Do you remember the days of exchanging mixed tapes? Do you remember the feeling as you sat back to listen to music that was chosen just for you, and waiting with anticipation as each song ended to hear what would be next? I remember one of my friends receiving a mixed tape that had the song, "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel recorded on it over and over.  Her admirer knew that she was obsessed with the movie "Say Anything" and secured himself a prom date with that mixed tape creation.  Maybe mixed tapes were the text messages of our generation -- a simple way to put a signal out there, to send a message, without actually having to speak the words audibly.

My music-loving and musician husband has introduced me to something utterly fabulous that sort of reminds me of the magical "mixed tape". It is called Pandora and in a nutshell it is a website that allows you to make your very own radio station that plays music for you based on your preferences. Amazing concept.  -Feeling in the mood for some super mellow tunes? Go ahead and set up a playlist based on Jack Johnson and the music that will be played on your station will be from Jack or other artists similar to him. Want to take a trip to the 80's? Choose an artist from that decade that rocks your casbah and you will be doing the funky head bob across your kitchen in no time. Are you desiring to sing some worship songs written by artists like Chris Tomlin and Tim Hughes? Create your "stations" and then you can change up the music based on your moods... Pandora will also choose songs for you that you have probably never heard before that fit into the genre you have selected because they feature a lot of independent artists.

It feels a lot like my very own personal mixed tape making machine! Thank you, Pandora!  I love listening to see what you will play for me next.  I feel so well known by you.  [swoon]