My Blog Has a New Look / A Word About the Music

Have you seen the new color scheme that my blog has? Love, love, love the colors!


I also wanted to point out that my music playlist, which you can find (and turn off, if you want) at the blog's footer contains one song - I WANT TO BE A BILLIONAIRE - that contains an expletive.  When you listen to it on the radio, Travis uses the word "freaking," but he uses the "F" word on the original version. I usually don't include this type of music in my blog repertoire, but it has a catchy beat arrangement that I like. One song out of 46 is not too bad, I don't think! You have been warned. :)

My Blog Has a New Look / A Word About the Music

New to Me

I have what you might call an "eclectic" taste in music. Needless to say, my husband is completely baffled by my taste in music. He is quite content listening to the same type of music over and over and over and over again. Me, on the other hand, can't stand listening to the same thing for longer than an hour to save my life. I need variety, different rhythms, and quirkiness. I like artists that beat to the rhythm of their own drums and aren't mainstream. Which brings me to the reason for my post:

Yael Naim and Regina Spektor.

These 2 artists are seriously talented and rocking my senses. If you've never heard of them, below are videos featuring each. Enjoy!

9733

New to Me

Anniversary Album/Pioneer/Persnipety/Slide Show

Don't faint, but I scrapped again! Well, it helps that my uncle called me last week wondering when they might be receiving the photos and book that I promised them. I mean, the anniversary party took place the 1st week of June, so enough time has elapse for me to have made the pages, fixed the photos and printed them, right?

About 3 weeks ago, I went to A.C. Moore to pick up a PIONEER Memory Book where I could store the scrapbook pages, as well as pocket pages for photos or memorabilia. I grabbed it quickly, but soon realized that I didn't have enough pocket pages for the photos. A.C. Moore was out of the pocket refill pages so my other option was to order them directly from Pioneer.

I filled out the form, sent the payment and about 5 days later, I received my refill pages in the mail. I will definitely order from them again.

Getting back to the pages, as you know, I haven't had my scrapping mojo since May. However, that changed when Lorie Davison debuted her Prince in the City kit. It actually gave me the shot in the arm (mojo) that I so desperately needed. Translation: the kit was exactly what I needed to scrap the band photos. You know, I find that Lorie's kits are inspiring to me. I always love each and every page that I make with her kits.

But I digress, for a cohesive look, I did double pages and kept a basic color scheme through the pages.

Now that the pages are scrapped and my photos printed, I decided to order my scrapbook page prints from Persnickety Prints. I have heard good things from various online friends, plus I sent them a quick question about page bleeds, to which they responded quickly!

I ordered the pages today and about an hour later I got an e-mail message that the order had been completed and mailed. How is that for fast! I can't wait to see the actual pages so I can place them in the album and be done with it.

Once I get the scrapbook pages from Persnickety I will tell you how they look and take pictures to show you, of course!

In the meantime, here is a slide show of all the pages I did. Click on View All Images, then choose FULL SCREEN VIEW to view the pages up close.

9505

Anniversary Album/Pioneer/Persnipety/Slide Show

The Band/Prince of the City

Wow, I can't believe that this is the 3rd page I've done in the last 24 hours! I wanted to do some traditional pages, but it's not happening. This is what is coming to me at the moment so I am just going with the flow. I can't get enough of the grungy, distressed, cross-processed look of these pages.

I used Lorie Davison's Prince in the City
http://shop.scrapbookgraphics.com/Prince-In-The-City-With-Everything-In-It.html

The Band/Prince of the City

Phat Beats/Prince in the Ctiy

In early June, I attended my uncle's wedding anniversary celebration. My uncle's wife's grandson has a band, and played their very first public gig. :) This is one of the pages for the album and my first scrapbook page in almost 2 months.

I used Lorie Davison's Prince in the City @ SBG. 9414

Phat Beats/Prince in the Ctiy

Odessa Klezmer Band

Ed Goldberg

Jay Dubin

Joel Pecchioli

John Lesniak

Joel Pecchioli

Dennis Ionata


Barbara Goldberg









John Lesniak


Barbara playing a Middle Eastern drum called a darbuqua.

Last night, Daddy and Kay went to visit grandma in Trenton, while Liam and I planned our "Mommy and Me" time.

Liam and I made plans to attend the live music performance by the Odessa Klezmer Band at the Burlington County Library. We were first introduced to them 2 summers ago and loved them. (Click here to see the June 28, 2008 concert photos.)

The presentation was schedule to start at 7:00 p.m., but we arrived at 6:15 to enable us to get good seats. While there was already a crowd forming, Liam and I were able to score front-row seats! Woohoo! I recall that last time we attended, we arrived at 7:00 p.m, but the library was jammed-packed. The only seats we found were all the way in the back and the kids couldn't see the musicians. We ended up sitting in the floor, by a tree, which was uncomfortable, but gave us a better view of the performance.

