Tom Petty Tribute (and video clip)

("and the days went by, like paper in the wind"-- To Find A Friend // Wildflowers)

Johnny and I finally finished this Tom Petty documentary yesterday.  It was so good, but it was so long that we had started it so many times before actually making it to the end.  After we finished it, I felt even more of a connection to his music and an all new level of respect for his songwriting.  There aren't a lot of songwriters out there that stood the test of time like good ol' Tom, in my opinion.

After Tom Petty passed away, some of our friends got together to put on an epic tribute show.  They pulled in a rotating cast of musicians from our area (Springfield is saturated with great musicians in the best possible way) and we all poured our hearts into celebrating his legacy.  It was a wonderful night and we raised a bunch of money for Care to Learn, a charity that I love.  Johnny and I were honored to be a small part of the show, and since Poesy's favorite song long before she could speak words has been "Free Fallin" we figured it would be so fun to let her join us onstage to help out.  She's been around enough Tom Petty music to hold her own.  ;)  Here's a little video clip from that night:



She took her tambourine job very seriously.  I hope to continue to encourage her dreams of being a musician and being onstage.  Oh, and I'll just keep exposing her to as much golden music as she'll allow.  :)

"If I Can" (Poesy in a Music Video)

Remember when I mentioned that Poesy was going to be in our drummer's video?  Well, Ivy's band, LUX, released their music video today!  Poesy's pretty sure that this is HER video and she is the STAR.  :D
I'm super proud of Jake and Ivy and all of their hard work.  You can check out their new album right here.  xo.

Video by Film Appeal

Smell Ya Later, Nashville

As I mentioned last week, I took a weekend off (four days, to be exact) and flew to Nashville.  I stayed with my sweet friend, Gowa, who I met through the internet.  When we first met up in person, we had already been friends for months via texts, emails, etc, so when it was love at first sight earlier this year, neither of us was surprised.  We share a million common interests, so spending 4 days with this pal was nonstop fun.


She lives in this darling little cabin in the woods and we had fires in her wood-burning stove every morning as we planned our day.  This place could not be more charming.  Straight out of a book.  She has a really great Etsy shop full of handmade leather goods, so you should definitely check it out if you're looking for gifts this holiday season.


We shopped, went to honky tonk bars, saw Jenny Lewis (!!!), went to the Opryland Hotel, ate like kings, and heard SO MUCH great music from local bands.  It's crazy how talent-saturated Nashville is.  Everyone I met was amazing.

It was nice to have a weekend away, but you know how great it always feels to get home.  I'm getting back into the swing of things today, as I have lots going on this week, but it's great to be back in Missouri... though it did snow while I was away and I was a little jealous I had to miss that.  The trade off was worth it, I guess.  ;)

Happy Tuesday, friends!

Our Little Band "The Shel-Tones"

I didn't start playing any musical instruments until I was about 21.  I've always been really into music, but I was too scared to put myself out there when I was younger.  It's honestly taken me a lot of years to get the point where I truly love playing in front of people.  For whatever reason, that confidence hasn't come naturally for me.  It's been a journey of learning to believe in myself.  Sometimes I'm great at it and sometimes I still have to give myself all the pep talks.

Johnny and I have been doing The Mixtapes for about a year now, and I didn't realize how spoiled we've gotten!  Playing in a band setting has its difficulties, but I love the unity and energy there.  This weekend we dusted off the ol' song lists and did a 3 hour night just the two of us.  We figured out it's been 3 years since the last time we played an intimate set, and boy, was it different than our usual gig.  I really loved it, but talk about putting yourself out there.  Acoustic singer/songwriter folks, all the love to you.  It really feels like pouring your heart and guts out.


Our friend Dillon has very appropriately named us "The Shel-Tones".  (Our last name is Shelton, get it?)  I love it because it sounds like a band straight out of "That Thing You Do", which is one of my very favorite movies of all time.

Anyway, it ended up being a really great night.  I'm really looking forward to doing it more and more.  Sometimes it's nice just get out there and play just to play!

