Tuesday Tuneage: Lake Street Dive

Happy first day of April, kids!

You'd be an (April) fool to not dig today's tune-age. Here's what I'm listening to this week.

Lake Street Dive might be on the docket for the "Candace's New Favorite Bands" list.

 

Enjoy and you're welcome.

5 On Friday: We Made It A Full Year, Y'all.

What a WEEK! There has been a lot of working and cooking and loving and working and singing and kissing and hugging and acting and general being.

1. Most importantly, Sunday was our ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY! I would be remiss to not make it my first point of praise. :) There were lots of treats (including PUMPKIN SODA that he bought me!) and lots of gooey Facebook posts and lots of staying in bed having a Breaking Bad marathon... Which brings me to my next point.

 2. I know we're late but we just started watching this beautifully stressfully intensely wonderful show. And... oh. my. GOD.

3. I sang at a benefit this week for the Winter Park Playhouse. It was a lovely little way to catch up with old friends and have an excuse to get gussied up and sing for the people. :)

4. Sometimes, I forget I have the best job in the world. I get paid to play with clowns as well as curl my hair. Doesn't get much better than that! And yes, I am a giant. Case in point? See above photo.

5. Pentatonix finally covered my favorite song of the summer. Enjoy.

How was your week?

Linking Up With:

5 On Friday | High Five For Friday | Back That Azz Up

I Knew Earworms Were Trouble

According to Wikipedia (which is always right, always flawless, in no way wrong ever, and kids, you should definitely use it in your term papers because your teachers will totally admire and reward your diligence in the research department), an "earworm" is "a catchy piece of music that continually repeats through a person's mind after it is no longer playing."

We have all experienced the earworm.

The earworm, unlike the adorable inchworms chugging about on Sesame Street or that cute little guy in the hat and bow tie from the Busy World of Richard Scarry, is a disgusting creature and manifests itself in the most random of times and haunts you perpetually throughout the day.

My earworm as of late?

"I Knew You Were Trouble" by Taylor Swift.

It's not that I dislike this song. No, no. Lest we forget, in accordance to the never incorrect Wikipedia, "catchy" is involved. This song never seems to stop and it chases me no matter where I go.

In order to convey this to you, I have captured my earworm fate on video (even in the early morning when I'm make-up-less and sporting a side pony- that's dedication, Holmes). Condolences and nuggets of wisdom are welcome. I may even start a fund.

I Knew You Were Trouble Earworm from Candace Neal on Vimeo.

Special thanks to Michael Scott for giving me a means of expressing my anger and outrage.

Sunday Social: Hey, September. How you doin'?

AHHHH! We've reached SEPTEMBER at long, long last! I thought I'd never make it through the fiery hot, humid oven that is Florida in the summer time. Sure, I still have another two months to withstand the unwavering heat before it even begins to cool down; but, now I can do it while sipping on something with pumpkin in it! Time to reflect on the glorious summer.

// What was your favorite trip/vacation/activity this summer? //
Definitely one of the best things that happened this summer was the hub's birthday gift to me: The Wild Africa Trek at Disney's Animal Kingdom. An amazing experience. Plus, it was totally a VIP exclusive kindof deal so I felt all fancy.

// What was your favorite outfit look/clothing item of the summer? //
I'm usually a green gal but I'd have to say my new blue Old Navy dress (thanks for the gift card, Mom and Dad!) with matching blue shoes (thanks, Mama!). And apparently, I refuse to let you see it in an unobstructed manner.

// What is one thing you wish you’d gotten to do this summer? //
Go out of town. We live in a place where everyone vacations. It gets a little old seeing EVERYONE else having glorious relaxing fun on vacation while we work our butts off. This would have been a nice getaway...

And let's be honest... I don't even know where this place is. I found it on Pinterest. And it looks like a super cozy antithesis to my current residence.

// What was your favorite song of the summer? //
I really do want to say, "Blurred Lines" because, yes, it ate me up like a hungry, hungry hippo. As did P!nk's "Just Give Me A Reason." But, I'ma hafta go with "Royals" by Lorde on this one.

// What was your favorite movie/tv show of the summer? //
Hands down, Orange Is The New Black. Best acting I've seen since Michael Scott left The Office and all was cold and desolate in the world. Seriously. Watch this show, people. Do it.

How were your summers? 

