television ramblings

CBS has a new summer show called Swingtown, you may have heard of it. It's super-cheesy and 70s and about swingers. I mean, what more could you want? The first ep aired Thursday and I am pretty much hooked. I really hope CBS airs all six episodes they've filmed because I'm loving it. It's just so awful that it's good. Plus I have a major crush on Jack Davenport (even though I didn't really realise he was the same guy from Coupling and that he was Norrington from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies).

So, yeah, it's summer, there's nothing on TV except crappy reality tv shows, so why not watch a kick back to the 70s and swinging. I hope there's an episode about key parties. It wouldn't be a swinging show otherwise.

Except the show isn't just about swinging, you know. And the innuendo is ridiculous. But I'm excited about the show.

A TV show that I haven't been very excited about has been Doctor Who. I think of this recent series I've only watched maybe half of what's aired so far. I didn't watch any of the episodes with Martha in them and I didn't watch the most recent arc because I didn't like what was supposed to be happening in it. However, I did absolutely LOVE the Agatha Christie episode, it seriously may be my favorite back in time Doctor Who episode. I thought this season would be amazing because Donna grew on me and OMG Rose is coming back, but I just haven't even bothered with it. I'm just disappointed because I was so excited and it's really disappointed me. Boo.

One more television thing: the powers that be are releasing Sports Night on DVD with extras. I'm excited but not really because I am not going to buy it. I just hope everything's on youtube within a week of its release. I spent $20 for my used DVD set I have, I will not be spending $70 for another set of it. It's ridiculous to own two sets. I love Sports Night. I think I may watch a few episodes before going to bed. I think a Dan Rydell fest would not be amiss.

So that's my ramblings on TV for now. Ciao.

coldplay & annie

Coldplay is one of my favorite bands and you cannot believe how excited I was to download their new single (for free!). My first thought was 'Wow, "Violet Hill" is very powerful', but once the songs winds down it's somewhat disappointing because it really mellows to the end, but it doesn't feel like an ending? I like it though--I really do! The lyrics are pretty much amazing too.

You should definitely check it out by visiting Coldplay.com and downloading it for yourself.

Also, remember a few years ago when we were all dancing around to Annie's Heartbeat? She's back and even better. Her new song I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me is super fantastic and I can't wait for an mp3 of it so I can dance around to it whenever. Check out the video:


You can also check out Annie on myspace!

So, that's my music gushing for today! xx

Kate Nash!

So, Tuesday night I saw Kate Nash at the Variety Playhouse in Atlanta and it was fucking amazing! She is so so adorable and her band is so cute. I really had an amazing time--she puts on a great show. Standing in front row, I have decided, is the best way to see a gig. The audio was a bit messed up on the first two songs, so we really couldn't hear her singing, but I had actually walked by the venue earlier in the evening and heard a bit of her doing Pumpkin Soup which was pretty awesome too.

Set list (according to, well, a set list):
Pumpkin Soup
Shit Song
Stitching Leggings
We Get On
Birds
Nicest Thing
Seagulls
Dickhead
Pick Pocket
Paris
Skeleton Song
Mariella
Mouthwash
Foundations

Don't you want to share the guilt
Punk Song
Merry Happy


Anyways, I had an incredible time! And would totally go see her again because she seriously is so amazing. I also, met a couple of cool people who were also charmed by Kate's Britishness of having tea underneath her keyboard!

some things

So, today I received the BEST. NEWS. EVER!!! I have been accepted to my study abroad program which means I'll be going to England in September! Loves it!

Besides my total excitement about that, I've been watching a lot of television and thought I would blog about that.

This past season of Torchwood has been a disappointment. While it had its moments, on the whole, I was not impressed and am probably not going to continue watching it if it gets picked up for a third series. I didn't like James Marsters guesting on it and I didn't think Freema Agyeman was used to her full potential (which is saying something because I don't like Martha Jones.) And Gwen is beyond annoying. She's my least favorite character. I enjoyed having more Andy Davidson though--PC Andy is beyond awesome. I really was just frustrated with the whole series--after this one, I've pretty much have decided I still love Ianto Jones, but Owen Harper is my new favorite character which is beyond tragic. Also, there was not enough Tosh--there never is. I adore John Barrowman, but nothing comes to mind about Captain Jack Harkness except for that gorgeous snogging with Ianto.

