Obsessions? I have many.

Austin City Limits | tUnE-yArDs

Posted on by Megan

Last Wednesday, Adam called to tell me we won the lottery. No, not that lottery. We won the lottery to attend a taping of Austin City Limits! To be honest, I had never heard of the artist we were going to see, but a quick Spotify listen proved intriguing.

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Tonight was the concert. In short it was amazing. In fact, Adam and I walked right across the street to Austin Java afterwards so I could write this blog.

The program we received before the show stated that tUnE-yArDs (made up of singer-songwriter Merrill Garbus, a bass player, and a 2-person saxophone section) is “somewhere between Aretha and Yoko.”

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And? She plays the ukulele. Sold.

Every vocal sound that you hear is made on stage by Merrill. And I mean every.

Watching her layer vocals, scats, hums, and screams left me in awe of her artistry. Then, just when your fingers start getting into the vocals, she adds in a drum beat, loops it, and your toes start tapping. Then the sax section adds in some jazz runs and I’m practically giving myself whiplash.

The ukulele was unlike any I’d ever heard before. It was pure rock jams and oftentimes I even forgot it was a ukulele.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a concert with so much sensory overload at once. The environment of the ACL studio only added to the atmosphere and I loved every minute.

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I’m pretty sure I’ll be listening to her all day tomorrow.

Meanwhile I’ll leave you with a couple of YouTube videos from some of her older live performances.

Year in Review

Posted on by Megan

Well, it’s that time of year again. Time for my annual year in review post. Let’s see what’s changed in my life in the past year, shall we?

You may see previous year in review posts here: 2011 | 2010


  • 2011: I’m sooo over drivers who drive slower than the posted speed. 10 in a 30 is not ok, but thanks for finally getting out of my way.
    2012: I’m not adjusted to the CRAZY traffic in Austin. Between the rush hour parking lots and the folks who don’t know how to drive it’s annoying.
  • 2011: I’m obsessed with the gorgeous clipart from pugly pixel! You’ll find that a lot of them are used throughout my blog 🙂
    2012: Still obsessed. But as I was planning my wedding, I found out about Wedding Chicks and their free downloads. Ummmm….lifesaver! I used several of them to design my own paper details for our big day.
  • 2011: I received an iPad for Christmas (Thanks, Adam!). I now drift off into dreamland playing Mahjong.
    2012: I received a nice upgrade to my work computer this year. It’s made my life sooooo much better. Who knew Captivate could actually run without crashing?
  • 2011:  What [American Idol] season is it this year?
    2012: Idol is old news. I’m counting down the weeks until the premiere of a new season of “So You Think You Can Dance”.
  • 2011: Ellen never fails to make me laugh, then cry, then laugh again as I watch her talk show.
    2012: Thanks to Ellen, I am now enamored by adorable little Sophia Grace Brownlee:
[youtube:http://youtu.be/0gmmRUqgsg4%5D
  • 2011:  Umm, “OMG” was just added to the Oxford Dictionary. I feel like everything I learned in English class was a lie.
    2012: This year, in dispute with everything I ever learned in English class, the Oxford comma was dropped. I feel like my whole life has been a lie. This poster summarizes exactly why this is so wrong:

