This song...

has been stuck in my head ever since I saw that one movie last week.

This is a stunning live version of "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" and the definite highlight for me of the soundtrack:


Beautiful!

Pumpkin Spice Cookies

I got this recipe from Kim a couple of years ago. The recipe is SO easy and really yummy:

Ingredients:
1 Box Spice Cake Mix
1 15 ounce Pure Pumpkin
6 ounces Chocolate Chip Cookies (only Milk Chocolate for me)
Non-stick Cooking Spray

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheets with non-cooking spray. In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix and canned pumpkins. Mix in chocolate chips. Drop cookie dough onto cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

And! I think these are a Weight Watchers approved recipe (don't quote me on that), so you won't feel too guilty eating one, or two, or even three.

Self Portrait

(I finally got my hair cut this weekend. Yay.)

A boo-and-a-hoo about:

This.

However! Hopefully the movie he alludes to really will happen... pretty, please.

When do you...

start listening to Christmas music?

It's become a debate not only in my workplace, but between me and Jeff, and within my family. And, aren't two Utah radio stations playing all-Christmas music 24/7? Wow.

Take my poll in the right-hand column... Don't worry I won't judge you. I like Christmas music too. But, only after Thanksgiving.

Scarf as Art

Posted this over on Jane Shoots. This is one of my favorites of this project:

I over-exposed it on purpose, but I love the shape.

Lisa Hannigan

I absolutely LOVE Lisa Hannigan's voice. When she parted ways with Damien Rice, I was hopeful she'd do a side-project.

After browsing her website, I found that her new album "Sea Song" is available to purchase on her website! AND you can also stream some of it there too. Yay.

(Um... I also wandered over to her blog where she wrote about her love for Bon Iver's song "Skinny Love," which I was obsessed with over the summer, and that she just read The Book Thief (thanks for the recommendation, Ali!), which I just started reading. Wow. I really think we're meant to be friends.)

Jane Shoots

I've realized that over the last year this blog has turned into a photo-journal, since I've (mildly) become obsessed with photography.

I always wanted to study photography but never dove into it until the last couple of years.

To keep up with this passion, and to work on new projects related to photography, I've started a new blog called Jane Shoots:

The first "series" is about a pink scarf from my grandma...

It's just in the making, and I'll only post photos there that make the cut (whatever that means)but, I'm happy to share it with you to continue persuing my love of photography!

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

I think this movie looks beautiful:



Brad Pitt is not my favorite actor, but I've heard good things about his acting in this movie. So, I'll stay hopeful!

I plan on reading F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story that this film is adapted from before seeing the movie.

Monster Cookies

When in doubt, I ALWAYS make these cookies.

They're a crowd favorite. My friend Candice (thanks Candice!) gave me this recipe a couple of years ago, and I'm so glad she did. I've been a hero at many-a-parties because of them.

They're soft and chewy with lots of chocolate. (My favorite kind of cookie.)

Here's the recipe:

Monster Cookies
1/2 C. soft butter
1 C. packed brown sugar
1 C. sugar
2 t. baking soda
1 T. vanilla extract
1 1/2 C. peanut butter
3 eggs beaten
8 oz. mini M&Ms
8 oz. milk choc. chips
4 1/2 C. oatmeal

Preheat oven 350.
Cream butter and both sugars together. Add soda, vanilla, peanut butter and eggs. Mix well. Mix in M&Ms, choc. chips and oatmeal. Drop cookie dough in rounded balls two inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 min. Cookies should be soft!!

Makes 4 dozen. (They really do- perfect to take to a party.)

Tilly and the Wall: Sesame Street

If you have any little ones, show them this fun clip of Tilly and the Wall singing the ABC's while tapping away:



Makes me wanna pull out my tap shoes...!

Add a Soundtrack...

to your day.

Stream a 16-track Cure tribute here. My fave covers:

+ Joy Zipper
+ Dean & Britta
+ The Poems

(If we could only count the number of Cure covers that have been done- too many to count. But, I'm always all listen.)

Texture

Love the texture and colors of this:

(Found at the site of my family's new cabin.)


I'm working on a new project to catalogue some of my favorite photos. Hopefully I can get it live soon... in the meantime, here's one that will make the cut.

More Covers

By Cat Power.

Her upcoming album will feature the following covers:

'Dark End Of The Street’ (Aretha Franklin)
‘Fortunate Son’ (CCR)
‘Ye Auld Triangle’ (The Pogues)
‘I’ve Been Loving You Too Long’ (Otis Redding)**
‘Who Knows Where The Time Goes’ (Sandy Denny)**
‘It Ain’t Fair’ (Aretha Franklin)

**Excited for these ones.

"Dark End of the Street" wil be out next month!

Is it weird...

That I'm totally obsessed with this show?

I think it's utterly adorable and fascinating all at the same time.

(Yes, I did DVR the last episode when the family goes to Hawaii. I can't wait to see next week's episode when they renew their vows... I'm sure they got the entire trip AND dress AND flights AND hotel all free. Guess it would pay to have that many kids...)

Blog as Journal

I sometimes look through my archives to see what I was doing last year at this same time.

Last year was no exception.

I gallivanted out to the Salt Flats with Ali and Bridgett. We had such a fun day taking photos and doing what we do best- talk.

How I wish we could go back!

Saturday...

we did this all morning:

(Don't worry- I wasn't just taking photos; I too was helping, I promise.)

Together, Jeff and I filled a total 0f 35 HUGE bags with leaves:

We were raking up leaves, putting leaves in the bag, tying the bags up for FOUR hours.

Jeff was kind enough to help our elderly neighbors. While he was able to clean up both of their yards, I was cleaning up ours. (Yes, this means I am a very, very slow leaf picker-upper.)

It was a relief to get this chore done.

But...! Look what's looming over us:

Ugh.

Falling for Fall

Before the snow fell, I took these pictures for The Photo Trade, which I mailed off a couple weeks ago:

(This one's my favorite.)

I'm worried about the winter; I'm not sure I can cope with dark evenings OR the cold. Brrrr.

What a day...

I'll let Tweety sing it out:

Halloween 2008

On the previous post, Lori pointed out that it would be difficult for Jeff to top his costume from last year. Teen Wolf was spectacular. However, the craftsmanship of Jeff's costume this year was stellar.

Inspired by "Donnie Darko," Jeff created his entire costume from head to toe.

Meet Frank:

Isn't he creepy? Jeff did an amazing job with that mask. I was very proud to be his date at the Halloween Party on Friday night.

As for me, I decided to give in to comments that I resembled this person... why not? It did get me a Best Costume prize on Friday night AND a second place win at work...

So, I became Governor Sarah Palin for the day:

Some say this costume wasn't THAT difficult to pull off. But, I beg to differ. Important elements that HAD to be included in the costume:

+ Flag pin (surprisingly difficult to find)
+ Palin eyewear (thanks Ky)
+ The hair- had to tease it just so

We had a great halloween... thanks Jeremy and Jer for an AMAZING party, which included a live band that played an incredible set. (For the record, I had "Gangster Paradise" stuck in my head ALL night.)

See more amazing costumes here.