Happy Friday!  

So I went to a PRSA Social Media seminar at Boston University today.  It was so cool.  One thing I like about working in communications and especially PR is that people are so easy to talk to.  I met like three people in the elevator who were my bff's for the class.  I'm kind of a whacko who talks to everyone so good thing I picked PR as a profession.  I was asked at the end of the class by a gentleman who does the PRSA Boston chapter newsletter if I would submit a piece.  He said I could pick any topic I want.  While I ponder that..

They gave us these adorable professional badges that said our name, and the company we worked for.  Of course I wanted to take a photo but they made me give it back at the end.  I don't want someone else being me!!  The professor of the class Steve Quigley was freaking amazing.  He started off but showing us his 6 year old cell phone and telling us how un technological savvy he was.  The class was for "beginners" and I was quite sure I'd be all the wiser than everyone in the class but it was fascinating how all these companies are using social media as a part of everyday media relations.  He talked a lot about FaceBook - which I have only recently become a fan of.   I was such a myspace girl but now I'm over it.  I hate that anyone and their mom can try to add you.  Whenever I have a friend request on FaceBook I get excited because it's ALWAYS someone I know.

The other night I got a friend request from my mormon pen pal that I haven't connected with in probably 9 years.  After pen and paper got lame we did the email thing and the phone thing - when he went to his mission he would send me something unique from each country.  Even something as simple as a menu from a McDonalds in Russia would impress me.  We lost touch after that and I was OVER THE MOON to see that he friended me on FaceBook.  Of course he's married now with two gorgeous kids - it's just so random how social networking works.

I just like all the interaction on FaceBook - and you never have to worry about someones annoying page slowing your computer down (ROBYN!!) because they all look the same.

We also talked a lot about Twitter and all these different ways you can use them to promote your client/brand.  It was all very informative and I plan on going to another one soon.

On my way home from BU I got a call from the renters office at the apartment I'm moving in to and they informed me that both of us had been approved to move in.  I am so damn excited.  I also took on the daunting task of telling my mom.  She seemed sad and didn't really have any looming questions.  Just about how much it was.  Said nice.  And moved on.  I've been out of the house before so she shouldn't be too sad about it.  And Abington is WAY closer than New York.  I am going to put together a blog of all the stuff I am already thinking of for my room and the like.

Last and final issue:  My phone.  I think I have grown out of my enV.  I mean I like it.  But it's become imperative that I have access to email when I am out of the office and the enV does not let me do so.  I also would like a more grown up phone.  Everyone is all profesh at the meeting today with their BlackBerry's and their iPhones and here I am whipping the glamourous enV out.  So I am going to purchase the BlackBerry Curve.  I toyed with an iPhone but I couldn't go to AT&T - I just won't.  Not sure why.  The Blackberry Storm (the one my man Krasinski pimps out) is the new BB but I don't like it that much.  I get more discounts by ordering online so I'll probably do that beginning next week.

One last thing.  Totally my friday obsession.

http://www.postcardsfromyomomma.com/

Makes me miss my mom and I only saw her a few hours ago.

Have a good weekend all!

xok

So I worked from home today because we were supposed to get this epic snowstorm and my boss told me yesterday it would be cool for me to just stay home and work.  I got all my necessary documents I would need and forwarded my office phone to my cell phone.  I was all set.  

I woke up to hardly any snow and mostly sleet.  However I woke up at the time I would be getting to work so I just set myself up a nice little desk and did my work.  I discovered that my mother watches embarrassing day time TV like the View, The Doctors and the hour of the today show that Kathie Lee is on.  Therefore while doing my work I watched those as well.   Kathie Lee has really had some work done.

Anyways.  Working in your PJ's rules.  I did most of my work at the kitchen table and then I went to do a conference call in my bedroom.  While I was on the call, my cat comes up and sits square on my planner that I had spread out.  Clearly I wasn't allowed to do anymore work.

Yes he is the cutest.  I need to make a LOLcat of this for sure.  

