Ode to a Home

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things
I cannot change
Courage to change
The things I can
And wisdom
To know the difference

This was a saying that hung on the wall in my parents home. Growing up I often looked up at that plaque and eventually I could recite it by heart. This has always been my prayer throughout my life as a young wife, mother, and now not so young grandmother. I learned pretty early on that it is impossible to control everything and there comes a time when you have to relinquish that control. I know there is none more qualified, wise, gentle, or loving than my Heavenly Father. He has always carried me through the good, bad, and the ugly. And yes He was seen it all. And through it all has loved me, cared for me, comforted me, strengthened, and always given me hope.

So after almost 27 years we will be leaving our much loved, and lived in home. So many joyful, difficult, and loving memories with my family. Cuddling on the sofa while my son Samuel read aloud. Jeremy standing up on the front porch and taking his first steps on his first birthday. He was so proud of himself. Melissa dressed as Princess Melini and the boys rescuing her. Our Felice playing dress-up in my room with her face covered in lipstick singing into a hand mirror. Dusty and Rocky playing on their skateboards, running up and down the stairs, the driveway, the sidewalk... Our home is not extravagant, luxurious, or especially beautiful. But our family memories have been created lovingly within these walls, and throughout the yard. It has not only provided safety, and shelter for us, but many who needed a helping hand for a time. I suppose if it could talk it would have asked for a make over long ago. That was never one of our priorities, it was always to build our family. We wanted to make sure our kids would be strong, God fearing, compassionate, honest, and loving towards others. And above all go out in the world and make a difference.

A new season brings new memories, and there is only one family that I want to start this new journey with...my family.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Love is Crazy

It starts with love: "Love can make us do the craziest things and propels us to do what seems impossible which when you look at it can be one in the same"

I am blessed to be encompassed in love, if love is a measure of greatness than I can honestly say that my life is great. There is no greater honor a husband or a child can give, than to love and respect their wife/mother not out of duty but out of choice. It's not an easy thing to do...let down your defenses to another person, but when you do there is a level of freedom that you have. It's hard work building up walls, rebuilding, repairing, adjusting, daily maintenance is required and it becomes a way of life. I was not brought up in a family that showed affection so I had to learn to be affectionate. Sam can testify to that, I found it hard to say I love you and during our first year of marriage I had to write it down, rehearse it, until it became second nature. Weird I know, but that was me, that's what I knew. I learned pretty quickly that I needed to make a change if I wanted my marriage to be successful.

For someone who finds it hard to express themselves music can be a Godsend, because it allows you the freedom to sing what's in your heart. And there's always that one song that grabs you and stirs up what's inside. Music has always played a huge role in my life, it brought me through my tough adolescent years. Being involved in Gospel groups kept me focused, gave me purpose, and put me with the "in" crowd. Too bad it also taught me that you can be severely disillusioned by your "so called friends". But you live and learn and thank God it made me stronger. I never strayed from singing Christian music because it always ministered to me and allowed me to minister to others. So when Sam says he had to put the project in perspective for me, he knew just how to present it so I would understand what was being asked of me. To be perfectly honest you never know what big plans Sam has spinning around in his head. So 29 years of marriage has taught me to go with the flow and humor the guy lol. He has always supported me through each phase of our lives together. And I trust that he has my best interest at heart. So this project has been one more example of his selfless love.

Sam knows me all too well and he created a very comfortable environment for me there at the Studio. I was surrounded by people I knew and loved and although I was being stretched and challenged it couldn't have been in a more nurturing environment. My husband never thinks small he has huge visions. So I'm thankful that when he saw this 4' 11" ninety five pound girl he saw huge potential and here we are, still in love.

<3 Lizzi

Experiment In Love - a letter from Big Sam

It starts with love. Love can make us do the craziest things or propel us to do what seems impossible which when you look at it can be one in the same.

For those of you that have been reading Lizzi's blog I asked my beautiful wife if I could write in her blog to give you a different perspective on her Lullabies To Love Songs project. She graciously obliged and my hope is that I can adequately convey my thoughts without the fear of sharing my true feelings. Transparency can be a scary thing but here I go.....

Lizzi's project is an experiment in love in more ways than one. When I came to Lizzi about the idea of the project it wasn't a hard sell until she seen the entire scope and timeline of what she was getting into. Her reaction was "you want to do how many songs in how much time and you want me to blog, tweet, Facebook, and tell my story?". After getting over the initial shock I told her that she was going to have her own website, take a photo shoot, broadcast her studio sessions live over the Internet, and have her own YouTube channel. And oh yea you are going to do a music video too! After giving me all the excuses of why she couldn't do what I was proposing for her to do like:

- I haven't recorded in 22 years and you want me to write and record 10 songs in 10 weeks, that's crazy.

- What the heck is a tweet or blog I don't know anything about this Internet stuff.

- People are going to be interested in what I have to say, read my blog or watch me in the studio? Hmmm I don't think so.

- A photo shoot sounds fun but come on.

- I have responsibilities and don't have the time for this project. I have to help over at the restaurant and I watch Rocky too.

And the list goes on......

