Black Music Notes

I wanted to finally share the details of how my music teaching business has grown! Michael, the most awesome hubby ever, built me a fabulous website at www.blackmusicnotes.com to assist with all the growth that has occurred. It is a thing of beauty. 

As some of you may know, I record all my voice lessons for my students to listen to in between lessons as practice tracks, or to brush up on their warmup skills, or just to hear how much their voices have changed over time. I used to share these mp3s with students through Google Drive, but not anymore! Now, my website is built with a student login and each student can access their files and receive email notifications when new files are uploaded!

Also, I'm no longer limited as to how much storage space I have for files because Michael has hosted the website on our server downstairs in our home's "command center".

The website gives info about voice, guitar, and music therapy (even though I am not currently practicing).  I still need to add an "About Me" page with a picture and do some refining on the wording on the other pages, now that everything is officially launched and I've had some time to re-examine what I want to say and how I want to say it. Michael is currently working on a calendar feature which can be shared with each student and they can receive email or calendar reminders about lessons. Just a few things to always improve. But, all in all, isn't it a great website? I'm loving it!

And lastly, I wanted to share a video of myself performing at the Christmas Recital I hosted in December. I know many of my friends have wanted to see my performance! All my students did an awesome job and I was so proud of them, seeing as it was their very first voice recital. I was relieved that everything went VERY well, without any major hiccups or issues. Please be kind when watching my performance, as I was in the middle of a rather terrible 3-week long cold and had barely any voice the day before. Tender mercy that I was able to sing at all, and for that I was very grateful!

By the way, listen for my daughter "singing" near the end of the song at about 2:45. Yeah, it's cute.

So, let me know your thoughts. I'd love any feedback on the website. And, if you have compliments to give me on my performance (hehe, just kidding)....

Dinner and a Movie

Michael and I enjoyed a classic "dinner and a movie" night yesterday. I saw it as an opportunity to try out a new recipe, one found on the Tasty Kitchen website. It's called Okinawan Takoraisu. Basically everything you need for a taco, except it's not served in a taco shell or with tortilla chips on the side, it's served over rice. The recipe called for sushi rice. Which I didn't have, so I used long grain white rice. Even though it wasn't as authentically Japanese as I'm sure sushi rice would've made, I think the general feeling of two cultures colliding was felt.

Basically, this was comfort food at its best. Not too heavy, but full of flavor. Our tummies were happy. For the recipe and a little bit of history, click here!

After eating a yummy dinner, we snuggled up on the couch and watched Part 1 of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I liked it. Michael was not as interested because he's not a huge Harry Potter fan. But it was fun to sit down and enjoy a movie snuggled under a blanket together.

Pretty cool movie poster from it. The acting keeps getting better and better. And I really think the director did a good job this time around. I'm excited for the last installment, which is set to come out July 15th!

And here's a little preview for all you Harry Potter fans out there:

Jane Eyre

Only 10 more days. I am immensely overjoyed at the fact that this new and (what appears to be) awesome film version of the classic book will be released on March 11, 2011.

And I use the word "awe"some in all aspects of its meaning. I'm pretty sure I will sit in my seat, on the edge of it nonetheless, with tears in my eyes, trying to catch my breath because I am in such awe with the film. It's going to be a wonderful night!

I'll keep all of you posted on my feelings following my viewing of the movie with my dear friend Natalie, who is a crazy reader just like me. We already have our girlfriend-y date scheduled. :)

In the meantime, enjoy this clip of one of the most passionate scenes from the book. Makes me get all warm and fuzzy inside.

Classic Christmas Cartoons

Here are some classic cartoons that my brother and I grew up watching on VHS. They can't help but bring a smile to my face as well as take me back to my childhood. Christmas was so magical back then through the eyes of a child. Enjoy a glimpse into my childhood memories!

This first cartoon is called "The Peachy Cobbler". We LOVE this cartoon in our family. Hilarious. It gets me laughing every time I watch it!

This cartoon features one of my favorite characters, Donald Duck. I love the intense snow fight he has with Huey, Dewey, and Louie. As a child, I always dreamed of recreating that exact event!

Deathly Hallows Part 1

Can hardly wait for November 19th to get here! This new trailer just came out on Wednesday and it makes me super anxious and excited for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1". Please tell me that I'm not the only HP lover out there. Is anybody else as excited as I am?

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Michael may roll his eyes when he reads this post, but I'm going to share a few thoughts from seeing this movie.

First off, my friend Shantai and her husband Brandon went with us to this movie on Monday night. Call it an impromptu double date FHE. Shantai was dropping off our tiki torch oil, left at her house from girl's camp, and then she told me how she was going to make Brandon go and see the movie that night. Perfect. I had already been trying to convince Michael not five minutes before to do the same thing.

We went out to dinner and prepared ourselves for a night of fun, love, vampires, and werewolves.

The boys tried to act all "bored" with the entire idea, but us ladies really knew they were excited for the movie. In fact, when Jacob emerged for the first time, fully clothed, Michael said to me, "Ahhh...why does he have his shirt on?!?"

That is just a glimpse of the cackles, heckles, and giggles that ensued from our group that night. I'll admit that there were some scenes which were even too cheesy for me. Very teenager-esque actually. I swear I don't remember the book being that almost gaggingly full of sappy one-liners. I know the entire "vampire/werewolf" plot is unrealistic, but the LOVE part being so much that way also? Ick.

Anyway, apart from the lack of genuine acting in a few areas and the screenwriters obvious need to speak to ONLY female teenagers across the world, I enjoyed the movie. The action was great, and parts of the storyline developed more than ever before.

I do have one last confession though. I have, and always will be a Team Edward fan, in my heart. But this has become an alliance which I only associate with the books. Hollywood's portrayal has, in fact, led me to become a Team Jacob fan. Not just because he takes his shirt off and looks pretty darn good, but because I feel like the acting is more genuine and believable from Taylor Lautner's efforts as Jacob. I truly want Bella to end up with Jacob because he is so much more real and better for her. Never thought the day would come.

Now I'm off to decide whether to read Harry Potter again, or the Chronicles of Narnia because of the awesome previews for both that I saw the other night. Hmmm....tough choices!

Bright Star

Just watched this movie on Netflix.

Set in the early 1800s, it is based upon the personal and passionate romance between the poet, John Keats, and Fanny Brawne, his great love and muse.

I love his poetry, and the filmmaker uses it beautifully within the film.

The actors within capture and display the reality and undeniable strength of a first love in a breathtaking way.

I highly recommend it to any Austen, Bronte, or British literature fan.