Will you write me a song, Valentine?

Happy Valentine's Day! Always wanted someone to write a love song for you for a special gift between you and your loved ones? Brian Alex will do it---and it'll only cost you anywhere from $2,000-$25,000! What do you get for the price? Depends on the cost, of course. But he generally records it with musicians and delivers two CDs---one framed and the other for playing. Check out the story here. As noted on his website, it's "the perfect gift."

V-day

I don't usually like to post about gifts I'm getting for friends and fam because you never know who might be snooping around these pages, but in this case I just couldn't contain myself.

This year to celebrate the big "V," Josh and I decided we would create mixed cds for each other instead of spending a lot of money. I thought it was a really cute idea until I saw...

the USB Mixed Tape Kit. This deceiving cassette holds a USB inside --- more than perfect for what I had in mind! So now he'll get the feeling of having an old-school mixed tape, with the convenience of modern technology. How simple! $20, available at Alpha-Man.

Mixed Tapes: The Next Generation

One of my favorite things to give and receive has got to be the CD mix. The CD can be themed with titles like "X-mas", "Winter" or "Let it Snow"; or they can be themed to a particular type of music or upcoming event. Zeichen press gets this, and has come up with an array of awesome CD sleeves that would be the perfect compliment to any CD mix. Some favorites are below...pick them up, along with their other fabulous stationary, at the shops listed here. (Found via Indie Fixx.)

Clapton is God

Although the early teen version of myself would kick my butt for saying this (c'mon, I know I'm not the only George Harrison fan with irrational hatred toward Clapton for stealing away Pattie Boyd), Eric Clapton ranks up there as one of the best guitarists around. And I guess I got over my irrationally hurt feelings because I can't get enough of Clapton lately - I even went to his concert last year ("Blaspheme!" says 13-year-old Cortney).

Clapton recently released an autobiography (read an article on his appearance on the Today Show here) and a cd, "Complete Clapton." It's gift-giving 101 people: book + cd = awesome gift.