stay toasty! ... with a playlist

Bret and I got Nutmeg a new bed last week since her old sheepy bed was completely falling apart.  We both were sick of finding fleecy balls on the backs of our legs and the bottom of our sweaters.  As you can see above, Nutmeg truly hates her new bed.

So, according to weather.com, a huge "crippling ice storm" is expected to hit Pittsburgh sometime tonight/tomorrow.  That's sweet -- exactly what I was looking forward to going into this week.  It probably won't be as bad as what the meteorologist is saying.

Ok.  Maybe it will be bad.

Anyways, I made a nice playlist (full of a variety of new + old songs) for you all in case you get trapped inside this week!  Get your groceries tonight, prepare yourself this ENTIRE WEEK for the Steelers Super Bowl, and make yourself cozy (much like Nutmeg has this past week). 

Doesn't sound too demanding, does it?

Songs on the playlist include:

Matt Nathanson - Little Victories

Mumford and Sons - Feel the Tide

Timmy Curran - Moving On

Gregory Alan Isakov - That Moon

Matt Costa - Astair

Iron & Wine - Love and Some Verses

Mumford and Sons - White Blank Page

Arcade Fire - Wake Up

Regina Spektor - On The Radio

White Stripes - We're Going to Be Friends

Blind Pilot - 3 Rounds and a Sound

Avett Brothers - Murder in the City

Neutral Milk Hotel - King of Carrot Flowers Pt. 1

Bon Iver - Blindsided

The Veils - Sit Down By the Fire

Spoon - I Summon You

Hey Rosetta! - Yer Spring

new music from amos lee + others

I wanted to post a few new songs that were released this week:

Let's start with Amos Lee... *swoooooooooooon*  I heart him.  He released his new album "Mission Bell" today and so far -- so good!  He's so dreamy...


Amos Lee - El Camino

I haven't heard of James Vincent McMorrow before, but after previewing his album, I have to say that I'm officially a fan.  All songs paint a wonderful story and are simply beautiful.  Reminds me of Bon Iver...
05 - James Vincent McMorrow - If I Had A Boat

Abigail Washburn has a great folksy voice.  I remember listening to "Keys to the Kingdom" non-stop when I first found the song.  Her music always makes me happy.  Listen here.





I like this song.  It has the right amount of pop + beats that make it tolerable and enjoyable.  It is the latest MP3 released from Mountain Dew's Green Label Sound.
MNDR - "Cut Me Out"

weekend playlist

We're all prepping for the Steelers game this weekend!  Nutmeg's been sleeping in her Steelers fleecey blanket all this week.  She didn't really like me turning it into a cape for the photo, but she dealt wth it.  LOVE her...

So yea!  Friday!  The week is over!  It.  Was. SO.  BUSY!


For those who haven't seen my mass posts on Facebook, please help support TerraShift.  We are a finalist for the 2011 Unreasonable Institute.

Watch this video:


Then, go to this site: http://ow.ly/3GXwg, and support us by giving a small (tax-deductible) donation, no more than $10.  We really want to make a difference, and you have the opportunity to really help!  We currently are in first place for the competition! Let's keep it that way!


On a different note, I have been in a really good mood today.  The snow is beautiful outside... I cleaned the kitchen... had a few wonderful conversations with people today.  When I asked Sabrina if she had any crazy plans for the weekend?


Sabrina:

I'm going to the gun show

Yeah I said that. I have tickets.

I didn't go to Dallas last weekend.  Instead I drove 1.5 hrs southwest to another suburb of Houston and met some college friends for dinner at Red Lobster...

Yeah, we know how to roll.

... cue the ROFL.  Totally miss this girl.

Anyways, since I'm in a good mood - I must include a weekend playlist!  There are so many great things about this weekend:

1.)  Steelers celebrating/partying Friday - Sunday (literally, everyone is the 
       city is going nuts)

2.)  Not worrying about what to wear for the weekend (Obviously, it has to be
       black and gold... or a jersey)

3.) Steelers playing in the AFC championship on Sunday (YEAAAA!!!!)

So wonderful.  Let's get this weekend started with some music!

