Music Review: MRK Edition

4)    Little Feat – Waiting for Columbus (1978)

I have an admission to make: I only bought this album because Phish played it as their Halloween musical costume this past year! And ever since I’ve asked myself, what the hell was I thinking? I had already heard some Little Feat through my father, and certainly knew the classics “Fat Man in a Bathtub” and “Dixie Chicken” but had never ventured deeper into their catalogue. I now am thankful everyday that I have purchased this live album, originally released in 1978. This album is an amalgamation of southern rock, funk, New Orleans’ boogie, latin rhythms, and the genius of Lowell George. It combines all my favorite music and I’m pained to admit that I only started listening to it this year. This is one album that must be listened to at the highest possible volume, and from start to finish. If you haven’t heard “Fat Man in a Bathtub” or “Dixie Chicken,” check those out. If you have, try “Time Loves a Hero,” “Spanish Moon,” or “Mercenary Territory.”

Little Feat 1

Little Feat 2

Little Feat 3

5)    Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra – Talkatif (2002)

I originally started listening to this group after I saw Fela! on Broadway (if you haven’t seen it trust me, just go, it’s incredible). While Talkatif is the Brooklyn based band’s second album, it’s the first album of theirs I’ve listened to.  The mixture of jazz, funk, and Caribbean and African drumming combines to create an amazing sound that very few others groups can replicate. I could attempt to try and describe the sound more, but to be honest, just go listen for yourself. Check out “Gabe’s New Joint” and “Talkatif” for starters.

Antibalas 1

Antibalas 2

6)    The Band of Heathens – The Band of Heathens (2008)

In order to enjoy these guys, you have to already enjoy southern rock or country music in some way. The music of the Band of Heathens, formed by three singer-songwriters who initially plied their own trade in Austin, Texas, has since been placed under the Americana genre. Colin Brooks, Ed Jurdi and Gordy Quist, however, provide songs that range from country, to Americana, to bluegrass, to simply soulful southern rock. The truth is, the diversity of their songwriting makes them a real Americana act worth seeing. I haven’t yet had the privilege to see them live, but a trusted friend of mine who lives in Houston says they are phenomenal in concert. My favorites include “Jackson Station,” “Nine Steps Down,” “Hallelujah” and “Heart on my Sleeve.”

Disclaimer: Their videos on youtube on not the best quality. I highly suggest listening to their studio music, or checking out their Austin City Limits performance, both of which are spectacular.

Band of Heathens 1

Band of Heathens 2

Wedding Attire 101

Wedding season is just around the corner, and you know what that means...another excuse to go shopping! 

 Here are a few of my favorite dresses for 4 different types of weddings: Beach, Casual, Formal, and Black Tie. Let's face it, we certainly will not look as good as the bride, but we can try to come close!

Beach Bliss Dresses: ASOS

Casual Dresses: Banana Republic

Formal Occasion Dresses: J. Crew

Black Tie Dresses: Saks & ASOS

Art on a Budget

20 x 200: A Jen Bekman Project is the perfect place to find innovative, inspiring, and creative art pieces for a fraction of most prices. For those who like to collect, those who like to sell, or those who just enjoy browsing, this is the site to check out. 

Jen Bekman opened a gallery on the Lower East Side in 2003 with the mission of supporting emerging artists and collectors, and she's made a name for herself doing just that. Now her gallery is expanded with this website, making art readily available for everyone.

Every piece is available at a smaller size for just 20 dollars!

