love is interrupted, jack says.

Jack White.

It's no secret that I suffer from a mild case of severe admiration for the man. He plays the best guitar and manages to turn out excellent music with each band that he cultivates. He's mysterious enough to keep people (and the press) curious while leading a pretty simple life, which includes being a dad and a Nashvillian. Yes, I mourned a small bit for the official break-up of your favorite and mine, The White Stripes, but I fell in love all over again when the Raconteurs played a sold-out show at the Ryman last fall.

Jack has done it all, but this spring we're going to see a first: a solo album. Recorded in its entirety at Third Man, "Blunderbuss" is set to release in late April, which cannot come soon enough. Thankfully he went ahead and released a single, "Love Interruption," today via JackWhiteIII and hits iTunes later tonight.

As for comments on the solo project, Jack kept his thoughts to two sentences: "I've put off making records under my own name for a long time, but these songs feel like they could only be presented under my name. These songs were written from scratch, had nothing to do with anyone or anything else but my own expression, my own colors on my own canvas."

Here's hoping that he plays the Ryman. and Bonnaroo.

xoxo

No kitten heels.

Ah, self-control. Exhibiting discipline over one's self. Being in my twenties and more importantly a female I have generally viewed this as a nice sentiment but far too daunting to master. However, I vowed when I turned the big 25 and became a real adult that I would do better. I would go further, try harder, you know push myself. Let's get specific.

I've tried this first with the health and wellness regimen - to be more disciplined with working on my fitness. I started Pure Barre classes again, and I now know one thing for certain - PB is evil but highly effective. Who knew your muscles could shake so much from exhaustion and that a 55 minute class could make even your hair hurt? Every time I'm on my tiptoes, cursing life and tucking to an unidentifiable techno song, I think about something less painful and tuck a little tighter. "Get on your highest toes, think 6 inches - we don't believe in kitten heels!" - actual quote from instructor.

I further exhibited self-control whilst standing beside Patrick Carney waiting for pad thai takeout. Considering that I was in my vehicle blaring "Mind Eraser" just minutes before said encounter, it was an act of God that I didn't just awkwardly stare. Or hug him. I was pretty normal, for me, with just a dose of awkward admiration during our conversation. Here's hoping the admiration outweighed the latter.

And now to the ole' job. First, let's be clear: middle school kids are the worst. They ask too many questions, they're super needy, they smell, they can't be subtle about ANYTHING and only a few of them can respond to sarcasm. Despite all of these things, a big part of me loves them, thus why I'm attempting to teach them how to read. However, when one of them randomly started rapping "I like it when you call me big pa-pa" during an exam, I had to count to five in order to not lose my S. Hello, self-control.

Now, with all that being said, feel free to lose control every so often...to keep life interesting, of course. Skip your workout one day and go to happy hour and laugh to burn those calories that you aren't really too concerned about anyways. Next time something really awesome happens, like say you run into Ben Folds while picking up coffee only after meeting your possible soul mate in the parking lot, make it your facebook status and/or tweet that. You know you want to. Maybe call up (insert his/her name here) and tell them that despite your best efforts that you miss them -chances are, they miss you. And hey, you can always blame it on your momentary lack of self-discipline.

xo.

Jenny and Shelley.

Long before she was Jenny Lewis and rising up with fists(!), she was just freckle-faced Jenny Lewis, playing Shelley Long's daughter in one of the greatest/cheesiest films of 1989 - Troop Beverly Hills. Every female knows what I'm talking about when I say this film is genius. Shelley Long parades in outrageous attire, changing outfits more than most of us blink, and Jenny Lewis, who sports an awesomely high ponytail for the greater part of the film, earns a patch for both fire prevention and gardening with glamour. Oh, and they perform an excellent song and dance (see below) to help sell cookies. What's not to love?

Happy Saturday and you're welcome. xo

Hello, Lover: 2012.

Curtains to another year, and a big hello to 2012.

Most of you, us, welcomed the new year in while nursing a beverage with 3-65 of our closest friends while we noticed the ball drop on a distant television set. Perhaps you attended some sort of themed party and wore entirely too much eyeliner. Or maybe you had a little too much champagne (!!!) and found yourself singing "auld lang syne" with such conviction that you acquired two "whaaaaat?" looks and one firm-ish marriage proposal.

However you chose to do so, you rang in the new year and woke up this morning, or mid-afternoon, to start fresh. A clean slate! If you aren't breathing a little easier right now, you should be. Sure, I'm not one of those girls who buys in to all that "new year, new you" babble that you skim in Cosmopolitan, but I am all about lists and setting goals with every intent to achieve. No no, I am not going to bore/entertain you with my resolutions that I have made for the new year - you're welcome.

However, as for me and my house, when it comes to resolutions for the new year, I suggest aiming low. Reach for your shoelaces, not necessarily the stars. For instance, this year I will wear shirts and use electricity. All of these achievements are in fact possible. Know what's probably not possible? Giving up [insert addiction here], deactivating your Facebook account, and becoming an astronaut all in the next 12 months. In all seriousness, be an achiever of great things - you can do it! - but make sure they are feasible and not a complete waste of your time and thanks to your resolution-induced Pure Barre classes, newfound energy.

So go get em', tiger. Stop planning and scheming and DO something. Take action. Love people. Work hard so you can then play harder. Resolve to be an even better version of yourself in the coming months. And in the words of the Avett Brothers, "maybe I don't have to be good but I can try to be at least a little better than I've been so far."

xoxo.