Nothing's going to bring us down :)

why coachella '11 will be wonderful...

The list of people performing at Coachella 2011 came out this week.  It's interesting to me that they would put some bands in bigger letters than others when some of the better bands are actually the guys in point 4 font on the poster.  Kings of Leon?  Really?  They had one good year...  Don't waste your time listening to "Use Somebody" when you could be listening to some other awesome bands.

And Kanye... I mean, his performances shouldn't come as any surprise to anyone.  Plus, he will sing all of his new stuff, but none of it is really that good (in my opinion).

I went through the poster and strategically pulled out who (if you are going) should not miss!

If I could, I would LOVE to see any of the artists below live.  I've included their music videos (and a playlist at the bottom!) so you can see what kind of performers they actually are:

Robyn - Dancing on my Own Video and Dancehall Queen Video
Brandon Flowers - Only the Young Video
Afrojack (ft. Eva Simons) - Take Over Control Video
Marina & the Diamonds - Oh No Video
Arcade Fire - The Suburbs Video
Mumford & Sons - Little Lion Man Video
Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream Video  (and let's not forget the Wiz Khalifa version here)
Cage the Elephant - Ain't No Rest for the Wicked Video
The Swell Season - The Moon
Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work Video
Tallest Man on Earth - King of Spain Video
Freelance Whales - Generator (Second Floor) Video
Wiz Khalifa - Say Yeah Video (then) and Black & Yellow Video (now)
Ratatat - Seventeen Years Video
Duck Sauce - Barbara Streisand Video ... and the one with Sid the Kid Video
Tinie Tempah - Pass Out Video
Riva Starr - I Was Drunk Video
fun. - Walking the Dog Video
Ellie Goulding - Your Song Video <-- Love her...
Rye Rye - Shake It to the Ground Video
Eliza Doolittle - Skinny Genes Video

macklemore and lewis - irish celebration

Love them and love this song.  Make sure you have this memorized before March 17th.

it's snowing again!

There has been so much going on this week, and I've been trying to do my best at juggling everything at once.  Soo...  I don't have time to do a full post, but here's a playlist (at the bottom)!


I also compiled some of my favorite funny videos from the week for your enjoyment.  The "Look At This Dog " video cracks me up everytime.

jessie j - who you are

Get used to her because she is going to get BIG in the United States.

LOVE her.


Boombox Series // Jessie J from Arcade44.tv on Vimeo.

mason jennings - dr. king

Back in 2000, Mason Jennings wrote "Dr. King" as a tribute/dedication to Martin Luther King Jr on his album "Birds Flying Away."



I think that today is a good time to take a step back and see where we are with our nation right now.  Several decades ago, many suffered and struggled through the civil rights movement.  Now, I am not a history buff (and I'm not going to sit here and use big words to sound like I know what I'm talking about), but it'd be foolish to think that we weren't going through our own civil rights movement today.  It's a different generation and a different time -- but there are people still struggling to be accepted / loved / treated as an equal today.

Take some time today to think how YOU can help make a CHANGE.

We all have dreams. 

Let's start making them a reality.

Yeah. Uh huh You Know What It Is

***** WARNING ***** 

The national weather service has issued a falling bird warning for Pittsburgh next Saturday starting at 4:30 and continuing until the end of the fourth quarter. 


Falling birds could be heavy at times especially around the Heinz Field area. 


Heavy accumulation is likely.

GO STEELERS!

what song/band are you obsessed with right now?

Do you have a song that you are obsessed with right now?  ... That song you listen to and then find yourself listening to over and over again?  If you do, I want to know!


I'm going to put together a playlist of all your favorite music.  Now, in order to do this, I'm going to need all of your help.  If you want to suggest a song to be included in the playlist, please post your recommendation either as a comment to this post or as a comment on the Squeaker Box Facebook page.


You can post multiple songs or just one.  I would really like to get a playlist together for all of you by Sunday, so get those recommendations going!


It's still snowing here in Pittsburgh.  I really would like to go sled riding (not to be confused with sledding) this weekend.  I tried to get a picture of Nutmeg eating snow, but I didn't do a very good job.


