TodaysMama » Mama’s Mix

Style: A New Michael Kors Wallet for Spring

Carina — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 20:23:26 +0000

I’m a little crazy for Michael Kors. OK, I’m a lot crazy for everything Michael Kors. It’s like he’s reading my mind and designing everything just for me. For example, I’ve been blogging over at The Jet Set for almost ten years, just to see Michael (we’re on first names now) release a Jet Set collection last year. Well, alright, I’ll take one of each.

Like this new rose gold mirrored wallet from the Jet Set collection.

I am in love. It comes in nickel (yes,) white (yes,) and pale gold (yes, please!) I can’t think of a way to instantly brighten your every day errand-running doldrums than with a new Michael Kors wallet. And since this one is so flashy and gorgeous, you could even use it as a clutch.

Mumford and Sons for Your Walls

Erin Oltmanns — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:00:24 +0000

Last year I stumbled upon a little band called Mumford & Sons…roughly a year after the rest of the world had discovered them. But I was thrilled nonetheless.

Better late than never, yo.

Last week while combing through Etsy to find some lovely Hunger Games inspired jewelry, I came across this little bit of art inspired by my new favorite band.

Image via SpunkyFluff/Etsy

SpunkyFluff Etsy shop owner, Kristen Bangs, has created some very sweet and really fun wall art. I think “hello” would be perfect over my front door.

Other posts you might enjoy…

Best Songs I Downloaded in 2010

DIY Chalkboard Paint

Old People Music

Irish Music for Irish-ish People

Erica Fehrman — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 10:00:07 +0000

It’s that time of year again, when everyone in the world suddenly claims to have some pinky toe of Irish blood, bagpipers become the sexiest guys in a bar, and girls who normally order pomtinis suddenly get cool and order stout beer.

It’s time for St. Patrick’s Day.

While many bars and radio stations play traditional Irish music, there are quite a few Irish-punk bands that are really fun to listen to at any point in the year — and even more fun to dance, drink, and eat corned-beef-on-rye to on this lucky holiday.

Special Note: Most of these bands are bound to drop the F-bomb, so screen the songs before playing aloud in front of your kids. What can I say, the Irish don’t really view “F” as a bad word.

Another Special Note: When I drive, I’m Irish.

Mumford & Sons

These Brits rose out of the West London scene and quickly became #1 in Ireland before making it big everywhere else. Sigh No More has a beautiful balance of emotion and attitude. Kind of like William Wallace (and I know I’m mixing nationalities here) in Braveheart, where he could love passionately in one scene and then cudgel a man’s brains out in the next. Aww… A new album is expected soon.

Dropkick Murphys

This punk band has been around for 14 years and continues to grow in popularity. Especially well-known in New England for live music and sporting events. This music isn’t messing around. Be ready to put on your party hat. Or to punch someone in the face.

Flogging Molly

Part punk and part Gaelic, these people can play about anything. I think it’s sweet that the lead vocalist and the fiddler are married. Though the band is essentially American, these two members divide their time between Ireland and Detroit, Michigan. Flogging Molly is particularly aware of social and political issues, which they give voice to in Speed of Darkness.

Oysterband

Around since 1988, Oysterband leans more toward folk than the harder punk of these other bands. The “oyster” part of their name comes from their early association with the coastal town of Whitstable in East Kent, Ireland. They recently won 3 awards at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Ragged Kingdom is their latest effort.

Enter the Haggis

I suppose this is a kind of rock-driven indie/Scottish/folk band. Yes, let’s go with that, and they’re from Canada. The fiddler and bagpiper are super talented. The band is always pushing forward into new territory, like on Whitelake. One of their songs is on the Harry Potter – The Journey album.

Definition of haggis.

“St. Paddy is my homeboy” T-shirt.

More St. Pat’s on Today’s Mama:

St. Patrick’s Day Party

St. Patrick’s Day 2011 Roundup

Free Printable Shamrock Garland

Western Waldorf Salad

Erin Oltmanns — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:38:43 +0000

You can be the healthiest eater in the world but then November rolls around and you’re buying cream cheese, butter, and brown sugar…in bulk. So it’s nice to break up the heavy Thanksgiving meal with something light and refreshing like this Waldorf Salad.

I made this at the last minute for a dinner party I was hosting and everyone raved about it. Added bonus—apples and clementine oranges are in abundance right now. It’s delicious AND seasonal!

Western Waldorf from Sunset Magazine

Photo via Sunset Magazine

I didn’t use “unfiltered apple juice”, the regular stuff works just great.

Great Fall Crafts!

Staff — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:17:13 +0000

Salt Dough Leaf Prints From That Artist Woman

Jen from DFW Mama has a great round-up of some of the best Fall crafts this side of the equinox!

February Love Mix: Name-That-Tune Love

Staff — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 14:35:42 +0000

Kami is a hip and crafting mama who boasts two stunning children and a dog named Rukkus. You can keep up with her fun life at No Biggie. And frankly, I wouldn’t know this list came from Kami and her husband if there wasn’t a Crosby, Stills & Nash song on it!

Courtesy No Biggie

A few years ago we were invited to some friends for Valentine’s Day. We had a blast playing name that tune with all of the fun songs from our iPod library. Here are a few songs from our game–which maybe you could use to play your own game!

