12 things I learned in ACC 255 this summer

I have been taking an online course, ACC 255, through Illinois State University. It has taught me quite a lot! I thought I would make a list of what exactly I have learned:

1. How to create a blog
2. How to create a website
3. What a sneeze post is
4. How to generate traffic to a blog
5. How Google AdSense works
6. How to become an affiliate with major companies
7. What a "Pillar Article" is
8. How to create a mission statement
9. How to create an eBook
10. How to develop a business plan
11. How to create a paypal account
12. What "pay per click" advertising is

Those Gilmore Girls and their Coffee

Have you ever sat and browsed through different channels on the television, but could not find anything you wanted to watch? For me, this is often the case, especially because I work such odd hours. Usually during the summer, I work from 2 or 3 PM until 11 PM, also known as second shift. In the morning, there are a lot of talk shows I enjoy watching, but once those are over, nothing of substance takes over. There are quite a few children shows and often re-runs of prime time shows or shows from a few years or even decades ago.

Because of this, I have purchased quite a few seasons of my favorite shows on DVD. If I am ever bored, cannot find something to watch, or just am in the mood to see one of these shows, I pop in a disk. Gilmore Girls is one of my top 5 favorite shows, along with The Office, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, White Collar, and Arrested Development. Anyway, Gilmore Girls is a show I have watched since I was a kid, and pretty much grew up with it in my life.

Gilmore Girls has also had quite an effect on my life - at least the aspect of my life that loves coffee. If you have never watched the show, you probably are unaware of the severe coffee addiction the two main characters, Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, possess. In almost every scene of every episode, coffee is mentioned or is being drank. They constantly speak about how it is the elixir of life and they should be taking it through an I.V. Every time the show came on, I would see the coffee and pour myself a cup as well. It is dangerous to watch the show without any, or I immediately crave it! They are also very humorous and mix in a lot of music and pop culture references. My kind of show!

Best of The Vinyl Bistro

I have been writing this blog for quite some time now, and have accumulated almost 40 posts. As any of you who follow this may be aware, they all include various posts about coffee, music, or both of them combined. I figured that there should be a certain post that viewers of my blog could go to for them to check out a certain aspect of my blog, instead of sifting through posts that contain no relevance to them. There are a few blogs in particular that I feel really represent The Vinyl Bistro and what I would want my viewers to get from my blog, and because of this I decided to make this blog entry a "Best of" post. I will list my 3 favorite blogs, the best of this blog as a whole, and provide their links if anyone would like to check them out or for those who have not read them before.

1. My Top 10 bands of all time.
This item is a two-fold, because I did them in separate posts. In one post there are 5 bands, and in the other the additional 5. If anyone comes across this blog and wants to get a real feel for who I am, not just the business side of things, they will be able to find out a lot through these two blog posts.

Part 1
Part 2


2. The best cup of coffee I have ever had.
I also think this is a great indicator of who I am as a coffee lover and a small insight to my world. It offers the experience of the best cup of coffee I have had, and what around me made the experience so spectacular. I would love to hear about other people's "best cup of coffee", so I figured coffee lovers might want to hear mine as well!

The Best Cup of Coffee I have Ever Drank


3. A little more about myself and the music I love.
I think this blog further develops me in the eyes of my viewers. I have mentioned in previous posts the type of music I enjoy and bands I like, but have not gone any deeper. In this blog, I tell a lot about my personal preferences and how music makes me feel. It is a great one to read.

More About Myself and Music

Death Cab for Cutie

As promised, here is my follow-up blog concerning the Death Cab for Cutie concert tonight at the Taste of Chicago. First of all, I was very excited to be there, seeing one of my favorite bands with some great friends for absolutely no charge. What is better than that? We arrived to the venue, Chicago's Petrillo Music Shell inside of Grant Park (where the Taste of Chicago is being held), about an hour before the concert was set to start. We noticed that the free seats were first come first served, spread across a large lawn. However, there were seats very close to the stage guarded off. We approached the event staff and asked how we could get to sit near the stage in the fenced off seats. They said we could purchase tickets for twenty dollars, or answer some trivia about the band and try our luck at winning the tickets. One of my friends got the trivia question correct and we got even better free seats than we had planned on.

Since we were early, we got pretty close to the stage. We were seated in the fourth row in the direct middle, perfect seats! In fact, these were possibly the best tickets for a show I had ever received. I have only been in the front row to a show once, and that was last year at Lollapalooza for the Foo Fighters and I camped out at the stage all day until their performance at night. Aside from that concert, I had never been so close to the stage and my friends and I were thrilled!

The band started off the night with an accoustic performance from Ben Gibbard, the lead singer of Death Cab for Cutie, of the song ''I will follow you into the dark''. I thought it was quite a bold move to perform the first song accoustically, as most bands wait until the middle of the concert to do so, if they perform acoustically at all. It was amazing and his voice was crystal clear, the crowd ate it up. The rest of the concert exceeded my expectations and will go down as one of my favorite concerts I have ever witnessed. The list is pretty long, so that is high praise.

Molly's Cupcakes

On the agenda this with my Scandinavian visitors is Lincoln Park. We are going to take a short ten or fifteen minute trip to get there by the metra and spend the day walking around. Lincoln Park is a great park of Chicago, there is a free zoo, there are pleanty of discount clothing stores, and a ridiculous amount of wonderful food. It is pretty hard to choose which place to stop in and eat at, because walking down one road has multiple prospects. I thought I would let my Swedish friends choose where they would like to eat, and I could choose the place where we fika. I have already planned to take them to Molly's Cupcakes.

Cupcakes seem to be pretty trendy right now, as awkward as that may sound. Can food be trendy? Anyway, with all of the different shows, such as D.C. Cupcakes, Cupcake Wars, and more on television today, it seems appropriate to take them to a store devoted to the delicious treat. In addition to their delicious cupcakes, Molly's Cupcakes also has amazing coffee, and quite a unique layout inside their store.

There are three different seating options once you go inside the small bake shop: You can sit at the bar, you can find a seat at one of the multiple brightly colored tables, or you can plop down on a swing. Yes, a swing. Inside Molly's Cupcakes are four or five swings bolted to the ceiling near a counter that you can sit at and rock back and forth. It is not the biggest shop, and there are chains restricting the swings from going out too far, but it is very cool and brings something new to the average coffee and cake café. We are heading there tomorrow, so I will let you know if they enjoy it!

Hotel Coffee

So, as I stated previously, I have a few friends in town visiting from Sweden. I met them while I was studying abroad in Sweden and am extremely excited to catch up with them and show them around my beautiful country. For two of them, this is their first time ever in America. The other one has visited before and has traveled a bit through the states. I feel a bit of pressure to make sure my country leaves a good impression on them, so I have planned a lot of unique and exciting activities for them. We just checked in to our hotel in Chicago and are excited for our Taste of Chicago experience (as well as the Death Cab for Cutie concert I mentioned in my blog yesterday). So far, however, we have not done much.

We did not get in to the city until 7PM, so we mostly relaxed at the hotel. We were going to check out a coffee shop near our hotel, when instead my friends spotted the complimentary coffee and coffee machine in our room. I am quite familiar with this, as most hotels I have stayed in offer this treat. They, however, we completely surprised and excited and wished to make the hotel room coffee instead of finding a coffee shop. We opened the small package of coffee and filled the filter on the coffee machine. As it brewed, they became more and more excited – it was quite amusing to watch. After the coffee was finished, we drank and enjoyed thoroughly. I have to admit, for just being a hotel coffee, it was one of the best cups I have ever had. We even went to the front desk and inquired the brand name so we could purchase our own. For not even leaving our hotel room, I'd say we have done pretty well already! 

Tomorrow night is the concert, so I will make a follow-up blog on that later! Cheers!

