January 2013: Clean Start Mix from designsponge on 8tracks Radio.

This year we’re starting a new tradition at Design*Sponge: a playlist to match our monthly theme. I’ve always looked for ways to infuse music into the site because it’s a huge part of my life. I spend most of my downtime listening to music and singing around the house, and now I’m lucky enough to work with two people who do the same. Most of the time, you can find the three of us in the office singing along to movie soundtracks and dance music or trying to find the perfect song that will motivate us to work through a tough new project. So we decided that every month we’d create a playlist of our favorite music to share with all of you and hopefully get some new listening ideas from you, as well. This month is all about clean starts for us, so this music is an upbeat mix of songs that will keep your energy high for powering through workout commitments or a particularly daunting round of decluttering and cleaning. I hope you’ll enjoy these songs as much as we do! See you on Monday and have a great weekend. xo, grace

Below is a summary of this week’s highlights:

• Events: D*S Valentine’s Day Crafting Breakfast (RSVP)
• Must Read: Decluttering Tips + Tools: Donate, Drop off & Make a Difference, 30 Great Home Office Organizing Tools
• Modern Etiquette: Being a Gracious Host & Guest
• Before & After: Building Your Cleaning Arsenal
• Biz Ladies: 5 Tax Deductions Clever Crafters Make Sure to Take
• City Guide: Bloomington, Indiana
• Sneak Peeks: Gina Triplett and Matt Curtius, Jess + Mr. Lively, Rebekah Carey McNall of A & B Creative
• Human/House/Harvey: Color Block
• In the Kitchen With: Pauline Boldt’s Fig-Glazed Roast Pork
• Style Icon: Martha Stewart
• Entertaining: Movie Bingo Night
• DIY Best of: Organization
• DIY Projects: Key Tassels & Mini Pom Poms
• Inspiration Library: All Things Wise and Wonderful
• Maker Stories: Small Spells
• Morning Inspiration: Quick Leaf Bouquet
• Obsessions: Cozy Blankets + Throws, Winter Warmth
• Sound Garden: Joni Mitchell’s Blue
• Artwork: Melanie Pankau
• Misc.: Everyday Solar-Powered Gadgets, JD Wolfe Pottery, Cross-Stitch Installation at Patria Restaurant, Marimekko Satula iPhone Case, Tea Egg, Geo Shakers by Von Tundra, Winter Whites

*A full list of the mix tracks are after the jump, if you just want to look at song titles or find the songs on Spotify, etc.

Full Track List

Let it Out- Girl Talk
Call Your Girlfriend- Robyn
Barden Bellas- Finals Mashup (From the Pitch Perfect Soundtrack)
Bulletproof- La Roux
Locked out of Heaven- Bruno Mars
Beauty and a Beat- Justin Bieber
Gangnam Style- PSY
We’re Far Enough from Heaven Now We Can Freak Out- Deep Cotton
Toxic- Britney Spears
Perro Rompebolas Las Kellies
The Moon- Ezra Furman & The Harpoons
Someday- The Strokes
Masshysteri del två- Masshysteri
Romance- Wild Flag
Better Get to Livin’- Dolly Parton
Too Many Fish in the Sea (Single)- The Marvelettes

Dog Days Are Over- Florence + The Machine