What Ana Does

I'm not saying I'm in any way responsible for Brandi Carlile's growing fame, but I will say I called it years ago. See, in my 20s and early 30s I worked for AOL Music (I know, I'm a dinosaur) and we worked with artists and record labels and it was fun -- but not the party I'm sure you're imagining right now. Occasionally, along with the BIG NAMES we needed to keep the website viable, the record labels would send over emerging artists they wanted us to meet and get behind. Sometimes we did and sometimes we didn't. I remember the day Brandi Carlile came into our conference room. The label guys would all meet then the emerging artist would trail behind and introduce themselves. They usually had a box of CDs for us. I remember about a half-dozen artists we met this way. Brandi stood against the wall of our conference room with twins Phil and Tim who play guitar and introduced herself. I remember being mesmerized by her voice and the shy way she held hers...

I've found if we listen to music it the morning -- good music we can sing along to -- the mornings just flow much easier.  It may have something to do with music calming the savage soul. Or maybe it just keeps us from focusing on how sleepy we might be. We have an Amazon Echo in our kitchen for just such a task. When I get in there in the mornings, hit the lights, start my coffee and I say "Alexa, play the Morning playlist" and we start the day. Here's the current playlist (*changes frequently) Then Came the Morning by The Lone Bellow   -- This is just for me, really, as I'm usually the first in the kitchen.  Blackbird by the Beatles -- A super-chill song as the girls wander in searching for food (or a morning cuddle).   Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra -- Famous to the girls for kicking off the second Guardians of the Galaxy film, this usually helps their eyes pop open.  Heavenly by Harry Connick Jr. -- Somehow, this song droppe...

The transition to Fall has begun, school starts next week and most of what I was wigging out about at the beginning of the month is getting settled. I'm now looking forward to being on a much more rigid schedule. No really! Deep breath! Soccer is underway and I'm only assistant coaching -- trying to take a smaller role on the team. This team has an active team manager (yay!) and the head coach is used to being in charge. All good. Leah needs to get used to me not being on the coach's bench. However, being back on the soccer field always feels like going home, so I'm thrilled to be out there. I signed up for an  Honest Company bundle shipments --  mostly because I can't find good organic shampoo/conditioner that isn't over $12. And I like most of their products and sometimes can't get them at Target. In the last few boxes we've gotten, I've added new stuff to try out, too. And building up a sufficient stockpile of items we really like -- su...

I love browsing Etsy to find new and fun items (who doesn't!?) ... and adding them to my favorites list for future consideration. Then, when I'm feeling weak and in need of retail therapy, I have a little cache of goodies to look at. Here's from my latest browse ... 1. I love this  adorable fat quarter  with the bikes in the park. The colors are a little different and would make a delightful quilt! Future Bike Quilt?  2. I'm a big fan of music quotes in art. I have a few on my walls already, and I'm always on the look out for more. This Bruce Springsteen quote would memorialize Leah and Alice's first concert experience brilliantly. Bruce Springsteen Quote!   3. I love these bright and cheery hoop earrings ! They've been in my Cart forever -- just waiting for that day I have a good excuse to buy them. Beaded Hoops. This shop is Full of Cheerful Jewlery 4. This shop is full of cut-out paper art. What a medium! I really like the color com...

In an interview with  Entertainment Weekly musician Ray LaMontagne's talks about how his new album came together: "I don't regularly practice meditation," he says. "But this is as close as I come. I get very quiet and talk to whatever energy is out there. 'I'm here,' I say. 'If you want to play, let's play!' [Then] little melodies filter down. That’s how this record happened." So, yeah, I'm going to have to buy the new album. And that's that. What if we all took time to listen to that quiet energy around us? Related posts: Read more favorite quotes

