A newsie's new news source

While having dinner last night with some former co-workers of my husband, I got into a conversation about the news business and two University of Missouri Journalism students told me about a (fairly) new online news source called Newsy.

Newsy isn't like any other news site.  Instead of reporting the news as they see it, or competing with other news sources for a scoop - they take the bias out of their presentation (really!) by combining what other mass media outlets are reporting about a story and letting viewers make up their own minds.  It really is a genius form of media convergence.  Stories are put together in 2-3 minute videos which tell a story by citing the likes of CNN, Al Jazeera, BBC, and Korea Times not to mention ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox as well as numerous news and political blogs.

Newsy also has easy-to-use apps for Apple, Android and Blackberry.  It is officially my new obsession.

The September Issue

It's been a month since my last post and - let me tell you - it has been a crazy month. We packed up our life and moved to Columbia, Missouri.  We have now almost completely settled in to our new place and are loving life back in the Midwest.

In addition to packing, moving, and unpacking - I've also made time for a quick trip home to Wichita and  I'm currently looking for a job.

With some of my downtime, I'm trying to catch up on some things I've been meaning to do for a long time - including watching this little doc..."The September Issue."

My birthday wish list

My birthday is coming up soon and I'm getting a lot of requests for gift ideas.  So here are a few things I wouldn't mind getting for my birthday:

1. Amazon The Nest Home Design Handbook $16
2. Chinese Laundry Classic patent leather peep-toe pumps $79
3. Gap Ruffle jacket $79.50
4. Steve Madden Glitter platform pumps $130
5. Amazon "Morning Glory" on DVD (this doesn't come out until March 8th, but it would be an excellent belated gift!) $17
6. Keep Calm Gallery "Keep Calm" wall print $29
7. Target Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker perfume $43
8. Coach Madison leather wristlet in silver/blush $58

Au revoir, Tim Hortons

Oh Tim Hortons...I think I'll miss you most of all.

When I move in less than two weeks, I will have to leave my beloved Tim Hortons behind.  I am disturbingly sad at the thought.  Now, I was addicted to coffee long before the little red cup, and I will continue my unhealthy relationship long after I leave.  But being the kind of plan-making gal that I am, I've been researching coffee shops in my future home and think I've found a couple of rebound possibilities:

1. Kaldi's: This place looks super trendy and fun - which apparently comes at a price.  Their price range according to their website is $4-$7.  Ouch.  I can get Starbucks for that.

2. Dunn Bros: I know this is a big chain, but I'd be willing to give it a shot.

3. Vida: Located on the University of Missouri campus, Vida offers free WiFi, daily happy hours and according to their website - is about to start offering a delivery service.  Something tells me this might be the place to start.

iTunes purge

The past few weeks have been filled with packing.  We are t-minus 11 days from the big move and my way of making the move slightly easier is to get rid of things that I don't see myself using in our new place.  From clothes to DVDs, flower vases to books - I'm throwing out and donating a lot of stuff.  Less to pack.

Well, I might have gotten a little carried away with my "cleansing" phase.  I took to my computer today to unload the mountain of music from my iTunes library.  Why?  I don't really know.  It doesn't make my computer any lighter or change the how quickly it operates.  But it truly felt a bit freeing.  I went from just shy of 2,300 songs to a much lighter 1, 988.  I got rid of a lot, but also rediscovered some music that had gotten buried.

In iTunes style, I composed a type of "celebrity playlist"....in which I play the celebrity and write about songs I like and why.

1. "Gravity" - Alison Krauss & Union Station.  I love her voice.  I have since I was little.  She was actually the first concert I ever went to.  I love the line "and all the answers that I started with turned out questions in the end."
2. "Key Largo" - Bertie Higgins.  I like the the reference to Bogie and Bacall.  I listened to this song for the first time because my mom asked me to download it.  It was her and my dad's "song" when they were dating.  I think it's adorable.
3. "Blood Bank" - Bon Iver.  I discovered this song after reading Taylor Swift's Celebrity Playlist.  It just sounds so cool.  And you really have to listen for the meaning.
4. "Now and Forever" - Carole King.  This song makes me think of my best friend growing up.  We don't get to talk much these days, but listening to this song makes me want to pick up the phone.
5. "Say You Will" - Fleetwood Mac.  My love for FM started early.  My dad loved them, and I have a massive Stevie Nicks crush.
6. "The Man in Love with You" - George Strait.  Sigh.  I love George.  Like, worship him.  I particularly love this song because it's a man recognizing all of his faults, everything he's not, every reason a woman would have to not love him - but saying no mater what, he'll always love her.
7. "Number One" - John Legend.  This song is horrible.  It's a terrible song about a cheating man (who has a conversation with his penis in the middle of the song) but the horrible-ness mixed with the upbeat music just makes me laugh.
8. "Rosie's Lullaby" - Norah Jones.  The only song off an album I completely hated.  Just so soothing.
9. "Friends Don't Let Friends Dial Drunk" - Plain White T's.  I like running to this song and it makes me laugh.
10. "Samson" - Regina Spektor.  I love the line "and the history books forgot about us, and the Bible didn't mention us."
11. "Home Ain't Where His Heart Is"- Shania Twain.  I don't know why I'm always drawn to incredibly sad songs, but I've loved this song since I was really young.
12. "Stay" - Sugarland.  I cried when I saw Jennifer Nettles perform this on TV for the first time.  Amazing.  Another really sad song.  
13. "Enchanted" - Taylor Swift.  I think it's just too easy to say, "Hey, nice to meet you."  The way Taylor writes the song, "I was enchanted to meet you," juxtaposed with the incredibly simple line of "Please don't be in love with someone else" is perfection to me.
14. "The Dance" - Garth Brooks.  I've always been very into lyrics and meanings of songs.  I remember vividly hearing this song in the car with my mom one night.  I remember the exact intersection that we were sitting at when I asked her what this metaphor-heavy song means.  She told me that "the dance" was life.

We're moving to Columbia!

Big news:  we're moving!

My husband recently accepted a job in his hometown of Columbia, Missouri.  Over the next few weeks we'll be packing up our life and heading back to the Midwest.  I can't explain how excited I am to be closer to both of our families.

Daydream believer

I've been thinking lately about the last vacation I took.  I believe it was Toronto in October, 2009.  Hmm...I think I'm probably due for a proper vacay.

Before you start to feel too sorry for me, the traveling I have done of late has been back to the Midwest by choice.  When you live 1,300 miles from your family - any chance you have to get back and see them, you take.  So, the last trips my husband and/or I have taken were to Kansas City, Wichita, and St. Louis.

We didn't go on a honeymoon for several reasons - one being that we got married in Buffalo so all of our friends and family had to come to us for the wedding.  We spent the days after the wedding being with them and taking it easy.  Money was (and is) a concern.  We never just have money lying around for a vacation.  But hey, a girl can dream right? Here are some places I wouldn't mind going:

Paris: I'd love to spend a week walking around the gorgeous city, visiting the Louvre and the Champs Elysees, and looking at fabulous French people.

Italy:  I've always, always wanted to visit Italy.  Rome, Florence, Naples, Venice, Genoa, Milan, Sicily...My ideal vacation would be spent city-hopping around Italy for two weeks.

Anywhere With A Beach: It's mid-January in Buffalo, NY.  I need a beach, palm trees, and a frozen drink in my hand.  STAT.