Trains and Music

In a few hours, I will be on my way to pick up my friends visiting me from Sweden. They are flying in to Chicago, and we are planning on staying in the city for a week. I am going to take the Amtrak train from Bloomington, Illinois to Union Station in Chicago and meet them at our hotel. I take the train quite often, as it is extremely economical and convenient. It is about a two and a half hour train ride, although it usually takes up to three or even three and a half hours to reach Union Station due to interferences. For example, there are multiple freight trains sharing the rails with Amtrak trains, so if one is approaching, we must exit the rails and wait for the freight train to pass us by. This could take anywhere from a few minutes to a full hour. Regardless, as long as you do not have a time deadline to reach, or if you plan ahead early enough so that delays will not bother your schedule, the train is great. I usually try to arrive in Chicago an hour early so that I will not have to worry about tardiness. 

Anyway, I really love taking the train, especially by myself, because it gives me a wonderful excuse to become lost in music. I always take my iPod with me for the journey. Sometimes I will upload a new album I have been wanting to check out or create a specific playlist for the ride. This time, it was a mixture of both. There are a few bands that I love that I have not kept up with in the past years – The Decemberists and Jimmy Eat World. Their most recent albums I have only listened to once or twice and I have not given enough time to fully digest the music or to make up my mind on which tracks I like the most or how I feel about the album in general. I mixed their albums in a play list, along with some other bands and tracks I enjoy, and am prepared for my ride!

Co-Op Records

The best place in my town to purchase music is Co-Op Records. To be honest, I am not entirely sure if it is a chain store or not. I know there is another Co-Op Records in the adjacent town that I visit every now and then, but if you have never heard of it, it is probably not too big. Co-Op Records is a place for everything. You can purchase CDs, vinyl records, posters, tapestries, and other random music memorabilia, such as patches and stickers with bands on them, action figures of famous musicians, coffee mugs with the logo of your favorite band or artist, and more. 

Co-Op Records is where I bought my first CD ever, and where I stll buy my new and used vinyl records. They have quite a selection of vinyl albums, which is kind of rare for music shops these days. However, as I mentioned in a previous blog post, vinyl records are making a comeback and for that I am thankful. Co-Op also offers trade ins, one used vinyl album for another used vinyl album. If you simply wish to get rid of your record collection or are strapped for cash, Co-Op Records will also purcahse your new and used vinyl records (if they are in good enough condition) and re-sell them at the store. Because of this, there are constantly new options of different genres and different artists in the used vinyl section, which is great for an avid collector like myself when on a budget. 

Co-Op Records has also been known to host live bands in their parking lot, usually monthly or every other month. These bands are usually local acts or cover bands and are usually no more than five or ten dollars to attend. Some of them are even free! Another great part about Co-Op Records is that they sell tickets for concerts in the area. Some people do not like TicketMaster and see them as a company with a monopoly of selling tickets. Because of this, they purchase their tickets elsewhere and Co-Op Records is one of those locations! Overall, this is an amazing music shop and I have yet to find a better one. If only they served coffee …

The Taste of Chicago

Hello again!

So this week, July 11th through July 16th, the annual Taste of Chicago has once again taken over Grant Park in Chicago. I have friends visiting me from Sweden and thought this was the perfect opportunity to show them the great city of Chicago while enjoying the finest of its cuisine. There are also live performances every night (for free!) with some of the biggest names in music. This year, headliners include Chaka Khan, Jennifer Hudson, Death Cab for Cutie, and Fitz and the Tantrums. Death Cab for Cutie is a very popular indie rock band and I have been a fan of theirs for quite some time. 

My Swedish friends are visiting tomorrow and are also very excited to see them as they are huge fans as well. It only helps that the show is entirely free! I do not know if we will see any of the other bands and performers during our stay in Chicago because of the massive heat wave in Midwestern America. My Swedish friends have never felt this much heat and I fear they will become very exhausted very quickly! I am planning on taking them on a few sightseeing tours and walking through some of the more familiar parts of the city. We will be in the sun frequently, so if they are up to see more bands and performances, I will have to keep you posted! For now, we will just have find a great Chicago place to have a fika then enjoy the food and (free) show.

Live Music at Cafés

For someone who is passionate about both music and coffee, there is nothing better than combining the two. It is not very hard to do so – I can pour myself a cup while listening to my iPod, I can grab a coffee to go and enjoy the radio in my car – but nothing beats when the music is live. I do not care how a band sounds when performing their music live, a lot of bands get bad reviews on the vocals of the lead singer, or the feedback from amplifiers on stage. I drain it all out and get lost in the music. I do not think there is anything better than seeing a band perform live, even if the above are true. I would rather hear a scracthy voice and see the bands I love giving it their all on stage, performing truly in their element than to listen to a recording of it. A lot of people disagree with me, and will not see bands if they are not ''good'' live. 

A lot of times the bands I enjoy play at larger venues, and it is harder to see them because they do not tour as often as I would like or because they do not come somewhere close enough to where I am located. However, there are several coffee shops around me that ofer live music weekly, if not daily. It is a great way for me to support local music and to hear something different than what is on my iPod or the trash on the radio. I get to see performers from across the country come and go to small coffee shops and play intimate, accoustic shows. There are often larger coffee shops that allow bands to bring their drum sets and amplifiers, and then it is a full on production. Both are amazing because who knows where these people will end up? I get to enjoy music in its most raw and vulnerable form and stand in a room with anywhere from a handful of people to a couple hundred people watch the stage and get lost in the music. 

Of course, accoustic shows are my personal favorite because I get to really hear everything that is happening and sit down and enjoy a great cup of coffee. For the larger productions, many people stand and crowd around the performing area, so coffee would not be the best idea. But an accoustic show is so filled with emotion and words cannot do it justice. Even if I do not particullary enjoy the music I still leave with this feeling of happiness. If there are any cafés near you providing free, live music, or even with a small cover, I strongly suggest you check it out. Who knows where they will end up one day, you could be witnessing history in the making!

Product Recommendation: Dunkin' Donuts

For those of you looking for a great cup of coffee, a relaxing atmosphere, and a a tasty treat or two, Dunkin' Donuts is the place to go!

It seems that every great restaurant chain or fast food franchise has an equally great slogan accompanying it. This is no exception for Dunkin' Donuts. Theirs is  "America Runs on Dunkin'".

What started as a company focused on donuts quickly transformed to a place that someone could get one of the best cups of coffee in the world. From the name, it can be inferred that the famous donuts are supposed to be dunked in their great coffee. This is a deadly combination and is truly a staple of American breakfast on the go. The first time I ever tried Dunkin' Donuts is when I was quite younger. At my school, if it was your birthday, you brought in treats for the entire class. Kind of odd, right? Anyway, I asked my mother if I could bring in donuts for the class, and we picked them up from Dunkin' Donuts. I was very excited and remember every moment of my first Dunkin' Donuts tasting experience. A few years later, Dunkin' Donuts came out with a frozen blended coffee drink, (probably to compete with the hugely successful Frappuccino at Starbucks), called the Moolaté. I had not yet developed my love for black coffee, so this was right up my alley. Sweet and delicious. 

As the years grew, I became more and more fond of coffee, as I have previously written about, and wholeheartedly addicted to black coffee. If I am at the grocery store, my coffee of choice is Dunkin' Donuts Original blend or their Hazelnut blend. I stock my cabinents with their commercially packaged coffee grounds and brew a wonderful, flavorful cup each morning. It is safe to say that the slogan is true, I run on Dunkin'.

A few products and services I recommend!

I thought today I would make a post about a few great products I have come across online. I will promote a few music and coffee related Clickbank products or services, as well as a few products fom one of my affiliates, Guitar Center. I'll add a small description about each one. If any of these sounds interesting to you, check them out!


