I may be a girly girl – but I can really get behind this. I watched Michael Bay’s ‘Transformers: The Dark of The Moon’ and ‘X-men: The First Class’ a few weeks ago and have can officially say I have fallen for the blockbuster. 
That said I saw ‘Iron Man’ a few years ago and really like RDJ in it and the mix of action, humour, buckets of testosterone and cheekiness. I’m hoping The Avengers brings the same.
The Avengers opens May 4th, 2012.
Doesn’t this look like it’s haute couture? Well it isn’t. It’s from H&M. Yep.
Here are the deets: 38% silk, 62% organic cotton. Dry clean only. Bien sur.
Colour: Light grey
Size: 4 – 12
I really like this dress. Not that I would ever buy it. But I wonder who would? It’s pricey but pretty neat by H&M standards.
I’ve told you lovelies before about how much I dig this Canadian label. Not only do they have lovely bands on their roster like Dan Mangan, Belle Orchestre and Timber Timbre but they have great customer service. Customer service and a record label? Who knew?
I was looking for the first Dan Mangan CD for a friend in the UK and found HMV’s pricing ridiculous as it usually is. Logging onto the the A&C website I happened to find ‘Postcards and Daydreaming’ priced at considerably less than that of HMV. http://www.arts-crafts.ca/index-ie.php
So of course I popped that DM CD into my check out bag as well as Star’s first two albums (they are no longer on A&C – boo!) http://www.galleryac.com/. When I proceeded to the check-out I noticed I could save on the shipping by actually going to their office on Richmond Street here in Toronto and picking up the CD’s myself. Can you imagine? Talk about reducing my carbon footprint.
Bundles I’d like for you to peruse when you have a moment (it’s nice to get a lil extra bang for your buck) are the following:
Cold Specks
Cold Specks Deluxe Bundle
Catalog # AC070-B003
Release Date: 22 May 2012
Label: Arts & Crafts
Audio Formats: CD, LP
Release date: May 22nd, 2012
Cold Specks Bundle
I Predict A Graceful Expulsion
includes the Gallery AC Exclusive track “Grave Goods”.
COLD SPECKS’ DELUXE BUNDLE
EACH BUNDLE INCLUDES:
- I Predict A Graceful Expulsion CD or LP
- Holland 7″
- Cold Specks Unisex Tshirt
- Cold Specks cotton tote bag
- Digital Booklet
- Instant MP3 download of the album on release day
- All Pre-orders receive an instant download of “Blank Maps” and Gallery AC exclusive “Grave Goods”
Dan Mangan
Postcards and Daydreaming
Catalog # FUM001
Label: File Under Music
Audio Formats: CD, MP3-320kbps, FLAC
Dan Mangan: Postcards and Daydreaming
Postcards and Daydreaming is the debut album from 2010 Polaris Prize shortlist nominee, Dan Mangan. This album is a collection of folk driven tunes complete with beautiful string and horn arrangements. Fans of Bon Iver and The Wooden Sky will find commonalities in the downbeat yet hopeful music of Dan Mangan.
TRACK LISTING
1.Not What You Think It Is
2.Unnatural Progression
3.Above the Headlights
4.Journal of a Narcoleptic
5.Don’t Listen
6.So Much for Everyone
7.Western Wind
8.Fabulous
9.Come Down
10.Some Place to Come Home to
11.Reason to Think Aloud
12.Ash Babe
Timber Timbre
Creep On Creepin’ On
Catalog # AC061
Release Date: 5 Apr 2011
Label: Arts & Crafts
Audio Formats: CD, LP, MP3-320kbps, FLAC, Apple-Lossless
Timber Timbre: Creep On Creepin' On
The follow-up to 2009′s self-titled release, multi instrumentalists Taylor Kirk, Mika Posen and Simon Trottier come together again on heartrending compositions that engage, transport and challenge.
Creep On Creepin’ On moves forward from the band’s eponymous album towards the realization of its ability to simultaneously invoke and disguise the most essential elements of pop and rock music with chilling authenticity.
