Nostalgia.

I’m getting older, it’s bumming me out because I’ve accomplished nothing and life sucks. So here’s some things that remind me of when I was young and happy.

1. The Spirit Room and Hotel Paper albums by Michelle Branch – My iPod has been digging these songs lately. I loved music as a kid, Hanson probably began this. But through Hanson I discovered Michelle Branch. Michelle Branch brings me back though, my friend, Cassie, and I waited outside of a FYE in New York to meet her. I went to a free concert before Jingle Ball to see her. Because of Michelle Branch I took guitar lessons and got a guitar for Christmas. Sure, I don’t really actively play it anymore, but I do write some funny parodies sometimes. She was my first big role model, aside from Jim Carrey, but definitely my first female role model. I still follow her, but you know, just like everything else, it’s not the same.

2. Scrubs – Scrubs is my favorite show of all time. I think now I realize it’s not just because it’s an incredibly well-written, acted, and hilarious show, but also because it was a great time in my life. It was when Brendan Fraser was relevant, my crush for him was still full fledged when he guest starred. This was high school and early college. I would watch it thursdays with my parents, or in my room instead of doing homework. It made me laugh, cry, and taught me things like even though I am rapping a song I still cannot say the “n” word.

3. Harry Potter – I mean who doesn’t think of a time of happiness and innocence when they think of and read Harry Potter? It reminds me of those summer nights at my lake house with my friend Yuchen and I just staying up late at night, not chatting, but reading Harry Potter. She was ahead of me, reading Goblet of Fire and I think I was reading Prisoner of Azkaban. The next day when we were swimming we would both wonder aloud how to properly pronounce “Hermione,” I think we decided on “Herm-in-knee.” I also remember taking a road trip with my family to Boston and Salem and in Salem was where I bought my first Harry Potter books.

4. Double Chocolate Milano Cookies – Late at night I would dip these suckers in milk and just enjoy the shit out of them. My mom would wake up from her nap on the chair and share the cookies with me and we’d have a fun late night convo. I’d have at least three. It was a time when I didn’t worry about my weight, how I looked, and just eating healthy. When you were a kid you didn’t give a shit about those things, all you cared about was what tasted good. And these made the top of the list for me.

What are some things that make you nostalgic?

What I do on rainy days.

Yesterday it rained in LA so I spent the day filming Taylor Swift giving relationship advice. Check it out here:

My Opinion Doesn’t Matter But I’m Going to Give it Anyway #2: Mumford and Sons

I saw Mumford and Sons tonight at the Hollywood Bowl. It was epic, inspiring, and just beautiful. There are more adjectives that could fill in this description of the show but words truly cannot describe how the show left me. It was incredibleamazingrealwowsomuchtalenthurtlovestunningpoeticetc.

Anyway, the show is not what I want to talk about it is the band. Mumford and Sons. Many people are mixed that the fact that this folk band from England is performing sold out shows throughout the entire world. They feel like they are selling out and not being “indie” anymore or they don’t like the music. The latter are people that most likely like mediocre pop or rock songs about “heartbreak” or some garbage (I do love some rap and some pop/rock artists but I’m talking about Soulja Boy and Nickleback, mostly). But honestly, if you don’t like their music, while I don’t understand how you are capable of, it is semi-understandable, but if you hate that they are becoming insanely successful you are stupid. In plain English.

When I was younger I would HATE when my band was on the radio and felt they were selling out, as an adult now that has a stronger concept of money, I love when they get publicity on the radio. Much like Mumford and Sons.

First of all, not just their success but I love folk music. Bob Dylan and Johnny Flynn are on the top of my favorite musicians of all time. I feel like “folk music” the label sounds cheesy, almost country-ish but it is so much more than that. It involves various instruments from staple guitar to also adding in the banjo or violin. The lyrics are always poetic and just…”how did they think of that? Are they geniuses?” There is so much talent practically spewing out in folk music and for it to not be successful is just a damn shame. There’s not much production just the instruments and the voices and, if you think about it, isn’t that what music really is about it? Not about autotuning or phat beatz but the MUSIC the musical instruments from the guitars to the vocals. And that is folk music it is MUSIC.

I love that Mumford and Sons are becoming insanely popular because it gives more fantastically talented musicians to make it and put some good music on the radio for once instead of the mindless garbage on now. People wonder what is to become of us, humanity, they think we are getting dumber because of technology, movies, and music. Arguably they may be right especially when we listen to songs about “Umbrellas” and “Spaceships,” where there are no creativity in the lyrics but just about the bumpin’ and grindin’ in the music. Maybe if we listen to good music that means something, maybe that’ll change something.

