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"!