About an hour later I played Sudoku on my DS (I am addicted).  I left to go to the bathroom and I come back and see this:

Apparently I wasn't able to play the DS either.  I am going to miss seeing his cute face everyday when I move out!

xok

What a weekend.  I am exhausted.  I need a few more days to rest.

I suppose I can announce my big news since it's probably 99.9% locked in.  I'm FINALLY MOVING OUT OF MY HOUSE.  I've been looking on my own for a while but I've pretty much stopped my search since I knew I couldn't afford to move out without a roommate.  Last week a good friend of mine, Missy, asked me if I was still looking for a roommate because she would be needing a new one.  She's been living with her BFF Natalie for like EVER but Natalie has decided to move to Texas and go to nursing school (her mom lives there and is going to buy her an apartment rent free or something).

Anyways.  Missy either could choose to go to San Diego (she's from LA) or stay in Boston and find a roommate.  That's where I come in.  We found a pretty sweet apartment (the people that own her current apartment told her about it).  It's so nice.  It's in Abington which is appr 10 minutes from my mom's house.  A little bit closer to my work and close to really cool hangout spots.  It's a two bedroom obvs and both rooms are HUGE.  I can fit my bed, dresser, and hopefully a bookcase and a chair (I went to Ikea yesterday!) in it.  The living space is big and there is a dining room area separate from the kitchen.

Now, this won't be my first time living away from home.  I moved to New York for almost five years for college both living on campus and off.  In 2006 I moved home - and have been here ever since.  So yeah - Im itching to get out.  March 15!!!  

Friday night Hill and I saw Doubt.  I didn't like it to much.  It was boring and slow - but I'm glad I saw it.  I still need to see The Reader, The Wrestler and Frost/Nixon and I'd really like to see Slumdog Millionaire again.  We met up with her hubby after at Chilis.

Saturday I kidnapped Robyn and we went to Ikea to get some ideas on some stuff.  We ate in the glamourous Ikea food court (I say that honestly.   I love it).  Got some really cool ideas.  Then I had to go home and get ready to go out for Gary's birthday.  We met the crew at Fuji for lots of drinks and less food.  I had a glass of wine and a mini version of a Scorpion Bowl. Speaking of Scorpion bowls - they were totally the hot item of the night.  I'm quite sure Pat and I were the only ones not to get the big guys. Hey Gary only has a birthday once a year.  After Fuji 20 of us of so headed down to Commonwealth.  I had a pretty bad taste in my mouth about Commonwealth. I mean - it is the new Pat Flanagans.  I was pleasantly surprised that it does NOT look like P Flans inside and almost - ALMOST - had a little touch of class.  They were playing some pretty sweet 90's r&b tunes courtesy of En Vogue, that band that sang No Diggity, Blu Cantrell, and the band that sang about hard ons.  They ended up getting into more recent tunes but not before playing Boston classics from New Kids on the Block.  Two guys with us willingly expressed their loves for the said boy band.  

I bring you pic-a-tures:

Jenn Ro and I

The Birthday boy and I.  

The Gals!

The lovely Ms Tesorero and I.

Funny story about the first picture. I have been playing with new hair styles and have been watching a lot of Hills on DVD.  And I'm not going to lie - but my little side braid was inspired by Lauren Conrad (and also Blair Waldorf at the Van Der Woodsen/Bass wedding - but I digress).  When I got to Fuji, Jen was like I want your little side braid!!  So Dawn - being the fabulous hair dresser that she is - takes Jen to the ladies room and does up her hair.  Well it was WAY better than mine - so Dawn did mine too.  So naturally we needed pictures together of our awesome hair.

I had seriously so much.  It was one of those drama free nights.  If all nights out could be as awesome as last night I'd be out alot more!

BTW just got my Brain Age down to 44!!!!! I started at 75!  Woop!

xok

Monday, this article hit the net and to no surprise made it on to all of our desks.  Then it came in memo form from the big man in the corner.  

