tag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:/blogs/busy-bee?p=1Busy Bee 2024-03-15T15:00:00-05:00Peyton Naomi Leonardfalsetag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/73674942024-03-15T15:00:00-05:002024-03-15T15:00:02-05:002024 So Far...<p>Hey there, friend!</p><p>Long time no chat! I've been a bit MIA lately, but I promise it's for good reason. Life's been throwing some pretty big curveballs my way, but like my dad always says, you either <i>go</i> through challenges or <i>grow</i> through them, ya know?</p><p>So, let me catch you up on what's been happening in my world since January. First off, some amazing news – Rob finished his chemotherapy treatments and is back to his old self, kicking butt at work like the champ he is! I couldn't be more proud of him for persevering through these difficult months of treatment.</p><p>And remember that Kickstarter campaign I launched to jumpstart my business? Well, guess what? It was a smashing success! Huge shoutout to all you wonderful folks who pledged your support – I couldn't have done it without you!</p><p>Oh, and speaking of big milestones, I finally got my Sole Proprietorship for my business, Peyton N. Leonard! It's a huge step toward pursuing my dreams, and I couldn't be more excited about what the future holds.</p><p>But wait, there's more – drumroll, please! This year, I've already earned more from Twitch than I did in the entire year of 2023. Can you believe it? It's been an absolute whirlwind, and I'm so grateful for every single one of my amazing followers who's been there cheering me on.</p><p>Speaking of followers, we hit a major milestone recently – over 500 followers on <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.twitch.tv/Peytona432" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Twitch</a>! Can I get a round of applause? You guys are seriously the best.</p><p>Oh, and before I forget, we also celebrated a very special occasion – Rob's 30th birthday! It was a day filled with love, laughter, and maybe one too many donuts, but hey, you only turn 30 once, right?</p><p>So yeah, life's been pretty good lately. Of course, I'm still trying to figure out where exactly I fit into God's grand plan for my life, especially when it comes to my career and all that. But hey, I'm taking it one day at a time and trusting that everything will fall into place exactly as it's meant to.</p><p>But enough about me – how about you? How's life treating you? I'd love to catch up and hear all about what's been going on in your world. And hey, if you've got any prayer requests or anything you want to chat about, you know I'm always here for you.</p><p>Thanks again for being such an awesome friend and a valued member of our little community. You rock!</p><p>Here's to more adventures, more victories, and more good times ahead. Cheers to us!</p><p>Much Love,</p><p>Peyton <3</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/71794772023-03-27T18:53:38-05:002023-12-05T07:47:52-06:002023: A Year of Adventure, Love, and Creative Pursuits<p>Hi friends!</p><p>This year has been nothing short of amazing for me. In February, my boyfriend and I got engaged and we're now planning a summer wedding (YAY!!!). On top of that, I'm thrilled to announce that my upcoming sci-fi novel, "The Mutates: The Creation," is set to be released this year as well (God willing!).</p><p>But the excitement doesn't stop there! I'm also considering going full-time as a musician, author, and content creator. It's a big leap, but I'm eager to pursue my passions and see where they take me.</p><p>As I reflect on these adventures and new beginnings, I'm reminded of the importance of following our dreams and taking risks. Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, but with determination, passion, and a little bit of luck, we can create a future that is full of joy and fulfillment.</p><p>So here's to a year of adventure, love, and creative pursuits. Let's make the most of every moment and embrace the journey ahead!💍🎶📚 #newbeginnings #sci-fibooks #musiccareer</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/70005022022-06-23T19:23:52-05:002022-06-23T19:24:05-05:00My Journey Through 2021 and 2022<p><span class="font_xl">Hey guys....</span></p>
<p>Been a long, long, loooooong time. I know. I'm sorry for not being consistent. </p>
<p><span class="font_large">A lot has happened... I mean a lot.</span></p>
<ol> <li>I released <a contents='"To Lyme, From Us"' data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://open.spotify.com/track/1Dl4PZmqeelkN6sRdqJqHB?si=ae89d9bfe7a545b0" target="_blank">"To Lyme, From Us"</a> May 2021</li> <li>Got a new job as an Outreach Writer for an insurance company</li> <li>Dealt with a hefty amount of health issues</li> <li>Learned SO MUCH about God's timing</li> <li>Still not engaged</li> <li>Still not married</li> <li>Celebrated my Golden birthday this year!</li> <li>Left my job as an outreach writer and accepted a position as a Technical Writer</li> <li>Moved to Springfield, IL</li> <li>Went back to school. (Yeah, that's right. This girl is a student... again.)</li> <li>Plan on releasing an original called "Repentance"</li> <li>Hope to get <em>The Mutates </em>published soon or at least represented by an agent. (Pray for me!)</li>
