What do all these pictures have in common?

What a fuggin good lookin' crew. 

Sweet Homes, Sweet Women

Yesterday I saw online that Heather Bishop was going to be on CTV's 'Manitoba Moments' this morning, so I immediately went to the living room and DVR'd it so I could watch it tonight after work. Heather Bishop is a folk singer-songwriter, visual artist, author, carpenter and social activist. She's won tons of awards including Juno's and was awarded the Order of Canada in 2005, she's released 14 albums, including children's as well as folk and she basically built her own house.

Heather Bishop was also a good friend of my Aunt Elena who passed away in 2003. I've been to Heather's amazing house, but my memory of it is a little fuzzy as it was probably 10 years ago. I was hoping that there would be shots of the whole property, and that I could catch a glimpse of Elena's old house but the interview was just indoors. Click here to see the video of Heathers amazing house, here to see her beautiful paintings, and here to listen to some of her music.

One of my biggest regrets is that I didn't get to know Elena better. When we would take family trips to their property in the middle of nowhere I was a 15 year old (and probably pretty surly) teenager that just wanted to be back in Brandon hanging out with my friends. And thinking back now I'm sure being around this family that she didn't see very often with one bored teenager and one hyperactive "tween" she was probably a little stressed out. I think I was a different person at that time and didn't respect, the way I would now, their amazing home, the things Elena made with her hands, and lifestyle that was so different from the way I was brought up.

If Elena was still alive I know we would get along amazingly. We share the same sense of humor, love of photography, music, cigarettes and sarcasm. I think that's all you need, right?

My favorite Vandale picture and Elena's 24th birthday

Tween Eshadow

Omgomgomgomggggggggg this is the only thing I've heard from Twin Shadow since Forget was released. Apparently my favorite little man is going to have another album coming out this summer, and although this link below is instrumental (not ma fav) the beats get me excited for whatever is coming up. I'm a little nervous for the next album to be released, just because I don't think that I could have loved Forget any more than I did.

I think this just sparked my 26th re-obsession of Twin Shadow.

Here's one of my favorites titled "Forget"

Thanks Katy!

I. LOVE. TWIN. SHADOW!

JUST LOVE 'EM! continued

WARM SOCKS

I hate having cold feet. So I've been buying lots of warm socks lately, tall ones ragalar ones, ugly as shit but super comfy ones... loves em!

oh JUSTIN.

This is how you watch this video.  You press play, full screen that shit and then pretend that Justin Vernon is your boyfriend.  You don't have to sit there and watch the full thing, you can get ready for your day or make a tuna sandwich 'er something.. but you get the pleasure of looking over at your adorable boyfriend and his cute little friend that he invited over for the afternoon and think to yourself "oh Justin... love when you play this song!"  "Juuustinnnnnn!  I didn't know your friend had such a nice voice!" Or sometimes you look over and catch them giving each other cute smiles and all you can do is think about how lucky you are to have such a great and talented boyfriend.

The Hole

It happened again. This morning I had 'Fantasy' by Mariah Carey in my head, so I put it on the ol' YouTube while getting ready for school. One thing led to another and I found myself in the 90's, early 2000's gal music hole. It's nearly impossible to get out of once you've started. The danger lies in that these jams are so unbelievably catchy that you have to dance, nostalgia hits, and at the same time YouTube is throwing out suggestions at the end of each song that you didn't know you wanted to hear, but absolutely do. It's as if YouTube is your 13 year old brain. This is my morning, and I think I'm going to be late for school.

Fantasy

Say My Name

No Scrubs

Are You That Somebody

Oh

JUST LOVE 'EM! continued

BROWN BAGS

My bestie Katy has mentioned to me a few times that I keep buying brown bag after brown bag. When I was pulling all these bad boys out I realized that each one reminds me of a certain time in my life, or at least a few memories. Second from the left was victim to a bottle of whiskey spilling all in it, (the last of the alcohol at Harvest Sun Festival) backpack on the left was my beach buddy this summer, dark brownie in the back had a toothbrush and toothpaste in it so must have been my bag when I first moved home from Victoria and was staying over at Katys lots, back-right is my newest addition that I'm very excited to use one day, front-right is my current favorite ... 

CAN'T STOP WON'T STOP!

JUST LOVE 'EM!

