From Where They Run

Hey friends,

I would love nothing more than for you to check out one of my favorite local bands - From Where They Run.

I know I have said it before and I'll seay it time and time again, these guys rock. Help support and go to their next show. Be prepared for a thrill ride down indie lane.

Visit: http://fromwheretheyrun.com

YAY ITS MY BIRTHDAY!!!

25 years down and a million to go!

can't wait for tomorrow's Thanksgiving feast and the upcoming Christmas holiday!

Yahoooieeeeeee! :)

Yankee Candles

This holiday season, I have picked up extra work at the Yankee Candle shop in the mall. Thinking it would just be another mall job, I didn't have any expectations. But now that I've started working there and learned all of the tricks of the trade, I can't get enough of it. Who knew I would love working in retail and be so good at selling something as simple as candles!

Working with candles really brings me joy. I love that the guests are mostly older women and are just as nice as can be. (I mean honestly, you can't be horrid and buy candles!) They like to chit-chat and get to know you a little bit. And what I never thought about before is that in a way, these "strangers" are inviting you into their home, an intimate place, and asking for your help in how to create a relaxing atmosphere or to find a fragrance that brings back old memories for them. It is just all really special!
And to boot, this job just makes me feel good and the majority of my customers are just so very thankful that I was able to help them. I get instant satisfaction from this job and I think that is why I am so into it. And my laid back, drama-free co-workers are just as wonderful. I am so very thankful to have them.

And it just happens that I am obsessed with candles. Although I haven't owned any over the past few years, there is really nothing like a good smelling room and a burning candle to help you wind down and relax. Because it is that time of year, I do have a handful of favorite holiday fragrances. If you have time to stop at a Yankee Candle store, check them out for yourself. I can't certainly can't get enough and you can even order them on-line! Happy smelling!

I am not usually a big Gingerbread fan, but I can't get enough of the warm spices in this fragrance. Its a great version of baked Gingerbread and has the cutest accessories to make this holiday extra festive!

Who doesn't love the smell of baked apples? With a light scent of pine, the dash of cinnamon, and warm, crisp apples , your house will smell absolutely divine. Don't be alarmed if the neighbors stop by to ask for your secret.

This is one of my new favorites that has been growing on me since I started last week. North Pole is a clean, fresh scent that leaves your house smelling wonderful with hints of vanilla and peppermint. The candy-like smell is sweet and refreshing!

An American Thanksgiving Holiday To Remember? Let us hope...

So it turns out that this year, I will become Chef Cass and prepare our Thanksgiving Feast. The good news is I have the whole day off. The bad news is I will probably be extremely hungover from the night before as it is my birthday (the big 2-5 - yikes!!). I've never cooked Thanksgiving dinner in my life, let alone an entire turkey. I'm actually quite the dessert gal around the holidays. Every year I make pumpkin roll and if I have the time, deep dish apple pie. I've even dabbled in something savory over the past few years and have prepared a creamy pumpkin soup (that is just to die for). But now, I'm afraid I have a lot on my plate so to speak. And on top of it all, I've loaded up on hours at my part time job so I'll be working almost every night next week.

But, it should be fun and I'm actually looking forward to the experience. I just hope it's edible by the time I'm through. I should probably start making a list of what I can achieve this holiday and start mapping out both my time and my menu!

Stay tuned for the results next week! And pointers, tips, and comments in the meantime are all welcome. Trust me, I'm going to need every bit of advice I can get!

There's no place like home for the holidays

I think everyone can agree that there really is no place like home for the holidays. And with Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, I'm beginning to feel the weight of what these famous lyrics sang by Perry Como truly mean.

You see, I have decided to not return back to the east coast for the holidays again this year. This decision did not come easily and it still breaks my heart to think about being away from my family, home, and the blustery snow for another year. But in reality, this was a cost-effective choice. I was able to pick up a part time job for the holidays and I will be working as much as I can throughout the next few weeks.

Aside from that, I will get to spend these two holidays in Texas with my honey! And I really couldn't be happier with my "Plan B" option. Although there will be no snow and the trail of lights has been canceled, I won't be lonely and it seems I've already acquired a house full of Christmas decor to start setting up on Thanksgiving. Not to mention there will still be tons of Christmas movies on television, hot cocoa to drink, and warm fleece blankets to wrap around in. And if my honey knows me at all, we will be driving from one little Texan town to the next to soak in all of the holiday festivities and cheer this season has to offer. 