Guitar Center products to check out:
1. Because I just saw Iron Maiden live, I figured I would share this tablature songbook, showing the chords of many of their songs. It is a top rated item!
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Hal-Leonard-Iron-Maiden-Anthology--Tab-Songbook--100092163-i1171909.gc

2. This is a similar product to the one above, but instead of learning solely Iron Maiden songs, you can learn VH1's 100 greatest songs of rock. This is a great book to have and will allow you or your band to cover some of the greatest songs of all time!
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Hal-Leonard-VH1-s-100-Greatest-Songs-of-Rock---Roll-Easy-Guitar-Tab-Songbook-103813630-i1159657.gc



Who play guitar and is constantly losing their picks? The next two products are for you!

3. This is a guitar pick holder, perfect for ensuring you don't misplace your guitar picks!
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Dunlop-Scotty-Pick-Holder-100281779-i1165811.gc

4. For those of you who have already lost their guitar picks, you might want to stock up. Buy this 12 pack of guitar picks from Guitar Center and be sure you will never run out again!
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Dunlop-Tortex-Pitch-Black-Standard-Guitar-Picks-1-Dozen-111002-i1276005.gc



For those beginners who are new to music but want to buy a top quality instrument that will last you many years, check out the following products:

5. Guitar:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Godin-Multiac-Grand-Concert-Duet-Ambiance-Nylon-String-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-105305197-i1465183.gc

6. Drums:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Gretsch-Drums-Renown-4-piece-Euro-Shell-Pack-with-22--Bass-Drum--Fade-Finish-720101-i1548192.gc

7. Keyboard:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Yamaha-MOX6-61-Key-Semi-Weighted-Music-Production-Synthesizer-Workstation-106717507-i1907132.gc

8. Bass Guitar:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Yamaha-Billy-Sheehan-Signature-Attitude-3-Electric-Bass-Guitar-H75903-i2003192.gc



If you do end up purchasing any of these instruments, you might need a few accessories. The next and final two products I would recommend for you!

9. Amplifier:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Vintage-Reissue--65-Twin-Reverb-Guitar-Amp-100128187-i1145362.gc

10. Learn how to read music with this great book:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Alfred-Ready-to-Read-Music--Sequential-Lessons-in-Music-Reading-Readiness-Boo-907102-i1434124.gc





Clickbank products and services:
1. This product easily allows you to create music beats ranging from techno, dubstep, hip-hop, rock and roll, or more. This product works on both PCs and Macs. It is inexpensive and can allow you to make great music like you hear on the radio!
Click Here!

2. Have you ever wanted to learn guitar but could not afford lessons or did not know anyone who could teach you? This product provides lessons to become a guitar master! Check it out and start playing great music now!
Click Here!

3. If guitar is not your thing, why not try the piano? This program offers you the chance to learn piano at a low cost! Check out the link below if you want to become an expert piano player in no time!
Click Here!

4. This last product is more of my style. As I have mentioned before in my blog, I have always wanted to learn to play the drums. If you are like me, check out this product below that will help you learn to play drums like the pros!
Click Here!

5. This next product is for those like me who desire to open their own coffee shop someday. This product gives you tips on how to begin a successful coffee shop in any economy.
Click Here!

6. If you have used the product above (#6) and are beginning to open your own coffee shop, or if you just want to learn skills associated with making coffee, this product is for you. It is a training product
Click Here!

Iron Maiden with special guest Alice Cooper

Yesterday, as I mentioned previously, was the Iron Maiden concert in Tinley Park, Illinois. They are currently on their North American tour, titled "Maiden England". For the tour they brought along special guest Alice Cooper to open for them. I found this pair to be quite fitting as they are both very theatrical and can be pretty dark at times.

I made the two and a half hour drive from my house to Tinley Park's First Midwest Bank Amphitheater. I had never before been to this particular venue, and I was pretty nervous due to the extreme heatwave conquering the Midwest and most of the country. However, it started to cool down by the time Alice Cooper came on stage and once Iron Maiden began playing, the sun had completely set. This fortunate darkness provided some additional cool air to the audience members and those on stage. Despite this, I cannot imagine how hot the performers of both bands must have been. All members of the bands were suited in long sleeves and jeans and had larger than life costume changes for certain songs. There were fireworks that went off frequently, only adding to the heat on stage. Alice Cooper even have quite a bit of pyrotechnics, equipped with gloves that threw flames. They were good sports about the heat, though, and Bruce Dickinson (the lead singer of Iron Maiden) even referenced it a few times. I stayed cool in my lawn seats and was not too crowded by other audience members. Hopefully everyone was safe and cool!

Overall, both acts put on great shows and performed many of their hit songs. It was a great concert and I am glad I got to see both of these bands. They were two bands I had wanted to see for quite a while and I am thrilled to finally mark it off of my concert bucket list, so to speak.

Homemade "frappuccinos"!

I was fortunate enough to receive a personal blender for my most recent birthday. I have a larger blender and make quite a few smoothies and other iced drinks in it. I began bringing smoothies to class with me in place of breakfast if I was running short on time, and usually had quite a hard time converting the beverage from the blender to a to go mug without making a mess. However, this personal blender eliminates that problem. The to-go cup doubles as the blender itself, with a removable lid and removable blade.

I bought mine from QVC, but you could purcahse one from GNC's website. It is nice because it is extremely convenient and not very expensive!

Here is a direct link to GNC's online store where this product is sold:
http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11595596

Hopefully my description makes more sense now that you can see a photo of the blender. It is a great product and I have been using it non stop lately. Earlier today I made a post about Frappuccinos, so I decided to make my own using this personal blender! I found various recipes online and gave it a go. All of my attempts have been very successful!


If you want to try and make your own Frappuccino at home, I recommend the following web pages:

• http://savorysweetlife.com/2009/07/afternoon-coffee-break-recipe-for-frappuccinos-at-home/
• http://www.mahalo.com/how-to-make-a-frappuccino/
• http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf/Recipes/Beverages/Cool_Drinks/Frappuccino-Recipes.html
• http://divascancook.com/2012/06/homemade-frappuccino-recipe-mocha.html

If you want to make your ice coffee beverages more restaurant quality, purchase some chocolate syrup or whipped cream to put on top of the drinks. These make great drinks for summer parties and cookouts, especially for kids! If coffee is too strong of a flavor, there are dozens of recipes for chocolate iced drinks, fruit iced drinks, and more. This is a great way to beat the heat without even stepping out in the heat! Enjoy!

Staying cool in the summer heat

If any of you live in an area with scorching summer heat, such as the Midwestern United States, there are a few ways to beat the heat! Aside from the obvious of going to a local pool or water park and staying inside an air conditioned building, there are certain coffee drinks that can really help!

It might sound odd that a coffee drink could help with the extreme heat because, well, it is mostly associated with being a hot beverage. However, in the past decade, coffee shops across the world have tried to bring more customers to their stores during the hot summer days. I am someone who wakes up every morning, regardless of the season, with a steaming hot cup of coffee. However, there are those who enjoy the coffee flavor but do not want to add to the heat the first thing in the morning. For these people, there is a solution! 


Many brands have began stocking grocery stores with commercial versions of their brand name products. Starbucks made history with their icy coffee beverage named the Frappuccino. It became so popular that they even began selling it in stores. Now consumers can buy a pack of 4 or 12 Frappuccino bottles ranging from Vanilla to Mocha to Caramel. This way, if you want a great coffee taste in the morning without the heat, you can stock these in your refrigerator and enjoy in the morning!


Here is a link to Starbucks' in-store Frappuccino beverages:
http://www.starbucks.com/menu/catalog/product?drink=frappuccino-blended-beverages

Starbucks also has a new feature where you can get any traditional "hot" coffee beverage made into an "iced" coffee beverage.





Another big name brand that has combined cool temperatures and coffee is Dairy Queen. Dairy Queen is known across the country as a premium ice cream seller, but they also have created a line of drinks they call a "MooLatté". You can purchase these MooLattés in mocha, caramel, french vanilla, and cappuccino flavors. 


