I should state right up front that I hesitated in watching this movie forever. I was sure I wouldn’t like anything about it – the story line, the acting and especially the music.

I was wrong on all accounts – especially the music.

Maybe it’s because I’m a huge Smiths fan or the fact they included a few more favourite artists like She & Him and Carla Bruni, but I love this soundtrack in its entirity – rare for me with a CD let alone a soundtrack. It’s a great puttering-around-the-house, driving up the coast, chilling on a Sunday, background music for a friendly get together playlist.

And if you don’t feel it during Hall & Oats, then this is totally not the CD for you.

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There’s studies and brilliant, successful people who swear that classical music helps them think better and work harder. And a part of me believed this but a bigger part was always really annoyed by a lot of classical stations and CD’s. It ain’t all nice. Ever been in a quiet state and then hear timpanies crashing? Or styles being changed up when you don’t want it to? Sometimes, it’s just plain hard to get into a groove to classical.

That’s why I love these CD series – especially the Bach for Book Lovers (although Mozart at Midnight is a close second). This CD is a wonderful companion whilst writing articles – when I need to concentrate on my work but need a little something to help me along. It’s soothing yet energising. All the songs are the same style which means no drums are going to crash you out of your zone.

BUY AT: Amazon

You may or may not know, but I’ve run a company called “Girl at Play” since 2001. My first year was hard financially and emotionally because I had no idea what I was doing. All I knew is that I wanted to do something other than work in corporate America.

I bought every book you can imagine on business and creativity but I was always left feeling either confused, overloaded, or with a sick feeling in my stomach. Why? I’m creative but I don’t do boas or write in felts. I’m not one to gush about being juicy and thinking that’s enough to get me by. But also, I’m not into a stifled work routine or learning numbers and basically feeling as though I’m in a 1, 2, 3 step business box. I couldn’t find a book that spoke to the creative entrepreneur that I was – a book that was smart, interesting, funny, understandable, helpful, doable and above all, written by people who lived what they preached.

So imagine how happy I was to discover that two talented, amazing, wonderful, smart, business savvy ladies that I know were writing a book called, The Boss of You. Emira Mears and Lauren Bacon are the perfect people to write the perfect business book because they run a successful graphic design business and know what it takes to start a company, maintain and grow it, enjoy it and deal with everything that comes your way when you are the boss of you. And they know how to do it with style, grace, humour, attention and smarts.

They don’t talk down, it’s not a “womens” book with silly tricks that don’t work but tips, ideas, and lessons learned that are extraordinarily useful, practical and simple. I only wish I had this book when I first started – it would have saved me so much time and money on buying and reading other books. It also would have helped me to get to where I am faster and with far less stress.

If you’re thinking of starting a business or you’re already self-employed, I urge you to buy this book because it honestly will help you get your feet off the ground. And when you’re leaping into the world of self-employed, you need all the help you can get.

BUY AT: Amazon

I’ve been in a very hectic, overloaded, somewhat chaotic state as of late (and by ‘as of late’ I mean months). I needed to slow down and just fall in-love with the world again and I needed some theme music to help me do this. Something I could play late at night whilst writing that wouldn’t be intrusive but move me along gently. And perhaps, if possible, swoon just a little.

Ingrid Michaelson’s The Way I Am worked perfectly this but I was in need of more than a 2 minute song to cancel out the craziness of two months. Searching her on iTunes lead me to her duet Sky with Joshua Radin. So I started previewing his music and adding each song to the cart – something I never do. But sure enough I had added his entire album.

The best way for me to describe is softly sweet. It’s not sickly, not syrupy. It’s not overloaded or underdone. It’s just perfectly charming, sweet music to remind me of simpler times, of prettier times and that swooning by music is indeed, possible.

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Do you like Veronica Lake curls, red lipstick, dresses and dancing close to someone in a way that doesn’t resemble drunken bedroom antics? Then this might be the CD for you.

My best girlfriend introduced me to it when after a dance class (filled with IN YOUR FACE, MOVE THAT ASS music) I got into her car and it was playing. It was soothing – soothing for after class or driving home in LA traffic.

