MIA in LA

Last night we went to MIA's show which was at a muslim hebrew college- the coolest building ever. It was my first night out since Leo was born and I missed him so much I had to bust out my phone and flip through pictures of him a few times! Her performance was so much fun to watch and I have blisters from dancing the night away but it was so worth it. She's fast becoming one of my favorites!

Drey $ Nicole

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Today quicky became another Amy Winehouse watching day. Between youtube and this concert on dvd Mr got me for Christmas, it tends to happen a lot. While watching my dvd today I couldn't help but play this song a few times. As much as I dislike her husband, I love how she draws an air heart and points to him up in the box seats. You can tell she's singing this song for him, about him, and is totally overcome with passion for him. Songs with meaning and feeling make for the best performances and she sure was perfect at it.



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I had pandora playing this afternoon while I was in the kitchen whipping up banana bread. The windows were open, the sun was shinning through and I was really in my element. Baking has been my favorite lately, it's so therapeutic and I love mixing while daydreaming. Anyway, this Fats Waller song came on and instantly snapped me out of la-la land. It made me smile and want to dance, and the best part, baby started moving like crazy. I think he loved it too. As soon as it was over I pulled it up on youtube and played it a few times more. I love this style of jazz, and it's actually the genre that my all time favorite, Amy Winehouse grew up listening to and pulled most of her own song inspiration from. Have a listen!

Hope you're all having a wonderful Easter! Drey $ Nicole

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Ever since I've lived in California, I've been a stay at home blogger, etsy shop owner and full time mama to our two Bentleys. Mister is away all day slaving in the kitchen at his restaurant from 8-4 and when I've got down time at the house, it can be pretty quiet and lonely. He works Tuesday through Sunday and by the time Sunday rolls around, I'm pretty over the week alone and so ready for his two days off so we can spend time together. The days are so much more fun and fast when he's around making me laugh and even just there to talk to, making some noise in the house unlike the rest of the week. I'm always reminded of this Bjork song when Sundays are here because the words are just perfect. I love how she can take something as simple as missing someone and turning it into something so deep with her twisted and creative words. The first video is probably my favorite version of this song because it's live with only a piano, and you can see the passion on her face and hear it more in her voice. The second video, the official one, is like all of her videos. The visuals are so out of this world and different, and really tell the song's story. 

Drey $ Nicole

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Mister has been pretty glued to the game controller since getting one of his favorite childhood video games for Christmas, and I can't help but giggle when I watch him and get this song stuck in my head. It's caused me to put in my headphones and listen to it on repeat just to get it out of my head for awhile. I've been humming it for days while washing dishes, or sitting in my little corner reading my new book while he plays. I don't mind it though, it's kind of relaxing and homey. I also love this video with all of it's vintage clips and Disney excerpts. She isn't bad to look at either with her perfect face and retro style. I can't help but be reminded of Priscilla Presley when I look at her. Enjoy!

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Roadtrip Playlist

Between driving from California to Texas, spending hours at the airport for Colorado, and driving back to California, we racked up a lot music listening time. My cd collection mostly consists of my early highschool taste since everything has been digital since, so our roadtrip was kind of like a silly flashback to that time. Here are some of the songs we listened to on our drive. I feel most of them are meant to be listened to on a wide open road, windows down, wind blowing, sun shining. So press play, open your windows, and pretend like it's spring!

What are your must have songs for the road? 

Drey $ Nicole

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Remember that last photo in yesterday's post where I felt like a fairy listening to 'November Skies' by Tomas Barfod? Well here ya go! Crank this up, open your windows and put on the prettiest, flowiest, girliest dress you've got. Then I dare you not to start dancing, cleaning, smiling or all of the above. Enjoy!

I love discovering and hearing new music. If you have any recomendations or want to share some of the songs and artist you've had on repeat lately, I'd love to hear them!

Drey $ Nicole

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I love the jazzy flow and roller coaster of notes in this song!
I'm obviously biased to Amy's version, but Moody makes it
sound like rich cake that was whipped together effortlessly
and it makes me really happy inside. Tonight I listening to it on repeat
while sweeping my tippy toes across our hard wood floors, (that
I mopped to a spotless shine this afternoon!) dancing to the motion
of packing for both mister and I. I like that he trusts me
completely to pick out his outfit, knickers, hats and sneakers
that he's going to have to wear for the next week. 
Good thing we know each other like the back of our hands.


What's been in your ears lately?
Drey $ Nicole

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This week I'm so anxious to share this perfect pair of singin' sisters with you! My bestie sent this video to me saying, "Get ready for your newest obsession" and two notes in I replied, "You're soo right!" I watched all 14 of their videos right then and there, have subscribed to them on youtube and I'm eagerly waiting for more. These adorable sisters have the cutest style, names that I'm jealous of, (Lennon & Maisy) and sound like angels when they're harmonizing together. This video is my favorite because it's their newest, so their voices are polished and stronger than ever, and because they're making the music using their hands and kitchenware! (I can't even pat my head and rub my belly.) Oh and one more thing, they're only 12 and 8. Enjoy.