</ol>
<p>I know that's a mouthful of stuff that's happened.</p>
<p>I just wanted to let you know that I'm still alive and kicking. I haven't given up on my dreams and neither should you. Pursue your passions. A lot of times God places these things in our lives for us to discover our purpose in Him. </p>
<p>I'm revamping my sci-fi novel campaign again. This is fr fr this time, I promise.</p>
<p>I hope you enjoy my story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Stay tuned for more!</p>
<p>Cheers,</p>
<p>Peyton <3 </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/65482692021-02-19T14:21:54-06:002022-06-23T17:17:33-05:00The 5 Things You Need to Start Recording Music<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/45e7c4548c7ceaee5cb9c9e2f13a2acae27fc1b8/original/recording.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Hey, friend! TGIF! Need help recording music? You're going to need these 5 things. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>1. Instrument of choice </strong>- Whether that's your voice, guitar, or piano, you're going to need these things to record. </p>
<p><strong>2. Microphone </strong>- I highly recommend the <a contents="Blackout Spark SL" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Blackout-Condenser-Recording-Streaming/dp/B074379C7Q/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=blackout+spark+sl&qid=1613594591&sr=8-5" target="_blank">Blackout Spark SL</a>. It is an AMAZING microphone. Anything made by Blue Yeti is good. </p>
<p><strong>3. Audio interface and Cables </strong>- An audio interface connects your microphone and instrument to your laptop or computer. Cables are important too. Can't use the interface without the proper cables.</p>
<p><strong>4. Laptop or Computer </strong>- You will need either one to use a DAW to record.</p>
<p><strong>5. DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) </strong>- There are tons of them out there. Pro Tools is the one I use. A DAW allows you to record and mix your songs. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Need help figuring out how to get these things? Check out my blog post where I talk about my gear. It's literally called "My Gear."</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Much Love, </p>
<p>Peyton</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/65482682021-02-17T14:37:55-06:002022-06-23T17:17:58-05:00How to Play Piano Without Learning Music Theory<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/1ef83ed6eb6087609fdeb5004ff1ae24757ff830/original/piano-playing3.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Hey, friend! Are you wanting to learn how to play piano, but you're having trouble with reading music? No worries! Here are some tips on how to play piano without learning music theory.</p>
<p> </p>
<ul> <li>
<strong>Listen to the song you want to play and match the sounds up.</strong> For example, I taught myself how to play "He's A Pirate" from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" soundtrack. I listened to each note and lined it up on the piano by listening for the same sound. This takes some time, but it's a sure fire way of learning how to play without reading music.</li> <li>
<strong>Search on YouTube for piano players and watch how they play.</strong> Watch their hands and where each finger is landing on the keys. Imitate their movements. I watched someone play "Turning Page" by Sleeping At Last and was able to imitate them and learn the song without any sheet music.</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>Which tip was the most helpful? Post in the comments!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Much Love, </p>
<p>Peyton</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/65482672021-02-16T18:00:00-06:002022-06-23T19:00:51-05:00The Top 10 Careers in the Music Business<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/25f7660b4b9fe11b8d15a8b399544f97de430a5c/original/music.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Hey, friend! Are you struggling trying to find out what career in music business you want? I found this great article from Berklee on the top 10 careers in the music business. I'm going to listen them below. Hope this helps!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>1. Music Producer</b></p>
<p><b>2. Recording Engineer</b></p>
<p><b>3. Session Musician</b></p>
<p><b>4. Artist Manager</b></p>
<p><b>5. Tour Manager</b></p>
<p><b>6. Music Teacher</b></p>
<p><b>7. Booking Agent</b></p>
<p><b>8. Music Publicist</b></p>
<p><b>9. Composer</b></p>
