tastebuds & earbuds

THROWBACK THURSDAY: BLIND MELON “NO RAIN” Posting...

Wed, 15 May 2013 20:20:00 -0700

THROWBACK THURSDAY: BLIND MELON “NO RAIN”

Posting this a day early since I’ll be traveling tomorrow…and thought this one was perfect for the week since I’m headed back east for a mini college reunion. I remember dancing on tables at the top of the hill (what fraternity was that?) freshman and sophomore year. I am the little nerdy bee girl…ha. Every time I hear it, I want to jump around.

Sad that Shannon, the lead singer, OD’d at such a young age.

The Voice Kicks Off...

Tue, 14 May 2013 22:42:17 -0700

...Vedo and Garrett...too bad about Garrett...meanwhile, can they stop all the fluff so that they...

The Voice: Top 12

Mon, 13 May 2013 22:15:00 -0700

Carson opens the show tonight announcing that LA is having a heatwave and the AC is out in the...

A few tasty items from last weekend. 1. Cupcake top sandwiches...

Mon, 13 May 2013 20:05:14 -0700

A few tasty items from last weekend.

1. Cupcake top sandwiches from Frosted. DELISH. Especially the salted caramel ones.

2. Charcuterie at Mediterraneo…7 assorted meats and 7 assorted cheeses. Was quite a nice selection.

3. A proper Moscow Mule in a lovely copper mug…with candied ginger. Well done Med.

Well…I didn’t get to watch the Voice last night...

Thu, 09 May 2013 18:44:30 -0700

Well…I didn’t get to watch the Voice last night because Amy and I went to the Top 12 after party at the House of Blues in Hollywood. It was a radio giveaway show but Jen got us put on NBC’s list! (Thanks Jenna!)

The coaches performed their group song and duets. And then each of the top 12 contestants performed their songs from this week. We hung out right where all the kids were and they were all so sweet and excited. I’m a strong Team Adam fan (with Sasha and Michelle as added faves)…so I was happy to see Judith and Sarah there. What amazing voices.

A fun evening in Hollywood.

The Voice: Top 16 Part Deux

Tue, 07 May 2013 22:05:00 -0700

Tonight we're going to see Blake and Shakira's teams perform. I can't remember any of their...

Some recent nail shots…loving the accent nail...

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:18:57 -0700

Some recent nail shots…loving the accent nail lately…loving the white (and OK, the black) nails.

Recent snapshots from my life…whisky on the rock…two...

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:16:12 -0700

Recent snapshots from my life…whisky on the rock…two new Maggie awards…a couple of really cute puppies…pork rillettes at Minh’s…the White Buffalo at Saint Rocke.

The Voice: Top 16

Mon, 06 May 2013 22:01:18 -0700

OK....I guess it's time to start blogging The Voice. I tried not to get too invested in any of the...

THROWBACK THURSDAY: 4 NON BLONDES “WHAT’S...

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:20:06 -0700

THROWBACK THURSDAY: 4 NON BLONDES “WHAT’S UP”

This takes me back to summer after my sophomore year of college. I waited tables at a place called Croc’s in Virginia Beach. There was a DJ booth in the restaurant because at night it turned into a club. Sometimes I’d work the late night bar shift as the “beer” girl with a bucket of beers and a bottle opener. I had to wear a uniform that said “best tail at the beach”…you know, because we served alligator tail…I always made a ton of tips those nights. But I’d be there until 3 am and have to get up at 7 to go to my day job as a beach lifeguard in Sandbridge. Ahhhhh…those were the days.

Anyway…the DJ always played this song that summer…and every time I hear it, it totally takes me back to 1992….Virginia Beach…sunburns…fun adventures. That was a great summer.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: NIRVANA “SMELLS LIKE TEEN...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:41:00 -0700

THROWBACK THURSDAY: NIRVANA “SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT”

This is the first time Nirvana ever played its anti-teen anthem live…22 years ago yesterday. That’s just crazy. I was getting ready to graduate from high school. I guess I’m officially one of the olds.

