I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and are remembering to wear loose pants today. I know I am. 

You know how there’s this trend where movie people and TV people and kids programming people are taking all the stuff that was popular in the 70s and 80s and giving it a facelift and calling it new even though it’s really just recycled and the old stuff is clearly better (yes, Annie remake, I’m looking at you. You, too, Karate Kid and My Little Pony and all your friends)?

It’s mostly out of hand at this point.

However, sometimes, it’s pretty cool when something is redone or remade. Specifically, when musicians do it.

It might be my college years spent in bars listening to cover bands but I enjoy a good cover song. There are bands like Boyce Avenue whose entire catalog is cover songs (and you should really check them out. They have a YouTube channel and they are amazing) but sometimes, a band will perform a cover song and it’s so damn good I can’t stand it. Occasionally, I think it’s even better than the original #noshame

Here are five of my favorites so you can enjoy them, too:

Metallica, “Turn the Page” (originally performed by Bob Seger).

Shinedown, “Simple Man” (originally performed by Lynyrd Skynyrd)

Volbeat, “I Only Wanna Be With You” (originally performed by Dusty Springfield)

Alien Ant Farm, “Smooth Criminal” (originally performed by Michael Jackson)

Dynamite Hack, “Boyz in the Hood” (originally performed by N.W.A) If you listen to nothing else in the post, please for the love of all that is holy listen to and watch this video.

Honorable mentions: Basically everything on Brent Smith and Zach Myers (from Shinedown) two cover EPs. Goldfinger’s version of “99 Red Balloons”, Tiffany’s cover of “I Think We’re Alone Now” (don’t judge me), Slash and Myles Kennedy’s version of “Sweet Child O’ Mine”, and the Chili Peppers cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground”.

What are some of your favorite cover songs? Any you think are really bad?

Have a great weekend!

Coming up on Monday: The final post in my cheer mom series.

 

Linking up with Amanda, as always

 

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I think what I love most about the Friday Favorites is that even when you have a relatively shitty week, like I just did, it’s nice to sit down and focus on some of the things that weren’t bad. In fact, everything I’m talking about this week did a nice job of making sure that there was a balance and the whole week didn’t suck too much ass.

Favorite song

Given my week, I thought it was appropriate to share one of my go-to angry songs. I have a bunch but this, Trapt’s Headstrong, is my favorite. It’s very cathartic, and listening to it makes me feel so much better.

Favorite frugal find

This has been an expensive week. I had to replace my laptop (which I got as a completely restored open box item, which let me save 25%) AND get about $700 worth of repairs done to my car (this was actually knocked in half, thanks to a coupon gift from a stranger and the warranty), not to mention more cheerleading expenses. I swear, I’m going to start bleeding glitter from the amount I pay for this damn sport. Anyway. The discounts were nice enough frugal find but then, when I logged in to the library system to but some books on hold (because clearly what I need is a bigger pile of books), I saw that there is something called Flipster, which like Overdrive but for magazines. There’s a mobile app also that allows you to read current and back issues of magazines. FOR FREE!!! I browsed around the app and it looks so awesome. I’m stoked to try it out.

Favorite book/TV thing

My husband and I did not have HBO, or any premium cable, for a long time. Then we signed up for it because he wanted to watch John Oliver’s new show (and if you haven’t seen it, do that this weekend). I am so glad we have it now because, in addition to that show, there’s True Detective, Silicon Valley and this, my favorite TV find of the week: Dave Grohl’s documentary, Sound City, has been turned into a series. I haven’t seen the documentary yet but I plan to and I’m stoked about it and it’s on TV now so let’s consider that favorite TV thing, part 1A.

And for favorite book thing, it’s this. And when you see it, you’ll know why it needs no more words.

 

Favorite internet reads

The internet never disappoints me. There’s always so much good reading and this is the hardest part of every weekly post. This week, though, two of my favorite posts came from two of my favorite bloggers and two ladies I am thrilled and proud and blessed to call friends. The first post is from Kristen of See You in a Porridge, and it’s her post on dieting and body image. I love how she’s so upfront and honest about her issues, and I love her even more for sharing them. The second one is from my good friend Mackenzie who writes at The Random Path. I’ve known Mackenzie for awhile and I simply adore her. She struggles with some of the same mental health issues that I do and her post, I am worth the struggle, is a go-to read for all the times you just don’t feel worthy of…well, anything. Read it, bookmark it, and then read it again.

And, on a lighter note, BuzzFeed’s 28 people who are too dumb for their own good is hilarious and I may be a terrible person for thinking these types of posts are way funnier than they probably should be. Also, if I’m being honest, I kind of always hope the people who say these things are kidding. Finally, there was this viral post about going back to school that is just. So. True.

Favorite quote

I totally stole this from a pin of Kerry’s but that’s okay because she knows she awesome and stealing from friends is acceptable. 

 Favorite funnies

Someone needs to do this because I don’t work in an office anymore (cough– Amanda or Kathy–cough)

 

If they’re filled with candy, I’m all over it.
 Shadows need good dental hygiene, too.

The struggle is real.

 

It’s very confusing.

Have a great weekend!

Linking up with Amanda

 

 

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So maybe, yesterday, you noticed a whole influx of posts published here. 

It’s true. 

It happened. 

But for a good reason. 

After realizing that I just cannot manage more than one blog, I decided to combine my two sites–this one and The Townhouse Pioneer (which is where I’ve been the last few months)–into one. Hopefully by doing this, I’ll be able to get back into all the blogging things. 

That would be nice. 

And just so we’re all on the same page (which, since it’s the internets, I guess we technically are but let’s go with the metaphorical, figurative page), I wanted to fill you in on a couple of changes coming to the site. 

First, the header. As a work through what is an endless stream of problems, the header will eventually be changed to encompass not on my pioneer project (which was the focus of the other site), but some new categories that are a big part of my life but I never really dealt with before. Like cooking. And reading. I do both of those daily. Why not blog about them? I assure you, you’ll like it.

Two, my pioneer project. I’m stoked to share the ins and outs of the project on this site, and I feel like now I can do it in a looser way than on the Townhouse Pioneer (also, I don’t live in a townhouse anymore so it sort of feels like a lie). Plus, the project has majorly changed in scope and this is a more appropriate place to share. 

And three, me. I feel like I’ve finally, after 3 years, found my voice as a blogger. So you’ll notice the tone around here be a little lighter the majority of the time but we’ll talk about some serious stuff, too. Occasionally. Not too much. But sometimes. 

If you’re visiting me for the first time from the Townhouse Pioneer, WELCOME!!! I’m so excited to have you here. I even baked you some cookies: