Queen News: IQFCC Report

The IQFCC (International Queen Fan Club Convention) has been going on for 25 years. I'm kind of curious about what kind of person attends a fan club convention for a band that is defunked and has been for decades. For some reason, the fan club itself also seems to be chugging along also (see here), but paying money to like a band? I think not.

Jacky, the staffer at the fan club for ages, wrote up this little blurb about the weekend. Not surprisingly, it contains absolutely no details whatsoever. Not that I really blame her - she's probably still livid that the exclusive sneak peek preview of The Unblinking Eye (Everything is Broken) that was supposed to be for the fan club only leaked onto Youtube (see here). If she wants to keep her job, she has to keep membership perks exclusive. It shouldn't be long though before videos from this year's convention show up online (see Dr. May's message last year here and RT's here, both were posted rather soon after last year's convention).

The big news from the convention is that RT sent along a new song that he had finished only hours earlier. Attendeees suggest that the song may be titled Smile, but no confirmation on that. I've heard two bits of specific information about the new song which excite me: 1) that is reminiscent of the song Happiness? (off RT's 1994 solo album of the same name) and 2) that it is better than The Unblinking Eye (Everything is Broken).

I love the song Happiness? and think that album is the most consistent of all RT's solo work (i.e. no real stand out tracks, but no real dodgy moments either). I also thought The Unblinking Eye (Everything is Broken) was great so the prospect of RT writing songs of even equal caliber to that one is awesome!

RT's still hiding the ball a bit regarding how he intends to release any new tracks: as part of a greatest hits CD or a new solo album altogether. Folks at the convention seem to have come away from it feeling encouraged about what is to come so I'll continue to take no news as good news and resume waiting.

RT is also producing songs off an album by Hannah Jane Fox. She originated the role of Scaramouche in We Will Rock You, which I have yet to see (see here for explanation). You can listen to the album at this website. I've listened to Wheel on Water and Jarvis (on which RT plays drums). I was pleasantly surprised by both - not the type of music that I typically listen to but she certainly has a nice voice.

Finally, as part of Dr. May's convention Q&A, he supposedly referred to RT talking him into a project that is completely different from anything they've done before so what that means is anyone's guess!

Slowly but surely, we're getting snippets of information from RT. It sounds like at the very least he's excited about being in the studio again so something is going to happen, it just might not be as quickly as I'd like!

Here Comes the Sun: What I Wore and Anthropologie New Arrivals

I may be jumping the gun just a bit here because technically it is still dark and dreary outside. The good news is that it has finally stopped raining and the forecast for the rest of the week is positively lovely! I'm looking forward to an outdoor run this afternoon and another weekend sans jackets or cardigans - hurray!

Anthropologie is trying to make up with me after the stunt it pulled yesterday (i.e. no new sale items). I will say that their spring new arrivals are so pretty and I look forward to trying on/purchasing many things in the next few months!

Here are a few of my favorites:

Colored Pencil Cardigan ($98) - I'm clearly really jonesing for a patterned cardigan. I love the Dissolving Spectrum Cardigan too and have been debating whether to order this one from J.Crew for a few days now. This one is so pretty and springy and appears to be slightly longer than Anthro's recent cropped extravaganza! And a ruffle too! Divine!

Penciled Abronia Skirt ($88) - the floral detailing on the hip will either totally hide my hippiness or totally bring attention to it. I'm willing to give it a try though and will be keeping my fingers crossed!

Cooling Palette Dress ($188) - this little beauty has finally arrived online after taunting me in stores for weeks. See Anjali at goldenmeans review it here and krameymartin review it here. I've not seen it in my local store yet, but I think this dress is going to put me in serious danger of clothing budget overload!

Knotted Poppies Dress ($158) - this dress has a nice empire waistband which always makes me happy and adorable little cap sleeves. Totally work appropriate even without a cardigan! Love it.

