Young Girls

     When was the last time you stepped foot into a record shop?  I'll admit it's been awhile for me.  Ok, a long while.  I remember those days of sifting through CDs and LPs and being ecstatic after finding that rare gem.  So when our friends from Young Girls had their EP release last weekend, it was nice to finally set foot again in a real record store.  Cactus Music to be exact, which has been a Houston institution for as long as I can remember.

     

     Young Girls' current line-up includes brothers, Pete (Springfield Riots) and Charlie Tijerina (The Factory Party), and Nick Dudek (The Watermarks).  They rock out with harmonious pop melodies with surf influences.  If I hadn't known they were Texan, I would have easily mistaken them for some Cali boys.  If you haven't checked out one of their live shows yet, they always play a fun set!

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Album cover art by Carlos Pozo

  You can listen to their tracks here.  If you like what you hear, you can also purchase the digital downloads or pick up the record EP at Cactus (which includes a CD version).   

I Like It Thick!

I've been incredibly excited about my friend's endeavor into the chocolate world especially since I've been developing an addiction to dark chocolate lately.  If you live in Brooklyn, you may have seen Christina donning bright orange garb and a headdress.  Yes, a headdress.  I always knew she was a little eccentric in high school, but her funky personality has finally paid off.  She's her own spokesmodel when it comes to her company, Dolce Vite.  For sure, you couldn't miss her even if you tried.  I wanted to share this cute video that Dolce Vite just came out with touting their thick dark Italian chocolate treat, Chocolatto:


Wanna learn more about Dolce Vite and its founder? Check out the latest feature in Park Slope's online news publication, Park Slope Stoop.

'90s Playlist

Photo of Mazzy Star by Laura Levine

Drank a bit too much Kahlua and sat around waxing nostalgic to the songs that defined my high school years... here's my first ever playlist on the blog: (some of these are from the days of listening to mainstream radio, some are from movies, and the more indie ones were discovered from this show, when MTV still rocked).

Mazzy Star Fade Into You
Superdrag Sucked Out
Better Than Ezra Desperately Wanting
Counting Crows Round Here
Fastball The Way
The Toadies Possum Kingdom
Lisa Loeb Stay
Gin Blossoms Follow You Down
Semisonic Singing in My Sleep
Radiohead Creep 
Sloan Everything You've Done Wrong
Foo Fighters Everlong
Matthew Sweet Girlfriend
Live I Alone
Veruca Salt Seether
Ben Folds Five Brick
The Smashing Pumpkins Today
R.E.M. Losing My Religion
Flaming Lips She Don't Use Jelly
Fountains of Wayne Sink to the Bottom
Stone Temple Pilots Interstate Love Song
Pulp Common People
Soul Train Runaway Train
Cardigans Lovefool
Del Amitri Roll to Me
Aimee Mann Save Me
Oasis Wonderwall
The Boo Radleys Ride the Tiger
Soundgarden Black Hole Sun
Jeff Buckley Hallelujah

Or you can just listen to the entire Clueless soundtrack. I promise it's good.

Halloween 2012

I'm pretty sure I had the busiest Halloween weekend ever. Our jam-packed days included A Sea Es' CD release/costume party at Fitzgerald's, a 24-hour horror movie marathon for a friend's birthday, and a wedding. Whew! I tried to be resourceful and incorporated my Maje dress into my mod cat costume and yes, I even made sure to sew on a tail for full cat authenticity. Don't worry! No dresses were harmed in the process. Here are some photos taken Friday evening...

Did everyone else have an exciting weekend? What did you guys dress up as?

Free Press Summer Fest '12

Just in case you didn't catch that amazing 'stache the first time.

Phantogram

Left: Check out that camera! // Right: Moustache ride, anyone?

The Manichean

cuties

the crowd

Einstein socks
A Sea Es

the gang
New York City QueensUme
the setting sun
Primus
This year I arrived earlier to the music fest to catch my favorite bands which meant I had to endure the intense heat even longer. Despite two days of sweating in a hundred degree weather, I had a great time and bumped into a ton of old friends. As the sun went down, the festival quickly turned into a flashback from the '90s. The last memory of the night is me sipping on my Lime-a-Rita and dancing to some nostalgia that is Primus.

Here's a revisit to FPSF 2 years ago.

Nothing but Net

//vintage mesh top {inspiration here} / Serfontaine shorts {similar but in faux leather here} / Abro bag / Isabel Marant boots / Obaku watch //

I was pretty sure I could replicate the Etoile Isabel Marant open weave sweaters like the Acan or Abut without paying an arm and a leg and as I suspected, my hunt finally paid off when I came across this vintage Izod top at Buffalo Exchange. Who can resist the added bonus of the kangaroo pocket? I must say BE has been pretty good to me lately. My strategy is to look for off-season pieces because the racks are less likely to be picked through and there may even be an additional discount. I found a gorgeous A.L.C. lace moto jacket in the winter coat section and it works perfectly fine as a spring/summer jacket for abnormally chilly nights or a super air conditioned room.

Ok, so tomorrow Bryan and I are off to what I like to call Houston's own little Coachella. Free Press Summer Fest has grown a tremendous amount within the past four years and has led to bigger headliners. This year, the festival features Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson, The Avett Brothers, Flaming Lips performing Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" (this is going to be awesome), Primus (remember them?), and a whole slew of others. Bryan's band, A Sea Es, will be performing on the second day. I'm looking forward to seeing live music again but not looking forward to the heat. So... I guess bringing a really huge parasol is against festival etiquette?

Date with the Night

// Gap sweater over vintage dress / tights c/o Kushyfoot / vintage purse / Colonial Madness boots / Pac-Man necklace gifted from friend //

Got my Krueger stripes on for a night of bands. One band that stood out in particular is Ishi. Seriously great energy and come to find out later, they're from the same music school as Neon Indian. Ones to watch if you ask me.

The weather here is getting quite cool lately, and I like it. I was sent over another pair of massaging tights from Kushyfoot and perfect timing too. The first pair has lasted me a year and is still going strong. They're sooo comfortable and have become my favorite pair of black tights (although they do come in other colors and patterns). Besides being super soft microfiber, they also have raised massaging soles that add an extra cushion for your feet. Perfect for when you're wearing high-heeled boots. You can never have enough tights but these are my go-tos for the winter.

There's still time to enter the Shopbop giveaway. The deadline is only a few days away, so don't forget to get in on the action!

// Ishi "Pastel Lights" //

Kitsune Collection

When I think of Spring, this is what I see:

Oh so crisp and so clean with a retro hint of the '20s! Kitsune has become more than just a music label these days. I'm really adoring their new spring collection and the soft, neutral color palette. Mmm... more cobalt blue please.