Benny Goodman, Glen Miller, and Duke Ellington are just a few of the bands performing on this CD that’ll transport you back into time (and into a better mood- who doesn’t swoon to “I’ll be seeing you?”). I confess that I’m a bit of an old-fashioned girl when it comes to music so this is right up my alley but it’s classic enough to stand the test of time and not be boring to someone who wants to shake their money maker. You just might want to shake it in a different way after listening to this.

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One of my favourite things to give is mixed tapes (I am from olden times so I still refer to them as “mixed tapes”). The only thing, however, is that they’ve never really been the prettiest gift to give. Those label printing products never really turned out right on my computer and the CD cases were always ugly and the paper never really fit. Despite putting together fun, fitting music, the packaging of it often left me frustrated and wanting something more.

Luckily, this pretty little CD Packaging Kit from Chronicle Books makes packaging your CD’s as quick & simple as making them! And pretty? With 25 CD decorated labels in 5 different charming patterns, 25 CD sleeves in two designs, 3 pages of stickers to help put it all together, let’s just say you and your friends will be playing and petting them.

Now I must make my next CD “Shake That Ass Volume 1″ and put it in the pretty white bird with heart sleeve. That seems to match, no?

BUY AT: Amazon

I haven’t seen the film and I haven’t heard anything about it, let alone the soundtrack. All I knew was that the people in the film were actual Irish musicians and why that made me buy the CD, I’ll never know. And listening to it, it’s not something I’d normally listen to let alone adore. But I do. It’s been on repeat for the last week.

My favourite songs by far are Falling Slowly and Once. They’re beautifully written, simply sung with just the bare amount of instruments. The songs, to me, seem like conversations and the emotion in the seem so pure and strong. It’s unlike anything else I’ve got so it’s quite a nice addition to my musical collection.

Now I’ve just to see the movie!

BUY AT: Amazon

I’m actually not one to celebrate Valentines Day but when I saw this book I thought that perhaps this year I’ll get myself a Valentine if only to give them this book.First of all, The Color of Love is a wonderfully large hardcover book that’s tucked into a beautiful hard case. It’s also an extraordinarily beautiful book because of the warm, colourful pages that were once hand made and silk-screened. The poems (from writers such as Porter, Shakespeare and Rumi) are handwritten and range from sonnets to odes to haiku’s.

Not only is the book beautiful, but also it’s unique which is what I think a Valentine ought to be.

BUY AT: Amazon & Anthropologie

BUY AT: Ex Libris Anonymous

What do you do with old 50’s style hard cover books? If you’re Jasmine Deatherage you turn them into journals! Using the front and back cover of various old-school books along with very weighty, acid free blank paper (perfect for journaling/collaging), Jasmine create a wonderfully unique, personal (and often cheeky) hand bound spiral journal book that’s the perfect gift for the person who has everything.

My favourite bits about the books are the found objects and notes on pages from the original book that are included randomly throughout the newly created journal (you with me on following that?) Basically, pages from the original book that might have things such as library cards, inscriptions, doodles, and funny pictures are incorporated into the new blank journal, creating a place for new pages whilst retaining some of the old.

And I can’t think of a better way to make something old new again.

BUY AT: Amazon

There are numerous books on green living (and I think I went through 4.56 bazillion million of them) as there are on housekeeping. Do not buy any of them. Not even Martha. Because I promise you, this is the only book you’ll need.

I’m not going to go mix oils and say a prayer to clense my space. Nor am I going to make a shelving unit for 32 kinds of bleach to clean my clothes so that I can iron them all perfectly. I’m one who likes a clean home, without chemicles but I confess to being a little bit lazy and a cringer at anything “new agey.”

This book is just a very simple, really well explained book on how to keep a home. From how to keep your plumbing going, to keeping floors (hard wood and carpet) clean, to bugs and how a dishwasher works and clothing care and well, everything.

It’s all so simply explained but what I really love is that it’s such a unisex book. It’s all just matter of fact but written in a very interesting way so that you don’t feel intimidated or that it’s a “girl” chore or a “boy” chore. It provides information on why bleach is bad and alternatives. It explains how things work and what to do about it. It’s honestly the only home book I keep now and has answered so many questions (and ones I didn’t even know I had!)

It’s a must for anyone who has a home or flat and has a little interest in cleanliness. So that should hopefully mean you!