A huge happy birthday to my Dad today! Drey $ Nicole

Here's to you, Amy

If you know me, you know how very much I love everything about Amy Winehouse. Her vintage style, pinup girl look, and that flawless vocal ability.  Today marks the one year anniversary of her death at the age of 27, and  I being extremely heartbroken over it myself, can only imagine what her parents are going through on a day like today. Just two months after her death, my dad and I visited her home in Camden, England where she took her last breath in her bed. It was still a recent tragedy at the time, and there were tribute candles, hand written letter, empty vodka handles lying around, (kind of disrespectful if you ask me, given the fact that she literally drank herself to death) and inked messages all over the trees outside of her home. We added our own little notes to those trees, and I proceeded to break the law and reach into her deep mailbox, hoping to get an envelope with her name on it. (Terrible, I know. It was empty anyway) We also saw her spiky blonde haired dad peeping out of the window at us. I sometimes have days where I watch her music videos all day long, and then interviews with her mourning dad that just make me cry for hours and get me in the worst gloomy mood. I can't help it though, I'm addicted. There's just so much passion and eagerness inside of me that wishes I could have helped her in some way, and she'd still be here today. It's easy to get angry over it all and want to spit in the face of her awful drug addict ex husband. He introduced her to the habits and drove her to the madness and heartbreak after their split. Anyway, I will probably be doing the above today, watching interviews, blasting her music and being bummy. I may even have a shot or two in her honor.

RIP Amy Jade

Drey $ Nicole

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I couldn't help but think of this song all weekend long, every time I heard the word Aurora and the talk about the heartbreaking tragedy that took place in Aurora, Co Friday night. On my third round into this song on repeat, I searched for the blog belonging to one of the lives taken that night. Just last month the victim, Jessica Redfield, went off a gut feeling and escaped being caught up in a deathly shooting in a mall by only three minutes. In this particular blog post she shares her thoughts on that day, and the words are so eery and ironic given the horrific way her life was taken only two days ago. Just like last weeks repeat button, I was brought to tears and moved internally when combining the chilling words along with this beautiful music by one of my favorites, Bjork. If you haven't already read this blog post for yourself, I suggest you give it go HERE, and give this magical song a listen. (Or two or three or four.)

Don't forget, the sale ends tonight at 9pm over at our Etsy Shop!
Use the code: BATMAN at checkout to receive 20% off.
(That makes some things like, TWO DOLLARS!)
Check it out!
Drey $ Nicole

Top Ten Beach Must Haves

Today I'm going to share with you my top ten absolute beachy bare necessities. When I forget even one of the following, my beach trip usually ends up getting cut a bit short, and I can't quite get settled into my sandy little setup. I hope you can use my musts as a checklist to make your next beach trip a complete success!

Sure you put on sunscreen, but a lot of people forget about their lips! After getting the worst blistery lip sunburn of my life, I never skip on the chapstick. Blistex spf is my favorite!

Of course you don't go in the sun without your favorite pair of sunnies!

Reading in the sun is soo relaxing! I always take some sort of reading material whether it be a magazine, novel, or most recently this crafty book!

Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen! I love this brand because it's infused Aloe moisturizes your skin while preventing burn.

I always put a little dark tanning oil over my sunscreen for a bronzy glow. Never apply without sunscreen underneath, you'll super bake!

Ear buds for my pandora app. Music makes it 100 times better.

Jumping waves builds up a real appetite fast! Even if I have something before I leave, I can always count on needing a snack after some time in the water. I usually take a good ol' PB&J. (When my littles don't get to it first!)

When I'm riding solo I roll up one of our beach towels, otherwise we take a big mexican blanket to share. Forgetting a towel and laying on your clothes is the worst when you put them back on and their damp!

A small lunchbox or purse makes for the perfect head rest while your laying out. I also use it to house my phone or ipod to keep the sand from blowing into my screen. 

Most importantly, lots and lots of water. The salt water, sun, and hot sand will have you parched in minutes and you'll be miserable without something to drink. It is so important to stay hydrated when you're out in the sun sweating all your bodies water away. I always grab the biggest bottle I can find when heading out.

Hope you're having fun in the sun!

Drey $ Nicole

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I've loved this song since it first came out a couple years ago, but I stumbled upon this amazing live version today. I picked this to share over the official video because although the quality is not as polished, she gets more raw and I feel more emotion listening to this version. You can really hear her singing talent and see how easy it seems for her to belt it out and get gritty too. Today was the first time I heard this song since my fella has been in the picture, and when I heard it this time it took on a whole new meaning for me. A few versus in I started tearing up and by the time the chorus came around they completely busted out. I feel so lucky to have him and every lyric in this song sums it up completely.

Drey $ Nicole