Hello Spring

via Life is Beautiful

Hello Spring and thank you for coming!  Gotta love a season change.  Here are a few things that I want to do, eat, sing, be, go to this spring -- even if only in my dreams.  xx - m.m.

Do: plant an herb garden.

Eat: fresh, lovely salads

Sing: Keep Your Heart Young

Go: anywhere!  But here would be dreamy.

I dare you. . .

. . . not to love this music.  I dare you not to get the chills.

This is First Aid Kit and I adore them.  This song.  Their sound.  Their look. And the sort of wistful, but hopeful feeling I get from this song.  Oh, and I love a snare-drum-shuffle-beat almost more than life itself.  And well, a bearded, singing drummer, too.  Just like the one I married.  xx - m.m.

Magazine Mix

I looked down to see these two magazines on my table, and I laughed.  Then I realized it's the perfect dichotomy of my style. . . probably true for you, too.  Country Living and Foam.  Seriously?  Well. . . yes.  Why not?  I sometimes need to bust out of my typical go-tos of Dwell, Elle Decor and vintage issues of Domino.  

Here's my breakdown: 

It's hard to believe Country Living is still alive in the age of dying magazines, especially ones that have been around for more than 10 years.  It really does have good ideas.  Fun tips. Nice photography.  And it's less baby blue duck motif country, and more livable, eclectic, bright family homes.  And Foam is well. . .cool.  Maybe too cool for me in real life, but I like to know about what they know.  It's young, but not too young.  It may highlight 20 somethings, but also super cool 30 somethings and I find the info about smart, cool creatives across the country and ideas, projects, art - fascinating.  

I'm not fully a "Foam girl" and I'm not fully a "Country Living lady".  But put them together and I'm right in my comfort zone.  Marketers hate me.   xx - m.m. 

It's About Music. And Edward Sharpe.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros "That's What's Up"

from Austin City Limits on Vimeo.
Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros starred in my first post on smmidge and they were my inspiration that day, and beyond. . . and still when I hear them, I'm happy and inspired.  The connectivity we can find through music is amazing and, well, essential to well being.  Atleast my well being.  What about you?

This song, "That's What's Up",  especially goes to my husband.  I love the words and aren't they so so true?  And the expression through words and movement in this video, I just adore.  Ben and I stay connected and inspired to this day through music, and it was one of the anchors of our young relationship. . . I suppose it still is.    Even so, sometimes, when you are lost, you need some music to bring you back.  When you need a break, music can provide it.  When you need to remember, music can take you there.  That's us, and probably all of us.

Below is another song that takes. me. there.  To another place.  But still keeps me connected, if that makes sense.  Angel from Montgomery.  Love this old, imperfect moment at FarmAid years and years ago with Bonnie Raitt and John Prine.  They didn't care about the audio problems or the mess-ups.  They still let it take 'em there.  And here is a very imperfect, old, late night, long-talks-and-beer rendition of the same, by Ben and me.  Thank goodness my friend put the grainy filter over it.  That is all.  But then again, who cares, because it's about the music and that made (and makes) us all happy, connected, and takes us there.   xx - m.m.

Chic Totes for Flea Markets and Montages

We ventured to a flea market a few weeks ago, and I realized I had nothing cute to carry.  I envisioned a video montage of our day (set to the Lumineers of course), all of us carrying colorful, quirky finds and me carrying a super chic flea market tote.  Well, ehem, that wasn't exactly that case.  We had a rickety, loud wagon and cute but old mesh "Madonna" tote from our honeymoon in San Miguel de Allende.  Though I still have love for it, it just didn't seem right and the handles are too small.  So since that day, I've been looking around for totes to love.  Etsy was the best source I came across because I don't care to have something from the department store that is exactly the same tote as everyone else.  Here are three of my very faves, with good shoulder straps, cute prints and clean utility.  I'll keep you posted on my final choice and here's hoping we can all be the flea market chic of our video montage dreams.  xx - m.m.

Leathinity via Etsy

Hattakam via Etsy

Bayan Hippo via Etsy