Life is GOOD

I've been a bad blogger because my boring job, the one I used to do most of my blogging at, is no more.. I'm on to bigger and better things! So, good for me, bad for my blog.. I suppose there are some updates: New job is good, boy is wonderful, music is moving along- we took pics this past weekend so STAY TUNED to see them! they are gonna be awesome.. cause our friends, Be Speshl Photography did an amazing job! -we also have a meeting tomorrow that could lead to some good things..
so yeah! life is good!

more to come!

xoxo

Breaking Down and Rebuilding

Shortly after that last post I had a little bit of a break down. I think you could call it that. It started coming on one evening slowly. I couldn't tell exactly what I was feeling. I was stressed and irritable and frustrated but I couldn't pinpoint a cause. Then, that night, the floodgates opened and I realised- that's all I really needed, a good cry. It was such a release. And a relief! My poor boyfriend though.. probably thought I was crazy.. Normally I prefer to have my emotional breakdowns in private but hey, what can you do? Thank goodness he loves me :)

I'm very focused and driven most of the time. I'm very goal-oriented. But I think everyone just gets weighed down from time to time. I am working very hard right now on a lot of different things- I'm painting (just sold my first 2 paintings last week), working on music with my sister (just played our first show last weekend), working 3 days a week at the only job thats making me a steady, though meager, income, and working/interning 2 days for an interior designer. I am also trying to devote some time to making clothes which has been something I've wanted to do for a while now. Then of course there's the new relationship and well, just life- I haven't worked out in I-don't-know-how-long and my house is a mess. BUT, I'm not complaining because this is a decision that I made- to go for it all at once- and I know my hard work will pay off, it already has begun to. I will say that having to ignore calls from collection agencies because I know I don't have a dime to give them, avoiding cops on the road because my tags have been expired since April, and borrowing money from my dad to get my phone service reconnected on top off all of this- not fun. I just get tired sometimes. I get tired of working my ass off and still being ass-broke. *sigh* But I know this is just a phase of my life and I will reap the benefits of my investments sooner or later. My vote is for sooner.

Anyway, I am feeling energized again after my little episode of exhaustion and I'm ready to hit the ground running.

*** I actually wrote this post last week but my computer here at work sucks and so it wouldn't post. So I had saved it to try again later. Today it worked but now its outdated. So just know that a couple things have changed- I got a little money, got my tags renewed, sold another painting (to my mom, but still..) and am generally just feeling better about life.

Happy Things

My BFFWB and I drove a Uhaul from Louisiana to TN yesterday and it was glorious. Glorious I tell you. Not only am I pretty sure I could scoop poop all day with him and still have the best day of my life but we spent a good 5 hours coming up with and discussing a brilliant plan. I can't say much (actually I could but it feels very important to pretend its some sort of secret- heather, call me) but I will tell you it involves music, a video camera, and Europe.
So, as far as music goes, that is what I am working towards. It doesn't change much of what I was already focusing on with Trudy Chase. We are still working on getting a good set solidified and getting our musicians together, booking some shows and getting merch. Now we just add to that saving for a trip to Europe.

Other happy things from this past week include spending the weekend in New Orleans (hence the driving back from New Orleans) and some delicious developments with the job situation.

First of all- New Orleans was an amazing time.

What a cool city. It certainly has a dark side though. You can feel it. It's like that hot guy with the bad boy image, only he ain't no James Dean, he's the real deal, he's real trouble. That's N'awlins. But hey, one night can't do any harm huh? We went down to Bourbon Street on Saturday night. We had some absolutely sinful Cajun food and daiquiris and sang karaoke.. it was delightful. Then, Sunday, we spent by the pool until it got too hot and we went out for [veggie] burgers and chocolate shakes. When we got back, Aaron and I watched the sun fade, reducing the color palate of our world to blue and gold. Then at the exact right moment, we were showered with one of those perfect southern summer storms. We watched the rain and then went and got some beer. Perfect little mini-vacation.

On the job front, I put together my portfolio and showed my boss and she loved it! LOVED it! So what started as an "internship" and then turned into my training for a position as "art consultant" has now become "Katie, I'm going to try and use your art in every one of my jobs. And if I need something that you don't have, I'll just have you paint it. Let's see, this one we'll price at $600.. this one $800.. this one, hm, about $1200.." HA! yessssss!!!! So, now it's time to paint paint paint paint paint cause I gots some money to make!

I can't remember what all I've put up here but here's one I've recently finished:

That is one of the ones for sale (anyone?? ha) It's actually a pretty difficult thing to start selling these peices.. I love them all! I decided to keep one though. I'm keeping my favorite one. But it will still be hard to see the ones of my sister and my grandma go.. I really honestly can't think about it too much. In fact I'm going to stop talking about it right now.