It doesn't take much to make me cry. In fact, I'd make a great soap opera actress because I can produce tears on command. So, of course I cried when I saw the new Adele "Hello" video. She digs so deep into that well of longing and regret that I can't help being swept up in the emotion. Which got me to thinking about all the other songs that will abruptly come up on my Pandora station at work or in the car and I'm reduced to tears. I Hope You Dance -- I don't often listen to country stations so Lee Ann Womack doesn't blindside me too often but you'd have to be dead inside not to get weepy at this tune.  Make You Feel My Love  -- This is originally Bob Dylan but Adele does a fantastic version, though I'm partial to the way Tim McGraw sings it. My City of Ruin -- This takes me back to Bruce's 9/11 TV performance which I sobbed through. Like any good Bruce song, it's timeless and universal and sad and hopeful all wrapped up together....

This is Adam. And that's me, trying not to faint. Adam and I The night of my birthday, Dave and I went to a Guster concert in downtown Chicago with our friend Jeff, my brother Nic and his girlfriend Bobbi. Awesome people for an awesome night. Guster is a band Dave and I have been fans of since collage. And they are super-awesome live. Lots of dancing and singing to songs that we've been singing for years. Anyway... afterwards, we went across the street to a bar with karaoke. We sang, we drank. We pretended being at a bar after midnights wasn't such a unique event. THEN in walks the opener -- this strange Asian violinist. And behind him is Adam -- the guitarist from Guster. Whoa! Of course "no-rules" Jeff had no problem asking him to take a picture with me, after telling him it was my birthday and we were at the show. Here's the thing, I am a spaz when it comes to meeting artists/celebs. My head tingles and I can't control what I'm saying. A...

Eight years later, I finally get my Pearl Jam shirt. From a show I was able to attend. And it fits ... Totally Wearing It At Work Right Now P.S. The show was absolutely brilliant. Eddie Vedder is a rock god.  Rocking Out!

Okay, here's my favorite Pearl Jam story. Eight years ago Pearl Jam was touring and we got tickets. For May. Weeks after Leah was born. We see a lot of concerts, but this one band had been alluding us. Either we missed out on getting tickets or they weren't coming to our area or we had scheduling conflicts. Anyway, we were really, super excited when we got these tickets. We also know my attendance was iffy. Who knows how I was going to feel or if the baby was going to be on time. Etc. Anyway, the time came and I was OUT; Too exhausted, overwhelmed, not up for it. Dave invited a friend and OF COURSE went anyway. I was OK with it. Bummed but OK. These things happen. They played "Baba O'Reilly" for Pete's sake. And this was one of the first time they did. So, ok. I'm maybe still not over it. But it was Leah's fault. Really. I don't blame Dave for not skipping it. But ... THEN HE GETS HOME WITH A T-SHIRT. For ME. A size SMALL. I had just ha...

Leah started piano lessons this week. There's a teacher who lives down the block and provides lessons to most of the neighborhood kids. Such a good deal! This is monumental for two reasons: 1) Dave and I have discussed finding piano lessons since the girls were born. We don't play and we agreed learning to read music and play instruments was something important to teach the girls. Promise fulfilled! 2) This was on my list of goals for 2014. Especially after the free piano fell out of the sky and into my lap (or front hall). It always feels good to check a list off that BIG list. Recitals in concert halls filled with Mozart, Beethoven and Bach are sure to follow.

I have a pretty healthy dislike of boy bands. From teen years and on, there have been boy bands (Backstreet Boys, N'Sync, etc) and I've pretty much hated them. They don't play instruments or write their own songs (usually). They're not great singers on their own. And they're way too stylized; more a commodity or music industry product than musicians. Seriously. Ugh.  However, HOWEVER, there's always just one song from a boy band that I simply cannot deny.  One Direction, one of the latest to crop up, was never on my radar until they sang this song on SNL. And though the lyrics make no sense (it's almost anti-romantic) and their look is just WAY too young for most 30-somethings to understand (what is with that hair!) ... I can't stop listening and humming it. It's now on heavy rotation on my guilty pleasure playlist.  Warning: Once you hear the song, you may become hooked, too.