Also, thanks to my sweet friend, Lauren, for snapping some pics for me!  Next time I hope to get a little video to share with you all!  Happy Monday!

Spring Playlist

I know it isn't Spring everywhere right now, but I thought I'd share a springy little playlist.  These are some of the bands I've been really enjoying lately!  Leave me some of your current favorites in the comments here if you wanna!  xo. Katie

Record Store Day

We ended up being in St. Louis for Record Store Day this year, so I was pretty pumped leading up to it.  We made our way over to Vintage Vinyl once I was up and going on Saturday morning.  It was all pretty hoppin'-- they had live music outside, free beer inside, and a two hour wait in line to see any of the record store day exclusive merch.  I'm a person who can go either way in those crazy crowded situations-- sometimes it's way too much and sometimes it's totally fine, depending on how I prepare myself.  Unfortunately I wasn't really in the mood that day, so I grabbed a Bryan Adams album I don't have (he's my guilty pleasure love), Johnny snagged a Pearl Jam album he didn't have, and we came home to our good ol' faithful record store here in Springfield to snag the Mazzy Star RSD 7".  I'm pretty happy with our loot, but who really needs a special day to buy records?  You know me, any day is a good day for music!

Did you snag anything great for Record Store Day this year?  You can see our purchases from last year right here.  xo.  Katie

Sucre "You and Me"

Johnny and I had the pleasure of playing a small role in the new Sucre cover of "You and Me" by Penny and the Quarters.  I just FINALLY mustered the guts to watch Blue Valentine after we did this video, and man... I know I'm late to the game, but what a beautiful and heartwrenching movie.  *sniff*
Anyway, you should check out the video shot by our friend Brandon Goodwin.  It was a ton of fun to be a part of this.

Record Store Day

Happy Record Store Day... yesterday.  This is our first one living in a town with an actual record store. We visited, I bought some records (2 that I already have in the ol' iPod, but hey, I have to get them on vinyl eventually), and it was a good day.  :)

How about you?  Did you participate in Record Store Day?  I love any excuse to buy new (or old) records.

Music Monday: The Honey Trees (again)

Yep, this edition of Music Monday features the Honey Trees (again).  To be perfectly honest, it's been a little rough lately hanging out with a sad teething baby, and then today losing a ton of pictures due to a corrupted CF card.  Listening to the Honey Trees makes things better whether I'm sad or already happy, though.  I love how something as simple as music can lift spirits.  That's why music is the best.  :)



Happy Monday, friends.  xoxo Katie

Summer Playlist

Hi, friends!  Here's my little summer playlist-- enjoy!

xoxo Katie

Friday, Friday!

Happy Friday, everyone!  Feature Friday will return next week, but for now I'm going to leave you with this video.  Johnny and Hope emailed it to me and we just keep watching it-- it's so adorable!

I hope your weekend is long and wonderful!  xoxo Katie

Music Monday: The Honey Trees

I can't stop listening to this song.  Seriously.



The Honey Trees have done such a beautiful version.  Happy Monday!  xo. Katie

Music Monday: The Letter

As a rule, I am NOT a Joe Cocker fan.  That being said, his version of "The Letter" is one of my favorite cover songs ever.

YouTube isn't allowing me to embed, so please go here and watch it.  I'd love to know what you think!  Oh man... that piano guy cracks me up!  I hope your week is starting off great!  xoxo Katie

Music Monday: Pomplamoose

I randomly discovered this girl/boy duo the other night, and after I was done
watching their videos I made Johnny come in and watch them with me.
They are so much fun!







Their name is Pomplamoose, and if you like these videos you should
definitely check out more of their stuff!  The last video is
my favorite!  Happy Monday!
xoxo Katie

Pretty Hair: Week 3

I've been a super slacker at this "Pretty Hair" stuff, and really the only reason I'm doing another one of these posts is because some of you asked how I did my hair in the "Weekly Wears" post.  I'm just so lazy when it comes to fixing my hair!  Anyway, I did a little video to demonstrate.  It's super easy and stays all day, which is especially awesome when I'm walking around with dirty, second day hair.