Ketchum employee's Tweet causes client controversy

Now I twitter, blog and have facebook.  I try to keep client names secret but so did that guy!!!  The Tweet came from James Andrews VP, director of interactive at Ketchum (a competitor PR agency of the one I work for) who goes by keyinfluencer on Twitter who said "I'm in one of those towns where I scratch my head and say "I would die if I had to live here".  Referring to Memphis as he was there for client meetings - FedEx.  

Someday over drinks ask me for some good client stories and I'll tell you - cause lord knows I won't talk about them on here anymore.  I have a handful of friends on Twitter - but on FaceBook I have half the company as my friends.  I sometimes have to sensor what I say ex. new job opportunities that were offered to me and take tags off pictures that may be viewed as distasteful ( I know you're thinking Kristen, distasteful? No) .  I speak my mind and stand up for myself but I just know if I didn't take that shit off then I would most definitely be called out by senior level folk.

Part of me wants to say how dumb this guy was (who I just added to my twitter BTW!) by doing that and being a prick - but I've done it too.  I feel a little bad for him but he seems to be loving all the new followers he has gotten on Twitter so I'm sure he's doing just fine.  He even got the attention of the head of FedEx who wrote a letter to him and made really valid points.  I think it's towards the end of the article.  

What do you guys think about this whole debacle?  And it applies to industrys outside of PR, Marketing etc etc - I've talked crap about even the shitty retailers I've worked for.

Also, NO the guy did NOT get fired!

On a totally random and unrelated note:  I have been listen to Sky 80's on iTunes radio for like 5 months.  I went on a hunt for a new station today and found Big 5 radio - 90's alternative.  AMAZING.  It will change your life.  

On a slightly related note to the previous note - NO DOUBT IS TOURING THIS SUMMER!!!!!!!!  More deets later.

Ok I really have to become better at blogging every day.  Work has been insane (I feel like I ALWAYS start my blogs with something work like).  I've been feeling super accomplished and it's making me a lot more productive at work and more positive overall.

I had a really fun weekend.  Friday night Pat and I hit up the usual haunt and then met some of his friends at JP Ryans in Abington.  Robyn also ended up meeting us.  Pretty cool hang.  There was a band playing called The Pak.  They were really great.  Great 90's alternative!!  We were pretty much back to back with the bass player.  It was high-larious.  We danced and sang and played air instruments all night.  We also decided we would start an air instruments band.  It was probably the coldest it's been all winter that night also.  Not fun.

Saturday I met John and Hillary for breakfast at my favorite (yeah I've been there twice - BEST breakfast on the north shore) breakfast place called Hi Tide ( total beach town).  Anyways.  We're sitting there enjoying the best breakfast ever and Matty from Big Brother 9 walks in with his "girlfriend".  Laugh.  But to Hillary and I - HE is a celebrity.  I love that freaking show and that season was one of my favorites.  I try so hard not to be obvious but I'm like "Hillary - Matt from Big Brother just walked in."  She turns around and is like "Who's Matt's brother."  Totally blowing our schitck.  He didn't notice.  

He's the dude in the picture.  Obviously.  After our brush with celebrity we went to Old Navy.  Seriously everything was WAY on clearance and then %50 off the clearance price.  I got a few things for Annie for her birthday and I got this gem for myself.

Seriously obsessed.  I got in a tweed color (not this one - little less gray) and I also got it in red.  Only $12!!  It's very Michelle Obama meets Blair Waldorf.  Which is precisely why I wore it today, inauguration day!  It's so cute.  SO cute.  Hillary got Annie the one in the picture - the exact one.  

Saturday night was Annie's party.  It was a hoot as always.  I made guacamole that was not as awesome as it usually is.  The avocados at Shaw's were SO hard - so I had to make due.  Needless to say the bowl was clean by the end of the night anyways.  It's the first time all of the bridesmaids (minus Kayla) have been together since Annie told us.  Good talks about making plans and making sure Annie has the best bridal shower and bachelorette EVER.  I'll probably be blogging about it a lot - she is getting married October 17, 2009 (yes the day before my birthday)!