Last night's presentation was outstanding. Each and every musical piece was better than the next, and had me foot-dancing and toe-tapping. Liam enjoyed the lively, exotic sounds and was totally engrossed in the experience.

Anyone that knows Liam knows that Liam has a short attention span and can't sit still for long periods of time; but I have to tell you that he sat quietly (without squirming) for the entire performance. As a side note, I have to add that during the 2008 concert, Dennis played the flugel horn, which Liam adored. As a result, he wants to learn to play the flugel horn, trumpet and clarinet. Had it not been for this free performance at the library, I don't believe that Liam would have been introduced to this wonderful music genre. I do have recordings by the Klezmatics, the Barry Sisters and also listen to the Klezmer station on AOL, but somehow the experience is different when experienced live.

But I digress, I must say that all of the musicians are at the top of their game. They played cohesively and stayed on-cue while still allowing Ed to improvise at will. A mere look at their faces and at their body language would tell you that they totally love what they are doing and are truly happy to share their joy with the audience. The audience, in return, hung to each note and word, and gave them their undivided attention.

I especially loved the performance by the clarinet player, JAY DUBIN, who attends the Cleveland Institute of Music. (Wishing you much success, Jay!) He not only played the music, but was immersed and driven by it. Liam was mesmerized by him and asked me how come he kept "dancing" around. I told him, "that my son, is the love of music."

During intermission, I approached Dennis, and had a nice chat. We were then joined by John, and both graciously agreed to pose for several photos. Dennis even let Liam hold his trumpet! (These are the only posed photos of the bunch!)

Anyway, the 2 hour performance went by like a quick blur. We thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend them. I hope that they return for a concert at the library next year! I am crossing my fingers... :)

If you'd like to learn more about the Odessa Klezmer Band, or want to book them for a private performance, check them out HERE.
9273

Odessa Klezmer Band

Sunday: Earth Day Fair

Prehensiled-tailed Skink The Philadelphia Zoo on Wheels was present at the fair. However, their contribution was pitiful at best. The only live animals present were the Skink and a rabbit. They also had a display of feathers and skins from a crocodile, a lion and a snake.
Desert Turtle - The Turtle Lady had this humongous Desert Turtle out in the open, as well as Snapping Turtles.
American Kestrel (falcon)
Barred Owl.
Red-tailed Hawk. The Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge Ctr. was at the fair, like last year, and brought along 3 birds that have been rescued: Falcon, Hawk and Owl. The birds are so beautiful...I just love them.
Kaylie "milking" a cow.
The kids' craft table was fun. It had dirt, sand, seeds, rocks, cotton, twigs, leaves, feathers, and seed pods. They could use any material they wanted in making their creation. This is mine. :)

The kids loved coming down the big slide. But at a buck each time, I could only afford for them to go 2 times.





There was a fabulous quartet playing music...they had some recycled items such as jug jars, washing tubs, spoons, etc. They played "My Dear Mr. Shane" and "When The Saints Come Marching In." They invited the kids to come play, but Liam refused. Kaylie, on the other hand, went up and played the maracas. Liam was was holding out for the funnel cake. :)
Bang the Trash. The kids playing "music" on recycled plastic bottles, metal, etc.
Alpacas
Love, love, love the motion blur I captured here. Can you see it?
One of my favorite parts of the fair is seeing the crafters spin the wheels to make yarn. This particular person was spinning sheep's wool.
Here's a close up of the train...all grocery store plastic bags.
Miranda's dress' train is made up of plastic bags.
Miranda, the Green Queen.

Sunday: Earth Day Fair

AFTH Picnic Photos

Have I told you how much I hate driving over bridges?
I give you 3 chances to guess who didn't want to come to the picnic.
Kaylie is very crafty and creative...so she loves the crafts tables and happily gets to work on making bracelets. What was Liam doing, you ask? He was looking for food and playing Nok Hockey with Daddy.
Just a shot of behind the "scenes", so to speak. I will have to upload the remaining photos later as Blogger just won' t let me. (photos added!)
He reminded me of Barry White...
Backup singer - he was having a good time and it really showed in his demeanor and music.
The lead singer...looks a bit rugged, doesn't he?
I always look forward to the Island rhythms...
Kaylie and Liam enjoying ice cream - Dippin' Dots - their favorite!
Kaylie and Liam playing Nok Hockey.

On my last post, I showed you pictures of our trip to Great Adventure and mentioned that we were going on a picnic the following day, Sunday. Well, here are some pictures. This picnic is held by Adoptions from the Heart, an adoption agency that I used to work for before I became pregnant with Liam. I loved working there.

AFTH Picnic Photos