a happy song for your friday

This song makes me happy. That is all. Happy Friday friends! 

xx

a very musical weekend

This weekend I got to see 3 amazing acts: Death Cab for Cutie, David Stringer and Jai Uttal. I am feeling VERY lucky! My friends and I had so much fun at Death Cab for Cutie (confession: I kind of felt like I was in an episode of The O.C.) and then the next morning Katie and I drove up to Newcastle for the Bodhi Festival.

This was the Bodhi Festival's first year, and it was a completely by donation yoga festival. We watched a really interesting panel, then enjoyed some good ol' fashion kirtan :)

laneway festival

Feist!!

m83! above photos are all from nicole

active child on the left

feist on the left, m83 on the right

This weekend was a pretty spectacular one. It started off with a bang with a satsang lead by Mother Maya. Saturday was filled with two sessions with Mother Maya and a housewarming party.

Finally, on Sunday I spent the day at Laneway Festival with Nicole. I'm a little bit obsessive about music, so it was an absolute treat to spend the day hearing old favourites (Feist) and discovering new people to love (jonti). We were especially lucky since the sun decided it was high time to make an appearance, and it was hot all day long.

Feist was definitely my highlight (I LOVE HER) but some of my other favourites were: m83, jonti, the drums, active child and portugal the man.

I love summer in Sydney.

My top 10 songs of 2011

Every year my favorite Aussie radio station, triple j (actually scratch that - they're my favorite radio station hands down, in the world), has a huge poll called the hottest 100 where you vote for your top 10 songs of the year. Then on Australia Day, they spend the day playing the 100 most voted for songs in order. Last year, the song Big Jet Plane by Angus and Julia Stone won.

I spent a large part of my day yesterday agonizing over my shortlist, and finally got it down to these 10 songs. I'm curious, what would be in your top ten? And what would be your number 1?

A very Australian playlist

As a follow up to my very Canadian playlist, today I thought I'd share a very Australian playlist. There is some pretty awesome music coming out of this country, and I hope you find something new to love... Also, I really wanted to add a song by Winter People but it wasn't on grooveshark, so go here to watch a beautiful video of the band playing their song Wishingbone.

Variety is the spice of life

Source: yogamassala.com via Gabriela on Pinterest

I've definitely taken this little idiom to heart over the last week, spreading my wings in the yoga world. In the last week I've done kundalini, jivamukti, anusara, yin and hatha classes. I've gone to two different studios that I've never been to, and at the studio where I work and teach I've done two classes with new to me teachers. I also taught at a different studio for the very first time, in a suburb that I don't often go to.

It feels so nice to branch out and try new things. Every time I try a new style, or do a class with a new teacher I learn something new. And I think this makes me a better student, and a better teacher. Tell me, what's your very favourite style of yoga? Or if you've never done yoga, what would you like to try? ♥

p.s. yesterday in class the teacher played this song, and it was awesome to practice to...

Girl crushes

Why are Feist and Charlotte Gainsbourg both so cool? Two of my all time favourite musicians, both releasing new music soon. I am so, so excited! Especially since Feist hasn't released anything new in 4 years, and I was/am totally addicted to her last album. I CAN'T wait!

Inspiration board

It's drizzly and cold here today, a perfect day for puttering about and re-organizing my inspiration board. Little bits and pieces of family, friends, home and things that inspire me.

And of course, you need tunes to putter. Here's what I've been listening to today...

Seeker Lover Keeper

If you don't live in Australia, you may not have heard of the new band Seeker Lover Keeper. If you do live in Australia, you've probably noticed that they are everywhere right now. And I'm smitten. I adore their first album and I so wish I could've seen them on their recent tour. But for now, I'll have to make do with these youtube clips. Enjoy!

A very Canadian playlist

I was teaching a yoga class the other day and I had a student who came up to me at the end of class and said: "That was a very Canadian playlist." And I realized that she's right, it just so happens that many of my favourite musicians are Canadian. What can I say? Canadians make some pretty great tunes. Today I thought I'd share a playlist of some of my all time favourites, I hope you find something new to love!

p.s. this post was inspired by Kate at O My Heart!

Calgary

I stumbled upon this video the other day and I just had to share it. It's the single from Bon Iver's new album. I adore him and could (and do) listen to For Emma, Forever Ago for days on end. And this video, it's just magic. My heart fluttered when I first watched it, and I hope yours does too...

The Civil Wars

Lately, I can't stop listening to the Civil Wars. I first heard about them through the blog Pennyweight, and I've been hooked ever since. Their first album, Barton Hollow, is AMAZING and it is literally on repeat on my computer all day long. I keep waiting for them to announce an Australian tour, but no luck so far. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

What have you been listening to lately?

Robots need love too

Just a little something to brighten up your Monday morning... This is my friend Dan Mangan. We used to work together in Vancouver, but he's gone on to bigger and brighter things since then. He's a brilliant musician, and if you ever get the chance to see him live, do it! You won't regret it. You can see his current touring schedule here. I'm posting the music video for my favourite song of his, Robots. Makes me miss home...

p.s. Don't forget to enter my giveaway here