people are a little stunned and surprised that I have recently become a little bit of a sport's fanatic but once you live with a boy you too will understand. I am routing for the Celtics in the NBA Playoffs....love me some Big Baby Davis and Rondo. So if you're a Lakers fan you can see your way out ;)

I am also THRILLED that the World Cup has finally begun. You can stream live from anywhere at anytime so be sure to tune in. For those of you in DC, Patty Boom Boom will be airing every game so be sure to stop by for some Jamaican patties and futbol.

Painting I have been working on for my roomie...got a new easel and everything! I have worked on this since so will be sure to show you all the finished product. It has been SO nice getting back into my painting since school!!!!

if you like lil wayne...

...you must watch this

shout out

Oh em gee

ACL lineup has just been announced and it is SICK - this will be my first year to miss since the festival began during the fall of 2002 when I was a sophomore in high school, which was frighteningly 8 years ago. Taylor and I made it our annual activity by going every year, all three days from morning to night. I am a little upset, to say the least, but I will survive. For those of you who will be attending...I hope you keep me their in spirit...especially at Phish, MIA, Vampire Weekend, Beach House, Miike Snow, Temper Trap, Portugal the Man, Gogol Bordello, Band of Horses, the xx, Deadmau5, and so on and so forth.

On the bright side...I have seen Beach House, Portugal the Man, and the xx so far in DC. I am also seeing Phish, MIA and Deadmau5 this summer.

So I'll be okay.

caribou/toro y moi

Saw Caribou last night with Toro y Moi and LOVED both bands. I hadn't heard anything from either and was very, very impressed. Caribou was a lot more psychedelic/jam than I expected which was a pleasant surprise. Toro y Moi played some great jams and as Madison put it correctly, is the "perfect summertime music". Check out the following among others:

Weakends - Caribou

Talamak or Blessa - Toro y Moi

And if you haven't been yet, you MUST go to Rock & Roll Hotel in D.C. on H Street.

nathan lane + robin williams + 1996 = masterpiece

We recently received The Birdcage from our dear old pal Netflix and I cannot rave about it enough. It was simply hilarious. I forget how much love and respect I have for Robin Williams. I mean come on...Mrs. Doubtfire is one of my all time favorites. And Nathan Lane was so Nathan Lane. It was refreshing to see some good ole fashion comedy. Agador stole the show.

why i love camp longhorn

Here is a lovely video for your viewing pleasure...my bestie Delaney filmed this for class and I just have to share it with you all. It involves Stephen Smith discussing the beauty of Camp Longhorn. Classic footage here folks.

If the fact you can only see half of Stephen at some points drives you crazy, watch it here.

mad skillz

Parmesan chicken with grilled veggies....recipe courtesy of Pat Ellison!

Banana bread (made from scratch) muffins...recipe courtesy of Kori's great grandmother!

reuse, reduce, recycle

Happy Earth Day to all!!!

a few additions to the concert sched

4/25 Sting, John Legend, The Roots, Jimmy Cliff, Passion Pit, Bob Weir, Willie Colón, Joss Stone, Robert Randolph, Patrick Stump, Mavis Staples, Booker T, Honor Society and Tao Rodriguez-Seeger @ National Mall Earth Day Rally

5/10 Caribou w/ Toro y Moi @ Rock n Roll Hotel

5/12 Futurebirds @ DC 9

5/14 Dr. Dog @ 9:30 Club

6/7 MillionYoung @ DC 9

6/16 The Pains of Being Pure at Heart w/ Surfer Blood @ Black Cat

7/26 The Black Keys w/ Morning Benders @ DAR Constitution Hall

7/28 Deadmau5 @ 9:30 Club

8/14 MGMT @ Merriweather Pavilion

dawgs

Spring fever has come. And with spring fever comes dog fever. Every time, hands down, that I see an adorable little, big, or middleish dog I simply cannot bear the longing I have to own one of my own. Which brings me to this current post. I have been doing my research...googling different breeds of dogs and studying the pros and cons, reading articles like this, How To Choose The Right Dog For You. After skimming through About.com's helpful tips, I decided the best size dog for me is medium, judging by the fact that I live in a rowhouse and am technically not allowed to have pets....mum's the word.

The reason I bring this up to you, my loyal readers, is that I believe I am in a solid place in my life to become a dog owner. I live less than three blocks from work so can go home as needed. I only work 35 hours a week so will have the perfect amount of time to care/train/love a dog. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Be gentle on me. Thoughts on breed, size, etc. Although my brother believes I should wait until I live in a bigger place where I can have a bigger dog, I can't help but fall in love with each little guy that I see around DC....just strollin down the street....stoppin every once in awhile to smell the flowers. Perfect in all that they are. I leave you with a photo of my two dogs at home with my parents. Although lhasas are not on my radar, I do miss these little guys. All 3 of them. Photo courtesy of Robb.

new month - new post - new look

My last post was on March 30th so I apologize for waiting a week to blog. I suppose this is due to the fact that life is good and I can't even find the time! So here are a few updates on my life:

Cherry Blossom Festival has begun. There was a firework display off the shore of the Potomac near the National Mall, and a few friends and myself watched it from the roof of a gorgeous apartment complex. Here are a few photos for those of you without access to Facebook, courtesy of Taylor.