To sum it up, I think it is great that Mumford and Sons are reaching this success and fame because they sure deserve it. I hope they opened the door for more great musicians and bands to reach wider audiences.

Christmas Playlist

Christmas is for days away, can you believe that? FOUR! In case you aren’t in the Christmas spirit and need a little kick in the festive direction here’s a few of my favorite Christmas songs to rock out to.

1. Mariah Carey – “All I Want for Christmas is You”
2. Hanson – “What Christmas Means to Me”
3. Band Aid – “Do They Know its Christmas?”
4. Jimmy Eat World – “Last Christmas”
5. Bing Crosby – “Mele Kalikimaka”
6. Dean Martin – “Baby It’s Cold Outside”
7. Glee Cast – “Extraordinary Merry Christmas”
8. Elton John – “Step Into Christmas”
9. Julian Casablancas – “I Wish It was Chrismas Today (SNL Cover)”
10. Something Corporate – “Forget December”
11. Low – “Just Like Christmas”
12. Bing Crosby – “White Christmas”

There’s just a few favorites., but I have…well too many Christmas songs to even list. Hope that helps and have a happy holiday!

Travel Neccessities.

I’m a big traveler but no matter how much I travel I suck at packing my check-in bag. I always overpack. I am such a pro though at my carry-on. I’m actually taking a flight home this Monday for the holidays and I’ve been slowly preparing myself. Here’s a list of my necessities for a long flight.

1. Books! – I went to the library earlier this week and picked out quite a few books to have on hand. Usually I pack two and bring two on board to read. I actually just started “Anna and the French Kiss” though because I couldn’t wait and it is so, so good! I read over 100 pages in less than a day so far and plan on reading more after I hit the gym. It actually is preventing me from the gym because I just want to keep reading it! I may finish that one before I even leave!

2. Snacks! I always like munching on little snacks like granola bars, trail mix, and fruit. I also have a bunch of hummus that goes bad the day after Christmas so I’m bringing those little packets along as well. I’m vegetarian so sometimes they don’t have a meal for me (only happened once but…better safe than sorry) so I pack snacks in case. I always try and pack healthyish snacks because there’s so much temptation at airports with ooey gooey sugary fattening snacks, it’s nice to have stuff that tastes good but is also pretty good for you too. Also you don’t want to suffer through a sugar rush on an airplane. I just received these DELICIOUS raw crunch bars for my other blog, be on the lookout for my review of them, they are amazing though especially if you love nuts. I also love my rice cakes. Here I mixed two trail mixes the pumpkin spice one and the chocolate and banana one from Target to make my own awesome mix.

3. Music! I always charge up my iPod and make sure it is updated with music. I always play Broken Social Scene on airplanes because they’re great sleep music. I also plan on jamming out to some Christmas music, too! I downloaded a bunch to prepare, like Glee’s latest and some old Burt Ives classics. You know, tis the season!

4. Entertainment! I always pack my iPad because I have some books on there as well but also movies! I’ve downloaded a few films to watch in case I get tired of reading. And in case this airplane doesn’t have a good movie selection. I am flying Jet Blue though and I think they’re good, but you never know! I have “Friends with Benefits” and “Boy A” for backup!

5. Writing material! I get inspired when I’m bored and I think of new ideas for blog posts, stand up jokes, reviews, and more sometimes when I’m on an airplane. I always like writing it down instead of saving it on my iPad just because I’ve always been a notebook person and I’m a faster writer than typer on an iPad.

What about you guys? What are your travel necessities?

Karaoke in the Car Songs.

Well today was not a good day for me. I was fired. How was I fired? By a phone call. Yes, yes I did tell the a little short notice that I was leaving to go home for Christmas for two weeks but to call me on the phone and not let me work a week is just wrong. So, I was sad today. I had to drive down to my Uncle’s too by myself and needed a pick me up so what did I do? Blast some fun songs and had a little karaoke in the car. It sure helped. Here are my favorite songs to sing in the car:

1. “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by the Glee Cast
2. “Like a Prayer” by Madonna
3. “Somebody to Love” by Queen
4. “Monster” by Kanye, Jay-Z, Rick Ross, and Nicki Minaj
5. “Circus” by Britney Spears
6. “MMMBop” by Hanson
7. “Wild Wild West” by Will Smith
8. “All You Wanted” by Michelle Branch
9. “I Just Wanted Your Love” Alexz Johnson
10. “The Bitch of Living” by Spring Awakening
11. “Piano Man” by Billy Joel
12. “Jizz in My Pants” by The Lonely Island

I know, it’s a strange variety of 90’s music, rap, and silly songs, but what can I say? They make me happy.

What are some songs you like doing car karaoke to?