Mary Gauthier's "Christmas In Paradise"

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I've been a fan of Mary Gauthier since she released Mercy Now in 2005, and charmed the heck out of me during our interview for The Advocate (which can read here). Mary's former label, Lost Highway, put out a little holiday promo back then that included "Thanksgiving at the Prison" and "Christmas In Paradise" (the latter was originally included on her 2002 indie release Filth & Fire). This year, Mary is making the song available as a free download, and has also posted a video of a live performance from earlier this year.

Shelby Earl's "This Christmas Is For Us"

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Shelby Earl's full-length debut, Burn the Boats, was one of my favorite local albums of 2011, and she's also a delight to follow on Twitter. Her ascent in my pantheon continues with the release of "This Christmas Is For Us," an original song now available on her Soundcloud page and from better online music retailers. We asked Shelby to tell us a little more about this tune, and here's what she had to say.

First let me start by saying, I LOVE CHRISTMAS. The holiday was a huge deal in my family when I was young, and has remained so my entire life. To this day, no matter where my extended family members reside in the world, they will drop what they're doing, put work on hold, and travel to a chosen location (usually in Cali) to spend Christmas week together. It's SUCH an epic deal to me that in this, my 35th year, I've never missed a Christmas with my mom - not one. UNTIL NOW! It's been a wildly exciting year of music-making in Earl-land and in crafting my plans for end-of-year shows, tour, recording, etc. I realized that a week-long trip to California wasn't going to be viable (the list of reasons is long). Delivering the news to my family was tough, but everyone understood.

Then jump ahead to me sitting in my living room just a few short weeks ago, when first snowflakes were hitting the ground in Seattle. I was sipping a cup of tea, pondering how much I love my cozy apartment, how deeply I love and appreciate my community in Seattle, and it hit me: I AM ALREADY HOME. My parents and siblings might be in California for the week, but my PEOPLE are right here! I picked up my guitar and this song poured out of me. I'm not always lucky enough to write that way - other songs take a LOT longer to come around - but this one just flowed. It's because it came out of a genuine excitement to be with my Seattle friends and loved ones this year for Christmas. I wanted to tell them as much.

My bandmates were awesome about quickly rallying to learn and record the tune so we could get to sharing it. Then last weekend (the 2nd week of Dec.) a crew including: Barb Hunter (cello), Faustine Hudson (drums), Anna-Lisa Notter (vocals), Mike Notter (guitar), Ben Obee (bass), Fidelia Schoolcraft (vocals) and myself all got together for a few hours in Gabriel Mintz' living room to lay it down. We knew it would be a wee bit lo-fi, but it ended up having the EXACT right spirit about it. Gabe did a spectacular job recording and mixing it - and it gave him a giggle to be the "bad jew" who spent hours working on a Christmas tune. I told him he was lucky it wasn't all about wise men and angels and infant kings. :)

So here it is, my offering of love to my Seattle people this Christmas. It's my "thank you" for the AMAZING year you've given me.

KEXP's Christmas Song of the Day

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My colleagues at the KEXP blog always do an excellent job curating the Song of the Day podcast, bringing fresh new music to listeners' in boxes five days a week. But they outdid themselves this past week, offering five brand new Christmas recordings by up-and-coming artists. I was especially excited to see Black Keys associate Jessica Lee Mayfield putting her own stamp on Glen Campbell's "Little Toy Trains." You can download each of them—and learn more about the recording artists—by clicking on the links below. (And while you're at it, please consider making a year-end gift of support to KEXP.)

Diamond Rugs - Christmas In A Chinese Restaurant
The Barr Brothers - Dear Mrs. Claus
Breathe Owl Breathe - Snow Blow
Jessica Lea Mayfield - Little Toy Trains
Brite Futures - Last Christmas

KEXP blog master Jim Beckman also compiled a comprehensive list of recent seasonal favorites by KEXP anchor artists like Damien Jurado, Fitz and the Tantrums, the Raveonettes, and more, under the banner "A Sleighfull of Holiday Songs." Don't miss local heroes STAG tearing it up on the Kinks' "Father Christmas."

Speaking of KEXP, I'll be broadcasting my annual Christmas music spectacular live on-air from 9PM to noon Pacific Time tomorrow. You can tune in via 90.3 FM Seattle or on the Internet at kexp.org.

Why Can't I Follow Blogs?

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uys! I have major problem! I can't follow blogs anymore. Can you tell me what's wrong?T^T

If GFC has limit numbers for following, What can I do to stop following few blogs (I realized that few blogs weren't being activated anymore)

I can't click the "follow this blog" button ):
This dialog appears when I click "more options"
If someone knows what the hell is going on, please please tell me how to fix it. Thanks!
*****UPDATE******
The problem has been solved! Thanks to Bibi((:

Special Makover from Carnellin and L'Oreal Professionnel

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Calling all bloggers who want their hair look fabulous. Carnellin from While You on Earth blog and L'Oreal Professionnel are looking for 3 bloggers to have a hair makeover. YEYY!!You can choose style or texture you want. These are the choices:
1. INOA hair color2. Korean Wave by Dulcia Advanced3. Japanese Smoothing by X-Tenso Moisturist PLUS each winners will be given L'Oreal Professionnel products worth Rp. 500K from Shampoo, conditioner/treatment masque and styling products! How cool is that???xDDD***Carnellin says:1."The winners will be notified after 12 of Oct 2011 by email."2. "Makeover will be done in Jakarta, all of you around the world may join as long as you're in Jakarta at the time being, sorry, the free makeover doesn't include your flight tickets.So, go join in! for more info head to her blog here