Happy Holidays 2012!

2012 Holiday Barbie

Yuletide Yummies Barbie

Yep, that time of year is upon us again! May this holiday season, no matter what you celebrate, be full of joy, peace, love, and festivity. In celebration, take a look at my post from last year full of seasonal sounds...enjoy, and Seasons Greetings!
Kwanzaa Barbie and Kwanzaa from ITunes Essentials

Happy Thanksgiving 2012!

Wishing you all a day full of friends, family, happiness and plenty of belt busting good eating! What are you most thankful for since last Thanksgiving? Please share below! Me, I'm glad I survived another year in pretty much one piece lol!
Thanksgiving Songs from ITunes Essentials

Cultural Heritage Recognition Pt. 2

While every February I acknowledge my African American side, and every Cinco de Mayo (which I consider chr pt. 1) I tip my hat to the Mexican part of my heritage, I don't usually get to do so for the other 2/4ths of me, so here, I will allow my friend Barbie do it for me lol. What Dolls of the World make up your cultural heritage?  Please do share below!
Spain
1983
1992
Andalucia
2007
this year
Cafe Barcelona from ITunes Essentials
and the Philippines

Happy Veterans Day!

Happy Veterans Day to all who've served...thank you for everything you've done to keep this country free and safe! It can never be compensated for and I will always be grateful for and always remember your sacrifices! Blessings to every man and women who's ever worn a uniform and their families!
Stars and Stripes Barbies
Soldier Songs

Happy Halloween 2012!

Haunted Beauty Ghost Barbie

That's right boils and ghouls, my fave time of year is here yet again and as usual, I'm super excited about it (even though it's most likely I won't be doing anything of note). In celebration, allow me to direct you to the post I made last year with all the oh so creeptastic tunage that is sure to put you in the swing of things in no time (a noose is optional lol)! Enjoy, and Season's Screamings! PS: new for this year on AccuRadio is a station dedicated to the music of the great Midnight Syndicate you can mix in w/the Halloween station!

Sounds of Fall

Welcome to my favorite season of the year! The heat of summer is fading, leaving us less sun baked and in parts of the country, the beautiful foliage has, or will soon be, making an appearance. The tourists have gone back home, school's back in session, and, best of all, it's once again time for fall TV! 😋

Autumn Glory Barbie
I Dream of Autumn Barbie

Earworm of the Day: Alice in Wonderland Edition

It's no secret I love anything Alice...well, a few months ago, I saw a video by hard rock diva Lita Ford that featured the theme. While musically not really my cup of tea, I nonetheless dug the imagery. Trouble was, I couldn't remember the name of it later. This though, of course, reminded me of another classic video that is my musical cuppa and has been a fave for years: Tom Petty & The Heartbreaker's "Don't Come Around Here No More." As luck would have it, I happened to see the Lita video just a bit ago and found out the name of the song is "Hungry" so guess what? Yep, you got it, both classic clips have been presented below for your enjoyment...happy listening! :-)

Dark Shadows

The legendary Tim Burton strikes again, this time taking on the cult classic of the 60s/70s. For those who may not know the story, cast regular Johnny Depp stars as Barnabus Collins, an 18th century fishing scion who unknowingly spurns the wrong woman: a witch named Angelique (played by Eva Green) when he becomes betrothed to his "true love" causing her to kill his parents, the fiance, and turns Barnabus into a vampire. She then turns the town named after his family against him and they bury him in a chained coffin. Fast forward 200 years... it's 1972, and Barnabus is dug up by some unwitting construction workers. He makes his way back to his old home and discovers that not only is it being lived in by family descendants, but his old nemesis, having made herself more or less immortal like him, is alive and well, and ready to battle for control over the town she has bought out, and for Barnabus's love (which he still refuses her). I found the film to be better than expected, and thought it a bit of a step up from Burton's last film, Alice in Wonderland...the cheesy schlock of the '70s and the macabre, horror, and supernatural aren't something you would think would mix well, but to me he manages to walk that fine line as well as can be expected, and while there's definitely some rather cheesy moments, the infamous Burton bite remains intact. It made for fun viewing, and I want to see the original show now! I give Dark Shadows 3 out of 5 stars.
Ps: should you be musically inspired after viewing, click  this and revel in 1972 hits bliss! :-p
1972 from ITunes Essentials

Happy Labor Day!

This one's for all you working stiffs! Take this unofficial last day of summer to kick back, relax, and enjoy some gentle ribbing at your boss's expense...just remember, without the little guy, the world wouldn't spin as it does, and no matter what your job may be, or whether you love it or hate it, you are valuable there. So a toast to making the money and "don't let the boss man/woman get you down!" ;-)

Labor Day Songs from ITunes Essentials

A Bit of A New Direction

So a little bit ago, I was looking at this book

and an idea hit me: I would like to try and make this blog a bit more of a multi media experience...more literature, film, and art as well as music. Also inspiring me is the late, great Andy Warhol. Not only do we share a birthday, he is one of my favorite artists because of his (to me anyway) brilliant ability to combine all those mediums and different versions of those mediums into one show. Anyway, so hopefully in the coming weeks, I hope to add a bit more of that aspect and feel here and that it goes off as smoothly as possible. I hope you all enjoy it! :-)

Jour Heureux Bastille!

A very happy Bastille Day to every French man and woman! I hope it was a good one, and Vive le France!

Barbies:
Princess of the French Court
Marie Antoinette
French Lady
Empress Josephine
(yes, I know Bastille Day started the overthrow of the monarchy, but they are part of French history...)
La Belle Époque
Parisian 1980
Parisian 1991
French 1997
France 2008
this year
Autumn in Paris
Eiffel Tower
Moulin Rouge

Music:
AOL Radio: French Classics
AccuRadio: French Pop
Tune In.com: French radio stations
Itunes Essentials:
Classic French Pop
French Dinner Party
French Electronic
French Impressionism
Modern French Pop

Happy Independence Day!

Statue of Liberty Barbie 1996

Happy 236th birthday USA! May you and yours have a safe and happy fourth, and enjoy all the food, parades, and of course, fireworks!
AOL Radio: Patriotic Songs
AccuRadio: Red, White and Blue Country
Slacker: 4th of July Celebration
4th of July and Pride by ITunes Essentials

Lady Liberty Barbie

Statue of Liberty Barbie 2010

Hail Britannia!

With Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics being held in London, this year seems to be the year of all things British. Well, being the Anglophile that I am, you certainly won't be hearing any complaints from me lol...instead, I offer you some things to help celebrate should you be so inclined. Enjoy!

Barbies:
Royalty:
Princess of England
Elizabethan Queen
Queen Elizabeth 1
Royal UK
Royal Wedding
Classic English Characters:
Arthur & Guinevere
Merlin & Morgan Le Fay
Alice in Wonerland
The Queen of Hearts
The Mad Hatter
Kelly & Tommy as Alice & The Mad Hatter
The Tale of Peter Rabbit 1998 and 2001
Bert
Mary Poppins
Jane and Michael
Eliza Doolittle: Flower Girl
Eliza Doolittle: At Ascot
Eliza Doolittle: at the Embassy Ball
Eliza Doolittle: Her Closing Scene
Professor Henry Higgins
James Bond 007
Barbie Loves Bond Collection
Misc:
English
Big Ben
Autumn in London
United Kingdom
Fashion Model Collection:
Day at the Races
Highland Fling
High Tea and Savories
Lady of the Manor
Pretty Pleats
Tweed Indeed
High Stepping (fashion)
True Brit (accessory)
And a tip of the hat to their neighbor to the north:
Scottish 1981
Scottish 1991
Scotland 2009

Music:
AccuRadio: Beatles Plus station listings
AccuRadio: British Invasion, ect.
AccuRadio: Brit Rock listings
AOL Radio: British Invasion
AOL Radio: Britpop
Live 365: British Invasion station listings
Live 365: Britpop station listings
Tune In.com: UK radio stations
From ITunes Essentials:
British Blues
British Folk
British Invasion
Britpop
London
Manchester
UK Soul Divas

Websites:
BBC America
Official website of the British Monarchy
Taylors of Harrogate and Twinings: two of my fave tea brands
Earth Cam: Abbey Road crossing, London