(I forgot I had iTunes going, so you got a little music bonus.  The song I was listening to was by Dawes.)

There you have it!  It's super easy, right?  All you need is couple of ponytail holders, some bobby pins, and hands to make little buns.  :)

If any of you try this style, be sure to drop me a link so I can see!  Also, I've been enjoying your outfit posts.  I have some VERY adorable readers.  ;)   xoxo Katie

Exciting News!

Several of you may already know if you were on Twitter last night, but the rest of you may not, so I thought I'd share.  Jeremy Larson is putting on an amazing show next weekend (like you didn't already know), and I get to be a little part of it.  Stacy Dupree (Eisley) will be opening for him, and you will find me hanging out there in the background, squeezing my accordion.  I'm very excited.

I'll be practicing most days until the show arrives, just to make sure I'm flawless.  Here are a few shots from practice today.  I have to run the track through a soundsystem to get it loud enough to hear over the accordion.  My other option is to blare the track on my iPod in my tiny house, and that doesn't really please anyone.  ;)

That last shot is me trying to capture the top part of my new ModCloth dress, but the seatbelt didn't really help me out there.  I love the tiny red buttons.  They are so pretty!  In other (SAD) news, I got another dress from there, and of course it doesn't fit because I'm terrible about knowing my size right now.  It was a Final Sale item, and they are not budging on that (no matter how much I beg).  If any of you want to snag it from me, I'll sell it to you for what I have in it.  It's this one:

It's so pretty, but no one wants to see me walking around in a dress that I can't zip all the way.  That would be MOST unflattering.  ;)  Have a great weekend, friends!  I'm off to stitch up some new stuff for a tiny update on Monday!  xoxo Katie

Music Monday: Shell Games

Today's pick is "Shell Games" from the new Bright Eyes album.  I get a lot 

of guff for liking Bright Eyes/Conor Oberst, but I can't help myself.  

"I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" and "Cassadaga" are such great albums.  

I don't care for the albums before these, but the love I have for them 

makes up for it.  ;)

I hope you enjoy!  Happy Monday!!! xoxo Katie

Music on a Tuesday

Johnny and I are guilty of doing that nerdy thing where you buy each other the same record for Christmas, or whatever holiday.  Yes, it's a little cute, but it's something I try my hardest to avoid.  Fortunately, this year there was none of that!  It's awesome having similar tastes in music when you live with someone... it's like getting double gifts!  Here are a few of the records we gifted to each other this year (for Christmas) that I can't stop listening to:

Arcade Fire: The Suburbs.  This one hasn't left my turntable in 4 days.  I love everything about it!

Spoon:  Gimme Fiction.  I love every Spoon album I've ever heard.  Period.

Band of Horses: Cease to Begin.  This is the kind of album you never want to end.  BoH music makes me feel nerdy and emotional (or, nerdy for being emotional).

Nick Drake: Pink Moon.  This is one my most favorite albums.  I can't believe it's taken us this long to get it on vinyl!

The Beach Boys:  Good Vibrations.  We are a family who loves our Beach Boys.

So how about you?  Did you get any great music for the holidays?  I can't wait to hear.  xoxo Katie

Christmas, Come Soon!

Okay, I realize that it isn't quite December, but I'm all amped up for Christmas!  I've been listening to Christmas music nonstop, doing tons of Christmas shopping, and drinking way too many Starbucks holiday drinks.  This is our last year as a family of 3, so I've been browsing pretty stockings for when our family becomes 4.  These are my favorite:

Of course they're hanging out over at Anthropologie.  That place always has the most beautiful everything.

We put up the tree two weeks ago.  I love laying on the couch and staring at the tree and unwinding.  It's so relaxing.

I also made a short little Christmas playlist.  I hope you enjoy!

xoxo Katie