What stopped me?

I was looking back at how few posts I have actually been submitting during the month of November and I am appalled.   I was so ready to conquer the blogging world again this month at its outset, but that got derailed by my baby getting sick, then myself, then the hubby.  I actually have been accomplishing a lot and really looking forward to what the very near future holds.

I finally recorded a couple of videos of personal live performances of You Grant Wish, a capella, and my rendition of ‘If I Could” with some accompaniment music.  My hubby figured out how to get “If I Could” up on YouTube, but I haven’t had a chance to figure out how to input it into my website.  Babysteps…I’ve gotta keep telling myself that i just need to take babysteps when I do things.  I have no nanny, so its just me, so things takes a little longer to get done, so that I can still spend quality time with the family.

I am so excited because the hubby expressed his interest in producing some music for me.  He is excellent at making beats.  So stayed tuned for where this all leads.  We are looking into the cost of putting together a home based studio, and also planning to take some classes on studio engineering and producing, etc… You know I am excited about the possibility of being able to complete a song without waiting to try to get some studio time.  I also can’t wait to see what my baby girl does when she is surrounded by music as she grows up.

First Day of the last 30 days

Today was absolutely beautiful outside.  80 degrees in the Valley.  I was singing up a storm at the house and was pretty happy to find out that day light savings was over and we had all gained an extra hour of sleep.  The baby had gotten up alittle later than usualy, which was great, but again, she didn’t sleep that fantastically through the night.  She’s definitely teething, growing all four qudrants of her first molars at the same time.  So after being up with her by myself, the hubby came and relieved me and gave me an extra hour and half to sleep.  I had originally planned to go to church with my Mom, to the church that we grew up in, but that didn’t happen.  We had watched Bishop T.D. Jakes earlier in the morning and had started to watch Joel Osteen, but I had seen that sermon before.

Well, I ended up singing like crazy today, belting out “If I Could”, several times, before calling it quits and letting my voice rest.  The baby was so tired that she fell asleep in my arms while while I was singing…that’s crazy…she must have been really tired.  Her sleep time finaly gave me a chance to wash my face and comb my hair.  Wow, the things mommies do…I was looking ragedy for real.  But finally got it together. 

I also had the opportunity to speak with my best friend.  I am so proud of her.  She is on a mission to lose weight and she is doing it.  We were talking about her weight loss cerimony.  She wants to have a “memorial service” for her fat clothes.  Something only “girlfriend’s can relate to”…I love the idea.  Of course I’ll be singing. 

Well, i’m back to blogging like crazy and I really am going to get some videos done.  I saw a girl on YouTube who just video taped herself a capella who totally inspired me.   So, I’ve charged my Flip camera and am I definitely going to tape myself tomorrow, Monday, Novemebr 2nd.  You read it, so I am accountable to you regarding this committment.  Nichole Ayanna, signing out!

Its Halloween and no Tinkle Bell costume tonight!

I was so excited to dress up my little girl for Halloween.  Earlier today I sang at a home going celebration for my friend’s mom.  My friend had come to me at the beginning of the week and asked me to sing “If I Could”, a new song for me, but I wanted to sing that song for her.  So I did that earlier today and had planned to get home, get the baby dressed and take her trick or treating.  Whoooaaaa! She was not haven’ it.  I dressed her in her costume, and needed to pin up the shoulders so it would hang so low.  I tried to pick er up and flapped down like a mermaid out of water.  Every time I tried to pick her up she did the same thing.  Then she ran to ther room crying, and grabbed one of her blankets.   She brought her blanket to me and she looked at me like “sleep”.

Ok.  So my hubby and I stayed home with the baby, which is what she really wanted.  I think she thought I was getting her dressed to drop her off with her grandparents.  She just wanted to be with her mommy and daddy.  So, tonight was still wonderful.

Booo Yaaahhh! The First 30 Days…

I am excited to say that I am coming to a close of the first 30 days of the 90 day Challenge.  I was looking back at my goals for the Challenge and I think I have made a few adjustments along the way. My goals consisted of balancing family, health, singing career, and my spiritual health.  I think the ones that really stayed on top of the most was the commitment to my family and spending quality time with my baby girl and hubby, and blogging on my singer songwriter website so that you, my fans, friends, family can really get to know me.  The blogging actually is also helping me gain clarity in the direction that I want to take my career at this time.  Of course I’ll be sharing that “Ah Ha” clarity with you every step of the way.

I haven’t been video taping myself singing, so that has to be something that I push through to do asap.  It’s ridiculous.  I haven’t been setting aside the time to showcase myself to my own “peeps”.  I know you all support me and lift me up…I think the fear of being seen all over the world wide web performing, which is my dream, is getting in the way.   Also questioning the “what if’s”…what if I sing the wrong somg, What if people start talking about me?”…etc.   I’ve gotta listen to my own advise about FEAR, “False Evidence Appearing Real”.  You may have read the blog I had saying “Don’t Be Sciirred”, talking about conquering your fears by facing them head-on.

I have also gotta get my online store up and going.  Everyone is asking what things they will be seeing in the store other than music…well, your gonna have to wait on that.  I am still making up my mind on what I would like to offer that really imparts some value into your quality of life.  The next 30 days is going to be more awesome than the first.   I’ll also track my workout regimen better…I think I’m down about 5 pounds.  Now it’s time to step up my exercise routine, not that baby girl is finally sleeping through the night.  Why don’t you join me now in doing the Challenge and making the end of 2009 the best time in your life.

Get Back on Track and Take the 7 Day “Shot” Challenge

I don’t know if you were reading my blog posts over the past couple of days except yesterday (I will admit that I didn’t write a thing yesterday, I was totally out of it), but we had a tragedy happen.  I have vowed to dust myself off and start fresh with my positive attitude and outlook on life.  I am still in the action mode of my 90 Day Challenge but starting today I am injecting it with 7 Day Shot Challenge, to give me that extra boost to end of my first 30 days.  In the next 7 days I am committed to working out at least 30 minutes each day, getting a massage, drinking the wonderful vitality smoothies that my hubby usually makes for me a few times a week, but instead having one everyday, writing a song, and loading at least one video blog.  I think that doing things in smaller increments of time, and acknowledging the accomplishments can push anyone over the hump from giving up, to recommitting to a Challenge. 

That’s what I am doing, putting a new “shot” of life into the 90 Day Challenge.  It’s only been three weeks into the 90 days, but as a Gemini, who can get distracted very easily, its good that I am committing to this 7 Day Shot Challenge.  I don’t know, but I was thinking about people who get those B12 shots to get more energy throughout the day.  I’m not trying to get a B12 shot, although that does sound…interesting, I am just putting new energy into my 90 day Challenge.  Are you ready to join in now?  Let me know what you are planning to do over the next 7 days.

Also, I have a great newsletter coming out this week so make sure you sign up to receive it by entering your name and email address in the box to right where it says to join my email list.  Peace, Songs, and Blessing…Nichole Ayanna is out.