Getting Giggy With It
I have a busy day ahead with a late show to do tonite! Tioga Downs 10 PM - 1 AM!! It's my kind of day! (really) I'm excited and I believe I have all my ducks in a row but if not....I just pray I have a window of opportunity to make it right! Great way to end the month of June and begin July! I'm aiming high and I hope July marks the spot! Everyone make your last Saturday in June a blast! Peace out!! xoxo
Always Love and Music, ~Dena~
6/30/07
Let The Weekend Begin
Ok, so I'd be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit nervous for tomorrow’s show at Tioga Downs. After all, it is my piano debut mixed into the longest acoustic show I've done so far with my very talented and dedicated guitar player, Donny! I'm used to doing anywhere from 5 to 15 songs a set, but now I'm pulling out most of my material, released, unreleased, new cover songs, and a few songs no one has heard before. Today I have to make sure everything is in line for tomorrow! Last nights rehearsal went great and I expect the same tonite! I'm very excited and along with my family and friends coming to support me, I hope to see YOU there!! Please stop and say hi during my breaks! I have lots to do before my day slips away! Everyone have a good one! xoxo
Always Love and Music, ~Dena~
6/29/07
Outlets
I know my outlet for stress is singing and dancing...which makes total sense since they are the same things that make me happiest! I can re-direct my thoughts by watching movies that absorb me and I can see myself in them! I'm not saying I'm stressing...or am I? Reducing stress is as easy as re-directing the focus of your thoughts. hahaha Yup....it works too! Everybody has some stress they are dealing with...just some are better at hiding it. So whether I'm singing about a better place and visualizing that Hawaiian Sunset or dancing full out to "I Just Wanna Fn Dance"....you will never know if it's cuz I'm happy or trying to relieve stress! hahahaha It's all mine to know which is which!! But I truly hope your day is amazing and fabulous and remember to count your blessings! I do that everyday!!! peace.... xoxo
Always Love and Music, ~Dena~
6/28/07
The Heat Is On
Hot days here in eTown! Temps in the 90's so it's keeping everyone inside with the AC on as much as possible! I cannot even relate to the stories my parents tell of how they didn't have air conditioning in the house or cars when they were kids! I rode like one time in heat like this with the windows down and I was melting and couldn't breathe! It's crazy! I'd love to be in a shaded pool about now or even better... picnicking by a waterfall, instead of being cooped up inside. I put in 2 nights of great rehearsals with my guitar player plus a voice lesson and now tonight I have off. I was mentioned in todays newspaper and also here on press connects, if you wish to take a peek!! It's not exactly the read that was sent in, but cool none the less! Well I can take my eyes off the clock today and just be. I hope your day is filled with love, goodness and meaning wherever you are! xoxo
Always Love and Music, ~Dena~
6/27/07
Loss
I dedicate today’s journal entry to someone I care about very much.....
When we're forced to spend time apart from someone we love…it tends to make us realize the time we did have together was pretty damn precious! It’s one thing to get busy and be caught up with the urgent details of our daily lives, taking us away from seeing each other on a daily basis, but it’s another to know you will not see each other or hold each other again. Fortunately the heart kicks in for just such times, when we are separated, for whatever reason, so we both know that what we have is special. Please don’t get caught up regretting any missed moments, but instead remember the joy, love and laughter you shared when you were together. Through death, life suddenly tastes extra sweet! But even though the physical presence is missing the spiritual is ever present! Know that this person will always be a part of you and no one can take that away! Curse the moment if you have to but know you are not alone in your grief. Keep the love in your heart and peace will be with you! Turn that sour note into a beautiful song! You can't miss!!! xoxo
Always Love and Music, ~Dena~
6/26/07
We've Only Just Begun.....
