This blog is where my personal and business life intersect. I'm a a multi-passionate creative who teaches people how to create faster roadmaps to abundance in work and life through the doorways of business consulting and reiki teaching. If you'd like a DIY workbook to plan for your own creative living, check out my Pricing Workbook for Creatives. You'll see that I travel the world as often as I can and keep a gratitude journal as a reminder to find strength in my challenges.
I was a full-time professional photographer for 15 years, so there are still many cringe-worthy archives of my early work and artistic journey on this 19 year old blog. I've written loads of creative business advice over on the Photolovecat blog, and have started sharing reiki healing stories and healing moments over on the Abundant Sphere blog. If you'd like to learn more about me, here's a TEDx Talk of what my guiding questions have been to help me tune into my natural gifts and purpose. I'm available for workshops, presentations, interviews, and private consultations on creative business topics and for the advancement of arts programs in schools and communities:
ANNE ON TEDX
When we live it, then we can radiate it to others."
- Aida Shibli
Click play on the embedded video below to view the trailer for Arise. If you're able- come to the screening at the Lowell National Historic Park Visitor Center at 7pm on Tuesday, February 26th- I hope to see you there!
This movie is written as a "modern day musical" where the characters communicate through songs... but it's not what you would expect. It has a raw and authentic quality which allows the messages, music, and feeling to come through without being over-produced. If you love music, or small independent films, check this one out... I think you'll come away with a smile in your heart.
I have to make a HUGE disclaimer: I'm NOT the kind of person to go crazy over celebrities, they're just as human as everyone else. However, after randomly finding his YouTube video in a search, I'm officially adding Zach Braff to my love it list. Not only is he crrrrrrrrrrazy talented and intelligent, but he's just so REAL. Scrubs is one of my few guilty pleasures and Garden State was a simply phenomenal and visually inspirational movie... and that soundtrack?! LOVE IT!! I haven't seen any other works by Zach yet... but just knowing what a cool guy he is makes me want to watch them. Check out his YouTube response to one of his superfans! Click play to watch...
For a good laugh, here's a superfan's music video about Zach..
Did anyone else notice that the Academy Awards have become SuperBowl-like in their commeericals? Only, instead of going for the biggest laugh, they go for the most emotional impact with dramatic imagery and powerful music. Ever since I studied advertising and marketing in my early years of college, I've never stopped analyzing commercials and print ads from a marketing perspective. My husband was looking forward to the iPhone commercial, which makes total sense to see at the Oscars, since it's really the creative part of the population who tends to use Apple products. I had to laugh so hard when I saw the Vista commercials because Mac has been doing those things for a while now!! Did you also notice that Diet Coke was the star at the Oscars, but at the Superbowl, it was all about Coca-Cola Classic? Very different strategies in their advertising as well!
As a lifelong choir geek, I loved the Elements & Motion choir. I first heard about a similar choral venture when I saw the Honda commercial (video below). When I was in the Oakland Chorale, our director Mike Mitchell loved to perform music that really stretched the abilities of the voice and the perception of what it meant to be a choir - which is where I developed a deep appreciation for uncommon uses of the voice. It's pretty amazing what a bunch of voices can do, isn't it?! (Not to discount the dancers, which were totally amazing as well!)
Funny quote: "Sound editing is much like sex. It's usually done alone, late at night, and among a bunch of electronics." "And if you want it done right, it's best to pay for a professional." Oh... how true this is with photo editing as well!!
The Oscars have gone GREEN!!!! YAY!!! (Although we all know they can probably go a lot further in their efforts, every little bit helps.) Visit ndrc.org to find out how you can be a little more green in your everyday life. Also, feel free to scroll down in this blog and make a donation to help further research in environmental & energy studies.
I LOVED the Cameron Diaz, Gwenneth Paltrow, and Helen Mirren dresses!!! Can you just imagine those as wedding dresses?! OMG!! I totally agree with the choice of Marie Antoinette for the costume design, it was so haute couture while also reminiscent of the elegance of the past. That movie was short on dialogue but loooong on pure beauty and eye candy! The directing and camera work were stunning and I found tons of visual inspiration for my wedding photography from that movie. It also had a really cool soundtrack which made it all the more fashionable.
After watching the Academy Awards I realize just how many big movies I missed this year, so I'll have to go back and watch them - especially the foreign flicks. I'm so glad that Little Miss Sunshine & Inconvenient Truth walked away with Oscars. They were some of my favorite movies last year and now I can't wait for Roger Ebert's Overlooked Film Festival in Champaign, IL. Even though the tickets sold out in November 2006, I've heard it's possible to get into some flicks by simply taking a chance on going to individual shows.
This was one of the most profound scenes from Little Miss Sunshine... and I must say that it stirs a fear in me... having to give up a dream to something which you have no control over...
OK - enough blogging for me!! I'm organizing and presenting for an Indianapolis workshop for photographers this week and we start tomorrow! Never a dull moment in my life!!!
I wanted to make sure I mention an awesome movie that will probably go unnoticed by most moviegoers. In fact, it's incredibly difficult to even FIND a theatre playing this movie!! The only one we could find locally was the Landmark Maple Art Cinema III in Bloomfield Hills (which I didn't even know about until I wanted to find this movie!) The movie is titled Wordplay, and is a documentary about NY Times Crossword Puzzle addicts. If Akeelah and the Bee made you want to expand your vocabulary, than Wordplay will make you want to start doing crossword puzzles. Even I, who gets incredibly frustrated by crossword puzzles, identified with the themes and found myself chuckling through most of the movie. If you are someone who has any kind of geeky hobby, or facination with words, you will absolutely love this movie. Will Shortz has made an impressive, heart warming, gut wrenching tale, about the people who find theirselves obsessed with the crossword puzzle. ;-)
The easiest way to look up showtimes is to use Google, and type in "movies: City, ST" (replacing City, ST with your City and State) and usually the first link is Google's Showtime Listings. ;-)
Actually, I was reminded about this movie because of something my husband sent me. It really is the ridiculously simple things that make me so happy. Alex just sent me this link on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexruthmann/sets/72157594196899150/ Isn't he the Most Awesomest Husband in the World? ;-)
He got a new camera before he left for his two week trip because he thought all of my cameras were too "bulky". He doesn't know a ton about photography, but it looks like he's getting into some advanced techniques with his new digicam! Maybe he'll leave a comment about the camera and settings he used. (hint!)
I wanted to make sure I mention an awesome movie that will probably go unnoticed by most moviegoers. In fact, it's incredibly difficult to even FIND a theatre playing this movie!! The only one we could find locally was the Landmark Maple Art Cinema III in Bloomfield Hills (which I didn't even know about until I wanted to find this movie!) The movie is titled Wordplay, and is a documentary about NY Times Crossword Puzzle addicts. If Akeelah and the Bee made you want to expand your vocabulary, than Wordplay will make you want to start doing crossword puzzles. Even I, who gets incredibly frustrated by crossword puzzles, identified with the themes and found myself chuckling through most of the movie. If you are someone who has any kind of geeky hobby, or facination with words, you will absolutely love this movie. Will Shortz has made an impressive, heart warming, gut wrenching tale, about the people who find theirselves obsessed with the crossword puzzle. ;-) 