Since Torchwood was an utter loss, I was sort of not holding my breath about Doctor Who, but OMG, the first episode was so freaking awesome!!! The aliens were kind of gross in regards to their inception, but they were cute. And Donna definitely won me over. And I can't believe they teased us with Rose so early in the season! I seriously can't wait for this week's episode! Pompeii! Dude, how awesome!

Besides my British sci-fi, I have taken quite a liking to Top Gear. A car show? What? Yeah. It's awesome. The presenters are funny and I really am quite amused by it all! I like having something to watch.

So, yeah, TV is fun.

Also, a friend of mine pointed muxtape out to me. It's brill--a mixtape on the internet. Down side is that technically you can only register one account--I haven't bothered trying to get another with a different email addy, but it's still quite cool. Mine can be found here.

Last note is my latest procrastination method: Chain Factor. It's a super fun game and quite addictive--it even requires a little bit of thought. Good times!

So, that's it for now! xx

laptop sleeve

This is the ubercute sleeve I've bought to carry Alistair Darling in. I'm waiting beyond impatiently for it to arrive.

It's a GYMSPacific MacBook Poppy Sleeve and it comes in blue, grey and orange as well.

Likewise, I seriously suggest going through the link on this page on NexTag for pricing on it.

things i am totally loving

This past weekend, I bought a MacBook. I am pretty much in love with it. It's so sleek and clean looking. And it works like a dream. Of course, I am still getting used to some Mac details versus Windows, but so far Alistair Darling* and I have gotten on quite well. *I name all my electronics and I've decided that my MacBook's name is Alistair Darling. It's a fantastic name! My iPod's name is Azrael Stardust for the record.

I have always been obsessed with Burberry scents, I've been coveting a bottle of Burberry Brit for years now (I just can't justify buying perfume--I rarely wear it) but I did receive a sample of Burberry's new scent, The Beat and I am quite enamored with it.

I'm really excited about ABC's new show Miss Guided too. It premieres on March 20th at 8:00pm, but ABC is also airing a sneak peek on the 18th at 10:30pm. It'll be nice to have something to watch while Lost will be on hiatus.

One thing I am totally not loving is the April iss of Vanity Fair. No thank you... I'm not a fan of female comedians, like seriously. Most of them aren't even funny. I usually read Vanity Fair at my school's library and the lady just changed the issue and I got excited until I remembered what the cover story it. I'm terribly misogynistic at times.

Oh, something I am totally loving (surprisingly-ish) is Paula Abdul's Dance Like There's No Tomorrow. The song is so damned catchy. Musically, I am also totally loving Leona Lewis's Bleeding Love.

Anyways, I really need to read for a class before 4:15.

xx

don't get me wrong

This morning, I was watching VH1 Classics and saw the video for The Pretenders - Don't Get Me Wrong. I understand the video is from the 80s and that 80s videos are always weird, but I really did not understand the concept of this one. I love the song though--it's so catchy and timeless and familiar. Lily Allen did a cover of it which is on BBC Radio 1 Established 1967 and her version is just as amazing as the original. Anyways, you should watch the video and be as bewildered as I am.



xx

omg

I was really excited the other day when my March issue of Elle arrived. There's a really gorgeous editorial of Marion Cotillard in it! I think she's fantastically gorgeous. I loved La Vie En Rose. You can see the rest of the images here. Lovely.

I am also really excited about the Louis Vuitton ads for this season because I love the Richard Prince bags. My favorite is the Duderanch. I think it's gorgeous. I don't think this line is very practical though. Not like I could ever own one, but still, it's a bit too colorful and arty to be used as an everyday bag, n'est-ce pas? I just love to look at it. Sigh.

I'm not sure what else there is to say. Oh oh! I am going to see Kate Nash in April which is beyond exciting for me!!!

I think that's all for now.

xx

true hollywood stories

So, I was watching The Soup at 10 and didn't change the channel--what came up next was THS: Amy Winehouse. Yeah, seriously? The worst thing is that it's only half an hour. Shouldn't it be longer? It's Amy Winehouse. Haha.