Linking Up With:

Sunday Social

5 On Friday (8.23.13)

Can you believe that in one week and a day, August will be saying sayonara? And yes, it took me at least four attempts to spell that word correctly.

This was a jam packed week of work and friends and food and more work and more friends and more food. Here's what I'm heart-ing nowadays.

// Lunch With Friends //
What Thursday is complete without a lunch outing among your clowny co-workers? I was introduced to a divine restaurant called "Chuy's" where, like everything seems to be in this tourist trap land called Orlando, the portions were colossal and the sights were (overtly) stimulating. I mean... there's an entire ceiling adorned in hubcaps and walls laced in framed dog photos. I'm not entirely sure I understand the ADHD theming of this place, but I dug it 100%.

// Foodie Pen Pals //
I received my first Foodie Pen Pals package in the mail this week! Clearly, Orzo Princess Baby cat was just as excited as I was. Can't wait to share with you all of the delicious foods Kimberly shared with me on reveal day (August 31)! 

// Thrifty Organizing And Forcing Autumn //
Our desk was the hottest of messes after a week of work. So, naturally, I hit up a local thrift store and scored this awesome wooden desk organizer and cute rustic lamp. And yes. Yes, I have decided to will Fall into my life via desktop wallpaper. Fie on you, Florida heat. I'll make my own indoor Autumn.

// Barbecues And Board Games //
We had an amazing time with our (super talented and side-stitch hilarious) couples friends this week at their indoor barbecue (oh m'Gawd, Ooey Gooey Butter Cake you besta GET. OUT). And this Telestrations board game? Holy. Moly. The most I've laughed in a while (and my husband is hilarious on the regular, so this is saying a lot).

// Hot Venom by Miniature Tigers //
I am obsessed with music and, more importantly, exposing others to good tuneage. I've always loved this song and when it popped on last night and my husband requested to listen to it twelve more times, I was just tickled pink. Brushes shoulders. A-thank you. And you're welcome. Speaking of music, t-minus two days until 'N SYNC on the VMA's. Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh. Activate teenage self. :)

How was YOUR week?

Linking Up With:

5 On Friday | High Five For Friday | Back That Azz Up

5 On Friday (8.9.13)

I hope you are all having a glorious week! I thought I'd kick off the weekend with a little layout overhaul! Thanks for stopping by to see this blog's fancy new attire. :) Work has been a little thin lately in the glorious world of Mickey and dreams and pixie dust... as evidenced by this post.

// Stuff On The Cat //

Who doesn't love torturing their pets by putting random things on top of them? Here, Orzo The Cat is sporting Timothy's sweaty t-shirt and, on the right, you'll see a lovely abstract smattering of napkins and show scripts. Is that annoyance you sense in his glare? No. That's couture.

// Orange Is The New Black //

Remember that time Timothy and I started this show on Sunday afternoon and finished the entire first season by Thursday? Yeah. That happened. If you have Netflix, this is an exclusive series and it is absolutely amazing. Not going to lie, if extremely crass dialogue and dirty situations offend you, this is not the show for you. But, if you want to see some of the finest acting in a hilariously dark context, get in on some of this. Pronto.

// Clean Eating Tuna Casserole //

Cooked up some yummy Clean Eating Tuna Casserole this week. Tasted great but I'd add a little kosher salt if you try this recipe. Came out a little bland in the beginning. Also, I've fallen in love with Ziplist to keep track of my recipes and meal planning! You can even send your meal plans to your Google Calendar or iCal, as well as download the App on your phone for mobile shopping lists. Love it!

// Lifesaver Berry Bites Gummies //

What is more enticing than a Lifesaver Gummy? A Lifesaver Gummy with white on the bottom. It's like the blue shark gummies of Lifesavers. What is happening? I want to eat all of them right now. Danger, danger.

// This Song //

... Which I had forgotten about. Enjoy.

What is tickling your fancy this week? Happy Friday!

Linking Up With:

5 On Friday | High Five For Friday | Back That Azz Up

5 On Friday (8.2.13)

It's Friday! It's August! It's my mom's birthday! Clearly, there's a lot to celebrate. :)

/ My Mama! /
She is a super hero. No, really. She's beautiful, kind, hilariously enthusiastic (especially when it comes to unexpected wildlife while driving), quirky, joyful, unwaveringly supportive, giving, vivacious, and she always knows what I'm thinking. Happy Birthday, Mama. You deserve all the pumpkin pie and daughter hugs in the world. I love you so much!

