Sunny Santa Monica

Today was such a beautiful day that I packed up my baby girl and brought along my sister Natasha for nice get away to Santa Monica. We walked along the Santa Monica Promenade and had a great time people watching and enjoying all of the street musicians out there.  Lailah was mesmerized by this one guy out there that could play the heck out of the drums.  I have never seen a drummer…just a drummer, as a street musician, but this guys was ridiculously awesome…just off the chain.  Baby girl just had to get her dance on!  It was so hilarious watching her bob her head and dance around to the drumming…my baby got rhythm already!this was a day that she was fascinated by so many things.  There was another street musician that played the guitar and sang.  She just recently has been picking on my guitar at home…so when this guy was finished with his set, she just had to go and strum on his guitar a bit.  He was nice enough to let her do it.  Can you imagine this little baby walking up to you to you like “can I play your guitar?”  First off, I am sure he was surprised she was walking ’cause she’s so little…only stands about 28′ tall.  Then she’s pointing like crazy at the guitar, then she actually can strum it a bit.  Could this  rant of admiration over my baby girl be just her Mommy’s adoration?  Naaahhh…she really is an amazing baby.

We then walked over to Santa Monica Pier, which was awesome.  I thought, no wonder tourist come from all over the world to Los Angeles, as I overheard a couple speaking a language that I totally did not recognize, eventhough I think I am rather worldly and am familiar with a number of languages.  I couldn’t even tell you what it sounded like.  We walked along the pier to make our way to the ice cream stand and enjoy some great frozen yogurt. Then Lailah took her first carisalle ride.  It was like a mini-vacation for the just the day.

When we came back home I played the guitar a bit (not really that good…yet) and sang, while Lailah danced and sang.  I think I have another little music fanatic in the family…

I Don’t Know Where To Begin

My mind is going a million miles a minute with all of the things that I would like to accomplish today.   I want to be able to get that video done of me practicing one of my favorite songs in the car…it may be easier to tape it after I get home;-).  I’ve been singing a song that my Dad wrote for me years ago called Where were You.  It’s definitely a challenging song to sing.  It really works the range of my vocal ability but definitely can get my vocals in shape with a consistent practice of it.  It’s a jazzy R&B, love ballad, similar to the songs in the likes of Anita Baker ( another great black female singer i haven’t mentioned in the past).  My dad wrote it when I was recording at the age of 16 years old.  There were live musicians in the studio…a baby grand piano, live drums, and even an upright base.  My voice, even at 16 was thick, low, and strong.  I re-sang that song again when my sisters and I recorded our self titled debut full lengthed CD, Nik-Tash’Ta.  I think it’s track # 6.  Check it out at www.cdbaby.com/niktashta .

I also want to be able to get a run in, put a wireless router on my computer, get into my email newsletter system and work on some stuff, and upload some pictures into my, Nichole Ayanna website here, BUT, I would be spreading myself too thin.   Doing all those things would be a little…ambitious.  We’ll see what thinga I was able to accomplish by the end of the day and I’ll update you on it tomorrow.  Hopefully, you are able to that video in the next few days or so.  Oh yeah, happy day 3 of the 90 day challenge.  How are you doing on the challenge, if you are doing it with me?