Sounds of Summer

Welcome summer! That big shiny thing in the sky is in full force, and the time is here to look ahead to grilling, sand, surf, and all things to put us in that laid back,easy going frame of mind. School's out, vacations plans are fulfilled, and parents do their best to keep the peace. So sit back, relax, soak up the sun, and check out these summertime soundtracks I found on ITunes Essentials and a couple radio stations:
AccuRadio: Summer Vacation (AccuCountry)
AOL Radio: Surf Rock
Live 365: Surf Rock station listings

From ITunes Essentials
Beach Grooves
Beach Music
Country Cookout
Country Summer Nights
Graduation Songs
Kid's Summer
Lazy Summer
Pool Party
Sailing Songs
School's Out
Southern Rock BBQ
Summer BBQ
Summer Nights
Summer Songs
Summer Songs 2
Summer Vacation
Summertime R and B
Sunshine Reggae
Surfing
Surf Music

Summer Splendor Barbie
I Dream of Summer Barbie

Happy Father's Day!

A very happy father's day to all you dads and grandpas out there! May it be either exciting or relaxing, whichever you prefer and full of love from your kids/grand kids! Just remember: try not to burn the meat! :-p


Father's Day from ITunes Essentials

Earworm of the Day: The Cure

Yes, there are several songs that I could choose from as a)I'm a huge Cure fan and b) most of their songs a friggen catchy, but I've decided to go with "The Love Cats" for now because really, the world need more shots of Robert Smith with cats lol (don't ask me which one's cuter...I can't decide :-p)...enjoy!

The cure - love cats Vidéo dagoba54 sélectionnée dans Musique

Happy Memorial Day!

To all those that served or are still serving, we salute you! Thanks so much for helping to keep this country free! In celebration, why not check out the classic Barbie Stars and Stripes Collection and some songs from ITunes:

Stars and Stripes Barbies
Memorial Day Cookout
Soldier Songs

Happy World Goth Day!

Every May 22, the darkly clad and those that love them celebrate all that is spooky, macabre, and  other things most people leave for Halloween (not that we don't do this daily mind you, but you know lol). There are all kinds of way one can celebrate: from just listening to music all day, to having a horror film night, from going to a club, to reading novels both old and new. Even if you're not darkly inclined, you too can mark the day by doing a bit of digging into just what this whole goth thing is all about...you just may be surprised and learn a few things! So happy WGD to one and all, please make sure you check out the website in the fun little banner you see above, and don't be afraid to come to the dark side...remember, we have cookies! ;-)
PS: from today until the 29th, dark alternative band The Death Notes are allowing folks to download their song "Ghost" for free in honor of WGD and some WGD specials by the men who made it happen...enjoy!

DJ Martin Oldgoth's Thirteen13 WGD Special 2011

Happy Mother's Day!

Hope all you moms and grandmas out there have a pampered and relaxing one! :-)
AccuRadio.com Mothers' Day
Slacker.com Mother's Day Radio
Mother's Day and Motherhood from ITunes Essentials

It's Derby Day!

Kentucky Derby Barbie

Not only is it Cinco de Mayo as posted below, it's also the 138th "Run For the Roses" which means lots of horses, Mint Juleps, and of course, huge hats! Best of luck to all the participants! As for me, I'll be enjoying one the a fore mentioned Juleps with my Beanie Baby buddy (appropriately named) Derby. :-)
Kentucky Derby site

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

I hope you celebrate in fine form safely today! Here's some more Barbies and music to help set the mood and to enjoy with that delicious Mexican meal should you be having one!

Princess of Ancient Mexico
1989
1995
2012
2014

Music:
AccuRadio: Radio Preciso station listings
AOL Radio (under "Latin")
Live 365: Latin station listings
Slacker (under "Latin")
Addicted to Radio
Latino Caliente’
Merengue
Reggaeton
Salsa
WEPA.FM Live from Miami

Itunes Essentials
Cafe Mariachi
Margarita Mix
Mexican Restaurant
Mexico Hoy: The New Sound of Mexican Music
Norteno
Ranchera
Reyes del Mariachi: La Edad Dorada de la Ranchera
Rock Mexicano
Traditional Mexican
Viva Mexico

