Bits and pieces

Alabama Shakes

Last night's Alabama Shakes show at the Crocodile was incredible. There are no words to describe Brittany Howard's energy (well, there probably are but I don't have them at eight in the morning after a late night). If you ever have the chance to see them live, do it. It was some of the best live music I have seen in a long time.

I wish it was summer

I'm so ready for July. Or February. Whichever comes first. Ready to be done with January, that's for sure. Even with all of the sunshine and a massive snowstorm, it feels time to flip the calender page.

Until then, here are a few things getting me through these last days of the month.

Pinterest search for "camping".

Tucson.

My new rug.

This website.

And First Aid Kit's super album.

This Song

I’ll be your Emmylou and I’ll be your June
if you’ll be my Gram and my Johnny, too.
You know I’m not asking much of you,
just sing, little darling, sing with me.

Anticipation

Sunday it snowed. At least four inches up here on Capitol Hill. It. was. so. fun. Tyson and I went sledding. Down Republican Street. If you ever wonder why I love Seattle, this is one reason. Chaos in the snow.

Bizarrely, while we were heavily snow-blessed much of the city recieved very little. We lucked out on that one.

And, look! NOAA's forecast (as of Monday night):

And here's what Cliff Mass (local weather guru) has to say. Looking forward to more. Fingers crossed.

[ Update: Cliff now says only 2-5 inches... bummer. We're totally on a first name basis, obviously. ]

[ Pictures from Sunday's snowfall are here. ]

A few things I'm in love with

This. I want to sail again. Soon.

These tostadas. Kale, black beans, and jalapeno? Delish.

Pride and Prejudice. Thirty-two and I'm reading my first Jane Austen novel? Love.

Jekyll. I don't want to start the last episode because I don't want it to be over.

Green jeans.

This playlist.

And this. Well, I'm not in love with it yet, but I will be as soon as it arrives in the mail. It might just bring my mason jar obsession to a new level.

Aaand. A three-day weekend with not one single plan. Maybe I'll FINALLY get rid of this cold.

And then it was 2012

I realize it is January 9. More than a week after the new year began. But, last week was kind of a holiday hangover - the end of the last year more than a start to a new one. Lots of vacuuming pine needles, packing away Christmas decorations, and waiting my turn for a treadmill at the gym. A bit of thinking about the past year and wondering about the new one. Getting over a cold. And remembering how good kale tastes.

But now, jumping into 2012.

I spent a solid portion of the past weekend looking for some new tunes to start the year. Here are five songs that will be my January favorites. If the whole year sounds like this, it will be a good one - with lots of dancing and laughing. Sign me up for that.

1. California - Tyler Lyle

This super great blog turned me on to this album and this song seems like it was kind of meant to be a new year's song.

 

2. Ho Hey - The Lumineers

I grabbed this from the Lumineers Daytrotter session shortly before Christmas and cannot stop listening to it. Seriously. One time, I jogged six miles (on a treadmill!) listening to this on repeat the whole time.

 

3. Concerning Past and Future Conquests - Vandaveer

I listened to this song on repeat all day yesterday. All day.

 

4. Bottom of the River - Adam Arcuragi

This video makes me smile. So much. I am looking forward to dancing to this at the Sunset later this month.

 

5. Barnesyard - Rural Alberta Advantage

I actually went through a major repeat kick with this song a couple of years ago, another Daytrotter gem. They released it on their new album in 2011 and I fell in love with it all over again (though I think the Daytrotter version is better!).

 

Happy 2012, people. Let's do this.

December

Yikes. It is December 21. 

This last month of 2011 has been filled with lemon ginger tea, gold fingernails, gingerbread, sweet potatoes, and Of Monsters and Men.

Lots of playing in the snow. Walking in the dark. Happy hours turning into long laughter-filled evenings. Brewing IPA. And my dad turning sixty.

I wonder what 2012 will bring. I'm pretty excited to find out.

Grumpy Sweet Potato Tacos

Last night I was kind of grumpy. No reason. Monday night blues, I guess. The last few weekends have been so fun and busy and then... Monday. Monday.

But. What to do on a grumpy Monday night? Make orange food, obviously. And rent a romantic comedy. Because how can you not feel happy after watching Justin and Mila banter for two hours?

 

Sweet Potato Tacos

one sweet potato

one tablespoon olive oil

two teaspoons chili powder

one teaspoon cumin

one can black beans

half of a jalapeno pepper, minced

two teaspoons cinnamon

greek yogurt

cilantro, chopped

corn tortillas

Pre-heat oven to 450. Peel and cut sweet potato into small cubes (less thank 1/2", I'd say). Toss the sweet potato with the olive oil, chili powder, and cumin and roast until soft (I should have timed this, but did not...).

While the sweet potatoes are roasting, put the black beans (un-rinsed and un-drained) into a sauce pan. Add jalapeno and cinnamon. Heat and simmer until the sweet potatoes are done, then drain.

Pull the sweet potatoes out of the oven and warm up the tortillas.

Top tortillas with sweet potatoes, black beans, a dollop of yogurt, and bit of cilantro.

Details

Sometimes, the completely mundane and random details of my everyday life completely amuse me.

For example, on Wednesday (laundry night), I walked to the co-op (in my slippers, again) and bought kale, ice cream, and beer. Um, yeah.

Also, in between Christmas albums and Of Monsters and Men, I've been completely sucked into Taylor Swift Radio on Pandora.

I'm watching Season Four of Dawson's Creek on DVD. And cry at the end of every episode. What?

Suddenly, I love painting my nails. Like I'm a ten year old girl. I especially love gold sparkles.

I'm reading a suspense novel, The Hypnotist, that is s c a r y. Last night, I had to leave a light on when I went to bed.

The week has gone by really fast, with little to say. I did decorate the tree, which makes me want to stay home and read every night. But, I'm glad it's Friday and am looking forward to the weekend.

Favorite Things

I woke up this morning to an overwhelmingly messy apartment - a sign of a good weekend. A weekend that included so many of my favorite things, it was one of the best weekends ever.

1. Live music.

2. Playing in the kitchen.

3. Laughing with friends.

5. Climbing in the snow.

6. More laughing with friends.

Deets later, but holy smokes it was such a great weekend.