HAPPY SPRING.

ONESHOTERRIFIC STILL GOING STRONG.

Dear Friends,

We have been unbelievably overwhelmed by the incredible support we've received in such a short period of time - we managed to hit our goal and surpass it, and there's still one week left in the campaign! This means we've still got time to raise some additional funds to make our video that much more oneshoterrific. We're toiling away at getting everything pulled together so we can shoot before the end of June, we're getting even more excited than we were before (which was pretty freaking excited), and the sun is finally out in New York. Coincidence? I think not.

So, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for your generosity thus far and, if you're so inclined, don't hesitate to forward our page on to anyone you know who might be interested in helping out. One week left! One shot! We love you!

Big hugs,

Molly & Liam

IT'S MUSIC VIDEO TIME!

I'm back for a bit...with a purpose! One of the projects I've been working on while I've been in blog hibernation is a music video. I recorded a solo album in January and have teamed up with my incredibly talented friend, Liam Brady, to shoot a music video for one of the songs. But, we need help to raise the funds to complete the shoot. We want to do the entire thing in one, continuous, uncut shot, which will not be easy or cheap but, hey, go big or go home!

We've set up a Kickstarter page to try and raise the dollahs we need and we only have until April 22nd to meet our goal. Any amount helps. Please check it out, help us out, or pass it along to someone who might be willing to.

THANK YOU!!

TIME OUT.

Dear Friends,

After some serious thought I have decided to put this blog in a bit of a time out. Not to get all heavy on your asses, but since the start of my Golden Year I've been evaluating my life and what I truly want to spend my time doing. I've realized that I often find other ways to distract myself from focusing on what I really should be working on, one of which is spending too much time on the internets and posting random things about, well, random things.

This is a public declaration that I am going to be making more of an effort to use my time effectively and put my energy towards some projects that I have on my plate. I need to dig in and get going and the minutes I spend doodling around really add up - I should be putting them towards real work or real relaxing.

So, thank you all for reading and I believe I will be back in a bit of a different form sometime at the end of March or the beginning of April. I have an idea for how I want to transform this blog, but it's going to take some time. Have an excellent rest of February and hopefully I will talk to you all again in the spring when new things are a bloomin'.

Love,

The New Kid

HIT THAT.

I am about to rush off to this:

I'll be participating in the Ping Pong Tournament with my awesome li'l buddy. Seeing as we haven't practiced at all, I think we have a 100% chance of winning.

CONGRATULATIONS SANCHEZ.

BLUE WITHOUT YOU.

My sister has always been a constant force of guidance in my life (which I often counter with defiance, but I've come a long way) and this article just goes to show what having a good sister can do for you.

Jealous!?

I bet you are!

WHOPPIE! I LOVE YOU MAINE.

I didn't think I could love Maine anymore than I already do, but this just cracks me up.

A TREAT FOR YOUR EARS TO HELP YOU THROUGH THE MUCK.

I've decided to post something nice since the last two posts have been about doom and gloom and shit and snow.

I was treated to a live performance of this on Sunday by the extraordinarily talented Leah Coloff. I can tell you, the video doesn't do it justice compared to seeing/hearing her do this in person. Leah's voice and cello filled the giant room with so much haunting emotion and beauty that by the time she finished I had tears streaming down my face. We all sat there in silence for a few moments afterwards with the chords still vibrating in the air before the applause erupted. I have always had a serious, intense love for the cello and her spectacular interpretation of this classic song just blew me away. It's a perfect fit for something stunning amongst all this junk.

Enjoy.

SH*TTAY.

Today is officially the shittiest day ever.

Ever.

Ever.

Ever.

The sky is crapping pellets of frozen doom. The sidewalks are slick with puddles of icey cloud piss.

Everyone is miserable. No one is happy.

THE WALL.

If winter is a wall, I am currently running into it. Like, slamming my whole body into it at breakneck speed. Last week was kind of delightful because I had a snow day. This week is kind of complete sh*t because the snow has started to melt and we are due for yet another storm. I just need a little bit of a break from the cold and from the schlepping. Just a little break. Is that too much to ask?