Sunday I met Tim, Matt and Robyn at the Brewhouse for some beers and chats.   I was introduced to an amazing drink called Apple Pie which is really just half Winter Warmer and half Cider Jack.  It was so bad on the roads so they were impressed I made it out.  I saw cars that were WAY nicer than mine and probably cost 5 times as much, spinning out all over the place.  Take that Mercedes Benz.  My car is the best, even though we fight sometimes.

I have some pretty exciting news but I'm going to save it till I know for sure. Woop!

Oh and on Sunday after beer I rented the whole third season of How I Met Your Mother.  I figured there wasn't a ton of episodes because of the strike.  I should have returned it by now - alas I have not.  I just saw one of the Britney Spears episode that fan girls nearly peed themselves over - she was actually a little bit funny.

Who knew?

xok

God it's like 8 degrees in my office.  I want to close the door but I'm waiting for a very important delivery from FedEx so I must keep a good eye out.

Tuesday night when I got home I realized it was too late to go to the gym so I checked out OnDemand for those fitness classes.  Don't laugh.  They're really good and sometimes I get a better workout from them as opposed to going to the gym.  So I decide - I'm going to try Jackie Warner's shows.  Jackie Warner is the head personal trainer in "Workout" which is a reality show on Bravo.  She's such a jerk so I figured her class would kick my ass.  Well kick my ass, shoulders, stomach, and legs she did.  I did three of her segments - upper body, lower body and core.  I could barely walk yesterday.  The upper body and lower body were fun - the core was just torture.  So bad that it pains me to laugh or cough.  I went to Greg's for dinner last night and he would make me laugh and I would laugh and be like OWWWWW.  I guess they say no pain no gain for a reason.  I'm going to the real gym tonight so I'm sure tomorrow will be real fun.  

So I had dinner with Greg and his mom last night.  First time since his dad passed that I'd been over.  They're kind of like my second family so I've been so worried about them - especially his mom.  She said a million times how happy she was that I came over for dinner because she still cooks for three people.  Luckily she's an amazing cook and I was starving.  She had so much left over so she gave Greg and I little tupperwares so we could bring them to work.  

So I got myself and some members of my entourage these Office quote day calendars for Christmas.  Did I mention how much joy I get from ripping them off everyday?  Todays quote is:

"Ryan wants everything in our company to be about e-mails and IM's.  But I think he is forgetting about the original instant message: letters attached to baskets of food" - Michael Scottt

I LOVE that episode.  I'm trying not to peek at coming days - but tomorrows is good too :)

I'm so happy tomorrow is the weekend.  I see a few bottles of wine in my near future.

xok

I promise I won't complain anymore - but work is kicking my ass.  I'm dying to leave almost everyday.  Luckily it seems that I will be getting to work on some new accounts soon - hopefully that is just what I need to jumpstart my work karma. 

Weekend was good.  I got to meet the elusive David The Gnome *aka David Thegnome at Gary's place.  He lost a leg in the blizzard of December 2008 but he's still raging.

Sarah is NOT picking her nose BTW.

We had some drinks - the girls talked about hair, shopping and other things to send the boys to their corner to talk about boobs (I'm sure we were talking about boobs too) music and crap girls don't care about.  Everyone almost broke their necks on Gary's steps because they are pretty much totally covered in ice like in Home Alone when Kevin sprays his stairs so Marv is unable to walk up them - hilarity ensues - I ensure you no hilarity would have ensued if one of us had fallen (ok maybe a little).

Saw Revolutionary Road on Saturday.  I won't even give this movie the benefit of the doubt.  It was awful and if I were you I'd save my $10.50 ($8 if you choose to attend the matinee).  

I really need to see The Wrestler this weekend but it's only playing in Harvard Square - I'll make the trek!