Here is a link to Dairy Queen's MooLatté drinks:
http://www.dairyqueen.com/us-en/eats-and-treats/menu/treats/moolatte-frozen-coffee/

8 Mile

Previously in the week, I declared my admiration for rap and hip hop artist Eminem. I said he was one of my favorite acts and that I was even privileged enough to see him perform live. I have been quite a big fan of almost everything he does - his music collaborations, all of his studio albums, and his film "8 Mile". It is one of my favorite movies and it was even released on my birthday. I think that is a sign!

Anyway, tonight after I returned from watching the fireworks with my family, I turned on the television. I had a few options, I could watch the annual Twilight Zone 4th of July day marathon, 8 Mile, or the firework show taped live from New York. I ultimately decided on 8 Mile because it had been awhile since I had seen it last.

The thing that amazes me, and most others who have seen the movie I'm sure, is how great Marshall Mathers ("Eminem") acts in his debut film. The story is semi-autobiographical, meaning it draws on certain story lines of his life, but is not about his life. A lot of people think this is exactly what happened to him and exactly how he grew up, but again, it is just very similar. Eminem even won an Academy Award for best original song in a movie, and was the first rapper ever to win the award. I think many of the people who do not like him or his music would appreciate his acting abilities in this film, and maybe even change their mind on him as a whole. He has been through a lot, and his struggle can be seen in the film. It is a great movie and I definitely recommend it!

Happy 4th of July! Coffee flavored ice cream!

To any Americans following this blog, Happy Independence Day! Once a year we all get to take a day off (most of us) and enjoy America's birthday by grilling out, relaxing with family or friends, and watching the fireworks!

My family is no exception. However, I did have to work today. I work at an ice cream parlor and today is pretty much a huge day in the ice cream business. It's hot, families have the day off, and kids love ice cream! Anyway, we got a new flavor of ice cream at work today. I am convinced that my boss introduced it to our menu solely because of how much I love coffee, but maybe I am getting ahead of myself.

The new ice cream is called "Mocha Mudslide" and it is without a doubt the best coffee flavored ice cream I have ever tasted. Usually in the grocery store there are a few brands that make a coffee ice cream, but they do not have a large selection. Recently Starbucks has created a line of ice creams from popular drinks, and that is what I have usually bought if I need an ice cream/coffee fix. However, this new flavor we have at work, "Mocha Mudslide" has coffee flavored ice cream, coffee syrup swirls striped throughout the ice cream, and chocolate fudge chunks. With the combination of those three ingredients, how could I go wrong?! I recommended it to most customers today, and it seemed to go over pretty well. I was kind of surprised because, as I stated before, there are few coffee flavored ice creams sold in stores today, so I did not think many would want it. Now that I know people love it just as much as I do, I think it needs to be more mainstream so I can purchase it more often!

Anyway, have a safe 4th of July and stay out of the heat!

Lollapalooza

Hello bloggers.

Lollapalooza is a huge event in my life. It occurs every year around the first weekend of August, and attracts over 90,000 people per day of the 3 day festival. Each year the musical line up has proved to be worthy of the somewhat pricey ticket price. Bands from across the world play at Lollapalooza and other music festivals across the country, such as Coachella or Bonnaroo.

Lollapalooza is held each year at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois. Fortunately I live only 2.5 hours away from the Windy City, so I am able to go every year. I usually buy my tickets before the line up is announced, which is kind of risky, but I have yet to be disappointed. 

Lollapalooza is a musical festival for every music genre. There are electro-pop acts, hard rock, R&B artists, and everything in between. The festival seems to grow larger every year, and last year was no exception. There are 5 stages with artists performing at the same time on each one. Sometimes this is tricky because there may be two acts you want to see that happen to play at the same time. It is also hard to watch half of the act and walk to the other one and catch their last half because the stages are quite far apart. This is because if they were too close together, you would be able to hear one band while another band was performing. The distance between stages can be a little unfortunate, but definitely worth it so there are no interruptions during your favorite band. 

This year I am very excited to see Jack White (of the White Stripes) and the amazingly talented Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine. I loom forward to this festival all year and it will soon be here! Hope to see you there!

Blue Öyster Cult Concert!

Hello again blog world!

So today, or tonight rather, is the Blue Öyster Cult concert down by the Peoria Riverfront. I am very excited to see them live. I have seen them once before, but I was about 12 or 13 so I do not fully remember the experience. Tonight they are playing with another well known band, Foghat. If you are unfamiliar with Foghat, I will link a few of their YouTube videos at the bottom of this blog. They are a very talented band as well and I am equally as excited to see them!

I only live about 15 minutes from the Peoria Riverfront, so it will be one of the shortest distances I have ever traveled to see a concert. The bad side to tonight is that it has been extremely hot in the Midwest for the entire week. Today the high is 102 degrees, and I can definitely feel it. Because the bands are playing at the Riverfront, the concert is outdoors. I am hoping that some cool breezes from the river will cool off the performances and make it a little more bearable.

Tomorrow is the fourth of July and the following day I will be heading to another outdoor concert! On the 5th of July I am heading to Tinley Park, Illinois (near Chicago) to see Iron Maiden and Alice Cooper. I will keep you posted on tonight's concert and that one after I've witnessed it! Hopefully I will be able to survive the heat both tonight, tomorrow for fireworks, and the following day for Iron Maiden. Have a safe 4th of July everyone!

A little more about myself and music

One thing that I truly pride myself in is my open mind when it comes to music. Obviously there are several genres and sub genres, and new wave music being produced every day. Some people are very set in their ways and do not enjoy listening outside of their preferred genre. On the contrary, I have quite a large range when it comes to the music I enjoy.

As I have stated before in this blog, my favorite genre is 90's rock music, also referred to as Grunge. But, if I were to give you a list of my favorite artists, only a few would fall into that genre. One of my favorite artists of all time is Marshall Mathers, better known by his stage name "Eminem." This comes to a surprise to most of my friends, but to me it makes perfect sense. I am lucky enough to say I have seen Eminem perform live in concert. I say I am lucky because, for those of you who know anything about Eminem, he hasn't toured in almost an entire decade. I saw him at a rare appearance concert last year in Chicago at the music festival Lollapalooza. He was headlining the tour, and when I found out I bought my ticket immediately.

Other genres I enjoy are classical rock and 80's rock, mainly influenced by my parents' taste in music, and alternative rock, which is practically all I listened to in High School. Some days I am in the mood for a particular genre, and some genres help me through different situations.

The diversity of music I like allows me to remain open minded for future genres and appreciate all types of music as a whole. I think this is extremely important if I am ever going to open a record store. I want to be able to recommend music to all of my customers, not just ones with a similar musical taste as myself.

Guitar solos

Hi!

So today I was listening to my iPod on shuffle and "November Rain"  by Guns 'N' Roses came on. Guns 'N' Roses is a band I have listened to most of my life, mainly because of my dad. Anyway, as I was listening to this great, over nine minute long song, Slash's infamous guitar solo began to play. I then started to think of other songs featuring guitar solos and what makes them so great.

As I'm sure all of you are aware, most radio play songs are around 3 or 4 minutes long. A guitar solo in a song can be anywhere from a couple of seconds long to a couple of minutes long. In the longer cases, like in "November Rain", there is usually a radio edit, partially cutting off the guitar solo or entirely cutting it out from the song.

This proves most true in the song "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd. When performed live, the song can go over 14 minutes long. During that 14 minutes is a 5 minute and 12 second guitar solo. The guitar solo is longer than most songs even aired on radio today. Needless to say, it's pretty impressive.

The element of a guitar solo that I enjoy the most is just allowing myself to get lost in the music. A lot of great music and talent is often covered up by catchy lyrics and hooks. However, when there is an instrumental break to really let other band members shine, it can be quite spectacular.

