What camera and lens do you use?
For about 10 years I used a Canon Rebel and and loved it so much that I recently upgraded it to the newer model -- Canon EOS 800D/Rebel T7i Digital SLR Camera after considering whether or not to go mirrorless. This is a very basic camera that is perfect for beginners. I honestly shoot most of the time in auto but do love to play in manual mode when I have time to tinker with the settings. I also use a 50 mm lens exclusively but am in the market for an additional lens.
I’m visiting Charlotte. Where should I stay, eat, play?
Check out my Charlotte City Guide post!
Piano questions?
Below are some piano questions I’ve received:
- Where are you taking lessons? I’m using Skoove, a reader recommended piano app, to learn how to play! The app is pretty awesome and syncs with my keyboard so it monitors how I’m playing. It is designed for ALL skill levels — from no experience to advanced skill levels.
- Do you have to know how to read music? No.
- Do you think I could learn to play at my (insert age)? YES, YES, YES! You can!! So many of you said you didn’t think you’d be able to pick it up as an adult, but I promise the app makes it easy for all ages. It’s been a lot of fun to learn and I highly recommend trying it if you’re interested. You’re never too old to learn new things!
- Which keyboard are you using? I bought the Yamaha P71 Keyboard which was the #1 reader (some of which are piano teachers) recommendation. A few good tips I also received were to get a full keyboard with all 88 keys (if you start small, you’ll just end up buying a bigger one down the road so it’s better to invest upfront) and spend a little more on a keyboard with weighted keys, which feels more like a real piano.
I’m moving to Charlotte. What neighborhoods should we look at?
First of all, congratulation on your move! We love Charlotte so much and you will too!
To be honest, I don't know where you should live! Charlotte is an extremely diverse city in terms of areas and neighborhoods. There are literally hundreds of neighborhood options that each offer different things -- bustling and walkable (Uptown), eclectic and artsy (NoDa), waterfront (Lake Norman), mountain views (Gastonia), quirky & lively (Plaza Midwood), historical and charming (Dilworth, Elizabeth), suburban life (Ballantyne, Huntersville, Matthews), lively and youthful (South End), small town feel (Waxhaw, Davidson, Belmont) -- just to name a FEW!
My recommendation would be to make a list of what's important to you -- commute length, safety, schools, neighborhood vibe, convenience, ROI, etc. Then provide your budget and requirements to a real estate agent to help match you with neighborhood(s) and home(s) that are the best fit for you!
*Note: I do not have a real estate agent recommendation but promise you will find TONS of options (many of which specialize in certain areas of Charlotte) with a quick google search!
Where are Thomas’s Glasses From?
Thomas has two pairs of eye glasses. Since he was 3 years old, he has worn Dilli Dalli glasses. The style is Tutti Frutti in color navy! These flexible glasses were recommended by his eye doctor and have been indestructible.We have never broken a pair of these, but have replaced the lenses at least annually. I also love that these glasses feature an adjustable nylon strap to help keep them securely on Thomas's face while he's tumbling around on the playground. They are comfortable and he loves them and gets so many compliments on them.
The second pair of glasses Thomas owns are from Jonas Paul Eyewear. I absolutely love the the mission and story behind JPE and can relate on so many levels. We ordered the home try-on kit to test out a bunch of different frames and had a hard time narrowing down our favorite, but ultimately picked The Paul Striped Maple frames. And we love them! Thomas wears these glasses on the weekends.
