Paris snapshot

Our European adventure/tour kicked off with a night in Paris. This is just a snapshot... much more to come later. The biggest news from the Popes is that we'll be LIVING in Paris for 2 months after the tour. So, while you won't find much here in this post, I wanted to give you guys that little piece of information so that you'll stick with me and follow me around Paris for a while. While it won't be all play (Ron is working on the new album, and I'll be working on the business side of the new album), I am sure we'll find some time to run around and show you the sights. 

For now, here's a glimpse into how the tour started off...

 

We adore Paris! And I'm quickly becoming obsessed with my latest camera acquisition. A point and shoot that gives me a pretty good range of manual functions (Canon G15 for those who are interested). Lightweight, compact, pretty quick on the autofocus... I'm a happy girl. 

Running off to another sound check... only a few more shows this tour!

xoxox,

b

ready, set, go.

It's happening again. Once again, it's our last night in New York and I'm trying to stuff my life into a suitcase no bigger than a back pack. Each time we do a massive trip I downsize in luggage from the trip before... you just start to realize how little you REALLY need to get by.  So this new little gem is a "boarding bag" and allows just enough room for the basics + an extra or two... and I'll be using it for three months abroad. Eeeek! After the tour we'll be working on the new record and getting things in line for the release next year. I'm excited beyond words, but of course have a little anxiety as well. I've never left for 3 months and the thought of not seeing my family and friends for that long makes my heart sad. 

The adventure is just beginning! I'll try to keep this updated as much as possible - so check in often. If you don't already, go ahead and follow me on twitter (@dancepanda) as that will surely be updated more than this. 

And as always - come see us if you're in one of these cities!

xoxo,

b

making christmas in brooklyn

Ron and I are now doing "the holiday switch off" - meaning we switch off between families for Thanksgiving & Christmas each year. Last year we were in Atlanta with my fam - this year we're up in New York where most of his family has landed. So this means we got to host our very first real holiday (sort of)! We hosted Christmas Eve with our family and close friends at our... um... I mean, some dude's apartment that we've never met. We got an apartment via AirBnB for the few weeks we're in town. Luckily, it was perfect for our holiday! Thanks, random dude!

Ron, his brother, and his dad made an Italian dinner for us... and I made dessert (lemon + basil cookies and funfetti cupcakes!). Dinner was out of this world as always - you can't beat antipasto, homemade lasagna, rice balls, and veal cutlets. God bless an Italian kitchen. PLUS, we had a delicious holiday cocktail/amazing champagne/perfect wine. The mint, cranberries, and pomegranates below are our drink garnishes... nice touch, if I do say so myself. Can't beat it with a stick.

Merry Christmas everyone... more to come from this crew... but go hug your fam and celebrate with them. See ya lata.

-b

wrapping up Australia (with a bow)

as we're winding down on 2012 (and what a crazy year it's been), I wanted to FINALLY wrap up posts from Australia.

Our final adventure down under was ill-planned and very last minute, but we made it work and had the best time. We realized we had not yet done the very thing that Ron talked about doing non-stop before our trip... he wanted to actually HOLD a koala. Yes, we had seen one, stood next to one, and even tousled it's little furry head, but hold one, we had not! One small situation: due to our lack of planning and busy schedule, we had no more time. We had to drive back to Brisbane from Byron Bay in order to catch an afternoon flight to Sydney that would eventually connect us to our flight to LA. We realized we had ONE shot - we could squeeze in one short hour at The Lone Pine Koala Reserve before we had to turn in the rental car and make it to the plane before it took off. Challenge accepted!

Knowing we only had one hour to hold a koala, feed kangaroos, and see the dingos meant we literally had to run from one spot to the other, pushing little kids down left and right. I'd say looking and acting like idiots was 100% worth it for THIS:

That's it! I simply adored being in Australia and can't wait to go back... so much we missed and so much more slang to learn! Until next time...

-b

behind the scenes

While I don't typically like to post too much work stuff on here, I thought you might enjoy some behind the scenes snaps from doing press and shows in Australia. Enjoy!

Yes, I know they swap from legit camera to crappy iPhone. Soowweeee.

 

Catch ya soon!
-b

imagination station

Most people in Byron Bay seem to be on perma-vacation... and that's an incredible thing if you can manage it. We, however, manage to always squeeze in work when we find the time (noooo/blahhhh/rawrrrr/etc). It's super lame and counterintuitive. However, when your job lands you in a place like this super fantastic music imagination station, it doesn't suck quite as much.