I have to take a minute and talk about my love for last nights Gossip Girl.  Call it fluff but that show is awesome.  Last nights episode was OMFG moment after OMFG moment.  I love my Monday nights.  Such good TV.  I used to be really into CSI Miami but I'm kind of on a break from it (even though Smalls from The Sandlot was one of the main guys last night).  It's getting kind of boring and I haven't heard Horatio do this classic one liners.  I think he's distributing them few and far between because they're such a damn joke now.

On Gossip Girl last night they played the new Franz Ferdinand song and I totally had a eureka! moment when I was reminded how fucking awesome they are.  Their show remains one of my favorite from my times in New York City!  Their new song Ulysses is fun.  Wicked.

I reckon I'm going to leave promptly at five today so I can go kick some booty at the gym (or rather have it kick my booty).  

xok

I love this blogging everyday thing.  It really helps me stay on my toes for some reason.  I think of things I need to share - good and bad and blogging is a really therapeutic way to express it even if people don't want to hear it.  Weird.  Yes.  

So Amazon totally redeemed itself from the Christmas present debacle of 2008.  I cancelled this gift for and I didn't get to present it to Mrs Hagler with all her other gifts.  I assured her it was on the way.  Truth is it wasn't.  I checked every brick and mortar store I could and then I went online.  Everyone always tells me how amazing Overstock.com is but I think I might disagree.  Everything was SUPER expensive including the digital photo frame I wanted to get her.  I have to admit I am a bit of a review snob and like to stick to brands I know.  I wanted to get her the Kodak one - not the no name one or this ugly one or that random one.   I know that I probably paid more for the name but it's just one of my things.  Finally,  I went back to Amazon to look again.  To my surprise they were cheaper from the first time I got it and still offered free shipping.  I ordered it this past sunday night (1/4) and I received it via my favorite UPS guy yesterday (1/6) in super condition.  

Car drama.  So I have been having so many car problems since November.  First my car just wouldn't start.  Then my check engine light would go on. Etc. Etc.  So I (along with my step dad) went to Highland Mechanics in Braintree to get it fixed.  The guy tells me I have a lazy thermostat and that a censor needs to be replaced so the light will go out and oh also that my battery and starter are going.  Roger tells the guy to fix the thermostat and the censor.  $500 dollars later I feel like nothing has changed but Roger is really smart about these things so I trust his opinion.  Three weeks ago right before Christmas my car dies again in the driveway.  Roger taps the starter with a hammer - it starts.  Next day Roger put a new battery and starter in (seriously having a jack of all trades around is SOOOO worth it even though he drives me bananas - he can also electrocute proof your pool).  $250 later I'm convinced it's all good.  

Fast forward to yesterday.  I bundle up for work make my way to Dunkin down the street from my house and what do you know - CAR WON'T START!  Yeah.  I try like 10 times before I call Roger (who BTW was mad at me for putting a hand print on the door he just stained - oops) to come and rescue me.  I tried everything before calling a tow truck.  So my baby is at Honda in Weymouth and turns out the reason it wasn't starting is because when I got a new thermostat the guy totally crossed all these wires or some crap and the new thermostat was moving closer and closer to crushing these wires everyday - yesterday was the day all the wires to start the car were crushed.  So $197 to figure that out.  I am so over it.  I'm not saving my money for my car - I'm saving for my apt.

Today I took the commuter rail to work.  I had flashes back to when I would take the LIRR into NYC for my internship because the commuter rail looks just like LIRR.  But I got to listen to music and play my DS and drink my coffee so it's not a bad deal. 

Work is getting better.  Monday I wanted to die.  I seriously contemplated updating my resume because of my lack of work to do.  Since November I stopped work on three accounts.  One because they don't need me anymore, one because they went bankrupt and the other because we resigned their business.  The last one I mention was a huge part of my time and also stress (as mentioned in the last post).  I got to talk to my boss yesterday though and she had a really positive outlook and I feel like I'm really starting to take ownership over my new projects.  It's   and with a client whose industry I have never worked in but I feel like I'm really getting the hang of it.  I also was just asked to be part of a new business pitch for a cool new client so yeah work feels better.

