Cat Ears & Coffee: music

Gold Medal

It's been six years, and yet I still haven't been able to figure out how to pose for a photo properly. I don't think I could stand more stiff and awkward if I tried. Bloody hell. Anyway, this has been one of my favorite outfits these past few weeks, now that summer is upon is. I found this gem of a dress while thrifting with a friend, and it is perfect for hot days at work. Our office stays cool, but I walk through the warehouse a lot, and the thing is a damn oven. Cool, cotton dress FTW!

Work has been so crazy-busy lately, and I can't seem to get caught up. I foresee some long nights coming up, but overtime is always nice, so there is that. I have also been hitting the gym pretty steadily the past two weeks, and it has helped my mental state of being immeasurably. The party cats and I are throwing a shin-dig at my house this weekend, and have been plotting this event for a month! I am planning on taking loads of pics, so blog post to follow on that. Also, as if I didn't have enough going on, I am running the Run, Walk, Boom! 5k Saturday morning! I hadn't ran since November, but I managed to get some miles in this week, and am looking forward to a run.

I think I am sort of addicted to being insanely busy. I think it comes with so many years of being a student while working full time, and I *almost* miss being in school. I like being busy though, it keeps life interesting, and it forces me out of my comfort zone. I am very excited for so many projects, trips, and events this summer. I typically am not a huge fan of this time of year, but, this year has been pretty good to me so far, and I am just taking each day as it comes. Which is a really nice change for a control freak like me.

Also! I have been on the HUGEST Donnas kick lately. I found one of their old albums, and cannot stop listening to it. My favorite album is Gold Medal, and I only have it on vinyl, which kinda blows since my record player has been on the fritz. I love them because they are a straight-up rock band, but, all female! All of their songs are about partying, boys, and being total badasses. I love this song "I don't want to know (If you don't want me)" because it is so possessive and creepy. So! That being said, enjoy! And please check them out, even if they *might* be on hiatus for the moment. Because we need more female lusty songs in the world, dammit!

Details

Dress, Bag, & Shoes-Thrifted

Scarf-c/o Modcloth

Sunglasses-Forever 21

11:24 PM
13 Comments

Elephant Revival

music

7:44 PM
14 Comments

Zander Michigan!

Detroit

I promised the readers of Sideburns & Bangs that I would feature more local art, and I am fulfilling that promise today! I am so very excited about today's feature, as he is a very talented, and dear friend of mine. The one and only, Zander Michigan!

Zander Michigan is a folk/blues singer/songwriter from Detroit, MI. He plays the guitar, the harmonica, and sometimes even plays the fool. His Bob Dylan style vocals, heavy strum, and cheeky lyrics make him a classic sounding musician in an age of futuristic banter. His second album has just been released. Titled Zander The Great, this album is going to have all the power of the Greek Gods behind it. Zander has gone full production with this record, using not only his harmonica and acoustic guitar, but drums, piano, and electric guitar, along with his characteristic howling vocals. With track names like “The Great” and “Bathtub Gin” the album sets the tone for an in-your-face, no cares given experience that everyone can get excited about. He decided to go full band to add some depth to his music. He felt that the stripped versions of songs didn't have the same bite that he wanted.

From humble beginnings Zander Michigan has come quite far. In just four months of starting out, Zander had written enough songs to compile an album, so in the summer of 2013 he went to the studio. In September of 2013 he released his first 14-song album, "Never Going Back Home”. He since has been featured on Local 4 News, on Ann Delisi’s Essential Music, TV Warren, WAYN Radio, and in Metrotimes. Also upon releasing his album, Zander played shows whenever the opportunity arose. He has played at Arts, Beats, and Eats, the Detroit River Days, The Magic Stick, Ann Arbor Summer Festival, Metro Times Blowout Festival, Ann Arbor Art Fair, Birmingham Street Fair, Dino’s Lounge, Goldfish Tea, The Pike Room, The Plymouth Coffee Bean, The Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market, Crazy Wisdom and many more. He hopes that by putting out his sophomore record, people will start to see the seriousness he puts into his work and the labor that goes along with it. He hopes to tour the US and get out the message of Zander Michigan with his new record Zander The Great.

He says, “I’m making my way both eastward and westward in my pursuit of becoming a household name.” The young Midwesterner sounds like Bob Dylan, but when people spout the word “Dylanesque”, he doesn't mind. He thinks it’s endearing that people would compare him to such a great. Metrotimes even said, “Bob wouldn't be too upset”. Who knew sounding dangerously like Bob Dylan could be such a perk?

