Life's about Herbs & Spices

Good Monday Morning Mates!

Just woke up with a lovely morning and ate a nice bread and cheese for breakfast. If I would playback yesterday morning when I woke up, there were butterflies in my stomach. Today it's like smelling the breeze of daises and tulips. Life is sometimes boring--I have to say that. But surprisingly I can attest that some days are better than others. And that was my Sunday afternoon. Better than the days I had in months.

So I could probably say that life is bringing its flavors again since yesterday. It was very mild and subtle the past few months. Now I can see the taste coming out. To bring this figurative emotion to literal translation, I moved to my kitchen and checked out my cupboard and see what I got in there. I have different herbs and spices to play around for my quick photoshoot at my veranda.

Paprika, Cayenne Pepper, Ground Black Pepper, Peppercorn, Cumin, Turmeric, Curry Powder, Tandoori Powder, Saffron, Cinnamon, Rosemary, Marjoram, Thyme & Basil --- They spiced up my everyday dishes in one way or another. I still have to get more of my herbs and spices like star anise, sage, cardamon, dill, fennel, nutmeg, oregano, tarragon, wasabi and some more that I might forget to mention.

Life is sometimes half full, half empty. Sometimes it's drought & empty but most of the time it's full & overflowing. Some famous proverbs say that in times of emptiness and you are in a deep well, you just have to climb up and tell yourself this too shall pass. On the other hand I read a famous poem from a children's book author Shel Silverstein-- it says, that someone has been to the land of happy and he said that life there is a bore. True. We can't just live a happy and perfect life. Sometimes the beauty of life is seeing the flaws and experiencing difficulties. Life offers a 360 degrees view. Don't just take one angle. Rotate and explore.

Live life from mild to spicy!

hugs,
joanie xxx

Because If I can't dance, I don't want your revolution...

I think that everybody around here knows about my love for Sweden, almost since I was a child. But the point of this is that, with the past of the time, I've discovered that some of my very fvourite bands are swedish too... so this is a short list I've made for you with them!

(click here for good music if you want to dance!)

1. Mando Diao.

This is one of my favourite bands since the first time I listened to them, long time ago, in 2002. The funny thing is that I only listened to their music and I never saw a picture or videoclip of then until 2007, that I saw this gorgeous clip, Never seen the ligt of day. I think that this is one of the songs that can be described as "talks about me". Totally.

2. The Hives.

The sound of their guitars and drums makes me go crazy, and the fury of their letters just makes me go mad... I adore The Hives, and I really think that their name is more than appropiate, because the sound of their music stings like a hive!

3. The Cardigans.

Yes, I know that this maybe sounds strange for all of you, who know that I love punk and rock... yes, The Cardigans is a pop band, but a pop band that makes a delicious music with a 60s touch in the begining and that, later on, mature their sound for make a real good pop. Hanging Around is one of my favourite songs and videoclips, but I adore carnival too, I must say!

4. Backyard Babies.

Total 13 changed my life, totally. I was ending my highschool studies and I was so into punk and hard rock music that, when I fist listened to Backyard Babies, I went crazy. I saw them in 2002, with the Making enemies is good tour... and I hope I could see them again soon!

5.The Hellacopters.

Of course, with Backyard Babies, The Hellacopters came into my life, and I just love them too. The sound of their guitars makes me shake my head always! They've got lots of great songs, but this one has something that I really like!

6. Miss Li.

I think that Miss Li has got one of the most sweet voices and makes some of the most lovely songs I've ever heard. It's funny, because I discovered her like some months ago, and since the beginng of the year, this song it's been used for a car spot... I almost screamed the first time I was it!

7. Sugarplum Fairy

Another pop band, but related with Mando Diao (as the founders of this band are two Norens, brothers of Gustaf Noren). I discovered them with this song, The Escapologist, and their sound is perfect for dancing... son, why don't you dance with them?

8. Johnossi.

I discovered Johnossi thanks to Die Welle film, where they've got a song; and since them, I'm a huge fan. I really love their rock sound, mixed with different things like blues, sometimes... this is an expample, my favourite song!

9. Ebba Grön

Yes, a formal swedish punk band, of course! When I started with punk music, I listened not only to english band, but also to german, swedish or italian bands. Ebba Grön is the most famous punk band from Sweden, and their great hit, Staten och Kapitalet, is a cover version of Den Ena Handen Vet Vad Den Andra Gör, by another swedish band, Blå Tåget (I discovered this thanks to Wikipedia some years ago, haha!). Anyway, punk is claim, and this song is about claim, of course!

10. The (International) Noise Conspiracy.

This is the band that I most want to see from Sweden right now. The first time I heard T(I)NC was in 2001, when I was still living at Málaga and we were planning a claim trip to Madrid where we finally had to escape from the police. And while I was running, I remember that this son was inside my head...

Because If I can't dance, I don't want your revolution...

Did you know about this bands? Have you got another favourite band from Sweden? Let's share them!

And the bunny goes to...

So, Sunday!! how was your weekend? I hope it was excellent, as mine, very complete and funny... but I'll talk about it later, because now I must say something really important...

Yes, the winner of my first giveaway!! Thank you so much to all the ones who participated; I've made a list with your names and numbers (only the people who said that wanted to participate in this) and I'm about to use the ramdom generator... so...

(read more about the winner!!)

1. Merk
2. Ruzu
3. Naka
4. VanessaValkyria
5. Maka
6. Sher
7. FashionFreak
8. Jibriru
9. J
10. Sara F (Yuki)
11. Naka (as she posted about the giveaway :3)
12. Little Monarch
13. Reckless daughter
14. HonneyBunny
15. Mo

And the winner is...

Congratulations dear! So now, you cant choose what you want and the colors you want; and I'll e-mail you when I've got finished, for your address!!

Oh, I'm so happy for you! Yaw!

And I would like to thank you all the people who participated here, and who reads me everyday... thank you very much!!I'll try to keep improving this little blog for all of you! You're so wonderful and I really apreciatte your presence here!

Thank you!