The Fun Antonoff Family

In high school, I played The Format on repeat for months. You know those rare songs that make your heart race and your head spin, and when you turn them on, you can't think about anything other than the lyrics? The Format's "The First Single" was the first song I really, really loved like that.

The band eventually split up, as most great ones do, and lead singer Nate Ruess teamed up with his girlfriend's brother and best friend Jack Antonoff to create an even better band, aptly named Fun. Does Jack's last name ring a bell? His sister is Rachel, ultra-talented dress designer and best friend to Alia Shawkat, the Arrested Development comedienne who happens to be dating Jack.

Did you catch all that? Nate's dating Rachel, who's brother Jack is dating her best friend Alia. The lead singer is dating the designer, who's musician brother is dating her sitcom actress friend. Can you say coolest double dates ever?

The only thing that makes my heart swell more than a good love story is a good love song, and The Gambler by Fun is my latest on repeat.

Snowfall Kind of Love

It snowed my entire drive home; I was grinning from ear to ear and singing Christmas carols for two full hours. This holiday break is already off to a fantastic start.

Although I have a whole stack of books to read, I have an entire month away from school. Do you have any must-read recommendations?

Also, listen to Ingrid Michaelson's "Snowfall" if you need a new wintery song to freshen up your old holiday favorites. With lyrics like, "I want a snowfall kind of love / That brings people to their window / I want a snowfall kind of love / Cause I'm a snowfall kind of girl," I've found it impossible to not listen to it on repeat.

Through the cities I've walk, In the castles I dreamed

I've been counting down the days until 500 Days of Summer is released on DVD (seeing it three times in the theater was just not enough). Until then, I'll be getting my split-screen fix from The Album Leaf's Always for You clip. Fantastic song, extraordinary music video.

I Tried To Do Handstands For You

This just makes me smile. Great clothes, cute models, good music.

And if you haven't downloaded "Bruises" by Chairlift yet, what are you waiting for? If you still need a nudge, Saks is offering a free 10-song download with the purchase of any Marc by Marc Jacobs item. Right now I'm crazy for this, this, and this.

A Collegiate Playlist

I've been working on a pretty significant project these past few months (click here to read more about it and click here to see the post that started it all), and I don't think I'll ever be able to put in to words how grateful I am to the creators of Pandora. The lovely little music genome project has single-handedly (single-machinedly?) pulled me through some of the latest nights and most stressful hours of my senior year.

What really makes me sing the praises of Pandora is that I have been introduced to so many new favorite songs by bands I would have never even heard of if it wasn't for my beloved Matt Pond PA station that's been on constant rotation since August.

Here are a few of my most recently "thumbed up" tunes:

The Devlins, Don't Let It Break Your Heart
Brett Bixby, Fireside
Timmy Curran, Moving On
Andy Stochansky, Stutter
Pilot Speed, The Travel Song
Speechwriter LLC, CHBB
Detour Allure, Charlemagne
Pernice Brothers, Leave Me Alone

What's your favorite Pandora station? (And isn't my news a little crazy?)

Over The Moon...

.. for this sweet song and even sweeter video.

Reminds me of '90s teen flicks like She's All That and 10 Things I Hate About You. Good music videos make me swoon. What are your favorites?

Any Fun

What's your end-of-summer soundtrack of choice? I can't stop listening to Coconut Records, and I've fallen even deeper in love with Jason Schwartzman's one-man band after seeing this delightful video featuring an absolutely radiant Chloe Sevigny.

I've never been much of a Sevigny fan (in the category of indie darlings, my favorite will always be Zooey Deschanel), but after seeing her frolic around on a skateboard in the California sun with cute band boys, I kind of want to be her.