Los Angeles, Ca
I know everyone else is geeking out about the new Paramore that just dropped, but I need to give it a few more listens before recommending anything off of it.
This week's 6-Pack is pretty dang pop-punk. We have new Belmont, a more alternative track from Young Lincoln and a new single from Broadside. This week's list is less that 20 minutes! Perfect for doing some quick errands around the house before relaxing on the couch!
Music saves.
-YourFriendMatt
Secret ingredient...
"Pretty sure I have 3rd degree burns." - Me
I am a very lucky guy. Jamie handles all meals in this house. She is just better at it and enjoys cooking. Every once in a while I find myself trying to impress her with my culinary skills. I have a handful of dishes I can pull off when I try. My pancakes? Get out of town, they are incredible. This past week I had a day off, and it was raining. Perfect chilly weather day for some chili (see what I did there?). I have a few different types of chili I like cooking. We have varying tastes when it comes to food. I can't get my food spicy enough where as she likes to do something she calls "actually tasting the food." So I decided to meet in the middle and use my basic chili recipe with a little heat; and a little Pabst. Making this chili is SUPER easy, hence why you can do it while drinking. *thumbs up emoji*
Without sounding like a pretentious dickhead, I try to use as many organic ingredients as I can (disregard the Pabst). Gather your ingredients and place the ground beef in a large pot and toss in the garlic. Cook over medium heat until browned, takes about 15 minutes. You can drain off the excess fat, but sometimes I do not, up to you. If I am using a leaner meat without a ton of excess fat I leave it; I think it adds some richness. Pour in the tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, some red pepper flakes, and cayenne. Stir together well, cover, and then reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes or so. If the mixture becomes overly dry, add 1/2 cup beer.
After an hour, place the masa harina (essentially corn flour, but hey, were getting worldly over here) in a small bowl. Add 1/2 cup of beer and stir together with a fork. It thickens up quick so act fast! Transfer the masa mixture into the chili. Stir together well, and then taste to add any additional seasonings. This is where I usually go nuts and start adding jalapeños, a canister of red pepper flakes, and every other source of heat I have in the house, but I wanted Jamie to enjoy dinner with me, so I kept it pretty tame today. Add more masa paste or beer to get the chili to your preferred consistency. Add the beans and simmer for 10 minutes! Done! Bowl that beast - top it with cheese - get classy and throw some lime slices or some tortilla chips around and you got yourself a nice rainy-day chili!
The goods:
2 pounds ground beef
2 cloves garlic, chopped
One 15-ounce can tomato sauce
2 tablespoons chili powder or to taste
1 tablespoon of red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground oregano
1 teaspoon salt or to taste
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup masa harina
One 15-ounce can kidney beans
One 15-ounce can pinto beans
Shredded Cheddar, for serving, topping, or throwing around
Tortilla chips, for serving and throwing around
Lime wedges, for serving and throwing around
-YourFriendMatt
This week we have a bunch of new pop-rock, groovy jams to get you through your Friday. Found NY duo Super American this week and love their new single "Sloppy Jazz." Reminiscent of a late 90's or early 00's vibe. We also have an instrumental rock track from Alpha Male Tea Party, the punk rock styling of Forever Unclean, plus a few alternative-indie cuts.
-YourFriendMatt
“Damn it! I stapled my finger!” - Me
I love gardening. And now, I have my own home! This spring and summer are our first as homeowners. We are slowly but surely making our home more ours every month. Now that Spring is officially here I wanted to ensure we were outfitted with an exquisite garden. I also wanted to try some things I have not done yet in my agricultural career. Maximizing space (and possible mobility?) is important to me so I did some research on how I can get more vegetation per square foot and pallet gardens seemed like a modern new gardening technique to try.
Pallets are cheap, if not free, and they are typically the correct root depth for more shallow-rooted plants, like herbs, when laid flat or stood up. I attached some photos and details below if you want to give it a try!a
STEP 1!
Take your pallet and lay that bastard down on the ground. Wrap the gardening fabric (I got mine for $5 at Dollar General) around the back, sides and bottom of the pallet. You want to make sure the fabric is tight. Now - Staple the crap out of that thing. Pretty sure I used half a box of staples and I did 3 layers of fabric around the back, sides and bottom of my pallet.
Once you have multiple layers of fabric on your pallet it should look something like this along the back and 3 sides of it. You can now lay it down and fill it with soil and your seed or starter plants.
STEP 2!
I found it was easiest to lay the pallet down and fill it with soil, then put my starter plants in and then prop it up. Whatever works for you.
STEP 3!
I plan on getting few more starters herbs in there. I like the mobility of this type of garden. We have only been in Nashville for a few months and I am not sure how much sun my backyard will get since we have a few trees back there. This garden can be moved pretty easily if it is not getting enough sun. Let me know how yours turns out!
Materials:
Wood Pallet - You can probably get one for free on a local Wal-Mart or Mall loading dock.
Staple Gun and a SHIT load of staples.
