Songs on Repeat: Oh Land’s White Nights

I hardly pay attention to television scores, but when I do notice a song it has to be extra special. “White Nights” was featured at the end of an episode of Girls and I cannot stop listening. With a blend of fantasy and a pop beat, this Danish songstress has me listening and wanting more. Have a good listen this weekend!

Fascinating Videos: Cross-fire

[click on the above picture to watch the video!]

A really cool blend of visual and pop culture in this video directed by Geoffrey Mann and produced by Chris Labrooy. Honestly, what could be better than combining stop motion animation and awesome dialog from “American Beauty?” I could watch this on repeat for awhile. For more information on the director visit his site here.

Local Eats: CSA #4

It’s that kind of time again. We might have enough pesto to go around the neighborhood, but it has been fun to spice up the everyday vegetable routine with veggies not typically found so fresh in supermarkets. This week we received a couple red onions, tons of greens, lettuce, adorable squashes, fava beans, garlic scapes (duh), radishes, and cucumbers. And guess what! This week was our first shipment of fruit, a huge beautiful bag of cherries. They know what we like around here. Some pictures are below!

 

Need to See It: Rust and Bone (2012)

Life Goals: To never dribble sauce all over myself while eating spaghetti and meatballs, to get to bed before midnight at least a couple times a week, and to attend the Cannes Film Festival.

Ok, fine. We can all dream, right?

Even though I cannot actually attend what seems to be the coolest (and most fashionable) film festival, I can watch the  film that were screened. Rust and Bone was one of the films that competed this year for the coveted Palme d’Or. A French-Beligium film directed by Jacques Audiard, Rust and Bone is about love and pain, humanity and frailty. Featuring Marion Cotillard and Matthias Schoenaerts, this film is packed with talent and a chillingly intriguing plot. Make sure to take a look at the trailer and watch the entire film, like I will, once I get my hands on a copy.

Daily Photo

I currently work for a very tasty company, Luke’s Lobster. My co-worker Grace shot this beauty. It’s the perfect bite!

Sweet Return: Raspberry Lavender Lemonade

Guess what guys?

It’s almost the first year anniversary of my website. Be sure to check back next week for a special birthday recipe. It’s not cake, but it sure is close. That’s all I’m going to say.

But I didn’t start blogging on my website, for a short time there I was using another popular blog site. Turned out I was hooked, and needed something more flexible for my taste. My first recipe ever, which is now a part of this website, was one for lavender lemonade with basil seeds. When my path crossed with another lavender lemonade recipe I knew I needed to try it and make a record of its success. This recipe comes from The First Mess, a blog you need to check out. Instead of just lavender, this recipe adds raspberries in to the mix. This adds taste, but makes the drink bright pink naturally. You will never add red food dye to lemonade ever again.

Raspberry Lavender Lemonade

[Recipe, The First Mess with slight word changes]

• 1/4 cup dried lavender buds
• 1 cup raspberries
• 6 cups water
• 3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp simple syrup [quick tip: heat equal parts sugar and water in a saucepan until dissolved]

1. With 2 cups of water combine raspberries and lavender in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and cover. Allow the sit for ten minutes.
2. Combine the rest of the water, lemon juice, and simple syrup in a pitcher.
3. After ten minutes, crush the raspberries with a spatula. Strain the mixture into the pitcher with a fine mesh sieve.
4. Chill lemonade thoroughly and serve on ice to enjoy.

Songs on Repeat: Jukebox the Ghost’s Oh Emily

So excited to check this band out tonight! Fell in love with their first two albums, and I knew I needed to snatch up their newest album “Safe Travels” the moment it came out. I want to keep this band my little secret, but I guess I’ll share. Doesn’t hurt that a new song off the album has my name in the title! I listened to this song as a free download throughout last semester, but I’m sure the live performance will blow the recording out of the water. And if they could not get any catchier, Jukebox the Ghost does a great Whitney Houston cover as well! In addition to tonight, this weekend I will also be listening to more awesome music (from a certain food truck…) at the Governors Ball Music Festival. Modest Mouse? Freelance Whales? See you there.

Collections to Envy: Badgley Mischka Fall 2012 RTW

Holy smokes, today was HOT. Like, lock me in the freezer hot. After my face melted off the last thing I wanted was to wear heavy, dark clothing. So it makes total sense I want to lust over a collection that is just that, right? Their hairstyles are probably the only connection I can see that parallels my frizzy day.

Practically aside, I love this collection for its smokey, glowing, and sexy pieces. The dresses really stand out to me, simple but still very detailed. Take a look at the entire collection here, and my favorites below.

Local Eats: CSA #3

CSA veggies are not perfect: they are perforated with nibbles on the leaves, marked by dirty smudges, and tend to spoil quicker than your typical grocery store vegetables. While one can see these as flaws, I see them as nature at work. While we want to eat food that is clean and critter free agriculture is not, and should not, always start out that way. This week proved that investing in a CSA means investing in eating real food with an earthy collection of greens, garlic, scapes, fava beans, lettuce, turnips as well as two cucumbers and a fennel bulb! Within a couple of weeks we will also be receiving fruit, so look out!

Need to See It: First Position (2011)

Have you guys been watching So You Think You Can Dance? I’ve been trying to keep up but with work it is a tad bit difficult. No real loss though when I can see professionals for cheap student rush prices. You know what is more impressive than reality dance shows? Documentaries of real dance.

From Director Bess Kargman comes an interesting documentary, First Position, following the lives of several dancers as they prepare to compete in the Youth American Grand Prix. While I was never as serious about dance as these kids are, I understand the pressure and the passion they must have to compete. I don’t have to wait long to see it, I am going to a screening tonight! If the film is playing near you check it out. I hope to learn more about the relatively private world of dance and the dancers that sacrifice everything for, what is for others, just a hobby.