So, in conclusion, happy freakin times up in here.







Oh and one last thing...



:)

First comes love, then comes Europe

I've been a bad bad blogger... when was my last post? like 2 weeks ago? my oh my... It's been one of those moments where there is too much going on to focus in on any one thing with any amount of coherency. I'll attempt to give a little update.

We'll start with the good. I have been pushing really hard again to get some things going. First of all, I need to be making more money- I haven't even paid my rent for this month yet. So I've been whoring my skills and abilities on Craigslist as usual and have gotten some bites this time. I have spoken with a couple people about doing some singing for them, which is great- session work would be a beautiful gift to me right now. I met with a guy about watching his little 3-year-old and I think I'll probably start that in about a week. I've been painting and I think I'm almost ready to put my stuff up somewhere so I've been talking with couple people about that. I also have an interview with an interior design company that I am incredibly excited (and nervous) about. I also plan on taking my resume to all the interior design companies in Nashville along with a letter I wrote if this one doesn't work out. And lastly, my friend asked me to join his cover band which I think would be really fun. You see, so many things are on the verge.. It's a little overwhelming but I've learned that you have to cast a wide net so I'm sure that once everything plays out, some things will work and others will fall through and hopefully I'll be left with a nice amount of goings-on. These are my efforts to get a little more income flowing without comprimising the track that I'm on- that is the pursuit of creative, inspiring things. What I don't want to have happen is that I end up working fulltime on things that are not moving me forward- i.e. receptionist-ing and babysitting for 40 hours a week. I really feel like I'm making progress right now and thats too much time lost.

The bad things that have been occupying my time are some health issues.. I don't really wanna talk about it too much but I'll just say that my body seems to be freaking out on me and I have no idea why. Started the whole thing off with a UTI and its been one random ailment after another.. now I have 2 big canker sores on the inside of my lip and I swear my lip is swelling because of them. This morning I felt like I was gonna throw up.. that coulda been cause I didn't eat breakfast.. I don't know.. I guess the canker sores could be stress? Anyway, its not been fun, trying to figure out what the hell is going on.

So, back to life-y stuff, I have had 2 conversations recently- with Aaron and with my mom- about my ultimate goal and my idea of "success" and I been really doing some reevaluating. Also, in my discussion with my mom I kindof nailed down the 4 things that I am interested in pursuing in my life, they are, in a somewhat particular order: Music (as an artist-writing, playing, singing, performing), Visual Art, Interior Design, and Fashion. And of course, I didn't know where to stick this on the list because I'd like it to be incorporated into everything, but I'd like to serve people. I want my music and art to help people in some way and I also want to use my success to further causes that I believe in.

So, I've been thinking about long-term and short-term goals and here are some ideas- first of all, here is a picture of what I'd like my life to look like right now: Working 25 hours a week as an assistant to an interior designer, selling my paintings at galleries and coffee shops, doing vocal work here and there- sessions and bgv stuff, playing with the cover band (which is good money and practice!), playing shows with Trudy Chase and making clothes as the last priority but just to keep it going then maybe by next year I'd have enough to have a line in Naked Without Us. So that would last for the next year and would build up to next summer when Meredith and I leave for our Europe tour. :) I mean, it sounds like a damn good plan to me.. Then we tour Europe with Trudy Chase for the summer and well, from there, I guess we become international superstars what else? :)

You don't know what you've got til its gone...

9:45am
Sitting at my desk. Listening to Adele. "I need to get away to feel again." Popping Ricolas like candy.

9:48am
This day is made up of minutes. 3 just passed. Now if that can only happen 408 more times...

9:49am
Slowly but surely, huh?

Ok, I promise I won't count down the minutes of the day via blogging. That would surely be an all-time low.

(9:50am)

(sorry...)

"There aint no room in my bed as far as I'm concerned"

The things that are on my mind right now are:

1. Aaron- he left last weekend for Texas. Plan is to interview with a guy there to go on the road with him around the world filming- i forget for what exactly.. If that doesn't work out, he's going to Louisiana to work with his Grandpa (again, i forget doing what exactly..) and then to NYC to work with the National Arts Movement (i think thats what its called) people.. So basically, it wasn't quite true when he said he'd only be gone for a month. I'm very happy for him though, he really needed to go. I am truly excited to see what happens. He's an amazing person. I definitely miss him though. And I know that I will continue to miss him. I actually hope he is in Texas for a while though cause I am going there this summer and we could hang out!

10:38am

I was on the phone with my sister for a while which passed a nice chunk of time beautifully. Random note, my boss told me yesterday that if our business doesn't do better within the next year that they may start laying people off. I'd be first. I thought to myself, if I'm still working here in a year it wouldn't matter cause I'd probly kill myself.