I don't blame Lizzi for feeling this way because I was asking her to stretch herself and get out of her comfort zone and embark on a journey of rediscovering her talent and love for music. The only way I could put it to her is that we have done things in an unconventional way all our lives and why not add one more crazy thing in our marriage cap. There are so many great things about this project that we have been able to capture on CD, in print, and on film, but my true goal for this project is much more complicated than producing great music or deploying stuff over the internet. In fact what I was after not even Lizzi knew about and she will learn of it for the first time as she reads this blog.

What is invisible comes into view when you go through the process of personal discovery. Personal discovery can be elusive as you look inward and experience things outwardly. Lizzi had to do both as she reached deep inside herself to write what she was feeling and sing with all her heart and soul. When she started her project I could see the fear and apprehension in her eyes. It's hard looking inward to face your dreams and fears, and it's just as hard putting yourself out there to let people into your private space, but she did it. What is this invisible goal that I was after for my wife? Before I say what it is let's look at the songs she wrote and the order in which she wrote them:

Lullaby - a love song to our grandson Rocky
I Am Who I Am - a song about a woman's personal empowerment
Let's Get Away - a song about relationship renewal
Good Times - a song about childhood
Paradise of Life - a song about the importance of living life to the fullest
I Do - a love song written for our daughter who is engaged to be married
It's All About Love - a song about the simple things in life and where it comes from
Intrigue of Night - a song written about love between a man and women
Sometimes - a song of introspection
Your In My Heart - a song about a blessed life

Growing up in the church Lizzi has always sung gospel music and venturing away from this genre was scary for her. So to put her at ease I told her that she was much more than a music style and a singular message because from her Christianity flows the other aspects of who she is as a whole. The songs she wrote is proof that she grasped what I said to her.

As Lizzi progressed through each song and she got used to the internet stuff I could see my wife changing. I could see what was once a courageous thing to do to step out of her comfort zone had now become second nature. Her confidence was growing as she was fulfilling a life long dream to step back into the the studio. When you know someone well you can look into their eyes and know they have changed, it invisible but nevertheless real. My goal through this project was to help my wife get to the point where she could see her true value as a whole. This is a promise that I made to myself back before we were married that I would help her be the best that she could be, I wanted to be her helpmate. I have lived long enough to understand that we will not obtain perfection while on this earth, but in a small way and at a certain point in time we can get a deep sense of satisfaction in trying to obtain perfection. I think Lizzi said it best in her last blog "I want to be the best that I can be for my family, friends, my Creator...I am still a work in progress".

What a privilege in knowing that the invisible can be manifested in music. My wife is blessed and I am blessed because of her.

Big Sam

Still a Work in Progress

Life never grows stagnant, not for me anyways. We just returned from a wonderful trip to Disneyland. Although it rained the whole time we quickly found the nearest Target, bought some one dollar gloves, beanies, and rain panchos. Talk about powering through, the kids were as excited as with any other adventure but today of all days we were in "The Happiest Place on Earth". We all had blue panchos so we were "team blue." I've got to say that the panchos were the best investment of the day. Kinda funny to see the pics, looks like we all have our Snuggies on. lol

The lines went pretty quickly so the kids ran around getting on rides while Sam & I moseyed along with Dusty and Rocky.
Nothing like seeing Disneyland through the eyes of little ones. Dusty absolutely loves Michael Jackson, I mean he watches his music videos everyday, practices his dance moves, dresses like him (skinny jeans only) sequined gloves, hat, blazer jacket, cut away white t- shirt, and we're still on the hunt for penny loafers. So we knew he would absolutely love Captain EO, our little angel Rocky fell asleep through it, but Dusty was all eyes and ears. He loved it! What an amazing artist, it was weird to see M.J. so young and full of life I bet he never would have believed that 24 years later he would be gone had someone told him. He was on top of the world, I'm still amazed at how life really just goes on. Time nor space skips a beat, I learned this lesson when I was much younger 18 years old to be exact. I very suddenly lost my father on a Sunday morning right before Thanksgiving to a heart attack. Never the chance to say good bye, or that I loved him. Of course he knew, but I learned to never take your loved ones for granted. I think that's what fueled my passion for life, I knew all too quickly life could change. God knew how much I could handle and for that reason I believe He placed Sam in my life. He's always been the greatest support and stability in my life. When you learn to value your gifts than everything else is gravy. I would be lying if I said I have never faced difficult times, it's because of all the bad times that I can glory in the good times. Struggle either makes us stronger or more vulnerable. We have to equip our children to be able to deal with adversity in a positive way. Learning...always taking steps forward to better ourselves, I'm still learning there are lessons around every corner. Surround yourself with people who will challenge and encourage you and most importantly hold you accountable.

For the most part my life has returned to "normal" doing all the things a Mom does. I'm about ready to get some Pumpkin Pie goin' one of my favorite things about Fall. The music, recording, writing, rehearsing, rushing from point A to point B is somewhat calmer. But my heart is changed, I feel a sense of satisfaction, pride, in accomplishing one of my dreams. God has surrounded me with people of a like mind who love music, and were able to help me through the whole process. We can only do what we do, the key is to do it well. I want to be the best that I can be for my family, friends, my Creator...I am still a work in progress.

