For some reason lately, I’ve been on a real retro kick when it comes to my iPod. Looking back at my most ‘recently played’ list, every song comes from 1985 and before….and I wasn’t even born then. What can I say? I guess the combo of my recent break up and finals season makes me nostalgic.

Which brings us to this week’s pick….which may be a bit, uh, obvious? I mean, who doesn’t love The Beatles? Or, now that they’re on iTunes, not already have their entire catalog on their iPod?

Whatever. I figured this could be my opportunity to not only share my favorite Beatles album with you all, but also my favorite album of all time: Rubber Soul

About the Band: This category just seems silly for this band, so instead of giving you the usual rundown on John, Paul, George and Ringo, I thought I’d share some fun trivia. Did you know that while Paul was known as the lefty of the group, Ringo was left handed as well? When he joined the band, though, they only had a right handed set, so he just adapted.

Top 3 Tracks:

Norwegian Wood

Michelle

In My Life

Why You Should Listen to It:
There’s a reason the Beatles are known as the greatest band ever, and it’s because they were musical geniuses. Like all of their albums, Rubber Soul has a song for every mood, but mainly, this is my go-to album whenever I want to just chill out and relax. The best thing about it, though: you can sing along to every song on here, which is what we all need after a long day of studying, after a killer exam or when we’re packing up our things to go home at the end of another long and memorable school year.

Want more awesome iPod suggestions?

How many times a week a day do you Google yourself? An embarrassing amount, right? Almost as embarrassing as the amount of time I spend diagnosing myself with fatal diseases on WebMD. But when we’re not googling our own name and Facebook stalking our frenemies, we’re googling (and ogling) guys. Like, a lot. So we wanted to do a totally scientific study (please note that we did this research while also doing research on the effects of Four Loko on a professional work day) on the most googled guys on the internet. And we were SHOCKED by the results. Like apparently no one else is as into Barry Manilow as I am. But a lot of people are really into Ne-Yo. Who knew?! Now you do!

I was wrong.

Miss Nordstrom had swindled me into signing up for the real deal. Luckily, I only charged a good $110 to my new card (that’s sarcasm), however, in an effort to ensure that I never get myself into this kind of debt debacle again, I decided to stick to buying from people who understand what it means to be a struggling artist (er, writer, whatevs). So, I turned to the online shopping portal Etsy – my favorite place to spend time (& cash) on the internet.

For those of you who have been living under a rock (or without an internet connection or penchant for online purchasing), here’s some quick Etsy 411:

“Etsy is a website that provides the general public with a way to buy and sell handmade items as well as vintage items and craft supplies.” (Thanks, Wikipedia!) Basically, the site is chock full of handmade/eccentric goodies – from vintage handbags to hand sewn dresses, created by regular people like you (or the craftier version of you). A lot of the designers on Etsy keep it eco-friendly, too, which def gets a thumbs up from me.

But, if you’re a first time Etsy-peruser, it can be a little intimidating. So I’m here to break it down for you & showcase five of my favorite E-fashionistas. I found five sites that not only offer swoon-worthy threads, but are safe for your wallet (or Mom’s Visa bill).

1) Every Little Counts . Okay, okay. Screen-printed tees are a dime a dozen. But I’m a sucker for romance, and I lurrve the creative sayings that adorn these breezy tees & tanks, like “Feel Like Making Love,” “A Violent, Sensual, Sensitive Girl” and “I can’t fight this feeling.” Adorbs.

2) Sandmaiden. Sandmaiden is a little pricey, but the designs are unique and are made from all-natural fibers. Plus the clothes are SO. UNBELIEVABLY.COMFORTABLE. Not kidding. Just check out these little beauties and imagine how wonderful that organic cotton jersey blend would feel draped over your achy bod the morning after a night of heavy drinking. Even better? You’ll be the only girl on campus with one, since most pieces on the site are one -of-a-kind designs.

3) Maiden Rapture Vintage Okay, the goods in this shop aren’t all handmade, but who doesn’t love vintage cardigans, dresses, blazers and accessories? This site makes it easy peezy to find the perfect unique piece from the 50’s, 60’s or 70’s to add to your wardrobe. I’m obsessed with blazers and plaid lately, and I found plenty in this shop. And the prices are totes affordable.