Earworm of the Day: Fave TV Theme Songs Pt. 1

Yes, part one...I'm sure I'll add more at various times as we go along lol. For now though, a few classic theme songs from some cartoons I used to watch as often as possible as a kid. For those who may not remember, back in the early '90s there was a two hour block of cartoons given the catch-all of The Disney Afternoon that aired every weekday at 3 pm. As a 9/10 year old, I was absolutely obsessed with making sure I was home after school in tie to watch them...especially Chip and Dale's Rescue Rangers....if I missed them, there was no appeasing me. The line up changed a bit during it's run (Darkwing Duck and Goof Troop being two famous later additions, but those are two stories for another day), but the spirit remained the same, at least for awhile, and was always enjoyable. For some reason (don't ask why) my mind took a time trip (as it usually does) and thought about the shows as well as their catchy theme songs. Here now are the four original show's themes for your enjoyment in the order I remember them airing no less...why? Because I can! ;-)

Earworm of the Day: The Vandals

Whenever I hear "lady killer," I immediately think of this classic by local punk legends The Vandals, and thanks to the throwing around of the word on The Voice tonight, of course now it's in my head lol. Now it could possibly be your turn...enjoy!

Coachella 2012

For the next two weekends, the 13th Coachella Music and Art Festival will be held here in SoCal: Indio to be exact. To either amp you up should you be going, or just put you there in spirit if you're not, here's a couple stations to blast...enjoy!
Coachella site
Slacker Radio : Coachella 2012
AccuRadio : Coachella

Happy Easter!

Hope all who celebrate have a wonderful day and as a special heads up, here's something you may want to checkout: Easter Sunday Service from ITunes Essentials.

Daily Life Through the 20th Century Books

A late addition to the series, some wonderful books that add some more depth to any novels set between 1900 and 1990. And if you love to write as much as I do, they are definitely worth owning. I can't recommend them enough, and own three others from the line. Happy reading!

Sounds of Spring

Spring has sprung! The cold, long nights are getting behind us, nature is waking up and doing its thing, and 16 to 18 year olds across the country turn their thoughts to two things: spring break, and the Junior or Senior prom. Why not set the mood with some songs collected by ITunes?:

Prom Songs

Spring Break

Springtime
Spring Bouquet Barbie
I Dream of Spring Barbie

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Erin Go Bragh, and may the luck o' the Irish be with you! Today we're all a bit green, so party hearty but please do so safely! To help set the mood, here some things I've found that celebrate all things Irish...enjoy!

St. Patrick's Day.com

Earth Cam: Dublin, IR

Irish Barbies:
1980
1995
This year
Princess of Ireland
Legends of Ireland Collection

Music:
AccuRadio: Radio Celt station listings
IHeart Radio

New Thing I'm in Love With: Dr. Martens Polina Shoe

The gods know how much I adore clothes...especially shoes. To me, nothing quite pulls an outfit together like an awesome pair of footwear. Yep, I'm a self proclaimed shoe ho lol, and one of my absolute faves is Dr. Martens. Trolling their site not to long ago, I came across a shoe called the Polina

and immediately began to get the vapors...the reason? These two pieces of clothing I already own:

Well, them, and the fact that the two sides of me, the alternative and retro, came together (and beautifully) in one shoe. Instant Nirvana. They also come in soft grey and porcelain and rasberry, off white and blueberry but I like the first ones best. Ah, there's nothing to compare with that feeling of OMGDS that would go SO perfect with that! I just live for those moments. I hope to be making a purchase (and to have that sweet sensation again) soon!
Update: another pair of lovelies to add to the above from T.U.K. shoes!

In yet more shoe love, another pair from T.U.K. I highly covet:

Why? Because of this shirt I own by Tripp;

Sigh, why do I always find things I love in bunches (and usually expensive) when I'm broke lol? It's a vicious cycle I tell you! :-p

Decorah Eagle Nest Cam

Last year one of the local nightly news stations did a small piece on a web sensations: a webcam positioned on a bald eagle nest in Decorah, Iowa. I found the site, Raptor Resource Project, and followed along. It was absolutely fascinating and amazing watching the little eaglets hatch, get bigger, grow feathers and finally fly. Well, it's that time of year again, and the mamma eagle has laid three eggs! Rest assured I shall be eagerly following along again! For those who also want to follow along, you can here. They also have a cam on another nest in Colorado which you can see here. The mamma there laid her first egg the day before the Decorah one. Enjoy!
Update 3/29: two of the three fuzzlets have hatched and they are super cute! Also, here's some cams from near me, two on Catalina Island, and one a bit further up north on Santa Cruz Island: Institute for Wildlife Studies

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!

