.happy birthday blog!.

It's been a year ago today since I first put words into this blog.  Inspired by strangers who opened themselves up to the world, sharing with us, their talents, their dreams and fears, I chose to join them in documenting bits and pieces of myself.  Amazing how much change has taken place since that first post.  This is wishing you, Reveries and a Cup of Chai, a happy first birthday!  May there be many more post to come!    

.you are my little bird.

I love music.  You've probably figured that out by now.  My little girl also loves music.  And I mean LOVES music!  There's nothing more delightful to watch than your two year old child dance her little heart out to a song being played on the radio or the television, or a book for that matter.  So what if her dance moves resemble a really whacked out version of Richard Simmon's "Sweating to the Oldies" workout videos?  (She gets that from her Daddy.  Let's pray she grows out of it.)  She also loves to sing.  Although most of the words to her songs are still gibberish, except for the occasional "Daddy," "Momma," "Keoki" (our dog) and names of other family members and favorite characters, it is still sweet to listen to.  You can't help but laugh at the sheer cuteness of it all.  I know, I'm the gushing Mom.  Yesterday, I came across a CD with a cover that caught my eye.  We all know that they say you should never judge a book, or in this case an album, by its cover.  True.  But I was pleased to find that this one was a keeper.  Elizabeth Mitchell's You are My Little Bird is a wonderful album to add to your child's music collection.  Opening with Little Liza Jane, this catchy tune gets you hooked and reels you, and your little one, in for a beautiful ride!  The variety of carefully handpicked songs ranging from classic folk to the Velvet Underground, has been delicately woven together into a colorful tapestry of music fit for younger and older audiences alike.  Accompanied by her daughter Storey and husband Daniel on some of the songs, Mitchell brings the familiarity and joy of singing together as a family on this album, something that I treasure as a parent.  A collection of beautifully sung tunes and terrific arrangements, this album is sure to become a family favorite!  So, to check out more on Elizabeth Mitchell and her music, visit her here.  If you like the sound of this album, you should also check out Mitchell's collaboration with Lisa Loeb on Catch a Moon.  One of my faves!  

.happy earth day!.

Happy Earth Day folks!  I needed to share a book with you before I jet out of this place to head off to work.  For the kids in your life, Wildlife Gardening, a DK book written by Martyn Cox, is a must have!  The pages are covered with wonderful photos, illustrations, and tons of information showing how even children can help in bringing life to your backyard.  From planting flowers that will help attract honeybees, to building your own pond, the projects in this book are made simple enough so that even gardening dunces (such as myself) will know how-to and WHY.  So get this book, grab the munchakins, and go out and get your hands dirty!  The kids will love it!

.write on.

There once was a time when I would write. . . and write. . . and write.  I used to LOVE to write.  When I was in high school, that was the one thing I truly enjoyed the most.  Whether it was writing out reports in Sociology or creative writing in English.  Many times there were piles of notes I'd write to my high school friend Michelei during U.S. History class; stacks of letters, accompanied by heavily decorated envelopes, to my childhood best friend Mischa who moved to Oregon when we were fifteen.  Who I still keep in touch with by the way!  There was just something about putting down my thoughts on paper.  And I was SO proud of my handwriting!  Oh!  Let's not forget about poetry.  Poems were a way for me to release the pressure of emotions building up inside of me.  I didn't just write because I had to.  I did it because I loved it.  Because I needed it.  There was no fear in what I wanted to write.  No, I was not the best at it by any means.  Vocabulary was and is still a little challenging.  Grammar always seems to be so anxious to jump out with its red ballpoint pen.  And yet, I was confident in my thoughts, confident with what I would write.  That same confidence has, over the years, dwindled down to a mere ember set in a mound of ash and soot.  

Recently, I purchased a copy of The Right to Write, by Julia Cameron, the author of the best selling book, The Artist's Way.  I don't know why I purchased the book.  The title, perhaps.  As it says on the cover, it was my "invitation" to a writing life.  Deep down, I guess I've been wanting to be a part of that life again.  Having only read the first few chapters thus far, I was relieved to have someone tell me to forget the reasons why I hesitate to write; the fear of what others might think, the dread of sounding silly and unintelligent, the excuse of not having enough time.  Cameron's book has reminded me that I need to write for my own sake and not for the approval of anyone else.  Write simply for the love of writing.  From this point on, I will do just that.  

Wherever you are

is the entry point.

~Kabir

.bee-cause.

Today, I found this cute awareness message  in my inbox sent to me via Anthropologie.  With Earth Day officially set for tomorrow, it was a reminder of the critical situation the world's honeybees are in, as vast numbers of their population are dwindling at an alarming rate.  Many of the foods we enjoy, such as fruits and nuts, would not be in existence had it not been for these yellow and black striped workers aiding in the pollination process.  There's a lot more to these little guys than just honey.  To learn more about Anthropolgie's "bee cause" go to their site here.  Also, visit "Help the Honey Bees," an interactive site, created and sponsored by Haagen-Daz, to help raise awareness.  This brilliant site provides visitors with information on this strange phenomenon, the effects it can have on our environment, along with ways we as individuals can participate in their recovery.  So this Earth Day, let us all make a point to truly do our best for the environment we live in.  And just when you're about to spoon up some sugar for your tea, think about supporting local beekeepers in your area by purchasing honey instead!

