music for your Monday

When my friend Lia and I were in Nashville two months ago, we went to the Ryman to watch Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. This band, He's My Brother, She's My Sister, opened for Edward Sharpe. I became an instant fan. Lucky for me a few weeks after I got back home to San Francisco, they were playing at a local bar. This, my friends, is a big deal. I hardly ever go to shows.

This time instead of being up on a balcony I was right in front. They're a great band to see live, especially to see the drummer, Lauren. Watch the videos closely. She stands on the drum and tap dances the beat while banging away with her arms. I mean, really, how much more badass can a girl be while still being completely adorable? She's my new hero.

Also, my mom randomly picked up a beautiful old tambourine for me at some garage sale the same day I saw this show in Nashville. Don't you think for one second that I won't be wearing long flowing dresses and pretending to be Rachel when all the blinds are closed.

music for your Monday

bits of summer

he said she said

"To do anything well, you must first care. Passionately. And be enthusiastic. Be hungry. Stay hungry. Be proactive. Do more than your job description. In fact, create your own job. Understand that receiving criticism is the quickest way to improve. And that sometimes being fired, or not getting what you want, is absolutely the best thing that could happen. Be a team player. Give credit where credit is due; ‘we’ is always stronger than ‘I’. But if something goes wrong, take responsibility, stand up and be counted. Love your life outside work – it’s the only way to stay sane, and that’s more important the higher up you go. Know your physical limits, but never stop dreaming. Never mock another person’s dreams. Don’t be a quitter. If you believe you can do something, you’ve already done the hard part. Be curious. Stay curious. Rules are overrated but respect is everything. Play for win/win scenarios. Don’t ask permission to succeed, just get on with it. If something hasn’t been done before, it doesn’t mean it’s not possible. In short, dream, believe, do! But be prepared to work bloody hard, over and above expectations. Never cheat. Don’t gossip. Have a moral code. Enjoy the ride. The aim is to screech to a halt when you finally get to those pearly gates and say wow, what a blast! Not oops, I forgot something."

-Michelle Ogundehin

music for your Monday

My graduation treat to myself (among many, it seems to be where I place all of my indulgent purchase blame recently, like for my two week vacation to the South, my beautiful serving utensils from Anthro, and my new oven mitts) was a a ticket to Outside Lands in Golden Gate Park, my backyard for a few more weeks. It was such a beautiful setting for such great music, and if it wasn't for the 9 dollar beers and mass amounts of people stepping on each other, I think I might just live in Outside Lands forever.

Although it is nothing new, this song has not left my mind since his show. It was lovely.