(That's Mom on the left. Isn't she cute? S'cute!)

/ Thrifting My Face Off /

I have been going thrift store crazy this week. Found some delectable cardigans (to be showcased later this week), a cute shelf, and some whimsical vases for a secret project I'm working on and can't wait to unveil! I even gave our bathroom a sweet little tidy-up. These bowls were 25 cents each. Why does anyone ever go to Pier 1 EVER these days when you can score awesome deals like this? :)

/ House Blend Cafe /

In the midst of my thrifty antics, I stumbled upon a happy accident of a café: the House Blend Cafe in Ocoee, FL. It's quite far from our neck of the woods but I'd be happy to make the trek again and bring the hubs along for an afternoon bite. I ordered their Egg White Spanish Frittata (sans onions) and it was just lovely! I'd like to head back to try the Curry Stew over Rice, their New Orleans Red Beans And Rice, and their Mexican Salad Mondays! To top it off, 100% of their net profit goes to the community. Their slogan is "Eat Good. Do good." Who doesn't love that? Any locals ever been to this little gem?

/ Krystal Burger /

Timothy and I raaaarely eat fast food these days. If we do, the furthest we will go to "fast food" is often a sub shop. However, when I drove past a sweet little Krystal burger joint yesterday, I just had to make a U-turn and surprise my husband with a bag o' burgers after work. To be quite frank, I'm not a big burger person. I enjoy them but hate the inevitable guilt that, without doubt, ensues every time I take that last bite. There's something so alluring about the miniature state in which these burger find themselves. They're like the Honey I Shrunk The Kids of burgers. I've never had a White Castle burger so, WC loyalists will have to let me know if I'm missing out on something better or if both of these burger joints are merely twins with different names.

/ Crayola Doesn't Make A Color For Your Eyes /

I forgot about this little tune by Kristin Andreassen. Before "Cups," there was this. Get some. Best Listening Conditions: Barefoot while driving with the windows down on a sunny day. You're welcome.

Linking Up With:

5 On Friday | High Five For Friday | Back That Azz Up

Five On Friday (7.26.13)

I'd love to use ye olde saying and proclaim, "Thank God it's Friday!" But, alas, when your Friday contains a work day that spans 10PM at night to 7AM on Saturday morning, you have to let go of your premature weekend excitement and resign yourself to forced day-sleeping. Do I work the graveyard shift? No. This is called: being an entertainer. While I shall forever scoff at the idea of business suit antics and cubicle dwellings, there are those days where the shining beacon of normalcy seems nice.

But, then I remember I get (PAID) to play pretend for a living and all's well (that ends well (YES- actor humor! YES- double parenthetical sequence!)).

That being said, it's so nice to reflect on the good in this past week and all of its crazy busy glory.

/ Dollar Tree /

Folks, I have an addiction and it's called the Dollar Tree. Do you want to know why? Because, EVERYTHING'S A DOLLAR. This is a dollar store in its purest form. No thinking. No second guessing. No searching for removed price tags. No price check. No questioning the cashier with furrowed brow, "Oooh... the sign said that was on sale."

The Dollar Tree made me a promise and that promise was that: everything is a dollar.

None of this Dollar General junk where "everything costs generally a dollar."

None of this Family Dollar junk where "everything costs a family of dollars."

None of this 99 Cents And Up junk where "everything is 99 cents and up- just like it is at any. other. store. in. America." A dress at Bloomingdale's is the "up" part of that equation.

NOW, keeping that in mind, there are just some times when the Dollar Tree doesn't quite get it right. 

So, Dollar Tree, I'm sorry but I will not be making my frugal purchase of warming jelly, pregnancy tests, at-home drug tests, or Halloween decor in July today. But, thank you for meeting my needs otherwise. :)

/ Hubby's Meals /

Separate from the norm, I've been the one working 9AM-6PM every day this week and per usual, my husband has made delicious food. Favorite meals on the list?

- We got the Perfect Tortilla Bowl! It's awesome. Whipped up some chili, put it in the bowl. Delicious.

- Balsamic Rosemary Chicken with warm Quinoa Asparagus Salad modified from this recipe. We used feta cheese instead of goat cheese. YUM.

- Cheeseburger Cauliflower Bake modified from this recipe. Timothy added breadcrumbs on top. C'est magnifique!