Here are my fave songs to get me in the the weekend mood (playlist at bottom of post):


Wiz Khalifa - "Stoned"
Yelle - "Safari Disco Club"
Lykke Li - "I Follow Rivers"
Lil' Wayne - "I Run This Flower Shop" (Bret and I have played this non-stop)
Gucci Mane - "My Chain (Jonwayne's Basement Mix)
Eliza Doolittle - "Skinny Genes" (I'm a sucker for any whistle song)
Natalia Kills - "Mirrors" (She has the potential to get really big)
Lost in the Trees - "Tall Trees"
Edward Sharpe vs. Kid Cudi - "Home is Wherever I'm With You"
Starfucker - "Boy Toy"

I'm still pretty obsessed with Jessie J and can't get enough of this acoustic version of "Nobody's Perfect."  The song starts around 1:00.





And I'm still VERY MUCH obsessed with Little Comets.  Check out this awesome live rendition of "One Night in October."  Love love love.

like a pretzel playlist

Bret and I have decided that we're disappointed with the "snowstorm" that hit Pittsburgh.  Are we spoiled because we got all that snow last year?  Maybe.  Are we jealous because people sitting up in Connecticut (ahem!  my sister) and New England didn't have to go to work because of a "state of emergency?"  DEFINITELY.

I've been putting together my "Like a Pretzel" playlist (at bottom of post) for a day just like today.  These days are meant for curling up on the couch with a cup of cocoa.  When Bret wants to curl up on the couch, he must always include the phrase: "Like a pretzel!"  Our curling up on the couch now includes Nutmeg sitting between us (and our couch isn't that big), so we most certainly get to the point of pretzel material.

My mantra for today is:  "Never sacrifice your happiness for anything, and always work to get whatever makes you happy."

A few of my faves from the playlist include:

Bon Iver - "Skinny Love"
I know this is old -- I don't care.  I feel bad that frontman (Justin Vernon) is in Kanye's new "Monster" song.  I think he regretted it too since he chose not to be featured in the music video.

Blitzen Trapper - "Furr"
Wolves are my favorite animals, and I'm pretty sure this song is about a shapeshifter.  Regardless, it's a pretty song.  When I read books, I usually rotate between non-fiction, murder/thriller, chick-lit, and a book about dogs.  Or (like what I'm doing right now), I'm reading a chick-lit and a book about dogs at the same time.  I love dogs.  I'm going to go hug Nutmeg.  And if you haven't read "The Art of Racing in the Rain" and are a dog lover -- go buy the book now!

White Stripes - "White Moon"
The White Stripes documentary "Under the Great White Northern Lights" from their 2007 tour was featured over the holidays.  Bret and I happened to catch the last scene of the documentary which featured Jack and Meg sitting at the piano with Jack singing this song.  It really was beautiful and made me want to watch the entire documentary (which we haven't done yet).  Watch the clip here -- trust me... It's great.


Two Door Cinema - "Something Good Can Work"
These lyrics remind me of what Bret tells me every day.  He is so good at keeping a positive head on my shoulders. 

"Let's make this happen, girl. 
You gonna show the world that something good can work, and it can work for you. 
And you know that it will. 
Let's get this started girl, we're moving up we're moving up. 
It's been a lot to change but you will always get what you want."

Priscilla Ahn - "Find My Way Back Home"
We saw Priscilla a few years ago on the Hotel Cafe tour.  Her voice is so clear, and her songs are always airy and happy. 

chris brown ft. pitbull - where do we go from here

Chris Brown should definitely stick to making dance songs.  I think this song is going to get big once it's released.  Watch out Taio Cruz.


Highlights while finding the song:


Bret:  "Is that Pitbull?"


Me:    "No."


Bret:  "Yes it is!!  I GUARANTEE it."


Me:    *checks song* ...  "You're right."


Bret:  "YES!!! HAH!!!! I know me my Pitbull."


...


