Summer Inspiration

B is for Band

About a week ago I got a text from Evan, a guy I am working with this summer asking me if I wanted to sing in a gig with him. It was all music I am learning for camp so I said sure. I showed up to practice and met a few other people: a violinsit/singer, another female singer, and a drummer, plus Evan on Guitar. We spent an hour and a half jamming out and practicing. The next night we showed up at the Elevns, the club we were playing at. We ended up going on an hour later than expected, and the show wasn't perfect but I had a lot of fun and got a bit of cash for it. It does sound a little strange playing camp music at a club, but the style is really folk-like and really just fun to sing and listen to. There were even a few people who came who are diehard Shiprockers. (fans of shiprock and anchordog project).

Either way it was the first time I had performed in any venue like that and I really enjoyed it. Not to mention collaborating with other local musicians here was really fun. I hope I can jam with them all again! Not to mention it was cool to get a "B" on my hand for Band instead of an "X" :)

Meowza!

So let's talk about how I am a terrible blogger lately and haven't posted anything! You are about to get a bunch of posts about so many things! First things first: Cats.

We have 3 cats, and I have found myself spending a lot of time with them. They are all super cute, but don't really get along with eachother :( We are trying to get the 2 newer cats to be nice to our older one.  For a better take on what is going on with them read my mom's really funny post about Cat Survivor!

They all have cute moments though! 

 Maggie

 Macey

 Marilyn

Sometimes these cuties make it hard to get things done :) 

Have a cat-astrophically wonderful day! 

Blueberries got me a job!

This summer I moved from Mansfield (school apt) back in with my family to Ludlow, MA (Western, MA). Right now it's just me, my parents, and 3 cats in one tiny little duplex! It's really much too small for the "6" of us, and we are looking to move again soon especially with my siblings wanting to move here too. My first whole week of summer has been spent organizing a portion of a room to hold some of my belongings to function as a bedroom (more on that at another time), dieting and exercising (which I have written about), and spending some time with my parents and getting to know the area. But the time sort of came that I began to ask myself now what?? Part of that now what was finding a job. 

Before I started applying I made a list of somethings I was looking for in a job (ideally): 

1. Sunlight, a place with windows or working outside.

2. To work with kids (good for resume)

3. To do something that feels fulfilling 

4. To not totally and completely dread going to work

5. To get paid hourly at least minimum wage (aka not wait tables)

I started thinking about my summer availability: 

I am gone most of the first week of July for the choir games, a long weekend around July 21st for a wedding and ideally mid August for a week or so on a personal vacation. This all adds up to a lot of requested time off from a standard job... Who on earth will hire me with so many days I can't work?? 

I started applying a few random places just to see if I could land interviews. I didn't hear anything back so started thinking a little more outside the box. I decided last night to check my areas craigslist for job postings and came across this one! It was for a 2 week summer theatre camp! Aha! I thought finally something I could be really great at. So I shot them an email to express interest. Evan, the guy in charge sent me an email back asking me to call and set up an interview. So I called last night and we ended up talking for nearly 20 minutes!! 

I had my interview today: I met Evan and Andrea at a coffee place in Northampton to have an interview. During the interview we chatted a lot about the program, but then they decided to play me some of the music for the show so I could hear it. Super cute and sends a great message. They sang a song for me called Blueberries, teaching about sharing and respect! After they played me a few more songs it was my turn to sing. I swallowed my on-the-spot nerves and asked if they would teach me a line or two of the song Blueberries. We jammed for a few minutes on the sidewalk and I was actually impressed with how great of a blend we had! I felt so happy and excited about everything, and I could feel their energy and excitement too! I left happy but nervous because they said they had a ton of people apply! A half our later they called me back and offered me the position! I think it had a lot to do with how great we all sounded together singing Blueberries. I am excited to sing agin with them soon! 

I accepted and it seems like all of my dreams for my summer job came true:

1. Sunlight! 

The camp is on a farm, and much of the day is spent outside!

I will be working at Stone Soup Farm, so cute!

2. To work with children...

21 children to be precise! 

3. To do something that feels fulfilling

Enstilling the love of music and theatre into kids? I would call that really fulfilling!