Oy.

For the first time in years I've really thought of some great concise resolutions for 2009:

• Stop procrastinating:  I have been a hardcore procrastinator since college (hell probably since junior high) and it's continued into my professional work life.  I get all my work done on time but it's the last minute and usually includes me working at night after work "hours."  I do love getting things done ahead of time and I love the feeling of wow that's done - so getting to have that feeling without the stress of "shit - where's this and where's that" - will be a good thing.
• SAY NO:  I'm such a people pleaser.  I do whatever people want me to do and usually it drives me crazy.  Reminds me of Yes Man alot - which BTW was a great movie - but instead of me saying YES all the time - I need to say no sometimes.  I need to say no and know when to speak up when I think something is just ridiculous.  
• Stop Worrying:  I worry about everything.  Literally everything.  I try to control situations so I won't have to worry but I have to realize I can't do that and that I should probably chill out.  I look calm from the outside but the anxiety and crap in the inside is just painful.  It feels like it's sitting on my lungs.  So I'm really going to make an effort to stop worrying and realizing it's ok if so and so is mad at me for a day - they'll get over it.  I think things will change now that a certain client of ours is no longer on our roster.  SO much of my stress was stemming from that.  I already feel a little bit better.
• Exercise and eat better blah blah blah:  I'm serious this time.  I used to be so good at going to the gym - but work being such a time suck in the past year had not make it easy to fit it in (this goes hand in hand with the stress resolution - me stressing less about things I can't control will make it easier for me to gym it!).  And it shows.  So yeah.  Stop eating like shit and get my booty to the gym.  Did I also mention one of my best friends is getting married this year and I need to start doing the bridesmaid dress thing in March?  Oh and my stepsister is getting married (the one I like!!) next April.  I need to be the prettiest bridesmaid so I can bring home the best man (SO kidding on this one at least at Annie's wedding eek).  PS What are the guy's men called?  Groomsmaids? LOL
• EDIT: Just thought of another one!! Do not stay at work past 5:30 on any given day (unless it's life or death and hopefully I'll work to realize nothing in work is "life and death").  It's currently 5:08 EST.

In conjunction with New Year's I decided to perform a full overhaul on my bedroom on Sunday.  I got rid of four heavy duty bags of clothes I haven't seen or worn in probably over a year.  I really had to look at this crap and be like OK will I EVER wear you again?  NO probably not.  I good-willed studded belts, band shirts (I had alot!!) included some classics that I kind of wish I didn't get rid of (oops) but no this is always my problem - I won't wear them so WHY keep them.  I cleaned my closet out for probably the first time in four years.  I found like 10 pairs of shoes that I thought were long forgotten!!  I found a really cool pair of vans with these pink skulls on them - totally forgot I had them. I tossed like 10 pairs of ugly jeans that will hopefully never see the light of day again and also a long lost pair that still fit (woop!).  I got rid of all hideous shoes and brought my bags down to the good will.  What a great feeling of just knowing you have so much room - and I guess giving clothes to the less fortunate is cool too ;)  Before I went back to battle the mess I bought a over the closet shoe hanger.  Lifesaver much.

That picture should turn itself up soon (if it doesn't just click on it.  It's a goodie) - anywho that's what I got for 10 bucks at Bed, Bath and Beyond.  And I filled all spots!  The missing holes are from my New Balance's (they were already packed for the gym bag!  Zing!)  Also the fact that the closet door is open all that way is also somewhat of a miracle.  I'm trying to see how long I can keep it up!

Everyone is doing a top 10 of 2008 so yeah I will too.  

I'm not too much of a movie buff (ok lies I am) so here are my top 10 albums of 2008 (in no order - that would take WAY too long).