Silken Pathways Dress ($168) - smocking on the back of a strapless dress? Brilliant. The price tag? Not so much. The a-line might not be wide enough to accomodate my hips and even with the smocking, sizing up could be a disaster. I'm reserving final judgment on this one.

Sunrise & Midnight Dress ($188) - someone I know needs to immediately get engaged and married so I can wear this dress to the wedding. Coral with black lace overlay? Stunning. *dies*

So today in anticipating of the warm weather which is so darn close to arriving, I've decided to forgo tights again. That is turning out to be a better decision than it was last time (see here) and I'm not sitting in my office shivering right now.

Tank top, Target, size Large

Blouse, Ann Taylor, size 10 (from spring 2007)

Cardigan, Ann Taylor Loft, size Medium (from spring 2009)

Skirt, Ann Taylor, size 14 (from winter 2009)

Shoes, Naturalizer, size 9 (from spring 2007)

Necklace, Ann Taylor Loft (no longer online; check your stores!)

Earrings, Kohls

I debated for a while what color cardigan to wear today. Not that I have that many choices (yet - hehehe), but I couldn't figure out if I should embrace the dark or the light of the blouse. I went with black and tried to lighten the outfit up a bit with my new statement necklace, which I am so loving! I don't know if I necessarily accomplished what I was trying to do, but I'm happy with the outfit overall. I bought this blouse at Ann Taylor ages ago and always forget about it. Then I remember it and think, "Oh I don't really like that blouse." But I do! I like it a lot and should wear it more! That will be my mission this spring and summer - to wear the clothes that I already own!

I'm just about ready to post news from the Queen convention. I've been slowly piecing together information provided by attendees so watch out for that post this evening. Then tomorrow morning is the last day of Anthropologie fitting room reviews. Then it's Friday - yay!

Anthropologie Fitting Room Reviews, Part II (Blouses & Tops)

So not to be a pain in the booty, but I will say that I'm sad that I have so many new followers but nobody is commenting on anything! Am I not interesting? I'm going to end up with a complex! Speak to me people! Don't be afraid!

Today I'm posting my reviews of all the tops I tried on this weekend with jeans. I'll post my third (and probably final) review of the week on Thursday morning.

Wind Tossed Blooms Blouse ($88), size 8

I never gave this top a second look until I was in New York a few weeks ago. My mom wanted to check out the Rockefellar Plaza Anthropologie (which thanks to Roxy, I now know is the highest volume store) and I was more than happy to oblige! My mom immediately gravitated towards this top and I suddenly realized how pretty it is. The 8 fit perfectly - there is some stretch in the waistband and the bottom is flowy enough that it wasn't snug around the hips. The length was also really nice which surprised me. I'd definitely need a cami underneath but that's no big deal. The website says this is a button closure but I just pulled it over my head and that worked fine. This one is on my wish list and major sale dancing shall commence!

Liquid Bouquet Tank ($88), size Medium

I've had my eye on this little pretty since it first popped up on the Anthropologie website a few weeks back. I really wanted to try it on with the Dissolving Spectrums Cardigan, but alas that has yet to make an appearance at my local store. I grabbed a Medium which was the highest size in stock and to my delight, it fit great! This tank is interesting because there is elastic around the neck and armholes - this gives the tank a bit more structure. I was expecting something much more loosey-goosey, but was pleasantly surprised. The length was long enough to tuck in and there are enough colors in the pattern that I could wear this with lots of different cardigans. It's on my wish list.

Glimpse of Paradise Tank ($78), size Medium

My hope was that this little lovely would satisfy my craving for some floral on black action which was triggered by the stunning Fragrant Valley Dress. Alas, that was not meant to be. The top fit fine - the bodice has some stretch to it which is nice and the lower part is flowy and soft, but that's where the good news ends. The length is bad for me and hits right at the widest part of my hips. I also thought the sash was a little unnecessary. It's removable but it has those stupid string belt loops which are visible unless you cut them off. Annoying! Too bad - it's still pretty to look at though!