/ $5 Shorts From Wal-Mart? /

Yes, please. Why spend a dollar more? You say stingy; I say classy and frugal.

/ Sara Bareilles' New Album, "The Blessed Unrest" /

She is undoubtedly one of the best singer/ songwriters we have out there right now. I've loved her for years and there is no end in sight. She's incredible. Alongside Ingrid Michaelson, she sings my heart and inspires me in my songwriting every day. 

Her strings version of "King Of Anything" reminds me of my own 2010 Folgers jingle submission. A girl who likes strings is fine by me. Hey Sara, can we be besties? Ok thanks!

/ My Husband's Nightly Music Serenades /

If the chicken is marinating or the onions sauteing, then my husband is on the piano. Whether it's mindless jamming, a Billy Joel cover, or a song-request sing along, it's always beautiful. I sometimes forget how lucky I am to have such a musically gifted partner in life. :)

How was your week?

Linking Up With:

5 On Friday | High Five For Friday | Back That Azz Up

Yard Sales And Quiet Walks

Ah, the quiet of a Saturday to myself after a full week of clowning hysterics. You can't beat it.

There was a community yard sale happening in an apartment complex down the road from us so I decided to take a morning walk over to see if I could find some treasures. I failed to remind myself that distance is highly based on perspective. Cars are fast. Human feet (sans Olympic champs) are not . So, what I thought would be a five minute skip-to-my-lou turned into 25 minute trek. UPHILL! Apparently I'm a grandma.

Still, it was a breezy overcast day and a little cat greeted me on my journey. I can't complain. :)

I scored a nice white canvas shower curtain, some Scentsy smell-good tarts, and a cute wallet (or so I thought. Turned out to be a tiny photo album. I WANT MY QUARTER BACK!). The damage? Six bucks. Nailed it.

I've spent the remainder of the evening losing hours to Pinterest and listening to old songs from high school. Hey, remember when John Mayer was normal?

In my pursuit of nostalgic tunes, I rediscovered this hidden Jason Mraz gem. You're welcome.

Happy Saturday! :)

Linking Up With: Sweet Saturdays & I Love My Post

Stacey's Mom Said Bye Bye Bye To Eleanor Rigby

Are you confused by this title's entry? Me too. I was going for a virtual collage of this post's content but I think it was a fail. Moving on, it's Sunday and tomorrow I start a new actor gig. It's going to be a big ole challenge and I live for that! So, for now, let's push that aside and talk about my other favorite thing: music. :)

/ What is your all-time favorite song? /
In my opinion, "Bohemian Rhapsody" is one of the greatest songs not only written, but performed. Fo'treal. Try to get your friends together and do it better than Queen did. You can't do it. No, you can't. Stop trying. Shut up. They're awesome. I call that: "How to not be a supportive and motivational friend."

/ Who is your favorite singer/band? /
This question is just mean. I can't narrow that mess down. But, if I didn't say The Beatles, namely Paul McCartney (who we recently saw in concert and put on the best show I've ever seen in my entire life), the music gods might smite me right here and now. It sounds cliché, but they're just great. Put me on a desert island and give me only Beatles records and I'm happy (and probably also hungry and sick of bugs and fish).
I call that: "Yeah, Beatles was an easy answer but also, THEY. ARE. THE. BEST. BAND. EVER."

/ What song reminds you of your childhood? /
What part of my childhood? Because, I'm sure when I was an infant it would've been some type of hummed lullaby from Mom. Let's break this down:
- Elementary School: My Dad has impeccable taste when it comes to music. On the way to school, we  always listened to Cake at (very, very, very great) length. And it was awesome.
- Middle School: I thought I could be Britney Spears and I bet a friend a million dollars that I would marry Justin Timberlake. So, you do the math.

N' Sync - I Want You Back by Stella78

I call that" "Why is the girl in this video SO tired?"

- High School: Why is Stacey's Mom SO GOOD? Because it is.

I call that: "There are so many more songs I want to mention, but it's 9 in the morning and there's a 45 hour work week starting tomorrow."

/ What song puts you in a good mood? /
Ladies and gents, it's that monumental time in history when Candace uses her blog for the first time to advertise- wait for it- HERSELF! A couple of months ago, I started a project on Youtube where I write one minute songs based on viewer submitted words. This was my personal favorite of the bunch and will soon be turned into a full-length feel-good song.

I call that: "Shameless plug. Deal with it. Go buy my album!"

