Across the pond

Some days I really miss England.

I miss the rivers and bridges, the swans and the punts.

I miss doors with personality.

And I miss how everyone hangs their washing on the line.

I miss my mother in-law's vintage Beetle, even though it has no seat belts!

I miss the rolling hills and fields, the fens, the ubiquitous hay bales.

I miss thatched cottages, in all of their wonky glory.

I miss a proper "cuppa" and pints at the pub.

I even miss "hoovering" with Henry!

For goodness sakes, I miss the in-laws severely outdated, but totally European bathroom.

But most of all, I miss our dear friends and family!

It's no fun living over 5000 miles and $5000 dollars away from those you love.  

~ You are blessed if you have family nearby. ~

{All photos taken from last years' holiday abroad.}

Photomodo

Oh my!  Where, oh where, have the last two weeks gone?

LE CAMERA
Holy shitsticks.  I'm so busy with photography right now I shouldn't even be writing a blog post!  (Hence the lack thereof.)   There are simply not enough hours in my day.  I've had photo shoots every weekend and in between homeschooling, activities, cooking, cleaning, gardening, mothering, being a wife, hanging with friends -- I am literally slammed.  Good thing I thrive on busy-ness, eh?

My last session took me to lovely San Diego and to my friend Jora's house.  It was so fun to see her again and get out of town for the weekend.  I can't wait to show you the photos we took!

In the meantime, I will be updating the photography website with some of my latest work.  Be sure to check there if you need a 180360 fix.  Plus, I'm finally posting those NYC wedding photos from last year.  (Hangs head in shame.)

LA MUSICA
I had my third piano lesson yesterday and I must tell you that learning something new is soooo exhilarating!

I love my teacher.  He's one of those quintessential music men, with gravelly voice and all.  He says things like, "Yeah, you're totally gonna dig this when your soul starts talking to your fingers.  It's gonna open up a whole new level of artistry for you.  You can take it wherever you want it to go."

We are working on triads and different types of chords, jazzing up Canon in D of all things.  It's funny, I learned these as a child, but didn't understand what they meant -- so it has been mind-blowing to put it all together now.  I'm playing by ear and instinct, with a little theory thrown in for kicks.  I've never smiled or nodded more in any 30 minute period ever!

I implore you -- do something that you've always wanted to do.

BLOGWORLD
Sorry, but I'm just not feeling it lately.  The over-linkage, the giveaways, the cliques, the sponsors, the recipe redux, promoting the same hip clothes, the gift guides.  UGH!  Nothing feels original any more.  Including me. Therefore, I'm nixing my gift guide.

I have very few rules for this here space, but Numero Uno is to keep it as original as possible.

Frankly, blogging feels stale.  Maybe it's just me(?) -- but as soon as I finish up these jobs, I'm going to start working on some new projects.  It's time to step it up a notch!

I aim for underground...  

PS.  I finally got an iPhone, can you tell?  ;o)  Who wants to beat me in Words With Friends?  Anyone want to see my photos on Instagr.am?  I'm currently playing to and following an audience of one.  While it's fun for me, Juangrande might like some company!

Blue Note, baby.

Have I ever told you my first language was music?

As a little girl, I loved to sing. I'd lock myself in the bathroom and make up songs almost every day. When I was 4, I began classical piano and continued to take lessons until I left for college. In elementary, I started studying alto sax and played (first chair) in Concert and Jazz Band until my sophomore year when I deemed it totally uncool. (I kick myself for that now.)

Throughout college, I studied theatre and sang in musicals, opera, and cabaret classes. But mostly, I dreamt of having my own piano again and would seek out any old upright I could find hiding in a classroom somewhere.

I finally got that piano, first an antique upright and then a beautiful grand. I don't have much time to play these days, but I love it all the same and I am SO grateful that my parents provided me with an early appreciation for music. And I'm even happier to be able to reciprocate by instilling this very same gift within my children.

(Remember this photo?)

Ever since those early days in Jazz Band, I've been a lover of old school jazz -- none of that synthesized, soft stuff! Give me some Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Mingus, Coltrane, Holiday, Fitzgerald, Powell any day.

Well... this afternoon, while my children are at their piano lessons, I am starting jazz piano lessons FOR ME! I can read music just fine, but I'd really love to be able to play strictly chords and improv more. Can I just tell you that I am a nervous wreck! I've got my nails cut and my piano books ready.

 Have you done anything lately that scared you but fulfilled a life-long dream?

"Don't play what's there. Play what's not there." -- Miles Davis

180360's Holiday Gift Guide: Fill a stocking or a stomach!

I woke up this morning, changed my calendar and instantly felt like someone had pressed my internal panic button.

- 24 days to Thanksgiving.
- 2 confirmed trips planned for November.
- Photo shoots every weekend.
- Holiday cards and photo books galore!
- Less than 8 weeks until Christmas.
- School, activities, playdates, soccer games...

My heart is palpitating as I type!

It's that time again where I secretly wish I was my sister. She's the one who does all of her Christmas shopping throughout the year.  Alas, I will never be so organized...

That said, I could rattle off MY WISHLIST at the drop of a hat. So with that in mind, I thought I'd share one gift a week with you until the holidays are over. Now, I know what you're thinking -- a gift guide at the holidays is about as unoriginal as it gets.  But I beat to my own drum and you know what? I will somehow make it original. (Like today, I took a photo of BEANS for you. And they are the prettiest beans I've ever seen. So indulge me, okay? Thanks.)

As I was saying...  a great gift does one (or more) of the following:  it warms a heart, fills a tummy, inspires a mind, fires up a soul or makes a body happy.  I'd really like to make more gifts than I buy this year, but frankly, I'm just not THAT talented. And although I'm a decent gardener, I've yet to cultivate these:

DRUM ROLL PLEASE....

Tummy Filler #1:
Rancho Gordo Beans Get your beans HERE!

While I've always been a legume lover, I was admittedly lazy and bought the canned variety. And I liked them... until I knew better. After hearing Jora and Alice rave about Rancho Gordo periodically over the past couple of years, I finally bought two of their sampler packs this summer. I hate to say it, but there really IS a big difference in canned versus dry.

 If you don't believe me, then stop what you are doing and buy these for yourself for Christmas. Trust me, it only takes a little forethought to soak them in advance and then cook them into oblivion.

Buy these for: the actual foodie, the wannabe foodie or really anyone that likes to eat.