MOMIX: December 14th, 2017

Music can be an escape... or a reminder.

A reminder of who you are at the core, at your roots... because as we grow we develop, we change, we go in different directions... and it's very easy to get lost in the maze of branches.

Music brings us home.

A single song, note, or melody can trigger an "oh yeah, I remember this!" moment where we are brought (so vividly I might add) back to a point in time where you can visualize every little detail crystal clear.

It can also influence your mood... For instance, I listen to music - even just one song - whenever I'm irritated or angry. I find that it builds my confidence back up after a fall and as a result I feel re-empowered.

Here's what I'm listening to right now:

1. COLDPLAY    the scientist

2. ODESZA    it's only

3. TWO FEET   love is a bitch

4. DELERIUM   innocente

5. JOHN LEGEND   ordinary people

6. LANA DEL REY   young and beautiful

7. PURITY RING   obedear

8. LANDON PIGG   falling in love at a coffee shop

9. LEMONGRASS   sunrise on fujiyama

10. TWO FEET   her life

Enjoy!

- xomo

MOMIX: December 3rd, 2017

I could never live without music.

Music is important to me... incredibly. I grew up listening to classical composers such as Felix Mendelssohn, the bluesy chops of B.B. King and the jazzy licks of John Coltrane.

Music is life, baby.

My mother introduced me to Jethro Tull... and to this day we continue to blare it on roadtrips while she tells me about the "real" concert experience. My father is the most incredible musician I've ever known, and others would agree. An original member of The Moody Blues, he can tickle those ivories let me tell you.

I have the best memories of going to the auditorium after school because that's where my parents would be... My mum working with the actors blocking and directing the latest musical for the school we lived at, and my father hammering the hell out of the baby grand at the same time. He would move at an incredible pace... standing up... his entire body into the music... head swinging to the beat... all the while playing from memory. With his buddies next to him on drums and guitar, and my mother simultaneously directing each scene, it was amazing to watch them in their element. Although I didn't know what that meant at the time, (this was just what my parents "did" in my mind). Now, as an adult, I wish I could transport back to those days, just to experience it one more time... live.

Music has the ability to strengthen, motivate and inspire us. We listen to music to boost our confidence before going into an interview, to put us "in the mood" for a romantic evening, or even to help push ourselves to the limit so we can crush our personal best in the gym. It colours us a different shade with each and every note, key change and progression... At least, it does for me.

Here's what I'm listening to right now:

1. MOBY    whispering wind

2. RADIO CITIZEN   the hop

3. PHANTOGRAM   when I'm small

4. MASSIVE ATTACK   angel

5. THOM YORKE   harrowdown hill

6. MÚM   the ghosts you draw on my back

7. WIM MERTENS   struggle for pleasure

8. JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON   a game of croquet

9. ROUGGE   fragment 48

10. JAZZANOVA   bohemian sunset

Enjoy!

- xomo

Love and Wiener Dogs

A few weekends ago I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to photograph some beautiful pups and their beautiful humans... something I haven't done in a very long time. Thank you to Aliesha and Brandon for giving me the opportunity to play with my camera again.

View the full gallery here.

- xomo

A (very) honest personal rant

It's been a long time since I've been here. Too long in fact. So much has happened and so much has changed, including myself... something of which might appear obvious through the tone of my voice, but I feel good. More honest, more accepting. I've struggled with personal issues from time to time (who doesn't?)... I just did an exceptional job of hiding it, but not an acceptable job of being okay with it. I am now, however, at the point of realizing that life really is way too short, and if I want to live out my years to the best of my ability, I need to let this ridiculousness go. We are not perfect, and while some people are okay with it from the get-go, some just need a bit of time to learn it... in my case, 34 years.

(for all those reading this who are rolling their eyes because I'm "still so young", I know. But you never know when you're gonna go, so I'm just being wary of that. Because if I continue worrying that I'm not good enough, then I'm not going to be as happy as I know I can be and that, to me, is a waste... we're blessed to be here, we need to make the most of it)

We live in a media universe, and while I'd like to say that it hasn't influenced me, it has, and possibly other people's ideas of perfection as well... which, as I'm learning, is stupid to strive for. I used to be intimidated by Victoria Secret commercials because I didn't look like them, and on numerous occasions I would drive myself to the store for ice cream, cookies or whatever else I felt like bingeing on.

I'm not saying we should change the advertising industry or blame them (I'm in it for goodness sake)... the problem is when we allow it to make us feel like shit.

Regardless of what I've just shared with you, I have always loved the life I live, but now, I'm going to live life even better... for me.

- xomo

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Since writing this post, I have continued to document the feelings I have on this particular subject in a series of posts that are my unedited, honest confessions of what goes on behind the curtain during "normal", everyday situations. Because for some, it may be natural to have all the confidence in the world, but for the rest of us, it's a battle to get there. Click here to read the start of my series, REVEALED.

September 1st, 2011 - April 29th, 2016

Today is my last (full time) day at Weddingstar - I'm sticking around part time to help my colleagues through another round of our annual magazine. But boy does it feel good knowing that I'll still be in a place of comfort two days a week. A place where I'm familiar with my surroundings and comfortable knowing, more or less, what each day will hold. But where's the fun in that?

As I mentioned here, being uncomfortable can be a really good thing. Not so much if it's due to a wedgie per se, but you get the idea. That anxious feeling you get when you're "new" again... Now that's exciting - and humbling. Coming from a position where I had a lot of the answers, going in to one where I'll have a-thousand-and-one questions. Not knowing what obstacles lie around the next bend, or what opportunities may arise. It's all proof that there's always more to learn. And with that, comes growth. Then eventually, if you've hit a similar plateau, you'll break through it and continue to move forward.

As I pack up my office, I reflect on how much has happened over the past 5 years and all the ups and downs we had along the way. From winning the pitch to bring the magazine in house, to getting engaged (which you can read about here), all the while moving up the creative ladder. To all the amazing people I've had the chance to work with, this one's not easy as I'm going to miss the fun times we had. But the ladder got taller, and so I must go.

- xomo