top ten albums of 2011.

i was just looking at my "top ten albums" posts of the last 3 years. each year i say this is one of my favorite posts to share, so i suppose i'll say it again: "this is one of my favorite posts to share." truth. i love critiquing music. i love analyzing music. the chord structure, the lyrics, the movement of the bass, the harmonies, and so on. i do not claim to be an expert. however, i do claim to know a few things about music...i would sure hope so (insert $$$$ for music degree here).

typically, it is difficult for me to narrow a plethora of adored albums into a "top ten." this year was no different. so, without further rambling of sorts, here are my top ten albums of 2011, in no particular order:

1. Wilco - The Whole Love
2. My Morning Jacket - Ciruital
3. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
4. Feist - Metals
5. Radiohead - King of Limbs
6. Ivan and Aloysha - Fathers Be Kind
7. The Civil Wars
8. Wye Oak - Civilian
9. Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto
10. Explosions in the Sky - Take Care, Take Care, Take Care

honorable mentions to:

--The Waiting Kind (ok, it's my husband's band so i can't put them in my top ten, right? they really are in my top ten...i just didn't want to be that wife)
--Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues
--David Bazan - Strange Negotiations (his albums are usually on my top ten - and i love this one)
--St. Vincent - Strange Mercy (that Annie is ridiculously talented)
--James Vincent McMorrow - Early in the Morning (this record was released in 2010, but i didn't start listening until this year - otherwise it would have been in my top ten)
--Adele - 21 (i realize this album should be in my top ten. the truth is, i have only listened to it a few times. it's good. real good. i just didn't have time to fall in love with it, yet)

white and serene.

I would like to live here...



...and frolic here...



...and make a snow angel here.




via: depositphotos.com, brightnepenthe.blogspot.com, and blog.thomaslaupstad.com

from classy to zombie.

well, the last two years of Halloween costumes couldn't be more different. i really do enjoy dressing up for Halloween...the mister, not so much - BUT, i have successfully gotten him to dress up for two years now! good job me!

Halloween 2010, we decided on Mad Men. we absolutely love the show so it just made sense. we were going to go as Don and Betty Draper but it ended up being more like Betty Draper and her beatnik boyfriend. plus, we didn't really have to dress up that much - we wear these clothes anyway....cheating, i know.





...cut to Halloween 2011. what costume can you come up with in a matter of a few hours? why, hipster zombies of course.


here we are in our hipster zombie glory.


some wonderful friends and myself Halloween partyin' on Harrison Boulevard.


got home and realized i should have been Beetle Juice...maybe next year...

what a busy, lovely life.

hellllooooooo. the Henbests have had such a fun month. gosh it's been busy, but i wouldn't change a thing. i thought i would share some of the things we have been up to...pictures via Instagram.




a few weeks back we headed to my family's cabin. love that place more than words, srsly.



we inherited this incredible dining set from our great aunt Rae. it is gorgeous. she has had it since the 1940's. WINNING.



well, you see, m'man and i have this little folk side project we have been working on for the past few months. we were supposed to play a show as A Humble Tumble (our folk side project's name) for the first time - and then something came up for the man. soooooooo, i played by myself. me and guitar. by myself. with a guitar. ok, i've played guitar for about 7 years now - but playing in my classroom and every once in a while in a worship set or a show doesn't really count as being a good "guitarist" - so naturally, i was scared to death. i practiced until my calluses had calluses. thankfully, it went really well! phew. also, it was fun to play a few Humble Tumble songs. can't wait to play out more - WITH MY HUZ (that yelling is for him to read).



keeping my family close as i headed to Flying M to play. grandma's shoes. skirt made by my little sis.



i had my first program! i am SO proud of my 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders - they performed so well. i know i've said it a million times but honestly, i love my job.



my husband's band, The Waiting Kind, played at Fall to Worship. they did an amazing job!



our friend Nathan had a birthday! these pretty gals could dance every day all day.



our friend Jeremy Coverdale had a birthday!



Anniversary celebration day! Big City Coffee/Urban/Anthro/Bookstores/Chapala. m'huz bought me some lovely things at Anthropologie. it was a wonderful day.



3 years! i didn't know it was possible to love someone as much as i love him.



neon socks. that's fun.



teaching my 1st graders about this genius.




listening. love these records. Radiohead/Lotus Flower and My Morning Jacket/Circuital.





got my new 70's inspired geometry dress from Red Velvet Shop! can't wait to wear it.



Uncle D and Rhett and some serious Lego time.

new.

Well, as always, I am thee worst blogger. but, I'm blogging tonight and that is all the matters, right? right.

I meant to write a blog a few months back about leaving my last school (Rolling Hills Public Charter School) of 3 years, but never got around to it. It was a really tough decision but I did what was in my (and m'man's) best interest. That is not to say I won't miss the administration, teachers, and kids - I will and already do! The last day of school in May was full of hugs and tears. Rolling Hills will always be a place of fond memories. It really was a great 3 years.

My new adventure is at Legacy Charter School. I started teaching last week! I know, school already?! This school is on a modified year round schedule so the dates are a bit different than other schools. I am loving it, to say the least. I couldn't feel more blessed to be a part of this team. I can already tell I am going to love working here!

Obviously, teaching at a new school means I have a new classroom! This was very exciting to me. I tried to take a few pictures of the process of putting my room together -- from the first time I walked in the doors of my room, to hauling all of my stuff in (mass chaos, anyone?), to putting up my vinyls. Disclaimer: I think it is hard to decorate a music room without being super cheesy! I tried to keep some of my style in it - I didn't really have a say in the essentials that were put in the room but I'm grateful to have the essentials (that is for darn sure). I'm sure the room will be constantly changing throughout the year. Cheers to another great year of teaching music - I love my job!

Greater stronger (acoustic) - The Waiting Kind

after one of my husband's shows the other night, the bass player and i took this video of one of the songs that is going to be on The Waiting Kind's new record - coming out this fall! it's an acoustic version so obviously the one on the album will be different - but it's pretty great nonetheless. you should watch, ok? ok!

#katiesshoez. from Instagram.

teal socks. grandma's shoes.



K for Katie.



shoes c/o Modcloth.



military boots. the coolest classroom carpet.



polka dot tights. my mister and I in UO boots.


yellow tights. UO boots.


white legs. white shoes.


theme park feet. California Adventure.