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.