Archive | TUNES RSS feed for this section

Here comes Fall! Recipes + Tunes

23 Sep

Today is the first day of fall – my favorite season. And no, not because of pumpkin spiced anything (have advertisers gone nuts with that obsession or what?) I actually love maple flavor better than pumpkin. There is nothing like the crisp snap of the air here in Wisconsin, the fired-up feeling on Saturdays when the Badgers play at home and the leaves begin changing at their own free will.

More than anything, I wish I was up north. If it were up to me, I’d be up there from October 1 straight-time until December. I just can’t take the drives up there for granted. To me, they are awe-inspiring! The turkeys scavenging for who-knows-what along side the road, the crops getting ready to be harvested and the big moon highlighting it all. But we’re starting to renovate the cabin up north so we’re going to be MIA up there for a little while.

Here are two recipes I’m going to be trying this weekend and what we’ll be listening to while making them.

I think you’ll like this playlist, it’s what you want to be listening to as the temps drop, sweaters come out again and you can smell the waft of the casserole coming from the oven. Maybe play some cards too. ROF is beating me by a couple of hundred points right now which is downright depressing but I keep going back for more torture.

Why don’t you join me in making these recipes? We’ll all post our pics on FB or IG and we’ll give ourselves ratings on what we thought. OMG fun times ahead…

photo courtesy of Half Baked Harvest

(#1) BROCCOLI CHEDDAR CHICKEN + RICE CASSEROLE

I love this food blogger and excited for her new cookbook to come out! Half Baked Harvest is Tieghan Gerard and her blog and IG is awesome. I’m going to try this recipe this weekend because it combines 4 things I love the most: broccoli, cheese, rice and it’s a casserole. Not that I don’t love chicken but I am just indifferent towards it (sorry, chicken.) Casseroles are the best – we just had a delicious one at my Aunt Sally’s house in Long Beach, California. After I make this I’m going on a diet.

(#2) MORNING GLORY MUFFINS

So, now that I’m on this diet, I’m going to have one of these for breakfast. But will probably slather butter all over it. There I go predicting my behavior again! I’m actually not familiar with this blogger yet but stumbled upon this recipe and thought I’d try it. Does this float your boat? I like the whole hodge-podge mess of ingredients in here. Let’s give it a roll this weekend.

fall muffins
Here is my playlist. It’s pretty awesome, if I do say so myself. And I do.

ENJOY!

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Weekend Playlists

23 Jun

Music is a big part of any fantastic weekend. Whether you’re running around with errands, road tripping with family, making dinner or just lounging around-it’s all better with music.

I’ve curated not one but two incredible playlists for you. I know they’re good because I’ve listened to them a million times.

Chainsmoking + Vodka is perfect if you are chilling out this weekend.  Check out WILDFIRE by Mandolin Orange which I snagged from the great coffeehouse PORTER here in Madison.  I do have to warn you, the new Ben Howard song is way out there but I admit, I LOVE IT.  ROF wasn’t too keen on it.  Let me know if you’re a fan.

Mascara + Chardonnay was originally compiled for women only. But I realize that men have good taste in music too.  ha. laughs. jokes.  I bet you can picture me singing “1950” at the top of my lungs.  Because I do. I first heard the Ed Sheeran song at my friends cabin up north and had to snag that jam.

Enjoy!  Spotify links below .

 

Tags: , , , , ,

February Playlist: Leonard & Frost

15 Feb

Not my typical playlist. That’s my disclaimer for –arguably– the best playlist for this dreary, tepid, news-saturated month.

So turn off the boob tube. Go on. Open this playlist and start at the top. Damn it’s good, if I do say so myself.

I’ve made it collaborative so you can add a song or two if you want. No AC/DC. I’m gonna call out some peeps here to contribute – you know who you are: AH, JG, DS, KK, CH, JG.  Yep, you.

You’ve gotta follow May Earlewine on IG. I love her morning pour over coffee jams.