Blooms Adrift Top ($78), size Medium

I knew there was something special about this top when it first appeared online and it did not disappoint. Wrap-style top (faux), perfect length, pretty floral pattern. *sighs* Perfection! Is it too similiar to my Forever Gardens Tee? Probably. Am I still going to buy it if it goes on sale. You betcha!

Climbing Cowlneck ($48), size Large

But, Kathleen, you already tried on the Climbing Cowlneck here.  Yes, I did, but I wasn't 100% on the fit so I mentioned wanting to try on a Large. Well since then the pretty purple color disappeared and I wasn't in love with any of the other options. Finally this weekend I forced myself to grab the pretty sky blue in a Large and guys, don't hate me but, I think I'm over the Climbing Cowlneck. The Medium was a bit snug but the Large was hanging off me - I felt like I was auditioning for a Madonna music video, circa 1984! Not cool. And again, none of the colors are really speaking to me. So many bloggers have looked great in this one (Tien and Chloe immediately come to mind), but I'm going to have to pass for good.

Stay tuned for Part III on Thursday morning - as a hint, that post should be titled "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" Yikes!

Cold Dark World: What I Wore

I was rather grumpy all day yesterday. My weekend running misery had caught up with me and it was raining so I didn't have an awful lot to be happy about. I had hoped that today Anthropologie would have a big sale in celebration of the last day of free shipping, but I woke up this morning to discover no sale!

Anthropologie?!?!?! Why are you so mean to me?!?!

And to make matters worse - it's still raining! I feel like Noah's wife (whatever her name was); perhaps I should encourage Husband to abandon this whole law thing and spend his days building an arc. I swear we're like one day away from needing one.

Beribboned Buds Cardi, size Medium (available here)

Cami (not shown), Ann Taylor Loft, size Medium (from spring 2009)

Skirt, Ann Taylor, size 10 (from spring 2007)

Hue ribbed tights

Shoes, AK Anne Klein, size 9 (from summer 2009)

Earrings, Kohls

Necklace, Gift from India from a friend

Necklace, Handmade by a friend (in high school!!!)

Bracelets, Kohls ($11 for 20)

Hmm there appears to be a bit of a ghost in my photo. What's that about?

So can I be a total brat for a moment? As much as I wanted a major Anthropologie sale, I did not want the Beribboned Buds Cardi to go on sale. I paid full price for it and so should everyone else, gosh darn-it! Is that mean of me? I just hate feeling like I could have gotten a better deal. Granted I've had the cardigan for months now and worn it enough already to make the cost per wear totally reasonable, but I'd rather it just stay full priced until all the Mediums are sold out at least!

Here are some promo codes to make up for my nastiness! You can buy other things on super sale, guys, just not my Beribboned Buds Cardi, mm'kay?

Banana Republic - use promo code EXTRA20 to take an extra 20% off sale. This code is only valid today and tomorrow.

J.Crew - use promo code EXTRA30 to take an extra 30% off sale (plus get free shipping on orders of $150 or more). This code ends on April 1, 2010.

Limited - still running the 30% off all dresses and cardigans sale (no code necessary) plus get $25 off a second pair of pants, skirt, or short (also no code necessary).

In Queen news, the Official Queen Fan Club Convention was this past weekend (yeah that's an actual thing that happens every year). I'm still confirming rumors, but word on the street is that RT premiered a brand new song and did a second (and hopefully more in depth) Q&A where he spoke about his upcoming album and tour. I'm not getting my hopes up but I'll post something as soon as I's sure this actually happened! Watch out for it!

I also expect to post my second batch of Anthropologie Fitting Room Reviews tonight. In the meantime, everyone have a great day!

Making Ringtones: What I Wore

Sorry today's post is so late! I was having major issues with my work computer and it refused to upload my pictures! Horrors!

I thought I'd post because I am not at all a tech-oriented person, but I found making my own ringtones to be shockingly easy! I have an iPhone so I use this strategy to get my ringtones into iTunes and then from there upload them onto my phone.

