Now that you’ve been adequately prepped, you can excuse me for this potentially awkward blog post.  A dear friend of mine over at Caffeinated & Random has nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award!  Thank you, Jenny! You look gorgeous, and you’re a versatile blogger, too!

There is a set of rules I have to follow, so here goes nothin’.

Rule #1: Thank the award-givers and link back to them in your post. Done and done.

Rule #2: Share 7 things about yourself. Oh god, here it is.  Another thing I struggle with…you’ll see.

1.) I absolutely love writing.  However, I hate hate hate writing about me sections.  My Facebook “About Me” section took me longer than I care to admit.

2.) I’m a social media nerd.  As a blogger, that probably isn’t that surprising…but I could spend a day on Facebook and be ok with it.  Well, maybe not just Facebook, but definitely Facebook and Pinterest.

3.) I’m a natural redhead.  I used to have a picture of myself on here but once it became 2 years old, I took it off.  But yes, I’m a redhead but not a full on ginger.  And while we’re at it – contrary to popular belief, I do have a soul.

4.) Cooking is my therapy.  If I’m having a bad day, I’ll come home and cook.  Cupcakes, cake, a meal, a snack, all of the above, I love to do it.  I love sampling with different flavors and making up my own concoctions.  While I can’t do that with baking just yet, I have hopes of making up recipes for cakes and cupcakes, just like I do for meals.

5.) I hate nothing more than being cold, and I’m never warm. Life is rough. On an 80 degree night (when I’m staying in), you can find me in jeans and a t-shirt, wrapped up in a blanket on the couch, most likely debating whether or not I need my heated blanket.  Imagine me during the winter months…it’s scary.

6.) Ever since 6th grade, I’ve had dreams of living in Nashville.  To me, it’s the perfect mix of city and country and the music scene is amazing.  The area is gorgeous and Chicago winters are miles away (see #5). I also want to live in L.A. at some point.  We’ll see how these dreams go.

7.) For a talent show in elementary school, I played Mary Had a Little Lamb upside down on the piano.  You’re probably picturing this correctly.  I basically did a bridge over the piano bench, putting my head underneath the piano, crossed my arms and played.  I saw someone do it on Nickelodeon’s “Figure It Out” and figured out I could do it, too.

Rule #3: Pass this award along 15 or 20.  I have to be honest, I’m not sure who I’ll pass this on to, yet, but I promise I will!

Some favorites:

Turn it Up - Someday, I hope to write as well as Greg Kot.

Suri’s Burn Book - I read this to laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh.

What Kate Wore - I’m obsessed with Kate Middleton and her closet.  This helps to fuel that fire.  Oops, I suppose you now know 8 things about me.

Caffeinated & Random – You should see how random we are when we’re together. I read this to pretend like she didn’t move to D.C! Thank god for gchat.

Rule #4: Contact your chosen bloggers to let them know about the award. This is officially at the top of my to do list.

Thanks to everyone who makes an effort to stop by from time to time.  I can’t express how much it means to me.

Yes, we still have a copy of the first Beatles album out in the United States and no, no albums were harmed in the making of this background.

Summer is a time for new music.  It fills itself with countless concerts, poolside boom boxes and humming cars impatiently waiting for a green light.  One CD that should be present in your car or swim bag is Ken Block’s “Drift.”  ”Drift” is Ken Block’s first solo album and was released last December.  However, as a singer and guitarist for Sister Hazel, he is no stranger to the music industry, which becomes quite clear once the first track begins to play.

“Drift” separates itself from numerous other albums.  How?  The songs on the album, all but one written by Ken Block himself, are conversational.  Yes, conversational.  No rewind button for lyric clarification required.  In listening to Ken Block’s album, you are only asked to do two things: listen and enjoy.  He’ll tell you numerous things, but none of them are beyond the realm of conversation.  It’s almost as if he’s sitting in my living room with me as I write this, telling me “I Don’t Mind” and “It’s Alright.”

Block’s conversational manner does not hinder his ability to perform songs with a deeper meaning.  ”Blue to a Blind Man” fills itself with deep lyrics and tight melodies.  The song made me stop and think, and I liked that.  The fact that it is a slower song and features a female vocalist, Maile Misajon, showcases Block’s versatility as an artist.  ”Better This Way” also has a somber theme, but it only reminds the listener of the numerous messages Ken Block can deliver.  

The songs on the CD and the tone in which Block uses to deliver them remind us all that, regardless of his talent, he is still human.  His lyrics and music, ranging from thoughtprovoking to heart wrenching to cheerful, reflect his vulnerability as a human and honesty as a musician.  There is nothing fake about his music or delivery.  The honesty of it all makes it even better than it already is.

I don’t have to be a personality 
Like everyone in California 
But I might make you think a little 
I don’t have to be a politician 
Wonder boy 
Superman 
Or Elvis 
But I do like the clothes they wear 

Generally, I have a favorite and least favorite song on a CD.  For once in my life, both of these titles are absent.  Not a single song makes my fingers head to the “next” button on my iPod, and putting the entire CD on repeat has proven to be an effective way of being an equal opportunity listener.  However, it is impossible to deny that a smile creeps across my face each time I hear “I Don’t Mind.”  Once again, the lyrics remind me of conversations I’ve had with friends, and the music is…fun.  No, not watching a movie fun.  Think hanging out with your closest friends, talking about absolutely nothing, but somehow laughing for hours.  ”It’s Alright” has a similar friendly vibe and evokes the same smile as “I Don’t Mind.”

My advice to you?  Strike up a conversation with Ken Block this summer.  Sit back, relax, listen and enjoy.

I Don’t Mind: Music Video

33,059 Days:  (Not the best recording–sorry)

You and Me: