♥ Pretty Lights Remix :: Run DMC – It’s Tricky & EA Sports SSX

While hanging out at a sports bar in Austin recently, I could have sworn I overheard one of my favorite Pretty Lights remixes playing over the speakers. I only looked up fast enough to see the final seconds of a snow covered boarder and the Dick's Sporting Goods and North Face logos to conclude the commercial.

Did anyone else hear that?

As I looked around, all I saw were men and women 40yrs+ tending to their beer and wings, waiting for the game to go back on.

After leaving the bar, my mind was set on finding that video...and my sanity, yet my lame attempt to rediscover the commercial via some Youtube or online channel proved dismal and maybe I was just hearing things.

But when I stumbled upon this pretty little treat I thought, maybe what I heard wasn't too farfetched.

"I've always loved hip-hop, video games and snowboarding," the well known electronic music producer, Pretty Lights told Spinner RPM regarding his new remix of the original

Run DMC- 'It's tricky' for EA Sports SSX video game.

Apparently, players will be able to trigger the song based on their game performance and by the looks of this trailer the game looks super dope... and that's saying a lot coming from a non-gamer like myself.

Also, check out the video below of Pretty Lights dropping the new track for the first time live in Atlanta. And for all you video game enthusiasts [if you are, maybe you can teach me!] Don't forget to get the SSX game, which comes out on February 14th on PS3 and XBOX.

♥ Enjoy your Ear&Eye Candy,
Mel

♥ ¡Feliz Día de los Muertos!

I'm absolutely fascinated with this holiday, especially in its modern way of celebration. Traditionally this holiday is meant for friends and families to get together to remember the beautiful lives of people who have passed. I think this is important. Losing a loved one is a really difficult thing to fully grasp and come to terms with and when we all come together, it can really become a positive thing, to celebrate life.

I would like to showcase a few sneak peak photos from the 'Dia De Los Muertos' photo shoot by my good friend and photographer Addison Gumbert. 

'I strive to expose the subject’s beauty, especially in the qualities that distinguish them from anyone else, and I capture their sincerity in one frame by relating to my subjects, reversing the performer/audience model so ingrained in my training.'

-Addison Gumbert



check out more of Addison Gumbert's work HERE



Her use of lighting is fantastic and I love the intricate hair pieces. It's beautiful and eerie!

***

Would you like another dose of something sweet?

How about I leave you with some tasty ear candy?

Check out Beats Antique awesome new mix made especially for today called: 'The Skeleton Dance'

♥ Ciao!

Mellie

♥ New Month Mantras

I'm trying to work on shaping my mind in order to create the positive, happy and fulfilling life I would like to lead. My mission of life should be a creative visualization. Life is a canvas of aesthetics. And to allow good and bad things to occur and flow naturally as part of your path, rather than meeting it with resistance. Occasions of all kind are to be taken in right spirit.

via WetBehindTheEars

***

I have been doing a lot of reading about the laws of attractions and abilities to create the life I want to lead, starting from changing the way I think. It's very easy to get caught up in vengeance or self-hate or even just negative thinking.

***

This weekend I had a great conversation over a fabulous bottle of wine with my two friends, Mike and Tom, about Pema Chodron.

Pema Chodron is an American figure in Tibetan Buddhism. She is ordained a disciple and a nun and is a profound teacher.

Tom brought over a pocket-sized book written by Chodron which discussed her daily teachings. We each took turns reading one and discussing it, thoroughly. No leaf was left unturned and we all left more enlightened that we came in.

I have been thinking a lot about what we discussed, and from our interpretation we came up with one [of many] overall themes from her teachings.

Most importantly, we, as a person, should be a vessel in which all things positive and negative shall pass through. That we should take all situations and become wiser, kinder and more knowledgeable from them, but also not to compare situations. That every moment and every instance is new and different.

Deep Stuff, my friends. And not easy to digest.

But it is through this peace, we find true happiness and are able to let go of the ego.