4. To not dread my job

I will absolutely not dread this job at all, in fact it's the most exciting thing about Western Mass right now! The people I will be working with seem so great! I can't wait to get to know them! 

5. To get paid hourly at least minimum wage... 

Try double :) 

I couldn't be happier with the outcome of the past two days. I feel so blessed and am thankful to God for this amazing opportunity. I will get a chance to sing, teach, and use my creative abilities this summer! I can start to get to know some people around my age in the area, and I won't have to take any days off from this job! If you want to know more about the super cute program we are doing with them check it out: Shiprock and Anchordog and feel free to read about it and like it on FB at the Shiprock and Anchordog Project! 

**All the photos used in this blog I do not claim to own, they are from the sites linked above!**

Now as lucky as I might seem, I still am looking for other jobs, I have a few more workable weeks of the summer and am trying to find other short gigs to make a few! Let me know if you hear of any! 

Happy job hunting to the rest of you, praying you catch a lucky break like me! 

Dreaming of Carnivals

So to those of you who know me well- you know that my brain sometimes operates like the brain of a child. I think.... "I want to do this"... then, instead of having an adult response to it: pushing away any ideas that could be easily confused with dreams, I respond like a child-... "OK, I am gonna do it."

Now some of you may think that it's stupid that I constantly follow my dreams or that when I come up with schemes and adventures I actually do my best to make them happen. I think of it more like a gift. One time I wanted to go to NYC and sing with Eric Whitacre so despite the money challenge I did it, this summer I wanted to travel to Europe for 2 weeks with my choir, and despite the money I totally raised enough!

Well the other day I was online looking at photography and blogs- and I saw a post on Dear Lizzy about carnivals, and I got the insatiable need to find the closest carnival and have some summer fun!

One problem- no carnivals in sight... so I got to thinking where could I go that there would absolutely be a carnival- then it hit me... THE BEACH! When I was a kid we used to visit my uncle in New Jersey, and there was a boardwalk with a little carnival area. So not only was I dying to go to a carnival- I also was dying to go to the beach!

Most people at this point would say.. 'Drop the idea Danielle- there is no way you can go find a beach boardwalk, it would be too far, too expensive, and no one would be able to go with you!' So naturally I said... "I am gonna make it happen!"

One day, and many phone calls later.... I am planning to drive to NJ to stay with my Uncle and his family for a day or two. I have 3 friends who are coming- and we are gonna do it for only $40 per person! It seemed like fate when I found out, Daniela and Josh had the same days off from work this week- (and Nate was available too!)

We are leaving Thursday night after we get off work and driving through the night- spending all day on the beach Friday and part of the day Saturday! I honestly am so excited for this trip.. it's the perfect Pre-Choir-Tour-Europe-Trip-Getaway

It's nice to know that I can still come up with crazy ideas and spontaneous trips and make them happen. :)

Happy Summer!

So today is the very first day of summer, and so far I have spent 8 1/2 hours working. The rest of my hours have been spent showering, eating, etc. I do want to do something to really celebrate the start of summer, but I wasn't sure what. Ruche posted an entry about summer- and I loved their ideas:

15 Ideas to Celebrate the First Day of Summer

* Instead of sitting inside, take your lunch break out into the sunshine.
* Treat yourself to your favorite frozen snack.
* Grab a friend and head to the beach.
* Eat your dinner outside.
* Fall asleep with the windows open.
* Roll around in fresh-cut grass.
* Make fresh lemonade.
* Eat a fruit salad.
* Start a summer scrapbook.
* Pick flowers.
* Go backyard camping with your friends.
* Have a beach bonfire and make s'mores.
* Catch fireflies.
* Watch the sunset.
* Bake a homemade pie.

Unfortunately- many of their ideas I can't really do. Whether lack of beach, wrong time of day, or stuff I can't eat- it just isn't going to happen.

So here are a few of my ideas:
-take a walk
-play frisbee
-make homemade popsicles
-blow bubbles
-have a picnic
-take pictures outside
-wear a summery-sundress
-enjoy and ice cold glass of your favorite drink

I decided on playing Frisbee with Jesse :) And I was terrified at first- but I wasn't nearly as bad at it as I thought! pictures to come....and there will be a picnic tomorrow!!