<3 Lizzi

Wind Down

Can't believe it my time at the Studio is over. I sang my last song today. What an amazing song it is. John sang some harmonies and a few add libs which added so much to the song. I just love the sound and texture of his voice and it added a completely different feel to the song. We have a really strong blend of songs but I think the first is as strong as the last.

We will be doing a music video to one of the songs, but we're still deciding which to use, the song Good Times or Love Song. I guess we'll take a vote with the family. We have a very good video crew so I hear little details of the format and it sounds great.

We still need to record a couple of live drum tracks on two of the songs. So hopefully we can get my son Jimmy in there soon to complete those two songs. We also are waiting to schedule in
Yung Rizzo to do a rap on one of the songs. Then Big Sam will work his magic on the mixes and those songs can be sent for mastering. The whole experience has been amazing and I can't wait to share it with you!

<3 Lizzi




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Day 31 in the Studio

It's hard to believe my project is winding down. But I guess all good things must come to an end. My time with the Iklectix has been so memorable, although the guys are much younger than me I have learned so much from them. For instance their approach to music is so uninhibited, it's not just about writing a song but words other people can relate to. Pure and simple melodies are best so others can sing along. And always approach a song with a relaxed and confident nature.

As always some things are easier said than done, and his project was no exception. We had technical difficulties with the camera system, live streaming, and scheduling. But we knew it was an aggressive schedule and we made it our goal to work within the time constraints. All things considered my time with the boys was always so pleasant, we always had cause to laugh and have fun while we worked. It really amazed me how the guys never skipped a beat, whether they were recording tracks or creating, even when people came by to say hello. Seems like a perfect marriage of musical minds coming together and working in unison with ease and precision. I hope I won't embarrass them by complimenting them. But the joy is equal to the sadness that I feel ending our studio time together. Joy in the fact that I will have something tangible to offer the listeners and sadness that I will no longer have cause to walk up into the studio without interrupting a session. What an incredible and timeless gift they have given me that I will cherish. I know just as I gave my heart and soul to the project much of theirs is included also. I think everything they work on bears their stamp on the artist and the music they produce for them. Excited to see what will come down the pike for them.

Today I sang the lead vocal to our last song on the recording titled "Love Song" as I mentioned it is a happy, thought provoking, and reflective song that gives praise for all that we have and don't have. Material things are great but with it comes great responsibility and accountability. I want to know that I did what I was supposed to do in this life. Because when it's all said and done, all that is left is our legacy, for me my greatest accomplishment will always be my children and the truths that we instilled in them. Live life, Love life, and be grateful for all that you have!

I may be able to sing the lead vocal on song number nine tomorrow. If so that will complete our 10 songs for the L2L Project. We are thinking of doing one more song, more for sentimental reasons. It's a song my Mama used to sing to my babies when they were little. I think it would mean a lot to her and I know it would mean a lot to my children. So until tomorrow...

<3 Lizzi

Day 30 in the Studio

We finally worked out a temporary childcare situation for the baby (definitely not easy) now we can all be in the Studio together and finish the project strong. Amazingly enough our last song is nearly finished. John was on a writing frenzy today even though he wasn't feeling well. It certainly didn't douse out his inspiration because he wrote the second verse of the song while Sammy was laying down guitar and bass tracks. It's a beautiful song that will bring the project full circle.

The emphasis of the recording has always been the concept of love, life, and relationships and of course the giver of all things, God. I am excited that the project is almost complete and also a little sad that my studio time with the guys is ending. It has been such a rich and fulfilling experience to be surrounded by their musical genius and experience. I have been around musicians for many years and it's always a pleasure when you meet people that have a pure heart and a passion for what they do. I can honestly say that the Iklectix are just that. So now we have our "Bookends" for the project. Now my job is to practice, practice, practice, so I can go in and sing the lead vocal. Song number nine still needs some lyrics, but I'm confident that will be completed tomorrow. This will give us a total of ten songs, which is what the goal was. I'm very happy and proud of what we have been able to accomplish in a relatively short amount of time.

<3 Lizzi

Sunday Listening Party

Had a great time on Sunday! Everyone is so busy during the week, so we try to keep our Sundays free of work. That means we stay away from work as well. But we decided since we received the mastered versions of our first six songs we'd make an exception. Some of the kids have heard little bits and pieces of the music here and there, but not the finished result. So we thought we'd show them before releasing it online. Sunday is really the only day that we are all free in the afternoon and evening. So we planned a listening party at 4:00 pm. Sam decided he wanted to record the party and have John, Sammy & I, give a brief overview of each song before listening. I was really excited to see the kids reaction to the music. I didn't want it to be obvious but I was watching their reactions for each song. Everyone listens to music differently, some people are very quiet and others are a bit more vocal when they like or dislike a song. Knowing more or less each of my children I was watching for subtle hints as to whether they really liked the music. But really I don't think they would have said anything negative about the music. There were definitely the songs that made them move or bob their heads, some brought tears, and one particular song made them slightly uneasy. I explained to them that my life has many different facets and the music is a reflection of that. Us moms' wear many different hats, it's not easy being a modern day woman! I think the highlight for me was when we showed Melissa and Fernando our wedding song to them. They sat front and center and both got a little teary eyed. It was a very touching moment. Overall it was a great listening party and I was very satisfied with the comments from the familia.

