deetales | curiosities on music . life . wonder

current rotation is spinning...

2011-12-07T13:16:00.000-08:00

Snow Angels
Songs for Christmas
Charlie Brown
Cyrille Aimee

sweet short stacks

2011-12-07T12:23:00.000-08:00

i have cereal, but no milk. i have some berries, but no bananas. i'm near out of breakfast foods, so my usual smoothies oatmeal cease to exist. looks like i'll have to "settle" for pancakes. and what better way to celebrate hump day than with some short stacks? and toppings. those i have a plenty.

topped with cinnamon love

last one required extra special attention. i promise, there is a pancake under there somewhere

sew many things

2011-12-04T23:37:00.000-08:00

creativity has been in full force this week. so out came the old sewing machine. starting with an old dress turned pillow cover (the one with a button - poor lighting, so not the best picture, but it'll do for now).

then i finally got around to making a little strand of pendant garland and table cloth cover for my PLAY Music classroom

and last but not least, moustache time: pillowcases, goodie bags, and on-a-sticks for the giveaway

and some extra special holiday wrapped CDs with more moustaches on a stick for the 2011 Artisan Faire

i should have taken a snap to capture the peak of the mess i made. cause the wow factor of that alone was pretty up there. now i sit happily, in front of my heater, in a clean and tiny dwelling. complete with a taco and sponge bob.

Mustache Mania

2011-11-26T15:33:00.000-08:00

it's all happening...

Wise Linford

2011-11-25T21:33:00.000-08:00

black fridee

2011-11-25T11:00:00.000-08:00

i'm not really into the black friday craze. however i don't mind a good excuse for a great deal :)

$5 FULL-Album Digital Download TODAY ONLY at www.saradee.bandcamp.com

Pumpkin Protein Shake ...mmmm

2011-11-25T10:00:00.000-08:00

leftovers, leftovers. love them. i whipped up tasty creative mixture that gave this mostly pie treat a bit of a healthy twist. a bit. i'm not saying it's healthy. it's healthiER. tasty indeed.

left over pumpkin pie

+6 ice cubes

+2 bananas

+1/2 frozen banana

+2 scoops protein powder

+flax seed

+sunflower seeds

+oatmeal

+cinnamon

+nutmeg

+spoonful crunchy peanut butter

+drop of vanilla extract

+1c milk

= Serves two (2) happy tummies

perfect day: pizza for lunch, two touch football nonsense, followed by an extremely blessed feast with spectacular people.

cauliflower garlic mashed potatoes

2011-11-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

i adapted this recipe from food network. my honey and i were pretty shocked at how "mashed potatoe-y" they tasted.

1 cauliflower head (boil in pot of water for 10 minutes or until soft)

then BLEND in food processor with

2 tablespoons softened cream cheese

1/4 c grated parmesan

2 spoonfuls minced garlic

1 tsp chicken bullion

ADD salt, pepper, and unsalted butter to taste

garnish with mom's fresh rosemary

to be honest, i cooked this version a couple days in advance just to make sure i would make a successful batch on the day of. it was so good that i figured i had this down pretty well. but in typical sara fashion, i didn't do the same thing twice. i thought i would creamy it up by adding a little bit of milk. and to be honest, i didn't really like it so much the second time around. it seemed more like cream of wheat than mashed potatoes.

green veggie juice

2011-11-20T20:35:00.000-08:00

i try to eat my greens. i don't always like them, but i eat them. so i take serious note at times like these- when green is actually goood

JUICE:
1/2 bunch kale
3 celery stalks
2 cucumbers
1 green bell pepper
3 small apples
1 pear
3 kiwis
1 small beet

then BLEND with:
1/2 frozen banana (sliced)
1/4 c coconut milk
1/2 c water
6 ice cubes

crazy nights

2011-11-18T22:12:00.001-08:00

around these parts

herman love

2011-11-09T12:36:00.000-08:00

take what you need

2011-10-12T22:36:00.000-07:00

patience, strength. and although it's not on there right now, discernment would do me some good.

things we forget: on steve jobs

2011-10-06T09:23:00.000-07:00

foot music

2011-09-27T09:12:00.000-07:00

sometimes i think standing still. when i run, i think forward. it stirs up energy and creates the movement within me that makes things happen. that's when i realized...