Apparently.

"Luckily for Suffolk County, New York City, we're only expecting two to five inches of snow with maybe a quarter inch of ice."

I'm sorry, Ms.-Nash-of-the-National-Weather-Service, but I do not feel lucky. No, I do not feel lucky at all. I feel mucky and cold and withered and old. If you could arrange it so I could take care of all forms of business and living from my bed allowing me to ride out the next two months sequestered in cozy comfort, then I would feel lucky.

FOR THE LOVE OF LIZA SOMEONE SEND ME TO FIJI.

THEY'RE BACK.

Fleet Foxes have a new album coming out in May and the title track is available for free download. Check it out, here.

I love these guys. They are on my permanent life soundtrack, especially for the fall/winter seasons. So many memories. So good. So ready for May 3rd.

HAPPY BILLY PRESTON DAY.

I've been on a bit of a Billy Preston kick and his tunes have been keeping my energy and spirits up during the long, cold winter days. If you don't know about Billy "The Fifth Beatle" Preston, you can read more about him here.

To list a few of the folks he played with:

Sam Cooke

Nat King Cole

The Rolling Stones

Joe Cocker

Aretha Franklin

Ray Charles

Johnny Cash

And that's just the beginning.

Happy Friday!

FIRST AID KIT MEETS JACK WHITE.

I first blogged about First Aid Kit awhile ago and they now have a few songs out that Jack White produced.

This one is particularly bangin' - a cover of the classic blues song "It Hurts Me Too."

I love it.

POT PIE PROBLEM.

Is it bad that the thing getting me out of bed in the morning is knowing that I get to eat the veggie pot pie I made? Is it bad that I want to eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Is it bad that I'm thinking about making another giant one this weekend so I can eat it again next week?

IT IS JUST SO DELICIOUS.

Also, it is really snowing like whoaing and all I want to do is go show shoeing in Vermont.

WHO WANTS TO GO WITH ME?

IF YOU CAN'T LOVE ACTORS, YOU PROBABLY SHOULDN'T BE A COSTUME DESIGNER.

"Bennett had wanted blazing red. No, she told him. Champagne was the color of celebration."

Read more about the costume design legend, Theoni V. Aldredge, who passed away on Friday.

ON REPEAT.

"Bully" by Lissie.

IS IT FEBRUARY 22ND YET.

I AM LOSING MY MIND.

LUNCHABLES.

I have been on the hunt for the perfect lunchbox for quite some time. I like things that are functional, compact, linear, and nice to look at. Let's just say the Dutch know what's up.

Presenting my very own lunchbox made by Oots!

It is so fantastic, my tupperware fit in there, I can squeeze it into my bag every day, it is lightweight, adorable, eco-friendly, and affordable.

Buy one of 'em here on Amazon.

IF I WERE A DUDE.

I would wear these things from Junya Watanabe's new collection:

NPR ON FUEGO.

NPR is on fire today!

Read these, please:

1. Sam Cooke At 80: The Career The Could Have Been

2. The Mix: Beyond California Dreamin'

3. What's Wrong With Waking The Dead

MAKING TIME.

Last night I had to give myself a high five because I accomplished what I'd set out to do for the weekend: take a major leap forward with a project I'm working on and carve out an entire day to work in my apartment, free of interruptions. The idea of it seems simple enough, but the execution was actually very, very hard. Taking a whole day to completely disconnect from everything is a bit of a challenge. It's very easy to say, "I just have too much to do!"

Places to go, people to see. I get it.

What I learned (for the millionth time in my life) is that stuff can wait. And, you will get more done in the long run by focusing on one thing at a time instead of doing 75 things at once.