So we have two more songs that will be sent off for mastering which will give us a total of eight songs so far. There was the question of whether we would release the songs in the order that we recorded them or mix it up a little. I think in the end we decided to leave it as is, so you can experience the flow and feel of the music as we did. It's incredible how much music has come out of that Studio, this is just a very small segment of what the Iklectix do and have done for many years. May God continue to inspire and breathe new life and music into them. Much love to my boys, John and Sammy!

<3 Lizzi

Monumental Day 30 in The Studio

I had an amazing day on Thursday in the Studio, unfortunately I wasn't able to write my blog. Apparently I was on Mommy time-out with my iPad. My son Jimmy felt I needed a break from my communication device lol. I did get it back on Friday, but it just so happens that Iguanas was having Free T- Shirt Friday, and I was on t-shirt distribution duty. Needless to say it was a busy, busy, day. I left around four o' clock to pick up "D" at school, then made a few t-shirt deliveries to friends and family.

While at my Sisters house she was on her way to take her three kids to hip hop dance class and as it turns out one of them just wasn't into it. So she invited "D" to join them. He was more than happy to go, so I went along to watch and see what the program was all about. Sam met us there and we were both incredibly impressed with the program. Seems like a nice fit for our boy. The class was being taught by a dance troop by the name of DS Players. This group of performers are incredible and it was so nice to see these young men and women giving back to the community with their talent! In little over an hour they taught the kids some cool moves that they were able to perform for their friends and family. Absolutely beautiful! From there we went and picked up a pizza from House of Pizza, bought a movie, and were well on our way to an evening of total relaxation. About 3/4's into the movie I had a hankering for some strawberry crepes. Sam called in an order to IHOP's and ten minutes later I was in strawberry, chocolate hazelnut, banana crepe heaven...yum! Well you know after shoveling all of that food into my mouth I wasn't going to write a blog!

Anyways what I really wanted to talk to you about was our Studio session on Thursday. I mentioned how difficult it has been for Sammy & I to both be in the Studio at the same time. Since one of us has to be with baby Rocky, and although we have tried to take him in to hang out with us during our session it's just too soon for our little one to be expected to sit and play quietly. But today was Felice's minimum day so she was able to watch Rocky, leaving Sammy and I free to go into the Studio! It felt great for the four of us to be together again. Sammy, John, Rudy (our camera man) and myself. Seems so natural, we all knew we had to accomplish as much as possible today.

We had two songs on the table that I had been practicing. The first song is titled All About Love, and the second is Intrigue of Night. The first one is about the fruits of the Spirit, and the second is about the love that my husband and I share, both songs are amazing and completely different in style and tempo. So we decided to start with the more challenging song, Intrigue of Night, being that this song speaks more about the intimate aspects of our relationship. It was a little difficult for the boys to hear, but we're all adults and a marriage that has lasted 29 years is something to be celebrated. Sam on the other hand absolutely loves the message of the song, and he was completely swooning when he heard it for the first time. We recorded the lead vocal, no backgrounds necessary, took a short break, then moved onto All About Love.

It just so happened that I was so excited to be in the Studio with the boys, and very well rehearsed, that I was able to record the lead vocal on this song as well. Some background vocals were needed, and John and Sammy went into the vocal booth to knock those out. I gotta say I was relieved not to have sung them because John created some humdinger vocal harmonies! The guys sounded great. So happy we were able to accomplish so much today. Thank you Lord for blessing us once again with the gift of music.

Much <3 Lizi

49 Lizzi Years

Today I celebrated my 49th year of life. My where has the time gone? I think the funniest call I received was from my Sis Mary. She makes it a point to always sing me Happy Birthday, and I have been fortunate enough to catch it on my message machine (twice) priceless! At the end of the song she always says Happy Birthday My Baby Sister Lizzi..cause your the baby, Happy Birthday To You! Cute right! This year I told her "wow that's an old baby" she said well your still my baby. My Sisters are great, I can't say that we talk everyday, or see each other very often. But, we are there for one another if there is ever a need. And we make it a point to celebrate each sisters b-day with a girls day out.

My day started out nice and smooth with a cup of coffee. I was so excited I began responding to all my birthday well wishes, which took most of the morning. Then my daughter Melissa came and picked me up to go shopping. We picked up Felice at school and were on our way. Three girls with no work, no schedules, no pickups or drop offs, sweet right! Awhh I wish my Senny could be here. We went to Santana Row because a few of my favorite stores are there. When you find a store that suits your taste and style and your always able to find something you love, those are the ones you hit first. So Anthropologie it is! Oh how I love their clothing all the colors, textures, and vibe. I've got to say this is the most well rounded store. I wouldn't mind living in there lol! Anyways the girls picked out two dresses, I tried them on, and guess what, they both fit perfectly. I could only have one, so we had to pick the one we loved the most. I figured well, one of them could carry me right through fall and winter, the other was more of a summer dress, so the practical side of me chose the one I would get the most use out of.