Boots and Raincoats

Gosling Lake

 Rookery Bay

Nice Pants

 Kite Hill

Frozen

Midday County Fair

Sugarcoat

New Year, New Palate

 The new year is full of promising changes from people all over the world. Resolutions are everybody's best friend until about...hm, February. By that time, it is easy to forget about some of those minor goals you've had in mind like cutting back on chocolate and/or shopping. I do, however, think a great resolution is to revamp some things that are more permanent your life.  The best way to make a change is slowly and comfortably, that way it is easy to adjust to. One simple resolution that could go a long way is to revitalize some rooms in your home. Great lighting, simple yet chic decoration, warm and/or calming wall colors, and comfortable furniture are all factors in  creating an enjoyable and cozy  living space.  The easiest way to revamp a room without redecorating is  to repaint! Here are a few examples of sophisticated neutral paint colors perfect for making some changes in 2011: 

Moleskin Grey                              Putty

Brown Grey 1                         Brown Grey 2

Purple Grey                           White

Dreamy Neutral                  Graceful Grey

       Wheat                              White Washed

Healthier Paint Options:
1) Fire Safe Interior Flat Paint
2) Zero Waste Paint
3) Ecos Organic Paints
4) Genesis Odor Free Paints
5) Miller Paint Products

Music Review: MRK Edition

7) Dr. Dog – Shame, Shame (2010)

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Dr. Dog is a quintet from Philadelphia that has reinvigorated psychedelic rock for the indie music world. This is the fifth release from the band who continuously give off a mid 1960’s vibe. They continue to provide moving guitar riffs, fun, warm weather rhythms, and gorgeous harmonies. It has provided endless listening for me, and I certainly hope you get the same. “Jackie Wants a Black Eye,” “Mirror, Mirror,” and “Stranger” have so far been my favorites.

Dog Video 1

Dr. Dog Video 2

8) Zion I – Mind Over Matter (2000)

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I first listened to Zion I, and more specifically this album, about ten years ago when I was a freshman in high school. You know what? Like a fine wine, this album has aged amazingly well. The beats are still incredibly smooth, and the rhymes, clever as ever. What’s funny is I was drawn back to it by the shuffle function on my iTunes, and I’ve since listened to it regularly, and probably more than ever. The Oakland based duo has since put out numerous singles and albums (try listening to “Doin’ My Thang” and “Breathing Slow”) but this album is the crème de la crème. “Trippin,” “Silly Puddy” and “Critical” best illustrate the combination of the futuristic yet old-school style beats created by DJ Amplive and the smooth, intelligent rhymes of Zumbi.

Zion I Video 1

Zion I Video 2

9) The Avalanches – When I Met You (2003)

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I’ll be honest, the first time I listened to this album was at about 3 am, in a friend’s dorm room, after a long night of partying. It doesn’t matter though, because with every listen, this album gets better and better. It’s Girl Talk before Girl Talk, and in my opinion better than Girl Talk. It combines original compositions (“Since I Left You”) with samples such as De La Soul’s “A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays,” Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” A Tribe Called Quest’s “Electric Relaxation,” and many others. Here though, the group lets the samples combine much more naturally and effectively than in Girl Talk’s abrupt and rapid switches between songs. I could give suggested tracks to listen to, but to be honest, this is one that you need to play start to finish in order to get the real effect of such an amazing album.

Avalanches Video 1

Avalanches Video 2

 10) Wilco – Kicking Television (2005)

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And cue the haters. Done? Not yet? Ok, now that we’ve all gotten that off our chests, I’m going to level with you: I too was originally a Wilco skeptic. I hated the lower east side, thou aren’t worthy, we-are-the-only-musically-educated-ones vibe this band gave off. Why does this indie band get all this credit? Their songs are weird! They can’t be this good! Yeah, I said all of those. The truth is though that Wilco is awesome. In a way they are very similar to one of my favorite bands, Phish. Noobs can’t just jump into the deep end and listen to anything, they need to know the right songs to get them started.  Kicking Television provides the necessary starting point. Not only is it a sort of greatest hits compilation, but it also showcases the band’s live prowess. My favorites: every song. But for those who want just a taste check out “Handshake Drugs,” “Airline to Heaven,” “Hell is Chrome,” and “Hummingbird.”

