Eat a peach, or two! The Stranglers had a hit with the rocking bassline of Peaches, and Hugh Cornwall growling and snarling out the naughty lyrics. Ogling girls is fun, innit? The Dub Pistols do it justice, with a modernized twist.
"Peaches" Dub Pistols with Rodney P and Terry Hall
God, I love Gnarls Barkley. Cee-Lo Green's voice is undeniably powerful, but in this song, it's turned down low and used to haunting effect, with Danger Mouse's slow, sweet beats behind it. The video might make some a bit squeamish, but it's like a short film, and the actors are used well, their emotions are both funny and heartbreaking. The special effects? Well, they're simply special, and when you have a heart that is anthropomorphized to look like Cee-Lo, singing into broccoli microphone, it's all good, as they say.
Read this awesome Craigslist post, it made my day. I just came away from it amazed by the author's optimism and lack of animosity following his experience. I think he should have received a better grade for his paper, his mechanics might not have been perfect, but his storytelling is wonderful. I hope that this guy continues to write, but I am so glad that he has made a success out of himself. So many people would have self-destructed after an experience like his.
Lykke Li is another one of those crackerjack Swedish acts that they seem to keep cranking out for our ears to be tickled with. Maybe it's the lingonberries. This video has an ethereal vibe, and then some kooky dancing to keep things off kilter. The outfits are just as random, and the whole thing comes together to make an entirely fascinating video to go along with a gorgeous song.
Can you believe how good she looks? Tanned and with a beautiful smile, she is looking hotter than ever. Her eyebrows look fantastic. I think she looks really sleek in her understated, clean outfit. I guess Kelly is all grown up now. Good on the girl.
These bobbypins from stoopidgerl's Etsy shop are perfect confections.
Oh, lucky you! A matching cocktail ring that's good enough to lick! I love the colors, and the fact that these treats will never disappear, you get to enjoy them again and again!
"If you like smooth curves you'll love this suit" George Petty. I bet every girl wanted to be seen on the sand in this sexy little number. Each and every female who owned this suit got to imagine that she was a Petty pin-up. What a marketing coup for Jantzen.
This way indeed, and maybe that way for a From Here To Eternity tumble in the sand?
Saucy pose, and what a cool hat! She knows that she holds the cards. Images found at GOAntiques.com
I'm so mad I could spit. You took my secret baby name and used it, without asking, and now it's ruined. I've been hoarding it for years, because it's such a wonderful name, with a great nickname too. I really don't think I can use it now, because everyone will think that I named my baby after your silly baby. Lord above, why did you have to do it?
I was trying to find the top I bought yesterday at target to feature it on the blog, but for some reason it isn't on the target website. Instead I found this one, which is also really cute. Style thy name is Radish, and I am quite taken in by your batik-like print, and alluring colors. I'm a fan of orange, and it looks so dang lovely with that beet shade. It's the perfect little thing for summer, and the hues will transition right on into an early fall, let's hop for a nice Indian summer! I may just have to return to Target once more this week to grab this! ($12.99, 55% cotton, 45% modal)
Brian noticed these lamps a couple of weekends ago at Target, and I actually really like them. It's pretty cool that you can place a book or two on each shelf. The lamp takes a 150 watt bulb, so there should be plenty of light for reading. I'm looking forward to actually going back and getting them, I think that they will make our room look much more unified, and clean. later on, if we go with a different look (we don't have a bedroom set or anything, just some random furniture), we can put the lamps in say, the living room, or a guest bedroom, and they'll still look cool.
They also come in brown wood, which is what I would choose, black is too "single guy" for my taste.
• Lamp features black shelves with a light at the • Functional shelves are convenient for storage • Light has a beige silk shade • Frame and shelves made of wood • 63Hx10.25Wx10.25D"
Summer means cool treats, and none more delicious than ice cream. One of my current favorites is the Triple Chocolate Drumstick. When I was a child we always got our ice cream at Swensen's, a Bay Area original. The first shop was opened by Earle Swensen at Hyde and Union Streets atop Russian Hill, in San Francisco in 1948, and is still there today. We went to the local shop in San Anselmo with the 60 cents my mother gave us each week and bought a kiddie cone. One scoop chosen from the 160 flavors, always on a sugar cone. We were never allowed to get bubble gum, because of the gumballs. I lusted after bubblegum, of course. Once I got black licorice. As I recall, it was heady, delicious, and extremely messy. No doubt, not very many people would've agreed, and certainly not very many kids.
