Me Against the Music 2011

As we learned last year, my songs of the year come in no particular order, with no particular genre and no particular number.  I don't really like to get into particulars.  But I do love music.  Here are some of my favorites from 2011, the best year for party music sine 2004.  Some of these songs you'll definitely know, some you may not.  Give them a try, maybe they'll make your 2012 a little brighter.

Give Me Everything - Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer
Pitbull's collaboration with Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer was not only the song of the summer, but pretty much the perfect going out song.  It's fast and has an easy beat to dance to along with a hook that you cannot stop singing.  And, like all great pop songs, it has lines that are endlessly quotable as status messages letting all your social network contacts know that you are ready to party.  I can't promise tomorrow, but I'll promise tonight.

The Cave/Little Lion Man - Mumford and Sons

I couldn't choose just one song off Mumford and Sons awesome album, Sigh No More.  I loved this album almost as much as I loved their outfits at every single photo shoot.  Sometimes I don't really understand what Mumford songs mean, but I pretend like I do because it makes me feel smarter.  Either way, I think they're awesome.

Dancing Till the World Ends - Britney Spears
Finally a Britney song that I can actually do all the choreography to.

We Call This Dancing - The Parlotones
I spent most of the spring listening to this song.  And pronouncing dancing with a British accent.  Busting out of our skin, our hearts exploding, escape from this life, we call this dancing.  All you need is love and our love is overflowing, escape from this life, we call this dancing.


I Need A Doctor - Dr. Dre featuring Eminem and Skylar Grey
There may not have been anyone in the country as excited about Dr. Dre comeback as me. (Don't call it a comeback, I've been here for years.)  Except maybe Dre's wife, I bet he was a real pain in the ass hanging around the house and such.  I loved this song, and especially the introduction of Skylar Grey, who is so f-ing talented.

How to Love - Lil Wayne
You had a lot of moments that didn't last forever.

Holocene - Bon Iver
It haunts me.  In a good way.  When I listen to this song I feel like I'm in the Wisconsin cabin that everyone always talks about when they talk about Bon Iver.

When My Time Comes - Dawes
I went to Texas for SXSW last March.  It was a fantastic experience, and one that all music-lovers should have at some point.  The one concert that we tried to go to and couldn't was Dawes and Deer Tick (performing that night as Deervana and doing the entire Nevermind album, yeah, we were pretty upset we couldn't go).  Luckily, we were able to hear the entire concert from the bar across the street.  Just one of the million reasons that SXSW is amazing - you hear awesome music practically by accident.  Dawes is a fantastic group.  I'm also in love with their song, That Western Skyline.  Their music makes me want to wear ruffled dresses with denim jackets and drink beer on a Texas porch.  It made sense in my head.

Rolling in the Deep/One and Only - Adele
21 was hands down the album of the year.  As far as I'm concerned, it may well be the album of the decade.  I wrote about Someone Like You and Set Fire to the Rain back in March and there is a case to be made for every single song on this album to make my list.  I settled on Rolling in the Deep because it is the most famous and most perfect pop song.  And I went with One and Only because it makes me want to fall in love.  You know, with someone besides Adele.  I'm amongst all those holding my breath for Adele's safe and speedy recovery from her reason throat surgery.  And amongst those who is almost thankful that her ex-boyfriend is such a fucking idiot.

Call Your Girlfriend - Robyn
My roommate Ezra dances exactly like Robyn.  Exactly. Like. Robyn.  And pretty much everything that Robyn does is amazing.  This is no exception.  It hasn't been on an episode of Gossip Girl yet, which is actually it's only draw back.

Grenade - Bruno Mars
Okay, so in the interest of full disclosure, I totally thought that Bruno Mars was going to be like a flash in the pan kind of pop star, so I'm as surprised as anyone that he keeps coming out with so many great songs.  I didn't see it coming, but I'm not complaining.

Super Bass - Nicki Minaj
I can't help it.  I just love it.  Best new artist.

I can't believe I somehow got through this list without including any David Guetta.  Nothing But the Beat makes me dance so hard.

Who did I miss who kept you rocking in 2011?

xo kate

2011 Obsessions

I have an addictive personality. Over the course of 2011, I became obsessed with the following items.

Please note: this is by no means an exhaustive list.

TV Obsession: Chopped

Book Obsession:  Daniel Silva's Gabriel Allon series

Music Obsession:  Any Drake and Nicki Minaj collaboration

Beauty Obsession:  Macademia Nut Oil Hair Therapy

Hobby Obsession:  Tablescaping

Style Obession:  Stella and Dot

Exactly one month from now.