Buy your The Vinyl Bistro merchandise now!

Hey everyone!

Recently I joined CafePress, an online service that allows you to create customer t-shirts, mugs, posters, and more!

I have created my own custom logo for the products and even set up a store webpage. Once you're inside my online store, you can purchase several different items ranging from athletic hooded sweatshirts to iPad and iPhone cases and covers to coffee mugs, each including The Vinyl Bistro's  logo! It is a pretty awesome website and really allowed me to be hands on with the products I wanted to create and how to sell them.

If this sounds like something you would be interested in, please check out my store's homepage! Just click on the link below and it will take you there:
http://www.cafepress.com/thevinylbistro

I worked hard on creating a distinctive yet simple logo, so please let me know your feedback. I love constructive criticism so please be honest! If there are any products being sold that you think I could do without, feel free to say so. That also applies to letting me know if there are any products you would want me to sell that I currently am not. I am very new to all of this, so again, your feedback would be greatly appreciated! Please share my online store, as well as this blog and my website with other music and coffee enthusiasts and help get the word out!

This is my personal favorite item that is for sale in my online store:

It is a thermos to hold your coffee (very convenient for us coffee lovers on the go) with my store's logo on it! If you like this product, here is a direct link to it:
http://www.cafepress.com/thevinylbistro.662968146

Another item that is a must have for any The Vinyl Bistro fan are the zip up hoodie, available in either black or grey:

In addition to apparel and drinkware, we also sell various technology products and knickknacks with our logo on it, including a case for your iPhone!:

Be sure to check out all of our products at the website listed above! I hope you enjoy my online store and get back to me with feedback! Have a great day!

Record players

Most of my generation would say that record players are a thing of the past. In fact, a lot of them probably have never seen an actual record player in real life, only in movies or on television. But in the past few years, record players and the vinyl albums that are played on them have been making a huge comeback.

Bands today are releasing their music through MP3s, CDs, and vinyl records. I have always been a fan of records, but I suppose I owe that to watching independent films and older movies. There is a music store in my hometown that sells a variety of music memorabilia, including posters, flags, cds, buttons, apparel, and a wide selection of vinyl records. Most of the records are used and you can purchase them for pretty cheap.

The first record I ever bought was a Phil Collins album. Honestly I do not remember exactly which album, since I have most on vinyl now, but I remember my dad had just introduced me to Genesis, his band, and I fell in love with his music. I went to the music shop with my mom and as soon as I saw Phil Collins I wanted to buy it. The record cost no more than a dollar, and honestly is probably not worth anything at all. The thing about the used CDs at this music shop is that a lot of them are beat up and do not play very well on record players. However, I did not know this growing up because I never had a record player. I would continue to purchase albums, though, in case I ever got one one day. I had a collection of about 35 or 40 records when I finally got my record player, and sadly about half of them were barely audible. Regardless, I still enjoy having them in my collection, and a lot of them I cannot find anywhere else.

As I briefly mentioned before, artists are now releasing their new albums on vinyl as well, and this is both good and bad news. It is good news because it diversifies my collection and allows me to collect a lot more music, but it is bad news because the new released usually cost around 30 dollars. The Vinyls always have some neat artwork or holographic design that CDs do not possess, so it is worth the extra money, but it is painful for my wallet. At least these records sound good when I play them!

I had a revelation today!

I am not much of a tea drinker - in fact, I find it a rather disappointing drink. However, there are certain specialty teas I enjoy every so often. One of these specialty teas is the chai latte.

I usually never go for specialty drinks, but while I was studying abroad in Uppsala, Sweden, I found myself catching colds left and right. It seemed as though every other week I would have a runny nose or a sore throat, and obviously that was not very fun. There is a coffee franchise in Sweden called "Wayne's Coffee" that reminds me and many other Americans I traveled with of Starbucks. It has quite a few specialty drinks and is on the expensive side.

I walked into town and to a Wayne's Coffee one day while I was feeling under the weather. I had a sore throat for a few days and was in desperate need of something to soothe it. I asked the barista what they would recommend and they told me to try their chai latte. As previously mentioned, I usually do not enjoy tea beverages, but I thought I would give it a try. It turns out it was quite delicious - much sweeter than I would have imagined so I would not dare to eat any sort of pastry with it - and helped my throat massively.

From then on it became a ritual for me, whenever I got a sore throat or felt a cold coming no, I would head into town and order a chai latte from Wayne's. This was a hard habit to break, and as I moved back to the States I decided I should learn to make my own for sick days. I ended up just purchasing instant chai spiced tea. It is much like instant coffee and you can add it to a cup of warm milk or water if you prefer.

Yesterday I unfortunately ran a fever and had a terribly sore throat, so I decided to heat myself up some milk and mix in the spiced chai. However, at the same time, my boyfriend made a pot of coffee. It smelled so good that I was no longer in the mood for my spiced chai, but something more bitter and coffee like.

I ended up compromising and adding both instant coffee and the instant spiced chai to my warm milk. To my surprise, it was extremely delicious and truly the "best of both worlds", so to speak. This is the perfect drink for me when I am sick because it combines flavors that I love, coffee, with ingredients that have some kind of healing power over me and my sore throat, the spiced chai. If I ever open my own shop, I will definitely have this coffee added chai latte on the menu!

Coffee blogs make the world go 'round

So yesterday I devoted a few blog entries to different music blogs I found enjoyable. Today I thought I would do the same, but this time with coffee blogs.

Coffee blogs are a little harder to follow because it isn't as cut and dry as music. With music blogs, you can subscribe to one that is wide spread music coverage or a blog that focuses on a particular genre.

With coffee blogs, there are no sub groups one can divide themselves into. However, there is some difference between the blogs. For example, some coffee blogs discuss coffee related news stories while other coffee blogs follow a particular brand of coffee or shop that sells coffee and reports on that.

I have a few blogs that I would recommend that fill different coffee related needs.

The first one is Coffee Detective. At first glance, the blog does not look that impressive and is in definite need for a design makeover. However, once you get to the actual content of the blog, it is great. There are how-to articles and in depth reviews of different products and coffee machines. It is a must read for coffee lovers everywhere!

Coffee Vanilla is another great coffee blog that is along the same lines as Coffee Detective. It offers great coffee recipes and reviews of certain products. However, the recipes on this blog aren't purely coffee, Coffee Vanilla also includes recipes on food items that someone would typically enjoy while drinking coffee. For example, biscotti, coffee cake, and more. You and your sweet tooth will love this blog!

One of the most interesting coffee blogs I have read to date is Man Seeking Coffee. It began in 2007 and is one man's records of different coffee he has had at different locations across the country. He will seek out a coffee shop, order a cup, and post his review on his blog. I am a travel addict, so having that extra piece just seals the deal for me. This is a great coffee blog and I highly recommend it - especially if you're seeking a good cup of coffee!

Another blog that mixes coffee and travel is Pure Coffee Blog. This travel scope is a bit broader, with articles that range from all different countries. It is an interesting read, especially if you plan to travel to any of the countries and locations mentioned.

A few more coffee blogs that receive an honorable mention:

• http://www.dearcoffeeiloveyou.com/
• http://danielhumphries.typepad.com/
• http://www.coffeesage.com/
• http://blog.barismo.com/

A few music blogs to check out

After reviewing my most recent blog, I thought I would continue in that direction and make a new post about other music blogs I enjoy. I'll give you the links to each blog so that if one of them sounds cool or like something you would enjoying viewing, you can do so!