So although there is no place like home for the holidays, Austin, Texas will be my home this year and will most likely continue to be my home for years to come. And ya know, this place isn't all that bad. I actually don't mind having this amazing city as my "home away from home". 

...But I do wish we could work on having a little Texan snow for the Holidays! A girl can dream!

Randy Rogers Band at the Nutty Brown Cafe

As a kid, some of the fondest memories I have involve me driving around the countryside in upstate New York with my dad blasting a Johnny Cash cassette tape. In fact, the only music I really knew was that "western twang" always coming from the radio. But with all the country music I grew up listening to, I can't say I ever really knew much about Texas country. Well fast-forwarding 20 years to now, I find myself in Austin, Texas living amongst the herds of Texans flocking to all of the shows surrounding this local, popular genre. And you can bet your ten gallon hat that I'm dancing right along with them and doing my best to keep up with the catchy Texan lyrics.

Thus far, my most favorite Texan music citing was on Friday, October 29th. I made my way over to the Nutty Brown Cafe for the first time where I was more than ecstatic to see the Randy Rogers Band perform in the packed venue. The band came out fully dressed in their Halloween gear imposing various characters from the original Karate Kid. Randy Rogers himself led the band as Mr. Miyagi and the rest of the cast played their hearts out on their various instruments. They performed a few of their older songs but it seemed to me they focused on a lot of the material from their latest album, "Burning the Day", which debuted late this summer. As for the crowd, it was clear that everyone knew the majority of their set because everyone who surrounded me on this chilly evening were singing every word right along with Mr. Rogers. 

As the show progressed, the hit new single "Interstate" was performed and shortly after, "Missing You is More Than I Can Do", which Randy Rogers' proclaimed as his "Austin Song", was played as well. The band also announced prior to performing "Steal You Away", that it would be the newest song to hit the radio waves thanks to local supporters such as 98.1 KVET. Furthermore, the incredible fiddle skills played by Brady Black is certainly worth mentioning . Dressed as the infamous character Daniel-son from Karate Kid, Mr. Black really captivated the crowd with his hypnotic fiddle solos throughout the show.  

There are always new things to discover when moving from place to place. Being new to Texas has left me with a lot to explore and most of all; it has introduced me to Texas country music. If you get the chance, please try to fit Randy Rogers Band into your schedule. They are incredibly talented musicians and they'll give you a show you will want to revisit time and time again. And in the meantime, go out and purchase their new CD which can be found at almost any local record store. There's really no reason to wait. And for those skeptical folks, get a preview at Randyrogersband.com. Enjoy!

By Cassandra Grabowski

Halloween Halloschmeeen

I couldn't possibly top myself off this year after last years Lady GaGa Halloween in South Korea. But I did raid my closet and come up with a lot of different costumes that didn't involve spending money. And the one I went as was a 1940s pin up girl. I wore a black cocktail dress I love with a sweetheart neckline and just did up my hair and make up. I watched a few youtube videos on how to do different hair styles and finally came up with one that worked for me - the Victory Roll. All that was required for the face was a little black liquid eyeliner and a lot of red lipstick. And there you have it! Just call me Betty. 

Andrew and I decided to skip out on joining the madness downtown and went to a friend's house instead for a little Halloween fun. They had a live band performing that sounded like they were straight out of New Orleans and we danced the night away. Andrew showed up as Wolverine and got an incredible amount of compliments for his grand look-a-like to Logan from the movie. He too already had everything he needed in his closet. And while he was waiting for me to get ready, he even constructed some of those Wolverine claws that shoot out of his arm. He won best costume of the night in my book. 

I ended up getting sick for some reason and left the party early. The entire next day was miserable and I continued to be sick until roughly 6pm. It is now Tuesday and I still feel ill and can't eat normally, but looking back, I couldn't really get into this years festivities. I hope my attitude changes for the next holiday! It is now November, the month of my 25th birthday and Thanksgiving. Time to cheer up Charlie!