Kyla Roma » The Downloads

Desktop Inspiration: Choose Your Own Path + Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself

Kyla Roma — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:38:36 +0000

Lately I’ve been coming across some really amazing quotes and typography on Pinterest, and I’ve been wanting to make a new desktop for myself. I love having visual reminders to stay positive and motivated, and I this morning thought that it would be fun to take two messages I like and make wallpapers with my own spin on them…

And then I thought it would be easy to re-size them so I could share them with you in case you enjoy them . If you’re looking for a little motivation, you can download your favourite here:

Choose Your Own Path Wallpaper

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Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself Wallpaper

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Spring Drinks

Kyla Roma — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:00:11 +0000

Last winter Mister and I decided to move from just buying wine here and there to building up a stocked bar in our house. Talk about good decisions! While it started out with martinis that I couldn’t even moderately enjoy, my mixology skills have increased by leaps and bounds since then, and finding fun drinks has been something of a game for me.

This spring I’ve been feeling playful. Give me fizzy sips of jewel toned drinks that are simple to make, and I’ll show you some girl bonding time about to happen.

My two current favourites are a basic Tom Collins & a Raspberry Cocktailmajig. You can’t get more light and summery in my books- and don’t forget that you can always skip all the alcohol and have them with the juice and club soda. It’s like having a pop with almost no sugar, what’s not to love?

Both are so simple you won’t need the recipes, but just for fun…

download the Tom Collins Recipe here & download the raspberry vodka cocktailmajig here

Patio season & fun bubbly drinks like these are some of my favourite spring rituals, what are yours?

{images: here & here}

Mix Tape #3: Spring Forward

Kyla Roma — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:00:28 +0000

I’ve been in need of some fun spring music lately, maybe you have been too?

The spring just puts me in a dancing and day dreamy kind of mood…

1. Horse Riding – Euros Child

2. Ode to LRC – Band of Horses

3. Waving Flags – British Sea Power

4. Boo Boo Goo Goo – Caesars

5. Pencil Full of Lead – Paolo Nutini

6. Be a Bee – Air

7. Fresh Feeling – Eels

8. Regret – New Order

9. Phantom Limb – The Shins

10. The Worst Taste in Music – The Radio Dept.

11. Dreamworld – Rilo Kiley

12. Foxes Mate For Life – Born Ruffians

13. Malou – The Beasts of Eden

14. Australia – The Shins

15. Missed The Boat – Modest Mouse

16. Cross Your Fingers – Laura Marling

17. Sort Of – Ingrid Michaelson

18. Real Love – Regina Spektor

download it here

I hope you like it, and if you’re one of these artists and would like to be removed from the mix please e-mail me at kylaroma[at]gmail.com

Rockin’ Starbucks Style Ginger Molasses Cookies

Kyla Roma — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:30:55 +0000

Living in a house without air conditioning means that baking is strictly out in the summer and as a result, after Christmas seem to be when I test all the recipes I’ve been stashing away. These Ginger Molasses Cookies are just so decadent that I would feel guilty not posting them. At the same time, they’re so rich and amazing I would never make them regularly, so Pre-Valentines day seems to be the perfect time to share.

Be warned: these are definitely a bake and immediately take into work (so you don’t get carried away and eat them all) kind of affair.

Cautions aside, this recipe care of Fab Brunette completely lived up to my expectations. The cookies taste identical to the ones they sell in Starbucks- definitely worth an attempt! They’re moist, chewy, and the size of your head. You’ll fall in love- so don’t say I didn’t warn you if you don’t want to head out on Valentine’s Day because you have found total spiritual and romantic fulfilment in a baked good.

Have fun! And then please write me a 1200 word e-mail describing how they taste because I’m not cut out to be vegan. Just kidding, vegan baking is easy, but come on. Cookies without butter? I’m not so far gone. Yet.

