our time is ever on the road. (2012 highlights)

Well friends, we made it. At midnight, 2012 comes to an end and we ring in a new year and all it has to offer. 

This year has had so many great moments. I bought my first home, went on some extra special adventures, and shared WAY more laughs than I can count with my favorite people. 

Happy New Year! I hope tonight involves a little bit of sparkle, a lot of celebrating and some great memories. Here are some of my favorite moments from 2012. 

Here's to a great 2013, 

love.lauren

songs I love (2012 wrap up).

Inspired by my musical soul sister and friend Sarah, here are my 50 favorite songs of 2012. Some new, some old, all songs that pulled at my soul or made me dance this year (in no particular order). 

1. Alabama Shakes - Hang Loose 
2. The Apache Relay - Can't Wake Up 
3. Beach House - Wild 
4. Blind Pilot - 3 Rounds and a Sound 
5. Friends - Friend Crush 
6. Spirit Family Reunion - I'll Find a Way 
7. The Folka Dots - Sweet As Candy 
8. The Deep Dark Woods - Sugar Mama 
9. Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - Man on Fire 
10. Alexander - Let's Win! 
11. Family of the Year - Living on Love 
12. Big Tree - Whole Wide World 
13. CANT - Too Late, Too Far 
14. Angus & Julia Stone - Mango Tree 
15. The Barr Brothers - Beggar in the Morning 
16. The Cabin Project - Work to Do 
17. The Black Keys - Mind Eraser 
18. Ellie Goulding - Anything Could Happen 
19. Allo Darlin' - Tallulah 
20. Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Morning Thought 
21. The Apache Relay - American Nomad 
22. The Tallest Man on Earth - The Dreamer 
23. Blind Pilot - White Apple 
24. Daughter - Home 
25. The Avett Brothers - Life 
26. First Aid Kit - Emmylou 
27. Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - Dear Believer 
28. The Avett Brothers - The Once and Future Carpenter 
29. Boy & Bear - Lordy May 
30. Ben Howard - Old Pine 
31. Freak Owls - Philadelphia 
32. The Careful Ones - Paper Knees
33. Grace Potter & the Nocturnals - The Divide 
34. Blitzen Trapper - Stranger in a Strange Land 
35. honeyhoney - LA River 
36. Marty Marquis - Jericho 
37. Trampled by Turtles- Alone 
38. Katie Herzig - Best Day of Your Life 
39. He's My Brother She's My Sister - Escape Tonight 
40. Monsters Calling Home - Fight to Keep 
41. Middle Brother - Portland 
42. Kimbra - Settle Down 
43. The Mynabirds - Body of Work 
44. Neon Indian - Polish Girl 
45. Of Monsters and Men - From Finner 
46. The Honeycutters - Irene 
47. Punch Brothers - This Girl 
48. Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers - Always Come Back 
49. Rosi Golan - Everything Is Brilliant 
50. Mumford & Sons - I Will Wait 

love.lauren

Merry Christmas, Friends.

love.lauren

snacks I love (short leash).

Phoenix food trucks are a relatively new trend. My favorite in our growing city is Short Leash Hotdogs. They pop up at markets and shops around town, but every Friday you can count of them to set up shop in Medlock Plaza. Medlock houses some of my very favorite stores like Frances and Stinkweeds. In the back corner you will find Sit...Stay, the pop up, under the stars, adorable outpost of Short Leash. The menu consists of delicious hotdogs and plenty of other equally tasty snacks. It's always different, and since it's getting a little chilly (finally!) in the Valley of the Sun, they've also stocked the shelves with s'more kits and a sweet little fire pit where you can stay warm and cap off your meal with a classic treat. Board games on the tables, twinkle lights and friendly owners round out the long list of reasons you should visit. 

Follow them on Facebook for updates on their whereabouts. I highly recommend reserving a Friday night for some shopping, maybe a little Yahtzee and a memorable meal. 

love.lauren

They're My Favorite.

This has definitely become my favorite holiday song. And how can you not love them? Precious. 

Did Somebody Say Butter?

Oh Paula. You butter-loving ball of happiness and bacon grease, you. You had me at peanut butter. I think everyone should have at least one easy, go-to recipe for baked goods, and Paula Deen's "Monster Cookies" never steer me wrong. They are good for holiday, good day, bad day, any day. They are delicious, and get rave reviews every.single.time. Make them. I promise you won't be disappointed. But you will be unable to stop eating them. 

Here's her recipe (taken from here). 