Oh, but I did find out from a C-break that there's a THS of Posh & Becks coming out this weekend--loves it! I can't wait to see it.

E!'s THS are seriously beyond ridiculous and amusing. E! is a ridiculous channel. Ha.

is it february already?

Long time no blog.

Last week I saw a commercial on TV promoting a new line of Converse sneakers at Target called One Star. I was intrigued--they were released today and I am seriously coveting these. I'm very tempted to buy them. I'm not exactly certain as to whether or not they're sold in stores. But I seriously think these are perfect for spring this year. I don't have money budgeted for shoes right now, but I'm pretty sure I can give up my movie budget for shoes. Okay, so, I bought them! I haven't bought casual shoes in quite some time. Now I have to wait impatiently for them to be shipped!

Speaking of waiting impatiently for things to be shipped, my Dooney passport holder still hasn't been shipped and it's still out of stock. Sigh. I'm very near the point of canceling the order and buying one from somewhere else. I've found some gorgeous ones on Etsy.com the other day. There's a gorgeous yellow bird one from tinymeat I am coveting. Once I figure out how to cancel my Dooney purchase and if it's still there I shall buy it.

Right now I have Panic At the Disco's new song on repeat. It's quite good--I didn't even know they had a new song! It's up on their myspace, but I'm not linking to it because I've gone to their myspace twice and it jumps to another page--some type of scam. Boo. I've uploaded it here: Panic at the Disco - Nine in the Afternoon (obviously it's only up for previewing purposes). I am seriously loving it. I like how the band's matured since their first album. You can preorder Pretty. Odd from Amazon.

Last week I saw Control which was an incredible movie. I really didn't know all that much about Ian Curtis or Joy Division when I saw it and I still don't know much. But watching it for purely entertainment sake was a lovely thing. It's black and white which is absolutely gorgeous. Sam Riley is absolutely gorgeous too. The movie did prompt me to listen to more Joy Division, but I haven't quite gotten round to finishing that endeavor. It really is an interesting movie, and I guess it's more real since it obviously happened.

Anyways, I have more to say, but I'm going to finally watch Factory Girl now that the house is empty.

xx

some personal notes and a site

I've gotten my hair cut and honestly I told the lady I wanted an inch and she took a mile. It looks very soccer mom-esque, I think, but my Mom says it's cute. The bright side is that it'll grow out in about four months--I don't think I'll be getting my hair cut again for a long time. I had gotten it cut in August but before that it was about a year since I had a haircut, so I think I may just let my hair grow out again.

I actually ordered that Dooney giraffe print passport cover and now I'm waiting for it to be shipped.

I hate when people don't identify themselves on the phone. On of my managers called me and I've known her for about four years now because we went to high school together, but I'm always slow on recognizing voices so it took me a moment to realise it was her. I make a point to identify myself on the phone, even when I'm calling my parents.

I've been reading articles on this website for the past half hour: Think Simple Now. It's very inspirational and motivational. I'm definitely going to keep this site in mind when I start failing at all my New Year resolutions I plan to make. I'm really impressed with Meditation 101: How to Start because I've never been very good at Googling meditation methods, but I've always wanted to try to meditate. I really like that the author also includes on most articles helpful links to external resources based on the article. A+

So, go check out Think Simple Now!

things i would like to own and some things i already do own

Dooney and Bourke US Passport Holder in their oh so fabulous Giraffe print. $45 Which is apparently out of stock, bummer. I also want their Large Sac in Giraffe, the Passport Holder is marginally more realistic. The most to die Giraffe print item I covet is the Roller of course.

I'm really big into luggage and traveling lately. Not that I own luggage or travel, but it's fun to dream. One site that's super awesome to browse and pretend shop is Flight 001, you should check it out!

Oh oh! I just found the most hip iPod case ever: hymn book iPod case from Fred Flare! I love Fred Flare and this iPod case is total genius. Apparently it's imported from England. I don't know why I particularly fancy it, but at this very moment in a 1am sleep deprived daze, it is the bee's knees. I love Fred Flare. I am always adding things to my ff wishlist, but never get around to buying them which is lame. Probably as lame as posting a link to said wishlist. I know, right?