The Killers - Day and Age

Ok I love this album.  It's not Hot Fuss and it surely is NOT Sam's Town - but I definitely think it has promise.  Mr. Flowers and his friends are trying out lots of new instruments which I can totally respect but as Pat mentioned it does, at times sound like a Savage Garden album [EDIT: Per Pat's request he asks that I mention he thinks the whole album sounds like Savage Garden at all times.]  Which is no big shakes to me because I liked SG but it does come off a bit fluffy at times.  Best tracks are Spaceman, Neon Tiger, I Can't Stay, Joyride (totally Savage Garden like).  But hey I'm into fluff.

The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely

This may be my favorite album of the year.  EVERY song is good.  Especially the title track Consolers of the Lonely.  Before I saw them in June there were a few questionable tracks - Old Enough and You Don't Understand Me - but when I heard them live they both became my favorite songs.  This would also be in my top 5 concerts of the year (I may have only gone to five oops).  I didn't get to hear Carolina Drama which is the last track and my favorite song on the album.  It's a creepy and haunting song and I love it.  Best tracks are Consolers of the Lonely, Old Enough, You don't understand me, Attention, Top Yourself, Carolina Drama - yeah they're all good.

Miley Cyrus - Breakout

Say what you want about this annoying tween - this album is fun and oddly relatable.  The title track Breakout makes me want to dance so bad and Ms. Cyrus' take of Girls Just Want to Have Fun is - well fun.  The album gets a little old after Fly On the Wall but until then it's all killer no filler.  Funny. My favorite summer jam See You Again was also added to the end of the album to make it even better.  Ask anyone who I've made listen to it in my car - it's a fun fluff piece.  Best tracks are Fly on the Wall, This Driveway, Come Around, 7 Things, These Four Walls and Breakout.  Oh and my favorite lady Kay Hanley sings backup for her.  

New Kids on the Block - The Block

Yeah I laughed with everyone else when I heard NKOTB would be releasing a new album.  I laughed when I saw the videos for Summertime and Single and I even moaned and groaned through them when Robyn and I saw them in Sept.  But something compelled me to buy the album  - still.  It is SO good actually and Single is totally a good song after 10 listens.  Summertime reminds me of Nantasket Beach (because BOTH times I saw new kids they shouted out Nantasket Beach while performing this but on the album the shout out Jones Beach - which hello is a beach I frequented during my time in Long Island - NEW YORK.) which by the way is still a yucky beach but makes me laugh.  This kind of falls into the Miley category and EVERY song is about how they want to sex you up but it's just good.  Best tracks are Dirty Dancing, Big Girl, Grown Man, Single, Close to You (my favorite!).

Kings of Leon - Only by the Night

This album is another one where all the songs are quality.  I used to skip the first two but since hearing them on Gossip Girl (yeah yeah) I've actually started to like them a lot.  Aha Shake Heartbreak had it moments but I definitely like OBTN more.  Best tracks are Closer, Use Somebody, Sex on Fire, Be Somebody, Cold Desert, Frontier City, Manhattan, Revelry - pretty much all of them.  Did I mention the lead singer has the sexiest voice ever?

Mamma Mia Soundtrack

Favorite movie and favorite soundtrack of the year.  One of those where I go straight to Best Buy after the movie to buy the soundtrack.  So good.  I've never been an Abba fan nor did I really know what Mamma Mia was about but I knew the songs were totally sing loud in the car worthy when I saw the movie. Best tracks are Lay on your love on me, Gimme Gimme, SOS, Voulez Vous, Does Your Mother Know That Your Out and obvs Take a Chance on Me.

Weezer - The Red Album

I actually did quite a bit of Weezer listening in the year 2008 (thanks LAST FM).  Much thanks to the Red Album which came out in June.  Such a whacky CD.  The first time I ever hear "Greatest Man that Ever Lived" I was like WTF for 3 minutes.  It takes on all these different genres of song in ONE song - 80's monster ballad, hip-hop, emo, indie - it's the most bizarre song ever but it only took me one listen to realize I loved it.  I think Perez Hilton called it the EMO Bohemian Rhapsody.  I think I agree.  Best tracks are Pork and Beans, Greatest Man..., Troublemaker, Automatic, Dreamin, I Can Love, and It's Easy.