Download the ginger molasses cookie recipe here

This is ready to print out and head straight into your kitchen, or if you’re not a fan of downloads you can find the recipe after the jump…

Ginger Molasses Cookies

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups flour

• 2 teaspoons baking soda

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon ground ginger

• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

• 1 cup dark brown sugar

• 1 extra-large egg

• 1/4 cup regular unsulphured molasses

• Granulated sugar (for coating cookie dough before baking)

Method

1 Preheat oven to 375 degrees with rack in center. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, set aside.

2 Sift flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and ginger into a medium bowl. Set aside.

3 Cream the butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl with mixer on high speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Lower to medium speed, beat in the egg and molasses, the increase speed to high and beat about 1 minute longer, until mixture no longer looks curdled.

4 Mix in the flour mixture on low speed. The batter will be rather stiff. Place some granulated sugar on a plate, and using an ice cream scoop or measuring cup form 1/4-cup portions of dough. Transfer dough to your hands and roll each portion into a rough ball, then roll each ball into the sugar. Place six sugared balls on each baking sheet, spacing them evenly, because they will spread during baking.

5 Dampen your fingers with water and press down lightly on each cookie to flatten it a little and dampen the top. Refrigerate one filled baking sheet while the other bakes.

6 Bake for 12 minutes, or until the cookies have spread and are firm to the touch. Allow to cool and then eat.

• 2 1/4 cups flour

• 2 teaspoons baking soda

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon ground ginger

• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

• 1 cup dark brown sugar

• 1 extra-large egg

• 1/4 cup regular unsulphured molasses

• Granulated sugar (for coating cookie dough before baking)

Okay!

1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees with rack in center. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, set aside.

2. Sift flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and ginger into a medium bowl. Set aside.

3. Cream the butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl with mixer on high speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Lower to medium speed, beat in the egg and molasses, the increase speed to high and beat about 1 minute longer, until mixture no longer looks curdled.

4. Mix in the flour mixture on low speed. The batter will be rather stiff. Place some granulated sugar on a plate, and using an ice cream scoop or measuring cup form 1/4-cup portions of dough. Transfer dough to your hands and roll each portion into a rough ball, then roll each ball into the sugar. Place six sugared balls on each baking sheet, spacing them evenly, because they will spread during baking.

5. Dampen your fingers with water and press down lightly on each cookie to flatten it a little and dampen the top. Refrigerate one filled baking sheet while the other bakes.

6. Bake for 12 minutes, or until the cookies have spread and are firm to the touch. Allow to cool and enjoy!

Have yourself…{an indie Christmas mix & a holiday break}

Kyla Roma — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:30:36 +0000

I think sometimes here, I’m bad on feedback. I answer questions by e-mail and pop the answers into the comments on posts, I e-mail new readers but I feel like I don’t really say what I need to as often as I could: so thank you.

This past year my little blog has grown so much and my appreciation for you all has grown so much, especially in light of the curves that life threw at me in 2009. This time last year I was getting ready to unwrap presents without the faintest idea that I’d soon be leaving my theatre job, getting into the music industry, managing national media buys & twitter accounts & community for huge artists, getting into a terribly abusive work situation, leaving my new job, spending the summer unemployed, and then going back to school.

It’s been so much to process, and without this outlet where I have a dedicated group of people shouting “DON’T GIVE UP YET!” I don’t know how I would have coped with it.

So from the bottom of my heart, please know that this has been the most difficult year for me. Thank you so much for your support, it means more than you know.

I’m going to be taking a break over the holidays to get a lot of fun stuff ready for next year- more ”How To” posts, giveaways, videos, more mix tapes, top 5 lists for the new year and a redesign. I’m so excited and am bubbling over with ideas- I’m going to take the holidays to let them all simmer a little.

In the mean time here’s an indie christmas mix for you guys- I hope it adds to a little of your cheer. And if it doesn’t? This gingerbread cake will, no questions asked.

Talk soon,

kr.