Better start making preparations now.  What will your wish be?

from polyvore.com

"Son, when you participate in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose: it's how drunk you get." ~Homer Simpson

I'm watching scenes from downtown Vancouver, and I do a double take. Is this Canada after the Stanley Cup? Or a scene from the Apocalypse-zombie-movie 28 Days Later?

Where are the police?  More importantly, where is the class?

I know it hurts.  I know your drunk.  But seriously?  There is no excuse for this behavior. Get it together, people. And remember: how a person wins the game show something of his character; how he loses shows all of it.

"Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is." ~ German Proverb

You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face... The danger lies in refusing to face the fear, in not daring to come to grips with it... You must make yourself succeed every time. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.

Last week, Finnleigh took a cue from Eleanor Roosevelt and faced her fears. That's right. She took on the evil-haunted-mobile-smiley-balloon. (You may recall that a balloon is haunting my bathroom.)



“Many of our fears are tissue paper thin, and a single courageous step would carry us clear through them” — Brendan Francis

She was scared at first. But she slowly reached out and poked that creepy balloon in the mouth. Face to face. Mano a mano. Errr. Paw.

Finnleigh's bravery is an inspiration.

It is spring. And a new month. Not to mention, 2011 is your bitch.

Why not face one of your fears this week? Pick one. Take it down. And tell us about it. I'll do the same.

It can be a small little fear, or something huge and awful that has plagued you for years. Like spiders. Or alien abductions. (Not that I would know anything about fearing aliens...)

Don't be scared. We've got your back. That's what wolfpacks are for...

GTL Thursday: A new workout

I can't wink.

This is no word of a lie. Seemingly, I just don't have control over my facial and occular muscles.

I've always just accepted this deficiency as if it was out of my control. Another can't to add to the list: I can't sing. I can't do the moonwalk. I can't roll my tongue. And I can't wink.

It is tragic, really. I've had to learn how to flirt and convey sass and sarcasm without winking. Translation: I suck at flirting and conveying sass.

I know what you're thinking. I'm thinking it too. This is absurd. 2011 is my bitch and it is time I take control. Today, I'm taking a mothertrucking stand against winklessness.

If we can coax our biceps into growing and our gluts into firming and our abs into situations, why can't I coax one eye to shut while the other remains open?

I've done prelim research and I think I'm ready to being spring strength training on my face. I'm basically going to be incorporating some new workouts into my GTL. With proper practice and support, my goal is to be able to wink...just one eye...by the summer solstice.

Of course, I am self absorbed enough to document the process here on wildcatsandwolfpacks.

I can't be the only one of my kind. If you can't wink either, join me. We'll form a support group and work together to overcome this feat.

So, without further ado let us begin.

Things You'll Need:

Two eyeballs
A mirror
Determination

1 Look at yourself in the mirror with both eyes open to practice.

Here goes nothin.

2 Close one eye quickly. If you can't do one side, try the other. Do which ever side feels more comfortable.

Just so we're clear, there is nothing quick about this. And neither feels comfortable.

3 Practice getting one eye as close to closing as possible if you can't get it shut all the way. Don't get frustrated if you can't get it there; it may just take you a while.

Me? Frusterated? Pfft. No way.
(you can tell by the neck strain that i'm working hard...)

4 Close one eye and hold it with your hand if you still can't wink. Practice this until you can keep your eye closed even after you've released it from your hand.

Easy. Cheesy. Lemon squeezy.

5 Try winking the other eye once you get one eye down. With enough practice you'll be able to wink one eye at a time quickly one after the other.

Yea. No. Not so much. K. Great.

6 Make sure, by checking yourself out in the mirror, that you aren't squinting or making a weird face when you wink. Practice winking until you look normal and natural doing it.

In my efforts to look normal and natural, I discovered this cheating trick: squish one side of the face with your fist. I love pensive AND I'm winking. Muahahaha.

Well, there you have it. Phase 1 of my strength training program. Do you think I'll be sore in the morning? Yea, me too.

I'll keep you updated on my progress, obvi. In the meantime, you words of support and encouragement are welcome.

Tips and tricks for successful winks are also greatly appreciated. xoxo

Read more: How to Wink eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2073838_wink.html#ixzz1FIA9nKjz

In February it will be, my snowman's anniversary...

Peace out, January. We won't be missing you.



Hello, February. Bring it on.

All I do is win win win

As I heard a man say on the bus yesterday, "2011 will be my bitch."

He looked at the woman next to him (not me) and said, "you can make it your bitch too."

And even though I think he was drunk and/or crazy, this wildcat's attitude was right on the money.

It is official: 2011 will be my bitch.

Hell, 2011 will be in our wolfpack.

Hence...a tribute to some of the bitches we love love love love love (to hate?)

Do you love them all? Can you name them all? Who's missing?