This is an ongoing photo collection of my favorite things. It would have been a complete blog entry but "my camera" screwed up and some pictures need redoing. Here's the first!

STRIPED SHIRTS

When doing laundry the other day I realized that almost my entire basket was full of striped shirts. I'm not sure what it is about them, I didn't even know I loved them so much until I saw them all piled on top of each other. So I guess striped shirts are accidentally one of my favorite things.

Beats by Thugs then Harmony

This disturbing collection of tweets came after Chris Brown's super lip-synched Grammy performance. I was not only shocked that these girls are saying the most ignorant, stupid and insensitive shit, but that people seem to have forgotten that Chris Brown assaulted his then-girlfriend Rihanna just three years ago. I know this isn't the only or most severe case of domestic abuse, but it was definitely a much talked about one. Why is it that we're forgiving abusive douchebags just because they are in the media or 14 year old girls think that they have talent?

I can also apply this to real life. An old friend of mine was a victim to domestic abuse by her psychotic boyfriend. This happened in Victoria, which has a very exclusive art and music scene. A lot of people knew about his violent history and what had happened to this friend and past girlfriends as well. However, he is a "talented artist" so it was swept under the rug. Nothing ever came of it and he is still celebrated as one of Victoria's best artists.

I just want to say that it's really sad that these cases of domestic abuse can go forgotten, if the perpetrator has "talent." I'm a little surprised that The Grammy's condone Chris Brown's actions by not only nominating him for an award but letting him perform as well. Sure everyone was all riled up three years ago when Chris Brown hit Rihanna.. but now not only has everyone forgotten but stupid women are making it worse by offering to get beat by this asshole because he's so "hot, talented, blah, blah, blah."

Look at this jerk. To totally contradict myself, I think he needs a good beating for wearing that hat.

FRIDAY.

Even though I have a full day of classes and have to close at work tonight, I always find myself listening to party jams on Fridays. Not sure why.

So, it's Friday, listen to these jams!

BRR!!!

Lawwwwd

Day-Cay!

Lana "Vindicated" Del Rey

As is tradition for my Sunday mornings, I rolled out of bed, suited up (house coat and slippers) made a serious pot of coffee, and watched the previous nights SNL, taped for my pleasure so I can skip through the one million commercials. This was actually a decent 'sode considering I had zero expectations of Channing Tatum.  I'd like to say the best part was when Bon Iver performed, but SNL parodying/totally defending Lana Del Rey was amazing.  People have been harshing on her for changing her name, not doing too much moving around when she performs, seeming nervous... everything.  I think this portion of Weekend Update made all the haters look a fool, and Lana Del Rey look AWESOME.

Sorry it's backwards y'all

Lady Love Part 6

Cat Power aka Chan Marshall

Oh Chan. I don't know if I could admire a laday any more than this. I feel like I got into her albums in a chronological order, so it's almost as though I started listening to her when I should have. I started in the dark early days of What Would The Community Think and am now bloggin' about her latest release, remake of King Rides By. I've listened to her through her hard times, drunk times, getting sober times, possibly back on the drank times again... but it's always the heart-melting, goosebump giving, mad respect giving and girl crushing times just the same. Even Karl Largerfeld fell in love with 'er. He recruited her as the new face of Chanel in 2006.. Chan explains to The Daily, "I was outside waiting, sitting on a pile of Louis Vuitton luggage, drinking water, with an apple and a cigarette in my hand, my cell phone, oh, and two guitars and out comes Karl. He walks up, looks at me and says, 'Only a woman can look glamorous when smoking.' And I lowered my glasses and pointed to (the bags under my) eyes and said, 'With these'?"

Chan Marshall is the epitome of 'cool' and I'm positive at least a million other people agree with me. The girls got mad steez, my bestie Katy and I can even tell each other that we got a "Cat Power shirt" and know what the other means. I've bullied employers into letting me listen to her at work, bedroom danced to CP, late night walks, morning gettin' ready's, drives around town, hanging with friends, the drunk n' lonlies (and fun-ies) craft time, dinner cooking, maybe every possible Ali scenario has been done to Cat Power. CAT POWER FOR PREZ!