Easter Sunday was spent at the National Mall alongside all the hundreds of thousands of people who chose to embark on the same adventure. Not only had the Cherry Blossom Festival begun, but it was the last leg of Spring Break as well as Easter Sunday It was a mad house to say the least. But wonderfully beautiful!!! Photos courtesy of Amy.

And yes....below is a photo of a rather large statue of Albert Einstein that we were determined to find and document. Mission accomplished.

grind it up

I finally made GRIND UP!

A good ole family favorite...rice, peas and ground beef all mixed up into delicious goodness!

P.S. Thanks for the over the phone help mama! XOXO

eastern market

I recently purchased this mirror from Eastern Market in D.C. and I just couldn't resist sharing my excitement with you all! From the gorgeous teal color and the antique style, it has officially become my pride and joy and a wonderful addition to my room. I just can't decorate enough!

Which is why I have decided Eastern Market is an adequate comparison to South Congress for my Austin Miss List : DC Hit List. Although it is an outdoor market of booths and tents, it has the delightful feel just like a day of shopping and grubbing on SoCo does.

D.C. 8/13.

mmmm...

More delicious meals that I whipped up in the kitchen...they're just getting better and better.

Breakfast tacos (wheat tortillas, eggs, cheese, jalapenos)

Whole grain pasta with marinara sauce. Grilled & sauteed zucchini.

Some bread w/ olive oil & balsamic.
And last but not least, a glass of cab.
Each ingredient courtesy of Trader Joe's.

netflix

I am planning to open a Netflix account and was hoping to get some good movie recommendations from my fellow movie fans. Please feel free to provide me with every idea you might have...comedy, horror or drama. I'm flexible.

I plan to order Precious first and foremost.

And possibly other Oscar nominated films, however I can save you the time of recommending Avatar because my copy is already pre-ordered and ready for delivery.

April 22, 2010 = Earth/Pandora Day

miss it but hit it

Below you will find a list compiled of places/restaurants/bars that I have found to miss most fondly in Austin.

To the right of these establishments are places I have found in D.C. that are just as wonderful, if not better... ;)

I will continue adding to and adjusting this list with time.

For now D.C. is 7 for 13.

Austin Miss List: D.C. Hit List

Maudies :

Sullivans Happy Hour : Chef Geoff's

Barton Springs :

Hike and Bike Trail :

6th Street : U Street

Abels OTL :

Food Food Curry Chicken Salad :

Food Food Cowboy Hummus : TJ's Garlic Hummus

Thundercloud :

Maiko Sushi :

Whole Foods : Trader Joe's

Stubbs : 9:30 Club

Emos : Black Cat

The Drag : M Street

Feather's Vintage :

South Congress : Eastern Market

Yoga Yoga : Flow Yoga

Sno Beach :

Yogurt Planet :

Taverna Mimosas : Kramers Strawberry Mimosas

Alamo Drafthouse :

show update

Upcoming shows in and around the D.C. area within the coming months....be envious.

3/14 Foreign Born w/ Free Energy @ DC 9
3/18 Portugal, the Man @ 9:30 Club

3/ 24 Miike Snow @ 9:30 Club
3/26 Beach House @ Black Cat

4/3 Yeasayer @ 9:30 Club
4/20-21 Widespread Panic @ Warner Theater
4/24 Hot Chip w/ the xx @ 9:30 Club
5/1 My Morning Jacket @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
6/26 Phish @ Merriweather Post Pavilion

7/24 M.I.A. @ South Island Field at Governors Island

More to come...

stay connected

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/sxsw/?hp

courtesy of dad...

why i love trader joe's

My Ode to Trader Joe's

(Composed in hopes of convincing someone to open one in Austin for it is crucial)

Ohhhhhde to Trader Joe's, you are so delightful

Nothing about you ever seems frightful

I will always know

When I go to Trader Joe's

There lies a healthy, organic meal

Available for a steal

You are always crowded and and very chaotic

But your checkout lines are somehow robotic

TJs delicious foods dance on my taste buds

And every employee deserves a great big hug

Your ability to fit all of my items into 2 bags

Makes baggers at HEB seem like a drag

Two buck chucks have truly changed my life

Buying a bottle for more is now a strife

Not only are your prices totally unbeatable

Your establishment is worthy of trips repeatable

foreign born w/ free energy

Went to see Foreign Born w/ Free Energy at DC9 last night. Really good stuff....try to check out Free Energy at SXSW if you are in Austin (which sadly I am not).

