I don't usually do music stuff on here, but I absolutely love getting music suggestions... so I'm hoping you do, too!
Here are my top 5 albums right now!

-The Weepies: "Be My Thrill"
Favorite track: "Hummingbird"

-Andrew Belle: "The Ladder"
Favorite track: "Static Waves" (features Katie Herzig)

-Ben Folds and Nick Hornby: "Lonely Avenue"
Favorite track: "Picture Window"

-Pearl & the Beard: "God Bless Your Weary Soul, Amanda Richardson"
Favorite track: "Slow Motion Machine Gun"

-The Spring Standards: "Would Things Be Different"
Favorite track: "Queen of the Lot"

Also check out this awesome a cappella version of Coldplay's "Fix You" by Straight No Chaser. My a cappella group is doing a similar arrangement, and it isn't all men, but you get the jist. It's gonna be amazing.

This gives me hope.

"The loss of these wonderful people should make every one of us strive to be better in our private lives - to be better friends and neighbors, co-workers and parents. And if, as has been discussed in recent days, their deaths help usher in more civility in our public discourse, let's remember that it is not because a simple lack of civility caused this tragedy, but rather because only a more civil and honest public discourse can help us face up to our challenges as a nation, in a way that would make them proud. It should be because we want to live up to the example of public servants like John Roll and Gabby Giffords, who knew first and foremost that we are all Americans, and that we can question each other's ideas without questioning each other's love of country, and that our task, working together, is to constantly widen the circle of our concern so that we bequeath the American dream to future generations.

I believe we can be better. Those who died here, those who saved lives here - they help me believe. We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us. I believe that for all our imperfections, we are full of decency and goodness, and that the forces that divide us are not as strong as those that unite us."

Watch the full video of President Obama's speech at the Tucson memorial service here.

Food For Thought boxers!

Before break, I was talking with the foodie club I'm in (Food For Thought) about club apparel. The club wanted to get boxers. We realized that the companies we were considering ordering from were going to be too expensive for us. Then I realized- HEY, I can silkscreen! So we bought boxers cheap and I brought them home with me over break to screen with my pre-existing carrot print.

They turned out pretty well, even though I had to use a system of cardboard and binder clips to stretch out the elastic and keep them from scrunching.

We distributed them at our club meeting tonight, and everyone was super pumped about them. So yay for local food, and yay for local art!

Mail

THIS lovely book showed up in my mailbox today!

(okay, it wasn't magic, I ordered it a few days ago...)

Super excited to read it- it's a compilation of photos, interviews, and info about the actual farmers leading the food revolution! Check it out.

Quidditch

Something AMAZING happened Christmas day! Santa brought me a Nimbus 2000!!!

After admiring it with my siblings and making sure it wasn't jinxed....

... I decided to try out for the blazin' orange Vermont Quidditch team!

Here I am about to catch the Snitch. I couldn't post any more flying pictures because that would be breaking the Wizarding Statute of Secrecy. Some of yalls are Muggles.

Despite the serious depression that followed my 11th birthday (and the lack of owl from Hogwarts), I still hold the Wizarding world in my heart. And Santa is pretty darn awesome.

My spoon!

My wooden spoon is complete! It is made of cherry wood procured in a somewhat questionable manner. I used unorthodox tools, including a beveler, skill saw, hot coals from the fire... and finally some actually legitimate carving tools.

Not quite useful or "correctly" made, but not too bad for a first shot, right?!?!

The stash... continued!

Since I cleaned out my room and consolidated EVERYTHING (yes, even my craftiness supplies), I didn't feel as bad indulging my fabric addiction at nido in Burlington, VT over break. Although I wanted everything in that store, I limited myself to these selections: a scrap bag, some fun yellow moon canvas fabric, and utterly adorable Matryoshka doll fabric.

Sadly all my fabric is still at home, for future projects. For now I can think fondly of it!