Now that you've gotten some background on this talented individual, you can hear him live at his upcoming CD release party for his new album Zander the Great.

Where: Corktown Tavern, Detroit (1716 Michigan Ave).

When: Sunday, March 29th, 6-9 pm .

Tickets are $5, and you can pick up a copy of his new album for $10 at the show.

The show is extra special, because Zander will be playing TWO sets, an acoustic, as well as an electronic, with special guest Briar Rabbit in-between.

Want a listen before the show? Check out the MP3 here!

In the meantime, you can find Zander Michigan on Facebook and on Instagram @ZanderMichiganOfficial on Twitter @ZanderMichigan on YouTube and of course at ZanderMichigan.com.

See you all at Corktown Tavern on the 29th!

10:47 AM
10 Comments

A New You

Kyle

In the past 24 hours, all of my social media feed has been filled with personal posts declaring various resolutions for a 'new year, new me!'. I don't think I can blame them, I think it is natural for humans to want to create a fresh start, so why not at the very start of the year, in the dead of winter? I do fear the crowd at the gym tomorrow, but give it two weeks and everyone will decide that evenings are better spent with Netflix, than the treadmill, amiright? Of course, that being said, I have had "A New You" by Jenny Lewis stuck in my head all day.

There are no full-body outfit shots for this post, they were all blurry. But, check out my bowtie! I wear bowties now, bowites are cool.

Even though I could make a list of resolutions like I have in years prior, and you guys know my love for list-making, I feel that this year needs to be different. Yes, it would be nice to finally drop those last 12 pounds, or to finish up that project I have been working on, read all of the books that are piled beside my bed for once, and so on. These are all things that are sort-of continuing goals though, or things that I have already started working on. For 2015, I am going to pick a very adult resolution (barf!): My resolution for 2015 is to pay off my credit card debt, and save up money. I know, I KNOW, boring as piss! But, there is some decent reasoning behind this, aside from the obvious. Having credit card debt makes me a little too scared to do the one thing that I would really like to do; travel. Coming back from Chicago last year to a giant dent in my credit card from the Weezer Cruise the previous month had put a damper on the rest of the year. I feel guilty spending money on short trips like that, when I know that if I just pay off my debt, I can then use my money to travel further to visit all of my wonderful friends who have migrated all over the place. I mean, don't get me wrong, I LOVE Michigan, I do, but I sometimes feel like I really have never been anywhere.

So, that being said, where would I like to go? Lots of places! But for 2015 in particular I would love to spend a weekend in Chicago with my friend Mariah, and show her around. I would really love to visit all of my wonderful friends in New York (another place I have never been!), and I am determined to visit Lauren in California next fall (again, never been). Word on the interwebz is that there is also a Weezer cruise III in the works, so I want to save up for that, so that I won't have to charge everything on credit cards.

Here, have a pic of Kyle doing Kyle things.

I feel that my goal can be reached, but like most resolutions, it will be hard at times. I can be pretty frugal, I just need to stick with my plans, because planning everything is what really helps out when trying to save money (list things, yay!). I also just downloaded the Mint app, after hearing some great recommendations, so I will see how that goes.

Now I am off to wash laundry, and dry them in our new dryer thanks to my parents! Having piles of clean clothes to pick through the past few days has been life changing. I love having a dryer, so much.

Blogging might be a little slow for a few weeks, as I have loads of things to catch up on at work, and will need to spend more time there, poop. In the meantime, here is Jenny Lewis:

7:08 PM
18 Comments

The Green Album

Instagram

11:00 AM
13 Comments

You Go Down Smooth

Lake Street Dive

Casual going-out outfit! Like how I picked all neutrals that don't match, it is my favorite thing to do. I chose this outfit because we were biking to downtown Ferndale to have a few beers with friends on this day, and biking in a skirt can be a little tricky, but the stretchy fabric worked here. Also, say 'hello' to my curly-ish hair. I have been too lazy to blow-dry it every night, so I have been letting it air-dry, then curling bits of it in the morning with a curling iron. Sometimes it is cute, other times it comes uncurled and it just looks strange. People at work are constantly asking me: "Sara, did you do something to your hair?" and I respond with: "Yeah, I brushed it".