I really want Stephen Colbert's book, I Am America (And So Can You!), I checked it out from the library, but haven't bought it. It's funny and would look really fantastic on my bookshelf between my copies of America the Book. I have two Americas, the hardcover and the paperback. The only other books I have in hardcover and paperback are, of course, Victoria Beckham's That Extra Half an Inch (which is major and lovely and oh so glam!) and J.D. Salinger's Franny and Zooey. My hardcover Franny and Zooey was bought by my sister from the library and I just now thought of it and my paperback is the mass market one, all of my Salinger books are the $6.95 mass market paperbacks.

Speaking of mass market paperbacks, I need to continue my collection of mass market Sophie Kinsella books: I need Shopaholic & Sister and The Undomestic Goddess. I don't think Shopaholic & Baby will be ready for mass market for a while, especially since it came out this year and will just be in trade paperback in December. Honestly I still haven't finished reading Shopaholic Takes Manhattan or Shopaholic Ties the Knot, but I do own them. I am so obsessed with Kinsella's novel Can You Keep a Secret?, I've read it like three times (which is high praise coming from me, I hardly ever even finish books!)

Anyways, I really should go to sleep now. I can't think of anything else off the top of my head I want or feel like I should talk about right now. Kiss kiss!

suddenly it's christmas

Today I went to Target on a mad Halloween-day search for Halloween Oreos, the search proved fruitless. However, Target did have their Christmas section beginning to be set up. Which reminded me of Loudon Wainwright III's song Suddenly It's Christmas.

Christmas carols in December
And November, too;
It's no wonder we're depressed
When the whole thing is through.
Finally it's January;
Let's sing "Auld Lang Syne";
But here comes another heartache,
Shaped like a Valentine.

Lyrics Copyright ©1993 Snowden Music, Inc.

Download: Loudon Wainwright III - Suddenly It's Christmas

Visit: Loudon Wainwright III // myspace

musings on time and history

I'm watching Larry King (not so) Live and Stephen Colbert just jokingly said he was a historical figure and I wonder... will people remember him ten years from now? Five years?

Not that I'm saying anything bad about Stephen Colbert because I think his show is hilarious, but I'm saying something about the nature of time passing.

Can you remember five years ago? Do people on television matter more than politicians? What will pop culture bring us in five years?

dashboard confessional

When I was fifteen, I discovered a band called Dashboard Confessional. And for the past six years, I've had quite a love-hate relationship with their (and by their, I really mean his, as in Chris Carrabba) music. Even though I doubt I'd admit it in person, D/C's MTV Unplugged is definitely one of my favorite albums. Most of Dashboard's work reminds me of high school--not because I've ever had any of those type of moments, but I did listen to their music consistently throughout my highschool years and I continue to listen to them in college, even though I was completely Not. Impressed. with Dusk and Summer or truthfully A Mark A Mission A Brand A Scar as whole albums, but there have been singles since Unplugged I enjoyed. So, history-wise, Dashboard is my high school memory band.



Imagine my surprise when I found out Dashboard released a new album (The Shade of Poison Trees) today that I only found out about yesterday. I've listened to most of it so far and I'm really enjoying it. I think it sounds more hopeful (or maybe it's just because it's more upbeat musically that translate to hopefulness, obvs. a Dashboard album is not hopeful beyond the "hey does she like me" sort of hopeful) than the last two albums and honestly, it reminds me of older Dashboard. I think, despite its hopefulness there is of course the emo-bitterness you expect from a Dashboard album.

You can listen to the album in its entirety on Dashboard's myspace.

I really am enjoying this album, I think I listened to it because of the novelty of "OMG, new Dashboard? You've got to be kidding me!" but it's surpassed my unwillingness to enjoy it because I love it. The first single for the album is called "Thick as Thieves" which is very fast and interesting. The lyrics are good. I think my favorite track is called Where There's Gold... I think it's depressingly beautifully realistic: Where's there's gold, there's a gold digger.