(Again, seriously thank you HD)

Lady Love Part 5

Lykke Li

Lykke Li is also bad as hell. She's Swedish, gorgeous, a fashion icon, dances sweet, and has an awesome, unique voice. I think that people criticize when female "indie" stars dress sexy. It's almost as if we're taught that it's alright for pop stars to wear basically nothing, but when an indie gal does it, bitches be actin' like she's undoing what her lady pioneers worked for, or that being sessy takes away from their actual talent. In a Bust interview Lykke Li was quoted as saying, "I don't want people to limit me. If I feel like taking my fucking pants off, I'm gonna do that." Word, girl.

Here's an old fav:

Lady Love Part 4

Debbie Harry

How cool is Debbie Harry?  This icon was one of the first ladies that got me thinking about women in music.  As the singer for Blondie She was one of the few ladies making it when punk and new-wave was dominated by men, and she wasn't just "good, for a girl" she was amazing all around. Not only is she one of the babeliest  babes of all time, but her rap in "Rapture" was the first rap ever broadcasted on MTV.  Not saying m'lady invented rap, but the band was the first to introduce it to a larger crowd.  When I first moved to BC I would drive along the old island highway, looking out at the ocean and listening to this song: (thanks for inventing HD, someone.)

Lady Love Part 3

M.I.A

I feel pathetic even trying to write about MIA. So I'm not really going to. She is without a doubt, the coolest woman in the whole entire world. She is a fashion goddess and queen of being a huge babe without showin' off her shit. But you know that if she chose to do so you'd respect her all the same. Her jams are amazing for any situation. "Bucky Done Gun" reminds me of dancing at Lucky Bar, the album Arular reminds me of driving around on dirt roads in the prairies with Sara looking for abandoned houses, "Born Free" makes me drive like an asshole, "It Takes a Muscle" reminds me of Katy bopping her head around, and I can't wait to make some mems to "Bad Girls."

This video was released today, I even woke up early after a night on the town to check it out, which is pretty big, right? I was in for a treat, it just may be the most bad ass thing I've ever seen. M.I.A doing her nailzzz while sitting on a car on 2 wheels? In an Arab desert? Yes please!

Lady Love Part 2

Karen O

Karen O, singer of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's was my biggest high school influence.  The album Fever To Tell single handedly changed everything for me.  Not only was their music so different from anything I had heard before but I'm sure many girls can testify that Karen O is one of the coolest girl in music. She dresses crazy and puts on some of the most insane stage shows. As a 16 year old girl all I wanted was to be front row and center when Karen O would mouth-spray beer all over the crowd. This is the video I used to watch on repeat.

Lady Love

I love women. Love em. Although I'm 25 and don't quite consider myself a woman.. but saying "I love girls" seems kinda creepy. I love em so much I decided to make Gender & Women's Studies my minor. I occasionally get teased about it, which I can understand, fo sho. But I've learned too many interesting and important things in these classes, and have way too many gal-pals scattered around Canada that are way too cool and inspiring to dismiss Women's Studies as unnecessary, or to stop lovin' on ladies.

My respect for the ladies probably started in high school, after discovering women in music. Not all the Sarah McLaughlin and Chantal Kreviazuk bullshit. The women in music I'm talking about didn't need to put out annual compilations to prove that women were actually doing something in the music industry.

This is an ongoing list of all the ladies I consider to be major playas in the game. (I started writing it all at once but I started getting stressed out, and a blog that only 2 people read should not be stressful.) These are the ones, in no particular order, that started my admiration for women, shaped my taste in music and, I believe, music in general:

Feist

I started listening to Feist in 2004 when Let It Die came out. It's one of those perfect albums that is great to listen to at anytime of the day; morning noon and night I had this album on repeat. Although Feist's music is "parent-friendly" and she got pretty big on the radio, I think she's bad as hell. It could be when I saw her perform in Victoria and she completely lipped off the radio chick that introduced Feist to the crowd, calling her sound "adult-contemporary." I kind of stopped listening to her when 1234, my least favorite song on The Reminder became so overplayed on the radio. However, her new album Metals is amazing and combines perfectly Feist's sweet little voice with shouts, stomps and chants. (I love when female singers have male backup vocals) There's a lot of crescendos where the songs seem to completely change mid-way, which is one of my favorite properties in a song. This album is a little bit darker (can you use that word with Feist?) than her previous ones, as well as one of her best.

This is her very new and amazing video for "The Bad in Each Other"

does this post make me sound gay?