Author Archives: theculverproject

Surely I’m not the only one who mentally responds to text, only to realize days later that I never ACTUALLY responded to that person! Well, that’s how I’ve been with this blog. I mentally wrote a few posts over the last couple of weeks, but apparently my iPad can’t read my mind. I mean come on! It’s 2016, why hasn’t technology evolved to this standard yet?! 😜

All kidding aside, I have found some time to work on my writing, which has been quite interesting! Some of the songs over the last few months have come quicker than others. I’ve started most with the chorus, one with the last verse, and one I wrote almost entirely backwards!

I’ve found inspiration in interesting circumstances, and often without even looking for it. Tuesday, I wrote lyrics to a new song while on my lunch break with no clearly defined melody (which is a first for me).

I have had so much fun seeing the variety of ways these new songs come to existence. Many are still works in progress, with a number of other ideas on deck. With each new song, I feel like it’s my new favorite! I can’t wait to see where my journey takes me, and what new stories are yet to be told!

I love how Facebook reminds you of posts from previous years. It’s like an electronic time capsule for each day! This morning as I was listening to the morning news, I haphazardly scrolled through my feed. There it was. A post from two years ago. The day I recorded a song I wrote. A dream finally brought to life!

I flew into Atlanta on a Thursday and immediately found out I had strep throat! The doctor gave me some antibiotics, and I rested for the next few days. In all honesty, the only times that weekend that I felt 100% were the times I was in the studio!

It’s hard to believe that was two years ago. In some ways, I feel like not much has changed, but in other ways, I can see all of the progress I’ve made. I feel more comfortable singing in front of people again, my voice is stronger, and I’m able to play some basic guitar chords and strumming patterns.

I think it’s safe to say that most of us watched the Super Bowl this past weekend. Did you see Lady Gaga’s performance? She definitely has a great voice, and I think she did a great job! Monday morning, I heard someone on the radio say that just 8 years ago, Lady Gaga was singing in the parking lot of IKEA! I would sing anywhere people will listen… Maybe even an IKEA (if Nashville had one)! Either way, everyone has to start somewhere. Maybe in a few years you’ll see me singing at the Super Bowl! But for now, I’ll pay my dues around town, or even just in my driveway! Think of it as a house party kind of concert!

Two things I learned today? I quickly need to learn how to edit videos, and need to create a “recording area” equipped with a mic. With that said, I want to share one of my new songs. I’m learning that I need to work on my expression a little bit (I should be better, I’ve had years of cheerleading experience, facial expressions should be second nature).

I hope you enjoy the song!

I have honestly never written a bucket list, but if I had, I would be checking another item off of it. Writing a book has been something I’ve wanted to do since I was a little girl. No, I didn’t write a book yet, but I did contribute to a devotional (which is now available on Amazon).

A blog I follow on Facebook, Waiting on Baby Bird, mentioned an opportunity to contribute to a devotion geared toward people going through infertility. Having been on this journey for 5 1/2 years and counting, I knew I wanted to share a little bit about what God has taught me along the way.

While this is written for couples struggling to start their family, I believe many of these stories will share lessons and principles that can be applied to a wide array of trials and heartache. There are sections on hope, faith, patience, worry, and more. Who doesn’t need help in these areas from time to time? The devotion is called “Anchored in Hope,” and is available in paperback and as an ebook.

How does this apply to my music? I am always looking for opportunities to share what I have. Sometimes you need to stick your neck out on a chance in the hope that it might make an impact on someone’s life.

There are so many things I’d like to accomplish this year, it’s almost hard for my hyper-active mind to focus. As my husband so lovingly says, talking to me is like a squirrel chasing a nut! I know, that in order for me to get closer to my goals, I need to make lists, and create my own deadlines.

I have had a horrible case of writer’s block… That is until recently. Now, I desperately want to take advantage of this creativity, and see all of the places it can take me! As of now, it has given me two songs (both about being a mom, which I have no experience, so I hope I do them justice), and a semi-lengthy list of ideas based on my own life and the things I see in the world around me.

My first two tasks of the year are to resolve the bridge of one song, and solidify the melody of another. Interestingly, these are the two songs about being a mom. One has a slower tune, and inspires the “pay it forward” concept. The other is an upbeat and funny song about the crazy life that moms lead.

I have no clue where this year will take me, but I’m excited about the journey that will unfold!

It’s that time of year that we like to reflect on where we’ve been, what we’ve accomplished, and where we hope to go in the year to come. As I look back on 2015, it’s hard to believe so much happened in just one year! In February, I auditioned for The Voice. We moved into our new home in April. I had my first mini-public performance in May (I played one song on the guitar because it was the only one I knew off the top of my head). Later in the summer, we watched the US Men’s soccer team play in the Gold Cup. After this game, I learned that I should never buy tickets to a sporting event for my husband’s birthday. Two years ago, I bought him tickets to see the Falcons play in Tampa… we lost (and it was 80 degrees in mid-November). The US lost for the first time to Jamaica in the Gold Cup. So I’ve put this memory in the “lessons learned” file in my brain (which is liable to get up, and wonder on its own into the land of forgotten information).

This year, I’ve started learning guitar, putting chords with songs and writing new ones. I wrote a little jingle for a contest with the Nashville-area Chickfila’s (Chickfila Jingle Contest). I found out about it on a Friday and the contest was the following Monday. It’s not too bad considering I came up with the jingle in about 10 minutes while driving on 75 Sunday afternoon!

Needless to say, it’s been a great year. I don’t typically write resolutions on New Year’s Eve anymore, but it doesn’t mean I don’t consider ways to “be better.” Whether you like to go out on the town with millions of your closest friends, hang out at a friend’s house playing games, or just spend a quiet evening at home, I hope you have a Happy New Year! I can’t wait to see what this year brings!