That was easy, we made our way over to Pizza Antica where we had lunch. Caesar Salad Fingers, Pizza, and a Diet Coke...hmmm my kind of meal. Their pizza is a more rustic style, not really a circle at all, kind of an oval, misshapen thing, with delicious toppings, not too thick, and an incredibly chunky fresh tomatoey sauce. We discussed shoes and accessories, I definitely had a pair of shoes I knew would match. I usually borrow the girls long necklaces with baubles, so they decided I needed some of my own. We finished up our delicious lunch and drove across the way to the mall.

We went to the Urban Decay counter (which is our new favorite makeup) I hopped on the stool as the girls explained to the gal, the dress is green and black, with a lil' bit of gold, maybe a nice smokey eye, with bronzy glow. She got it and set right to work transforming my plain ordinary look to an amazing J.Lo glo kind of look. Something I could never do on my own, I loved it! Onto accessories, you girls know that Forever 21 is the best place for bling. So the girls sat me down with my iPad and ran off to pick out some items. I felt like I had my own personal shoppers all day, I could get used to this. They brought some items for me to yes, no, made our purchases and we were off. Our day just flew by, I couldn't believe we were done.

Sam had told me he wanted to take me out to dinner (just the two of us) and on Friday night we would have a nice family dinner with the kids. Arriving home I quickly threw on my dress, Melissa gave me a quick updo (ladies what would we do without Bobby Pins) I was ready. We went to Mezcals and had some appetizers and drinks, then for dinner we were walking over to Original Joe's, when Sam said "you know let's try something different and go to the restaurant around the corner" Al Fornaio? We hadn't been there in years, well it was fine by me, I love pasta! And time with my Hubby is great no matter where we are. So we walked along, and as we were passing the glass windows, who do I see waving..Paul, Jimmy, John, Melissa, Nandy, Felice, Bobby, Dusty, Yesenia, Sammy, and Lil' Rocky, what a great surprise! I was so overwhelmed it brought tears of joy to my eyes. I was totally caught off guard. But that's how my kids are, they make everything special for one another, and today it was ME. We had a wonderful dinner, Dusty went into their kitchen and made his own personal pizza, which he was very proud of. Wow, there is absolutely no other place I would rather be than there with my family.

I am incredibly blessed, I don't know why God chose to be so merciful to me and give me such wonderful children. But He did, in spite of my weaknesses, and shortcomings. I am in no way the perfect Mother, but am truly thankful that my kids love, and honor me the way they do. So turning 49 is more wonderful than 48, and so on...

I will be back in the Studio this week, hopefully we will complete two songs. And I hope, I hope (cross my fingers) the mastered songs will come back. See you on Monday

<3 49 is the new 29, Lizzi


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Day 29 in the Studio

As much fun as John and I have in the Studio, I miss Sammy. We are down to our last couple of weeks of recording, so we're going to have to be very clever with our moments together. It's really coming down to an hour or two here and there. And then it's either I go into the studio or Sammy does, but one of us has to watch the whippersnapper. Oh my goodness Rocky wants to talk so bad he just babbles like he's saying real words. It's pretty funny.

Today John and I worked on lyrics to our new song. It's a romantic song, but very clever and sweet the way it describes a relationship between a man and a woman. I certainly never thought I would be singing about this, but it's a beautiful thing when two people are in love and find each other in this big huge world, think about it, it's pretty amazing!

John heard back from Yung Rizzo and he said he would be happy to come in and vibe on one of our songs. I can't wait to hear it. He is an amazing Rapper and I have the utmost respect for him and his talent.

Anyways I'm pretty tired today, so I think I'm gonna lay my head to rest, and get a fresh start tomorrow to practice my song "All About Love". As always we are keeping it real, trying to keep you informed of what it has taken to get us to this point. Not easy, but the rewards will be great!

As always, <3 Lizzi

Day 28 in the Studio

Today John & I completed the lyrics to our seventh song "All about Love" I absolutely love the melody and the message! It speaks about love, love will bring joy, joy will bring peace from above, with a sweet song in your soul, sound familiar, yes I am talking about the Fruits of the Spirit, and the greatest of these is LOVE! My friend Darsie mentioned how much of the recording is about love. And I was thinking, well the music is a reflection of me and love is the greatest thing in my life. It's because of God's love that I am the person that I am and also who I am becoming, I don't think we should ever stop growing. I want /need more wisdom, sensitivity, love, for others in my life. And I always pray that I will not form barriers based on what I have experienced in my life. I know people hurt, disappoint, use, and abuse, but that's okay I'm not made of paper, I won't crumple and dissolve. God has given me strength and resilience to survive even the toughest situations, so I know if I can bounce back then so can you. If we believe in ourselves we can make things happen and move and flow in the direction that we need to go.

Then we have those constant friends in our lives, that bless us each and every day. I love it when I run into old an friend and we are able to pick up exactly where we left off because we are bound by memories. I am blessed to have friends like that in my life that knew me when, then, and now. I'd like to think that I am much the same, just a better version of myself. If that sounds arrogant that's ok it took me a long time to be okay with who I am. I try to embrace the good, and toss away the bad, what else can we do if we want to be happy, but to love and allow others to love us in the purest sense.