Enjoy.  And for old times sake, I've included my fave Pitbull song "Go Girl"

mashup germany - i just came to say hello + coconut chickpea curry recipe

Oh I love me some mash-ups.  Mashup-Germany released a new mashup this week called "I Just Came to Say Hello."  I listed all the songs included in the mash-up at the end of this post along with the video to the song.  You can listen to it here:


Mashup-Germany - I just came to say hello by MashupGermany


I made some yummy Coconut Chickpea Curry tonight for dinner.  It was super easy and really yummy.  I might be a little bias though because I love curry.

• Boil a big pot of water. I used brown rice for this recipe (because it's healthier than regular white rice)
• In a saucepan, heat the following: 
     o 1/3 can coconut milk 
     o 1 can diced tomatoes, with juice 
     o 10-16oz. frozen mixed veggies  
     o 2 c. chickpeas (I used 1 cup chickpeas and 1 cup northern white beans)
     o Curry paste or powder to taste 
• Once the rice is done, spoon the rice into bowl.  Then, pour the veggies and lots of sauce over the rice.


I added curry and basil to the rice while it was cooking so it would have a little more flavor.  I also added basil to the actual curry mixture.


Enjoy the song and recipe! :)




Katy Perry - Firework
Coldplay - Clocks
Vitamin String Quartet - Clocks
Martin Solveig feat. Dragonette - Hello
Michael Jackson - Beat it
Peter Fox - Haus am See
Snow Patrol - Shut Your Eyes
Kesha - We Are Who We Are
David Guetta feat. Kid Cudi - Memories

south san gabriel - all night long (lionel richie cover)

Today was a very productive day.  I'm also very happy that Nutmeg has decided that her bed is better than sitting on the couch.  Bret and I strategically placed her bed in front of the heater.  Now she thinks that her bed is far superior than our couch.


One point  Bret + Brittany.  Zero points Nutmeg.


Anywho, my dad stopped by today since he had a luncheon in Pittsburgh.  On his way home, he called me saying, "Check out this song.  I know you like slow, acoustic stuff, and they just had a band called South San Gabriel do a cover of Lionel Richie's 'All Night Long'.  I think you'll like it.  Listen to it and let me know what you think." 


I took a listen -- and I like! 


In order to properly listen to the song, you need to dim all your lights, because it is a chill song.  Very pretty though.  I decided to check out their Myspace page to see if they had any other songs I might like, and to no surprise, I found a few winners.  Once again, they are all super-chill music, but there is definitely nothing wrong with that.


Take a look, and enjoy!


South San Gabriel - "All Night Long"
 

toe tappin' playlist

Since deer season is in full-swing here in PA, Nutmeg finally got something from Santa to wear when we go for our walks in the woods (outside of Pittsburgh) so that she won't get mistakened for a deer.

It kind of makes her look like a superhero -- which is totally ok.  We always say she's out to fight crime, anyways.

I hope everyone took the time to enjoy the holidays.  Since I went to Bret's house this year for Christmas, I didn't have much access to the internet.  Once we were done there, we went skiing which meant double-dosage of no internet access...


... which means I owe you all a playlist!

I wanted to get some upbeat / toe tapping songs together.  It's been gorgeous outside here in Pittsburgh.  Unfortunately, all the snow has managed to disappear.  However, last year Snowmaggedon didn't hit until late January/early February, so that doesn't mean the snow is over (which we all snow it isn't).

Happy 2011 everyone.  Since #11 is my lucky number, I'm hoping that this year will be a good year.

* crosses fingers *

sesame street - monster (kanye west video)

This video is ridiculous.  Everyone has been going crazy over Kanye's new video for "Monster," but in my opinion, I feel like he's trying to be like Lady Gaga with the new video (featuring dead women and sorts).  It's too weird.  Lady Gaga was able to pull it off in the "Paparazzi" video because she's already weird.  You can't "pretend" to be weird.  At least the video has Jay-Z looking classy as usual and Nicki Minaj being her typical crazy self.

Sorry Kanye.  Points go to the Sesame Street crew for getting it together better than you.  Two thumbs up to The Galaxy World Video team for creating this wonderfulness. 

Click the video below -- you don't want to miss Miss Piggy portraying Nicki Minaj.