Musical Christmas Cards

I've never given out Christmas cards so I'm really excited to do so this year. I've had this card set for a long time, waiting to use them for something and I figure Christmas is the perfect time. They aren't exactly "Christmas Cards" per-se, I don't really know what they are for actually, but they say lovely things, so I'm using 'em!

I really wanted to put Christmas mix-tapes or CDs in with the cards, but I can't justify spending so much on CDs when I can make a list on the internet for free. I came up with the perfect solution, QR codes! It's free and weighs basically nothing so you won't have to pay for shipping if you plan to mail your cards out.

To make your own Christmas card playlists just follow these easy steps.

YOU WILL NEED:

• Christmas cards
• Printer
• Scissors
• Glue Stick or sticker paper

I used Grooveshark to make my playlist. It's free, totally legal, and super easy to use. First you have to sign up and then you will be able to make your own playlists. They have tons of music so create to your hearts content, or you can use my playlist!

    

To get the QR code I used http://www.qrstuff.com/ If you don't know what a QR code is, it's basically a barcode that you can scan with your phone to send you to a specific website. To get your QR code just copy and paste the URL of your playlists page into the qr code generater at qrstuff.com. They'll quickly make you a QR code which you can then print out and cut out and paste on the inside of your card. The perfect little addition to make your Christmas cards extra special!

I would suggest checking the code with your phone before pasting on all your cards, you wouldn't want to accidentally send the card recipients to the wrong place! :P

I hope you enjoy this little tip! Feel free to share your playlist in the comments! ;) I love hearing new Christmas music!

XO_BITS

Life Works in Funny Ways

Last week as I was driving and listening to the radio, I thought to myself about how I haven't gone to any concerts in a while. As a young teenager this is all I seemed to do and would forgo pretty much any other offers to stand and watch my favorite musicians spill their souls out. I must have gone to at least 60 concerts between the ages of 14 and 17, some of which were multiple day-long music festivals where I would see upwards of 7 shows a day. I calmed myself down by realising that I always go see a show if it's one of my favs- I would never miss a Sufjan Stevens or Regina Spektor show, no 'maam.

I quickly got to thinking about how I had never seen Sigur Ros, an Icelandic band which is incomparable to any other. For one, they don't sing in English, or Icelandic really for that matter. They combine clever Icelandic wordplay with made-up syllables and words, using voice as another instrument along with flutes, trombones, violins, multiple drum kits, pianos, organs and electric guitar both the usual way and by violin bow and many others. This combination provides us with ethereal and emotional works of art that are almost inexplicably beautiful. 

Flash forward no more than three days and what do I see on my facebook newsfeed, an old friend of mine from highschool who I haven't talked to in over 3 years has this status, I kid-you-not: "Anyone want to see Sigur Rós with me on Monday? I have an extra ticket, let me know." The next day I was on my way to Deer Lake Park in Burnaby, heart thumping and ticket in hand.