4) Sarah Seven Made from recycled vintage and natural fabrics, Sarah Seven concocts clothes worth coveting (and saving beer money for). The shop offers dresses, skirts and shirts in “vintage-inspired” designs with a modern spin. Each piece is custom designed (you provide your measurements and bra size), so you know you’re getting a perfectly unique, tailored fit every time. Even if you don’t snag yourself a darling dress, the site is totally worth checking out just for the awesome photography. I want to believe that Miss Sarah Seven herself is the girl in the nerdy (yet somehow chic) green glasses, but I think that’s just because I’m sitting here wearing my coke-bottle glasses & feeling lonely. Oh — and 5% of each purchase is donated to charities. Cool.

5) 75Rabbit For the patchouli-applying hippie that exists in every college student, enter 75Rabbit. With “far out” designs & duds made from recycled pre-used fabrics, what’s not to adore? The only catch: The shop lists only one page of items at the moment. But the prices are reasonable & where the hell else are you going to find a flattering and totally unique dress with John Lennon’s face on it?! Nowhere.

I’ve shared some of my faves – now it’s your turn! Where do you shop on Etsy?

Ego and rock’n'roll usually go hand in hand, but there are certain artists who defy expectations in the douchebag department. Certain rockers who just can’t keep their mouths shut — whether there’s a stage mic or a report’s mic in front of them. Certain dudes who make our top 5 Cockiest Rocker Dbags.

5) Noel Gallagher

Remember this douche? Yah. Not many people do. For some reason Oasis is still making music, but the only thing we ever heard when we looked at them were the words “ugly” and “all-our-songs-sound-the-same“

4) Gene Simmons

A few months ago, Simmons recorded a sex tape that made just about everyone I know puke up their lunch. Sure, KISS was a good band, but saying things like “every other band should be wiping my ass” is just pure Dbag material — especially if you look like your face is made of wax that’s melting.

3) Little Richard

Little Richard and his tiny moustache made some good music in his day, but you wouldn’t exactly consider him “the architect of rock ‘n’ roll,” would you? The architect of tacky sequined jackets? Sure! The architect of upper lip hair? Yup! Well, it doesn’t matter what you’d consider, because Little Richard knows.

2) Kanye

No lie, Kanye knows music — or at least his kind of music. He’s got a certain genre pretty much covered, but that doesn’t mean that he’s the most popular rocker of all time. I mean, if he was, my mom would know who he is…and I’m pretty sure if I said Kanye to to my mom, she’d asked if that was a type of take-out I can only get in NYC.

1) John Lennon

He has to be #1. Because he tried to take on Jesus. And look…you just don’t take on Jesus. I mean, can you walk on water, buddy? I don’t think so. That guy is totally in the popular clique of the Cosmos.

Any other rocker Dbags we should know about?

Save your money and forget Lasik! Glasses are now so chic that those who originally considered themselves “blessed” with perfect vision drool over their blind companions’ stylish eyewear. If you want to embrace this trend but unfortunately have no prescription for glasses, don’t worry! You can destroy your eyesight simply by staring directly at the sun for ten minutes each day.

Ok, so I’m just kidding. But if you wish you could wear glasses, wish no more. This fall, fake reading glasses are all the rage. The Michael Kors fall 2008 runway collection featured several faux eyeglass wearing models who looked HOT (as in sexy librarian hot). Glasses were also spotted in several other runway shows, including Betsey Johnson and Carmen Marc Valvo.

If you’re going to purchase a pair of glasses (fake or prescription), it is important to find the right shape and color for your face. Generally, you should buy glasses with a shape in contrast to that of your face. If you don’t know what your face shape is, or what shape glasses would flatter your face, click here for a simple guide.

After you’ve figured out what shapes work for you, here are the top five eyeglass trends for fall. Hurry up and buy them before classes start. You want to look smart and studious when you meet your new professors!

1. Thick, plastic, 70′s inspired rims – the ultimate geek chic look. This pair is Versace.

2. Fun colors! – buy several frames, coordinate them with your outfits! My Jill Stuart glasses are pink and actually look amazing when I’m wearing something pink with them. Red frames, as seen on this pair of D&G glasses, are going to be huge this year.

3. Fun and crazy shapes – try angular shapes or go really wacky with heart shaped glasses if you really want to make a statement like Nicole Richie in this picture.