Enjoy! It’s my Leopard & Frost playlist on Spotify.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

2 things for tuesday – maple + einaudi

14 Nov

it’s 2 for tuesday.  here’s a little sumethin-sumethin for you on this most lovely tuesday.

these are two things i feel like talking about and since it’s my blog, i will.  you’ll thank me for it.  if you like to eat and like to listen to good music, you’re in for a treat. keep reading…

forget you, pumpkin spice. i want maple.

sure, i love to light a pumpkin soufflé candle from anthro like the rest of you, but i’m in love with another fall flavor.  it’s a flavor that takes a backseat to what we’ll call PS from now on but is (in my humble opinion) so much better.

why should maple be relegated to just a sunday morning pancake topper?  brace your taste buds for these snaps:

starting clockwise from upper left:

  1. creamy maple brie and cheddar apple soup// thanks to kevin lynch and the closet cooking website

  2. pastry wrapped baked brie with maple butter roasted apples//thanks to tieghan and the half-baked harvest blog

  3. maple glazed bacon wrapped roasted carrots//thanks again to the closet cooking website

  4. maple dijon chicken thighs//thanks to budget byte$ blog

if those recipes don’t make your mouth crave some maple… i’ve collected 15 others on my pinterest board that will!  see them here!

****

2 for tuesday – #2

get hip to ludovico einaudi

inspired initially by reading my favorite book and learning that listening to certain types of music and the SAME music while you work over and over again increase productivity (it works!) i stumbled upon this brilliant italian composer and pianist.  if you want to play a soundtrack to:

  • enrich the background of your life
  • make you think, make you happy, make you contemplate
  • help you concentrate
  • force you to meditate, let go

listen to einaudi.  i have done 2 things for you.  i’ve cultivated a playlist to listen to IN ORDER here:

also, here is a playlist that is my work playlist that i personally love.  you might love it too! then again, you might need more of a motley crue type of playlist!

make it a great tuesday!  i’m grateful for you!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

SEPTEMBER JAMS – playlist for the weekend

18 Aug

IMG_4981.PNG

you’re going to love this playlist, i promise.  just start at the beginning and roll through it.  i’ve searched and stolen and sung and smiled in the making of this.

play it this weekend and add songs to it for me.  i made it collaborative.

happy friday to you!

 

Tags: , , , , ,

music you must immediately add to playlist

30 May
IMG_2646.PNG
if you know me, which you may and may not, you know that one of the key tenets or drivers in my life is music.  always has been and always will be.  read here and here if you want to know more.
certain songs or albums hit repeat or epic status with me every now and then.  it’s those songs i can remember exactly what i was doing, who i was with and where i was.
ok. quit the small talk and get to it.
i’m in love again.
spoon’s new album (is it new? i’m usually a little late to the game!) is unbelievable.  but the song CAN I SIT NEXT TO YOU is epic.  i would love to link to the video but it’s a little weird.  but play it like, real loud.
in your headphones as you tackle the treadmill, as you commute in the grind,
as you stretch in the morning and say your morning THANK YOU FOR BEING ALIVE prayers.
ROF, be warned, this is the new foster the people repeat craziness you endured when we first got married.  
it’s in here if you want a listen:
back to the more important 10 WAYS TO SAVE THE WORLD reads.  i’m hoping to make your day brighter with this quick add.
happy tuesday!

Tags: , , , , , ,

listening to this…

7 Apr


hey! happy thursday. i’m jetsetting around wisconsin this week…it’s almost spring!

here is what I’m jamming out to in the rent car this week.  don’t get all crazy and shuffle it.  start at the top the ole fashioned way.

Tags: , ,

november playlist – all you need

10 Nov

forget pandora, i hand-picked each song specifically for you.

IMG_2703

this is a november-only playlist.  it will go away dec 1, so play it now.  play it loud.

Tags: , , ,

listening to this now… detroit playlist

9 May

who am i kidding?

i’ve been listening to these songs for the past two months straight, not just now. they aren’t for everyone.  which is just how i like it.  i do believe i’ve worn ROF down playing them as much as i do.  i see some head nodding and wavy hand motions if he thinks i’m not looking.