Last time I analyzed www.idolator.com, and if you want to read more about it, view my most recent blog! Here is a quick link to that:
http://thevinylbistro.blogspot.com/2012/06/analyzing-idolator-music-blog.html



The first blog I thought I would recommend is a pretty familiar one with most viewers. It's MTV's buzzworthy music blog. MTV, for those who do not know, is a music television channel that has grown into quite a large empire with an equally large following. Their music blog is very hands on and often includes behind the scenes with your favorite artists as well as interviews and live performances. I highly recommend this blog!


Another music blog that I found quite popular with internet users is The Boot. The Boot is focused more towards country artists and a little bit of pop music. I am not the biggest country music fan, but I will give credit where it is due and this is a great blog for those who enjoy that genre. A unique feature of this blog is located on the left hand side, they have quite a few quick links ranging from "Best 80's songs" to "Sad Love Songs" to "Worst Pre-Fame Jobs". I think this really distinguishes them from other blogs and gives them an interesting aspect for their readers to enjoy. 


Stereogum is another unique and respectable music blog. However, this blog specializes more on Indie music than any other genre. Like the previous blogs, they too have video interviews, live performances, and news updates, but what makes this blog unique is its emphasis on list posts. They have several different articles where they rank their favorite indie albums, quotes, and even obscure lists such as "most viscous songs". If you like indie music, check them out!


Absolute Punk is another music blog that is very specialized, as you may be able to guess from it's name. Their specialty is punk music, although they also feature articles with crossovers into other genres. User participation is huge in this blog, and they even feature an online forum for the users to discuss any topic they want or to post questions. Users can even sign up and post mp3s of their music for other members to critique or download. It's a great blog to check out!


The blogs mentioned above are some of my favorite blogs, and I believe many of you will find them suitable to your specific tastes. If you're still looking for more music related blogs, here is a short list I would recommend:

http://diary.welikeitindie.com/

http://www.obscuresound.com/

http://www.hearya.com/

http://grungereport.net/?p=11568

http://www.indierockcafe.com/

http://www.antiquiet.com/

Hope you enjoy! Let me know if you have any other blogs that I should check out!

Analyzing "Idolator" - A Music Blog

Hi everyone!

Today I thought I would check out a few blogs in my niche area. After doing quite a bit of research, I found that one of the top and most respected blogs in the music field is a blog called "idolator".

If you want to check out their site, head to the link below:
http://idolator.com/

This blog is interesting because it is very unbiased in its reports. It is basically like any other news or media outlet, but it specializes and focuses solely on music. Topics include new album releases, collaborations between different artists, tour dates, or even when artists perform on certain television shows or radio programs. Really, this blog covers it all.

It is quite refreshing that it is so unbiased because it gives readers the opportunity to read about all genres of music. This gives the blog mass appeal and a wide audience. It also works to their advantage because, like me, a lot of people enjoy multiple genres of music. If I were to go to a blog that only reported about classic rock, I would miss out on all of the Hip Hop news. This blog combines them all in one and does a solid job of covering all tastes.

Idolator constantly updates their blog and makes new posts several times a day. This is reassuring and lets readers know they are serious and dedicated to their viewers and have a team that constantly searches for news stories and keeps their readers as updated as possible.

One cool design feature of the Idolator blog is their "trending" bar near the top of their website. This is a quick and easy way to let readers know what artists and bands are popular currently or have important news out. This way a reader does not have to sift through the blog, but can simple click on one of the top trending musicians and read about their most current news.

Also near the top of their website is their most recent articles, as well as a picture that goes along with the story. This is a great design idea because it allows readers to simply look at a picture that may draw their attention to a particular artist or topic.

Overall I would say that my research has paid off and that this indeed is a great music blog. I definitely recommend you to check their website out. It's one for all tastes and genres!

Music and coffee

Hi!

I have written several blogs thus far, all of them pertaining to either music or coffee, but none of them involving both of them. Seeing as I have a passion for both, I figured I would write a blog dedicated to the two together.

A lot of times when I am studying for finals, have a large paper due, or just need to relax, I put on a great album and a pot of coffee. The combination of the two seem to relax me and I can better concentrate at the task at hand. I also enjoy listening to music while getting ready for the day, and that more often that not includes a cup of coffee as well. Depending on my mood, I could listen to soft music in the morning or something more upbeat. Also depending on my mood is what kind of coffee I will have for the day. Usually I stick with a premium dark roast blend, but every so often I go for hazelnut or caramel flavored coffee grounds.

In addition to these, if there is ever a time when I want to be alone and just think for awhile, I might grab a cup of coffee from Starbucks and just drive around while listening to the radio.

For whatever reason, if I have access to both music and coffee, I am more productive than ever. That's gotta mean something, right?

Drummers

I bet at least once in your life you have thought about what it would be like to be in a band, or even wanted to start your own. For someone who loves music as much as I do, you might think I have some kind of musical talent, but alas I have nothing. I cannot sing or play any instrument. I suppose I would be okay at writing song lyrics, but composing a melody is beyond me. Therefore I doubt I would ever start a band.

However, I have often fantasized of being in a band. Maybe not necessarily starting my own, but when I go see bands that I admire live, it's hard not to put yourself in their shoes - to feel what they feel when they perform in front of sold out crowds, to hear their lyrics being sung by thousands.

If I were able to play any instrument at all, it would be drums. The drummer in most bands barely receive enough credit, and are often times the one audiences forget. But for some reason, when I see a band live, my attention gets drawn into the drummer. They always have so much energy and are really the stabilizing sound.

One of my favorite drummers is Dave Grohl. He doesn't perform as a drummer too much anymore because he is the lead guitarist and singer of the Foo Fighters, but when he drums he makes the audience feel alive. I love watching videos of his past performances and even got to see him play a special drum set last year. Maybe one day I'll pick up some drum sticks and learn a thing or two, but until then I'll just keep browsing youtube videos and dreaming on.

Check out my website!

Hi again!

So for those of you following my blog, you have probably noticed a few things. First of all, the title of my blog is "The Vinyl Bistro". Secondly, I have only written posts about coffee and/or music related topics. Combine the two and you get my website!

Here is a link to it:

http://thevinylbistro.webs.com/

I have created the website and this blog to spread the word about my future eBusiness and the plans I have laid out. Clearly there is an emphasis on music and coffee, as those are the two things in my life that I am most passionate about. The idea of the eBusiness for me to create an online business that sells and distributes albums of all genres, as well as band memorabilia and other music related things, and have a diverse selection of premium coffees to distribute as well. Hence the name, The Vinyl Bistro. It will also be a place for others to review bands, concerts, albums, local coffee shops, or even a new brand of coffee they may have tried. It's purpose is to bring people together from any part of the world based on the two things I love the most, music and coffee.

If you follow the link I posted above, you can see a very basic form of my website. I obviously have not delved too far into this eBusiness and am really just beginning. I do have a contact page if anyone would like to contact me directly and not to my blog, as well as a donation page if you're supportive of my cause! Hopefully you will check it out and I would love any and all feedback!

Instant coffee

Hello blog world.

Today I thought I would share my opinions on the phenomenon known as "instant coffee". Like most things that are "instant", all you need to do to brew the perfect cup is just add water. You can purchase instant coffee at grocery stores or even at franchises such as Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts. At first I was not a fan of instant coffee, but as time as progressed I became more open to the idea.

When I am making coffee for guests, a lot of times I make the pot of coffee weaker than I normally would. This is because I like my coffee to be particularly strong, and I am aware that not everyone has the same preference. Therefore, when I am having coffee with friends over, I do not enjoy it as much as I usually do. A new solution for my guests and me is instant coffee. With this, I can have several different types and flavors of instant coffee packets for my guests to choose from. They could prefer french vanilla to hazelnut or a weak roast to a strong roast, so by simply boiling a pot of water and letting them decide, the limits are endless and everyone is satisfied.

