Randomness: Blood, Sweat & Joy!

Just two quick features to take you into the weekend, one is a new discovery and another I’ve been waiting for since last summer!

It’s about bloody time!

I am a big fan of the show True Blood on HBO.  The series came out when I was pregnant with Dominic.  After seeing the first episode on an HBO preview weekend, I told my husband that he needed to sit with me and watch one of the repeats because I think I found a new favorite.  We promptly ordered HBO just to watch the rest of the season.  During maternity leave, I read most of the Sookie Stackhouse books and we have been hooked ever since.   As to whether or not I am “Team Bill” or “Team Eric”, I love all sexy vampires equally.

One of my favorite bloggers, B of Beautifully Invisible, is also a True Blood fan.  In honor of the arrival of season 4, I am featuring her post called “5 Things HBO’s True Blood Taught Me About Fashion & Beauty“.  I’ve listed my favorite lesson, but the whole post is clever and absolutely brilliant.  Sunday just cannot come fast enough!

4. There is a time and place for sweats and tracksuits

How many of you would wear your sweats to work or for a night on the town? Anyone? Unless you happen to work at a gym, the answer is likely no one. There is a definite time and place for sweats and tracksuits and, as Pam De Beaufort and Eric illustrate below, most have to do with physical activity. In those instances comfort is key and the appropriate attire will make your life much easier. That being said – don’t forget to add some edginess or glamour by accessorizing! – Beautifully Invisible

Love at first listen:  The Joy Formidable

I love it when I stumble upon something that I can truly say has stirred something in me.  Last weekend, I was on Twitter and saw a Tweet from Mark Hoppus (@markhoppus) from Blink 182 saying this: “This song gives me goosebumps every. single. time.”  It was accompanied by a You Tube link.  He’s quite the funny guy, so I thought maybe it was something humorous.  This link was quite the opposite.  It was to a song called “Whirring” by a Welsh group called The Joy Formidable.

I must say, I was moved.  The live version of this song starts off quietly, but with atmosphere.  The song then builds into a crazy frenzy that does not let go until the very end.  “Whirring” is stirring and powerful all at once.  I can see why Mark gets goosebumps every single time.

I’m still finding out about this fantastic new band, but here is the video that started it all.  I will make the investment to buy their EP “A Balloon Called Moaning” and their album “The Big Roar” because it’s about time that something good gave me a bit of a break from my addiction to 80’s alternative.

(Top image courtesy of HBO.  Photo disclaimer from Beautifully Invisible:  All images courtesy of Google Images and used for entertainment purposes only. True Blood and all its characters are the property of author Charlaine Harris and HBO.)