Mwahahaha...1408!!! Cool movie! Have to say I jumped a few times and loved the special effects! I didn't want to go see it alone so I talked my mom and a friend of mine into going! They are such scaredy cats but because they love me they went! and then I was the one screaming! haha I love those kind of movies tho! It's like a thrill ride for me! My song Watching would so fit that movie theme!!! I hope someday one of my songs ends up in a movie...how cool would that be?!!!! So anyways..today I have some business errands and definitely singing/rehearsing to get to! I hope your day rocks and stay scared!!!!!!!!! mwahahahahah xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/25/07
Sugar 1, Dena 0
The cake and cookies beat me yesterday! When you don't eat that stuff and generally avoid sugar in everything as much as possible, it becomes a treat and it tastes so awesome at the time! But...for me, even just a lil sugar predictably sends me into a tizzy and too much of it turns my stomach sour cuz my body is freakin' rejectin' it! When will I learn?! haha Today I relax and recoup! Funny how most kids my age are probably dealing with hangovers from their weekend parting! ...then there is me.... a dork/geek at heart and I'm coming off a sugar high! I'm gonna try and be sweet all on my own today! I hope all of you are kickin' back and enjoying a relaxing Sunday! I'm gonna sing, sing, sing!!! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/24/07
Graduation Day
I just got home from my brother's graduation, so I'm getting to my journal a little later than usual. The ceremony was pretty nice, but a few crazy mishaps so it went a little long. I haven't eaten one thing yet today, so that is first on my list as soon as I'm done writing!! There is cookie cake and regular cake in the house so I'm pretty much in heaven right now! And you know what that means when there is that much sugar in the house...sUgAr HiGh!!! haha Last night I had a killer rehearsal and I'm hoping I can repeat that again tonight with my guitar player. Gotta really step up my game even more this coming week since I have a gig next saturday at Tioga Downs! ok, so before I pass out I'm gonna get something to eat and then figure out what I will be doing with the rest of my afternoon and night! Hope your saturday is fabulous!! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/23/07
Fanmail
This morning I woke up and my mom wanted me to help her color her hair, so I said sure why not! I've only done it once before, but it came out really good I think! So that's what I have been doing so far today and I just got a chance to sit down and answer some fans on myspace. I love all the personal notes that I get from people, so if anyone ever wants to write me on myspace or write me here to my fanmail, I'd love to hear from you! Tomorrow is my younger brother's high school graduation! We aren't having a big party or anything but we still wanna do a little something for him. I had so much more fun at my own graduation plus going around to all the different parties! Good times!! Anyway, I love lots to accomplish musically today as well and I'll be ending the day with another rehearsal tonight. Keep smilin' and have a good one! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/22/07
Happy Thursday?
So here I am, another day, another journal entry. Some day's I feel like I'm stuck in time, but everything around me keeps moving. I have to think to myself, patience Dena, patience... everything in good time. It's been feeling like every day is the same recently and I need to find more ways to make it more interesting. I know I'm very lucky to get to do what I do! I just feel like I need to mix it up, ya know?! I'll be rehearsing and working out a lot today. Hope you have a rockin' Thursday! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/21/07
My Voice
Yesterday I finally got to have a voice lesson! It was great!! and I'm so glad I didn't have to miss another week. It's one thing to practice on your own, but it's so much better when you have a teacher coaching you to give you that extra push you need. It's so easy to back slide but I won't let that happen! And for that same reason I love to rehearse in the studio so other ears are there for input and feedback! Since I was busy last night working, my brother was kind enough to go pick me up the Mandy Moore CD and I love it! haha Tonight I have off, but this afternoon I do have a short meeting to discuss a very special event coming soon! I can't wait to tell you all the details! And on that note..I'm outta here! Have a good one! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/20/07
Mandy Moore
