Though I was all to fond of my design efforts for this journal it was becoming painfully clear that the header didn't have the same resonance for me as it once did. I grappled with changing the layout and design completely, but think this may be best to work on over the summer. For now I made some slight color changes and updated (or upgraded depending on one's opinion) the header.

Also, a reminder to all my friends, you can find me on Tumblr. Original graphics and content can be accessed under the tag, brighterday.grace. Icons, and original essays or full-length commentary, will still be posted here. And I will try to compile up other graphics for posts, but you are best to go to my Tumblr where non-icon graphics are posted first.

Excuse me while I fan-girl squeal for the next seven weeks all because of Gossip Girl. That's not something I imagined myself saying considering my former ship of Chuck and Blair crashed and burned, and mostly all other pairings I ever even mildly liked fizzled out with the horrible writing that plagued them after sometimes great starts. But my oh my I'm here now with the pounding heart, the inner-party feeling, that widened smile that just illuminates my face every time I see them or start to imagine them in my head.

( Discussion of Gossip Girl 4.17, The Empire of the Son, and the resulting promo for 4.18. Mild future spoilers. )

Just when I think I've been gobsmacked as much I could be with Gossip Girl's flourishing bond between Dan Humphrey and Blair Waldorf, ...( Gossip Girl, Dair and Chair related commentary for episode 4.13,  )

So, unless you're holding back on watching Gossip Girl you'd know the writers appear to be ...
( *Discussion of Gossip Girl and specifically episode 4.12, The Kids are not Alright. Mild spoilers implied, but nothing that isn't self-evident simply by watching this episode.] )

Preview ⁞
Fandom(s) ⁞ Gossip Girl [Dan Humphrey and Blair Waldorf, Nate Archibald, SE4EP11, the Townie], One random Dair
Notes ⁞ I felt like I had been working on these forever. But I was determined to finish them before the return of season two. There's ton of general interaction in addition to more 'ship' oriented icons. So hope these icons can be enjoyed by all. Well except if you hate all Dan and Blair interaction. :-/
Quick Rules ⁞ 1. Please credit lasha4god via the lj user tag or direct link. 2. All graphics are for personal use. Should you wish to post in bulk, or upload to a fan site please let me know before hand. So long as credit is given I'm usually fine with fan art, and wallpapers being used in fan-site galleries. I would prefer that icons not be posted, but it never hurts to ask. I might change my mind. =;) 3. Never direct link / hot-link. In short upload to your own albums, servers, etc. and link from there. I don't take kindly to bandwidth theft. 3. Comments and feedback are ♥! Advanced thanks for taking the time out to let me know what you think.
( Glances, Banter, and Shared Expressions! )

Belated Happy New Year! I hope it's a blessed and bright one filled with the love of family and friends. But if it's not, or even if it will be, cheers to all the things that shape and make us who we are in this year, and the years to come. And here's to the simple pleasures that make each day a little brighter.

♫ Maybe this Christmas - Ron Sexsmith
♫ Sister Winter - Sufjan Stevens
♫ Merry Christmas - Frank Cosmo

Joy, Spirit, Sadness - This is Christmas, One Song at a Time

I thought I would highlight the days passing through the holidays till Christmas with some of my favorite festive (or not so festive as the case sometimes is) songs.

Christmas Eve is upon us, and there's so many Christmas songs that I never found the time to present to you and write about. But I will leave you with just a few more before I close out the series.

One may be my favorite non-hymn Christmas song of all time. The other is a bittersweet, and soul-stirring, gem from Sufjan Stevens. And the last is a song for joy and celebration. Another toe-tapper to lift your spirits.

In addition, I've posted and reblogged more Christmas music to my tumblr, though I won't list them all here. Here's to 2011, where undoubtedly I'll discover new songs to share and old favorites to reminisce about.

♫ Amazing Grace - Sufjan Stevens
♫ Christmas in the Room - Sufjan Stevens
♫ February - Dar Williams
♫ I Saw Three Ships - Sufjan Steven

Joy, Spirit, Sadness - This is Christmas, One Song at a Time

I thought I would highlight the days passing through the holidays till Christmas with some of my favorite festive (or not so festive as the case sometimes is) songs.

Keeping this short and simple here's a few special songs that always remind me of the family I've built with my husband and all the stories of our pasts and the days of our future. These are for you sweetheart, Merry Christmas.

- Christmas in the Room -

No travel plans, no shopping malls
No candy canes or Santa Claus
For as the day of rest draws near
It's just the two of us this year
No silver bells or mistletoe
We'll kiss and watch our TV shows

I'll come to you, I'll sing to you
Like it's Christmas in the room
I'll dance with you, I'll laugh with you
Until it's Christmas in the room

No traffic jams, no ice and storm
Far in the house the fire is warm
No Christmas tree, no great parade
It's just an ordinary day
No parties planned, no place to go
It's just the two of us alone
And in the house we see a light
That comes from what we feel inside

I'll come to you, I'll sing to you
Like it's Christmas in the room
I'll dance with you, I'll laugh with you
Until it's Christmas in the room
Until it's Christmas in the room

Oh, I can see the day when we'll die
But I don't care to think of silence
For now, I hear you laughing
The greatest joy is like the sunrise

No gifts to give, they're all right here
Inside our hearts the glorious cheer
And in the house we see a light
That comes from what we know inside

I'll come to you, I'll sing to you
Like it's Christmas in the room
I'll dance with you, I'll laugh with you
Until it's Christmas in the room
Until it's Christmas in the room

Like it's Christmas in the room
Like it's Christmas in the room

Aliens and Zombies at Christmas? This one I have to dedicate to my best friend Laurie.

