Bananas for BRUCE!

In the spring of 2012 I had the opportunity to cross off one of my long-time bucket-list wishes: THE BOSS (BRUCE) in concert!!

We were fortunate to see the show from an amazing view, in a corporate suite just overlooking the stage.  I have been to a zillion concerts, and Bruce Springsteen was undoubtedly one of the BEST performers I have ever seen.  Furthermore, it was fascinating to watch the well-oiled stage set-up process and carefully designed instrument/musician layout...it was like a case study for novice musicians: 'how to put on a highly efficient and entertaining concert'....seriously one of the best life experiences I have had thus far!  Amazing show!

A friend just posted on FB the below picture, the cover of a new book coming out this November.  Below are some excerpts from the book website...

“On a day like this, I remember—I’m the President, but he’s The Boss.”
—President Barack Obama, 2009 Kennedy Center Awards ceremony

Compiled by accomplished photographer Eric Meola—who knew “the Boss” when he was just an unknown Jersey kid with big rock and roll dreams—Streets of Fire is an intimate photographic look at Bruce Springsteen during a pivotal year in his life and career. In 1977, Springsteen was coming off the enormous success of his album, Born to Run, and in the studio working on his fourth record, Darkness on the Edge of Town—and these breathtaking candid photos are portraits of a master musician finally coming into his own.  A stunning collection of photographs—some never before published—of Bruce and the E-Street Band combined with the haunting lyrics of some of Springsteen’s most unforgettable songs, Streets of Fireoffers fans a privileged and rarefied look at one of rock’s most legendary and beloved icons.

An intimate, behind-the-scenes look at Bruce Springsteen as you've never seen him before. 'Streets of Fire: Bruce Springsteen in Photographs and Lyrics 1977-1979' features 70+ gorgeous photos by Eric Meola, lyrics by Bruce Springsteen, and an essay by Joyce Millman. Order at http://bit.ly/StreetsofFire

Below are some photos I took at the concert...

THE BOSS making his way out on stage...

Good old sidekick, Steven Van Zandt (part musician, songwriter, actor (Sopranos), DJ, producer, etc.)

One of my favorite parts was watching the infamous (late) E Street Band saxophonist, Clarence Clemons' nephew Jake Clemons perform...the musical talent clearly runs in this family!

Another amazing moment....a little 11-year old girl was in the crowd holding a sign that read, "Please sing with me"....and Bruce pulled her up on stage to sing, dance, even do a running-slide-across-the-stage-on-their-knees....it was beyond endearing and absolutely so cute to watch!!

From an article on the newsnet5 website:

http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/oh_cuyahoga/11-year-old-Westlake-girl-sings-with-Bruce-Springsteen-at-Quicken-Loans-Arena

"WESTLAKE, Ohio - Last week's Bruce Springsteen concert at Quicken Loans Arena kept 11-year-old Annemarie Russo out late on a school night. It was well worth it because she sang with the Boss. She went to school the next day tired, but as a new star.

Her dad took her to the Springsteen concert on April 17, where they got right up next to the second stage. Sitting on her dad’s shoulders, she waived a sign saying "Please sing with me." 

Bruce smiled then pointed at her. Bruce left the stage and returned with Annemarie. She came onto the stage in front of 20,000 people while he was singing "Waiting on a Sunny Day." "He handed me the microphone and then I sang and then he whispered in my ear to tell everybody to sing louder. I saw a bunch of people just screaming, like this is so cool. I saw like all phones up taking videos, cameras it was so cool," said Annemarie.

Annemarie caught a glimpse of her dad who was shaking. Bruce then carried Annemarie to the main stage where he put water on her knees. The two of them did a stage slide together, finishing with a hug.

The next day at school she told her principal.

"He watched the video and he sent it to all the teachers and all the teachers showed all the students," said Russo. She is still on cloud nine."

Bruce and the little girl singing 'Waitin' on a Sunny Day'

The knee slide across the stage!

High-5's

Awww, hugs...

Taking a bow...

Bruce carrying little girl back to her Dad...

Handing off this lucky little girl to her Dad...

It is hard to see in the below pics, but Bruce is lying horizontal, 'crowd surfing' amongst his fans...

Standing on the piano, giving props to the pianist...very cool and much deserved

They paid tribute to the beloved late saxophonist, Clarence Clemons with photos on an overhead screen...

20/20 Hindsight For Raising Teens...

I came across a great Huffington Post article, "20/20 Hindsight Guide For Surviving High School (and Beyond) or What I Would Have Taught My 12-Year Old" by authors Mary Dell Harrington and Lisa Endlich Heffernan of (Grown and Flown)...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/grown-and-flown/high-school_b_1923112.html

I can only imagine the daunting challenges of raising teens.  At least some of the tips in this article can point us in the right direction!

Hepola's Break Up With Her Yoga Pants...