I think I have a new favorite Dashboard album. It really is good, you should check it out, especially if you went through that Dashboard era in high school because it's updated and realistic--I think Carrabba is disillusioned somewhat. Anyways, I would recommend the album to you!

dashboardconfessional.com
myspace
buy The Shade of Poison Trees

premiere week round up

So, yay for premiere week and new television episodes to watch.

I don't watch Monday night television--I can't even tell you what is on Mondays, but Tuesday brought House M.D. and Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.

House: I started watching House over the summer on USA, I really don't know the whole show's continuity, but the show is intriguing. Plus, I have total a total hollywood crush on Robert Sean Leonard. [Seriously was so stoked when House came out because RSL was on it, but I think it conflicted with Gilmore Girls the first season or some other WB show, so I didn't watch it]. I don't know how I feel about the show--I enjoy the relationship between House & Wilson, but I'm totally grossed out by medical stuff. I'm really looking forward to Kal Penn being on the show, so I guess I'll have to wait for that.

SVU: SVU has been one of my favorite shows for a long time. Tuesday's episode was okay. Last season ended in a BIG way though, that I was disappointed in how the new season opened. Munch cracks me up. And I love Benson & Stabler, who was that new guy though? Oh my hot, when Stabler was flirting with whatever Cynthia Nixon's character name was, SWOON. I wasn't really all that impressed with Cynthia Nixon (then again, I rarely am), and the storyline wasn't very SVU-like. Hopefully, next week's will be better--wait, I just remembered the preview for next weeks and it really doesn't look all that great, at least next week actually involves sometime SVU related.

Wednesday night brought Gossip Girl and Dirty Sexy Money both which are oh so scandalous and exciting.

Gossip Girl: So it premiered last week, but seriously, oh. my. god. Gossip Girl is my new favorite show ever! I love it! It's so scandalous! And the boys are so pretty. Nate & Chuck are oh la la. Besides the aesthetics of the show, it's just drama-rama. I love the kids, I don't get the storyline between Serena's mom and Dan's dad. My favorite character is Chuck--what is up with his scarf, I mean, seriously. I think I like Chuck & Blair as instigators. I love the show, I watch it on The CW, and then watch it again under unsavory means... plus The CW is airing it again on Sundays at 8.

Dirty Sexy Money: I was on the fence about watching DSM until I read an article in the October issue of Vogue which just cemented my decision to check it out. I really liked Peter Krause in Sports Night (which I consistently tell people is my favorite show) and the few episodes of Six Feet Under I've watched, so he was really the selling point for the show, especially since I didn't know Samaire Armstrong (totally girlcrush worthy) was in it. This show is crazy! And oooh scandalous. And I love the contrast between Nick and the Darlings. My favorite Darling is Jeremy. IMDB has the show listed for only 6 episodes, I really hope ABC doesn't cancel the show because it is so good.

Thursday's only television viewing was The Office.

The Office: I only started watching The Office weekly mid-last season and only because of Ed Helms (he was seriously one of my favorite correspondents on The Daily Show) So, I was so OMG excited at the end of season 3 with "it's a date" but I was seriously disappointed with the opening of season 4. I don't know if the show's a must-watch anymore. I mean, yay Jam--but did anyone else think Jim was totally uncomfortable in some of those moments? And... I don't know. I just wasn't impressed or enthralled.

That's all my TV watching because I don't know what comes on Fridays either.

Basically Tuesday and Wednesdays are my TV nights.

Quick rant: I hate television network websites. They're so full of ads and streaming video and other nonsense that they take forever to load. I think the only network channel website that didn't make my head want to explode was Fox--maybe because I guessed correctly at the show's url and didn't have to click from fox.com? But gosh, loading nbc.com and abc.com were nightmares! Oh well.

That's all!

august roundup!

Wow, August just flew by didn't it? I spent most of my August obsessing over Torchwood (which begins on BBC America on September 8th--check it out. John Barrowman and Gareth David-Lloyd are too beautiful for words) and listening to Fall Out Boy.

I also visited Atlanta's World of Coca-Cola which was pretty much too cool for words. I love memorabilia and I love Coke! Right now I'm pretty much only drinking Diet Coke though or Coke Zero because soda pop really is just empty calories for the normal kind.