♫ I Want an Alien for Christmas - Fountains of Wayne
♫ Night of Christmas Zombies - MxPx
♫ Gotta Get Up - Five Iron Frenzy
♫ Merry Christmas I don't Want to Fight Tonight - The Ramones
♫ Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day (Well You Deserved It) - Sufjan Stevens

Joy, Spirit, Sadness - This is Christmas, One Song at a Time

I thought I would highlight the days passing through the holidays till Christmas with some of my favorite festive (or not so festive as the case sometimes is) songs.

Here's the king of non-traditional Christmas kitsch, “I Want an Alien for Christmas”. One of my long-standing favorites at almost any time of the year for it's sheer mix of catchy, pop-rock, brilliance. Asking Santa for “a little green guy about 3 feet high” may not be your heralding of the Christmas spirit, but I can't imagine it not bringing you a bit of fun and merriment. And if the guys belting this little rock gem sound familiar it's because you've likely heard the underrated band Fountains of Wayne sing the one-hit-wonder, “Stacey's Mom”. I believe IWAAFC originally appeared as a vinyl single (future Christmas present anyone?) and is hard to come by. But thankfully the song can be downloaded and heard for many more Christmas' to come.

The next song in my trek down the land of holiday novelty uniqueness is, “Night of the Christmas Zombies” by constant pop-punkers, MxPx. This one I heard for the first time just a few weeks ago, and it's bizarre mix of Zombies, Rock&Roll, and Christmas. Though not as hook laden as some of their album classics, it's undeniably original and something only them and perhaps a few other bands (The Cramps perhaps?) could pull off.

Both of these songs I'm personally dedicating to my best friend since grade school. A person who since grade school has wanted an alien for Christmas. Of course as she's progressed and grown in life, she'd now prefer the Klingon variety over the tiny green guys.

In the interest of moving things along, I'm adding a few other ruckus and joy songs to round things out. Five Iron Frenzy's “Gotta get Up”. A song so filled with child-like joy it's musically bursting it at the seams. And this one you can tap your toes to and dance around the Christmas Tree.

I've also added The Ramone's “Merry Christmas I don't want to Fight Tonight”. And to counteract, the jovial pretenses of putting aside differences for the Holidays, I've included Sufjan Steven's “Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day (well you deserved it). It's best to approach Steven's somber and sad-sacked Christmas' songs by first reading some of his reflections of Christmas' past that are included in the liner-notes of Songs for Christmas.

♫ Christmastime - The Smashing Pumpkins
♫ Christmas Song - Dave Matthews with Tim Reynolds

Joy, Spirit, Sadness - This is Christmas, One Song at a Time

I thought I would highlight the days passing through the holidays till Christmas with some of my favorite festive (or not so festive as the case sometimes is) songs.

Diverting from the usual fair, I had to include this breezy, almost transcendental, modern classic from my favorite band of all time.

Keeping in the traditions of all time favorite bands, here's the lead singer of my other favorite band of all time, Dave Matthews. A number of key recordings (outside bootlegs) of the Christmas Song are available, but one of my favorites has been the live collaboration with Tim Reynolds.

It breaks all the conventions of what a Christmas song should be. It's a bleak, partly cynical, almost agnostic, interpretation of Christianity, yet a bravely spiritual and honest song that looks not merely at Christ's birth but the life he led up to his death and past his resurrection (though Dave never actually refers to his resurrection or that Jesus is the son of God). It sets the dichotomy that comes from Christ's life, history and faith. And intertwines it with the introspective contemplation of how it all impacts our own reflections and questioning in our personal walk with God.

♫ Christmas is Going to the Dogs - The Eels

Joy, Spirit, Sadness - This is Christmas, One Song at a Time

I thought I would highlight the days passing through the holidays till Christmas with some of my favorite festive (or not so festive as the case sometimes is) songs.

This song is approved by Veronica Mar's dog Backup. My cat Brenda however is plotting my demise over including this song. But sometimes I think she's plotting my demise regardless.

It's the Eels. It's on The OC's Chrismukkah Mix. What's not to love?

Coming soon, special dedications and you guessed it, more Sufjan Stevens.

Now to Photoshop to work on that pesky header for daretodair. If only I could commit to a concept and design.

♫ The First Noel - Sufjan Stevens
♫ The First Noel - Bright Eyes

Joy, Spirit, Sadness - This is Christmas, One Song at a Time

I thought I would highlight the days passing through the holidays till Christmas with some of my favorite festive (or not so festive as the case sometimes is) songs.