Screen Shot 2015-05-09 at 6.48.09 AM

the music i love the most is stuff that could be the background music for my life.  just press play when i get up.

this particular mix is called detroit because i commute so much up there and stay at my cousins house out in rochester hills.  i get up super early and head out on 75 to make my way downtown.  after getting my flat white at starbucks, i press play and tear off for the motor city at 6:30am.  this is what i listened to in my headphones headed north.  i love this mix. especially spells by cannon.  <sigh.>

what is going through my head while listening to this is that i’m not actually driving down beat-up 75 at 6:30 in the morning.  i’m lounging by an infinity pool in mexico or i’ve got my feet in the sand in belize.  this is playing over the speakers.  it’s breezy and cool.

but now that i’m back in dallas for a week, i play it by our pool and think of detroit and 75 and early morning flat whites.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

january playlist: snow & birdcage

21 Jan

when thinking of life’s most important things, music doesn’t typically come to mind.  probably not even in the top 5.

or 10.

but for me, music is key to sustaining a smashingly good mood.  and that’s worth something.  believe me.

this year, this website will highlight playlists every month.  all curated by yours truly.

this months playlist name comes courtesy of this website.  pretty funny name generator.  here’s another.

Screen Shot 2015-01-21 at 4.44.32 PM

while you listen to this playlist:
you’ll either be:
a) pouring a glass of wine and surfing the web. check out this blog, this blog or this blog.

b) fixing dinner made of pasta, homemade tomato sauce and meatballs (and drinking a glass of wine)

c) cruising in your car, top down and wind blowing through your hair. (no wine)

Bdz60aKCQAIOusX

photo: @livenation
this month’s playlist is full of fun, moody riffs as well as some songs that will make you say… “i liked that song a long time ago but had no clue who it was!”

here are a couple of my favorites:

LAPSLEY:  falling short.  this has me written all over it.  just had to hear the first few notes and i was sold.  whole album is awesome.
GUSTER: long night.  oh wow.  first with satellite then comes this song.
BIG DATA: dangerous.  they had me at the claps.
BROODS:  old song but love love love.
SIA:  i want it to be known that i’ve loved her for over 15 years.  it all started with this song.  this live version brings big tears to my eyes  – she’s just that good.
static1.squarespace
sia photo courtesy of here
you might want to join spotify as it’s the only way to listen to music – if you’re a music lover.  follow me here!

enjoy!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

butternut squash, maple spices & french music

28 Sep

last night ROF was at his first detroit red wings (pre-season) hockey game with our good friend curt who is in town just to see lil ole us.  ROF is experiencing everything michigan and this, of course, was on the list.  he had a blast, of course.  but this meant i got to have a night to myself. an amy night…which i so appreciate.

don’t get me wrong, i love hanging with friends and especially with ROF.  and beat him at cards every night (my blog, i can dream if i want) but i treasure my time.  i’ve always had to have it.   some people don’t know what to do with themselves when they are alone.  i’m not one of those people.  here is a short list of some things i like to do in my time: 

play with photoshop

write blog posts

read one of a million books i downloaded

make fall soup and use my immersion blender

put in a woody allen dvd and half listen to it, rewind and replay

make the house smell good

punch carla bruni in pandora and turn it up

slow dance to french music with ruby

do my french lessons to get ready for paris

ponder paris

call my sister after 2 glasses of wine

call my mom after 3

make a collage of inspiring clippings

organize my purses

make playlists on spotify (made one for curt’s visit)

read, read, read

so last night

i snapped some photos of my house that i’ve kind of half-ass decorated for fall:

Screen Shot 2013-09-28 at 11.20.54 AM Screen Shot 2013-09-28 at 11.21.08 AM

and made some awesome butternut squash soup and toasted oyster crackers.  i’m addicted – ADDICTED – to this spice & tea exchange store in downtown birmingham.  by the way, there is one in grapevine, texas too.  You can find it here.  for the person who likes to think they are all into cooking but really you just like watching a lot of barefoot contessa on the food network – this is the place for you!  they have the best spice mixtures in the world.

my butternut squash soup was as easy as steaming butternut squash that i bought already cubed at the store (worth the extra $2), cooking some onions in butter, adding really good zingerman’s chicken broth, the squash, the autumn harvest spice mix  which is a blend of maple syrup granules, cinnamon, sugar, garlic, onion, salt, allspice, ginger, cloves and melding all together.  then add some low-fat cream cheese.  go ahead. add the whole thing.

