2013 Tech Challenges

 

Another year to document... 

• Monthly Spotify playlist of:
• Records I listened to a good bit
• Records I worked on as publicist or others' campaigns we played in the office a lot
• Shows I saw
• Sort of like a musical journal
• Use Everyday app to do a self portrait series
• If nothing else, my mom will be REALLY tickled
• Self portrait a day or week
• Elsie from A Beautiful Mess discussed this. While it may sound vain at first, I think it would be really challenging. I see myself in the mirror several times per day. I take my body with me on every waking adventure. Not a very interesting subject to me anymore, so finding new angles, approaches, and techniques could be a challenging photo exercise.  
• Five Tips for Better Self Portraits from A Beautiful Mess
• Sunday photo recap blog post
• But what if I don't have any interesting photos that week? Don't let that happen. 
• Photo an hour for the first day of 2013 
• Low light, day light, adapt to it all. 
• Learn to code or at least attempt to   
• Use the Voice Notes function for iPhone to record my parents telling old stories, or sneakily record heartfelt conversations that are going to probably make me cry someday. 
• Use Photoshop (or Gimp) more. 
• Use the same actions to make blog photos consistent
• LEARN THE MANUAL SETTINGS ON MY CAMERA
• This is embarrassing, so I'm shouting it so my embarrassment will motivate me.   

What are some of your goals or projects to document the new year? 

Post-Holiday Splurges

I suppose that price-wise, these items aren't really splurges, but every holiday I attempt to put my gift moolah toward car insurance, emergency savings (is it really emergency when your car breaks like clockwork every three months?) etc, and my dad encourages me to put the gift money toward something fun.  Just obeying dad's wishes!

L-R
Cut-out Cuff // Forever 21

Gold skirt // ASOS // New Years Eve contender. Again, please fit. 

Moto booties // Forever 21

Ruched piped sports bra // Forever 21 // These things are great. Not as constricting as a regular sports bra, and perfect for low cut button down shirts and tanks with wide arm holes. Kind of a bandeau, except not totally worthless.

Cheetah stud earring set // Forever 21 // Because I was $5 away from free shipping.

Royal blue simple shift dress // ASOS // Long obsessed with royal blue and shift dresses, this is a dream. Please let it fit me.

Favorite Albums of 2012

There are so many records I didn't spend enough time with, and even more I never got around to. I'm sure I'm missing some good ones, but so often this year I found myself in a music tunnel vision of sorts where after keeping up with clients' and friends' records, I only wanted to come home and listen to old familiar things on the turntable. The Byrds, The Kinks, Kate Bush, and Kraftwerk made comforting re-appearances throughout 2012. Tell me what I missed out on, and I'll check it out.

Dream Boat - Eclipsing
Delightful comes off as a word used by British Pollyanna movie characters, but it's been nothing short of delightful working with Dan and Page on this record. Their enthusiasm and non-stop stream of thank-yous kept me powering through all of my fourth quarter 2012 campaigns. Oh yeah: the record is beautiful.

Parquet Courts - Light Up Gold
Looks like this one is being re-released by What's Your Rupture? (Iceage, Throwing Up) in 2013, but I'm going to call it 2012.

Black Forest Fire - Transit of Venus
Dreamy, shoegazy debut from Austinites you should look out for at SXSW. Storm Thorgersen designed the album art. He also designed Dark Side of the Moon, Houses of the Holy, and a slew of other noteworthy albums.

 

The Casket Girls - Sleepwalking
I met Ryan Graveface (of Graveface Records and Black Moth Super Rainbow) on a trip to Savannah earlier this year. When he sent me this record, I freaked out. Ryan and I both share a penchant for ghosts and other spooky oddities, and it comes through in his lyrics.

 

Thee Oh Sees - Putrifiers II
Thee Oh Sees can do no wrong by mees.

 

Peaking Lights - Lucifer
This LP lived on my turntable all summer long.

 

Matthew E. White - Big Inner
Matt's Hopscotch performance might just be my favorite show of 2012. From the anticipation backstage, to the 30+ piece orchestra, full opera house, choir led by Phil from Megafaun, the looks of joy on the faces of Matt's family and label friends, and the encore of CSNY's "Woodstock," it was such a special night and the culmination of so much work and love. I'm very grateful to have been both behind the scenes and watching from the audience.

Fergus & Geronimo - Funky Was The State of Affairs
Super nice dudes, super good record. If you like Gang of Four, Wire, or Devo, you'll dig this.

 

Bear in Heaven - I Love You, It's Cool
Duh.
How many times did I see yall in 2012? I don't even remember. I do remember when we put a whole sheet of temporary tattoos on Joe on my porch after one of them.

 

Scott & Charlene's Wedding - Para Vista Social Club
This band of Aussies has been a blast to work with this year, and I can't wait to share the EP and LP due in 2013 on Critical Heights. Members of slacker-pop peers Twerps and Family Portrait helped with the making of this record.

 

Easter Island - Frightened
Sweet dudes, sweet sounds. After a rough trip up to Hopscotch Fest this year to play our showcase, we took them out to dinner. Asher called my boss to ask permission before ordering the steak. He said yes, because who could say no to anyone in Easter Island?

 

Maserati - VII
I'm biased because like many bands on this list, I like these guys personally a whole stinkin' lot. I got to hear a lot of these songs come together over time, and put them in touch with Bruno Borges for the album art. The final product is unmistakably a Maserati record.

 

Kishi Bashi - 151a

 

The Men - Open Your Heart

 

Sinkane - Mars
Favorite show of CMJ 2012.

 

Soft Moon - Zeros
I'm still not over my kick where I want every band to sound a little bit like Joy Division. Soft Moon does the trick. Dark, brooding, new wave-y and industrial. Don't miss them at Caledonia in January.

 

Grass Giraffes - Transportation EP

 

Ormonde - Machine
Lovely friends, lovely songs. Another record that was a pleasure to help with publicity for.

 

Ape School - Junior Violence

Opossum - Electric Hawaii
So much good stuff comes out of New Zealand.

Spiritualized - Huh?

 

Moon Duo - Circles
Can't believe I haven't bought this one yet.

 

Jacob Morris - Moths
Jacob has shared the stage with endless Athens heavy hitters from E6 artists to Patterson Hood from Driveby Truckers. His solo work will go over well with fans of Elliot Smith or Tusk-era Fleetwood Mac.


I know I'd love you if I only got to know you more:

Tame Impala - Lonerism

Jeff The Brotherhood - Hypnotic Nights

Wild Nothing - Nocturne

Titus Andronicus - Local Business (this one just kind of snuck past me, and I'm kind of ashamed I didn't spend more time with it yet, since I love these guys.)

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Don't throw away that Christmas tinsel: make a bodysuit out of it! 

Anita Louise as Queen Titania - 1935 - More images at Retronaut.

Today I'm Oggling: Bobbi Oxford from Madewell

I seem to have worn through almost all my oxfords. Wonder if I could break these in before SXSW rolls around? 

Bobbi Oxford from Madewell

$165

Lately: Holidays

It's been a busy holiday season and I have a lot to be grateful for. Mainly, I'm home with my parents, all of us safe and sound, with a bloody mary next to me and a few day hiatus from answering work emails. During my time out of the office, I've been able to indulge in sharing breakfasts, lunches, and dinners around friends I don't get to see that often. I've even done laundry and gone on afternoon walks! Daylight hours really are wonderful.

 Some of my ladyfriends threw a stellar party at Cine, and we got to ham it up in the photo booth. 

Dress: asos - skater dress with low mesh neckline

We had an office warming party at our new space, and I got to put one of our clients from The Olivia Tremor Control to work. I wanted those reports on my desk immediately.

The Rookie Yearbook was one of my favorite Christmas presents: entertaining essays for young women that acknowledge their intelligence. I wish this had been around when I was 15, but I'm glad to have it at 25.

Steppin' out with Jojo for a Christmas party! Modern Skirts have a New Year's Eve show at Georgia Theatre with Kishi Bashi and Yip Deceiver. Get yer tickets here!

 Job perk! Holiday boxed set from Team Clermont client Sufjan Stevens, containing tattoos and stickers!

 I'll admit I got a little worried on 12/21/12 when I looked outside and this is what I saw. The weather was wild, and the power was out or flickering at several places I went that night.

 Amazing Christmas cards from MTV Hive: Bon Iver, Action Bronson, and Frank Ocean in classic scenes from A Christmas Story.

My sweet roommate surprised me with an arrowhead necklace from Laurel Hill for Christmas! It's perfect. (I was trying to do my makeup like the Bond girl in Skyfall. It didn't work.)

Stocked up on hard cider making supplies at Blockader, our local brewing supply store. I started a few batches before leaving home, so they'll be waiting and ready for me by New Year's Eve! Expect a DIY hard cider post in the new year.
 

We did it! We survived Christmas party season!

Hear: Honeyslide

Critical Heights, a label in London I work with, just signed Honeyslide. Something about their name reminded me so much of Ride or Slowdive that I wasn't too surprised to find out they're a shoegazey dreampop band from London. I'm lucky to work with a label who consistently signs emerging acts I enjoy!

Album/Outfit: Lust for Youth x Giambattista Valli

Album: Lust for Youth - Growing Seeds

Outfit: Giambattista Valli floral print wool crepe dress via The Outnet

Nick Drake // 1969-1971

Photos by Keith Morris
Found on Retronaut

Avocado Shake

My pursuit to work avocado into everything I eat continues... 

One of my favorite treats in town is an avocado smoothie from Just Pho & More. From what I can tell online, they're traditionally made with sweetened condensed milk, avocado, and ice. I didn't see myself using the rest of a can of sweetened condensed milk anytime soon, so I lightened it up with vanilla frozen yogurt and coconut milk. Now I'm hooked, and I don't even have to feel bad about it.

In my blender, this made half a pitcher's worth. How many servings that actually equates to is up to you. For me, it was two.

 Combine and blend:
- one soft ripe avocado, peel and pit removed.
- 2-3 small scoops of vanilla frozen yogurt
- handful of ice cubes
- half a can of coconut milk
- regular milk/soy milk splashed in as you blend, until you're happy with the consistency.

For a twist:
- add fresh lime juice
- add pineapple
- add shredded coconut
- drizzle chocolate sauce along the inside of the glass
- add boba tapioca bubbles

Album/Outfit: Baroness - "Blue Record"

Dress: Lizzy Dress by Motel from TopShop

Album: Baroness - Blue Record