• What you Need!
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 12-ounce jar creamy peanut butter
• 1 stick butter, softened
• 1/2 cup multi-colored chocolate candies
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup raisins, optional (I skip these!) 
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 4 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal (not instant)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats.

In a very large mixing bowl, combine the eggs and sugars. Mix well. Add the salt, vanilla, peanut butter, and butter. Mix well. Stir in the chocolate candies, chocolate chips, raisins, if using, baking soda, and oatmeal. Drop by tablespoons 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes (I found that 9 minutes is perfect for my oven). Do not overbake. Let stand for about 3 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool. When cool, store in large resealable plastic bags.

thoughts I love (you are what you listen to).

Image from weheartit.com

It's true. 

And if I am what I listen to, today I'm a folky, jazzy santa claus. 

Happy Holidays! 

a hip, happening holiday.

Christmas music gets a bad rap. Driving in the car yesterday I asked my mom why she wasn't listening to it, and her response was "blech, NO WAY! it's so corny!". Every year I spend hours making the perfect playlist. 

So, even though I love a great classic, in the holiday spirit, here are some holiday jams that don't live up to the eye-rolling, cringe-inducing stereotype.  

Sleigh Ride - Fun. 

Wonderful Christmastime - The Shins

Please Come Home For Christmas - Grace Potter & the Nocturnals 

We Need a Little Christmas - AgesandAges 

Carol of the Bells - the bird and the bee 

Just Like Christmas - Low 

Xmas Time is Here Again - My Morning Jacket 

All My Bells Are Ringing - Lenka 

Christmas Is Coming Soon - Blitzen Trapper 

The Christmas Song - The Raveonettes 

Christmas With You Is The Best - The Long Winters 

Last Christmas - Jimmy Eat World 

Baby It's Cold Outside - She & Him 

When the Leaves - Ingrid Michaelson 

Happy Xmas, War is Over - The Polyphonic Spree

tis the season

This week one of my very favorite local shops (Frances!) shared my holiday flair with their readers. 

It's my first Christmas in my first home (!!!), and so it was pretty fun to start from scratch with my holiday decorations and really go for it. 

I went with white + gold, and happily scored most of my favorite items at the Frances holiday shop (if you're in Phx, go! now! I'll wait!) and supplemented with some solid staples from Target and loads of homemade pom poms. I'm sort of in love with how it turned out. If you need me between now and the new year you can find me in my dimly lit downtown place gazing up at my twinkly tree! 

Check out their blog post and more photos here! 

books I love (steinbeck).

This book. 

I'm a sucker for "travel lit". Anything with adventure, journey, travel or pilgrimage in the title and you can bet I'm reading it. 

I had seen a quote from this book in one of my favorite magazines, Kinfolk. 

I knew I had to give it a chance. 

It was really, really good. Six years before his death, John Steinbeck packed up a camper and headed out for a slow, quiet journey to discover a country he'd lived in all his life, but didn't know, with Charley, his sassy poodle. 

I hope we all have the same spirit of adventure later in life. 

Here, the opening page (which pulled me right in): 

"When I was very young and the urge to be someplace else was on me, I was assured by mature people that maturity would cure this itch. When years described me as mature, the remedy prescribed was middle age. In middle age I was assured that greater age would calm my fever and now that I am fifty-eight perhaps senility will do the job. Nothing has worked. Four hoarse blasts of a ship's whistle still raise the hair on my neck and set my feet to tapping. The sound of a jet, an engine warming up, even the clopping of shod hooves on pavement brings on the ancient shudder, the dry mouth and vacant eye, the hot palms and the churn of stomach high up under the rib cage. In other words, I don't improve; in further words, once a bum, always a bum. I fear the disease is incurable...

When the virus of restlessness begins to take possession of a wayward man, and the road away from Here seems broad and straight and sweet, the victim must first find in himself a good and sufficient reason for going. This to the practical bum is not difficult. He has a built-in garden of reasons to choose from...

We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us." 

John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley in Search of America 

shops I love (phx).

The holidays snuck up on me. Like they do every year. 

In an effort to get my act together (and hopefully share something new with you!), here are a few of my go-to Phoenix-area shops for gifts and treats. Enjoy! 

Frances

Smeeks

Urban Cookies

UNION

Stinkweeds

Changing Hands Bookstore

MADE

Butter Toast Boutique

GROWop Boutique

Elaine Todd (for those East Valley folks)  

Where are your favorite places to shop!?

love.lauren