It's Fat Tuesday, and that can mean only one thing...it's Mardi Gras time! As a years long lover of all things New Orleans, I can never wait for this time of year to roll around as an excuse to dig into some Jambalaya or Gumbo, Beignets, and Bananas Foster ice cream...and, of course, listen to some NoLa jazz! Here's to fun and letting your hair down...responsibly of course! :-p

French Quarter Barbie Fashion
Noir et Blanc Barbie
LSU Barbie 1
LSU Barbie 2

Music:
AccuJazz: New Orleans
AccuRadio: Mardi Gras
Addicted to Radio.com: Cajun Fest
AOL Radio: New Orleans Sounds
Live 365: Cajun/Zydeco station listings
Mardi Gras Music Radio
New Orleans Radio Network
WWOZ local NoLa jazz station

Should you ant to take the party with you in your MP3 player, there's Mardi Gras, Mardi Gras Time!, New Orleans, Modern New Orleans, Cajun/Zydeco, New Orleans Hip-Hop, New Orleans Jazz, and New Orleans R & B 
from ITunes Essentials.
Should you want to try and catch the action, here's some webcams that stream the parades:
Nola.com Parade Cam, WWLTV
Marie Laveau: Voodoo Priestess Paper Dolls and Voodoo Paper Dolls

Map of NoLa places I want to see:

View NoLa in a larger map

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here's to lovers everywhere! May you and your significant other (should you have one) have a great day (and even better night ;-)) filled with love and romance (me, I'm just looking forward to an actual excuse to go a bit overboard with all the chocolate lol)! Some music to help set the mood:

AccuRadio: Love Songs Radio station listings

AOL Radio: Classic Love Songs Love songs from the '50s and '60s.

AOL Radio: Love Songs Love songs from the '70s to today.

AOL Radio: Date Night
AOL Radio: Country Love
AOL Radio: R & B Slow Jams
Got Radio: P.S. I Love You
Slacker: Love Songs
Slacker: Country Love
Slacker: Indie Sleepover
Slacker: Punk Rock Love Songs
Live 365: Love/Romance station listings

Live 365: Valentine station listings

Because love 'aint always wine and roses:

AOL Radio: Breakup Songs
AOL Radio: Heartbreak Hotel Country's heartache and cheatin' songs.
Slacker: Broken Heart
Slacker: Post-Break Up

Like what you hear? Check out these collections from ITunes Essentials:
Classic Rock Love Songs
Country Love Songs
Country Love Songs: Duets
Date Night
Dinner for Two
Great American Songbook Love Songs
Hip-Hop Love Songs
Indie Rock Love Songs (my fave)
Love Songs
Love Songs 2
Punk Love Songs
Power Ballads
Power Ballads 2
R & B Love Songs
Reggae for Lovers
Romantic Duets
Romantic Jazz
Romantic Moods
Sexiest Songs
Soul Seduction
Timeless Love Songs
Now for some love songs and slow jams through the decades:
'70s Love Songs
'70s Slow Dance
'70s Slow Jams
'80s Love Songs
'80s Slow Dance
'80s Slow Jams
'90s Love Songs
'90s Slow Jams
Modern Love Songs
Modern Slow Jams
Neo Slow Jams
There's even Modern TV Love Songs
For the darker side of love:
Breakup Songs
Country Heartbreak
Crazy Love
Valentine's Day Alone

And since I'm in such a giving mood, a bonus Earorm of the Day: "I Wanna Sex You Up" by Color Me Badd lol....enjoy!

