Timeline of My Life to Music 2013

As predicted in last years post 2013 was no cake walk. We had a lot of ups and downs securing a location for our brewery. Each month we'd get our hopes up about another location; we'd draw plans, draft agreements and then the deals would fall through. We also watched our son grow from a baby to develop his strong personality and begin to destroy our home the way that toddlers do. Never a dull moment. I look forward to success in 2014 with the opening of our brewery and the introduction of our beer to our community. 

  

January 2013

Yacht "Psychic City"

February 2013

Miguel "Sure Thing"

March 2013

James Taylor "Your Smiling Face"

April 2013

Iron & Wine "Upward Over the Mountain"

May 2013

Bishop Allen "Heart"

June 2013

REO Speed Wagon "Keep on Loving You"

July 2013

Broadheds "Nothing that I Care About"

August 2013

Devendra Banhart "Baby"

September 2013

Jessie Ware "Wildest Moments"

October 2013
The Two Man Gentleman Band "Fancy Beer"

December 2013

Coconut Records "West Coast"

My Love Story

Someone finally wrote my love story...

Here's how it starts:

"It’s hard to say if 

The Courtyard Brewery

is a love story 

about beer 

or a beer story

 about love. 

Either way, it began 

on Frenchmen Street." 

Read the rest here: NOLA DEFENDER.

I Have Good Taste

I stumbled upon this video by creative folks for creative folks, thanks to the always creative seeking website, BRAIN PICKINGS. In it, Ira Glass warns amatuer designers and creators that the early days of their careers may be struck with thoughts of self doubt and less than stellar production. He encourages them to quickly increase their body of work and believe that through experience, creative success and confidence will come and their natural good taste will shine. 




I liked his emphasis on the creative thinker's sensibility of good taste. He described how in the beginning your good taste will help you recognize that your work is lacking and ultimately help you improve. I reflected on my beginning years as a designer and definitely remember questioning my abilities. 

As an interior designer, fresh out of college, I quickly faced clients and associates whose taste or vision conflicted with mine. It's discouraging and it feels awkward to reassure others that your vision is right since you don't have any real world experience to draw from. This is especially hard when you are trying to tell someone how their space should look, the space that they will work in, not you.

The saying, "fake it until you make it", has some wisdom to it. You have portray confidence in your creative work and your recommendations as a designer. No matter what age you are, people will always question you if you don't stand tall.

Everyone has an opinion, but in the end you are the expert with good taste.