Peeps, I wish more record companies did this. The pricing, customer service, promoting the beauty within the artists sound and just keeping it real. It’s so nice to know that I can support Canadian bands and their label truly cares about their customer (you and I) and how they get their brand message out in a sophisticated but also down home Canadian way.
Thank you Jenna for the lovely package and being so generous! It’s always a pleasure doing business.
Mel xo
These films make me want to pop Coldplay’s ’Fix You’ on and I don’t want to tell people I like Coldplay. These films are lovely and worth a glimpse.
Moleskine Passions: Music Journal
Being a total music geek, I love to learn about new and cool bands. I love listening to music on my ipod to and from work, travelling, going on short subway trips as I run errands etc. – It’s such a huge part of my self-care.
There are times when I feel slightly inundated with tunes. Last summer at Lollapalooza in particular – there were just so many bands, so much music and so many different things going that I wanted to research when I got back to Toronto. I remember hoping I had something to write in to document my fav tunes and musical journeys.
This summer – I have myself sorted. Why you ask? Well I picked up a ‘Moleskine Passions: Music Journal’. Here are the deets (it’s a bit luxe, but that’s me):
Moleskine Passions: Music Journal
It’s fully embossed cover, 3 ribbon place markers and double expandable inner pocket.
6 theme-based sections to fill in: Artists, Lyrics, Playlists, Concerts, My Life in Music, Music Map.
6 tabbed sections to personalize as you wish with adhesive labels.
12 pages of staff paper and 28 blank pages in which to unleash your passion’s creativity.
Several adhesive labels: 80 to be used on the blank tabs, 150 with coloured icons and 12 to customize the cover.
13×21 cm, 5 x 8, 240 pages, acid-free paper.
This lil baby is something I keep in my purse and work bag – for easy access. My friend’s mentions, tweet’s, Facebook status music updates – all go into it. Gone are the days of me scrambling to pop it into my phone, scraps of paper or napkins.
It’s very sleek and just looks like an uber cool music notebook. Very organized and a great place to pop in newspaper articles, Metro pictures, concert tickets and working playlists for working out and ‘on the go’ travel. I’m always thinking about travel playlists so when I have a Genius Mix that pulls up a song that I haven’t heard in ages – the reminder goes directly into my Moleskine.
The other night going home from work ‘Animal Instincts’ and ‘You and Me’ from The Cranberries appeared out of the blue. It was so lovely. I scribbled in a reminder to make a playlist around it for future trips home from work. It’s the lil things people.
Yours in music,
Mel xo
'Please Look After Mom' Written by Kyung-Sook Shin
‘Please Look After Mom’
Written by Kyung-Sook Shin
It’s very rare that I read a book and feel so utterly moved that I take moments out of my reading and think about what emotions and memories they evoke for me from my own past.
I had an emotional reaction whilst reading ‘Please Look After Mom’. It made me think of my relationship with my own mom. Those early years as a rambunctious teen with a whole lot of mod attitude and giving her the hardest trailblazing time. Hey, I was the first born and I wanted my fun and fought for it.
‘Please Look After Mom’ tells the story of a family’s search for their missing mother — and their discovery of the desires, heartaches and secrets they never realized she harboured within.
When sixty-nine-year-old So-nyo is separated from her husband among the crowds of the Seoul subway station, and vanishes, their children are consumed with loud recriminations, and are awash in sorrow and guilt. As they argue over the “Missing” flyers they are posting throughout the city — how large of a reward to offer, the best way to phrase the text — they realize that none of them have a recent photograph of Mom. Soon a larger question emerges: do they really know the woman they called Mom?
Told by the alternating voices of Mom’s daughter, son, her husband and, in the shattering conclusion, by Mom herself, the novel pieces together, Rashomon-style, a life that appears ordinary but is anything but.
This is a mystery of one mother that reveals itself to be the mystery of all our mothers: about her triumphs and disappointments and about who she is on her own terms, separate from who she is to her family.