Watch on Letterman or here

my time to shine

Silly lil me forgot to brag about my exquisite carpentry skills.

Not only did I quickly pick up that moving across the country in the worst snow storm in history would be difficult....but taking on an 8-drawer chest of drawers from Ikea puts up quite a fight as well. Here are the before pictures of my room and the task at hand.

No autographs please...

why i love my family...

Although I am 1,522 miles from home, my family continues to amaze me. Thanks to my father and his newfound obsession with the iPhone's photo sending feature, I am always included in the Southerland festivities. To the right, is my nephew Will, who rode his racer (my favorite of his Christmas gifts) alongside my sister on her bike from their house to ours. I must admit this is no easy feat...well done!

They then proceeded to play in the backyard on our "swing powered by NanaB..."

And earlier that week, attended the Helping Hand luncheon where my neice, Mary Elizabeth, was a princess this year.

Love and miss you all everyday! XOXO

it truly is all good...

Summertime in this part of the country is said to be breathtaking. Gorgeous sunny days and lots of fun festivities (so get it while the gettin's good). From July 8-11th Marvin's Mountaintop will be hosting the All Good Music Festival in Masontown, West Virginia. A few headliners include WIDESPREAD PANIC, Furthur feat. Phil Lesh & Bob Weir, Bassnectar, Keller Williams, Umphrey's McGee, Yonder Mtn. String Band, Dark Star Orchestra, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Lotus, Railroad Earth, P-groove and many more.

Sounds all good to me...

mi cuarto

Here are a few snapshots of my room via iPhone....hope you can get a feel for what it looks like...I love it so far!!! It is a great space to come home to after a long and cold D.C. day.

I built that 8-piece chest of drawers with my two bare hands....gotta love shopping at Ikea and doing it all yourself! As you can see, I have a little lounge area where I can work on my computer and what not, followed by my area of slumber....my sanctuary, if you will.

There is more to come once all 4 roommates are moved in and the whole place is decorated and ready for guests!!!!

first home cooked meal

ATTN: Sarah and Mom

I thought I would share this wonderful moment with all of you readers. I officially thawed, seasoned/marinated, and cooked my very own chicken breast tonight!!! Thanks to Mr. Foreman and a few friendly helpers, I managed to whip up this deliciously attractive meal. Maturity level increasing!!!

winter olympics 2k10

Once again the Winter Olympics have won me over again. Maybe it's the bitter cold and snowy streets of DC that put me in the mood to watch snowboarding, ice skating, luging, skiing and more. Or perhaps it is just because the Winter Olympics are my favorite time of the year. There is nothing like coming home after a long day out in the cold, pouring a glass of wine and watching figure skating. Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo. Don't get me wrong USA, you're great and all but these two are somethin else. Be sure to watch!

finally in dc

Got here on Saturday and celebrated Taylor and Sara's birthday with a party at Local 16 that night.

On Sunday we had a long brunch at Kramer's in Dupont Circle and we took this photo so that you all can see how HUGE the mounds of snow are. They are trying to move all the snow as fast as they can but there are mounds like this all over the city.

Then a few of us gals celebrated Valentine's Day at P.O.V. which is a restaurant/bar on top of the W Hotel that overlooks the capitol and The Mall. As you can see we had a spectacular view of the Washington Monument! Tres romantique...

"swann house" - coined by amy lowman

Apartment. CHECK!

Caroline, Kori and I will be living in a rowhouse on Swann St. in Dupont Circle. We have a four bedroom place so will hopefully be recruiting another roomie! I will post more pictures once we get it decorated!

lurve da music

So.....Washington, DC has an outstanding music scene.....check out shows at places like 9:30 Club, Black Cat, Eighteenth Street Lounge, Warner Theater and much more. In March, Beach House will be comin out to Black Cat and I am thrilled. If anyone will be in the district or general vicinity feel free to join me for a "beachin" time ;)

GOOD NEWS!

Widespread Panic has announced that during their Spring Tour 2010 they will be playing in Washington, DC on April 20-21 @ Warner Theatre....so for those of you who love all things panic, here is a perfect reason to come visit me!!!!

review the news

Check out these links for info on the locations of my employment...

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/goingoutgurus/2009/09/dcs_top_djs_to_headline_their.html


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/29/AR2009012901642.html

J.O.B.

Locked down a job yesterday...working as an office assistant for a family of establishments located near U and 14th Street.

Marvin is a restaurant and bar, Gibson is a cocktail lounge next door, and around the corner is Patty Boom Boom, a club/bar. Come out and join the party!