Ok, #2 of what's on my mind:
Trudy Chase- Trudy Chase is a lifestyle that will be on sale soon. This comes from Aaron wisdom. He says merch is the best way for us to make the money to keep it going with Trudy. Our artwork, our clothes, our music (of course- but even before we have an actual record, we'll make an ep with the couple songs we have recorded plus some live recordings), our style and our lifestyle.

#3- I'm thinking about going somewhere this weekend. Anywhere. Just driving somewhere.. Not sure where though. Plus, I do this every friday pretty much. And I never go anywhere. I'm too broke. I just got paid though.. hm.. Where should i go? Kentucky? I wish I knew someone in Louisville.. it's a cool place. Memphis? nope. scary.. plus i don't know anyone there either.. Maybe I'll just spend the weekend in Franklin with the fellas.. If it was nice outside I would go camping. But its very cold. I wonder if Jonathan is still in Indiana, or wherever he was.. maybe i could go there for the weekend.. In all likelyhood, my weekend will go like this- go home after work.. call a couple people, wait and see if Jason will call, probly get some dinner with him, go out, wake up late tomorrow, clean, find something to do, go out, wake up late Sunday, maybe make it to church, come home, clean, bum around, go out, sleep, work monday morning. thrilling. haha, actually its not bad at all, i always have fun with my friends but I'm just a restless soul and I always want to go somewhere.. different. i get bored easily. I need change all the time. Maybe I'll just go home and rearrange my furniture.

"I need to get away to feel again."

Just satisfying my soul today...

It's free-for-all-friday! I'm just gonna keep this window open and share with you the random things that go through my mind.

I've always loved Kate Moss's style. It's like mine, but with money... :) and skinnier.

Are you kidding me? she's just ridiculously hot.


I don't like to admit things like this, but, I am kinda trying to lose a couple pounds right now.. just a couple.. I'm keeping track of everything at myfitnesspal.com and it's actually really helping. I also started exercising about 4 times a week and am going to start training for the music city half marathon that's in April. I just have these little places where I haven't been chubby before and now I am... Pictures like to one above inspire me! I'm young enough, i could look like that! I'm supposed to go running with some people tomorrow but I'm going skiing instead :) ha.

On facebook, there's this thing going around where you write a note with 25 random things about yourself in it and tag your friends in it and they're supposed to do the same... I haven't done it yet. At first it was because i don't like those chain things and i thought 'if you wanna know about me then hang out with me in person and ask!' but now the urge to talk about myself is getting pretty strong and i'm enjoying reading other peoples' a lot... I've been reading so many that through out the day i think of things that would be on my list- i'll do something and then think to myself "#19. I always do such and such.." It's getting kinda weird. SO, i think i'll start listing them on here sporadically and if i come up with a satisfactory list of 25 then MAYBE i'll post it on facebook. So, um.... see? i can't think of anything.

Here's more Kate Moss for you. (i google image searched her..)

you know what i love about this picture? the carpet and the walls :) snake skin walls?? are you serious?? amazing. I sent this pic to my sister (who i live with [should that have been whom?]) and said, 'we need some ridiculousness in our apartment'. so we're working on it. she bought some awesome little turquoise monster trinket.. it's pretty sweet. still i'm thinkin bigger-like a big crazy rug or tapestry or something.. although i think the little monster trinket was cheaper..

Hey, so i'm doing really well on my money stuff! i haven't really spent any money all week! until yesterday, my sister and i went out to this amazing sushi place downtown called sam's sushi- if you live in nashville it is a MUST. HUGE sushi rolls for so cheap. It's this tiny little place downtown- i mean tiny- and it's run by Sam, just Sam. and he doesn't allow tipping. He's there everyday from 11 or 12 to 8. We were there at around 6 but he gave us the lunch special which is 2 rolls for 4.75! and they're big, i couldn't eat both, i brought leftovers for lunch today. anyway, other than that, i haven't spent anything. just nine more days to go til i get paid again. It won't be much of a different situation then though... i'll be paying bills with every dollar and then living on the pennies that are left. But that's ok cause I'm enjoying actually having time to do things like help my parents move last weekend, hang out with Meredith yesterday and this weekend with Brian (who was on Access Hollywood last night!! woot!) anyway, i'm proud of myself though cause i'm really bad about throwing caution to the wind and just sayin screw it. (i do need to find a little extra income however.. just some part-time here and there work, nannying or something)

So Trudy Chase is really coming along.. We got some bells and have been messing with them, it's really fun. I want to find some other random instruments to play with. We set up a photoshoot with my friend Stephanie and here are somethings that inspire me in one way or another for the shoot-
I like how this pic looks, i'll have to ask her how to get that effect...

