Bon Voyage!

Heading to the UK for a few weeks. See you soon and happy September!

- Laura

Just a quick summer shout out!

Just a quick summer shout out!

Hope everyone’s having a great summer so far. I can’t believe it’s August already! Man the year has flown by…

Favorite movie of the summer: Inception

Favorite song of the summer:  “Shimmery Summery (Sha-La-La Love)” by Viola

Favorite book of the summer: “Just Kids” by Patti Smith

Favorite meal of the summer: The Lemongrass tofu noodle bowl from the Mandoline Grill food truck. To die for.

Favorite activity: rowing out into the middle of the marina with my friends and watching the 4^th of July fireworks

Hope everyone is well and happy and enjoying the gorgeous weather!

Love,

Laura

The Importance of Good Health

The Importance of Good Health

Two days ago I had (I think it’s fair to say), one of the worst days of my life.

The day started out by getting pulled over and ticketed for the first time in my life. I’ve been driving since I was 15 and a half and have never once been pulled over. I was pulled over on my way back from physical therapy where I was treating for injuries sustained from being hit by a drunk driver last year. Oh the irony. (Note to self: a California roll does not count when encountering a stop sign.)

The day progressed and I started to feel a stabbing pain in my lower right abdomen. The pain worsened and I ended up spending the entire night in the emergency room with needles poked in me, and tubes sticking out of me. I’ll spare you the gory details, but suffice it to say – good times were had by all.

Several hundred dollars and a bruised body and ego later I’m counting my lucky stars that I’m going to be OK. Good health can never be underestimated. Every day we spend on earth is a blessing. I’m not a religious person in any classical sense, but I know when to thank the universe, and now is the time. Good times, bad times, it’s all part of it, and every second I have, I am thankful for.

Here’s to good health.

– Laura

2012

“2012”

I woke up this morning at 5AM to the sound of six helicopters outside my bedroom window. Normally I’d brush it off and think, they must be doing the traffic report, but they didn’t leave. I’m pretty sure they’re still there now.

I live within spitting distance (literally) of the 101 freeway in Hollywood, so I’m no stranger to police chases, fire trucks, car accidents and blood curdling screeches etc. But there was something particularly unnerving about this fleet of helicopters outside my bedroom window this morning. Perhaps it was the ungodly hour of their tirade, or the unrelenting whir of their blades cutting through the smog, but something made me get up and check the news to see what was up.

Have you ever seen the movie “2012”? The one where global cataclysm brings an end to civilization, as we know it through one natural disaster after another? That’s what the news looked like today. Here’s a photo from today’s front page:

Yeah. That’s a giant sinkhole. Have you ever seen anything like this ever?!? There was a tropical storm in Guatemala this past weekend that has killed many and destroyed cities. Oh, also, Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom declared a 15-day state of calamity after a volcano erupted. That’s right – there is also a volcano wreaking havoc on the place. I mean come on! How crazy is that? And that’s only what’s going on in one part of the world. This is why I don’t read the news.

After I briefly skimmed the paper to investigate the helicopter situation (to no avail), I previewed one too many catastrophe and decided to curl back into bed, put a pillow over my head, and try to drown out the sound of the city. It’s mornings like this that make me think about all the things I’m grateful for, of which there are many. I’ll take helicopters over sinkholes any day of the week. Thank goodness this is 2010, not “2012” and I have enough faith in mankind that come what may, we have enough manpower and perseverance to survive whatever mother nature throws at us. My thoughts go out to Guatemala and to all the marine life in the South currently being drenched with oil from the giant spill, and to anyone and everything in pain or struggling to make it in the world – you will. We shall overcome.

All the best for June 2010!

20 Questions for 2010 (with Laura)

1. Next time you visit LA – you have to visit:
They Getty! It’s free, and always has spectacular exhibits. I recently saw the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibit there and it was incredible.

2. Lately I can’t stop watching:
LOST – so sad it’s coming to an end so soon…

3. Lately I can’t stop listening to:
“Sticks and Stone” by Jonsi from Sigur Ros – I’ve had it on repeat on my iPod for the past 3 weeks – love it!

4. This year for Record Store Day I …
Walked down to Amoeba with my boyfriend, listened to Gary Calamar and Phil Gallo spin some tunes, and bought some awesome records.

5. My favorite current fad is:
Iced coffee with soymilk. Yum.

6. Gazing into the NEL crystal ball, I predict …
More amazing bands, placements, and happy dances.

7. If I could have a cameo on any currently running TV show, it would be: 30 Rock
my role would be: Jenna’s high school BFF in town for the weekend to relive Jenna’s “Romy and Michele-esque” high school days. Hilarious shenanigans ensue.

8. Best music placement of the year so far:
Landing Total Babe’s “Shape Up” on Grey’s Anatomy – this picture of the band watching the episode with their song on it says it all.

That’s what’s it’s all about!

9. The internet pitstop I spend most of my free time lately:
Not that there’s much free time to be had around here, but when there is, I must admit I am a PerezHilton junkie. Tisk tisk I know. I just can’t help myself.