Sitting in the waiting room at Dr. Sonja Jarmoszuk's office, (our children's dentist who we love by the way!), reading October 2012 issue of Ladies Home Journal, I came across a great article by Sarah Hepola, "I Broke Up With My Yoga Pants." It is well written, funny, and right on the mark.  A link to the article is provided below.

http://www.lhj.com/style/fashion/advice/i-broke-up-with-my-yoga-pants/

My favorite excerpt is as follows:

"Don't get me wrong: I'm not against comfort. I will lay my body down in front of a tank for our right to wear stretchy synthetics. But I also think part of the current obsession with shows like Mad Men -- and the craft culture that fuels popular sites like Etsy, Pinterest and Modcloth -- is a desire to bring back the specialness and femininity of 1960s fashion, without all the retro sexist baggage."

Particularly after having to wear frumpy Merrill 'walking shoes', running shoes, or casual Croc sandals EVERY DAY for the last couple years due to a chronic foot injury, I can certainly relate to how 'dressing up' (or down, for that matter) can really do wonders on your psyche.  As Hepola quotes Michelle T. Sterling, founder of Global Image Group in San Francisco, "Dressing well affects the way you think, feel and act.  When you look good you feel more capable, competent, and confident..."

Although our American culture places a high value on the perfect appearance,  fortunately AND unfortunately, this priority has been a slippery one for me.  I say fortunately since I genuinely recognize and value the less-superficial things about both myself and others.  In the long-run is this not what truly matters?  At some point, we will all get wrinkles and grey hair right? Although these signs of aging might be alarming, we will be happier if we can learn to age gracefully and take these in stride...If we can learn to appreciate that our wrinkles mark the currency we exchange for the wisdom, experience, and confidence only age can provide.

Granted, I enjoy the artistic/self-expression aspect of fashion and try to look my best, but I spend more time and energy on enriching my body, mind, spirit, and soul....I aim for exercise and healthy eating because they are good for my body, long-term health, and make me FEEL energized and centered...I aim for ways to be a better mother, wife, friend, and citizen....I seek out relationships based on whether people are nice, caring, interesting, reliable, and fun to be around....not based on more superficial pre-requisites....Over time, I have discovered that some of the most put-together, perfect-looking, and/or charming people happen to ALSO unfortunately be rather insincere, shallow, mis-guided, and unauthentic (i.e. Bravo's Real Housewives of Any City).

Yet, unfortunately, I need to reign in this priority, and remind myself to NOT run around in yoga pants all day.  As a stay-at-home-mom, it is very easy to become lax in this regard, since your priorities are not conducive to vanity.  Accordingly, you are constantly pulled in every direction (refilling milk, wiping bottoms, changing diapers) except the one in front of your mirror.  Furthermore, your primary audience considers a glittery polyester Cinderella dress or Thomas the Train T-shirt to be fabulous-fashion ensembles.

As the article points out, regardless of our reasons for dressing casually or comfortably, the harsh reality remains: others naturally judge and make assumptions about you based on your appearance.  Whether or not they are warranted or accurate, these assumptions extend beyond the superficial to your personality and character.  Are you uptight or laid back? Are you super organized or sloppy? Are you conservative or eccentric?

After living in various cities across the U.S., I have also discovered geographical variances in acceptable or normal levels of 'dressing up'.  When we lived in the south (Charlotte, Atlanta), or in more cosmopolitan areas (Chicago, Boston) I noticed women tend to dress up more.  I observed women in skirts, pumps, and pearls strolling about the Buckhead Publix....women in chic fur coats and high-heeled leather boots strutting across Michigan Avenue.  Whereas, women living in Midwestern/suburban areas (Overland Park, Kansas or Rocky River, Ohio) tend to dress more casually day to day.  You were more likely to run into friends wearing work-out clothes and running shoes, taking their children to soccer games and swim lessons.  Perhaps this is more about a demographical difference in terms of interacting with more fellow working women versus stay at home moms, during these different phases of my life.

Nevertheless, we all have our own unique style and what works for one may not work for another...to each his own.  Our style is an expression of various influences, from places we have lived or traveled, to ways in which we are feeling.  It is an interesting topic, and one well-discussed in Hepola's article.  I love the way she ends her article with the following paragraph:

"I still put most of my energy into writing and conversation (I gave up the wine), but I also put energy into letting people know that every moment matters to me. I dress for it. I care about it. Dressing up makes me feel good, and it brings out my best self. Life is a cabaret, my friend, and I don't want to sleepwalk through it draped in a muumuu. I, for one, want to wear pearls."

Loving Lulu DK

After falling in love with her prints offered on One King's Lane recently (see prior blog post), I researched artist Lulu Dekwiatkowski (Lulu DK).  Interestingly, in addition to her painting collection, she started her own business designing textiles, wallpaper, bedding and dinnerware, carried by Schumacher and Neiman Marcus.

Attached are some photographs of her product offerings, design studios, and inspiration boards...enjoy!

A link to her fun blog is provided below:

http://www.trailofinspiration.com/

I am crazy over this adorable, colorful elephant fabric for a kid's room!!