<p><b>10. Music Arranger</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p>If you'd like to dive deeper into these careers, check out the <a contents="article" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://online.berklee.edu/takenote/top-10-careers-in-the-music-business-and-how-much-money-you-can-make/" target="_blank">article</a> from Berklee. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Much Love, </p>
<p>Peyton</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/65482602021-02-15T14:20:09-06:002022-06-23T17:18:43-05:004 Things to Remember When Your Passion for Music Wanes<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/72972deb52eb4d3e8f120380da625aeeafd4e2f9/original/fuel-your-passion.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Hey, friend! I know sometimes it can be hard to keep the love for music alive, but I wanted to encourage you with these 4 things that you should remember. I hope this helps you. </p>
<p><strong>1. Music is a communal activity </strong>- Don't get me wrong. Music can be a private affair, but overall, it's meant to be shared by everyone. Music is the universal language of people - kind of like love, but not as deep.</p>
<p><strong>2. Music can be healing </strong>- Maybe the reason why your passion for music is waning is because you're not allowing yourself to write or perform music that hits a pain point in your heart. Allow music to heal you. Go there with it. Allow yourself to feel.</p>
<p><strong>3. Music is not just a tool, but a way to promote self-expression and creativity </strong>- Kind of like the statement above, allow music to not only heal, but give you permission to be yourself. Remove the walls and masks. Just allow yourself to be seen by God and others.</p>
<p><strong>4. Music is a lifelong journey </strong>- Especially concerning your music career, this is a critical truth to embrace. You won't become successful overnight (If you do, I want to know how you did it. Lol). All things take time, so enjoy the journey. The destination will come. </p>
<p>I really hope this helps. Comment below which statement resonated with you.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Much Love, </p>
<p>Peyton</p>
<p> </p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/65482582021-02-15T00:00:00-06:002022-06-23T19:01:33-05:00How to Sing High Notes Like a Boss<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/9150ea7a282c251519206e312fee619e040c33a5/original/singing-high-notes.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Hey, friend! Ever wondered how you can sing high notes effortlessly? I have some tips on how to sing high notes and sing them like a boss. First things first, however: If you are not a soprano, do NOT try to sing outside of your range. You will jack up your vocal chords. Okay? Okay. Let's get started.</p>
<p>The first way to sing high notes like a boss is to not even see them as "high notes." They're just notes. All you're doing is singing them. You're not reaching up to get them. They're just the same as singing low notes.</p>
<p>Another way is to think of coming to a high note from above, not below. For instance, say you were trying to hit the final note in "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" from "Phantom of the Opera." Imagine coming up on that note as if you're a puppet on a string. Imagine the note coming from the very top of your head and up into the atmosphere. </p>
<p>The final way to sing high notes like a boss is to make sure you have space in your mouth as you sing them. Literally open your mouth and arch the roof of it. That creates a cavern in your mouth for the sound to travel. </p>
<p>I hope this all makes sense. Comment below if this was helpful. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Much Love, </p>
<p>Peyton</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/65415702021-02-12T14:00:00-06:002022-06-23T19:03:40-05:005 Things Only Musicians Would Understand<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/3681e67f7084a1f3b208f1af8e8cd39caebe97ea/original/5-things-only-musicians-would-understand.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Hey, friend! TGIF!! Today, I wanted to do something fun and light, so I'm going to be talking about five things that only musicians would understand.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Musicians understand...</strong></p>
<ul> <li><strong>Spending long nights working on music</strong></li> <li><strong>Hearing a word or phrase that instantly reminds you of a song... and you're soooo tempted to sing it</strong></li> <li><strong>Noticing after a song ends and another begins that they're both in the same key (Am I alone in this?)</strong></li> <li><strong>Avoiding dairy and soda before a performance (For my singers in the house)</strong></li> <li><b>Losing track of time while playing your instrument (This happens a lot for me)</b></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>Could you relate to any of these? I sure could. Post in the comments what other things are out there that only musicians would understand!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Much Love,</p>
