Funeral -- The Arcade Fire

Okay, so I got this CD from a friend's music collection. I don't remember if I got it because the band name sounded interesting or if it was because she recommended it. Either way, it's taken me a while to get around to listening to them. I'm not exactly sure who to compare them to, but they are definitely indie rock. I really really like them, though. One of my favorite songs on this album is "Crown of Love." It's got rhythmic chords (sometimes broken) in the background, along with a steady, simple drum beat. I just like the contrast between the fairly fast chords, the drum beats on 2 + 4, and the really slow, aching melody. It's awesome.

Radiohead & The Strokes

I have recently decided that I really like Radiohead. I think my favorite songs are "Creep" (the clean version), and "High and Dry". They're somewhat similar to U2 and R.E.M. Their songs are somewhat mellow and have some soulful lyrics.

I have also decided that I like The Strokes. I don't think I've heard a song by them that I don't like.

Sorry this is so vague, but you should definitely check them out via Pandora or something. They rock! =)

Cranberry Orange Bread

So I made this tonight, and it was really yummy. And I thought that maybe someone else might want to try it! Hence, this recipe! (Although I made it without the walnuts, since I can't have any, lol)

INGREDIENTS

* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 egg
* 1/2 cup orange juice
* Grated peel of 1 orange
* 2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine
* 2 tablespoons hot water
* 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
* 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine dry ingredients. In another bowl, beat egg. Add orange juice, peel, butter and hot water. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until moistened. Gently fold in cranberries and walnuts. Spoon into greased 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pan. Bake at 325 degrees F for 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.

Good Morning Pie

This is one of my absolute favorite recipes. It's similar to a cobbler. It is ridiculously easy. And let me just say that it is fantastic for breakfast ;) (or whenever, really) Enjoy!

What you'll need:
1/2 c butter
1 c sugar
1 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 c skim milk
1 qt canned fruit w/ juice

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in 9x13 pan. Sift together dry ingredients. Add milk & stir until will blended. Pour over melted butter--do NOT stir. Pour fruit & juice (I like to chop my fruit into smaller pieces, but you don't have to) over flour mixture--again, do not stir. Bake for 1 hour. Serve warm. Makes ~15 servings.

Digital Scrap Freebies

So I have recently started looking around online for papers and such to be able to create my own background for my blog. And I have found some really cool sites that have design elements for free. Most people use them to digital scrapbook, but since that creativity escapes me, I settle for simple blog backgrounds. =) Anywho, if you want to go check them out and see if they have anything you're interested in, here they are:

MandyMade -- she makes some absolutely GORGEOUS stuff! Definitely check out her Julia kits. And she also will put up layouts she has done to give people ideas.

NBK scraps -- I have gotten some of the papers she has made, and they are soo cute!

GingerScraps -- Again, awesome stuff. This site has stuff made by a team of designers. Some of it is free, some of it is not.

Summertime Designs -- Awesomeness. (I'm kind of running out of new ways to say the same thing)

FlutterbyeFaery Designs -- She's got some really cute stuff =)

LIMEALICIOUS! -- she finds a whole bunch of freebies and puts them on her site so you don't have to track them down yourself

Ode To Patty -- Lauren Fox

Okay, so I may be a little biased, because this lovely lady is a childhood friend of mine, but I think her music is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! If you love Brandi Carlile, then you will love Lauren. Check out her music here. It totally rocks my socks and I have been listening to it all morning. She's a single mother with a 16 month old, and I just have so much respect for her =) So go have a listen already!

Amazing Recipe!

So I went to a Pampered Chef party a while ago, and they made this salad, and it was absolutely heavenly, so I asked for the recipe. Please ignore the parts in the recipe that say to use such-and-such a utensil. =) Enjoy!