Kyla Roma’s Indie Christmas

1. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Bright Eyes

2. I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Matchbook Romance

3. Little Drummer Boy – Mink

4. All I Want For Christmas Is You – My Chemical Romance

5. Forget December – Something Corporate

6. December Is For Cynics – Matches

7. Christmas Is Canceled – The Long Blondes

8. The Christmas Sound – 44.1k

9. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – Death Cab For Cutie

10. All I Ever Get For Christmas Is Blue – Over The Rhine

11. 2000 Miles – Coldplay

12. Hey Parker It’s Christmas – Ryan Adams

13. It’s Christmas Time – Yo La Tengo

14. Light That Menorah – Photo

15. Breaking The Ice – Mojave 3

16. Happy XMas (War Is Over) – The Fray

17. Star Of Wonder – Sufjan Stevens

18. Last Christmas – Jimmy Eat World

Download Here

Please note that this is for sampling purposes only, if you enjoy these artists support them by purchasing their amazing work & if you’re one of these artists and would like to be removed please e-mail me at kylaroma[at]gmail.com

Mix Tape #2: Even Cowgirls Get The Blues

Kyla Roma — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:30:45 +0000

So the last mix tape I made was a fiasco. It wouldn’t stream, wouldn’t download, wouldn’t do anything (that’s now fixed, you can listen!) but please cross your fingers for me that this one works and be kind if it doesn’t!

I’m breaking up with summer this week. I’m the opposite of all the Texan/Cali bloggers who are thoroughly wilted- I’m cutting summer loose because I’ve been able to see my breath on four separate occasions in August. That’s unacceptable behavior if I’ve ever seen it. If summer comes around asking for me, please don’t give it my number, it’s just looking for attention.

Mix Tape #2: Even Cowgirls Get The Blues

Click here to download

Want to preview the mix? Click any of the tracks to stream them or use the player that will appear on the bottom left of your screen to navigate or stream the whole mix. I wish it wasn’t the case but sometimes it’s buggy. My server is only human & not meant for massive media streaming requests.

Enjoy!

Please Note: If you are one of the artists I’ve included above and you would like to be removed from the mix or serve me with aggressive legal documents please e-mail me at kylaroma[at]gmail.com

{original image: photoswest}

Mix Tape #1: She’s The One

Kyla Roma — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:58:43 +0000

Lately I’ve been needing help with momentum. I haven’t been posting as much as I want because the things I want to say keep getting stuck in my throat so, in the odd position of having too much to say and being without a way to say it right this moment I’ve been leaning on music to push me forward.

These are the songs on permanent loop in my iPod while I dart to the back doors of standing room only buses and step over hot, cracking prairie pavement. They feel like summer for me, they either make me want to dance and stay out late, raising glasses to friends, or they wash over me with a dreamy, homey feel.

In case your summer playlist needs expanding, while I find my words, I hope these make you feel like drinking lemonaid and sitting in the prairie sun.

Mix Tape #1: She’s The One

Help I’m Alive – Metric
Zero – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Flux – Bloc Party
Pot Kettle Black – Tilly and The Wall
What New York Used to Be – The Kills
Paper Planes – M.I.A.
Une Annee Sans Lumiere – The Arcade Fire
Lover’s Spit – Broken Social Scene
She’s The One – Caribou
Love Dog – TV On The Radio
Creature Fear – Bon Iver
First Night – The Hold Steady
This House Is Not For Sale – Ryan Adams
Sweet Darlin’ – She & Him
Who Will Run The Starfish Hospital – The Paperbacks
Start Over – Abandoned Pools

Click here to download

{image: bitterlemons}

A Very Indie Christmas Mix

Kyla Roma — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:24:54 +0000

The past few days I’ve been getting into the grooves of Christmas, giving into the cold, buying a real tree, altering dog snowsuits, and hosting friends over at our house – but I’ve been lacking a sound track that I can really get into. So, being the relentless mix tape enthusiast that I am, I made my own and had to share it.

My streaming solutions will most likely not work in an RSS reader so hop on over to the site, press play on one of the tracks and play through the mix on the controller that pops up!