I have even found certain brands of instant coffee to be richer in taste than packages of brewed coffee. To be specific, Nescafe's line of coffee called "Taster's choice" is my favorite thus far. You can buy it in a box with 20 individual packets. It is advertised as gourmet coffee, and I would have to agree. If I did not know ahead of time that it was merely an instant packet and some hot water, I would think it came from a cafe. Recently I have preferred making myself a cup or two of this than to actually brew an entire pot of coffee from grounds.

If you want to check out this particular product, go to this link:
http://www.tasterschoice.com/products/hazelnut.aspx

To see all of Nescafe's products (Nescafe is a brand of entirely instant coffee products) their website is below:
http://www.nescafe.com/

Summer concerts!

Hello again, everyone!

As you may have noticed by now I am somewhat of a music enthusiast. Because of this, I tend to go to quite  few summer concerts. It is especially easy to do so because I live equidistant from both Chicago and St. Louis, and most major bands play in venues near the two cities.

I have already got quite a line up of concerts to see this summer, so I thought I would share them with you! I cannot wait!

• Incubus (as previously mentioned)
• Fog Hat
• Blue Öyster Cult
• Mutemath
• Alice Cooper
• Iron Maiden
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• Creed
• The Black Keys
• Death Cab for Cutie
• Jack White (of the White Stripes)
• Jason Mraz
• Journey
• Loverboy
• Pat Benatar

As you can see, I have got my work ahead of me! I am pretty excited because a lot of these bands I will be seeing for the first time. However, I am still a little disappointed. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers are an act I have wanted to see live for about 10 years. I have either unable to attend for a variety of reasons, mainly no one would go with me when I was young enough, and as I got older they did not tour close enough to me. They are on tour again this summer but, again, are not playing within the tri state area. Here's hoping for next summer! Another disappointment comes from Pearl Jam and Eddie Vedder. Last year they toured and even came to Chicago, and Eddie himself played a few solo shows. However, I was studying abroad in Sweden at the time and could not fly home for the concerts. As fate would have it, Pearl Jam is now on their European tour and are playing a show in Sweden in a few days. Ironic? Anyway, Eddie Vedder is ending his European tour with the band and again playing a few solo shows, but none of them are anywhere close to Illinois. I was thinking I would maybe catch a flight to Florida to see one of his concerts, but seeing as no one would go with me to such lengths, I might have to sit back and wait for him to return to the Midwest.

Regardless, it seems as though it will be a fun, music filled summer and I am anxious and thrilled to see each and every one of these concerts!

Review of REO Speedwagon's "Hi Infidelity"

Yesterday I was in Normal, Illinois (where Illinois State University is located) and visited a local establishment, Emack and Bolio's. From the name, you may not realize it is an ice cream shop, but once you're inside there is definitely no denying it. It is my favorite ice cream store in all of Normal, and maybe even the state of Illinois. I have yet to visit all of the shops in Illinois, so I will not dare to make such a broad statement, but I will keep you posted if that day ever comes.

Anyway, this ice cream store is extremely unique because it mixes ice cream with famous bands. They name their hand dipped ice cream after bands such as Twisted Sister and Deep Purple and usually have band memorabilia on the walls. They also have a question of the day, and yesterday it was "What album was released in 1980 produced the hits 'Keep on Loving You' and 'Take it on the Run'?" I was excited to answer because it is one of my favorite albums, and I even got a free ice cream cone out of it! The answer was REO Speedwagon's "Hi Infidelity", and I thought I would write a review for the album for other's to read and maybe check it out if interested.

Below is the track listing for this album:
1. Don't Let Him Go
2. Keep on Loving You
3. Follow my Heart
4. In Your Letter
5. Take it on the Run
6. Tough Guys
7. Out of Season
8. Shakin' it Loose
9. Someone Tonight


I would give this album a 4/5 stars.

Though this album was released over 30 years ago, the songs can still be related to almost anyone. There are songs about happiness, heartbreak, and everywhere in between. All ages can listen to one of the tracks and be able to put themselves into a song. That is what makes this album so great and one of their best album's ever released.

Their two most noteworthy songs, "Keep on Loving you" and "Take it on the Run" saw massive popularity on the Billboard charts. Both are a slower tempo song and easy to see a long with. They also have lyrics that speak to a wide audience and altogether make for a wonderful ballad.

If you are a type of person who is not into classic rock or slower paced music, this album is definitely not for you. But if you enjoy the classics like I do, this is a can't miss album.

Fika - The greatest thing to come out of Sweden since ABBA

Fika - A Swedish verb (or sometimes noun) a verb, meaning "to get together and drink coffee". Pronounced "fee-ka".


When I first arrived in Uppsala, Sweden, I was immediately greeted by a few of my corridor mates having a "fika" in our kitchen. However, I was worn out from my 9 hour flight and wanted to set up my room and hit the sheets. As the week progressed, I saw the word "fika" in coffee shops all over town, or would hear it in passing conversations. 


During my first day of class, my professor lectured for 45 minutes before announcing that it was time for a fika break. There was that word again! I decided to ask him what fika actually was, though I had had my assumptions. He clarified my assumptions and told me that it was a cultural thing that Swedish people partake in on a daily basis. Clearly it was a big enough deal that we were even let out of class for it. In fact, all of my classes the entire year allotted a time for a fika break. I think Illinois State University should join in on the act.


Ever since then, I have adopted the tradition to my own life. At home, after every meal, I have a fika. I sit and drink a cup of coffee or enjoy a danish and do not much of anything else. It is a truly relaxing experience and a great way to take a few personal minutes during a hectic day. It is also a great way to catch up with friends and forget the worries of everyday life.

The best cup of coffee I have ever drank

Think of your favorite food. What is it? Do you have a specific memory that was brought to mind? Maybe it was the first time you ever tried it, or maybe it was sharing it with someone special. Whatever it may be, the experience and your surroundings only enhance the meal.

Well, because I love coffee, I thought I would write a little bit about the best cup of coffee I have ever drank. This is not to say that since then I have never had a decent cup of coffee, but rather that at the time, everything was right. The music playing in the background, the people I was with, the day it was on. Everything added up and made it my best coffee experience thus far.

It happened while I was living in Sweden. For those of you who have not read my introduction blog post, I studied abroad in Uppsala, Sweden for my entire Sophomore year. Also for those unaware, the Swedes love coffee. They even created their own word, "fika", meaning "to get together and drink coffee". I will elaborate more on this phenomenon at a later date. Anyway, I was visiting my favorite pizzeria in Uppsala with a few friends, and after we had finished our meal our waiter asked if we would like to have fika. We thought it was odd to drink coffee after eating pizza, but had nothing better to do, so decided to stay and drink a cup. As it turns out, that was one of the best decisions of my life because that is, to this very day, my favorite cup of coffee of all time. It was an Italian roast, black, and had the purest taste I could ever imagine. In the background, a Pearl Jam song had come on the radio, and if you read my Top 10 bands post, you would realize the importance of that.

I was with great friends, had just finished a satisfying meal, without a worry in the world. I slowly sipped on my coffee while enjoying a song from my favorite band, and wished the moment would never end.

Darrah's Top 10 bands - Part 2

6. Foreigner
My mom and dad bought me tickets to see Foreigner when I was 10 years old. Apparently it would be the second time I saw them live, as the first was when I was 3. I do not remember the first show, obviously, but I am sure it was a good one. I honestly did not know much of their music when I was 10, but enjoyed myself at the concert. When I got older, I purchased their greatest hits album and have been in love ever since.

7. Def Leppard
As I mentioned in my first blog post, this was my favorite band in 1st grade. Though it no longer holds that position, I still hold them in high regard. I have seen them twice live, and would love to see them more. They are a very solid 80's hair band and have had great commercial success.

8. Jimmy Eat World
I am not sure how to explain why this is my top 8 band of all time without sounding pretentious, so I will apologize in advance if I come off that way. Jimmy Eat World has had great success with a few of their singles, though I am honestly not a fan of a single one of them. Instead, I find their more obscure, lesser known songs to be their best and my personal favorites. For example, "Disintegration" is one of my favorite songs of all time, though most people have unfortunately never heard it.