Anyways, John & I didn't stop with just the one song. We still had some time so we moved onto song number eight, which again is about love, but in a more intimate way. It talks about a relationship between husband and wife. And the stealing of moments, which are often precious and memorable. I remember in our early years of marriage Sam & I attended young married couples classes, and we hung out with other couples. The ones our age were more to socialize with, and the older ones were to mentor and set an example of what it takes to have a strong marriage. We learned a lot during that time, and I think it really gave us a firm foundation for our relationship. So I think it's great that we can still appreciate one another's company.

So tomorrow I think we will work on the completion of lyrics for song number eight. And once that is done, I think I will be ready to sing All about Love.

<3 Lizzi

p.s.
Sammy has been staying home watching Rocky the last couple of days so that I can come in to the studio and work so the project does not lose momentum - what a trooper! Can't wait till we can all be together again....

Day 27 in the Studio

Amazing, isn't a strong enough word for today's studio session!!!

It was soo hot today, that when I left my house I could feel my body temperature rising. You know it's hot when your air conditioner is on and the heat still penetrates the glass through the car window. I think my left arm is even darker than my right just from driving a few miles (I don't know how Sam can jog 3 miles in the scorching heat and still like it!). I walked into the studio and it was so nice and cool, like walking into an igloo.

We decided to complete our love song, I Do. I had plenty of time to learn it by heart, and I felt very confident going into the vocal booth. When I put the headphones on and heard the music for the first time, it took my breath away, it's the first time I had heard it with all the bells and whistles. It actually made it difficult to sing because I just wanted to hear the arrangement. What a feeling of pride and accomplishment, our beautiful, heartfelt, love song.

Unfortunately Sammy wasn't feeling so well today. He seems to be coming down with a cold of some sort. So he had a fever, was sweating, and I could see he just wasn't feeling well. But he stuck it out, and even jumped on a fresh idea that John had for a new song. They very systematically laid down the basic keyboard & rhythm track. For some reason this step in the creative process, really intrigues me. The way each sound and instrument builds on the next, weaving in, around, and through the melody. But as it comes together it's really something you could hum to, and from that feel, write lyrics. I don't know if everyone else creates music this way, but I think it's amazing!

I haven't heard any word on how the songs that were sent out for mastering are coming along. But I'm sure tomorrow we'll get an idea. I am so exciting about offering the music, it's never been simpler to enjoy music than through this modern technology. So much instant gratification in our society, I wonder how this will affect the next generation and what it's gonna take to wow them. Well if all goes well, we will be in the studio tomorrow, say a lil' prayer that Sammy will get well. And as always continue to live life to the fullest.

<3 Lizzi

Day 26 in the Studio

Today was a short day in the Studio. My schedule has changed drastically now that the kids are back in school. I know we're coming down to the wire with the project. So now I have to sneak an hour or two at a time. The good news is four songs have been sent out to be mastered. These should be ready on Friday. It's also difficult for Sam since he has his day job and goes into the studio in the evenings to mix the songs and help out with uTube videos. But he's so excited about the project he'll go on three hours sleep to get it done. That's my Sam, he's a workhorse. He has started running a few miles on his lunch hour and has very quickly dropped some poundage. I don't really know where he finds the energy to do it all. He's amazing!

Today we worked on lyrics to song number seven. Fun, funky, fresh tune that's all about love. The music is so upbeat, I'm probably gonna have to bring in my girls to help me with this one. Gonna capture that young energy lol. Since I needed to run, we got as far as half of a verse and a chorus. Tomorrow John and I will either work on completing the lyrics or move onto singing our ballad, I Do. I feel confident enough to sing it, but another day never hurts. I really want to know this song by heart so I can sing it without any apprehension. I was thinking could I really sing this at my daughters' wedding. I guess we'll know on 09/10/2011. That is the date that they set, I think it's a clever use of the numbers, and it lands on a Saturday.

Sam & I just celebrated our 29th anniversary, and I tell my kids that I hope they will one day do the same. It's been great, but by no means easy. Although relationships are hard work, the payoff is amazing. So until tomorrow, I hope to get a lot accomplished, but as always, I will keep you posted.

<3 Lizzi




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Day 25 in the Studio

Walked out of the Studio today like I was walking on a cloud. What amazing day! Yeah, I'll say it again what an amazing day. We are embarking on a new song, kind of retro, Motown feel but with modern sounds. What's that, well it's fun, energetic, get up and dance kind of music. I remember when I was around 14, 15, 16, our Saturdays were dedicated to house cleaning. We did the works; dusting, sweeping, mopping, dishes, bathrooms...and the first thing we would do is put on the music. Really it's the only thing that made it fun. And for some reason I still like to have music going when I wanna get motivated. It works for me, I guess everyone has their own way to groove, for me it's the jams. I love music and how it can make you happy, silly, funny, sad, melancholy, make you sing at the top of your lungs while your driving, does anyone else do this? I know you do, and really feel like you sound just as good or better than the artist, that's ok

. Back then I wanted to sing like Donna Sommers, than it was Barbara Streisand, Minnie Ripperton, Chakka Kahn...then I became more mature lol and I wanted to sing like Natalie Cole, and Diana Ross, well as you can see the list goes on. I love the different eras, it is amazing to me with all the years of recording history that people are still able to create new songs. I know it hasn't all been said and done, there are a lot of talented people out there. And I think the key is knowing who you are, your abilities, and of course your message. My music is about who I am, where I've been, and where I'm going. The guys are doing such an incredible job of building that timeline through music.