 

IMG_4027

 at this point it doesn’t look very good.

but then you get out the immersion blender, work it good and it turns out like this:

IMG_4030all, in all, very good.  i also “made” some spiced up oyster crackers to go with it.  it was supposed to have bacon salt and chardonnay salt from the tea and spice exchange, but they were out.  so we made my own concoction of maple granules, hickory salt and worcester granules along with garlic, olive oil and lots of dillweed.  love dillweed.  

IMG_4036

 

and now off to vinsetta with rof and curt and this wonderful, wonderful michigan weather! 

 

music to fix my very short attention span

29 Jun

man, i love rush hour.

but i didn’t always.  i inherited my dad’s massively short attention span.  for those of you that like my presentation skills in front of car dealers, it’s because i try to present to people like me.  keep it short, keep it entertaining, keep it passionate.  now… i’m not bragging about my inability to concentrate.  it actually causes me a great deal of stress.

back to rush hour.  so at 43 years old, i have NEVER had to be in rush hour.  never.  in chicago, i walked to work.  in dallas, i lived 10 minutes from work but now that i’m in birmingham, i have a 30 – 45 minute commute.  at first i hated it.  because of my short attention span, i can’t listen to a song in it’s entirety on the radio.  so i’m flipping and  flipping and pretty frustrated.   some like making phone calls, some dictate emails into their iphones and some juggle eating an egg white mcmuffin, green tea and applying make-up. but not moi. i prefer jamming good tunes.

and I found the cure. on a free app called mixcloud.  here is where famous and not famous djs spin on-going tunage.  having a dj spin music cures my need to turn the song after the first few seconds. i have full on worn out colin peter’s mix with nile rodgers.  nile rodgers was in chic and is madonna’s inspiration.  in fact, she opens up the mix.  nothing like a little daft punk with carly simon and donna summer.

this is EXACTLY what I need to take on the day at full throttle. download it, love it, play it LOUD.

if you even were next to me on my drive down to work, you’d crack up. and be a little embarrassed for me.

20130604-225220.jpg

 

 

Tags: , , , , , ,

eggs, morning music and the joule

28 Jul

hello thursday, right?   couldn’t get here any faster for me.  today is our day we talk food and drinks.  a favorite subject of mine.

if you read my profile (you can read it here) you know that i have a pretty strong point of view on things.  not saying that is good or bad or that mine is correct.  it is what it is.  one of those views is pretty dumb, admittedly, but it’s mine.  i believe in keeping things in their proper time slot.  to me, there are morning things to do, eat, listen to, watch and there are afternoon things and there are night- time things.  still not understanding this, let me explain.  don’t like listening to “getting ready to go out” music in the morning, don’t watch movies in the morning, eating things like steak for breakfast.  dumb, i know.  the only exception to that is breakfast for dinner.  love that.  I’ve put together a little morning music for you.  Click here and take a listen, but it only makes sense if it is before 10am.  it’s that climbing out of grogginess to happiness music.  listen while you make this egg dish.

this is fun to make.  i did not invent this recipe and i’ve seen it everywhere.  i’m sure you have your own version of it and i’d love to hear about it.  all i know is that mine turned out like this!

as you can tell, i’m not a professional photographer

so i didn’t wipe down the tray and stylize this shot.  but who cares – yummy.  these pop right out and it is like a piece of toast, cheese, an egg, crispy bacon and some chive goodness rolled up in one.  the funny thing about this morning is that i woke up super early on a saturday.  like 5am.  found this recipe and waited until 7am to make it, thinking that ROF and Bill would soon to rouse from their slumber.  This was done by about 7:30am (it’s easy) and i sat staring at it for a good 15 minutes, drank coffee, cleaned the kitchen.  they were not coming out.  they were getting cold! so i called my best sis katie and told her “hurry up and come over.  wait to you see these little buckets of love”  so she came over and she ate two and i ate two.  now whoever woke up first got the last two.  bill came out first saw these and ate them up.  unfortunately, ROF wasn’t too happy he missed out so i think bill shared.

 

Continue reading →

Tags: ,

%d bloggers like this: