My Top 10: Music

I decided to add a new feature to the blog: top ten lists of things I love. I am going to start with musical artists. This was a very, very hard top ten for me, as there are so many artists I love. I have a very solid top five, it was those last five that created the most confusion for me. But I think I have it narrowed down finally:

10. No Doubt/Gwen Stefani - I got hooked on this band when they first appeared on the scene in the early 90s and have followed it right on through Gwen breaking away to do the solo thing. I am just dissappointed we haven't heard more from her in the past few years. Looking forward to a comeback when her little ones are older...

9. Alanis Morissette - this is another artist I really wish would make a giant comeback. I have loved her since her Jagged Little Pill album in 1995, absolutely love every album of hers, and she is amazing live too!

8. Counting Crows - this band and I go way back to 1993, when they released their first album, August and Everything After. Ever since then, they have become a staple in my CD player, and then, ipod.

7. Kanye West - okay, okay, I know he's gone a little off the deep end, but the "Louis Vuitton Don" sure can write and perform music! Until that takes a serious trip downhill, I will always be a listener.

6. Live - I was so enamored with this band in the mid to late 90s, in my opinion they could do no wrong. I know we won't be seeing a comeback from this band due to drama among the members, but they still make my top ten list for sheer nostalgia. If you're not familiar, give their 1997 album, Throwing Copper, a listen...

5. R.E.M. - I used to have a boxed CD set of every song ever done by the band. That's how much of a fan I am. Nuff' said.

4. Black Eyed Peas - There is not one single solitary song put out by this band that I don't love! Not one! Pure, unadulterated fun! I even loved Fergie's solo album!


3. Eminem - He's one hell of a songwriter. I am always excited when a new album of his comes out. I always know it's going to be a new and exciting journey.


2. Lady Gaga - She's crazy, ostentatious, over the top, and so much more. But she put her dues in writing songs for artists like Britney Spears before deciding to perform her own songs, which are absolutely amazing. And there's no denying her very unique and fun sense of fashion. Not to mention her music videos, which are some of the best I have seen in a long time. The girl is just pure controversial genious!


1. Tori Amos - She is the only artist I have seen live more than once (five times, actually). She is the only artist to get me to go to midnight album release parties, and by far the largest playlist on my ipod. She got me through my teen years, changed the way I thought and felt about music and life, and continues to pull me in with every single album she releases.


Honorable mentions go out to: Hole, The Notorious B.I.G., Aerosmith, Goo Goo Dolls, Nirvana, My Chemical Romance, P!nk, Panic! At the Disco, Katy Perry, The Pixies, Tech N9NE, Tom Petty, and Sarah McLachlan

Charm of the Day: Hollywood Mini Charm Bracelet

I figured as long as I had my mini popcorn charm out, I would show the entire bracelet it came on: Juicy Couture Hollywood Mini Charm Bracelet. I absolutely love wearing this bracelet. I find that the regular Juicy Couture charms are much too large to be worn on a bracelet, but the minis are absolutely perfect!

This bracelet features the following mini charms:

Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

Palm Tree

Reel-to-reel Projector

Popcorn

And Script Pearl

It's such a fun bracelet, and I get tons of compliments on it!!

Charm of the Day: Popcorn

Here is another charm I loved from the moment I saw it: the popcorn charm! This charm makes me think of going to the movies every single time I see it, and it puts a smile on my face. I was gifted this charm at Christmas by a very wonderful "Charm Buddy"! It was a charm I always wanted, but always got put on the back burner due to other ones I felt were "more important for me to get at that time" coming out, so I never got it for myself. Still, since it was a part of my permanent wish list, I was more than stoked to receive it!

This charm is one of the heavier ones I own, and it does hang a little awkwardly:

And, for no apparent (or at least obvious) reason, it opens. Not sure why. One time I stuck a couple of Tic Tacs in there before wearing the charm around my neck....

Still, this charm is beautiful, and a lot of detail obviously went into it. I can't see myself getting rid of any of my charms any time in the future, but even if I did get rid of some someday, this would not be one of them. And this charm is the only one in my collection that I have a miniature version of as well:

Super cute, huh?!?!