Another case of a life lost too soon. It sure would have been fun to see what Kurt Cobain did with his music.

Soooooo excited to see Pharrell on The Voice this week helping...

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:49:00 -0700

Soooooo excited to see Pharrell on The Voice this week helping Usher coach his team. Love him. Love his face. Love his voice. Love his style. Love his music. He seriously is one of the most beautiful men I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Little known fact…I’ve had two (yep, two) moments with Pharrell. One, at Coachella…god only knows what year…one of the first ones…where he came out to the side of the stage and started signing stuff for people…I made his Virginia Beach/N.E.R.D./Star Trek hand gesture and we made eye contact. His smile was fantastic.

But more importantly, in 2004 the Black Eyed Peas and N.E.R.D. played a show at the Wiltern that a bunch of us went to. At the time, Justin Timberlake had songs with both bands so he came out and did some songs with them. At the end of the show, they told people they could jump up on stage for the last song (I can’t even remember what it was…), so I did…and while everyone else made a beeline for JT, I went straight to Pharrell…told him I was from Virginia Beach and he hugged me. In my mind, we also spun around on stage while we were hugging…but that might just be a dream…I do know I was up there barefoot and I never found those shoes. Ahhhh…the memories.

P.S. I will be blogging The Voice once it gets down to regular competition rounds…right now there are just too many people with too many cuts to be made. I don’t want to get too invested.

recently read...

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 09:45:00 -0700

currently reading: The Devil in the Kitchen by Marco Pierre White Wild by Cheryl Strayed Where Men...

“TIMSHEL” I think I’ve mentioned before that...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 22:59:46 -0700

“TIMSHEL”

I think I’ve mentioned before that I’m a sucker for any sort of live “sessions”…(see last Avetts post). This one in an alleyway in Melbourne is awesome…and still one of my favorite Mumford songs.

currently listening to...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 21:20:00 -0700

Life [The Avett Brothers] Highwayman [The White Buffalo] Wolf [First Aid Kit] Sorry [Trampled by...

THROWBACK THURSDAY: PEARL JAM...

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:47:00 -0700

THROWBACK THURSDAY: PEARL JAM “BLACK”

Technically…this video is from a few weeks ago at Lollapalooza in Chile…but it’s one of my all-time favorite old school PJ songs…so it’s a half throwback.

I first saw PJ in 1992 (I think) at Lollapalooza…loved them then, love them now.

This is where I live. And I love it. Beautiful weekday afternoon...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:23:16 -0700

This is where I live. And I love it. Beautiful weekday afternoon in April…Manhattan Beach, CA…aka The Bubble.

A few pictures from Fishbar a few weeks ago…I’m such...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:22:09 -0700

A few pictures from Fishbar a few weeks ago…I’m such a lame blogger…but better late than never. It was my first time to visit the former Sharkeez MB location that everyone has been raving about. Nice to have a fun, casual seafood place in town with good decor and atmosphere. Of course I ordered oysters and mussels and was not disappointed. But the highlight: the bloody mary with bacon and a shrimp. Delicious.

“SALVATION SONG” Playing an old song in the cold...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:12:01 -0700

“SALVATION SONG”

Playing an old song in the cold somewhere in Europe during their spring tour. I sure hope they keep rocking these homeless-chic looks come next month when I see them in Texas.

Sometimes the best Saturday nights are spent at home reading,...

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 21:10:49 -0700

Sometimes the best Saturday nights are spent at home reading, eating something tasty, playing iPhone games with friends and drinking wine…

I love the umami flavor of maitake (hen of the woods) mushrooms and I was so excited to get this awesome bunch in my farm box this week. I saw a YouTube video of this woman who just pan fried the mushrooms and then scrambled eggs into them…add a little salt…so earthy and good. I also made some asparagus with garlic, lemon and olive oil. Paired it all with an awesome 2007 Estate wine from Star Lane, a fast-moving memoir about British chef Marco Pierre White…and then some strawberries marinated in balsamic, sugar and pepper. Delicious. And easy. And relaxing.