Wilco Video 1

Wilco Video 2

Jean Queen

As you can see, I am greatly anticipating the spring months. Perfect time for picnics, walks in the park, outdoor dining, hikes, bike rides, really anything having to do with the warm fresh air outside! Along with my springy thoughts, I have also become a huge fan of denim shirts. I think they are so casual yet very fashionable and go great with white denim. So here is an outfit I picked out to go with my new obsession! 

Items:

1) Denim Shirt  2) White Denim

3) Sandal 4) Watch 

5) Fedora 6) Sunglasses
or
Get some items for less:
1) Denim Shirt 2) White Denim
3) Sandal

Dream Bank: The Sophisticated Piggy Bank

Remember having a piggy bank as a child? I do, except I could never quite fill it before it was being hacked into for a new CD ( I was a rocker at an early age) or what ever I was buying as a 7 year old. The problem was, at that age the simplest things made me happy. Of course I had dreams to travel but as a child I was content with a good 'ol tree fort or a chalk-drawn house on the street. Well, a lot has changed over the years and I have a ton of aspirations and goals. This "dream bank" is a great idea for picking a few things you'd like to save up for, and making it a reality! I think europe is next on my dream bank list. But even things like cooking classes, broadway shows, concerts, cruises, roadtrips, a new bike, or even dinner at that hot (and expensive) new restaurant, are all great ideas for this chic piggy bank. 

via Dream Bank

TGIF: Inspiration

Always remember that everyone has an opportunity to achieve their dreams; make it happen!


Have a great weekend everyone!

via here

Spring Fever: Formal-Wear

Cheesecloth Tunic

Crop Top Dress

Forever Unique Dress

Drapey Mini Dress

Scallop Dress

Cape Back Dress

One Sleeved Pearl Dress

  

Heels via ASOS

Love these formal springtime pieces from ASOS. Perfect for nights out to dinner, cocktail parties, weddings, birthdays, etc!

To Breakfast or Not To Breakfast...Should Never Be the Question

 I was very surprised when I entered college a few years ago and realized that more people than I had ever thought do not eat breakfast. For various reasons, sleeping in late or having to catch an early class, it seemed crazy to me that so many kids skipped this important meal. The mornings when I am super busy and eat a later breakfast or a small breakfast, I find myself indulging in this massive hearty lunch that I later regret. SO, eating breakfast is important for lots of reasons:

Eating breakfast reduces your hunger later in the day, making it easier to avoid overeating.

When you skip breakfast, you may feel starved later and be tempted to reach for a quick fix,that leaves you feeling mopey and grossly full. 

HERE'S THE DEAL BREAKER PEOPLE: prolonged fasting — which occurs when you skip breakfast — can increase your body's insulin response, which in turn increases fat storage and weight gain. 

Skipping breakfast actually increases your risk of obesity.

One quick tip for eating a balanced breakfast, according to WebMD, is to "strive for five." That means try to include at least 5 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein in every breakfast.

Now here is a list of some healthy breakfast options to start your morning the right way: 

Whole grains. Options include whole-grain rolls, bagels, hot or cold whole-grain cereals, low-fat bran muffins, crackers, or melba toast.

Low-fat protein. Options include hard-boiled eggs, peanut butter, lean slices of meat and poultry, or fish, such as water-packed tuna or slices of salmon.

Low-fat dairy. Options include skim milk, low-fat yogurt and low-fat cheeses, such as cottage and natural cheeses.

Fruits and vegetables. Options include fresh fruits and vegetables or 100 percent juice beverages without added sugar.

Berry photo

Apple photo

Info via Mayo Clinic

Trend Report: Nailin' it

butter LONDON

butter LONDON is a great line of nail care and my personal favorite brand. Besides the beautiful array of colors they have to offer, each polish is free of formaldehyde, toluene, and DBP (Phthales); each having carcinogenic effects and found in most polishes. Every season this brand comes out with a new cohesive line with an eccentric theme. Part rock n roll, part british flavor, butter LONDON is my go-to for gorgeous nails. Don't forget, hands are the first thing people see after your face, so make sure they look good!

Photos via butter LONDON online