Vinyl Veekend.

I will say organizing an album collection is one of the most entertaining activities to do on a chilly night. Usually when we go record shopping we'll buy one cheap record we've never heard of based solely on the hilarity of the album art...those are the most fun to listen to when deciding what to keep and what to sell.
Anyhoo, I got inspired to do a weekly post on an album(s) to buy if you collect. If you don't collect vinyl and you are a music junkie, I am taking this moment to strongly urge you to start. It's so rewarding, you can find so many cool nostalgic jams and if you invest in a vinyl from a more recent artist, they will almost always have a digital download.

This week: Miriam Makeba

Any of her albums will cheer you up. Also they will make you shake your money maker.  Love her. 

IFB's Links A La Mode!

I'm pumped like a pair of Reebok Pumps (I'm a child of the 90's, I like to pump it up: The Jams, my sneakers, etc.) to be a part of Independent Fashion Blogger's Links A La Mode weekly roundup! Side by side with 19 other totally rad bloggers. Explore the links below if you find yourself perusing the interwebs in a sleepy after lunch coma ;)

2013′s Beauty & Beyond

Edited By Taylor Davies

This week’s link submissions were still heavily focused on the year ahead. This tells me that perhaps more than ever, bloggers in the IFB community are motivated, driven and determined to make 2013 the best year fashion blogging has ever seen. By all accounts, it seems like you might be right. From digital clean-outs to bold beauty trends and embracing the color of the year – there’s a lot to be excited about – and blog along the way.

LINKS À LA MODE: THE IFB WEEKLY ROUND UP: JANUARY 10TH

• Coolsario: Color of 2013 – Emerald
• Hey Mishka: Refresh! A Digital Clean Out for 2013
• IFB: Fashion Photography Tips For Your Next Blog Photo Shoot
• Incognito: Daydreamer- The E-Shop That Brings Korean Fashion Home
• Fashion Moriarty: Nothing Suits me Like a Suit
• Lazycatstyle: Messi and His Polka Dots
• Mis Papelicos: Seapunk in Fashion
• My Fashion Insider: 5 Tips To Organize Your Make Up Essentials
• Penny For Your Shoes: Shoe Challenge 2012 – The Aftermath
• Professionally Petite: Cobalt & Blood Orange
• SecretStyleFile: Brighten Up Your January
• Stylecurated: Style x Sample Sales
• Style Sizzle: How To Get The Perfect Blowout, a Q+A with Alli Webb
• STYLONNYLON: Canon EOS M – The Fashion Blogger’s New Best Friend
• Sugar & Spice: Style Resolutions for 2013
• The Fluff Report: 5 Beauty Trends to Try in 2013
• The Girl With The Bun: What I Wore To Ring in 2013
• The Photogramps: All Ears
• Tricia Hall: What I Styled in 2012
• Undercover Dress-Up Lover: Baroque

SPONSOR:

Shopbop Swimwear: Kors shoes, Hanky Panky, TB Totes, YSL, BB Dakota, Joie flats, Wang Shoes, Kushcush, Stuart Weitzman, Happiness Tops

If you would like to submit your link for next week’s Links à la Mode, please register first, then post your links HERE where you see “Links a la mode next week’s date (official).” The HTML code for this week will be found in the Links a la Mode widget on the right side of the blog, and will be published later today. ~ Jennine

Supper at the Semrad's

On our trip back to Texas, Jonathan and I made SOLID plans to attend a dinner party at Paul and 

Sara Jane Semrad's. If you don't know, both members of this couple are kinda Dallas Dynamos. We were lucky enough to go to a lot of these parties when we lived there, and I miss them. They are down-right-proper-dinner parties, assigned seating and all! Not to mention the homemade food usually prepared by Paul, who was a personal chef in a past life. 

If you reside in Dallas and have not supped at the Semrad's, you're missing out. There are 3 things that will always happen at one of these gatherings:

You will eat delicious, creamy homemade hummus. 

You will find your handcrafted name tag on their dining room table amongst floral vintage plates and vintage linens, and that is where you will sit. 

You will meet an amazing person (most likely with a creative mind) you've probably never met before.

It's the last thing that I like most about their dinner parties. I think SJ plots out her seating arrangements with great care, placing name tags where she thinks the resulting conversation will be most amusing. 

Lastly, if you've never been to their house before, you will most likely get the "art tour" which coincides with your typical "house tour". Because of SJ's work and passion for artists and the scene (see: Art Conspiracy, La Reunion, KXT) their collection is pretty damn impressive. 

Homemade hummus and Paul and SJ at the head of the table as always...wearing their crowns from our New Year poppers, one placed at each seat.

New friends we met that night and Scott and Nicole Horn (one of the best looking/most artistically talented couples in Dallas. Really...cut it out guys). 

The name cards are always themed, and Eva (her daughter) usually makes them.  SJ showed us her collection of every single one ever crafted. My favorite was the cat butt theme...stickers....of cat butts. 

I'm not going to explain this one. 

Art Conspiracy on it's 8th year, yes?

SJ's vintage camera collection, and scattered holiday cards...GAH we get it guys, you have friends!

One of quite a few pets, including chickens. 

Eva likes to do drawings. Yuri likes to do legos...and tell jokes. 

Group shot: Way to get into it PAUL!

 Eva, girl genius, plays piano. 

I wish I had the gusto to pull off dinner parties like these. Do you do dinner parties? If so, how the EFF do you pull it off!??!