Today it's business as usual. Singing, piano, and a voice lesson later! It's been like 4 weeks I think since I've been, so it will be good to get back in the swing of things. Later I'll probably have rehearsal too. At some point I wanna stop and get Mandy Moore's new CD that came out today. I've been a fan of hers since I was 12, so even though her music is nothin like it used to be, I'm still gonna be supportive. I still think it's great though and I also think she is a very talented girl, but doesn't get enough credit for all she does. The past couple days I've been outside a lot and now my shoulders are burnt pretty bad, but at least I got some color now on my pasty white skin! haha So try and stay cool today cause its another hot one! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/19/07
Ring My Bells
I woke up this morning to Enrique Iglesias! (I wish!) haha ok it was just his music...but anyways...his new CD came out last week and someone in my house was blasting it! (cough...MOM?!) I usually fall asleep to music and wake up to it, so it's all good! Have to say Enrique's CD Insomniac is awesome!! He is such a romantic and I love his hand written insert that he wrote from his heart! Very cool! He doesn't need me to pitch his hotness!! haha He gave me some morning inspiration without even knowing he did that! Ok... back on the workhorse today with much to do! Rehearsal on the schedule tonite! yay!!! Have a magnificient Monday everyone! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/18/07
Happy Father's Day
It's a beautiful day! Today I'm definitely getting out to enjoy it instead of cooping myself up like I usually do. I'm headed off to my brother's ballgame out of town for the afternoon and then after that my plans are up in the air! There really isn't much to do in this town on a Sunday night! I stayed in last night when rehearsal was called off and if you read back over my week I've had way too much time to blow and that's gotta change or I'm gonna scream! My older brother was complaining about how much taxes the government took out of his first paycheck and I'm thinking...damn..I could live off that much money! and my younger bro that has worked a part time job for a year now has saved enough money to buy a new car and I'm sitting here...broke! haha ahhhhh, the life of a musician... it isn't about the money for sure!!! Well, I hope you all make it a good day! Oh and one more thing...Happy Fathers Day to all you dads out there!! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/17/07
Love & Commotion
Yesterday afternoon there was some commotion around the corner when a police car, ambulance and firetruck raced up! A man had fallen off the roof of a house! YIKES!!! When things like that happen, it brings everyone out of their cocoons and away from what they were doing! I decided to check it out too and stopped to gather with a bunch of people I’ve never met or that I rarely see in my neighborhood! Aside from the tragedy before us I received some pleasant feedback from people that recognized me! It’s funny too cuz they wanted to know why I am always locked up inside my house all the time! Well it’s definitely by choice! One guy said he frequently hears me singing as he walks by and he said I am like Rupunzel! Haha I’m happy they were aware of my music and me! well, I hope the man that fell is alright! I stayed inside though the rest of my day/night and worked on my music…true to myself! Today I’m running some errands and rehearsing tonight! Everyone stay happy and have a great day! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/16/07
This 'N That
Last night I ended up in the studio for piano/acoustic rehearsal. Seems like our practices are getting better and better everytime, which is great. For some reason I feel a bit low on energy today, so I've working out a bit on my brothers Dance Dance Revolution game to help boost up my metabolism. I have been bad lately with eating a lot of sugar and not enough fruits and veggies, so that might have something to do with it. Everyone always tells me I don't have to worry about what I eat, but thats not true. I gotta eat healthy and feel healthy if I'm gonna be at the top of my game! Not sure what is in store for tonight yet. Maybe I will take some time to sit down with my notebook and start writing some lyric ideas. I think with all that goes on in my head I could write a whole new record in a week. haha...Well enjoy the start to your weekend everyone! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/15/07
Recipe for a Great Day
So I've had a couple of days off now and I'm already itching to get back to rehearsal. I just feel a lot better when I rehearse. Even if I'm not running out to a gig every weekend I keep polishing and polishing!! I prefer lots of hard work with a lil mix of playfulness to make my day great! So that's my goal for today!! Have a good one! Smiles!! :-) xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/14/07
Keeping It Real