Step 1: Identify a song. This is probably the hardest part! My newest ringtone is going to be the Queen song Brighton Rock. I've loved the song for a while and there is one specific part that is absolutely my favorite (it might even be my favorite part of any Queen song!) I prefer ringtones without words, but it is 100% personal preference.

Step 2: Identify 15-25 seconds of the song you want to use as your ringtone. In Brighton Rock, I'll be using 2:17 through 2:36.

Step 3: In iTunes, right click on the song and select "Get Info". Then select the "Options" tab. Check the boxes beside "Start Time" and "Stop Time" and then enter the start time and end time for your selected 15-25 seconds.

Step 4: Right click on the song a second time and choose the option "Convert to ACC". This will create a second file of the selected portion of your song. The file will appear in your Music section. Find the new file, right click on it, and click "Delete" but when the pop-up box appears, select "Keep File"

Step 5: Open up your music file (outside of iTunes) - do this by clicking on the "Start" button on the lower left-hand corner of your screen. There should be a tab that says "Music" and then in that an "iTunes" folder where all your music is stored. Find the song you are going to use and change the ".m4a" at the end of the file to ".m4r". Something might pop up about the file being unusable, but ignore that.

Step 6: Finally, double click on the new m4r file and it should automatically appear in iTunes in your ringtone file. Sync your phone and voila, you have a custom ringtone!

Today it poured all day. All day. And the forecast is that it will pour all day tomorrow.  Thankfully it is supposed to be warm and sunny this weekend so I'm looking forward to that.

My outfit was a little boring today on account of the rain and the fact that I had a home visit. I like to wear easily washable stuff when I go on home visits (especially when I'm going to a smoking home like today) so since most of my pretty things are dry clean only, my selection was rather limited this morning.

Blouse, Banana Republic, size 10 Tall (Tailored Fit) (from fall 2009)

Modern Fit Trousers, Ann Taylor (from fall 2009)

Necklaces, Kohls

Earrings, Kohls

Shoes, Banana Republic, size 9 (from spring 2007)

Belt, Target, size XL

I love these non-iron shirts from Banana Republic. They really don't require ironing and the tall length is perfect for me to tuck into pants and not having to constantly retuck. I find the Tailored Fit to be more comfortable than the Fitted Fit - the Tailored Fit leaves slightly more room in the bust whereas the Fitted Fit is more straight. Unfortunately, Banana Republic gets more excited about the Fitted Fit so there are a whole bunch of colors available, but only the basics for the Tailored Fit. I'm excited for these to reappear in stores this fall because I plan on stocking up on every single color they have!

Stay dry everyone!

Anthropologie Fitting Room Reviews, Part I (Dresses)

Anthro is seriously killing me with their pretty summer dresses. So far I've splurged and purchased two (Drifting by Dress and Optimist Dress). Three more are on my wish list (Castle Dress, Caballo Falls Dress, and Fragrant Valley Dress). And they keep coming!

I was slightly disappointed at the new arrivals at my local store this weekend, but does that mean I didn't find tons of try on? Of course not, sillies! I can always find pretty things at Anthro!

Beda Dress ($118), size 10

Several years ago my sister and I saw Under the Tuscan Sun. At one point in the movie, Diane Lane puts on an absolutely stunning white dress with a black sash, hops on the back of a motor scooter, and meets a dashing Italian stud. My sister and I have been searching for a replica of that dress for years and the Beda dress is about as close as I've ever found (minus the belt). The weight of this dress is surprisingly heavy - it's a thick cotton. I worry that it might be too hot in the summer (assuming we ever actually get summer here in New England!). The detail around the bodice is really pretty and the size 10 fit like a glove. This one is on my wish list for a sale, but even $118 isn't that pricey. Perhaps after we fix the garage door...