my front yard

2011-09-26T20:16:00.000-07:00

makes me wonder how i ever have a worry. when this could very well be heaven

to love

2011-09-18T23:21:00.000-07:00

there have been all kinds of worthwhile collections of words running through my brain these days. soon enough, i'll get around to cyber sharing them again. til then--

real vs. greed

2011-07-07T07:54:00.000-07:00

fireworks make me cry

2011-07-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

they really do. and with ray's "america the beautiful" as the soundtrack, it's all over. here's to freedom and a spectacular and or completely simple july fourth weekend.

exercise your freedom. and...

on my fridge

2011-06-29T00:55:00.000-07:00

was an old piece of paper from work. i wasn't really attached to the sloppy markered-in mandala art, so much as i was the chicken scratch i wrote on the back. today i decided to make the words look a bit more pretty

current rotation is spinning

2011-06-29T00:45:00.000-07:00

florence+machine

kelli schaffer

drew grow

adele

connie lim

honeyhoney

biz markie

mraz manifesto [have merci]

2011-05-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

I AM . . . . . .

anything you write after I am is simply a concept. So choose what comes after it carefully.

hello, hotel cafe

2011-05-26T14:02:00.000-07:00

i've been dying to meet you. our first little rendezvous was quite the night. doorman let me in early (really early, as in i got there at 7pm for a 1030pm show) and i got to see all four shows that night. not too shabby at all. i thought i would sit in the cafe portion for a bit, until the harmonies of drew grow and the pastors wives infiltrated the speaker system throughout the building. i quickly packed up my belongings, and ventured thru the double doors for my first HC music experience. one of those "i can't believe it's taken me this long to get here" moments. better later than never. meet drew grow and the PWs

last night was rich with harmonies. nothin' fancier than some seriously full bodied acoustic guitars, one piercingly pure piano, and plenty-o-plenty-o vocals.

Rumi: Guiding You...

2011-04-28T10:53:00.000-07:00

Guiding You by the Hand
What I long for, you know would kill me;
What I think will kill me, you know will heal me.
Loving you, I enter a darkness where I can't see anything.
"You do not need to; I am guiding you by the hand." - Rumi

it came together.

2011-04-20T08:55:00.000-07:00

this morning i had my very first end to end listening of my 12 studio-recorded tracks.

joel and i have been working hard. 12 songs. such a journey. makes getting home from the studio at 2am, into to bed at 4am, and up four hours later because i am so anxious to put the track order together... beyond worth it.

and just like that, it came together. well, on my recording end at least. there is still much to be done. mixes to complete, details to attend to, album designing, mastering, manufacturing, publishing... so the coming-togetherness continues :)

one of the most recent wisdoms appreciated is knowing that my music is not for everyone. that being said, if you DO fancy a good old dee tune, you will love these songs. of that, i am so, so very sure. the music is... fresh, and timeless. that being said, it is time for the big announcement:

Pre-Sale: begins this Easter weekend, April 23rd

Official Release Date: MAY 23 2011

i can't believe i have to wait a month to share. so maybe i will have to give more sneak peeks. i am so grateful to have lived to complete this. here's to the upcoming release...

you heard it here first. in joy,

the Deester Bunny

current rotation is spinning...

2011-04-18T23:58:00.000-07:00

. . . nothing. sometimes silence is entirely wonderful.

Shane Gooding.

2011-04-18T22:04:00.000-07:00

Years ago, somewhere around 2003, I was impressed by the talents of a local artist Reina Boone, whom I had met at a couple open mics. A few years later after I had graduated, and for one reason or another lost touch with Reina. However through her myspace, I discovered the music of Shane Gooding, and even more an incredibly saddening story: that he was passing away. Because I wasn’t so accustomed to cyber stalking at the time, I managed to lose his name and was unsuccessful in uncovering it through search engines or even profile friend searches.

Fast forward five years later, and as a result of passing my new iTunes single along to a new acquaintance -slash- cafe gratitude workshop leader, she replied something to the effect of “oh my goodness, you’re music reminds me of the artist Whitton.” This was one of those times where I knew they knew what they were talking about, therefore, I made sure to check out Whitton’s music. And sure enough, it was curiously funtastic with timeless compositions. So I joined her fan page and began following her album progress and interesting postings…

One of which was on her dear friend who passed away years ago, Shane Gooding.