<p>Peyton </p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/65415362021-02-11T07:00:00-06:002022-06-23T19:02:42-05:00How to Be a Confident and Successful Musician<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/e3d080cd770c4b7994793520a7b2e0ca4ada7fb3/original/4-simple-and-powerful-ways-to-build-your-team-s-confidence-and-rule-the-world.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Hey, friend! Today, I'm going to talk about how to become a confident and successful musician. Okay, let's get started.</p>
<p>Becoming a confident and successful musician starts with your mindset.<strong> Mindset is basically what you believe about yourself, others, and the world.</strong> When you have a good mindset, you're able to see the good in all three categories. The opposite is true when you have a bad mindset. You see yourself, others, and the world in a negative light. It's important to reflect and assess what kind of mindset that you have. This will ultimately determine how confident and successful you are as a musician.</p>
<p>It's important to remember this when you are striving to be a confident and successful musician: <strong>This is a journey or a process.</strong> Becoming successful and confident in any profession requires hard work and perseverance. Overnight successes happen to only a small percentage of people. The rest of us have to run the race with dedication and endurance. Life is a process. Things take time. We can't always have instant gratification. Sometimes we're called to be longsuffering. Trust me. The reward is totally worth the wait.</p>
<p>Was this helpful? Comment below your thoughts!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Much Love,</p>
<p>Peyton</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/65415182021-02-10T14:00:00-06:002022-06-23T19:03:26-05:007 Ways to Inspire Yourself to Write Music<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/c83db9591dbc52eecb094ad1a288267ea15f82ea/original/songwriting-songtown.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Hey, friend! This blog post is kind of like a companion post to my previous one about getting unstuck when it comes to songwriting. I'm going to talk about 7 ways you can inspire yourself to write songs and/or music. Ready? Let's do it!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>1. Remove clutter from your workspace - </strong>Research states decluttering improves focus, increases productivity, and helps the brain process information better. I'm preaching to myself and to you. Straighten up a bit and you'll be surprised with how much easier it is to think.</p>
<p><strong>2. Take a walk - </strong>When I'm out in nature or out in the world, I find inspiration to write music. God's creation is so moving. Don't feel like you have to stay in the four walls of your house in order to write music. Enjoy the world around you and see what God plants in your heart.</p>
<p><strong>3. Meditation - </strong>I talked about this in the songwriting blog post. Seriously, it works. I encourage you to listen to some alpha wave music while you meditate and allow your subconscious to speak to you. You'll be surprised by what your brain conjures up.</p>
<p><strong>4. Take a nap -</strong> When you're getting enough rest, it's easier for your brain to think. Make sure you're practicing self-care and take a nap if necessary. Your brain and your body will thank you. And it will give you the bandwidth to think creatively.</p>
<p><strong>5. Listen to music in your genre - </strong>DISCLAIMER: As I said before in the songwriting blog post, I am NOT encouraging you to steal someone's art. It's not cool, but let what others have done inspire you.</p>
<p><strong>6. Research - </strong>Look up what other successful musicians in your genre have done to get inspired. Follow their lead. No need to reinvent the wheel.</p>
<p><strong>7. Doodle - </strong>Basically, just write and play whatever. Try different chord progressions. See what comes up. You might find a secret chord. (Comment below if you get that reference. Lol.)</p>
<p> </p>
<p>What suggestion stood out to you? Which one can you try when you lack inspiration? Comment below!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Much Love,</p>
<p>Peyton</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/65415122021-02-09T14:00:00-06:002022-06-23T19:04:03-05:0010 Quotes from Successful Musicians That Will Inspire You to Take Action<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/ee786debd04430c85a5bfb223de1ed04bff31951/original/musicians.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Hey, friend! I know that pursuing a music career can be a challenge, so I wanted to encourage you with some quotes from some successful musicians. I hope they encourage you not to give up on your dreams!</p>
<ul> <li> <p><strong>“Music is powerful. As people listen to it, they can be affected. They respond.” - Ray Charles</strong></p> </li> <li> <p><strong>“You have to, take a deep breath. and allow the music to flow through you. Revel in it, allow yourself to awe. When you play allow the music to break your heart with its beauty.” - Kelly White</strong></p> </li> <li> <p><strong>“Wake up, live your life and sing the melody of your soul.” - Amit Ray</strong></p> </li> <li> <p><strong>“Works of art make rules; rules do not make works of art.” - Claude Debussy</strong></p> </li> <li> <p><strong>“Some days there won’t be a song in your heart. Sing anyway.” - Emory Austin</strong></p> </li> <li><strong>"Musicians don't retire; they stop when there's no more music in them." - Louis Armstrong</strong></li> <li><strong>"Music can change the world." - Ludwig van Beethoven </strong></li> <li><strong>"The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between." - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart</strong></li> <li><strong>"I don’t make music for eyes, I make music for ears." - Adele</strong></li> <li><strong>"There are always going to be bad things. But you can write it down and make a song out of it." - Billie Ellish</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>What quote resonated with you the most? Post in the comments below!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Much Love,</p>
<p>Peyton</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/65414542021-02-08T14:00:00-06:002022-06-23T19:04:33-05:00How to Warm Up Your Voice in 5 Minutes or Less<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/51b270c9cdf800fe37e00225ac6a31f5909fd625/original/singing2.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Hey, friend! Warming up is such an important aspect to singing. It could be damaging to your voice if you don't do it. Here are some easy ways you can warm up in five minutes or less. Let's get into it.</p>
<p><strong>1. Jump around and get your heart racing </strong>- No lie. This is a great way to warm up and wake up your voice. Your vocal chords are a muscle. When you get the heart racing and blood pumping, it helps loosen up your vocal muscles. </p>
<p><strong>2. Drink some tea or a warm beverage - </strong>The warmth from the tea or hot beverage helps loosen your vocal muscles as well. (Pro Tip: While working out your voice, drink room temperature water. Helps keep the muscles loose and limber.) </p>
<p><strong>3. Lip trills - </strong>Basically, lip trills help with breath control and are easier on your vocal muscles than just singing ooohs or aaaahs. You can go up and down a scale or just make a joyful trill, going as high as you can and then as low as you can. </p>
<p>What technique have you found helpful when it comes to warming your voice? Comment below!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Much love,</p>
<p>Peyton</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/65363392021-02-05T14:00:00-06:002022-06-23T19:05:01-05:00Feeling Stuck When It Comes to Songwriting? Here’s How to Fix That<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/28eac143c7582c870ccc451d85423ed802b55f6b/original/stuck.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Hey, friend! TGIF, am I right? I'm so looking forward to the weekend. It's been a busy week. How was yours? Post in the comments one word that describes your week. I don't know about you, but I've been struggling with songwriting as of late. I started writing music when I was 10. I'm now 26. I've written dozens of songs, but I feel like I'm losing steam nowadays. Can you relate? In this blog post, let's take a look at some ideas to help with getting unstuck with songwriting. </p>
<p>I think one of the best ways to get unstuck is to listen to other people's music. DISCLAIMER: I am NOT encouraging you to steal someone's art. I am encouraging you to listen to other styles of music in order to get inspiration. I know when I listen to some of my favorite artists like Lauren Daigle or Paramore, I hear things I normally wouldn’t have if I was just trying to conjure up my own chord progression or rhythms. Again, DO NOT steal someone’s work. It’s not cool. </p>
<p>Another way to get unstuck is to meditate. Meditation is a good way to empty your mind from all distractions and focus entirely on songwriting. There are so many things vying for our attention nowadays that it makes it difficult to focus on our craft. I recommend taking some deep breaths and center yourself by focusing on the sensations you feel. Feel the clothes on your back, feel the air going in and out of your lungs, etc. It’s really helpful. Post in the comments if meditation is something that helps you too. </p>
<p>This last one might be the best way to get unstuck: Write every day. I know for me this is a hard one because I’m such a perfectionist. I want all my songs to make sense and sound nice, but let’s be real, that’s not going to happen. I’m talking to you and me at the same time. Write daily, even if it’s garbage. Hans Zimmer, one of my favorite composers of all time, writes every day. He’s a very successful musician and he still writes daily. If he does it, then shouldn’t we? Just a thought.</p>
