Life in the studio...

So as most of you know, Dave and I were in the studio for 2 weeks in January recording his new album!  Thanks to everyone who pledged to Kickstarter, he was able to raise enough funds to make this happen...we are so appreciative of everyone's help.  The recording process was long (we were in the studio 10-10 Monday-Friday each week), but so much fun!  Dave and I are both ecstatic about this album and can't wait to share it with everyone, I know you're going to love it :D  We recorded the album here in Wichita at Brick House Studio, Craig Beebe is the owner and sound engineer and he did a fantastic job!  We brought in Ed Macey to do the drums and he brought his own vibe to the songs and really brought them all to life.  Here's a sneak peek at a few pics from our 10 days at Brick House...

So as we (anxiously) await the album's release many of you might be wondering what you can do to help get the word out about Dave's music and the new album, if that happens to be you here are a few ideas on ways you can help out!

-"Like" Dave's reverbnation page and tell your friends to do the same, also you can join as a fan and become a fan of Dave's page and post a comment on why you love his music (please?!) AND the more song plays and video views he has the better so when you're just browsing the internet you could put his music on in the backround www.reverbnation.com/daveowens

-"Like" Dave's facebook musician page and send the link out on facebook, twitter, etc. www.facebook.com/daveowenspage

-Many of you already follow Dave on twitter, but if you don't make sure you do! And of course, tell your friends :) He is @daveowensmusic

-Watch videos on youtube and "like" them, post them to your facebook (or wherever) so friends that may not have heard of him before can check it out www.youtube.com/daveowens

-And last but not least, I know as a social networking site myspace is pretty much dead, but as far as music goes it is still a big tool in helping musicians getting their stuff out there so make sure if you have a myspace to friend Dave www.myspace.com/daveowens

I just want to say for the millionth (but definitely not the last) time THANK YOU all so much for all of the love and support you give to both Dave and I as we try to share his music with the world...you all are WONDERFUL and I don't know what we'd do with out you! Love ya ~Mal

New Year, New Me?

Since tonight is New Years Eve I thought I'd talk about resolutions and why I don't care for them...now don't get me wrong I make goals for myself all the time and I think it's important to do so, but resolutions are a whole different thing. For one thing, the resolutions people make for themselves tend to be way too big, they end up feeling daunting and overwhelming and then people find excuses of why not to do it. Like when people say they are going to workout 6 times a week this year...if you don't workout at all right now it usually works better (at least for me) to start with a goal to workout say twice a week and then when I have managed that goal for a few weeks move it up, until eventually you are working out 6 times a week! That's the difference, goals can be assessed and reevaluated, unlike resolutions. If you say you're going to read 10 books this year and then you hit your mark 6 months in do you stop reading? I hope not! But for me a resolution seems like an end point so I'd rather make a goal to read 10 books by the end of the year, then if I make my mark I can reevaluate my goal and make it 20...

...I guess my point is that people put way too much emphasis on the resolutions and expect themselves to change into this person they're not and then they get upset when they don't. Change happens over time! If you slowly make goals for yourself throughout the year you will see little changes along the way within yourself that will inspire you to keep moving forward until you see the big changes :)

So what are my current goals? Well for one, and probably whoever is reading this will appreciate this one, I am making a goal for myself to blog at least once every week...if I do it more than once, great! If I only do it once a week, great (at least for now). Another goal of mine is to keep up with my yoga/workout practice. I started a steady routine mid November and I have been working out an average of 3 times a week, but I have already been seeing a difference in my body, my stress levels, my strength, and flexibility. I plan on continuing and eventually making a goal to do more than what I have been. I am also working on cooking and reading more...no specific goals for those though, just a conscious effort to do them more often. And since I made hummus and read a few chapters of my new book yesterday I'd say I'm doing well! :P

How do you all feel about resolutions? And if you make them what are yours for 2011? If not, what are some goals you are working on?

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
~C. S. Lewis

Christmas fun...

Ok so since our move back to Wichita I've reverted back to my bad habit of not blogging...until now :) Since my last post Dave completed his Kickstarter campaign and raised the funds he needed to record his album (YAY!!!) I am so excited for him to finally be able to get in the studio and record the songs the way he wants them done...he will be recording the album at Brick House Studios here in Wichita. We have the studio booked for 2 straight weeks in January! But for now we are just enjoying the Christmas season...watching Christmas movies, making Christmas candy, decorating our new place...last year we didn't get to put up a Christmas tree since we were in the process of moving so this was our first year picking out/cutting down/decorating our own Christmas tree! It was actually my first time ever to go chop down a tree...we had so much fun :)

Every year for Christmas my Mom has gotten my brother and I a Christmas ornament for our own little trees we had in our rooms...now since I'm married (and my ornaments dominate the tree) I thought I'd start the tradition for Dave and get him an ornament. I found some musical note ornaments that I thought were perfect and I surprised him with them on the 3 year anniversary of the day we first met :)

Every year my Mom and I make Christmas candy, this year we spiced things up from our typical candies by adding some sprinkles and also making cake balls this year, they turned out delicious, if I do say so myself...

We had to celebrate Christmas a little differently this year since my step-sis is a nurse who works on the weekends and Christmas Eve/day fell on Friday and Saturday, we celebrated with her and her husband on Wed. night, instead of on Christmas Eve...it was also different this year because instead of going out to eat my parents decided to do a Christmas lights tour in a limo (my Mom has wanted to do this for a long time.) So we ordered some pizza and brought some wine and had a great time going around Wichita as a family...

Christmas Eve we had brunch at Good Egg with my parents (all 3 of them) and my brother, went to church, and opened gifts at my Grandparents house. Christmas morning we spent opening presents with my Dad, brother, cousin Jenny, and Grandma Gerry. We spent the rest of the day at my Dad's relaxing and later went to a movie and on the way home picked up some sushi for dinner...it was a wonderful Christmas spent with family and remembering the reason for it all...

Hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas! Love you all ~Mal

Just call me the cookie monster...

Hahaha, so for Dave's Kickstarter project (the link for those who missed it- http://kck.st/besQ64 ) he made a video and after recording all day he started to have a hard time getting out what he wanted to say...but the camera kept rolling and I was behind it making comments as we went along...we didn't mean for the things we caught to be funny but when we put them all together in one "blooper" video it turned out pretty hilarious! At least to us...check it out for yourself, but you have to wait 'til the end to understand the title of this post :) Hope you enjoy...

And here is the real Kickstarter video...