Bree!

Attention SoCal kids and fans of Forever The Sickest Kids, we have an event you might get excited about. Read more...

Since the last time I blogged about books, I think I've aquired like, 10 more of them. And by "aquired" I mean bought. It's like I have no self control.

Among the books bought is a collection of essays called "What I've Learned From Women Who've Dumped Me." I bought this book at the secret Ok Go show at the Grammy Museum in LA. I was like MERCH! And then I was like BOOK. And then I flipped it open and it was signed by Damian Kulash because he has a story in the book. Had to get it, obvs.

I borrowed Freakonomics from my friend Kevin Wade.

Mostly because it has a quote from Malcom Gladwell and I like that guys books. Plus he says it DAZZLES OMG

Back to business. Right NOW, I'm reading "The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana" by Umberto Eco. It's kind of thick and list-y, but I like it. I like this interview with Umberto Eco, too.

"If you interact with things in your life, everything is constantly changing. And if nothing changes, you're an idiot."

If you're the kind of person who can't decide what to read but are alwayyyys checking your email, I recommend trying out DailyLit. I've been getting excerpts of books mailed to me every day at 4pm. It's long enough to gauge the writers style, but doesn't give too much away. The most recent one I read is Push by Sapphire--there's a movie out right now called Precious, and it's based on the book.

Bam Margera wrote a book, if anyone cares about that.

Since it's nearing Christmas and all, I want to give you some ideas for gifty books:

Zombie Haiku @ Thinkgeek for $8.99

How To Be An Explorer of the World by Keri Smith

And for the non-readers, how 'bout a street art coloring book?

Until next time,

I love The Troubadour. You always feel so darn close to the bands on stage. I suppose this time I really WAS close, thanks to the Buzznet LMU crew (simplekindoflovely, swingthefocus11 and emisforily) who waved me and tall boyfriend into the center of the crowd right after The Summer Set finished up. Read more...

You know, I was kinda bummed when Hayley Williams got sick on the second day of tour and had to postpone their Los Angeles show—but in retrospect, I had so much more time to obsess over brand new eyes, so I felt like I was ready for this show. Know what I mean? Read more...

Cobra fans pretty much knew what they were getting into once the cover art for the band's third LP hit the WWW. Hot Mess was suspected to be a dancy, catchy, sassy, slightly trashy piece of work. So why would the music video for the title track be any different? Breakin' it down...

A photo pass is an elusive trickster these days, so I have no glorious pictures of their cute faces to share. BUT I MADE YOU ONE: See it!

Having a ridiculous budget pains me, but I do feel quite proud of myself when everything I have on amounts to less than 20 bucks (and I don't look like a ragamuffin). There's this rinky dink store next to my local Trader Joes that sells Alternative Apparel shirts 3 for $10 and last week I scored a long sleeve grey burnout tee. I love it so much I never want to take it off. I also do Goodwill crawls about once a month. ANYWAY. This is basically a list of things I want but can't afford.

And yes, I noticed a color pattern emerging in this collection--it's my subconcious telling me it's cool to look like a candy cane this time of year. Anyway, onto those covetous things!

Deux Lux Zipper Panel Satchel @ Urban Outfitters

Stripe Pocket Frock @ American Apparel (I like both colors, to be honest)

Converse Surf All Star Lo @ UO

Wool Herringbone Babydoll Jacket @ Plasticland

Houndstooth Chair @ Horchow.com

Tiered Strapless W/ Belt @ Forever21

Alexander McQueen Double Wrap Skull Charm Bracelet @ ShopStyle

Miu Miu Jersey Ruffle Dress @ TheOutNet

Large Raygun Space Glass Ornaments @ Plasticland

BDG Boxy Stripe Pullover Sweater @ UO

UGG Classic Cardy in Black @ Zappos

(I actually saw a girl in our building wearing these with leggings and a sweater like the one above and she looked so cute)

Element ECHO Knit @ Elementskateboards.com

Soneed Check Tweed Mini-skirt @ Yesstyle.com

Sergio Rossi for PUMA Satin Lace Up Sneakers @ Net-a-porter.com

One of these cool ReBound Journals from Rebound Books

Phillip Lim Ruffle Detail Dress @ Mytheresa.com

Poetic License Fresh Bloom sandals @ Zappos

Rosette Crinkle Dress @ Charlotte Russe

Bottoms Up Stainless Water Bottle @ Plasticland

Chinese Laundry Twist Tote @ Chineselaundry.com

Striped Shawl Collar Cardigan @ AE

Lined Birdie Notepads @ Plasticland

Tea For One set @ UO

Stay minty fresh, mah darlings, until next time

So maybe you heard about the sweet little show We The Kings is putting on Monday, November 9th? Well, dollfaces, Buzznet is gonna get to chat with those fine musical men pre-show, as well. So how about some questions? Let's see 'em...