Panic at the Disco - Pretty. Odd.

The PATD boys dropped the ! this time around.  Any non believers who didn't like their first album I would suggest this one.  Almost has a bit of a Beatles thing.  I feel like it's also a bit more grown up.  Song titles are a little shorter but still oddly named.  Best tracks are I Have Friends in Holy Spaces, Pas De Cheval, Mad as Rabbits, That Green Gentleman, and Nine in the Afternoon.

Coldplay - Viva La Vida 

Never a huge Coldplay fan, I downloaded this album for my good friend P Dunn in June.  I liked Viva La Vida so I put the whole thing on my iPod also.  I usually get a good chance to listen to music while I'm at work so I told my co worker I was going to put on the new Coldplay - we were both super impressed.  Every song was better than the one before and they all have such feeling.  I still think Chris Martin is a super douche but this album is kind of genius.  Best tracks are Viva La Vida, Lost! (with and without the !), Lovers in Japan, Strawberry Swing, and Cemetaries in London.

Drug Rug  - Drug Rug 

LOVE this band.  Pat, Gary and I saw them open for the Cribs in March and we were hooked.  I talked about them in another post a while back but I think they deserve all the attention they can get.  They're Boston based (bonus points) and totally funky.  They have a chic singer who is not prissy at all.  I'm not even sure if this album came out this year but it's HIGH on my fav list.  Best tracks are, For the rest of your life, Day I Die, Winter Time, Walden, and the Sound Alone.  Not sure if this album is widely available but if anyone is interested I will burn it.

Other honorable mentions:

She and Him - Volume One

The Academy Is.. - Fast Times at Barrington High

Katy Perry - One of the Boys

Fall Out Boy - Folie a Deux

Jack's Mannequin - The Glass Passenger

Kind of a letdown:

Alkaline Trio - Agony and Irony 

I almost feel bad for even putting this down because they've been my favorite band for so long but - I just can't stomach it.  Then seeing them live made me even sadder about the album not being good because they weren't good at all.

Albums that I listened to A LOT that did not come out in 0h-eight:

The Cribs - Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever

Paramore - RIOT!

Letters to Cleo - Wholesale Meats and Fish

Weezer - Pinkerton

Darjeeling Limited Soundtrack

Happy 2009!

Definitely one of the more fun New Years in the past few years due to it's lack of drama. I drank JUST the right amount, I spent it with some great people, listened to some great music and everyone was generally in good spirits.

I went over to Nikki's "Black and White" party.  Which you would think would be easy for me -but I really wanted to wear this cute purple sweater and jeans.  It was a wind chill of -10 degrees.  So I decided on black leggings, a black jersey dress and a white scarf.  A good idea until someone wants to walk to liquor store.  Yeah I froze.  I wore my Uggs (and yes I get crap for it but I LOVE my Uggs!!!!).  Freezing.

The crowd was good and I got see lots of folks I haven't seen in forever.  Loves.

Carolyn, Pat and I

This picture radiates awesomeness. Carolyn, Pat and the scallops that were wrapped in breadcrumbs and then wrapped in bacon.  Pretty much Pats wet dream.

I have one more semi awesome photo but blogspot really doesn't let me post more than two photos without being cranky. 

Trust me.  It included my pink champagne and my nails that matched.  I wore the OPI color Don't Toy With me that I bought on my trip to Ulta.  

So I bought Season two of How I Met Your Mother today because I loved season one so much.  Two is good but one was still better.  Currently having a HIMYM marathon.

Tomorrow I am catching up with my favorite cousin.  We're going to shop and be silly and shop silly.  I crack myself up.  I am NOT looking forward to going back to work on Monday.  I keep waking up in the middle of the night thinking and stressing over things that have bothered me at work in the past few weeks.  Then I have dreams of my co workers making a softball team and not asking me to be on it.  You get the point.  

xok