favorite christmas present

for christmas this year, josh's mom got me a really nice new camera! when i opened it josh said, "wow, she must REALLY like you!" hahaha. it's so nice i've been afraid to take it out of the house to try it out! here are the first few photos i've taken while messing around with it.

2012

in 2012 i will:

1. document life better by taking more photos
2. marry my best friend (!!!)
3. spend more time with family and friends instead of being so antisocial
4. enjoy life more instead of working it all away and feeling like i missed out on everything
5. live healthier
6. work at making hobbies more lucrative (because shouldn't we all be able to do the things we love and are good at for a living??)

happy new year, y'all!

djs helping djs: a benefit for jonathan toubin

photo: eleanor logan

a few weeks ago, i made a post about dj'ing with friend and fellow dj jonathan toubin of new york night train/soul clap and dance off fame. he was just here in cleveland a few weeks ago and i dj'ed the opening set for him, as well as chose the songs for the dance-off portion of his set. unless you have seen him in action, its hard to describe just how amazing his live act is. not only does he have a great record collection, but he knows his stuff and he knows how to get people to move. he is so passionate about the music you can see it plain as day that he is the person in the room having the most fun out of anyone. and unless you have actually met him in person, its hard to understand just how warm and genuine of a person he is to everyone. he's one of those people that you run into and you're honestly HAPPIER after having done so. all of this is what makes it so hard to accept that he is in the state he is currently in.

about a week after appearing in cleveland, jonathan was touring in portland to dj a show. while asleep in his first floor hotel room, a taxi cab drove through the wall of his room and landed on top of him in bed. my friend was literally run over while sleeping. he was in very serious condition, and remains that way almost a month later. i can't tell you how sad this makes so many people. the outpouring of support has been overwhelming, in a good way. people have arranged benefits all around the country, donating proceeds to jonathan's recovery fund. some people have had "card-making nights" at bars where everyone got together and made things they could send to him once he is well enough to receive them. i saw that two of his friends even composed a special song just for him, available for a $1 purchase here, with all proceeds going to jonathan. there was an article published where friends (including well-known musicians like jon spencer and gibby haynes from the butthole surfers) talked about why jonathan is special to them. hell, even john waters sent a "get well soon" photo. this dude is the real thing. everyone is pulling for him. he is an amazing person, hands down.


photo: patrick griffin

if you're anywhere near the cleveland area this sunday, january 1st, we're having a benefit show at the beachland tavern. there will be a bunch of cool local djs, some raffles, neat prizes, party jams and more. i'll be doing a set and sending it out to jonathan in the hopes that the power of rock'n'roll sends healing vibes and he is on the mend in no time. the truth of the matter is, his injuries were very serious and no one really knows whats going to happen.

here is a facebook invite for the cleveland benefit: https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/events/215665931846240/

here is a short documentary about jonathan by pablo mediavilla costa:


photo: unknown

engagement photos

it wasn't easy getting josh to go on a photo shoot, but i guess its a good thing he loves me so much :)
we decided that we really wanted to have our engagement photos taken at a carnival. i love the lights, the signs, the colors! going to the fair is something that we look forward to every summer and i just knew this was where i wanted to have our photos taken. my brother mike was the photographer, and i think he did an awesome job of capturing us as our silly selves as well as editing the photos to look just how i imagined.

we tried doing the shoot on two occasions and it rained both days. finally, we were down to one of the last fairs of the summer and guess what? more rain! we decided to grab some umbrellas and just make the best of it. we managed to get in quite a few shots in between the sporadic showers. there are some shots where we needed our umbrellas, but those ones ended up being some of my favorites from the whole shoot! it was very risky for my brother to be handling his expensive equipment in the rain, but he didn't throw in the towel and i think his hard work really shows.

here are just a few of my favorites from the shoot. 6 months from now, josh and i will be getting married!! i can hardly believe it :)






















if you would like to follow along with any of the wedding planning, you can check my other blog butnotasmuchastomorrow.blogspot.com/

first christmas in our new home

i absolutely loved putting up my vintage christmas decorations in our cute little house :)
every day it gets harder and harder to leave because i just want to sit on the couch, sipping coffee and hugging cats while i look at the pretty tree ; )

soul clap and dance off

the other nite, the fabulous soul clap and dance off came to cleveland for a nite of ass shakin and hot soul jams. my friend jonathan toubin is a dj from new york city who throws some of the best dance parties i've ever seen! during his soul clap and dance offs, he brings out his big ol' box of soul 45s (this is a dance party for ONLY records! and ONLY 45 records at that!!) and attempts to make the room explode. he has one hell of a collection! last time he blew my mind by playing the chanteur's "grizzly bear" and this time i about died to hear this one, a record i've been coveting for my own collection for quite some time now!



last time the soul clap came to town, i opened the show with a short dj set and then i sat in on the local "celebrity" pannel to help choose the dance contest winner. i prefer to be behind the turntables rather than on the microphone, so this time i did another opening dj set and i left the judging up to some other qualified folks! i also helped during the dance contest by choosing the 5 songs the contestants had to dance to. here were my picks!

the buena vistas "soul clappin"


alvin cash the the crawlers "twine time"


gene the hat "pass the bug parts 1&2"




james and bobby purify "shake a tail feather"



the great gaylord "squat with me baby"


here i am with my friend eric, who was on the pannel of celebrity judges. he is the singer in a band called the new bomb turks.




here's eric and the master of ceremonies, dj jonathan toubin!



soul clap is frequently out on the road, so if the dance party stops in your city you better go shake a tail feather!

norton records 25th anniversary all-star spectacular

for 25 years, ultimate rock'n'roll couple billy miller and miriam linna have been putting out records and reissuing some of the greatest hidden gems underground music has to offer. from hasil adkins to esquerita, these cats really know their stuff; how can you not trust a lady who started her early musical career as a drummer for the m'fing CRAMPS?!







to celebrate their momentous 25th anniversary, they are putting on a 4-day blowout that features legendary soul performers, overseas rock acts and the best local sleaze the good ol' us of a has to offer. amazingly, josh and i will be there to witness it all go down in history!

here are just some of the bands we'll be seeing in new york over the weekend. GREAT GOOGA MOOGA!