I can't believe that August is almost over! It is my favorite month of summer, but I am really looking forward to fall. We had a very cool summer here in the Midwest, and I actually enjoyed summer for once! However, summer decided to show up these past few days and it has been in the mid-90's and gross. I swear, I am the only one who would take shoveling my car out of the snow every day instead of sweating my balls off. However, to each their own. I am over here impatiently waiting for pumpkin spice everything to hit stores, for the leaves to change, to harvest my garden, you name it! I am hoping to get a few more things done before the haunting season officially starts, I want to paint our living room, go to IKEA, go to DIY fest in Ferndale, go to my cousin Jeremy's wedding, get a cute, fall haircut, go thrifting for more fall clothes, make jellies, jams, pickles, tomato sauces, and salsas to and jar them up, and the list goes on. I am just so motivated this time of year, I really love September.

My shirt is from a concert that I went to earlier this summer with Kyle, and my friend Mariah. Lake Street Dive is an amazing blues-y/jazz-y/dive bar band that I have been obsessed with for a little while now. This was the first song that I heard from them, so take a listen, if you feel so inclined.

Details
Shirt-Lake Street Dive merch stand
Necklace-Etsy
Earrings-c/o Anjolee
Sweater-American Eagle Outfitters
Purse & Sunglasses-Urban Outfitters
Skirt-Forever 21
Boots-Target

9:37 AM
11 Comments

Me and You

Life

10:30 AM
7 Comments

Guest Post: Maybe Someday We'll Be Smarter

guest post

3:55 PM
10 Comments

When I'm With You

Best Coast

9:14 AM
11 Comments

Don't Worry Baby

music

11:20 PM
5 Comments

One day, You'll Be Cool

music

4:05 PM
3 Comments

Adulthood

Here to There

There is nothing like starting your day to your alarm NOT going off at all. I think this week is going to be the worst week as far as homework and essay's are..maybe. Actually, the rest of the semester is pretty much shot. I think that I might have some time to see friends on the 30th, but then it's back to being a hermit. To add to the stress, Kyle and I didn't get the house that we waited over five months for. There was too much wrong with it, furnace was over 30 years old, the company that made said furnace went out of business 20 years ago. The roof was leaking, all the way into the basement, which was not noticeable when we looked the first time, the garage was leaning slightly, the siding was not put on properly and was warped on one side of the house...you get the picture. It's overwhelming to think that we have to start all over again. I am even more mad that I didn't notice these things the first time around, I know that there will be things that we will have to fix when we move in, but it can't be a new roof AND a furnace. I mean c'mon, my company banned raises two years ago, and Kyle works at Mc Donald’s where they think an extra 10 cents an hour every year is going to make the job worth it.

I think we have officially decided to be more open about houses at this point. I think that I wanted to move into a house in Royal Oak so bad because it just seemed so much cooler than Ferndale (where I grew up). Ferndale is only a mile away from Royal Oak, and it has changed in the five years that I have been away. Ferndale has a large Gay and Lesbian community, which, I will just come out and say it, I have no problem with at all. However, most of this community is pretty young, and most of the rest of the residents of Ferndale are pretty young, so there are not a whole lot of kids anymore. Most of the schools have been closed or turned into something else, a community center for example, so the city is no longer catered to families like it once was, it is catered to the 20-40 hipsters that don't have kids.....kind of sounds like Kyle and I right? The city has become more Green, more independently owned shops and bars, which, after living in a city that has three Starbucks in a two mile radius, the thought of doing homework in a little indie coffee shop where they don't kick you out after being there for six hours and only buying a coffee (ahem) is refreshing. It's funny that after looking all summer for a house in Royal Oak, I just want to get out of that city, and back into my hometown.

So I guess you can say that I am Miss Sara 'I go through a million emotions every hour' Astley, but I am trying for the most part, to stay positive. Every time I think of all the homework I have at home to finish, see the stack of paperwork on my desk at work, eat left over pizza because I have no time to cook anything, I just think "I can do this". I awoke this morning with a giant cold, but I am slowly checking things off my lists, so hopefully I can avoid this meltdown.

Details
Top-Lauren via Here to There
Skirt-Ebony via Here to There
Tights & shoes-Payless
Necklace & belt -F21

10:22 AM
18 Comments

With The Band

music

8:15 AM
12 Comments

DIY Fest

Friends

"Do it yourself fest" in Ferndale is one of my favorite fall festivals. It is right in my hometown of Ferndale! (about a mile away from where I am now, I have gone places). Saturday Kyle, my brother Mark and Mariah and I all headed out for yummy Thai food and then ventured into the festival. One of the first things that we came across were these super-cool masks.