9. Queen
I can explain this choice in two words: Freddie Mercury. There is no denying that the man was insanely talented, regardless of one's personal views of him. He has gone down in history as one of the greatest vocalists of all time, as well as in my heart. The band continuously created great music that is still used in pop culture, and probably always will be. A wonderful, amazing band.

10. The Decemberists
This is the one band that is most unique on my Top 10 list. They are definitely a non-traditional band, and they specialize in folk rock. Though this particular genre may not sound appealing to your musical tastes, I suggest you give them a chance. Their lyrics often tell a story, and it is easy to get lost in the music. If you want to hear a great, unique song, check out "The Mariner's Revenge Song".

Darrah's Top 10 bands - Part 1

1. Pearl Jam
My favorite band of all time! Pearl Jam is fronted by lead singer and songwriter Eddie Vedder, who is a musical genius if you ask me. When I was younger, my dad listened to a few of their songs, namely "Black" and "Daughter". However, he was not and still is not their biggest fan. When I entered 8th grade, I began looking more into the Grunge genre and ended up growing a passion for Pearl Jam that has never faded. They are and will always be my favorite band. I highly recommend you check them out!

2. Incubus
This is my most recent obsession. I was introduced to Incubus by a friend three years back. I had heard some of their more popular songs, such as "Dig" and "Wish you were here", but had never really pursued the band more. I wish I had, because after I listened to one of their albums in entirety, I never looked back. Each of their studio albums is a transformation from their previous one, and though the music is constantly evolving, I love every new sound the band produces. I am seeing them in concert next month and can barely contain my excitement!

3. LIVE
LIVE is a band that has been around for awhile and is always a safety net for me. There are often certain genres I am in the mood to listen to, but LIVE somehow seems to fit them all. I can listen to them regardless of my mood and that is why I love them so much. If you have never heard of them, check out their album "Throwing Copper". You will not regret it.

4. Foo Fighters
Does anyone really dislike the Foo Fighters? They produce catchy melodies and lyrics full of angst that appeal to the masses. They too are a band whose sound has evolved over the years, but front man Dave Grohl has made sure the band never sells out and always sticks to what is most important - making great rock and roll music.

5. Bon Jovi
This is a direct result of my upbringing. My mom was a huge Bon Jovi fan and played their albums often in the car, on our way to school, and in the house. I will always have a soft spot for them, and am proud they have remained in tact, as most bands they started with have broken up by now. They are also amazing performers live and that only increased my respect for the band.

Darrah's Top 5 coffee drinks

1. Black coffee

Who can go wrong with a cup of pure black coffee? Though some people do not like the bitter taste, it is something I prefer. I am not a fan of adding sweetener because I believe it ruins the taste. I do understand other people's need for the sweeter taste, as not everyone enjoys the rich, dark flavors of most coffees.

2. Caramel Macchiato

Though I am not one to indulge in novelty coffee beverages, this one takes the cake. Embarrassingly, I discovered it through watching an episode of Gilmore Girls. One of the main characters, Rory, ordered one at a coffee cart, and the next time I went to Starbucks I ordered one as well. At first I was not a fan of how sweet the caramel foam on top was, but it is balanced out by the bitter, pure coffee taste at the bottom of the cup. If you're ever at a Starbucks, this is a must try!

3. Flavored coffee

I am not sure if you're aware, but the United States of America has taken the idea of flavored coffee and ran for miles with it. Now you can get coffee grounds in Hazelnut, Irish Creme, Vanilla, Cinnamon, etc. There are even flavors like "Caramel brownie" or "Birthday cake". Yes, in coffee. Anyway, I am a sucker for the hazelnut flavored coffee and I can buy a package and brew it right at home!

4. Cho-coffee

Once upon a time, someone decided to combine my favorite two flavors, chocolate and coffee (hence the name cho-coffee). The product is both bitter and sweet, and is a true delight to my taste buds. With both chocolate and coffee, how can you go wrong?

5. Iced coffee

Admittedly, I am very new to this craze, but I have become a fan. The first time I ever tried this was at a local iHop restaurant, and though I was hesitant and it was not what I expected, it was pretty good. It barely resembles a traditional cup of coffee, and instead has a hint of coffee swirled into a sweet, milky, icy cold cup of deliciousness.

My musical background

My childhood that was sadly absent of coffee made up for it in abundance of music. By the time I was 10 I had been to over 40 concerts. Not too bad. My parents love various genres of music, but had a concentrated keen to 80's hair bands. When I was in 1st grade, my favorite band was Def Leppard. Most of my classmates were listening to the Spice Girls, and always thought I was kind of odd. Though I may have been an outsider as a child, I am grateful for all of the music that surrounded my life and all of the live shows I was able to witness. Music has always been a huge part of my life, as it is in most people's lives, and my taste has both broadened and become narrower at the same time. Once I discovered different genres, I loved everything. I was a kid in a candy store. But now as I have matured, my music tastes have as well, and I know my favorite genres, bands, and artists. My taste ranges somewhere between Grunge, 80's bands, and Classic Rock, though I do have an appreciation for most all music.

I truly believe that music has to ability to be anything you need at any point in your life. If you are tired, if you’re lonely, if you’re upset or need a friend – music can be that for you. I think when people truly discover music and go deep into it, their lives are never the same. People use music for all types of outlets and it is something that can connect various groups of people together. This is why I want to create a record portion to my coffee shop.

All about java!

Hello again, Blog world!

Today’s topic is all about java! Java meaning the slang term for coffee, of course – not to be confused with the computer programming language of the same name. Anyway, because I am planning to open my own coffee shop someday, I figure a little background on how I became the addict I am today would be helpful.

Growing up, I was never allowed to have coffee. My parents did not drink it, therefore we had no way of brewing it. We also never visited a Starbucks or any place that would sell a coffee beverage, so I spent the first 15 years of my life oblivious to the drink I now call my favorite. When I was 15, I flew to the Florida Keys where my grandma lives and spent the week there with her and her husband. That was the week I fell in love with coffee. Each morning a beautiful aroma would fill the kitchen and make my senses go crazy. That entire week I drank black coffee, which admittedly was a bit too bitter for my liking, and the addiction started. After that week, I began drinking flavored coffee, iced drinks, and other beverages that have small resemblance to a cup of black coffee, but I loved it all. Now that I am older and more experienced in coffee drinking, I prefer my coffee to be a very strong, dark blend, and add no milk or sugar. Living in Europe for a year only enhanced my addiction to coffee, and so I decided if I were to ever open a business, coffee would be a mandatory part of its core.

Introduction

Hello fellow bloggers!

My name is Darrah Deal. I am 21 years old and a student at Illinois State University. I am double majoring in Business Administration and Human Resource Management and have a minor in Economics. I plan on graduating in May 2013 and after that am headed to Uppsala, Sweden for a two year graduate program in International Business Management. I studied abroad in Uppsala, Sweden for my entire sophomore year and fell in love with the culture of the country and could not imagine going anywhere else after graduation.

Fast forward twenty years from now, and I hope to be an established businesswoman in a field I am passionate about. Ultimately I see myself ending up in a small town and owning my own business. However, that is my end goal. I do hope to do something with international business in the meantime, and once I settle down and want a family, I will press on with my small business plans. I have wanted – ever since I can remember – to open a record store and coffee shop. I realize it may not be an ingenious concept or an innovative idea that will take the market by storm, but it is what I am passionate about and I know I will devote all of my energy into making it work. You might be wondering “Why coffee and music?” Well, to that I say “What else is there?” Those are my two simplest pleasures in life, and the two things that put me the most at ease. Being able to share these with the world would be a dream come true.