I couldn’t believe it. That was the guy whose music I so loved and was searching for. I watched the video she posted in memory of him, and a snapshot of it was Whitton singing in the studio with him. Not that it’s a huge deal, but it’s one of those sweet ironies when discovering years later that an artist you once loved was at one point recording with an artist I would one day be compared to the likes of.

Anyhow, that being said, Shane’s music has always struck me as having an earthy, bold, and simple soul. It's sad to see the creators of great music leave this life. That being said, it is also one of the worlds most transparent reminders that we don't live forever. I won't go on a soapbox about what could be said after this, you know. So if you’d like to hear some of his music, click HERE. Or buy his album HERE. And for the truly curious readers, below is a condensed version of the (full) article you can read on his website www.ShaneGooding.com. Needless to say, I was so happy to come across his music again, that I felt the need to write, post, and share with you.

"In October of 2004, Shane left the East Coast for California. He came by train with a guitar in his hand and spent the next two years playing gigs and looking for musicians to play his original songs… In August of 2006, he was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in his tongue. It eventually spread to his neck, throat and lungs. This cancer is common in the elderly, but rare and unusually aggressive when found in younger people. Even with lightheadedness and severe pain in his tongue and ear canal, he resolutely finished recording his album, Paid Driver for Hire in the summer of 2006…

He was hospitalized for chemotherapy in January 2007. After three rounds, the doctors decided that they could do nothing more for him. His physical strength and ability to care for himself was dramatically compromised… In April, he came home from the hospital to be with his family and loved ones at his grandmother’s house in Orange County. With striking grace and dignity he granted his attention to a continuous round of visitors from all over, and passing away April 12th, 2007.

“If the bullet from Kurt Cobain’s gun ended up in Marvin Gaye’s heart, then Shane Gooding might have dressed the wound… His expatriate rhythm & blues served the area to great effect, dancing its way easily amidst the multitude of styles already prominent in the region, then cranking up the amp and blowing their collective sockets clean. With “Paid Driver For Hire” Shane Gooding defies all manner of fraudulent musical pioneers with a single verse of his rock ‘n’ soul hybrid.” – Scott Homiak

current rotation is spinning...

2011-02-25T10:32:00.000-08:00

mumford and sons

ray lamontagne

beatles

whitton

treeunion

josh radin

ray charles

india arie

katie herzing

big bad voodoo daddy

over the rhine

jason mraz

eddie vedder

brett dennen

chris pierce

temptations

deetales on "We Can Be Love"

2011-02-14T00:55:00.000-08:00

When I say that I’m not really into Valentine’s Day, what it really translates to is that I'm more into Love than I am Hallmark. You know? I don't save the expressive act for the day, and nor do I withhold it because of the [commercialized] day. I’m always up for another reason to celebrate ole lady love. And what better way to do that than to give. For the next 24 hrs, you can download my album single "we can be love" for FREE here.

You can also download the valentines love poster :) which your local copy/kinko shop will print up for about a $1

I’ve always considered WCBL to be more a song about love rather than a 'love song,' per se. You see, I often forget to be with all of the special someone’s in my life because I’m preoccupied on waiting for “a” special someone. My soul longed for a tune to carry me through the stories and insights on love learned, as well as a reminder to BE with my loved ones; to weave these two universes together into something I could make sense of (and hum along to). So I watered a little seed of an idea, and manifest it did . . . when it comes to love thus far,

“I’ve listened to all the stories, my grandma found it and mama’s moved on. I had a little, but I lost it. Wouldn’t it be nice if all the love that died passed on... I’ve got no reason, rhyme or rancor. One gets eternity, one loses their hand. I’d like to think I’ve got my coming, but love is not a promise, just an extra lucky hand... It’s a monster, a myth, a mystery: I’m surrounded by beauty but I still fight to see. Love has convinced my heart to believe that everything is better when someone is holding me...