The first five things I do in the morning are:

1. Pee

2. Make tea

3. Turn on my computer

4. Turn on my phone

5. Check my email

On Saturday morning I only did the first 2 and then I set about cleaning my apartment, getting things in order, and working. I got A LOT done. It felt good at the end of the day to respond to emails all at once instead of rapidly on the fly, to work without worrying that I was going to have to run off to do something else in an hour, and my brain felt cleaner to boot. I did have some knee jerk reactions where I found myself wanting to see if I had any messages; it has become almost like a reflex and it took some detoxing to be tech-free in my own apartment. There were a few moments when I was standing there, talking myself out of turning on my computer. I plunked myself down on the floor, stared at the ceiling, and thought about my project and what I was trying to do. And ideas eventually started flowing, but I had to work a bit to get myself there at times. For some reason, it's easier to do when I'm out in the woods, but when I'm home it is harder to unplug.

So, this morning, I did not turn on my computer before I left the house. I didn't turn on my phone. I ate my breakfast in my nice comfy chair and thought about a few things that I wanted to tackle today. Then I suited up for the gym, braced myself for the cold, and started my day.

MENTAL HIBERNATION.

I've been off the map a bit doing a lot of work these days because I'm really making an effort to start the new year off right - tackling new projects from old ideas. Most importantly, I am trying even more so than last year to give them the attention they deserve so they actually get DONE.

I am devoting this entire weekend to one project and am hoping to get a huge chunk of work done. Here's to a mini-retreat in my very own apartment!

WELL OBVIOUSLY KRISTY IS A LESBIAN.

If you ever read or watched The Baby-sitters Club (HEY YO HOLY THROWBACK) you will find this article hysterical.

I'm dying.

I CAN PRACTICALLY SMELL IT.

A friend of mine posted this and I'm stealing it. Anyone who has ever had the pleasure of tasting anything from Tartine will appreciate this photo essay. If you haven't, you'll like it too. Don't worry.

Feast your eyes on this.

Oh I'm so punny. Tee hee, tee hee, tee hee.

I used to live in the Mission and without fail, when I'd run in the mornings, there would be a line wrapped around the block at the crack of dawn and the smells coming out of that place were enough to make you want to move in. When I was home in October I treated myself to a delicious pastry and a latte...that place is a dream.

Also, if you've never perused one of my most favorite blogs ever, The Selby, start now. They've got more photos from Tartine there.

BLAME IT ON MY WILD HEART.

Watching and listening on repeat.

She's high off her tree but it's still so flippin' good.

IT'S A GREAT WEEKEND.

Keeping with the theme of the year...

WISHLIST: I GOTSA PROBLEM.

I have a boot problem.

Thanks a lot, Jeffrey Campbell, for giving me something else to drool over.

Don't you just want to throw those on and stromp and tramp and traipse around?

I do.

WHITE BOY GOT SOUL.

HELL YES.

Check out this one from Eli "Paperboy" Reed.

He's white and from Boston.

This song is just screaming to be on a commercial or a movie trailer, and I mean that in a good way.

Get the free download from NPR!

WISH LIST.

I rarely drink more than one cup of coffee and this would be the perfect little thing to have.

Well done, Clive Coffee of Portland, OR!

HOME ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM.

"Would you faint if Karl Lagerfeld designed a skating costume for you?
If Karl Lagerfeld designed anything for me I would definitely have a warming sensation in my home entertainment system, and it would be piddle trickling down my leg. But something very cool actually happened. Christian Louboutin has designed me a pair of ice skates."

I love you Johnny Weir.

IT'S HEATING UP.

I started including a little sauna time after my work-outs because it's winter, it's freezing, and I thought it might make me feel a little bit like I'm at a spa (for the 6 minutes I can take the heat).

However, my imaginary spa experience is often crushed and I snap back to the reality that I am not relaxing in the Swiss Alps but instead am in the middle of a small wooden box with semi-nudie strangers at a Crunch Gym in Brooklyn. And, strangers do strange things.

Such as:

1. RECLINING WHILE FULLY CLOTHED

This is slightly related to my issue with people who work out in jeans (oh the HORROR). Why would you go into a sauna with your clothes on?! You're going to get all sweaty in there, walk out wearing damp clothes, your underwears are going to be sticking to your butt, you will look shiny, and then you will get cold.

