I know, I know, it’s not August anymore. But does it still count that I compiled this list IN August? And that I fully intended to get it blogged then too? Maybe not, but here it is anyway, what I’m I lovin’ what I loved in August 2010:
1) Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs: It was my friend Jon who, four years ago, introduced me to this band, Arcade Fire. I didn’t “get” it at first. Their music was a little too sorrowful for me. But then, on a long-ago road trip, I listened to one of their earlier albums, “Funeral,” on repeat. Again and again. And the lyrics became so poetic. And I fell into I-have-to-own-every-one-of-their-albums kind of love. The band’s newest album, “The Suburbs” is no different. Hands-down (with six months still to go) my favorite album of 2010. Standout tracks: “City With No Children,” “Half Light II” and “Sprawl II.”
2) The Hunger Games triology: With last week’s release of Mockingjay, I can finally (after 3 years) rest now that I know what happens to the beloved characters of these novels—Katniss, Gale and Peeta. If you’ve never picked up any of Suzanne Collins’ novels, then I ask, “What are you waiting for?” There is not a single person I’ve mentioned these books to who, upon picking them up, has not been equally consumed with their plot. It is powerful reading, friends … the kind that keeps you up late at night. Which, just so happens to be my favorite kind 
3) My subscription to Cooking Light: There’s something about summer that has me firing up the grill and experimenting with Nick and I’s meals with gusto—be it a new marinade or rub, I’m guaranteed to find something I can’t wait to try within the pages of this ‘zine. By far (in my humble opinion) the best cooking mag out there right now and one of my favorites to gift to friends and family.
4) Lissie’s Catching a Tiger: What a voice this lady has—one part Stevie Nicks, one part Neko Case, one part a sound all her own. I’d been looking forward to Lissie’s debut US release since I’d first heard her sing a cover of Kid Cudi’s “Pursuit of Happiness.” This album is a great one to tune into with the windows down on these last few days of summer. At the very least, listen to it while you’re editing (with the windows open, of course ) and soak up what this blonde, freckled songstress has to offer. Standout tracks: “Bully,” “Little Lovin’,” “Stranger,” “Oh Mississippi”
5) The duo behind Young House Love: I realize that talking about these two and how much you can love their blog might be akin to telling people, “Hey, check out this new cool site called Twitter!,” but I’ll talk nevertheless in case there are like, two people still out there who haven’t heard of John and Sherry Petersik and their little humble corner of the Web. If you follow these two, you can’t help but admire their interior design skills, their mad talent for saving money and, as of late, their adorable little daughter. Just a warning, if you’re visiting for the first time, give yourself a few hours. Yep, it’s one of those kinds of Web sites. Now if only I could get that mood board together for the living room redesign I want to tackle ….
See more of Gail’s work at www.gailwernerphoto.com. Become a fan of Gail’s work on Facebook. Follow Gail on Twitter.
by Gail Werner
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