One lucky day my brother and I hit the ice cream jackpot. The teen aged girl behind the counter though we were cute, and told us that for our $.60 we could each have a dish of all the chocolate flavors. We were in frozen dairy heaven. My mom must've died when we came home, crowing about our grand luck. She was a sugar Nazi, and the weekly ice cream was her one concession. We always hoped that our luck would repeat, but it only happened that once. Later on, when I played softball, I ended up on a team that was sponsored by Swensen's. At the beginning, they told us that after a win, the team could come in for ice cream. I'm not sure if they ended up regretting this, or if it turned out to be a great promotion, because our team ended up being undefeated that year. (I assure you I had not much to do with the teams success, I was certainly one of the most lackadaisical right fielders known to modern history.) Yet, once again, I ended up in a sort of dessert eden. Ahh, youth.
Fortunello image from FFFFOUND!, A Nutritious Dairy Food.... from goantiques.com
dbabcock created this beauty of a bowl. It is wheel thrown of white stoneware clay. The tears were painstakingly added one by one. Inside the rim it is glazed with cleclear translucent to allow the natural beauty of the clay to appear through it. The remainder of the piece is glazed with an showstopping "bright lipstick red red gloss"
From the artist: "This piece is 4" high x 6" across. And if you wish to use it as a bowl for serving things, it's durable enough for use in the microwave and dishwasher. I signed it on the bottom rim. "
What are we going to do when Isaac Mizrahi designs are no longer available at Target? This skirt is an ultra cute pick for summer, and you can't beat the easy on the pocketbook price. I'm heading to the store first thing tomorrow morning to pick one up to wear to a party tomorrow night. I just love the delicate look of the burnout design.
Candy is delicious, but what is even better is this wonderful package design.
Craig Skinner says:"McCraw's was a small Texas-based company with a rich history of quality and simplicity; all of which I set out to reflect when developing their new logo and packaging for their full line of confections."
The colors on this package are simple, yet eye catching. Don't you just fall in love with the hula cowgirl? She could be a paniolo.
I don't think Miss Patsy needs much of an introduction. She was clearly heaven sent. Willie Nelson wrote this song for her, and no one else can sing it like she did.
"Crazy" Patsy Cline
BUT, these three? Don't mind hearing them doing their version at all! Diana Krall is amazing, and I have always loved Willie Nelson. I first fell in love with him as a little girl, Stardust was a favorite album at our house. (I have mentioned it before, and I'll say it again. Willie Nelson kissed me. Kissed me! Just stopped signing autographs, turned his back on about 150 clamoring fans, and turned around when I asked him to sign a hat and kissed my face!) Sorry, back to business. Elvis Costello sounds like he was always meant to sing this song. Diana looks at him when he's doing his solo, and right then you can tell how head over heels she is. Those two are madly in love, and it is written all over their faces, isn't it?
"Crazy" Diana Krall, Elvis Costello and Willie Nelson
You may have noticed, if you've been reading my blog for a while, that I've been trying to expand the focus of my posting to include more subject matter. Music is one of my true loves, but I also am a huge admirer of art and all things beautiful and creative. So, in a general way, I am trying to make these things more present in my day to day life by searching them out. Including it all in my blog is a natural extension. I am having a lot of fun with it, and I hope that you, who read my blog, enjoy it too.
The Knife, brother and sister Olof Dreijer and Karin Dreijer Andersson, are from Sweden. The moody interiors of the mouse house are the perfect backdrop for the haunting effect of their vocals. This video for Marble House, by Chris Hopewell, is so gorgeously done. I can't even imagine how long it must have taken. All the tiny details make this something that needs several viewings in order to appreciate the craftwork.
Seriously, what is not to like about Jim Houser's art?
I love his palette, the colors are calm. I'd put any of his work on my walls. You could look and look at his work and keep finding new stuff.
This installation is so wonderfully diverse. I love the mural on the wall, and all the different sized paintings hanging on it, the whole thing together is just amazing. I hope that it was sold as one piece.
One day, one lucky day, perhaps I can have one of his works. He's a skateboarder too. Now you know he's supa-dupa cool.
Nervous System makes this beautiful jewelry. The brooch above is from the Dendrite line and is made from stainless steel "cut into delicate forms inspired by the aggregate growth of coral."
These pendants are part of the Full Moon series. They are my favorites. They are $60. Each piece is one of a kind. Guess what? They have an applet that you can launch to design your very own one of a kind piece that they will then fabricate for you!
White silicone is used to make this lacy bracelet from the Radiolaria series. You can also design your own pieces from this line.
Nervous System jewelry can be made in your choice of black or white silicone, stainless steel and gold. It's really fun to use the applets to design the pieces (and you feel like a scientist.) What could be more cool than to say that you designed the jewelry you're wearing when people admire it, as they undoubtedly will?
Some stinker decided to record an alternate version of the voiceover for this union PSA for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. It's the largest public employee and health care workers union in the United States. I chuckle every time I hear the guy's blowhard tone of voice.