The Pampered Chef ®
Harvest Chicken Salad
Recipe


Dressing

2 oranges
1/3 cup fat-free mayonnaise
2 tablespoons stone-ground mustard
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon each salt and ground black pepper
1 small garlic clove, pressed

Salad

1 package (6 ounces) fresh baby spinach leaves
2 cups diced roasted chicken
1 cup diced celery
2 medium Red Delicious apples
1/2 cup chopped red onion
3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/2 cup toasted pecan halves (optional)
Orange segments and Whole-Grain Croutons (optional)

1. For dressing, zest one orange using Lemon Zester/Scorer to measure 2 teaspoons zest. Juice oranges to measure 1/2 cup juice. Combine orange zest, mayonnaise, mustard, sugar, salt, black pepper and garlic pressed with Garlic Press in Classic Batter Bowl; whisk until smooth using Stainless Whisk. While continuously whisking, add orange juice in a thin, steady stream; set dressing aside.
2. For salad, place spinach in bottom of large serving bowl. Dice chicken and celery using Utility Knife. Cut apples in half lengthwise; remove stems and seeds using Cook’s Corer®. Cut each apple half into four wedges; crinkle cut wedges into small pieces using Crinkle Cutter. Chop onion using Food Chopper. Layer chicken, celery, apples, onion, cranberries and pecans, if desired, over spinach. To serve, drizzle dressing over salad and toss to coat. Top with orange segments and Whole-Grain Croutons, if desired. Serve immediately.

Yield: 12 servings

Nutrients per serving: Light (1 cup salad): Calories 100, Total Fat 2 g, Saturated Fat .5 g, Cholesterol 20 mg, Carbohydrate 13 g, Protein 7 g, Sodium 170 mg, Fiber 2 g

Preparing Orange Segments:
To cut orange into segments, cut a thin slice from the top and the bottom using Utility Knife; stand upright. Cutting from top to bottom, carefully trim away peel and white membrane.

Cut down one side of membrane. Angle knife under segment and lift out. Repeat with remaining segments.

Composure -- Waking Ashland

I came across this band while looking through my former roommate's music collection. They sounded remotely interesting, so I loaded their album on my iPod. And I really like them! Their sound is rock/pop with a piano thrown in the mix, and it's a nice break from the generic guitar/bass/drums band. In some ways, their music is similar to Death Cab for Cutie, Copeland, or perhaps Evan & Jaron a little, but they definitely have their own sound. They have such good harmonies! I think my favorite of their songs is "Hands on Deck" It's a softer sounding song, with mostly piano and just a touch of drums, as well as some strings. It is reminiscent of a ballad and is gorgeous! If you've never listened to their music, I definitely recommend it. Head on over to their myspace page to listen to a couple songs. http://www.myspace.com/wakingashland

Can't Stop Won't Stop -- The Maine

I recently got this album while raiding someone's music collection. I can't quite remember whose...maybe my cousin's? Anyway, I figured I may as well give them a try; if I didn't like them, I could always delete them. I'm so glad that I found them. I absolutely LOVE them! Their sound is somewhat similar to The All-American Rejects. That kind of style, anyway. I think I like them a little better than AAR though, in part because they are something fresh. I'm definitely looking forward to the things to come from The Maine. =)

The Host, by Stephenie Meyer

So I recently read this book for the second time. And I loved it! I got about halfway through the book, and from that point on, I literally could not put it down. I stayed up through the night to finish it because I never got to a good 'stopping' point. For those of you who haven't read it, it is nothing like the Twilight series.

I was really skeptical of it the first time I read it, because I really didn't think it could possibly be as good as the Twilight series. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I borrowed my friend's copy as we traveled from Arizona to Washington. It seriously sucked me in and wouldn't let me go. It is definitely one of the best books I've ever read. Most books I can find stopping spots for and I'm able to put it down. Like I said before, this one I absolutely could not.

The Host is about these aliens who come and take over earth. No, not in the way you see in all the movies. These aliens come and they become the humans. They live in a human body. The particular alien the book is about, Wanderer, inhabits a girl named Melanie Stryder's body. However, Melanie's consciousness refuses to fade away, and Wanderer struggles with Melanie's emotions. Eventually, she falls in love with the man Melanie is in love with and sets out to find him. I don't want to give away too much more because it'll ruin the story. =) If anyone is interested in reading it, I've got a copy that I'd love to loan out (as long as it's kept in fairly decent condition, lol).