I'd say it's a lovely day so far! I'm happy but not without one or two things cramping my style! haha That's all I'll say about that! I had an early appointment this morning and when I got back home I was in the mood to clean! So after this break... I have more cleaning to do, music to make, people to see and some fresh air to take in! Busy, busy, fun, fun!!! Hope your day is sweet!!!!!! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/13/07
Stuff
Last night my brother played his last high school baseball game ever!! It was at NYSEG Stadium which is where the B-Mets play! I've sung there and he has played ball there!! Gotta love it! His all-star team went out with a bang so we all went home happy with the win! Tonight I'm going to my brothers banquet for baseball, so I have to get all prettied up cuz it's semi formal! I'll be singing while I'm gettin ready! Rehearsal last night was killer and I'm gettin excited to perform again soon!!! Whoever comes to my next gig will witness my first ever-live piano performance!! Ahh let us pray! hehe Well I hope everyone is enjoying their day! Keep it real! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/12/07
Dena On Ducati
Fabulous grad party yesterday! My cousin Cami chose to celebrate her special day with a Hawaiian theme and it was so fun!! Everyone got "layed" when they entered! haha ok, ok I'm being funny but we did get a lei! One of the highlights for me was meeting some cousins I never met before and getting a brief ride on my cousin Ducati Motorcycle! It was a relaxing trip and I enjoyed every minute of it! Today brings me back to work into the music zone! I believe I have rehearsal tonite too and business stuff to go over for what's coming and what's going! haha Have a happy Monday everyone! Aloha & God Bless! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/11/07
The Fab Four
Today I slept in and I'm slow to get going this morning! I had nightmares throughout my sleep and it's left me tired! However I will still rock out on the DDR for a bit, soon as I'm done here and then I'll shower it up! I am going out of town for a graduation party for a cousin of mine! It's always fun to see relatives that I don't see often! The road trip alone will rock cuz the fab four that is my mom, my aunt, my grandma and me...we know how to rock it, even if it's going to the doctors! I hope everyone has a relaxing Sunday! Congrats to my cousin Cami and PaRtY oN!!! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/10/07
A Lovely Saturday
Another great rehearsal last night and a storm that passed through which put on a spectacular lightening display for the storm watchers! It cooled things down nicely after a very humid day yesterday! Today is a full day of singing for me with another rehearsal tonight! My dad is cooking up speidies on the grill for eats today and I just love the smell in the fresh air as it's wafting up through my open windows! It's distracting me!!! haha but in a good way! I hope you have a lovely Saturday doing whatever makes you happy!! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/09/07
AC On
It's Friday and it's gonna be a hot one! My AC is turned on and keeping cool is the name of the game! and this game includes not getting hot over things out of my control as well! haha Today I will be the opposite of yesterday when I had my social butterfly wings on! I'm all about zoning in today on Dena music! And I need to let the powers that be, work the magic behind the scenes while I do just that!! Oh, I'm paying attention to it all but with a lil help from my friends... it will get done right!!! Turn on the AC in your room and in your head and keep your(self) cool! ;-) xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/08/07
High School Revisited
An unplanned trip to my old high school this morning brought me back to a place I really loved! (really, really) Of course I don't miss the tons of homework I use to have night after night but I definitely loved my teachers and the social side of it all! One of my friends that I just adore and love to laugh with, happened to be visiting too so we decided to crash the classrooms together! What a blast! It was like we never left high school and we picked up right where we left off! Having a background in the arts, (singing, dancing and acting), DK and I both knew exactly what we wanted to do with our lives after high school ended and by working hard, with drive, determination, and staying focused we are doing exactly what we said we would!! The path isn’t always the same for everyone and the choices are many but if you know what you want and you really, really want it…you can have it!!! I sang several times today when asked and invaded my lil brother’s space from time to time too! Hey that’s what sisters do! Haha Tonite I have rehearsal to look forward to! It's a beautiful day and my graditude is spilling over!