Have you ever seen J.otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh's books? The are the author/ illustrators of the most fabulous Mr.Lunch series and Olive the Other Reindeer. Going to the Getty is all about visiting the Getty Center in Los Angeles. It is, in all ways, fantastic. If your child has apprehensions about visiting a museum, this book will peak their interest.
"Thanks to the royal egg timer the Queen's royal eggs were always perfect. That was a long time ago."
Seibold and Walsh detail information about the Getty Center with humor and panache. From the inside of the dust jacket:
"This is a book of facts about the Getty Center in Los Angeles. It offers: 51 Fun Facts 3 Sort-Of Facts 1 Birds-Eye view and an Endless Column
It contains weights and measurements
and it's brought to you in the modern style.
J.otto Seibold and Vivian Walsh, usually purveyors of dog and monkey tales, now focus their attention on on a major cultural institution.
Just putting this out there, but is there anyone out there a member of the FFFFOUND! website? Would you have an invitation? I'd be happy to do something nice in return, like make you a surprise, a la the Summer Swap that was arranged over at I Suwannee.
Today my sister Carita and my friend Christina both celebrate their birthday. I wish them both a wonderful day, and a year full of happiness. I love you both!
Mikel Uribetxeberria, representing the Basque region of Spain, takes the wild and puts it in everyday spaces. The effect is spellbinding.
It's kind of spooky how well the color of rhinoceros' hide melds with walls that surround him. For more of Uribetxeberria's stunning photography, visit his website
Flick the Groom off Your Cake Topper and Turn Up the Cyndi Lauper, 2007 gouache on paper
Geoffrey Todd Smith is one of Chicago's hottest artists going right now. I love the detail of his work, it looks like embroidery. You ought to click on the picture to get all of the detail, because it's intense.
Some excerpts from his FecalFace.com interview:
The titles of your work are peculiar, where are they coming from?
I try to choose titles that create a mood and capture the rhythm of the image. They are often humorous and they frequently use tongue twisters to re-enforce the optical challenges of the images. They are not intended as illustrative devices. I would compare it to the relationship of titles to instrumental music.
What kinds of things are you attracted to? What's inspiring to you? or has immensely inspired you throughout the years?
Wet stones, snow falling in front of pine trees, ominous weather, looking through tree branches without the leaves, negative space, the evocative potential of simple perspective, artificial symbols for naturally occurring phenomena (fire, lightning, water, etc.), cold temperatures, annoying sounds, repetition of form, unusual color combinations, order/disorder, puzzles, old videogames, sticker collections…
We're in the midst of a heatwave here in Northern California, and this song is perfect for it. Femi Kuti (full name Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti) is the eldest son of legendary Afro-Beat pioneer Fela Kuti and wife Remi Kuti. (Fela Kuti had, at one point 27 wives, dancers in his band. Lordy.)
There is no mistaking what this song is about, it's hot!
I'm going to be looking forward to BBQ and caipirinhas! I use Ypioca cachaça (rated 86 by Wine Enthusiast) and only $16.99 with a ClubBev card at Beverages and More.
Right after I graduated from high school I moved to New York to live with my boyfriend. One of the hot spots at the time was The Coffee Shop, on Union Square. That was where I first encountered the delicious caipirinha. It's truly the perfectly refreshing drink for a warm summer night. Lime, sugar and rum... delicious. I don't drink very often, and I made one each for me and Brian last night. They were pretty heady! They tasted really smooth, but I felt it. It must be all the sugar, vodka drinks do not make me feel like that. I could see how these could end up giving a massive hangover, which in my case would certainly mean a migraine. I made sure I had plenty of water before bed! With the warm, possibly hot weather tomorrow, coupled with sun, I'm going to make sure that we bring a LOT of club soda to drink tomorrow....
I don't even have a house, but I already have a big table picked out, and this is it. I love how solid it is, the details, and even better, the price point, $499. Of course, the bench adds another $199, but it'll be perfect for really wiggly bottoms. won't it?
Adults can sit in these, I believe there are even armchairs that match. All of this is available at Cost Plus World Market.
I introduce to you a new feature on A Rollerskating Jam, Cover Up!. It will include great cover songs and the originals, if they can be found in video form.
DEVO was an amazing group, I remember hearing them for the first time as a kid, and thinking that they were so fricking cool, nothing like I had ever heard before. Even my Dad was into them, and thought that they had a great concept. I love it when they pop up on my iPod (it's always on shuffle). When (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction came on today I suddenly came up with the Cover Up!concept. I have always wanted to make a bunch of cds using the same theme, there would be so many...
Seriously, my eyebrows have not been waxed since I was married in September 2007, 6/23/08 THEY'VE BEEN DONE (I know a miracle must've been performed at Lourdes or something!)but somehow my wonderful husband seems to think I'm the bee's knees anyhow. I think he's awesome too. We like to eat delicious cheese. I love music, all kinds, new and old. This is the tale...