L-O-V-E – Nat King Cole

How Deep Is Your Love – Bee Gees

Love The One You’re With - Crosby Stills & Nash

My Love Is Your Love- Whitney Houston

Accidentally In Love – Counting Crows

All Out of Love – Air Supply

All Your Need Is Love – The Beatles

Tainted Love – Soft Cell

Oh, It Is Love - Hellogoodbye

Never My Love – The Association

Sea of Love – Cat Power

Love Soon – John Mayer

Lovely Tonight – Josh Radin

My Love – Justin Timberlake

Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis

Only Love – Wynona

February Love Mix: Strictly Bedroom

Staff — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 16:59:17 +0000

Nicole is an on-the-go, sleep-deprived mom of one, pilot wife, obsessive-traveling pop culture junkie. She blogs away the crazy at Cute Culture Chick and tweets @cuteculturechic.

Nicole and Taylor

When you’re married to a pilot, you don’t get an abundance of time together. And when it comes to lovin’, sometimes you just have to get down to the quick and dirty. I have a very diverse music palate, and my love mix playlist is well over 7 gigabytes (Thanks in part to the weekly love mix CDs that my husband made during our courtship). When choosing the best songs of the bunch, they span from the 1940s to current. Just as it’s labeled on my iPod, my February Love Mix is “Strictly Bedroom.”

Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – Frankie Valli

Something - The Beatles

Wicked Game – Chris Isaak

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes – The Platters

Undisclosed Desires – Muse

Because – The Dave Clark Five

Hands to Heaven – Breathe

Something About You – Cary Brothers

Maybe I’m Amazed – Paul McCartney

Like a Dream – Nathan McEuen

How Deep Is Your Love – Bee Gees

Time of the Season – The Zombies

Home – Depeche Mode

Posession - Sarah McLachlan (Piano version)

In Your Eyes – Peter Gabriel

February Love Mix: Euphoria

Staff — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 14:12:47 +0000

Hailey recently moved from Provo, Utah to Manhattan. She spends most of her time trying

to keep up with the crazy pace of the city and the even crazier pace of her husband and

four kids. She loves, in no particular order: eating, TV, singing, acting, improv, Sting, and

keeping in touch with friends. She’s a co-founder of the Provo-based improv troupe, The

Thrillionaires. On occasion, she can be found at Hailey Tracks.

Hailey Goes All Donna Reed For You

To be perfectly honest, a substantial part of me wanted to dedicate my love mix to Joseph Gordon-Levitt, but then I thought that it might be a little awkward for all of us, including my real-life Valentine, so I refrained.

However, I think it’s OK to say that when I thought about a love mix, the first thing I pictured was him dancing down the street to “You Make My Dreams” in 500 Days of Summer. I guess that’s what I want my love mix to invoke: those euphoric feelings of infatuation that might cause you to break into dance in a public place. Or cause you to daydream of Paris or growing old with someone. OR dancing in a public place with someone you’re growing old with in Paris, which is my life’s dream.

1. You Make My Dreams – Hall & Oates

2. You Picked Me - A Fine Frenzy

3. All the Pennies – Mindy Gledhill

4. Complainte de la Butte - Rufus Wainwright

5. Come to Me – Koop

6. Us - Regina Spektor

7. The Luckiest – Ben Folds

8. Crazy in Love – The Puppini Sisters

9. Lucky – Jason Mraz, featuring Colbie Caillat

10. Bang Goes the Drum (And You’re In Love) - Blossom Dearie

11. Haven’t Met You Yet – Michael Buble

12. I Just Fall in Love Again – Anne Murray

13. Lady – Lenny Kravitz

14. Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? – She and Him

15. The Folks Who Live on the Hill – Jane Monheit

February Love Mix: Unrequited

Carina — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 16:18:54 +0000

If you were at BlogHer ’10 then you saw or heard about Utah mama Jenny when she absolutely crushed Beyonce’s Single Ladies dance. She had the crowd freaking out–no, almost passing out from her wicked moves. When she’s not tearing up the dance floor, Jenny is a mom, musician, and all around loyal friend. You can catch her over at FormerlyPhread.

Jenny at BlogHer last year enjoying the famous Halal cart on 53rd

Unrequited. Requited. Transcendent. Forbidden. Matrimonial. Obsessive. Selfish. Crazy. Fated. Real.

Destined. True.

February Love Mix – The Passionista

Staff — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 16:33:17 +0000

Marilyn, The Passionista, mother of four probably perfect children, blogs from a blueberry farm in Washington State. Her passion for music means that her readers get a new mix every month of the year. And Marilyn’s even turning into an erstwhile concert promoter, producing her first show last fall and another in March!

Love can be so many things.

It can be lost, it can be found.

It can be old, it can be new.

It can be gentle, it can be earth shattering;

It can awaken a soul, it can break a heart;

For every emotion that love can create, there are songs to express them all.

This mix is filled with songs from some of my favorite artists.

I hope you find one that speaks to you.

1. Make You Feel My Love – Adele

2. You Take My Troubles Away – Rachael Yamagata & Dan Wilson

3. Forget Me Not - The Civil Wars

4. Your Song – Kate Walsh

5. Keep Me Tonight – The Open Sea

6. A Sunrise or Two – Sarah Sample

7. I Adore You – Melpo Mene

8. The Hard Way – Rob Blackledge

9. I Want to Belong to You – Katie Herzig

10. Wonderful – Josh Rouse

11. Everyday – Vetiver

12. Loving You, Loving Me – Dave Barnes

13. I Only See You - Benton Paul

14. You Are The Only One I Love – Jaymay

15. You and I – Ingrid Michaelson

16. I Do Adore – Mindy Gledhill

17. Come Home To Me – Ernie Halter

18. I Wished For You – Jasmine Ash

19. Sweeter - Jess Penner

20. I Can’t Get You Out of My Mind – Matthew Perrymore Jones

I wish you a very Happy Valentine’s Day!

xoxo,

Marilyn // Passionista