Getting back to my teen years – some battles I won. Some I lost. But all these years later I see how those battles and wins shaped me similarly to what the characters in the book experienced. I only have my mom to thank for that. My love of music, art, travel, drive, emotion and sometimes brassiness – all comes from her. Her sacrifice – always endless. Even today.
‘Please Look After Mom’ reminded me of everything my mom has done for me, given me, cooked for me, fought for me and cherished for me. There were moments I actually wept because of the pure beauty in the words, language, tone and sentiment of this book. In a way it kinda changed my life. I know – it’s cheesy to say. But it’s true.
There was a moment in the last few month’s where I actually thanked my mom for something she did for me as a teen. This is something let’s say we don’t really do in my culture. Now I said it over the phone (small steps) – but I’m glad I told her.
Thank you to Lindsey at Random House – I have a free copy of ‘Please Look After Mom’ up for grabs. Sign up to my blog and you could win yourself this lovely work. If you are already subscribed consider yourself already entered. Contest Closes on May 12, 2012.
If you don’t win it, pick up a copy for your Mum’s for Mother’s Day and remember her to thank her in your own special way.
Best of Luck!
Mel xo
Taylor Swift in Anthropologie Sandals
I bought these wooden red leather sling backs from Anthropologie last summer in Chicago. That shop is one of the few that actually sell their shoes in store. So I was happy to try on loads of shoes and just marvel like a magpie.
They are super sleek on with a mini skirt or skinny dark denim jeans. The only one quip I have about them is that the heel can be a bit wobbly if you are high tailing it for a train or running up stairs to ensure you aren’t late for work. It’s a fine shoe for once in a while and super stylish. I guess I’m not the only one with the same thoughts. But I’m guessing, Taylor never has to run anywhere.
;) Mel xo
Just a head’s up, the festival extends from the white tent on the left all the way to the far right highway and then to the south where the skyscrapers lay.
Watch the rain sequence x 2…so powerful.
Bring on the summer and enough of the second wind of parka weather here in Toronto.
Mel xo
My mates know how much I love Phantogram. I apologize in advance for going on a lil more about this band – but I do heart this song. It reminds me of last Fall when I built a trip to Boston to see them. At times when I’m at work and need a lil pump, I pop this song on and can smell wet autumn leaves, dark roast coffees and warm lingering breakfasts Boston style.
Even though the sentiment behind this song is a tough one – I really like the sound. In this video, the sound differs from that of the LP. It feels far more emotional and raw and yet such a great body mover.
Happy Tuesday!
Mel xo
Ok I am going to keep this brief, because I could go on a tangent. But really, the Coachella fashion was a bit ridiculous this year. Coachella seems like a lot more ‘try’ than people just being themselves at a music festival.
When I was at Lolla last summer – the vibe was so much more laid back and casual. Sure people wanted to be seen and the like but at the same time it was more about the music, having fun and catching some interesting bands.
As I get closer to Lolla this summer with my gf’s – I will post some pieces that maybe worth thinking about if you are checking any festivals in your hoods. As seen above in the slideshow, these were my fav pictures over Coachella that gave me some inspiration that I’d like to throw out there as we transition from spring to summer.
* T-shirt Dresses with a cute slim belt
* Army jacket paired with a dress and wellies or combat boots
* Denim shorts, cool graphic tee’s and dessert boots
* Playsuits - dressy and more a boho casual mix
* Slip or mexican frocks, beaded jewellery and gladiator sandals.
I can’t wait to sit down with my girls and start our Lolla planning. One mistake I learned from last year was to pick up a pair of Wellies. After being soaked to the bone during the Arctic Monkeys and Foo Fighters set – that kinda discomfort is never happening again.
I found a navy, lace up pair at Old Navy (yes…can you imagine?) for $10 which I ended up getting them for free with a coupon. It’s time to start picking up bits and pieces people.
Yours,
Mel xo