4. Completely round frames – also known as “John Lennon glasses” are particularly trendy this fall. Betsey Johnson has a pretty good selection of round sunglasses, but for regular eyeglass frames Ralph Lauren is a good choice.

5. Cute details – like rhinestones or metal shapes can add a unique and stylish touch to otherwise plain glasses. For something more subtle, find glasses with a design on the inside lining (the part touching the sides of your head). No one can see it while they’re on, but when you take them off the pattern will be revealed. My pink glasses have white hearts on them, and these, which are Jill Stuart, have a cute stripey pattern.

If you aren’t lucky enough to be legally blind at night like me and don’t actually have a prescription for glasses, the fake frames can be a little tricky to find. You’re best bet would be to try Claire’s or other cheap accessories stores. You could also find them at local costume shops or iParty. Or just pop the lenses out of a cheap pair of sunglasses.

While you’re at it, why not go all out and buy a stylish case for your new glasses? Check out the huge selection of adorable eyeglass luggage at MyEyeglassCase.com and you won’t be able to resist.

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Oversized Frames: This look has been around for a few years now and was taken mainstream by the likes of Nicole Richie and the Olsen Twins. While it’ll eventually go out of fashion, don’t expect that to happen for the next couple of years. This look doesn’t work for every face shape, but if you can rock it, it can be a blast. You can go for many different shapes; square, round, oval. We’re even seeing octagonal and heart shapes! And the color combos are endless. Classic black gives an Audrey Hepburn look, while going for a fun, funky color and shape allows a whole new feeling. The best advice is to try these glasses on and make sure they don’t take over your face, then have fun with it!

Ray-Ban Wayfarers: This vintage style reemerged in 2007 and is still being seen on celebs such as Kate Moss and Paris Hilton. Of course the classic black frame is in, as are the brightly colored frames. New this year, though, are the two-toned frames to add a little spice.

70′s Inspired Thick, Plastic Frames: The 80′s trend is leaving us, but the 70′s trend remains popular and that means thick, plastic frames in all shapes and colors are popular once again. My best advice: when choosing a style of retro sunglasses, make sure you pick a decade that is currently in trend and don’t go overboard on the color or print of the frames; with the thickness of the 70′s frame, you don’t need too much.

Round, “John Lennon” Glasses: An offspring of the thick 70′s frame trend, the round frames trend has been seen all over the runways from Betsey Johnson to Moschino and everyone from Target to Ralph Lauren are taking the cue and running with it. Again, these frames won’t work for all face shapes, so try ‘em on before jumping on this bandwagon.

Tortoise Shell: While you won’t be finding real tortoise shell out there (we’re much more animal and eco-friendly these days), faux tortoise shell will help fulfill the desire for an exotic look this season.

Aviators: Another continuing trend, the look and style of one of 2007′s biggest trends has barely changed, which means recycling last year’s aviators is completely acceptable and will help out with the budget in this declining economy.

Gradient Lens: Looking ahead to late Summer/Fall, gradient lens (where color changes from black to clear) will be extremely popular, though hard to deal with in the middle of Summer due to the intensity of the sun. They’re a fun way to add a twist on your favorite style and are a fresh look for 2008, so keep them in mind.

The fun of all of these trends is that they can be mixed together to create your own special look; oversize aviators, round tortoise shell frames, 70′s inspired frames with gradient lenses, you can put ‘em all together to add a personal punch to your summer look.

For those of us on a budget (or who wanna indulge in all of this summer’s trends), there are plenty of options out there. Urban Outfitters and Target have a vast array of glasses in the $18-$20 range, which can be found in their stores or on their websites. Forever 21 is an even better option with tons of glasses that fit all of these trends for under $10!

If you really want some designer specs, but don’t have a couple Benjamins to drop, my suggestion is to head over to your local discount store (Filene’s Basement, Loehmann’s, etc.); with all of the style recycling this year, you can usually get some adorable glasses at a discounted price, and no one has to know they are “so last season”.

Walk Hard is upcoming Judd Apatow comedy film expected to be released in December of 2007. The movie will star John C. Reilly as famous musician Dewey Cox and Jenna Fischer as his wife Darlene. The movie will be a parody of musician biopics like Ray and Walk the Line.

The first single from the compilation Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur. 90% of the proceeds from the single and the album go directly to the Save Darfur Campaign. The album drops June 12. Pre-order it here.