Can you tell which one is me? lol I actually wanted to try on all of them, and the lady that was selling them was really nice and just laughed at us. We then ventured to the other side of Woodward ave to check out the music and the crafty stuff.

You have seen them everywhere, but they never stop being cool. Random things made out of old vinyl. We did buy one of the bowls, it was made out of an old Rush album (didn't get a pic, sorry).

Kyle really liked all the purses. :P From one of the stands, I bought some kick-ass penguin bow clips, because, you never know when you are going to need that special something to complete an outfit.

Then we hit the mother-load of random buttons. Seriously, how are you supposed to buy just a few? Or make up your mind at all?

After being overwhelmed by buttons, we headed into the Loving Touch for a few pints while we waited for Electric Six. I didn't get to catch the bands name, but these guys were warming up for the after party that was going to happen after the festival.

We did take a ridiculous amount of pics inside the pool hall that just came out creepy, those I will have to edit and post at a later date once I get them all organized. Kyle tried to take some pics of Electric Six when they finally took the stage outside, but it was insanely packed. I mean, we couldn't move. I think he managed a few good ones though.

The only bummer about them was the lead singer had laryngitis. but he still sang, the band still played, and people still drank and screamed,shouted and wooted all night.Then there was the group of weirdo's who stood by the wall and took pictures of themselves.

Needless to say, we had a blast. Oh and just in-case you wanted to know who exactly Electric six is, here are there two videos. They are very strange and unusual and comical and ridiculous. But I still really like them. :P

Craziness.

8:52 PM
7 Comments

Hurley!

music

7:26 AM
23 Comments

June Gloom

Moi

It's not June anymore, I am well aware, but I adore The Like and their song fit my post title for today. I have been so down today. My Uncle RJ lives in the UP and fell off his roof a few days ago. He broke 5 ribs, shattered one of them, and bruised his heart, which I didn't even know was possible. He is at home now, but in a lot of pain. I feel so bad, I cannot visit because they live so far away. Also my Aunt Helen passed away a few days ago. She was in her eighties, so she lived a long life, but my Mom and Aunt Terri were pretty close with her and they are really upset. I feel bad because I don't really remember her. I think I saw her a lot when I was around 5 years old, but I still don't remember her. So things have been a little gloom around my parents house.

On top of that, all the little things are piling up and getting to me. Louie got a cut on his arm over the weekend, it's not a big deal, it isn't infected, but It scares me because I have no clue how he did it. Our apartment has flies. Sink flies to be exact. We have had them awhile and so do other apartments. We tried the vinegar and soap traps, they don't work (I think those are only for fruit flies anyway) so Kyle got a pet-safe bug bomb a few weeks ago and we bombed the place. I cleaned up flies for two days after, it was sick and gross but they were all gone...for about a week. Now they are back and we are going to try it again and try to get all the little cracks in the apartment cleaned out too just in-case any are hiding. I just hate it because I can't have anyone over because there are BUGS all over the place. I know they are harmless, but they are gross. Then my vacuum broke, AGAIN. I have had it 5 years and we had it serviced 3 times at different places, and Kyle and my Dad and brother's have all fixed it numerous times. We borrowed Kyle's Mom's for now, but it is frustrating. I feel bad being upset about these things when there are other important things to be upset about, which is just making it worse.

I think what I need is some alone time. I really am one of those people that needs to have alone time to recharge and be able to function normally around others.

On a better note, I have been keeping up with my workout, and I have two weeks left! :) I am excited to do my "I hit my goal" post. I know I am at a slow pace, but I know it will happen, and soon. Sorry for being a Debbie Downer this post, I promise to have something more fun tomorrow (editing the pics now, actually) :)

Details

Top & earrings-F21

Skirt-Ebs

Shoes-Alloy

bag-Value world

June Gloom, by The Like.

7:30 PM
22 Comments

Outfits

Gold Medal

Elephant Revival

Zander Michigan!

A New You

The Green Album

You Go Down Smooth

Me and You

Guest Post: Maybe Someday We'll Be Smarter

When I'm With You

Don't Worry Baby

One day, You'll Be Cool

Adulthood

With The Band

DIY Fest

Hurley!

June Gloom

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