I wanted to have a small kids choir come in and sing on Good Times. Sam had asked me to come back into the Studio around five o' clock and re-sing one small part on this tune. It just so happened that I left the Studio around four o'clock, went to pick up Rocky, then to pick up Dusty from school, then back to the Studio with the crew, Felice met us there, the kids and I had a quick bite to eat. Then it was time to get to work. I sang the small part Sam had requested, then I thought well Dusty knows the words to the song...why not let him sing on the chorus. Not exactly a kids choir but he was so excited about it. We filmed him and Rocky in the Studio and yes even Rocky got in on the recording. Oh so precious, it was so cute to hear their lil' voices singing out. Rocky called out Dusty's name so we just built on that for our intro. Totally cute! I just can't wait for y'all to hear it!

I have in my hand my practice cd for our ballad which we have appropriately named "I Do" for you know who...you guessed it my Sissy and Nandy. She has decided on a wonderful Fiesta theme for her wedding. So bright and festive, full of life just like her. So I have been looking at a lot of different ideas for projects that will be hand made such as: napkin rings, ring bearer pillow, anything that will add a special touch to that very special day. My joy is full and God never ceases to amaze me by His goodness.

And finally our first six songs are off to be mastered, we are so close, and what a joy to be able to upload the songs so you can hear them. It will mean our dream, our vision, for this project has come to fruition. If I have not told you lately, let me say thank you for reading, commenting, supporting this project. I am having the time of my life, thanks for sharing it with me.

<3 Lizzi

Day 24 in the Studio

Good Morning, today is gonna be a great day. We have some friends visiting from Aguas Caliente Mexico and we will be showing them San Francisco. Sometimes we take for granted the beauty that we are surrounded by. And they have waited their whole lives to cross the Golden Gate bride and experience one of our beautiful cities. I am so excited to see it through their eyes. Pretty sure the weather will be perfect, since we've had a couple of scorchers. I don't know about you, but I hardly slept last night.

So, weird, unexpected things happening in the Studio. We met yesterday around one o'clock and were determined to complete our lovely ballad (musically) and possibly start a new song. The guys asked me what direction I would like to go for the next song, it's wide open for any style. Wow, honestly I don't know! Well John went out for a break and came back with some chords and a beat. But...the system just wasn't cooperating, they tried to shut everything down and start again, reconnect everything to make sure wires weren't crossed. The MIDI just wasn't recording, by this time it was around three o'clock. All of a sudden the light, the fan, and the video production system turned off. Now it doesn't take a genius to understand that this just is not gonna happen today. I was disappointed but I know there are things that just can't be controlled. Today was one of those days and it was squelching hot. I don't know about you but this heat makes for a fussy Lizzi.

Sam went straight to the Studio from work and set to figuring out the problem. Not even sure what time he rolled in (it had to be past 1am), I guess the beauty and reality of the project is that "this is real life" and we all know it's not always smooth skating, we come across hiccups in the road and it may shake us or even knock us down, but we get up and keep moving forward. And that's what we'll do...keep moving forward, hang in there with us you'll see it'll happen.

In the meantime we are off to San Francisco to enjoy some nice fresh air, and enjoy the beautiful sight that is San Francisco.

<3 Lizzi

Day 23 in the Studio

Hello, seems like forever since I've sat and written my blog. Last week the boys worked on a couple of things, where my presence wasn't needed. Then they went to Las Vegas to watch the WEC championship fight between Cruz and Benevidas at the Palms. So I haven't been in the studio for a week. I know we are behind schedule because Sam has told me several times. But my daughter Felice is back in school so I no longer have the luxury of going into the studio daily. Really we are about fifty percent complete with the recording. Sam is nearly ready to master the five songs and release them. Song number six is almost ready, so I went into the studio on Friday around 2:00 pm and we worked on lyrics for the outro of our ballad. This took about 15 minutes if even that. The song resolved itself beautifully with the simplest of phrases.

Then John went in the vocal booth and laid down the scratch vocal for me. To finish up our session we decided on the right key for me to sing the song in. The boys will be on a video shoot on Monday so on Tuesday they will complete it musically and make me a cd so I can begin practicing it. I'm pretty sure inspiration will start us on a new song. But my question is what do you follow a ballad up with, we'll see right. So time wise for me I'm not really sure how we will schedule our studio time. Maybe evenings will work better now. But, I'm sure it'll all work itself out.

<3 Lizzi

Two Days of Rest

Sometimes things just fall beautifully into place. This week has been a great example of everything being in alignment. I had a couple of days in the Studio where we completed the lyrics to two songs, then I had a few days off. This really wasn't a scheduled selah, but the boys needed to complete the two songs musically before I could go in and sing the lead vocals. Of course the ballad may need some key changes, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. It's great when each song just seems second nature to sing. Once I memorize the words that leaves one less thing to worry about. Which makes for a superior lead vocal.

