Inspirations

It was during my maternity leave with my daughter that I first entered the blogosphere and realized what an incredible forum it really is! The notion that a community of people can come together based on interests and ideas, no longer constrained by geography is amazing and something I definitely want to be a part of. Becoming a mother was the most incredible thing that has ever happened to me and I cherish every second of this special journey. However, while being a mama is a HUGE part of my life, it's not the only part, and I think it is important (and often difficult) for all mothers to retain a sense of their individual identity and purpose. I'm also a wife, daughter, sister, friend, teacher, and citizen of the world. One of the other purposes of this blog is to share music, books, art, movies, and ideas that inspire me.

Music: As you will soon come to see, music is something I am passionate about, so I will frequently share artists and albums that I enjoy. Most of my favorite music will fall under the ambiguous Americana genre, meaning it's somewhat hard to classify. Ultimately, good music isn't restricted to any particular genre and often the best musical artists are those who fuse together various influences to create something new, while still honoring the traditions and torchbearers of the past.

Books: As a college English major, I've been a bookworm all my life. To me, libraries are sacred places akin to cathedrals, and stepping into a bookstore always gives me an electric thrill, as the possibility of new worlds and knowledge await in the humble pieces of paper stacked against the walls. I will frequently be sharing books that I am currently reading or those books I have read in the past that continue to inspire me.

Artists: I love art, especially folk art and anything that is genuine and handmade. I won't be giving critical analysis of the masters of the Renaissance, but I hope to share some of my favorite contemporary artists who are always in the process of creating beauty out of whatever media they choose to work with. I recently discovered ETSY and now would far prefer a few uninterrupted hours of ETSY browsing to a trip to the mall.

Movies: In my humble opinion, Netflix is the greatest business concept ever. I absolutely love going to the mailbox and finding those bright red envelopes. It's like getting a present! I have a huge list of movies I intend to watch, but unfortunately, it seems I rarely get around to actually doing it. I think it gets back to that whole uninterrupted block of time problem. Also, I have a very serious movie watching method. I insist on sitting down on a comfortable couch or chair with properly fluffed up pillows, a cozy throw nearby, and a TV tray properly laden with the essentials: remote, beverage of choice (will obviously depend on the film), snack, tissues, hand lotion, lip balm, and anything else that will prevent me from having to get up during the movie. Bathroom breaks should be avoided if possible, although if necessary, the movie must obviously be paused and position carefully reassumed upon return. I cannot tolerate movies on tv unless it's something I have seen a million times before. I guess its becoming clear now why I don't get to watch as many movies as I would like, but I will be sharing those I do.

So, every day (okay, not every day, but with some degree of frequency), I would like to share some of these inspirations with you. Enjoy!