Kickass Women

History is filled with women doing all kinds of kickass stuff.

Smart Girls

Watch these girls... they're going places!

Inspiration

Need a dose of inspiration? Here you go.

SRPS Entertainment

Some of my entertainment recommendations with awesome female characters and stars.

She's Crafty!

Some of the awesome items made by kickass women!

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Music Break - Shirley Verrett

No More Slavery Chains For Me from Ann Foster on Vimeo.

 Shirley Varrett, "No More Slavery Chains For Me"

What a beautiful voice! 


Friday, June 21, 2013

Music Break - Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman


Just beautiful. There are no words.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Music Break - Marian Anderson


One of my all-time favorites. She brings such emotion to the song. It's heart-breakingly beautiful.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Music Break - Barbara Hendricks


A beautiful rendition. A beautiful voice.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Music Break - Mahalia Jackson


Such power! What a voice! What a gift!

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Music Break - Sister Rosetta Tharpe


If you've never heard the rockin' Sister Tharpe,
you need to fix that. ASAP.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Music Break - Lykke Li


I love the Stevie Nicks vocals on the Fleetwood Mac original.
This cover just makes the song even more beautiful, if that's possible.

(h/t to Pigeons and Planes for the link)

Friday, June 14, 2013

Music Break - Yuna



Another great voice bringing a new level of depth and meaning to an already-great song.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Music Break - Bat For Lashes



Her voice is hauntingly beautiful!

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Music Break - Queen Latifah



She's my queen.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Music Break - Rasputina



Slip on my old brown heels, put on a brand new skirt,
Get off early from work...

(h/t to Johnny Zed for the link that led to this link)

Monday, June 10, 2013

Music Break - Katzenjammer



Love this cover! Brings a whole new feeling to the original!

(h/t Jen Manna for the link that led me to this one)

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Music Break - Sophie Tucker


"You're not hasty, you're tasty,
And you enjoy things so much more."

Saturday, June 8, 2013

She's Crafty

Here's where I admit that my craft room is a disaster. It's looking more like the catch-all room rather than the beautifully-organized craft room of my dreams. I know why... it's because the last six months have been a mess of school and sick cat and sick me. But still, it's a little disheartening to know that any summer craft project will automatically require several hours of straightening and organizing and cleaning...

Anyway, enough about my non-problems. How about we talk about the awesome stuff I've found over the last couple of weeks of cruising the internet. Like this freakin' awesome hand-embroidered intergalactic thief rat badge from FionaBearClaw.


The fact that it also glows in the dark is just makes it more awesome!


How about this adorable little Megaman Crochet Doll from PixelBlock?
Steel isn't cuddly. That's a fact. And most of the time robot-exploding do-gooder blue androids aren't considered to be especially huggable either - until now.

This hand-painted Pacman shower curtain from CraftNerdy has my creative brain going. We need new curtains in our game room, and now I'm wondering what kind of classic arcade game designs I can come up with!


And this Ms. Pacman throw pillow is a perfect blend of adorable and awesome. I love the sequins and details! This is getting added to the growing game room crafts list!


If you know me, then you probably know that I have an apron addictions. I have lots of retro aprons, holiday aprons. Even a New Orleans Saints apron (thanks Mom!). But I don't have any aprons that are especially geeky, like these really super aprons from Darling Amy!


What are you crafting these days?


Music Break - La Roux


This song keeps coming up on my playlist. 
And I enjoy the heck out of it each time!

Friday, June 7, 2013

KickStart This!

So very many more great projects to consider this week! Movies, music, and loads of great books!

When I saw the description for June, Adrift: A Real Indie Feature (No Offense, Zach Braff), my very first thought was, I'd watch the hell out of that! We get so many stories about young men trying to find themselves, but very few about women trying to figure their lives out. When I was in my 20s, it would have been wonderful to have a library filled with stories about women facing the same conflicts I was. Heck, now in my 40s, I'd still like to have that library.
After a series of humiliating encounters with members of her parents' generation, Emma makes the impulsive decision to return to her parents' house, vacant while they are traveling for the summer, in order to complete a boat kit given to her by an uncle fifteen years ago. As her enthusiasm for the project snowballs, she accidentally collects two traveling companions in Liesl and Rachel.

I grew up in a house full of music of all kinds. Some of my most cherished memories are the family car trips where everyone would sing along with the radio, with my musically talented parents singing in beautiful harmony. I think that's where I developed my love of a cappella music. When I played the clip for Beyond All Reason: Raising The BAR I knew I had to have a copy of their album!
Beyond All Reason is Saint Louis University’s only all-female a cappella group. The group was founded in 2002 and has been entertaining the masses ever since. BAR regularly performs on SLU’s campus and hosts two concert extravaganzas a year. With a repertoire that spans all genres and includes songs ranging from "It's Time" by Imagine Dragons to "At Last" by Etta James.

I have to admit I haven't read much from the manga side of the book shelf. But I do know that it has been instrumental in getting many young people back into the habit of reading. So when I see a graphic novel or manga that tells a story of a kickass young woman, I'm going to throw my support behind it! Jade Dragon Book 1 looks like a good story for young people. And it's important to me that Kaida's character is show wearing sensible clothing and acting in a completely normal teenage fashion.
Kaida Suzuki is a fifteen year old orphan who was raised by monks at a secret dojo, hidden away in the mountains. Abandoned on the doorsteps of the dojo as a child, Kaida has grown up with only her Master, Sensei Shin, to call family. Shin has always known there was something special about this girl so he has trained her in combat since Kaida’s first steps. Kaida was living the normal teenage life; going to school, getting teased by other kids, learning martial arts and keeping secret crushes. All was calm until the one night that would change her life forever.

Well, the above sentiment also applies to fantasy books. Like Melissa Drake's Daughter of Mythos: What if all the myths were real? 
15-year-old Nora Salvatore's dream of a normal life and a permanent family are ripped from her as she's thrust into a world where myths and magic are the reality. When an evil wizard plans to unleash an army of demons on Earth, Nora's the only one who can stop him.

OK. Fine. It also applies to every other book out there. I know a couple of school-aged girls (and boys) who will likely getting a copy of Sage Carrington, Eighth-Grade Science Sleuth, Volume #2 in the coming year!
Sage Carrington is a 12-year-old girl who lives in Washington, D.C. She’s a science lover who enjoys exploring the wonders of our natural world. Along with her best friend Isabel Flores, Sage is a confident, curious amateur sleuth who lives in a thriving community that enables and encourages her pursuit of happiness.

What projects are you excited about lately?

Music Break - Heart


If the real thing don't do the trick
You better make up something quick

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Self-Rescuing Princess Music Break - Luch Spraggan


This song just makes me so happy!

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Music Break - Amy Winehouse



I hope she found the peace she was seeking.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Music Break - Sarah Vaughan



The incomparable Sarah Vaughan.

Monday, June 3, 2013

Self-Rescuing Princess Music Break - Eva Cassidy


A beautiful voice, gone too soon.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Self-Rescuing Princess Music Break - Billie Holiday


Something mellow for this Sunday afternoon.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Self-Rescuing Princess Music Break - Ella Fitzgerald


A little Samba on this Saturday afternoon!