I have had much to do these days off. My son has been away at Royal Kids Camp this week, so I made it one of my goals to go through and clean and sort his room out. I also needed to do some deep cleaning, some delicious baking (my bananas were screaming to become bread), I also made some fabulous berry muffins. I just love baking, I used to think that would be my profession of choice. But then I began with the Taqueria, and decided I loved cooking. I collect cookbooks, among many other things like: vintage buttons, electricity conductors, stamps, I love vintage things, there's so much history, character, and detail in the simplest of things. That's why I love buttons, because they were the first apparel accessories, and many were hand painted, or carved, really little pieces of art.

I was able to get a lot accomplished this week and it feels good. But I absolutely can't wait to see my baby boy. He's my little sidekick, he loves to hangout with me, eat what I eat, likes Subway sandwiches, sushi, fruit, he's totally happy with a salad for dinner. Sam pretty much detests veggies so to have a son that loves them is pretty odd. Anyways so excited to pick him up tomorrow. I will be back on track on Monday, in the meantime I will have some much needed home time.

<3 Lizzi

Day 22 in the Studio

Oh my goodness, a truly beautiful ballad. We completed the second verse today, nothing like celebrating love! Who doesn't love that warm cozy feeling you get when you think about love. John was totally on a roll, the inspiration was just flowing so I just went with it and took it in. I can see the song being created in stages, but the most incredible part is when we get to sit back and listen to the whole song.

So now we will move onto the lead vocal to Paradise of Life. I really like the rhythm of songwriting to recording that we've got going. This way I get to sit with each song a few days, practice it, get used to it, decide how I want to attack it, than I get to record it. Of course John and Sammy give me direction as well, you'll see in the You Tubes how they gently redirect me at times. Being sensitive to the artist is critical at times because when your in that sound booth it's just you and your voice and any mistakes you make are clearly heard. There was that one day while singing that I was getting so frustrated with myself that I was pretty close to tears! Oh the song Good Times caused me a tough time, but in the end it came out great. Tomorrow will also be a great day since I get to sing DISCO, woohoo fun!

Much <3 Lizzi

Day 21 in the Studio

This weekend just flew by. I was so excited about going camping, it reminds me of when I was a little girl and our whole family would go. My Daddy loved camping and although us kids must have been a nightmare to travel with, my parents did it. I remember waking up to chorizo, eggs, and papas (potatoes) yum. I think when you're a kid you attach yourself to certain aromas, I remember the smell of coffee percolating on the grill, the Bonfire burning for warmth, tortillas slightly charred. All these smells are comforting to me.

This is an annual trip, the first weekend of August and it's on! Dusty experienced his first camping trip at just one month old. Abalone Diving in Mendocino, such a beautiful place, and what a scenic drive. Really just crossing the Golden Gate Bridge makes it special. Sam & I decided that for our next anniversary we will walk across the bridge together. Told you I was starting a Bucket List. This is something we have always wanted to do, and we always try and do firsts together. Even driving on a new freeway is monumental for us. We just noticed one of our favorite landmarks was knocked down, it's a cement factory right off of 280 which we always called the chicken factory. We told our kids when they were little that the chicken sat at the very top, laid eggs, and they rolled right down the egg shoot. Sad to see it go, wish I had taken a picture : (

Anyways camping was super fun, the weather was great, the food amazing, the people were fantastic! I have never seen a group of people come together and serve, share, show love, respect, and patience towards one another like this group of friends and family. The adults took time to play hide n seek with the kids, allowed them to participate in the pounding of the abalone, and although it is hard dangerous work diving for the Abalone, the men never complained once. Needless to say the spread of food was amazing, tri-tip, chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers, fresh Abalone. Oh I ate too much, but I knew this wasn't gonna happen again until next year. But it didn't stop with dinner, oh no, we had fresh peach cobbler, brownies, smores, so much deliciousness... Something about just getting away, breathing the fresh air, looking up at the stars, taking walks by the river, relaxing, and enjoying each others company is refreshing. Now if they could just get some towers up there so I could use my cell phone and iPad that would be perfect.

As wonderful as it was, it was great to come home to a nice HOT shower, and my comfy, cozy bed, what can I say I'm a city girl! I was anxious to get back into the Studio, we need to try and stay on our schedule. So today we completed the second verse to Paradise of Life; sweet Disco beat, easy flowing melody, this is gonna be a good one to do housecleaning to (I think some days we could all use a little motivation). As usual I laid down my scratch vocal to complete the song, and brought my cd home to practice. This is a fun song, it's about living life to the fullest, you don't need anything but a positive, and thankful attitude to be happy. Making life what you want it to be, just like my lil' Rocky, he just hears a beat and he happily begins to do his wiggle dance. Nothing matters, sometimes he wants me to dance with him and he'll grab my hand to come, and just start dancing, absolutely priceless moments. There is so much we can learn from our children, much of it we know, but we forget because we're too busy being responsible. It's okay to let your hair down once in awhile and enjoy what we work so hard to preserve. We will continue to try and capture the magic of music so we can pass it on to you.

<3 Lizzi