and the jay-z song was on

After I helped Eve and Kristen over at MAKEatx create some pop up unicorn business cards a while back, I've been meaning to make some of my own inspired by Miley Cyrus.

I really love "Party in the USA" with no shame - super catchy and I like to think of it as a response to one of my favorite Jonathan Richman tunes, "Parties in the USA" even though I know that isn't true.  However, I am a little embarrassed by the number of juke boxes tucked away in dive bars of the greater Boston area that I fed dollar bills so I could hear the song, but me spending money I shouldn't is not Miley's fault, is it? It's totally the fault of bars in Boston being so very not good. 

Got my hands up, they're playing my song

And now I'm gonna be okay

Yeah! It's a party in the USA!

Another update is that they actually have a URL on them (look who's hustling now) and instead of saying handmade jewelry, they say handmade goods.  That means new things are coming, y'all - some of it is different jewelry, but some of it is not jewelry at all!

A side note: why isn't this Portlandia sketch getting more attention? We all talked about Put a Bird On It to death, didn't we?

One of the constants of the past decade had definitely been hearing Carrie Brownstein's voice in my head and thinking, "she is totally singing about my life!"

 

Also, flowers, right? I bought these on a whim the other day and it made everything better.  Pictured hangin' out with Jamboree by Beat Happening (hearts in my eyes for Calvin Johnson forever) and Kill All Of Your Friends by The Disaster Life. I was looking through stuff trying to kind of clean the house and thought they all belonged together.  Jessica mentioned a sequel zine on Tumblr and I hope that happens and I get my hands on a copy.  But I don't know. My hands might be otherwise occupied being all UP and stuff because they're playing my song.

don't let our youth go to waste

Spring keeps threatening to come to town in full force and then, sadly, retreating.  Still...I can't complain considering for the first time in four years, I can wear whatever shoes I want in January without the fear of them being destroyed by gray slush. Freedom!

Luckily, though, while I wait for Austin to go into full bloom for two perfect months before sweltering heat takes over, bits of spring can be found indoors.

A mini springtime shrine:  My roommate's copy of one of my very favorite records, a snake plant, a lamp gifted to me by my mother, and Stella by Stella McCartney from my sister.

More on Galaxie 500...because there's always more to say about Galaxie 500!  Despite having a pretty good run this past week of suspiciously good moods, I've been listening almost exclusively to music on the gloomier side.  I keep coming back to these songs, in particular, and getting nostalgic for the magical night I saw Dean Wareham open for Belle & Sebastian and ended up in a P.F. Chang's until close because none of the bars in downtown Boston were letting our underage friend in.

There is also always more room for Stella McCartney! Her Spring 2012 campaign by Mert Alas & Marcus Piggott is pretty perfect.  If I weren't already super set in the sunglasses department, I would probably spend a lot of time thinking about this particular pair of shades. 

This chandelier by Pani Jurek has been making the rounds on the internet lately, but I never tire of seeing it and can't help but think I'd be able to make my own mini version for my bedroom.  Now I just have to work a constant supply of fresh flowers into my budget...which really, I should have done ages ago.

My dream blouse by Equipment. 

This tea towel from The House That Lars Built is way too pretty for drying dishes.  I want to snatch one up for myself to hang on my wall. 

where have all the flowers gone?

I'm a big fan of autumn. Cozy sweaters, cider, and walking outside without my hair expanding to twice its normal size? Bring it all on. One thing I can do without, though is the disappearing ubiquity of flowers. I mean, I know crunchy leaves are super cool and we all just want to jump on them in our boots, but dammit, there's still room for fall florals!

 These babies in front of my mom's house are as Octobery as black cats and spider webs:

If I was handed a bunch of sacks of cash tomorrow, I would spend at least one sack exclusively on silk printed in muted and/or black and white florals. Definitely semi-sheer to conjure up images of ghosties in my brain.

This is a girl I am interested in starting my own Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants with:

Image via Polka Dot. 

More Annie Clark!  Always more.  This time, in cool black and white rose print Lanvin for Elle.

And finally, some art by Becca Stadtlander in perfect pumpkin pie and cranberry hues.