...I think we’ve weathered all of the love songs, and the only thing that makes them new is YOU. So let’s go stir a little trouble, cause there’s nothing else I’d rather do than love this world with You. See, I believe that you and I make a good pair of fun. So why don’t we make a little company and say goodbye to the sun? I’ll bring the wine, let’s meet by the sea, we can be love to one another”

And now that being said, if all of this love talk is makin you sick, I feel you. Screw it. Go be with people who make you laugh instead (...cause really, it’s all the same thing). In fact, give these two a listen: "Rocky and Balls : The Break Up Song." Cause they are super cute, talented, and bonus, FUNNY. oh wait, double bonus: they have accents.

With love love and lerve (thanks, Celine), happy valentines you lovers :)

Saraar

ps, go hug! (and don't be creepy about it)

faux toes 2011 VOL 2

2011-02-10T21:07:00.000-08:00

arco station

palos verdes

redondo avenues

hudson house first saturdays | feb 2011

los angeles birds

karen. in living color

tonight

faux toes 2011 VOL 1

2011-01-30T16:53:00.000-08:00

the avenues

veteran's park

daily fresh OJ. new fave

communion. with a side of cream

2011-01-30T12:45:00.000-08:00

okay. now that i got the nugget portion out of the way: i checked out a local service this morning. it's been a while. so this just, . . . really caught me off guard :)

not until halfway through the service did i realize the unintended humor printed in the bulletin. first off, communion was listed as the "eating" portion of the service. then underneath it in smaller print read "Musical Offering: to the tune of White Room by Cream." Again, it took a moment to sink in. Brain typically does not think communion - - > Clapton. but sure enough, it sunk in.

"am i really going to be hearing a Cream song during holy communion?" soon followed by, "this is going to be great.

it is a good thing i was there solo today. it makes it much easier for the class clown in me to stay on temporary lock down. i would smile from time to time, trying not to smile you know, TOO much.

i kid you not. "white room" lasted for at least 15 minutes. it was an everlasting melody that carried us through not only communion, but as well through the blessing, the Lord's prayer, and the send off.

don't get me wrong. so long as it is Love-based, there are no rules in my book as to what does or does not belong in a service. people can feel God in rock or even heavy death metal as much they can a folk or hymnal tune.

i just, was caught off guard. this was a small, traditional-type, humble little church community. AND complete with a Cream bass line to carry us through "for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory . . . "

maybe it's just me, but i thought this was definitely worth sharing. it didn't happen in the manner i anticipated, but i sure left smiling today. and wanting to put on an old Cream record. soon as i got in my car, i called my dad. i knew he would get it.

that being said, may peace be with you.

and now, i will go listen to some Cream.

considering the Source

2011-01-30T12:28:00.000-08:00

i want to share one of the thoughts i heard today. i'm going to give you the filtered sara-version.

perhaps when something wonderful happens, an event, an object, a person, a gift, words, movement, momentum, transformation, perhaps that is not the blessing. perhaps that is what happens when the Blessing (call it what you will) shows up.

suggesting of course, that much to our forgetting, It has been there all along.

ole mister listener

2011-01-26T20:49:00.000-08:00

i've been reading much more these days. so nice. i've quite enjoyed the last couple books. one in particular suggested that we listen based upon one of two stances: we either agree or disagree with what we hear, (hmmm... eek, it's kind of true), and rarely do we listen to try to understand the essence of what they are saying, in the context of what it means to them (trusting that it will either resonate with you and remain well with you, or it won't and it will pass through). just a thought i thought worth passing along . . . thoughts?

[click on the book for the links]

(the title "magical relationship" turned me off, as i do not consider myself a unicorn. however, i again learned to not judge a book . . . )

why, hello there

2011-01-04T00:42:00.000-08:00

fancy meeting you here. if you're in dee know, then you know that i've been blogging incognito since 2005. if you're just now getting in dee know, then welcome. i've been waiting for the right time to "go public," and here i find myself. so i am going to pick up right where i left off the ole superfantastic . . .

may i suggest a few habits to counter balance the not-so-phenomenal phenomenon that TIME DOES FLY (consider this your warning)

1. don't run late. figure out how to make this happen. this will produce instant changes.

2. try "i look forward to..." instead of "i can't wait to..." encourage presence to the present

3. be still. it is often the part we must play to balance the motion. every so often, just. watch.

please, let's do our best to avoid the inevitable, "2012?!" this year floew by so fast! i just can't believe it!"

you were warned :)