My Birthday Haul - Part 2

I promised I would post pics of the heart shaped Coach coin purse I ordered with some of my birthday cash, and here it is:

I just love the metallic look of it! The leather looks, feels, and smells wonderful! It opens really wide, too, which I love! It will hold a lot of change:

And my absolute favorite thing about this coin purse is the whimsical little zipper pull! Cuteness factor: sky high!

Bag of the Day: Coach Poppy Signature Groovy

This is my newest Coach addition, purchased the first weekend in May during Preferred Customer Event at my local Coach boutique. It's the Poppy Signature Groovy in khaki/chalk and I love it!!

I had been stalking a groovy for quite some time but was never quite sold on her, because she is much, much smaller than the bags I usually carry. But after trying her out in the store, I was convinced, because quite a bit of stuff does fit into this bag. Plus, it forced me to re-evaluate the things I really feel the need to carry on a daily basis. She matches my heart wristlet perfectly, so that was a selling point for me as well. Also I felt the need to have a signature bag for some reason. I usually gravitate towards the leather, or pattern bags (such as my tartan Spotlight from a few posts back), but I believe I need one "siggy" bag in my life.

She's great because she can be worn crossbody, or the long strap is completely removable to be carried as a tote by the shorter strap. I put my cupcake keyfob on her for a little pop of color, and you wouldn't believe the compliments I have gotten on her!!

If interested, at the time of this posting, the bag is still available at www.coach.com

My Birthday Haul

My birthday was Monday, and I wanted to post the lovely gifts given to me by friends and family. First, a group pic, and I apologize for the quality as I snapped these at about 10pm and the lighting just is not good in any part of my house at that hour:

And now individual pics. First up, a custom made MP3 player presented to my by my work. I can't wait to load this up and take it jogging:

The Coach cupcake keyfob I have been lusting after, given to me by my baby sister (and as of this posting, available at www.coach.com):

An Arte Glass pendant that I just adore, also from sis (pics do not do this justice):

A novelty vampire necklace from one of my BFF's, as I love all things vampire:

Gift cards for Subway (YUM) and itunes (I love gift cards!!):

Eat This, Not That: Restaurant Survival Guide from another really good friend. I am always on the go but love eating healthy. This book literally tells you what choices to make at leading restaurants and fast food places. This is really going to come in handy:

Dead in the Family, the newest (and possibly last) installment to the Sookie Stackhouse book series. My BFF gave this to me, and it has kind of become a tradition over the last few years that the new Sookie book is what I get from her, as the new book is always released the first week of May yearly:

New Moon novelty jelly bracelets (I'm a sucker for these):

A pink glass bird, picked out for me especially by my 6 year old neice. I will cherish it forever:

New Moon "Team Jacob" tote bag (I am forever Team Jacob when it comes to the Twilight Saga). I am going to use this to cart my excess junk to work. I work in a casual office that will allow it:

A tiny purse, also from a great friend, that I am actually going to adopt as a makeup bag, since I needed a new one anyway:

I also have one more gift on the way. My parents gave me cash for my birthday so I ordered a heart shaped coin purse from Coach, and will post pics when I get it.

Find of the Day: Forever 21 Floral Jelly Flip Flops

It's been a while....work has been so busy and my sister had a gnarly surgery, so the blog had to go to the back burner. But I'm back and I thought what better way to return than with a Find of the Day!!

I was very, very excited a couple of weeks ago when Spring began actually showing up around here, as Winter was very cold and seemed to drag on forever! Though I have not officially started breaking out the flip flops yet, I have been keeping my eyes open for some....

I was at Forever 21 (one of my favorite stores) last weekend doing some shopping with my sister (who is almost fully recovered) and picked these up on clearance for $2.99!! They're pink, they're glittery, and the flower on them is so whimsical and fun they were right up my alley! They are surprisingly comfortable as well! My only regret? Not getting the blue ones they had too. LOL