Yes. Yes, I should.

source: Buzzfeed.

On Parenthood, the best drama currently on television, there’s a young off-and-again teenage couple: Drew and Amy. This post isn’t really about them. At all.

BUT.

Parenthood introduced me to Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors. And I saw them at the Sound Academy this past weekend.

Happy sigh.

So freakin’ good. I have a serious girl crush on Ellie Holcomb.

Needtobreathe was pretty fantastic, too.

Saturday’s show made me want to make music. There were some rather spectacular honky-tonk piano moments, folks.

And then there’s Amy. She has a new album coming out…and it includes a single featuring James Taylor. (Two songbirds, one precious stone?)

BONUS VIDEO: This Friday, Kelly and I are embarking on road trip #2 to see Bebo. Because he’s retiring from music. *sniffle*

This is one of my all-time favourites from the man with the coolest name ever:

[Pillow tutorial: Little Birdie Secrets]

Late last night, Matt and I were chatting in bed. The light was still on.

Mid-sentence, Matt grew silent. By the time he spoke again, his tone had changed.

MATT: Close your eyes.

Um, okay.

MATT: Don’t move.

Frozen.

I felt him reach over me and grab something from the bedside table. A tissue.

My husband then proceeded to KILL THE SPIDER that was inches from my head.

He turned off the light, rolled over, and went to sleep.

My hero.

And I just lay there, wide awake, convinced that I could feel little creepy crawlers scooting up and down my body. Ugh.

I’ve mentioned this before, but I used to describe my personal style as “Audrey Hepburn goes to camp.”

I’m not sure if that’s a 100% accurate description anymore, but I still like the idea of balancing chicness with a little down-home country.

It’s no surprise, then, that a recent Vanity Fair article and subsequent photo gallery about Hepburn’s “Farm-Girl Fresh” style gave me a good case of the warm-and-fuzzies.

A basket purse!

Picnic chic. Swoon.

Somewhat related, I love this quote:

Who’s your no-fail style crush, ladies? How would you define your style?

(Remind me: I’m going to write about fashion and the “hipster” label soon. I have so many conflicting thoughts….)

This is how I feel about Ryan Lochte:

MATTHEW: His reality show should be called “Fool’s Gold: The Ryan Lochte Story.”

(Later…)

Or “Dumb and Dumber: The Ryan Lochte Story.” Starring: Paul Walker.

YES.

Swim, Ryan, Swim. That is what you should [only] do.

So. Apparently Prince Charles knows how to paint.

First reaction: It’s not fair. He gets to be royal AND a painter.

Second reaction: How do I get one?

Third reaction: I should probably go to Tanzania (see second painting) and take up watercolours….

Yesterday, Matthew and I celebrated our one-year anniversary.

We opened the last bottle of wedding wine. (You can’t get the 2010 vintage at the LCBO anymore. *sniffle*)

Classy jacket, no? It belongs to his wedding suit. 

We went to the same restaurant where we celebrated our first dating anniversary once upon a time. And then we sipped on port and sampled rich desserts at a nearby French bistro.

I like being a wife.

Correction: I like being Matthew’s wife.

This weekend was a sentimental one — Reminiscing 101, if you will — which means this little tune was its theme song:

Yes, our first dance was to an Adam Sandler song. Don’t judge.

Happy anniversary, Matthew. Here’s to another 1000 years….

[Worn by Kevin T-Shirt]

Nostalgia is the best.

P.S. I own this shirt. Just because.

]]> http://nadineathome.com/this-shirt-exists/feed/ 0 http://nadineathome.com/remembering-ebert/ http://nadineathome.com/remembering-ebert/#comments Thu, 04 Apr 2013 23:29:07 +0000 Nadine http://nadineathome.com/?p=699

Even Maverick’s feeling nostalgic today.

Once upon a time, I literally got in Roger Ebert’s way.

The year was 2010. I was leaving a screening of Werner Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams at the TIFF Bell Lightbox downtown.

Having already seen Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban climb out of their chauffeur-driven vehicle, I was full-on celeb-watching alert. The only problem: I have zero situational awareness.

I had no idea that the car in front of me — with the door open and a uniformed driver standing watch — was awaiting the person walking behind me. So I stopped to chat with friends and blocked the important passenger from getting inside.

It was Roger Ebert.

By the time I realized what was happening, he was mere inches from my shoulder. Instead of keeping it classy, I ducked — and ran away awkwardly.

Assisted by his wife, he got in the car.

And I went home, slightly embarrassed but mostly excited that the world’s most famous film critic almost collided with me.

Roger Ebert, thanks for the years of recommendations. You rarely (if ever) led my astray.

Two thumbs up.

[image source: Behance]

Every few months, I get a variation of this email:

Hi Natalie,

I love your writing. It’s so uplifting. Would it be okay if I posted your articles on my little blog that’s going to revolutionize blogging because no one else on the Internet likes smiling every day but me?

It will give you some great exposure.

Thanks.

First of all, my name’s not Natalie.

Secondly, I had over 800,000 views on an article a few weeks ago. I don’t really need your “exposure.”

Thirdly, I can’t give away something for free that I’ve already sold to someone else. That is unfair to my client and STUPID for me. It’s career suicide. Clients won’t trust that they’re getting original content AND they will be able to justify not paying me since other folks are getting my words for free.

Fourthly, just HIRE a writer. If you want to launch your very own Nadine-style blog, hire someone to write cool Nadine-style stuff for you. There are a lot of writers who need work. Many will work for less than I do, as they’re building their portfolios and/or are doing it as a side gig. If the blog takes off, man/woman up and PAY THEM MORE.

Finally, most writers out there CAN’T AFFORD to work for free. I’m not going to screw over my colleagues by being a scab. If you won’t pay them, you’re not going to get away with not paying me either.

— — — — — — — —

Once upon a time, I worked for free. It was worth it. I had a full-time job and needed to start building a portfolio. Then I started making $3 a post. Then $10. Then $18.

That editor started demanding SO MUCH WORK from me…for $18. He would send articles back to me to rewrite. Yes, for $18. And demanded interviews with designers, et c. I made $2 to $3 an hour at that rate.

Then I interned for a producer who essentially had me write his movie for him. After three months, I handed him a third draft of a film. He said he would count it as Draft 1.2, which made zero sense. In the real world, writers only have to submit three drafts: first, second, final. He wanted me to write more and more for nothing…..

I walked away.

I knew I was worth a paycheque.

And I knew that if I was going to write for free, I’d rather do it for myself, thankyouverymuch.

Less than two years later, I had built up my career to include a few substantial enough clients to consider myself having “made it” as a writer.

This is my livelihood. I don’t just do it because I love it, I do it because it pays the bills. I’m reasonably good at it — I’m not pretending to be Charles Dickens, Aaron Sorkin or Robert Munsch —  and it affords me the schedule and lifestyle that I need to enjoy my non-writing life.

Being asked to hand over my (already-sold) hard day’s work for free is the single most insulting thing I encounter in this field of work.

So don’t do it.

And, writers, don’t work for free. Your work has value. Demand that others acknowledge that.

Rant over.