Roll of garden fabric
3-4 bags of top soil
Herb seeds or herb starter plants
Scissors
Time
-YourFriendMatt
Gardening so hard...
This list starts a little polished and ends a little indie! Perfect for driving home into the weekend!
We have some (NEW) New Found Glory, Carousel Kings, Columbus and most importantly a new fast-paced Descendents track!
All proceeds from Descendents track will benefit the ACLU, Planned Parenthood & the SPLC. I am not usually one to get caught up with any political affiliations or what is right...but this just seems right. Feel free to download it here and help!
Music Saves. Listen, share and enjoy!
-YourFriendMatt
From the Porch...
(Finally) New Paramore! This week's list makes you tap your toes, snap your fingers, and dance the day away!
This new Paramore track is different from what we have come to expect, but damn, it's good. Check it out!
This playlist also includes some very groovy vibes from Table Talk and Mom Jeans, as well as a new somber track from Have Mercy.
Music saves. Listen, share and enjoy!
-YourFriendMatt
I have absolutely no idea what I am doing...
"Oh shit, it's bleeding! Grab me a towel! And a beer!" - Me.
No household project is complete without some bloodshed. Nothing a beer can't fix.
Recently the weather has changed, and it has led Jamie and me from the black hole we get sucked into, most commonly known as the couch and Netflix, to adventure out and about through Nashville. Everyone in our neighborhood seems to be shaking the coat of winter off and working in their yards. We were inspired to start sprucing up home after a neighborhood walk. After watching some YouTube videos, we got an over-eager sense of confidence that led us to believe we could do just about any project no matter how big or small. Fix the sink? Check. Put in a raised garden? Check. Put on a glass storm door? Check. Fix and replace specific parts of the dishwasher? Uh, probably? Check. Rip up the walkway and put in a new one? Sure! That should only take me a minute! Check.
We decided the front door and the raised garden were the starting points this season. These two tasks seemed moderately simple; we have the tools to get it done, and are pretty cost effective starting points as far as home projects are concerned. After some more YouTubing, we were ready. We hit the hardware store, got what we needed and we were on the way.
Honestly, I wish I had a funnier story but putting on a storm door is a pretty straight forward process. It took me about 2 1/2 hours to install. I did hurt myself and left a little blood on the porch, but it was worth it. Any job worth doing is worth doing without any knowledge of safety.
When all was said and done this project was pretty cheap, and it added a bunch of light to our living room. This door also added value (at least for us) to our home and gave me a sense of pride. I mean just watch the video below.
-YourFriendMatt
Los Angeles, CA
I don't think this weeks playlist can get any more pop-punk. We have some catchy new jams for you; including the kings of pop-punk, New Found Glory, the Brooklyn-based stylings of The Traditional (very reminiscent of The Wonder Years), along with new Direct Hit! Plus a bonus 30-second track...
Music save. Listen, share and enjoy!
-YourFriendMatt
Santa Monica, CA
Spring is here and so are 6 new jams I found this week!
I am feeling a little (second) home sick, especially with Spring in Nashville. Today I am missing rides on my bike at the beach, stopping to read a borrowed book from the library, and the cool, morning wind on my face. But, these new tracks from The Flatliners, A Will Away, Free Throw and Dozer TX are helping my commute into work this morning!
-YourFriendMatt
This is 30.
I found some new songs from some new artist this week, and I am pumped about it! Take a listen to the pop-rock stylings of the UK's Shanghai Blues and the poppy single from Sundressed. There is also a new track from Relient K, who never disappoint. A melodic track from my hometime friends in Philadelphia, Cold Climb It. And if that's not enough we have new music from Pet Symmetry...finally!
-YourFriendMatt
Blink 182! Minus the Bear! The Maine! Oh my!
100% unedited
I have been sleeping like crap lately. I have no idea what is going on, but that does not stop Jamie and me from playing one of our favorite games. When either of us passes out on the couch, we steal each other's phones and take pictures of how great we both look sleeping. Here I am the other night. What makes this better is that you do not tell the other person to know you took their photo and let them find it on their own. I opened up my phone yesterday to show someone something for work and boom; there I am passed out, drooling on the couch.
I suggest you play. It's great.
-YourFriendMatt
Happy St. Patrick's Day! Here is this the newest installment of the 6-Pack! New Found Glory will always have a special place in my heart and their new track does not disappoint! This week also includes catchy gems from The Bouncing Souls, Homebound and Can't Swim!
Music saves.
-YourFriendMatt
I did an experiment in February. I wanted to break my routines. For the last decade, I believe I have probably had at least one beer every day. It became routine. It took up time. Maybe it made me lazy when I could have been working on something. Although I do not classify myself as a lazy person, I wanted to know if there was more I could be doing instead of sitting on the couch having a brew.
There was a lot of personal growth over the last few years. I advanced in my career that moved us across the country twice, gone back to school full-time, cultivated a lifestyle of positivity, go to the gym a few times a week, launched a creative blog that I update weekly, curate and publish weekly playlists for emerging artists, and still actively perform music. Sounds like a lot, but maybe there is more.