I like how this one is on a plain wall, i think it would be cool to do some like that, especially a white wall with white or plain clothes, but our hair is red so it'd really stand out

here are some examples of pics of two people:




Here's some others that i just like:




Ok well its lunch time so bye.

At Some Point In My Life...

At some point in my life, I'd like to spend a year travelling around the world, playing music on the street and living off the change I make. I'd like to meet people, especially other artists, and create music and art with them. Maybe my sister would come with me. Or it could be not so homeless/hippie and we could actually plan some sort of tour in Europe. Book some shows and sell our CDs all across the country. That might be a little better. Wow, I really wanna do that. Here's some inspiration:

I watched the video

I got the watch the video of my performance tuesday. I was glad to see that overall it did come off well. I feel good about it. Most of what I thought afterwards was true, there were some mistakes and I have a lot of work to do but it's definitely there. I can't wait to have the second piano and Mere singing and the whole show put together! I know I keep saying we've got some good ideas.. cause we do! Anyway, I just wanted to post a follow up to my post-show review. You know how sometimes watching yourself back on video is like "Seriously? that's what i look like? that's what i sound like? i do not!" haha, well it wasn't like that this time. I felt good about it. Ok, that's all about that.

I always feel like I don't have a lot of Christmas shopping to do til I actually start doing it and then I realise, crap, i've waited way to long. damnit. So I guess this weekend will be the scramble. I've never been a huge Christmas enthusiast. I mean, i like it, but I really just like all the time off work, the birthday parties (lots in december, including mine) and then the Christmas parties (like the one we're having tonight- The Ugly Sweater Christmas Kegger :) (my sweater is hideous) and all the family time. But the finacial stress, the last-minute shopping, all the bullshit of everyone suddenly super-religious and charitable, the consumerism, and all the sadness that is seemingly ampliphied this time of year- I don't like that stuff. I'm not sure where I was going with that. Um, I have a lot of shopping to do this weekend and i'm not looking forward to it.

last night

Last night I played a show at Cafe Coco. I think it went well. I tend to over-analyze... There were definitely mistakes. But I think overall it came off well.. It was my first show with Paul (on percussion) and my sister, Meredith, singing with me. It started out awesome I thought; there was so much energy with Paul and Mere. Then my voice was being a little ornery towards the end which was frustrating. It pretty much never acts up on me. There were a TON of people there though which was awesome. The sound guy, Cody, said that it is very rarely that full on a Tuesday night and they'd love to have us back! Sweet. So, overall, i think it was good, but it's hard for me not to be picky. and there were definitely mistakes. I think the reason is that I have been focusing mainly on Mere and I and "Trudy Chase" and this was a Katie Bandas show. Trudy Chase is definitely not ready and Katie Bandas has been a little left behind. So it was a little rough. But lets focus on the positive. It is important to keep performing even while we're working on new stuff and that is why I did this show. And I think, and hope, that in general it was good and people liked it and people were impressed. My brother video taped it so it'll be very interesting to watch. It's always so eye-opening to watch and listen to yourself. I was super nervous last night. I haven't been that nervous in a long time, I think it was because there were so many people there. I guess I'm just rambling on about this but it's on my mind. So ramble, i will. Things I need to work on are, well, aside from just getting all the parts written and learned and practiced for Trudy Chase, making it a little easier on Paul to follow (that was the nerves I think) and I'd like to work in some instrumental breaks since I now have a band and it'd be cool to give them a moment. But i've never had to do that before so Paul and Brian can probably help me work that in. I need to of course just memorize everything really well and maybe spend some time daily working out my voice it doesn't feel tired like that again. I'm sure that's nothing to worry about, that pretty much never happens.. So, um, I guess just more practice. i really need to use the restroom.

What I've been eating sleeping and breathing

My brother and sister and I have been working non-stop on the sister project, for which we are now test-driving the name "Trudy Chase". We actually have a deadline because Brian will be going on tour in January, but this is good because we need the fire under our butts! So we've been thinking of names, planning the live show, working on the image, recording, and getting really excited!! The name thing has been hard though... we can't find anything that's perfect and the ones that we've really liked have been taken. Trudy Chase is the title of a song that my mom's 90s rock band played. We thought it sounded pretty cool for a band. The basic idea of the group is two sisters playing 2 pianos and sharing vocals, lots of harmony and such, kinda a pop, jazz, r&b thing, kinda retro vibe.. Right now it's a lot of the songs i already do but we're just adding in another person. Anyway, the vision that we have for it is, i'm not gonna lie, pretty freakin sick. I can't give away anymore of our secrets though, you'll just have to wait and see.

Also, i am getting a new phone for my birt-day! woo!