  • 2011: Does anyone else see something wrong with Jim and Alexis’ relationship or is it just me? So. Wrong. Give her a voice and get your own dang orange juice, puh-lease.
    2012: Why can’t I convince Adam that the Real Housewives franchise is a legitimate television series?
  • 2011:  In a little over 6.5 months we will be married! And living in the same zipcode – yet to be determined.
    2012: Our zipcode was determined. I became an inhabitant of Texas. Lesson? Never say never when love is involved.
  • 2011:  The iPad is the single greatest invention ever. It’s practically attached to my hip when I’m at home. Is there anything it can’t do?
    2012: The App “Paper” is incredible, it’s literally like having an easel at your fingertips.
  • 2011:  In case you haven’t noticed, I’m obsessed with Jazzercise so much that it’s been mentioned on my blog at least 7 times. I will stop you in the street and tell you about it, if you’ll let me. LOVE. IT!
    2012: Honestly? I haven’t been to a Jazzercise class since January. The traffic to the nearest studio is so crazy that my drive time is just as long as my class time, which ends up equalling around 2 hrs. Instead, I’ve found a new exercise regimen in Yoga. I’ve developed a bit of a home practice and on occasion Adam  and I will catch a Vinyasa class at Black Swan downtown.
  • 2011:  Try as I might to not get sucked into the addiction that is Twitter, I’ve failed. And I sometimes clog my followers feeds with senseless live tweets for pageants, award shows and documentaries about ferrets. Truly sorry, y’all!
    2012: For some reason, I’ve kinda fallen off the Twitter world in the past month. I desperately want to get back in – I feel so disconnected – but something about only so many hours in the day…
  • 2011:  The Social Network was the best movie of the last year hands down. I wonder how many of the applications and games Zuckerberg uses on his profile and if he’s one of those every 5 minute updaters?
    2012:  The Hunger Games was incredible and ended up being a great date night movie. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that we saw it at Alamo Drafthouse. I think any movie seen there ends up being incredible.
  • 2011:  Gelato for ZAZA makes me happy, especially Honey Yogurt.
    2012: I long for ZAZA. At least once a week Adam and I crave their salads, but alas an 8 hour drive keeps us from giving into our craving. Of course, after I move they develop the gelato I suggested: Nutella.
  • 2011: Why have I not seen “Gone with the Wind”? <—Still true
    2012: Who cares? Thanks to Netflix I’ve developed quite the interest in documentary films. Some of my favorites? The Cove and Bill Cunningham New York. I’m also looking forward to seeing Girl Model when it comes out.
  • 2011:  A day without Jazzercise most often leads to a less perky version of myself. Need. It.
    2012: Well, I’ve had many days without Jazzercise and, while I think this is true to an extent, Yoga has helped me maintain a perky disposition.
  • 2011:  Still true, but I’m basking in my solo life since it will soon be coming to an end. Then I get to annoy Adam every. single. day. with my perkiness, random thoughts, and Bravo reality shows!! I know he’s excited.
    2012: No longer single, but instead happily married and I’m living the dream as stated above. Life is wonderful!
  • 2011:  Did you hear? Fanny packs are coming back. Which reminds me of the neon green one I wore on family vacations in the early 90s. I think it had “Marlboro” or some other brand of cigarette written across the front. My dad was a grocer and I was the walking underage billboard for cigarettes. [No one in my family smokes]
    2012: In just under 2 weeks we’ll be going to DISNEY WORLD!!! I looked high and low for a bag that in no way resembled a fanny pack for this trip. Lucky for me I found the perfect cross-body purse, it’s by pure coincidence that it’s green.
  • 2011:  Did I mention I’m getting MARRIED in October?!?! CAN. NOT. WAIT!
    2012: October came and went with a wedding. A wonderful celebration with family and friends followed by a perfect honeymoon full of wine and relaxation. I’m so incredibly blessed!

The Hunger Games

Posted on by Megan

Living in Austin definitely has its perks. Especially when it comes to movie theaters – thanks to the Alamo Drafthouse.

It has quickly become another one of my favorite things about Austin. Not only can you watch a movie in a standard theater, but you can get beer, wine and other cocktails delivered right to your seat throughout the movie.

But wait, there’s more!

You can also get your movie munchie of choice delivered right to your seat as well. I’m not talking about your standard candy and popcorn, either. I’m talking burgers, pizzas, salads, wraps, and tons of appetizers. Just be sure to save room for cheesecake – which is also delivered to your seat whenever you decide to have it.

It’s an experience that has truly spoiled me.

In addition to the food and seat service, Alamo also has fun “theme” screenings such as Girlie Night: Dirty Dancing, Action Pack: Jiggy Crunk Singalong (featuring all the catchy 90’s pop rap we love) and Quotealong: Office Space. Could it get any better? I don’t think so.

Yesterday, Adam and I decided to catch a showing of  The Hunger Games. We both really enjoyed the movie and highly recommend it. Rather than write yet another review of the movie and how closely it stayed to the book, how the use of shaky camera shots added drama and the [INSANE] uproar about Rue being black I thought I’d share something that we saw prior to the movie beginning.

Alamo – in addition to all their amazing perks – also has a custom reel set up for each movie instead of the standard previews and ads other movie theaters show. For The Hunger Games, the reel was full of 80s Laser Tag commercials, battle royale themed movie clips, Hamburger Helper parodies and this:

Lana Del Rey’s Hunger Games

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OjnbRv3krA%5D

You’re welcome.