***

If you want to reach a state of bliss, then go beyond your ego and the internal dialogue. Make a decision to relinquish the need to control, the need to be approved, and the need to judge. Those are the three things the ego is doing all the time. It's very important to be aware of them every time they come up. Give up all bad qualities in you, banish the ego and develop the spirit of surrender. You will then experience Bliss.

- Deepak Chopra &Sri Sathya Sai Baba

***

♥ Namaste,

Melissa

♥ Happy Halloween :: Pumpkin Spice

It's Halloween weekend and I've been very excited about getting into the Halloween spirit this year, despite some costume delays :) Although pumpkin carving was never really my thing, I like the thought of adding pumpkin to any ordinary dish or drink to give it the flavor of fall.

The other week I tried a delicious pumpkin beer at the Whip In called Dogfish Head Punkin Ale, which paired very well with the cold rain outside and the spicy yellow curry dish I ordered.

I also found myself drooling over this decadent recipe for Pumpkin Crème Brûlée from Love & Olive Oil.

Click HERE for the recipe!

We may not see the seasons change in central Texas, but the smell of pumpkin spices has the ability to make me eagerly anticipate the holiday season, as well as, induce a curl-up-by-the-fire type coma.

I hope everyone has a fantastic Halloween weekend filled with spooky costumes and sweet treats! Like I said, I am not much of a pumpkin carver, but I did find some people who are. Check out these INCREDIBLE pumpkin sculptures I found on MSN's homepage [they are just too wonderful to call them carvings]!

too cute! what a great idea!

scarrryyyy!!

Happy Halloween Y'all!

♥ Mel

♥ Drunken Doughnuts :: Trace Austin at The W Hotel

While there is much to discuss on the Tastytown homefront, I thought I'd drop by to discuss some tasty treats I have had the delight of devouring lately, and you probably should too.

I've had the fortunate pleasure to do some jetsetting this weekend, out of the hot Texas heat and into the blissful Ozark Mountains for a fun and fresh weekend which truly satisfied my mind and body. While my bags are still unpacked and my fingers still a bit frosty, there is much for me to show you and I look forward to writing about my weekend/posting some pics later this week.

Until then, feast your eyes on these little delights to warm your soul.

Drunken Doughnuts, so nice to meet you on my lovely Sunday Morning!

The Drunken Doughnuts from Trace are heavenly! Each pillowy doughnut hole is covered in cinnamon sugar crystals, with three devilishly sweet toppings to dip these fluffy bites; Vodka whipped cream, Tequila chile fudge sauce and my absolute favorite Bourbon Dulce DeLeche. I highly encourage you order these treats when dining at Trace, at any time of day, sharing is of course optional!

Trace is the classy and refined restaurant located right on the corner of 2nd Street and Lavaca, inside the W Hotel. Although I've only had the pleasure to dine during brunch, I do intend on tasting their dinner fare soon.

Cheers to keeping things short and sweet today! 

Keep calm and Eat on,

♥ Mel



♥ Anything Can Happen

Have you ever had to make a really difficult decision in your life?  One where you really felt the road had met an unknown fork; where you could honestly see yourself walking down either path?

October has thrown me for some very unexpected curves and forced me to visualize myself making some very big decisions and walk down some very differnt paths.

I have mentally been a bit overwhelmed and to say the least, this song, Anything Can Happen by Wyclef Jean, brought a smile to my face and sense of peace amongst the stressfulness.

In life, its true that, at times, anything can happen. Future unknown.

And while lately I have been working on positive thinking, setting positive future intentions and studying the law of attraction; I still think there are unknown elements.

The song is catchy and the lyrics are kinda funny. The beat makes you wanna bob your head. Theres a sense of humility to the song as well. It speaks to the people feeling low or feeling high and mighty. Stay humble, cause anything can happen. Most importantly, it just reminds me that no matter how much we stress over decisions or situations, there is only so much we can control, and in reality anything can happen.

It also makes me want to go roller skating :) Party idea anyone?

Hope y'all like!

♥ Cheers,

Mellie