Dotted Greetings Dress ($128), size 12

Online, I really liked this dress. In person, unfortunately, it's a little too much "I'm Proud to be an American" for my liking - i.e. this dress is seriously red, white, and blue. Which is too bad because the details of this dress are nice: the straps are removable and the back has a smocked panel to help with the fit. The sash wasn't really doing anything for me though. I grabbed a 12 because the dress is slimmer through the hip and that was a smart decision. The fit was fine, but I'm just not crazy about this one.

Silver Lining Dress ($138), size Large

The Silver Lining Dress's biggest problem is that it is really reminscent of the Drifting by Dress, a poor man's Drifting by Dress (i.e. not as nice). This dress is pull on style and has some stretch to it. I probably could have sized down to a Medium. The fabric is a lot more metallic than I was expecting - there is some serious sparkle going on here. Frankly, I wasn't a fan. The dress itself is cotton and polyester, but the price point is only $30 less than the Drifting by Dress. I suppose this would work if someone really didn't like the nude color, but I found the fit to be not as great either (not as structured). I'm probably being too hard on the dress, but compared to my beloved Drifting by Dress, this one pales in comparison.

Lobster Dress, size 10

Okay, this happens every week. The one item that isn't available online, I forget to take a picture of the tag! I have no idea how much this dress is - sorry guys! I saw another blogger try this dress on (and I can't remember who that was either - this is bad, guys!) and thought it was equal parts adorable and ridiculous. I was excited to see it at my store and grabbed it right away. The sales associate in the fitting room commented that this dress reminds her of Ross and Rachel because "he's her lobster." Hmmm - not sure if that is an extra point on the adorable or the ridiculous side. On to the dress - the 10 fit nicely on top, but was slightly snug around the hips. I'd have to size up to be comfortable, but that might end up with a baggy top. Such is the life of a pear shaped girl. The straps were nice and wide - a regular bra wasn't visible at all. Oh and pockets - yay! Seriously why don't all skirts/dresses have pockets? I watched an episode of Say Yes to the Dress once and the bride found a dress with pockets. A wedding dress! Brilliant! I don't think I'd ever seriously consider buying this dress (even on sale), but it is very whimsical and the fit wasn't bad. Hopefully it will show up online soon!

Next up, we have some tops. I'll post that review on Tuesday evening.

The Week Ahead

After being a lazy little bugger all week, I finally got my act together this weekend and ran my scheduled runs: 9 mile long run yesterday and 6 miles (4 at tempo pace of 10:15) today. All I can say is, "UGGGGHHHH!" I've definitely learned my lesson and will not be putting off weekday runs anymore!

I did find time to hit up Anthropologie this afternoon so look out for some fitting room reviews this week.

In not as great news, I may or may not have scratched the entire side of my car trying to pull out of the garage today and I may or may not have completely destroyed the track for the garage door. Whoops! In my defense, Husband had parked the car and he isn't as straight of a parker as I am. Needless to say, Husband has put me on extreme shopping probation and said that the repair to my car and the garage door is coming out of my shopping budget! Boo!

Luckily I ordered these two little pretties on Friday night. Hehehe

I hope everyone enjoys their last few hours of the weekend!

Running Essentials: Training Plan

Some readers have asked about my training schedule so here's a brief overview.


I've tried a few training plans: SmartCoach through the Runner's World website (you have to be a member to use it now, but signing up is free), the FIRST program (see here), and Hal Higdeon's training program (see his website here). Runner's World has a new feature where they will customize a training program for you (for a small fee) - I haven't tried this program, but it's worth mentioning.

I like the SmartCoach program the best because I have the most control over the variables. I plug in a recent race time, how long I want the schedule to last and how hard I want to train and SmartCoach spits out a list of runs that I post on my bulletin board at work. No thinking involved!

I run between 15-25 miles each week. These runs are spread out over 3-5 days. I really don't like running 5 days a week so I try to combine shorter runs when possible (I consider anything less than 3 miles to be a shorter run). SmartCoach divides up runs into four different types: easy, long, tempo, and speed.

So what do these words mean?