10. When will someone invent …
A time machine. Seriously people, can someone get on that already?

11. Mark my words … Up and coming:
Cupcake resurgence. I’m telling ya, carbs are back in!

12. Best live concert of 2010 so far:
Holly Miranda at Gary Calamar’s Mimosa Music Series. So amazing, and she’s such a cool gal.

13. Money is no object, you get any one material item, I would pick :
An iPad or iPhone. Yep. I’m a lustful closet techno junkie…

14. Ultimate night out would be diner at (or cooked by):

Dinner at home, cooked by my sister Rebecca and I. Preferably Mexican pizzas – yummm!

with these 6 people: My boyfriend Leonard, Rebecca, Chloe, Mum, Dad and myself.

and then followed by going to:
The Arclight in Hollywood to see a movie in the dome. That’s pretty much my perfect evening.

15. OK Stop it already people! … really what’s up with the obsession with:
Justin Bieber’s hair. I mean really.

16. Low-brow faves:

beverage: Stella!!!

food: lime Tostitos

work of art: http://www.blublu.org/sito/video/muto.htm

17. High-brow faves:

beverage: a mojito from the rooftop bar at the Standard

food: Crispy rice topped with spicy tuna from Koi. Oh. My. God.

work of art: http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/leonardo/index.html

18. Last thing that made me laugh out loud:
http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/birdemic/trailer

19. Recent best read was:
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers.

20. My last “LA” moment was:
Hiking up and around the Hollywood sign with stunning 360 views of Los Angeles – just one of the many reasons why I love LA! J

April Love

I don’t have a lot to say this month. I know the world changes everyday; there are volcanic eruptions, romantic scandals, religion, politics, love, and so much more to write about, yet somehow I am at a loss for words.

I am excited about spring in general though. April is a big month in my family for birthdays. Three out of the five of us were born in April, so it makes for a highly celebratory time indeed. Parties, easer egg hunts, the works.

So, for this month’s abbreviated gospel I say happy birthday to all the April babies out there, and welcome. It’s a big wide world out there – so much to enjoy and take in. Make the most of it all!

Mini Eggs

Hey guys! How’s everyone doing out there in music land? Excited about SXSW? I will be living vicariously through pictures and stories, so feel free to share your experiences with me when you get back!

While you’re gone I’m planning on doing a lot of cupcake baking. ‘Tis the season, and Cadbury eggs are upon us. I feel like a badger or some other foraging creature that stocks up for the winter every time Easter rolls around. It is undeniably my favorite time of year for seasonal treats. Yes, even more so than Valentine’s Day, and dare I say it, Christmas. Primarily, if not solely for the abundance of my favorite brand of chocolate stocked in local stores in the form of mini eggs, crème eggs, orange eggs, caramel eggs, and chocolate bunnies – all of them Cadburys.

Cadbury chocolate is perhaps the thing I miss most about living in England (besides my family and friends of course). You just can’t beat it. You really can’t. So, every Easter, I stock up on my favorites and try and make it through the year. I usually make it a week. It’s tough. The hardest part is waiting for another Easter to roll around. Which is why I plan on making the most of Easter this year while all you bunnies are away at South By South West, I will be here, making cupcakes and hording chocolate eggs. Yup. That’s what I’ll be doing.

Till next month – happy hunting.

Studio Rats

Studio Rats

While Danny has been busy doing enough show hopping for the both of us, I’ve been busy in the studio making a record.   Listening to live music is one of life’s greatest pleasures, so I have a lot of catching up to do as soon as the album is finished!

There’s so much great stuff out there right now. Top 5 favorite albums at the moment are:

1. Spoon – Transference

2. Iron and Wine – Around the Well

3. The Swell Season – Strict Joy

4. Itchy Teeth – Let Me Scratch You

5. Turin Brakes – Dark On Fire

Loving this overcast weather right now – perfect for curling up on the couch with an iPod and some time to daydream…

New Year Gospel

Well, here we are. It’s a new year, a new decade and a very exciting time!

I’m looking forward to all the new and amazing bands we have, and to working my hardest to make this the best year possible for everyone!

I had the pleasure of spending some quality time with my grandmother (the dame) who was visiting for the Christmas holls from New Zealand. Hopefully you were able to spend happy times with your friends and family, and are well rested and ready to take on the new year.

Happy new year everybody!!

On Being Thankful

I love this time of year. This is the time of year to count your blessings – surround yourself with family and friends, and be so incredibly grateful for everything you have. It’s always nice to remind yourself of all the good in the world, but somehow the holidays just bring out that extra sense of gratitude in me.

I am lucky enough to have a wonderful family: mother and father, sisters, cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and of course, my sweetheart. I am thankful for them every day, and love this time of year because I get to spend time with them and remind them of how much I love and appreciate them all.

So, with this short little gospel, I just wanted to release my love and happiness and appreciation into the world, and if you feel so inclined, remind yourself of all the wonderful things in this world, and appreciate every precious second of it.

Happy holidays!

Laura