The Joys of Vintage Shopping

I LOVE vintage clothes shopping. In fact, if I won the lotto, that's one of the first things I would do. Raid as many vintage shops as I could lol. For me (and those like me), there's nothing that can quite compare to finding that top, skirt, dress, pair of pants, or the ultimate find, shoes that not only fit, but are just so you and go great with plenty of stuff you already have. My love of clothes of the past goes so far that even retro stuff will do and if I'm at let's say Target, Wal Mart, ect., I will check to see if they have anything before I leave. My preferred era is the '60s... whether it's something straight out of Mad Men, Austin Powers, or Hair, I love it all. Lately though, I've been branching out a bit into the flare jean, vintage/retro tee, cowboy boot wearing part of the '70s. I even bought a pair of wedge sandals and patchwork pair of I guess you could call them platform boots I found at a Goodwill. Not something I would ordinarily do (I'm very much a flat shoe person) but nonetheless, there you go. We women can do some pretty crazy you know what when it comes to fashion. Even a very brief glimpse into fashion history can tell you that. I'm also not opposed to things from the '20s to the '50s. Back when women used to dress up to the nines just to go to the store. Sigh...there's just something about those years that was so classy and elegant. Now those were the days lol. Anyway, case in point, my last get was these beauties from Old Navy. I'm still hoping to get one of the lighter pairs. Best idea those folks ever had. THANK YOU Old Navy! Now if only Target would roll out the cool tees like they used to...To help with my everlasting quest to find the next awesome thing, I have the following books. they're all good and I recommend any of them to get you started:

Then there's this one by the costume designer for Mad Men...how could I resist?

And if you want to take the whole retro thing a bit further, some hair and make up books I found:

Now it's your turn: are you a vintage/retro clothes addict too? What's your fave store and/or old school find? Any links or stories to share? Please do, and happy hunting!

Earworm of the Day: The Jam

One of the more beloved bands of the late '70s/early '80s underground groups, The Jam put out this classic piece of earworm gold in 1980. This song never gets old and I love it more every time I hear it. In this case, I'll just let the music speak for itself...so for the next nearly three minutes, get up, dance about and enjoy the wonderful 'Town Called Malice"!

Earworm of the Day: Haddaway

Another '90s classic...Haddaway's "What Is Love?" This earworm rose to fame by its use in some also classic sketches called "A Night at the Roxbury" on Saturday Night Live starring Chris Kattan and Will Ferrell as two obnoxious club goers. It was also made into a film. I love watching the sketches to this day! Enjoy!


NATR on SNL clip

Earworm of the Day: Supermodels

Back in the '90s, there was a time it seemed like supermodels were everywhere...not only magazines, but also infiltrating TV shows, music videos, and even movies. In homage to this phenomenon, two music videos were made that can be considered total earworms and have been for me at some time or another: "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred, and "Supermodel" by the one and only RuPaul...enjoy, and have that gum remover ready lol. As usual, feel free to leave your fave earworms in the comment section below!

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Wishing everyone a happy Chinese new year! We now enter the dragon...*wink wink* 
And just for fun, a few more Chinese Barbies:
Chinese Empress
Princess of China
Empress of the Golden Blossom
1994
Golden Qi-Pao
2011

Earworm of the Day: Midnight Star

The ending of the decade spotlight series has left me feeling there's a little hole here I need to fill, so in that spirit, I bring to you...Earworm of the Day, where I can post songs that I just can't get out of my &^^#@%$# head lol. Todays video came about due to a couple of them I posted on a friend's Facebook page. See, there used to be a radio station we both liked that cruelly and suddenly got yanked off the air making us very sad. So not too long ago, I posted two of the songs the station used to play a lot that we used to always laugh about just for kicks and giggles and because I hadn't heard them in ages. What are some of your favorite earworms? Got one in your head right now? Please share below! Now, without further ado, here's one of the ones I posted..."Operator" by Midnight Star. Enjoy, and you've been warned...

The Joys of Winter

Snow Princess Barbie

Winter Fantasy Barbie

It's 12th Night and the holidays are officially over. While it's been warm here the past few days, it's been chilly for the most part with foggy nights this past week and it's supposed to be cooling down again over the weekend. For a majority of the country though, it's been way colder though, so we're lucky. I love winter...hot tea and cocoa, fireplaces, layering up, the smell of the crisp air & seeing your breath at night. The days since the solstice though have been slowly increasing and I don't feel like such a vampire anymore lol. I also love the visions of dark blue, white and silver put together...hmmm, I should think of a small decor featuring those colors. It would look awesome! Anyway, while the light half of the year is approaching, I'm going to revel in the joys of winter for as long as I can before I'm forced to fry in 80/90 something degree heat. What do you love about winter? Any fave memories, stories, poems or thoughts? Share below! :-)