An easy run is just that - easy. You should run at a pace at which you can carry on a full conversation. No huffing and puffing or gasping for air. For a lot of people, this pace translates into about 1 minute per mile slower than their 10K pace (i.e. my most recent 10K was at a 10:30 pace so I do most of my easy runs at a 11:30 pace).

Your long run should be about the same pace as your easy run although slightly slower is okay.

Tempo runs aid your body in building endurance to keep a faster pace over a longer period of time. You should be able to hold your tempo pace for an hour although most tempo runs aren't that long. My tempo runs are typically between 3-5 miles with 1 mile warm up and 1 mile cool down (at any pace). My tempo speed is my 10K pace so about 10:30.

Speed workouts are short and fast with periods of rest built in. The idea is to get your body used to running at a pace faster than your race pace (though not by much!) A typical speed workout for me is 1 mile warm up (at any pace), followed by 4 repeats of 800 m (1/2 mile) at 4:25 (so run 1/2 mile in 4:25) with 400 m (1/4 mile) rests at any pace, and finally finish the workout with 1 cool down mile at any pace.

In addition to this schedule, I use a heart rate monitor to train (see review of Garmin Forerunner 305 here). Easy runs should be at about 65-70% of your max heart rate. Tempo runs should be at about 80-85% of your max heart rate and speed runs should be at about 90-95% of your max heart rate. Here is an explanation of how to find your max heart rate.

I heart rate trained all winter (while following a SmartCoach program for maintenance) and was shocked at how disciplined my heart became in just a few months. I went from averaging 166 bpm during a 8 mile run to averaging 161 bpm at a pace 10 seconds per mile faster. It may not sound like a lot, but the idea is that as you train your heart, you can run at a faster pace using the same amount of exertion (so as a result can race faster at a higher level of exertion).

And while I do find it necessary to have a training schedule, if there's a day that I'm simply not in the mood to run, I don't. I ran one summer during our vacation to Maine. I got up at 6am and ran up to 9 miles because I was training for my first half marathon and was terrified of not being prepared. The only thing that ended up happening is that I resented running for a good few weeks after my vacation because it hadn't really been a vacation after all, had it? I've since taken as long as two weeks off of running (for personal reasons) and can very easily get back on the wagon. So don't feel bad about taking a day (or two) off - chances are, your body is trying to tell you something!

Happy running!

*Disclaimer (because I'm a legal loser)* - I am not a medical doctor or a personal trainer. I am posting my training schedule and accompanying explanations for informational purposes only. Do not begin an exercise plan without consulting your doctor. If you feel faint or dizzy while exercising, stop immediately.

Dear Husband,

This is pretty.

Just sayin'

Love,

Me

Acting Out Skirt - Styled: What I Wore

Earlier this week, I did a guest post on Roxy's blog (see here). In the comments, bootyful (love the name!) asked what to pair the Acting Out Skirt with since she doesn't like tucking blouses into skirts.

Well in the immortal words of Barney Stinson, "Challenge accepted!"

Personally I don't have a problem tucking blouses into skirts, but I can certainly appreciate ladies who are reluctant to do so. It's only been in the last few years that I've been willing to attempt this risky fashion manuever. My fear, I think, stemmed from two sources: 1) ill fitting clothes that didn't look right with a blouse tucked in and 2) visions of 1992 where every shirt I tucked in was two sizes too big and promptly untucked a few inches creating a horrendous "blousing" effect. *shudders*

My first thought for the Acting Out Skirt was to pair it with a blazer.

Top, Banana Republic, size Large (from spring 2007)

Blazer, Ann Taylor Loft, size 8 (from spring 2008)

Shoes, Banana Republic, size 9 (from spring 2007)

Here it is with a cardigan:

Beribboned Buds Cardi, Anthropologie, size Medium (available here)

Next, this skirt can easily be paired with a sweater. I picked a half sleeve sweater because it's finally getting warmer, but in colder months, a long sleeved sweater and tights could be adorable.

Sweater, Banana Republic, size Medium (fall 2009)

Speaking of warmer weather, how about with an empire waist tank?