By checking social media, scrolling through thousands of pictures for extended periods of time, sitting on the couch and enjoying an adult beverage, I wondered how that was adding anything positive to my life. I was looking for a reset and February seemed to be a perfect time. My birthday is January 31st, so figured I could go out with a bang on my birthday and start fresh on February 1st.
Breaking routines and mental queues is not easy, but I accomplished it. I went a full month with no social media, no credit cards and (strike up the band) no alcohol of any kind. Yikes. It was not as hard as I thought or seems. I found myself on my days off and weekends adventuring around Nashville a little bit more, taking up new hobbies, finding new restaurants and cafes instead of going to the local dive.
It was a great reset. I read more. I took up rock climbing. I took more walks and explored the neighborhood. I took my dogs out more. I engaged in more conversations and even forgot my phone twice when I went to work. My credit score went up, and I got caught up on some minor debts that I wanted to pay off. I saved a bunch of money that I would have used to grab some beer and paid off most of my Discover card. Unplugging was refreshing.
We are in March now, and I have noticed that a lot of the changes have impacted my routines. Since my February detox, I am more aware of how often I pick up my phone and check it for no reason at all. I have found myself in March just standing with my phone and wondering why I even picked it up. Going to the fridge and grabbing a beer or even buying beer isn't top of mind (for the most part - I love beer). It is interesting to see how a few minor changes can open your eyes and that is what I was looking to do in February.
I celebrated with friends on March 1st and went back to the bar. It was fun, and I do love having drinks with friends, sharing posts and photos and seeing less debt when I open up my financial apps. Now I am more conscience about how many times I am checking my phone. I feel I notice myself doing it less, reminding myself to put the phone down and look up to see the awesomeness that is going on around me.
Now, who wants to grab a beer?
-YourFriendMatt
Breaking and changing habits can be hard. If you want to see how many times you check your phone every day, download this app Checky. It may blow your mind.
Took some time off to get centered...so much music to catch up on and curate!
Here are some alternative-pop jams I found while I was away including The Maine, Bearings, The Menzingers and more!
Share. Listen. Enjoy!
-YourFriendMatt
This is 30.
I turned 30.
30, from what I am told, is a huge milestone in life. I haven't felt any different. I haven’t felt older than 17 since, well, I was 17. I have always been one of the youngest in my friend circle, but now the youngest is 30. Which is crazy to think about, especially when I look through our group texts it only consists of dick and fart jokes. How could we all be 30? Or at least 30? Homeowners? Business owners? Contributing members to society when we all still dick around so much? Like, way too much, and always take the joke way to far.
By the time my parents were 30, I could speak to them in full sentences and was doing homework. I, on the other hand, have moved across the country twice, lived in 3 states, and still have no idea what I want to do when I grow up. And, I don't mind that. I like adventuring. I like who I am, what I get to do daily and where I am with life.
It feels good. I like being 30 so far. There has been a bit of an awakening. I feel motivated to make some changes. I don’t know what those changes are yet, but I have a feeling I will know soon. I feel even more open to new experiences and ideas. I have always had a sense of confidence that has helped me get where or what I wanted out of life. 30 is going to be pretty rad.
Here’s to you 30! And all the up, downs, and b-sides that lay ahead.
***Question - Is it lay ahead or lie ahead?***
-YourFriendMatt
See? I can't even just look at the Pacific. I had to 'Go Live' for it.
I spend way too much time scrolling on my iPhone. When I calculate the time I spend looking through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and all the other time wasters I use too many times a day, it blows my mind. This February I will be taking a break from social media to lift my head from the screen to see whats going on around me. Who knows maybe I will write more, read more or even work on the book I swear I am going to finish. Maybe I will spend more time running, meditating, hiking, working on projects in the house, finding new restaurants or walking around the neighborhood. Maybe I will be completely lost and go through withdraw, who knows. This hiatus challenge I want to stick to and get plugged back into my surroundings instead of seeing what pop culture is up too. It’ll be interesting to hear about new music, movies, shows and other things I am interested in from my friends like I use to, rather than mindlessly scrolling through thousands of photo posts.
Let’s see what happens.
-YourFriendMatt
Mustache care is very important to me. You must have the right tools to ensure the success of your whiskers. It takes time and patience, but well worth the reward.
My great friend Tom from Pugilist sent me an awesome care package this week to make sure my handlebars are well maintained. Not only does Pugilist make malleable products for all kinds of men's grooming, it also makes my snot mop smell incredible. All day I enjoy the fresh scent of a citrus grove or cedar. Makes for a great day.
Check 'em out! They have tons of great info, tutorials and products!
-YourFriendMatt
Woke up this morning to the first snow fall I have seen in years. Hopefully this weeks installment of the 6-pack will warm up and calm down my morning commute! This week includes a new track from New Jersey's Dryjacket and some new undiscovered acts (at least to me) including The Obsessives, Direct Hit! and Dead to Me.
Listen, share, enjoy and be careful out there!
-YourFriendMatt