During the chaos of travel, wrapping and unwrapping presents, a new song idea popped in my head.

Over the last 30-ish years, my mom often joked that she was going to get the mom of the year award.  While I won’t site any specific examples, (and the song does not actually draw for my personal experiences), I penned a very upbeat, and fun song about the mishaps of being a mother.  I have included a snippet of the chorus on the videos link page.

Enjoy!

For the record, I’m laughing at the beginning of the video because we thought we were already taping and realized  that we weren’t.

I can’t believe this year has come and gone so quickly! These warm temperatures lately make it feel more like spring, not December. At any rate, most of us traveled across state lines to see family, and give gifts to our loved ones.

This year, I worked on a few carols that I could play for my family. While I played my mini-concert, my sweet niece made a sign for me!

I had a blast sharing these songs, along with a few others. It wasn’t perfect, but I’m grateful  to have a very understanding audience! I can’t wait to see how much I will improve during this next year!

I hope you had a very Merry Christmas and have a happy New Year!

Today is the 2nd anniversary of my 29th birthday. As I was getting ready this morning,  I decided to wear my light-up, Christmas earrings – because I can. I’m 31 today, I can do whatever I want! As soon as that thought rolled through my mind, I paused. It sounds weird to say, “I’m 31.” Thirty is a nice, round number. A milestone. This year, there might as well be a turtle in a cloud holding a sign that says, “Lap 1.” If you played mario cart growing up, you’ll understand this reference!

Talking with my mom this morning, we laughed about the day I was born… I gave her no time to have an epidural. I was ready to enter this world! I don’t think she laughed much when it actually happened.. but at least she can now 🙂 We joked about having to work on my birthday, so I asked her to write an excuse note! I haven’t needed a “note from mom” in quite some time, and I was tickled that she obliged. I guess you’re never too old for some things.

Birthdays are a great time to reflect on your life. Where have I been,  and what are my future plans? The last ten years have taught me that it is never too late for anything. After getting married,  I went back to college and graduated with my bachelor’s degree. Almost 4 years ago,  I started (sloooooooowly) writing, or at least coming up with song ideas. In the last two-ish years,  I’ve tried to focus a little more on my writing.

While I still have a ways to go before people start knocking on my door, asking to record my songs,  I’m glad that I’m finally talking time to follow my dream… because you’re never too old for anything!

I wanted to share a few posts about some of the opportunities I have taken advantage of along the way. Earlier in 2015 (February to be exact), I drove to Atlanta for to audition for The Voice. I had thought about doing this several years ago, but talked myself out of doing so. This year, I decided to go out on a limb and just do it.

My mom drove me downtown that Saturday afternoon. As soon as we arrived, we could see the line was already out of the building, and parking was very slim. Apparently there was a cheerleading competition, and something else downtown as well. Go figure. We went to the first lot that we found and asked if there were any vacant spots. There was, and it was $20! We had $16 on hand. The guy told us that we could park, but we had to go to an ATM across the street to get the remainder of the charge. My mom said I could go ahead and get in line and she would find me once everything was squared away.

I walked down the street, and thought ok, surely the line ends just around the corner. Nope. Ok, maybe it’s just around the next corner of the building. Wrong again. Oookkkk…. Surely it’s just around the corner of the last side of the building. It has to be, right? No. By this time, I was walking with a couple of other people who were also looking for the end of the line. We made it back to the front of the building, and there was no clear “end of the line.” People weren’t standing in a perfect, single-file line (Elementary teachers would be so disappointed). So we just kind of stepped in somewhere and hoped for the best!

About an hour or two later we made it back around to the front of the building. Ah! The home stretch! About half-way down the sidewalk, we saw a slight setback. The line went down into the underground parking/service delivery area. Smack my head! It snaked around the parking area – it wasn’t just one big loop around.

Another hour-ish later, we made it inside the building! It was already getting dark by now (we started the line around 2:00 PM. Only participants were allowed in the building, so my mom and my new friend’s mom had to patiently wait outside. My heart was pounding with excitement. We made our way up the escalator to a room where we were corralled into about 10 lines. Slowly, they let people up a set of stairs to yet another floor.

When we arrived upstairs, the room was broken out into two main sections of chairs, each section facing each other. There were probably over 1,000 people in there, easily! To pass the time, we did what any group of singers would do – sing! It was so neat to hear this collective group of people singing together like we had been doing as a band. The harmonies sounded perfect. The closer they got to releasing our section to go, the more excited/nervous I was.

Finally! It was our turn! Again, we go up an escalator, and find another (smaller) waiting area. This seems like a cruel joke at this point, but I know I must be getting closer. They took groups of 10 down the hall, to wait outside of one of the 10 or so rooms. There we were. Waiting right outside of the room we’ve waited all afternoon to enter.

We walk in and sit down in front of one person who is there to judge our performance. She has a paper with our names on it, shuffles it so that they are picked at random, and when she calls on us, we step up to the line taped in front of her table, state our name and sing a verse and a chorus. I was second-to-last to go. As I got up, a man entered our room. I looked at her to see if I should proceed or needed to wait, and she told me to go on – so I did. Before I uttered the first note, she turned her head to see what the man needed. As soon as I began, her head turned quickly to my direction. I knew I didn’t botch the note, so I took this as a good sign. I will say, I almost forgot a line, but maintained my game face and had a blast. After we were all done, she told us that some of us were really close, but did not have anyone in our group that she was moving on to the next round.

I walked outside and greeted my mom, telling her the news. I called Jonathan and had such excitement on the phone as I told him about the afternoon, he said, “so I guess you made it?!” “No!” I replied, “but it was so much fun! I want to keep working so I can keep trying!”

I may not impress everyone, every time, but that won’t stop me from pursuing my dream!