Reverie Tank, Anthropologie, size Medium (from winter 2009)

So after a week of waiting, I literally couldn't stand the anticipation and decided to wear my Acting Out Skirt today. I don't care that Husband claims that the forecast is snow. I have court and I want to look adorable!

Ann Taylor Ruffle Blouse, size 10 (no longer online; check your stores!)

Acting Out Skirt, Anthropologie, size 12 (available here)

Hanes Pantyhose

Shoes, AK Anne Klein, size 9 (from fall 2009)

Earrings, Kohls

Necklace, Kohls

It turns out Husband was wrong. It's not snowing. It is freezing outside (I had to get out my wool coat again - boo!) and it is supposed to be a low of 12 tonight, but no snow! Small victories!

This has been a long week for me. I had an early morning on Monday and that just kills me for the rest of the week. I'm so glad it's the weekend. We have friends coming over for March Madness, dinner, and Rock Band (I'm most excited about the Rock Band, of course) and Macy's is finally delivering our new chest of drawers! Hurray! Happy weekend everyone!

Queen Song of the Week: Sheer Heart Attack

Because Queen is a bunch of tricky guys, the song Sheer Heart Attack is not on the album Sheer Heart Attack. However, this album cover is great so I wanted to include it.  I found a hysterical quote allegedly by Freddie Mercury: "God, the agony we went through to have the pictures taken, dear. Can you imagine trying to convince the others to cover themselves in Vaseline and then have a hose of water turned on them?" I say allegedly because I can't find the direct quote online, but the interview would be close to 40 years old so I'm not discounting the possibility that it exists simply because I can't find it using Google.

Sheer Heart Attack (the album) was released in 1974, but Sheer Heart Attack (the song) was not finished yet. In fact, Queen released two more studio albums (1975's A Night at the Opera and 1976's A Day at the Races) before the song was finally finished. As another aside, it is completely astonishing to me that in the span of four years, Queen released four absolutely amazing albums!

Sheer Heart Attack (the song), written by RT, was ultimately included on 1977's News of the World. RT wrote the song about the up-and-coming punk scene, many of whom he felt were talentless (note the tongue-in-cheek lyric, "I feel so inarticulate.") The song is unusual in that up until that point, RT had sung all of his own compositions, but here Freddie Mercury sings the lead vocals. Some suggest that RT is singing the chorus ("Do you know, do you know, do you know, just how I feel?"), but it is very clearly Freddie Mercury (for confirmation, listen to Freddie sing the song live here)

The song itself is three and a half minutes of pure energy. In the Audio Commentary to the Queen Rock Montreal Blu Ray, RT laments about what a difficult song it was for him to play and it always seemed to come at the end of the setlist when he was already exhausted. The opening lyric always makes me think of the Beatles song I Saw Her Standing There ("Well you're just seventeen") but then the song takes off in a pseudo-punk direction and doesn't let up. Halfway through, the band experiments with feedback which is initially a little grating (don't have your volume turned up too high), but does add an interesting element to the song. The drum solo going back into the last chorus is great (and for some reason gives me a mental image of RT banging on trash cans as opposed to drums - they just have a real unusual sound to them).

Played live this song turns into a "wall of noise" (that's straight from RT's mouth on the Audio Commentary) and he's absolutely right. Some people may not go for that because it does sound like a bit of a hot mess. I think it's great - one of my favorite things is when music gets so complex and layered that it sounds like a disaster but beneath the surface it's still very calculated. The individual members are essentially playing their own thing while still keeping the main thread of the song going and having a great time.

So check out Sheer Heart Attack (the song) and while you're at it, Sheer Heart Attack (the album) too - I'll pick a song off that album for next week!

Happy Listening!

And one last thing - I'm such a dork that I'm tickled that I have 39 followers right now because of this. Can a few more people please follow me and put me out of my Queen-dorkness misery!?!?