I’m proud to follow your beloved bear of a community manager in presenting the second ever Buzz Guide. If you totally missed the christening of this feature, this is the 411: each week, a different Buzznet staff member (and sometimes, a band member or community member) will give praise to the best in music, movies, art, television, books, and whatever else they're digging. AND YOU WILL LIKE IT! Or not. But come on in and enjoy the fun!

Music: Say Anything

When was the last time you got a taste of an album that was so pungent and perfect and addictive that you wanted to slather yourself in every atom of it? This is a different experience than I have from Fall Out Boy albums—with Folie and IOH and FUCT I just found myself having torrid relationships with each song. “27” and I spent days in bed pawing through old journals; “XO” and I took more than a few aimless drives looking for places we’d happily overthrow and call home (yea, Goodnight Moon reference WHAT). But this Say Anything album is something else entirely. “Do Better” makes you thirsty for the next track—should you just skip to it now? No, no the lyrics are too good right ‘til the end. You want to ingest the next track before you’ve even really put your toes in the current one. And you start wishing songs were like marshmallows you could just stuff in your face all at once. Oh, bet your bottom dollar that every individual track is worth savoring but which one first? They’re all terribly interesting children you want to dote on, endlessly. Oh, God. It’s just THAT GOOD.

TV: Lie To Me

This is a hard category for me, seeing as that I don’t own a working TV or cable or anything of the sort—HOWEVER, I will give props to Fox’s Lie To Me because full episodes are available shortly after airing so I can get my fix of non-verbal manipulation and decoding in all it’s complicated glory. The Lightman Group are the world’s leading deception experts and are called in to catch BS on a variety of cases. The program is based on the very real work of Dr. Paul Ekman. Another cool feature of the network website is a regularly updated collection of real-world stories with a bit of commentary on bodily expression.

Also, I couldn’t put Criminal Minds here because of one of my other Buzz Guide picks. Wouldn't want to overdo it.

Book: Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer

I haven’t read this, but I’m basing this recommendation on “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” being one of my favorite fictional novels and I know a lot of you are vegan/vegetarians who hate being preached to—from what I can tell, this is a non-fiction exploration from a man who just rules at storytelling, point blank. Plus, Natalie Portman likes it. And who am I to argue with Natalie Portman?

Blog: Life Lessons From Andrew WK

Well of course Andrew W.K. is a motivational speaker. I think he’s single-handedly starting a new wave of “posi” music. It could even be a religion. Yes, everything IS a party!

Boy: Matthew Gray Gubler

I’ve had a crush on MGG for awhile, since he plays adorkable Dr. Spencer Reid on Criminal Minds, but you know how sometimes you’re more in love with the character and you feel like a foray into their personal life might leave plenty to be desired?

NOT THE CASE FOR MGG. He is a special prism of eloquence and cuteness and you kinda want to shrink him down to a pocket-size version and keep him forever BUT he also kinda gives you jello knees because you know he makes every girlfriend he’s ever had feel like a princess and then you read this interview that Mademoiselle Robot did with him and it makes you melt like butter (OMG THE DISNEY PRINCESS PART!) and THAT makes you think of how jealous you are that he has a Twitter-relationship with Vicky-T of Cobra Starship and oh, you are head over heels in love with the idea of him. You wish this was elementary school so that you could spend months figuring out which valentine and what candy conversation heart to drop in his hand-made mailbox. OH IF ONLY.

Do you think if I made a youtube video titled “MGG, please go out with me” he’ll go for it? I mean, it worked for prom-date-turned-boyfriend. (Who may or may not read this, but if you are, just know I grant you the same gushing leniency for Regina Spektor. Have at it.) And I'm pretty much Belle, with all the book-reading and whatnot. We could make this work. DM me. Wink wink.

I should stop now.

Until next time,

-Bree