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/07/07
DDR
Really good rehearsal last night with my guitar player! We are tightening songs up for my show at the end of this month! It will be my first show also that I will be playing piano as well to some of my songs! It's a 4-hour acoustic gig so I want to change it up as much as possible! This afternoon will have me in a VIP discussion planning my CD release party! Then later I'll be checking out my brother’s final chorale concert at school! I've already kick started my day doing Dance Dance Revolution! It's fun and burns calories too!! Your body is your home for life. I say, take good care of it, respect it and enjoy it!! What it is!!! I hope your day is awesome! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/06/07
New Songs Up 
I’ve been updating my other music sites the last 24 hours so definitely check out my Myspace and Pure Volume for a listen to 3 of my songs off my full length! (Available really soon!!!) Yay!!Today is the day to dance your own dance and to sing your own song! Oh wait.... I do that everyday! haha Started out my day doing Pilates getting all stretched nicely, then movin' and groovin' to get the blood pumpin' to burn calories! Breakfast for lunch and so it goes...I do everything a few hours behind everyone else! haha I won't be having a voice lesson yet again this week because my teacher is still in horrible pain with broken ribs from falling down the stairs!! I wish for her a speedy recovery! I miss working with her for sure! So go forth and put on some music you love (preferably mine) hehe and rock your day!!! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/05/07
Keeping Myself In Check
I'm putting in some solid work on my music today! I want to!!! I feel like I have been enjoying a bit too much free time and I can feel that dangerous pull into easily taking more chill time if I don't keep myself in check! The outdoors keeps calling my name! haha If I've said it once, I've said it a million times... I need to be on a schedule because this coming and going as I please trips my focus! So here I am, appreciating the fact I can come and go when I want, but I'm locking into that disciplined mode of getting it done! And done well!!! Embrace life to make the most of it! We only get one chance at it!!! Have a fabulous day!! xoxo
6/04/07
Stormy Weather
Thunder and lightening storms started last night while I was out to dinner with my family! The resturant lost power and the parking lot flooded! Fortunately we had already eaten our appetizers and our food was ready to drop so we didn't have to worry about the kitchen closing on us! It was weird however with the emergency lights flashing and people panicking. Not a relaxing atmosphere for sure but my family is so cool and we looked at the humor in it. It was like being in a movie with things going wrong and we were trapped! I'm a very visual person so I always take situations I'm in and create a movie out of it! haha Right now in fact we are having another such storm and my street is flooded! It's fun to watch, from the 2nd floor, the car's acting like speed boats to get through the water! Forecast is for more random storms. Fun stuff! I hope the power stays on so I can enter this on time and work on my music sites this afternoon! I'm planning to upload some killer new songs from my full length on myspace for ya'll to hear, so keep checking for those!!! Stay dry and have a happy day! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~
6/03/07
Hard Work and Play
Last night in the studio I worked with my guitar player for a long time and it felt good. It amazes me how many songs are on my set list and that it takes about 3 hours to get through them all if you don't take any breaks. Anyway, hard works feels good to me. Unfortunately today I woke up to more computer problems so I guess the cable guy will be stopping by my house at some point!! On the up side I've been enjoying the outdoors this afternoon. My brother was outside playing basketball and so I thought I would join him. He was trying to give me some good pointers on the proper way to shoot a basketball. Turns out I'm better at shooting incorrectly, haha, but I'm a quick learner so I was starting to get the hang of it. I'm not sure what is in store for me today, I just hope it's fun! I think I'll hit up keys for awhile now and then catch some of the Yankee game. Maybe studio tonight, maybe not, but either way I'll let you how it all goes down tomorrow! haha Enjoy your saturday! xoxo
Always Love & Music, ~Dena~ Every now and then my computer lets me know who is boss! I hate being at the mercy of it when it gets finicky or there is some behind the scene's crap it's dealing with! It puts my hard drive into overdrive! haha So some administrative things will have to be put on hold temporarily. I'm using my brother's computer at the moment to enter this journal today! In the meantime, singing and playing piano requires no computer skills at all! haha Enjoy this lovely 1st day of June! Get excited and be happy!!! xoxo "We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements of life, when all that we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about."
6/02/07
Computer Problems
- Charles Kingsley -
6/01/07
~ Past Journal Entries ~
Sept. '08
Aug. '08
July '08
June '08
May '08
April '08
March '08
Feb. '08
January '08
Sept. '07
August '07
July '07
May '07
April '07
March '07
February '07
January '07