Drifting Through the Years: What I Wore

Yesterday Husband and I celebrated our three year wedding anniversary. We went out for sushi (yum) and saw Alice in Wonderland in 3D. The movie was really cool, especially all the visual effects, but it was really short! Usually I'm complaining that a movie goes on too long, but I definitely could have watched another 20 minutes of backstory! Boo! Alan Rickman as the Caterpiller was awesome - he was one of the most prominently featured voices so that was exciting. And Johnny Depp was, of course, a mixture of awesome and insane (as he usually is!) I recommend seeing it if you haven't already.

For the occasion, I wore my Drifting by Dress for the first time. Husband wasn't really crazy about the dress, but since I wore it for our anniversary date, he had to tell me I looked beautiful. Hehehe - now I can officially keep it! We had a minor crisis at dinner when my Grand Slam Bracelet snagged the chiffon of the dress a bit! I panicked, but was able to separate the bracelet from the dress without doing any damage. The offending bracelet was immediately removed and thrown in my purse!

Drifting by Dress, Anthropologie, size 12 (available here)

Belt, Kohls

Shoes, Franco Sarto, size 9 (from Marshall's spring 2007)

Bracelets, Cruise ship purchases

Earrings, Kohls

Necklace, Ann Taylor Loft (available here)
Not pictured: Two Paths Trench (available here) (well it's in the picture, but not on me just slung over the chair)

Husband and I exchange anniversary gifts in accordance with the Traditional Anniversary Gifts list (see here). Three years is leather so here are our gifts to each other:

Can you guess which one is mine?

The bag is kate spade - I saw it in December and fell in love. It was already on sale but then Chloe posted a 25% promo. I literally had to buy it. When it arrived I told Husband that it would be my anniversary gift of leather and he agreed to play along.

Husband bid on and won two autographed Red Sox baseballs at a charity auction back in November. For the last five months, they've sat on a chest in our second bedroom. I found this display case and thought it was nice. Because it is slightly cutesy, I asked Husband before I bought it and he gave me the thumbs up.

Then Husband felt bad that he didn't have a gift to give me yesterday so he sent these to my office. He is seriously too sweet sometimes! Needless to say, all the ladies in my office were jealous! I just noticed on the anniversary table that year four is fruit/flowers - uh oh Husband is going to have to step it up big next year since he got me flowers this year!

The forecast for today was super cold, but it's not that bad. Here's what I am wearing:

Blouse, Banana Republic, size Large (from spring 2007)

Modern Fit Trouser Pants, Ann Taylor, size 14 (waist altered down) (from fall 2009)

Crimpled Cardigan, Anthropologie, size Large (from winter 2009)

Belt, Kohls

Earrings, Target

Bracelets, Acquired from my mom's jewelry box

Necklace, Gift from a friend who traveled to India

Shoes, Bandolino, size 9.5

I had a brainstorm last night of pairing the Crimpled Cardigan with this blouse. I have two kind of identical blouses from Banana Republic that I bought a year apart. This one is silk and crewneck. The other one is cotton and v-neck with some ruffles on the placket. So they technically aren't exactly the same, but the blue/white polka dot pattern basically is. Whoops! I'd like to see how this outfit looks with the other blouse because I think the v-neck might work better with the low collar of the cardigan. The pants, of course, I adore (especially after I had them altered!) and I went with flats again today. Occasionally my feet get a little cranky - um, what? They have a problem with squeezing into 4 inch heels all day and then running 6 miles? Wimps - and require a few days of flats. I like these patent leather Bandolino ones a lot so I don't mind wearing them (although I swear sometimes my heels are more comfortable than my flats - is that weird?)

So this week I've had a few requests: 1) What to pair the Acting Out Skirt with and 2) my running training schedule and food recommendations. I'll try to put something together on both these topics in the next few days so keep an eye out! And if anyone has other requests or suggestions, feel free to comment!

Oh and one last thing - be sure to check out Roxy's special contest this week (see details here). The prize is a $250 Anthropologie gift card! What!?!?!