.what a voice.

So there has been a lot of buzz on the internet about a woman named Susan Boyle of Scotland.  She appeared on the British talent show, Britain's Got Talent, where she blew the world away with her magnificent voice.  Listening to Opera does not usually bring me to tears, but I must admit, this one did.  Watch the clip here.  If you don't tear up just a little, you have no heart.  ;o)

.what's in your bag?.

Hello everyone!  I know, I know.  Where the heck have I been?!  Things have been a little hectic so I had to step away from Blogland for a little bit.  Hope all has been groovy in your neck of the woods! Let's see. . . what's going on with me at the moment, well after a visit to Susannah's blog this morning, I couldn't help but want to dump out the contents of my bag, simply to get a shot of it.  It's actually kinda funny once you realize just what you've got in there.  Here's what is in my bag:

• a cute journal 
• my little brown leather wallet stuffed with receipts, cards, bobby pins, stamps, and fortune cookie fortunes
• an orange flavored lollipop that the bank gives to my daughter every time we make a deposit
• a spiral sketchbook
• a case of colored pencils
• a tube of Aveeno lotion
• 2 tubes of lipstick:  L'Oreal Nature's Blush and MAC What a Do!
• my Canon Powershot Digital Elph
• Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
• a notebook
• a Pilot gel pen
• my check book
• a mini bag of Orville Redenbacher kettle corn popcorn
• a chocolate egg wrapped in mint green foil
• a lint roller
  

Other things that did not make it into the shot, several paycheck stubs, a few coins, lint, and of course, the emergency maxi pad.  Ha!  Now I ask YOU the same question. . . what's in YOUR bag?

.where do we go from here?.

I'm not sure where this blog entry is going to go today.  You'll have to forgive me in advance if this comes out in a jumbled mess.  It's little after midnight, and I need a place to spill the thoughts out of my head or it'll simply explode!  For anyone who may be curious about the status of my website, it's coming together, it's just not exactly what I want.  As with many things, I know it'll have several "face lifts" before I finally set myself to a truly finished site.  I was hoping to have had it completed by now, but time has been rather limited lately.  This fact has been quite frustrating for me as there are so many things to get done here, there and everywhere, and it seems that time IS draining away much quicker than I can keep up with.  Just like handfuls of sand slipping away between my fingers. . . I wish I lived near the ocean again.  [sigh]

There have been some photographic projects I've been wanting to get started.  Once again, the battle of time has been an issue.  Hopefully next month, I'll be able to remedy that.  In the spirit of the "Character Project," I've been contemplating a project of my own.  There is no doubt that my favorite form of photography is that of the portrait.  I know that my current collection of photographs don't show much portraiture at the moment, however, I plan to change that.  What I want to do is start with much more serious, intimate photos of people, starting first with  my family, the characters who shape who I am.  It's something that I've been wanting to do for awhile now.  The idea first came to mind several years ago during a photo shoot that my grandfather was asked to be in.  The photographer, David, is a guy that my grandfather used to work with.  David and his older brother owned and ran a iron works shop in downtown Nashville.  Wanting to pursue his passion for photography, he asked my grandfather if he'd partake in some character study shoots for his portfolio.  I came along for the shoot because of my interest in photography, plus it didn't hurt that the man was cute!  Ha!  When Grandpa received his copies of the photos, I was truly stunned and amazed at the brilliance of the images!  David managed to capture who my grandfather is:  both the intelligent, proud man smoking his pipe, and the vulnerable man who had lost his precious wife just a few years prior.  To this day, those images are powerful reflections of a wonderful man in my life.  This time, I will be the person behind the lens.  

Despite the last few days of chillier weather here in Middle Tennessee, I hope to continue working in the yard this weekend in warmer tempuratures.  Perhaps even plant something!  The above photo is from the hydrangea "tree" (yes, tree as this thing is over 10' tall!) that's growing in the front of the house we rent.  I'm not a green thumb by any means, but I'd like to be.  I found the days spent in the sunshine last weekend was so calming, and productive!  So for any of you gardeners out there (shout out to Emma Bond from Orchard Studio!) send some tips my way when you get the chance!  Goodnight folks!  

.building a mystery.

Hello my friends!  I apologize for the brief absence.  I've had to take a little "blog break."  Not because I wanted to, but because I had to put more time and focus into other areas of the web.  Which means I am so far behind in reading up on the latest from some of my favorite bloggers out there in Bloglandia!  So what has taken me away from my favorite spots on the web?  Well, I have finally decided to built my website, focusing primarily on photography.  I'm having to build it myself and I am not a web designer by any means, but I think I'm doing alright.   It'll continue to be a work in progress, such as myself!  Believe me, it's taken a lot to finally get to this point, but I'm almost all the way there.  I'm hoping to have it finished by this time next week, if not sooner.  What does this mean for me?  First and foremost, it is a challenge.  It's me recognizing the fact that if I want to pursue a career in photography, I need to get off my a** and make it happen.  So, that's what I'm doing.  Trying to make it happen.  There is SO much that I want to do and so many ideas running around like lunatics in my head!  It's exciting!  Hopefully, I'll be able to keep this momentum going.  I need it to.  I will let you all know when it's up and running.  Meanwhile, how are YOU doing?