/ What is your music to rock out to in the car? /
So many songs. There are so many songs. But for now, let's go with this hidden gem by Pentatonix:

I call that: "Settling in a good way."

/ What is the most embarrassing song or album you own? /
Y'all, I love Amy Grant. I think she is a perfect specimen of untarnished gold. Leave me alone. She's perfect. I WORE OUT her "Heart in Motion" album. I call that: "Why can't I have perky curly nineties hair too?"

 

Five On Friday (7.12.13)

How in the WORLD do these summer weeks fly by so quickly? Timothy and I have been married for NINE months! What? We could've made a baby in that time! Knock wood. Knock wood. Knock wood. Knock wood.

Here are five things I'm loving this week:
1. I love coming home and seeing Princess Baby Cat greeting me before I even walk through the door. Hashtag: Window Cat.

2. Mr. Pappas made some BANGIN' meals this week. Two of my personal favorites? Ground turkey and feta stuffed zucchini with garlic and olive oil quinoa. And salisbury steak with garlic-lemon kale and whole kernel corn. Yumtastic, kids.

3. The hubs and I are newly (and belatedly) obsessed with the P!nk/ Nate song despite my initial resistance. I liken it to a modern day "Total Eclipse of the Heart." And yes, I will take this time to brag about the fact that my friend Emily is in the band, FUN. P.s. Did P!nk always use an exclamation point in her name? Where have I been?

P!nk - Just Give Me A Reason by CineStars

4. This is my last weekend before I start my newest actor gig on Monday. I can't divulge direct details. All I'm saying is if you see a clown flopping about behind Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom soon, it might be a friend of mine. ;)

5. Closing arguments for the Zimmerman trial are happening today. If you don't know, we live in Orlando, FL. That means we get to washed up in the flood of high profile cases that happen here. When the Casey Anthony trial was happening, we literally packed an overnight bag to try to get into the courtroom (we were unsuccessful). We drove to her house and took pictures. We are THOSE people. Do I like crime? Absolutely not. Am I fascinated by courtroom antics? You better believe it. What are Mr. Pappas and I going to watch now? Probably The Office.

I leave you with this happy little summer tune by Meiko. 

 

Five On Friday Link-up!

Fridge-tastic

On a quiet Sunday afternoon with Eric Hutchinson singing sweetly through the speakers, it is definitely a good time to do the most awesome thing in the world:

Clean out the fridge.

What? That doesn't sound awesome to you?

Me neither. But, it had to be done.

Are you here for fridge cleaning tips? Ok, I'd be glad to share my expertise.

1. If it has chunks and is meant to be creamy, you should probably throw it out.
2. If it was once solid and is now liquid (or any other variation on liquid- i.e. mushy, gushy), you should probably throw it out.
3. If its expiration date is June of last year, you should probably throw it out.
4. If it's an empty container, you should probably throw it out.
5. If it smells like doo-doo caca poopy pants, you should probably throw it out.
6. If it has turned into a science project, you should probably throw it out.

Do that and VOILA:

I know. Your mind is blown. Suck it, Martha.

5 On Friday! (6.28.13)

Check 'em out!

A whole week has gone by already? What is happening? My 27th birthday is just lurking in the days ahead waiting to eat me up. Oy.

Here's what I'm loving this week:

1. Real World Portland- I don't even find anything remotely redeeming in any of the cast members on this show (per usual). I just enjoy watching people get drunk and get into laughably reckless fist-throwing frenzies. I feel so good about myself post-show!

2. The yummy couscous salad I made on whim yesterday with fresh tomatoes and feta cheese. Dig it.

3. Jersey Mike's Subs -which I've loved for years. Timothy and I have been frequenting this joint all week since it's by a school where we're teaching chitlins how to act and sang and dance. Turkey sub mini ALL day long, yo.

4. ZUMBA! I've been bitten by the Zumba bug and have been doing it for an hour every day. I tried to drag Timothy into the glorious salsa land that is a Zumba workout but he didn't seem to be terribly into it. Let's be honest; it's kindof a modern mutation of the the olden spandexy Jane Fonda videos.

5. This song from Nashville which is a show that I mostly use for background noise when I'm doing dishes or laundry. 

Have a glorious weekend, lovelies!

Patchwork Girlfriend

Stop. Before you do anything else right now- get yourself some of this song. Go ahead, take a bite. Swim in it. Love it so hard. And you're welcome.