We were hooked up with a friend of a friend who runs a studio/artist haven ON the water in Byron. Pretty sweet gig, ehh? OH, and they have a major beer sponsor that just delivers cases upon cases of beer to their doorstep every month. To say it does not suck would be a slight understatement.  So when we were offered the chance to go chill for the day, we jumped on it. We wandered the 30 minutes down back roads to get to the place and were much better for it. 

They fed us their free beer, we talked shop, we played some tunes (i.e. I was sort of drunk after 3 beers so I twirled around a bunch and looked like a spastic 5 year old), and we met a baby and a dog. Perfect day? I say YES. 

then things got a little hazy on the way home. I think we met a spirit guide in the form of a dog and I forced Ron to take a photo of me muscling up a drunk handstand (hey! at least I remembered to point my toes). It's a miracle what three beers will do to me after all these years of being a fully grown/mostly functional adult. 

listen, I don't judge you and your hobbies.

And with that: goodbye & goodnight!

xxoo,

b

so many thanks!

this is from last year in the Hamptons. I have not seen ONE pumpkin or squash in Australia. 

Well, here we are - another Thanksgiving has come 'round again. Last year I was in Mexico... this year I ended up in Australia. WHAT THE HELL. I almost never know where my life is going to take me, but no complaints so far. I still have multiple Aussie posts just waiting in the wings, but since the holiday sprung up without much warning where I am, I'm going to take a short detour for a minute.

What was intended as a "break" after the tour, has turned into our normal schedule of working, stressing, and making sure everything runs smoothly in the world of RP Music. While I could complain about never getting a real holiday or vacation, I'm going to relax & take in the moment (as they say to do). This is what we chose - I love my job and wouldn't pick one other way to run our life. PLUS, in an effort to celebrate the holiday, we just wrapped up a day of surfing (or doing our best trying) and now I'm sitting out on the balcony of our hotel room. I am SO fortunate that I had the opportunity to leave behind a career that was less than fulfilling and move on to one that I am not only invested in, but wake up everyday ready to make a difference. I get to work in music, I get to travel with my love, I get to be creative, I get to see the very real effects of my influence, I get to work with people from all over the world and make new friends every day. Our life isn't conventional & I suppose a lot of people question it, but I'll take it just the way it is.

There is one gaping hole that can't be filled, though. The fact that we are constantly away from our loved ones and miss holidays with them hurts in a way I can't explain. I miss the feeling of waking up on Thanksgiving or Christmas morning and knowing that I am going to smell certain smells and hug certain arms. While I've only had two years of it, I already ache for the sound of my nephew's laugh and his semi screaming "AUNT B!" - it's decidedly, the best. I'm also missing one of my favorite aunts who is going through a tough time (send up an extra prayer if you have one!) - she's not going to have the best day and I would do anything to make it better for her.

So that's that! Before I move completely away from my snarky self, I'll wish you all a very HAPPY (and maybe drunk, if you take it that way) THANKSGIVING! Thanks for hanging out with me these past few months... much more to come!

xxoo
-b

love from Melbourne

One of the hardest things about traveling is realizing that you likely won't live long enough to live in all of the places you fall in love with. By now I've racked up quite a hefty list of places I'd like to lay my head & call home for longer than a weekend.  The latest addition to this list is Melbourne. So far she wins as my favorite city in Australia. Melbourne is chock full of art, cafes, boutique shopping.... and marsupials.

It will take me a couple of posts to tell you all of the reasons I love Melbourne, so we'll start at the top! 

We went to the city a few days before the show so we could do press. Fortunately for us, our amazing publicist set up press that could also coincide with some sightseeing.  She's the best. Our first stop was about 90 minutes outside of the city. Ron had a photoshoot at Healesville Sanctuary with koalas, a baby kangaroo, and a baby wombat. To say we were in heaven is the understatement of the year!  Forget models - koalas in a photoshoot are where it's AT. This town was overly cute to boot - AND we drove past some beautiful wineries on the way there. AND you can ride a horse at said wineries. AND they don't care how drunk you are on said horse. I think we could make a life here. 

I've got some AMAZING food rec's for you travelin' fools... but for now, I'll leave you with these priceless photos of us with our new friends & our first day in Melbourne!

First stop: a Bloody Mary

a walk in St. Kilda - so many kite surfers!

new friends!

yes! lifelong dream.

baby wombat//baby wombat is now our child.

introducing the star of the day. I don't like to choose favorites... but I'm stealing her.

love her

Like I said... much more to come. Time to get ready for a SOLD OUT SHOW in Sydney! Catch you next time... with some foooooood... or virtual food. 

Later,
b