Beyond the beginning of fall semester, there hasn't been anything worthy of blogging about.

I did buy the cutest coat ever from Old Navy.




















And I really want this flask from Urban Outfitters.


















Oh, I also saw Superbad which was pretty fucking hilarious on all accounts and Becoming Jane which was maddeningly boring despite the dishiness of James McAvoy. And I finally saw Nancy Drew which was surprisingly really awesome!

Becoming Jane did prompt me however to be more interested in Jane Austen's work. PBS is airing her books next year [Masterpiece Theatre: The Complete Works of Jane Austen] which is really exciting because I am really bad at reading and prefer to watch stories unfold. I am attempting to read Mansfield Park, but pretty much I'm stuck on page 49. Austen's work is SO confusing because everybody is like Miss Bertram and I'm like which Miss Bertram is this? And who's Mrs. Grant? OMG, I'm so confused! However, this is progress for me because I gave up on Pride and Prejudice after page 20. Austen's writing style is quite tedious and I don't know how people actually read her works.

I also bought a really swank purse this past month, but I can't find it on Target.com, so I can't show you pictures because I'm too lazy to take any of my own.

Also, mostly, the September issues of magazines have been on a whole satisfactory. I'm terribly disappointed in GQ, but I blame the big emphasis of politics on that--seriously, GQ what was up with that?! But everything else has been tops. I really love the new Brooks Brothers campaign. Heidi Klum is just beautiful in the Town & Country piece too. I haven't really looked at W yet because it finally arrived in my mailbox today, but what I had previously seen of the piece on Gwenyth Paltrow, I'm definitely intrigued by what else the magazine has to offer. And Marie Claire's piece on Ashely Olsen is to die! Loves it.

I think that's all.

A bit of a calendar:
September 3rd/4th: Yelle's album Pop-Up comes out!
September 6th: Tim Gunn's Guide to Style, 10pm!
November 1st: Victoria Beckham's That Extra Half Inch released in the US
November 14th: Project Runway returns!!!

Obviously, nothing cool is happening in October.

TWO MORE THINGS:
Britney Spears's new song is INCREDIBLE! I seriously love it.

And everything should read this interview with Tim Gunn because he is the coolest man in the world.

nobody taught me how to fall in love

I read Dinosaur Comics (T-Rex is the best) and Ryan mentioned this site called the 365 Days Project and I found the most amazing song on it called Nobody Taught Me which is from a 1961 Barbie album.

Check the post out! The song is posted on that page, but I've also uploaded it to mediafire here.

It's very cliché, but it's terribly lovely and sweet.

can you believe it?

Who cares about Paris Hilton or Immigration bills not being passed when there's this news!



Spice Girls Reunion Tour!

You can register to be in the pool to get tickets here. The closest they're playing to me is NYC, but I still registered, I mean it's the Spice Girls! Not like I'd be chosen anyhow!

my super sweet sixteen

My polisci professor showed us this in class this past week.



The sad thing is that this is so true. My Super Sweet Sixteen is ridiculously addictive. I am watching one right now and this girl has an awful lisp/accent and she totally has like one fat friend who isn't allowed to talk much, it's funny and she's totally mean to her. [It's like really sad because I would totally be the fat friend, so I guess I should feel sorry for the chubby girl, but I don't.] Yet, I just can't make myself change the channel. It's not like there's anything else I could be doing... That girl got a Lexus for her 15th birthday (this episode is actually the girl's 15th birthday). What does a 15 year old need a Lexus for? It's not even the car she wanted--she wanted it on the day of her party. This show cracks me up. Her party's ruined now.

I always enjoy the car scenes because it's never the car the kid wanted. It's hilarious. Those poor kids (eyeroll). Ew, this girl really should adjust her tiara, she looks stupid.

Okay, that's my spiel about My Super Sweet Sixteen. Hey, if it's good enough for Anderson Cooper to watch, then it is good enough for me. Besides, nothing says entertainment than teenagers throwing tantrums over not getting the right car and spending all of Daddy's money. Like, I just don't get it. Why do we watch this crap? And even worse, why did I just go "Oh no you didn't" when my cable decided to have an emergency testing moment? LAME.

I really need to find something else to watch...