I traditionally approach modern, mainstream and often even indie, renditions of Christmas hymns with disdain. So lacking in honest vulnerability, let alone any spiritual validity. That said, if Weezer singing "O Come all Ye Faithful" or the latest pop star belting "O Holy Night" turns your crank, hop over to your nearest mall for some ear candy during your shopping stroll.

Christmas is a essentially important time for me as Christian. That said, even those who celebrate the fleeting charms in the general holiday spirit deserve authenticity. Here's two renditions of "The First Noel" that manage to achieve that. And before you think you'll be hearing more of the same, each version offers distinctive characteristics while uniquely complimenting each other.

Plus, Sufjan Stevens "Songs For Christmas" collection may be the most important collection of Christmas music from this decade; but more on that later. And more from that later too.

I'm part of a narrowing group who still rides the long, often tireless roads of Gossip Girl. Ever-winding, yet often tiresome and out right boring. Yet in the span of two episodes something shifted rather swiftly and surprisingly.

( Care to travel onward? Warning; mild spoilers and light speculation ahead. )

♫ Last Christmas - Jimmy Eat World [covering Wham!]

Joy, Spirit, Sadness - This is Christmas, One Song at a Time

I thought I would highlight the days passing through the holidays till Christmas with some of my favorite festive (or not so festive as the case sometimes is) songs.

I call it one of the worst Christmas song ever when preformed by Wham!, but Jimmy Eat World's earnest and vulnerable rendition scores with me ever year since I first heard it. Another staple from The OC's Chrismukkah album but oddly I can't connect it with a single scene or the series as a whole. It's just one of holidays musical pleasantries. Simple, but true.

* My apologies for not having the actual songs available. My intention was to link to mine and other's Tumblr posts where the songs could be played. But with Tumblr currently down this hasn't been an option. I'll edit posts to include links to the songs as soon as Tumblr is back up and running.

Now, off to watch Gossip Girl. Dan and Blair call to me.

♫ Blue Christmas - Bright Eyes [covering Elvis Presley]

Joy, Spirit, Sadness - This is Christmas, One Song at a Time

I thought I would highlight the days passing through the holidays till Christmas with some of my favorite festive (or not so festive as the case sometimes is) songs.

My first selection is dedicated to all of my O.C. fans past and present. I just watched that seminal episode, "The Best Chrismukkah Ever" this evening and it remains one of those great holiday traditions for us. Truth be told though, this song has been hummed from my lips long before we sat down to watch the episode tonight.

Past generations will no doubt long to hear the classic song as sung by Elvis, but for me this is the version that will for years to come bring me a little extra holiday happiness (ironic considering the song's message) and fond reflections of cops, Wonder Woman, Ryan, the Balboa Heights and a little holiday called Chrismukkah.

The first return of the new television season has arrived for me tonight. Gossip Girl! And while I await the rest of my returning faves I'm struck with all the new shows that I have no invested interest in at all. Help me out here. What should I be giving a chance? New shows only please. I don't like jumping in on later seasons.

I missed hitching a ride on the main syndication train for The Big Bang, but I do plan on watching it on Comedy [Canada] when it starts up on the 20th. I look forward to seeing what everyone has been talking about.

1 ⁞ This community ask_her_dancing, and its related tumblr, has been bringing me the Dan Humphrey and Blair Waldorf awesome for weeks! Much like the tumblr I run for The O.C.'s Seth Cohen and Marissa Cooper, scene contortions, and other great manipulations abound providing a great breeding ground for our imaginations to run wild.

2 ⁞ CTV's later showing of Degrassi Takes Manhattan reinstated to me many things, the most of all being that un-conventionalism when done with appropriate characterization can actually be good. Granted the writers choice in bringing Emma Nelson and Gavin 'Spinner' Mason together was met with challenges, many of which were evident on screen. But I was struck by the common threads in their personality and life goals. And yes, they did have chemistry. The end results were painfully rushed and the wedding a tad impromptu, but it was equally wondrous and sweet.

3 ⁞ I celebrated my Grams-In-Law's birthday this past Sunday. It's great when generations of families can get get together in love and support. And she turned 98!

4 ⁞ All my girls who are keeping the Seth Cohen and Marissa Cooper UC ♥ alive have been making this past month for me. I adore you all for seeing past the surface context of the show's four season run and embracing the awesome and epic potential these two had ever since "The Model Home".

Preview ⁞
Fandom(s) ⁞ Gossip Girl [Chuck Bass and Blair Waldorf, SE4 Promo]
Notes ⁞ Icons from one of the SE4 promos (CB spoilers!). Self-capped from uploaded promo so adjust your picture quality expectations.
Quick Rules ⁞ 1. Please credit lasha4god via the lj user tag or direct link. 2. All graphics are for personal use. Should you wish to post in bulk, or upload to a fan site please let me know before hand. So long as credit is given I'm usually fine with fan art, and wallpapers being used in fan-site galleries. I would prefer that icons not be posted, but it never hurts to ask. I might change my mind. =;) 3. Never direct link / hot-link. In short upload to your own albums, servers, etc. and link from there. I don't take kindly to bandwidth theft. 3. Comments and feedback are ♥! Advanced thanks for taking the time out to let me know what you think.
( All icons under cut. )