Category: Random

Happy Things

Lauren6 Comments

We’re slooooowly turning the corner into spring weather — which, in Colorado, means snow on Monday and 70 degrees on Friday — and I can almost literally feel my cynical winter heart melting.  I’m so ready to leave winter, cold weather and gray days behind and focus on sunnier, warmer and happier things.

P.S. Sorry about the lack of photos in this post.  I was feeling particularly writer-y and not so iPhone photographer-y.  It happens.

Both Joey and I got promotions this week!

I’m not positive, but I think underneath that “oh my god, I’m so nervous I’m gonna throw up” feeling I have, there’s excitement.  I think I may have mentioned once or twice a bajillion times that I don’t deal well with change.  Read: it scares the hell out of me.  But change is growth and growth is good, so I’m rolling with it.  I am, however, super proud and excited for Joey.  He is gonna rock his new position as Project Manager!

I have beautiful teeth.

I have always hated my teeth but I went in for a regular cleaning at a new office this morning and my dentist just kept telling me how beautiful my teeth were.  I know she meant they were beautiful from a structural perspective as opposed to a cosmetic perspective but whatever, beautiful means beautiful.

John Mayer at Red Rocks tickets have been purchased.

Look, I love John Mayer’s albums (some much more than others…), but there is nothing like seeing him live and there is nothing like a concert at Red Rocks.  There’s also nothing like the stress of purchasing concert tickets on Ticketmaster **holds breath as site searches for tickets** but that’s a different story.

Rockies tickets are in, Opening Day is 3 days away, baseball is back!

The Home Opener is next Friday and I couldn’t be more excited.  And like I said, it’s supposed to be 70 degrees.  Mother Nature doesn’t mess with Opening Day.  Cannot wait for beer, Biker Jim’s and a Rockies win…fingers crossed.

This video.

Okay, so this is so not a happy thing.  In fact, I watched it while eliptical-ing at the gym and was seconds away from having actual tears run down my face.  Jenna Marbles isn’t usually my source for real, serious, profanity-less things, but this video was so relatable and brave and oddly comforting.

This product review page.

I just saw this on another blog and was actually doing the “hold your hand over your own mouth to keep from laughing and scaring your co-workers” thing.  The funniest!

Joey and I are officially CSA members.

After much farm research and number crunching (okay, not really that much), we picked a CSA and get to pick up our first bundle of beautiful fresh veggies staring in May.  I’ve wanted to do this for years and couldn’t be more excited to have finally committed to one.

Vegas is right around the corner.

My baby sister is turning 21 towards the end of April — how did that happen?! — and we are headed to Vegas in May to celebrate.  Joey’s recent trip there and stories about the places he went and things he did has me extra excited (except all that money he lost, that just makes me sad…) so, as you can imagine, I’ve already put together quite the list of things we all need to do when we go.  “Lose a bunch of money” is not on the list.  Any one have any suggestions?

Easter is this weekend.

I wasn’t raised religious, so Easter has always been more about family gatherings and the exchange of Cadbury creme eggs for me.  I’m mostly excited because my family is grilling for Easter on Saturday night and to me this means the kick-off to BBQ season!  And because I am on deviled egg duty for Joey’s family celebration on Sunday and have something fun planned.

It’s the end of March.

And this makes me happy for many many reasons.  Mostly because it’s further from winter and closer to summer, warm weather, baseball, birthdays and generally a time of year that just seems happier to me.  Joey’s birthday is on Wednesday and birthday happiness is infectious.  Or maybe it’s just that I get to indulge in all his birthday dinner outings 🙂

It’s Friday!

And I don’t think that needs further explanation.  Have a Happy Weekend, friends!

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What is making you happy today?

Throwback 60’s Playlist

Lauren9 Comments

I once took a Victorian Literature class and on the first day we went around the room and said what time period we would live in if we could go back (or forward) in time. There were a lot of people who said the Victorian era (suck ups) and others who said medieval times (knight in shining armor syndrome), but me, I said the 60’s.

And not just because I love hitch hiking and tripping on shrooms (NOT!), but because I feel it would be so cool to experience the time period my parents grew up in. And for the great music, of course.

(Way Back) Throwback 60’s Playlist

For when you’re not playing the new Justin Timberlake CD on repeat.  Just me?

1. “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield

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Just love.  What a perfect expression of countercultural angst and that laid-back hippie vibe.  From the lyrics to the message to the style of the music, everything about this song just screams 60’s to me.  Fact: If this song comes on in the middle of a heated vinyasa yoga flow, the class becomes a million times better.  Fun Fact #2: I always thought this song was about Vietnam, but it’s actually about the curfew battle that happened between young clubgoers (hello Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson!) and the surrounding businesses in L.A during the 60’s.  Who knew?!

2. “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane

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It broke my heart a couple weeks ago when, driving in our mini van in Arizona, this song came on the radio and Joey’s cousin exclaimed “this song is about Alice in Wonderland!” and I had to say “this song is about drugs!”  Such is the wisdom you receive when you have two parents that grew up in the 60’s and this is your family road-trip sing-a-long song of choice.

3. “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum

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Okay, call me weird (because this song is weird) but I have always loved this one.  It’s one of those songs that you make up the words to when you sing along and then you look up the lyrics and hey, those actually are the right words!  No?  Just me who does that?  Anyways, slightly chilling, really beautiful and totally thought-provoking.  As in my one thought is “what is this song talking about?!”  Also, um, creepiest album cover ever?

4. “Rescue Me” by Fontella Bass

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Because every playlist needs a little R&B.  And because I dig the simplicity of this 60’s classic.  I just wish I could remember that it’s by Fontella Bass and not Aretha or Diana.

5. “Where Did Our Love Go?” by the Supremes

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And while we’re on the subject of Diana.  Short Story: the other day “Tainted Love” was on in the car and I announced that the part where the song transitions into a cover of “Where Did Our Love Go?” is my favorite part and Joey was so confused because he thought that was an original part of the song.  I about had a heart attack because “who doesn’t know the original is by the Supremes?!”  Luckily, me playing the original and singing along quickly jogged his memory.

6. “Sittin On the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding

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Have you listened to this song recently?  Like really listened to it?  I’ll admit that I hadn’t and when I did all I could think was “how beautifully soulful!”  Okay, that whistling part still really annoys me, but the rest of the song is perfect.

7. “(I Love You) More Today Than Yesterday” by Spiral Staircase

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I had second thoughts about including this one, but while going through my list and listening to each song again (I take this seriously, people) there was no way I could skip it.  There’s nothing like an upbeat love song with a fun chorus you can belt out into your honey’s ear while he’s trying to focus on the road and drive you both home.  Amiright?

8. “Respect” by Aretha Franklin

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Is it even possible to be a woman and not love Aretha Franklin?  Answer: no.  I basically consider this song to be the original independent woman anthem.

9. “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye

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Dear lord, I love this song.  I love it in a way that makes me unable to not get super into singing along any time I hear it.  That opening music?  Marvin’s flawless voice?  Those parts where you have to embrace your own beautiful falsetto?  How is it even possible to not love this song?

10. “Build Me Up Buttercup” by the Foundations

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Because there is not a single person on this Earth with ears who does not love this song.  Every time it ends I say “nooooo, it was just getting extra good!”  Sidenote: WHAT is this album cover?

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If you could live in any time period, what would it be?

What’s your favorite “oldie” song?

Do you have a favorite musical era?