Some Keyboard Gibberish.

By now, I'm guessing you kind of know what my style is.
At least, the kinds of songs that move me the most, and therefore are featured on this blog.
I love a good pop beat, I love a catchy chorus, but a piano and some soul singing will get me every time.

This Monday's melody is brought to you by KT Tunstall, a singer that I knew (embarrassingly enough) through DDR's rendition of her "Suddenly I See" and was later re-introduced to through my friend with the amazing musical taste, Emily.

Like that style I was mentioning earlier, this song has it all: the gentle piano melody, the lovely untouched voice, and above all- the soul.
It's called "Through the Dark" and I've practically listened to it non-stop the past week.

sa;djeofisujf;lsdkfjs;dlfkjsd;flksd
(The equivalent of sped-up heart palpitations and awkward blubbering through the keyboard, in case you were wondering.)

It's beautiful.

No Alcohol for Me, Mister!

The closest thing to alcohol I'll ever encounter in all my high school years?

Root Beer!

Say what you want, laugh all you like, but good ol' fashioned Sarsaparilla (I learned that term reading E.B.White's Stuart Little) is the way to go.

And what better way to drink it than in a glass bottle ?
Because everyone knows- soda (modeled by the lovely Anne) tastes miles better when it's in a glass bottle.

So, drink up!

Ghost Town.

I think this song's title perfectly sums up the atmosphere of the band.

Well, not really in the sense of the "ghost town" as an abandoned, creepy town ... but in the ethereal, almost haunting sound of their harmonies and sweet, sweet voices.

Also, they have a funny band name: First Aid Kit.
Not quite sure what that's supposed to mean, but I do love me some quirky titles!

Isn't it kind of creepy and cool at the same time?
And the video, gosh, is absolutely gorgeous.


PS- They made their debut on the internet with their cover of Fleet Foxes' Tiger Mountain Peasant Song (which is also pretty amazing- check it out!)

Some Modcloth Lovin'

I don't know anyone who doesn't love the clothes and accessories at Modcloth.
I mean- bird nest salt and pepper shakers? Lovely retro-esque dresses? It's amazing.
There are only two things I kind of detest:

1) that it's a solely online shop.
2) that the prices can be incredibly high.

Which is why I was so ecstatic when they held their annual "Cabin Fever" sale, with tons of things up to 70% off! I'm a huge fan of sales.
So, nervous and excited, I made my first ever Modcloth purchase...

...and a week later, I recieved a very special box.

It was kind of beat up on the sides, but it had the unmistakable label of my favorite store.

And I practically swooned when I saw the adorable detailing on the inside of the box.

I think I'm majorly in love with this "Dot Just a Pretty Dress".
(And did I mention that I loved their punny dress names? Because I do.)

And YES. Those are pockets.

The top part of the back is covered in a black sheer fabric that matches the sleeve cuffs!


I am rather content.

Surprisingly So.

This song, by Amy Seeley, has probably got to be one of my most favorite songs.

(I know, I say it about every song, but hey- there are a lot of good songs out there!)

One of the reasons I am so in love with it is because it's a love song without it being about a specific person, a song about true love with friends.
And that, my friends, is some powerful stuff.

An excerpt:

"And when you smile.. you smile... you smile at me
you have no idea just how sweet it can be

so the band marches on and we will sing along
there's comfort in knowing our similarities
we are captured in time, space and degrees of caution .. wonder .. and awe

like pirouettes drifting
ike chocolate
like saccharine
you're unaware .. appealing
like our friendship, I'll be content."


Another thing that I like about her is that she has no music videos, no fancy-pancy studio recordings, it's just her. And her piano.
And I think that her clear voice and emotion just shines through and makes the world of auto-tune seem so silly...

Gah. It's beautiful.

Don't you agree?

A Night of Fun and Babies.

Meet my new cousin, Ryan.
He's basically adorable to the max, and for a few 15-minute intervals last night, he was all mine.
(I would've kept him for longer but Mathew forced me to share.)

So, he was born less than 2 weeks ago (I want to say 12 days- but don't quote me on that), and of those 2 weeks, I've seen him twice. Lucky me!
If I keep this up, I'll basically be his favorite cousin ever.

We went over to visit and eat dinner (and some mighty delicious Special Edition Girl Scout Cookie ice cream) and there was plenty of fun to go around!

I revisited some childhood games with my two younger cousins, Addison and Nathaniel, and marveled at how packaging changes!
Man, can't kids be happy with plain old Chutes and Ladders instead of more colors and more shapes and more people? I remember it being rather nondescript...

There were plenty of silly faces and giggles.

And I do believe that Mathew was extremely taken with Nathaniel's light saber set.
They had plenty-a duel together, although Nathaniel may have ended up with two black eyes- one from a thrown pillow (ahem, Mathew) and one from a lightsaber (cough, Mathew).

Oh, and of course. There was plenty and plenty of holding!

Can I hear a "whoot whoot" for newborns?
Goodness, I love 'em.

(And yes, I admit sheepishly, there are no pictures of the happy parents. I had a couple awkward ones on my camera, but I figured I'd better not show any at all than show some really unflattering camera angles... my bad. There are attractive people, take it from me.)

Whoot!

Picking a number...

Finding corresponding number to said number....

The winner of the CSN giveaway is the lovely Sam of The Married Couple!
Whoohoo!

Just drop me a line (or a word?) at

abiteofallison {at} gmail {dot} com

and I'll get you all hooked up!



PS: Haha, I love that you think I look like the girl (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pOC29Dv894) in this commercial! I hope I'm at least a better actor than her though...