2. LISTENING TO YOUR I-POD

Don't get me wrong - I am all about people rocking out to their own jamz - but I don't always want to hear it. Even if you are playing one of my all time personal faves (Wonderwall - Oasis) which was on repeat on my discman during a family trip to Yosemite circa 199something, I don't want to hear it blaring in the sauna nor do I want to hear you vocalizing along with Liam. That chorus is damn, damn catchy - I know - but, for the love of Liza, sauna time is not karaoke time (although the rooms involved in both activities are often small and hot).

Also - please avoid any heavy breathing or yoga-like moans of relaxation and relief. You can feel it on the inside, but please just keep it there.

P.S. Did you know Oasis was originally called "The Rain?" How about you are crowned the captain of the lame train if you want to have a band with that name. Kudos to whoever changed it.

3. BATHING AND SPRAYING

There is this really tall skinny gal who is always at the gym at the same time as me, no matter when I go (she's very into her spin class, her shorty spandex shorts with too many holes, and the bandanna she wears on her head which she obsessively reties). A few nights ago when I was saunaing, she traipsed in sopping wet, flung herself onto the area next to me and whipped out her toiletries kit...? She then proceeded to spritz herself with scented body mist and start shaving her legs.

All of those things are wrong. You're supposed to shower AFTER you get hot and sweaty in the sauna. You're supposed to shave your legs IN said shower. And you should NEVER, under any circumstances, apply scented body mist. Just typing the words "body mist" is creating a burning reaction in my nose and I may vom a little bit. I've yet to encounter one that smells like anything other than an explosion of every single citrus fruit that has ever existed mixed with cinnamon potpourri and middle school girl.

Those things are olfactory napalm.

Okay. That is all for now. Whew.

OVERLOAD.

Sanchez, I know what you were thinking in regards to my last post:

"Where's Riggins?!"

Fear no more.

PLEASE NOTE: There are some spoilers in here if you haven't seen every episode yet (shame on yo face). This video will also spoil your day and any hopes you had of being productive without burning loins.

WAKE UP CALL.

My friend sent me the following video as a reward for finishing a song I had to write.

I opened the email first thing in the morning and my response after watching was,

"THANK YOU FOR SENDING ME PORN AT 9:30AM. HOT DAMN."

And so, I give you a good visual rogering to start the week off right.

I repeat: HOT DAMN.

THE STAIRWAY IS TAKING ME ALL OVER THE PLACE.

Stairway to Stardom is my new favorite show. God bless the YouTubes.

MY NEW AUDITION SONG & CHOREOGRAPHY.

REMINDER TO ME.

Reminder to self that I need to blog about the following things:

1. January Gym

2. Subway Sweat Lodge

3. Do you hear the people sing

4. God I hope I get it/Welcome back to middle school

5. Breaking up with my email

OKGOTTAGO.

SOMEDAY I'M GONNA WHISTLE.

We all know that I love Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and that their album reminds me of driving through Maine with Sanchez, the Sister, and Defender Simpy with windows down, and the winds of freedom blowin' through my hay-er.

This cover of their song "Home" really takes the cake. It is just too cute and I can't stand it. And when she says, "Some day I'm gonna whistle" I basically explode from the adorableness. Click here to watch on the youtubes because for some reason it's cut off on my blog.

UNDERNEATH IT ALL.

I don't usually make resolutions for the new year because I tend to do lists for each month as I go along. But this year I am going to attempt to focus on a general theme: working on the things that are beneath the surface...attempting to figure out things that I don't know about, things that I've always known in my gut but have never pursued, you get the idea. We'll see how it goes.

To go along with that theme and to kick off the new year with something fascinating, here's a video about these guys who explored New York City from a very beneath the surface perspective: the underground.

UNDERCITY from Andrew Wonder on Vimeo.

I MAKE AWESOME DECISIONS IN BIKE STORES.

HOLIDAY ROUND UP.