<p>I hope you found this blog post to be helpful. Post in the comments a takeaway.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Much Love, </p>
<p>Peyton</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/65363382021-02-04T14:00:00-06:002022-06-23T19:05:22-05:00Why Forcing Yourself to Practice Every Day Is the Best Way to Grow Yourself Musically<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/88b07f28ff72bee82356c32be0fe4d491cefe3d7/original/piano-playing2.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Hey, friend! Today, I want to talk about why it's so important to practice every day. It might seem very redundant and repetitive, but it's an important aspect of your music career. It's like building a house. Practicing and honing your craft is the foundation of your music career house. Everything else is built upon that. Below are some benefits of practicing daily.</p>
<ul> <li>
<b>Growth - </b>This may seem like an obvious benefit, but it's true. When you practice daily, you grow as a musician. Your voice gets stronger, your fingers move faster along your instrument of choice, etc. It's so important to keep growing. Stagnancy is a career-killer.</li> <li>
<strong>Flow - </strong>Have you ever started playing or singing and you find that a significant amount of time has passed without you realizing it? That's flow. You're fully engaged in practicing and immersed in your craft. It's a beautiful experience.</li> <li>
<strong>Endorphins - </strong>When you sing or play your instrument, you're releasing endorphins, which brings about the sensation of pleasure. It's like working out. It may feel painful in the beginning but ultimately, you feel better afterwards. I don't know about you, but I love endorphins. It's a very rewarding sensation.</li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>Practicing can feel like a drag at first, but it has some pretty awesome benefits. In what ways can you start practicing today? Post in the comments!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Much Love, </p>
<p>Peyton</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/65363002021-02-03T14:00:00-06:002022-06-23T19:05:57-05:00Warning! Doing These 4 Things Could Be Ruining Your Music Career<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/1a94180cde06d8b82304fa383bcfe142bd965c56/original/warning.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Hey, friend! Some habits can be defined as effective and some can be defined as ineffective. If you're doing either of these 4 ineffective habits, you could be ruining your music career. Yikes! Let's get right to it. <strong> </strong></p>
<ul> <li>
<strong>Smoking or Vaping</strong> - This is a BIG no-no if you're a singer. You are literally altering your vocal chords - and not in a good way. Please refrain from smoking cigarettes, cigars, pot, and whatever else is out there to smoke. You are killing your voice and ultimately, your career as a singer.</li> <li>
<strong>Laziness/Lack of Discipline - </strong>It's important to be disciplined with your time, your money, and your craft. Laziness kills any dream. (Pro Tip: Make your habits attractive and give yourself rewards in order to grow in discipline.) </li> <li>
<strong>Comparing Your Music Journey to Others - </strong>Everyone's journey is different. We can't all be overnight successes. Things take time, effort, and as mentioned before, discipline. Your time will come when it comes. Comparing only makes you jealous and discontented with your journey. You could very easily quit. Please don't quit.</li> <li>
<strong>Complaining - </strong>When you're not grateful, you are literally getting yourself into "stinking thinking." Negativity can also kill a dream. Complaining doesn't help you grow. As my dad always said, "You either get bitter or better." Choose better. Be grateful. (Pro Tip: Get a journal and record what you're grateful for everyday.)</li>
</ul>
<p>Do you find yourself struggling with any of these things? Comment below. I know the struggle is real. Things happen, but please, please don't make these things a part of your daily routine. You will NOT make it in the music business if you continue these things. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Much Love, </p>
<p>Peyton</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/65359402021-02-02T14:00:00-06:002022-06-23T19:06:33-05:003 Amazing Tips If You're Just Starting Your Music Career... And You're Broke<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/d5aa45de65550ef37c0b7f093db5bf47c4a4adcc/original/broke.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Hey, friend! So, you want to start your career as a musician. You have the passion, the talent, and the resiliency to pursue your dreams. There's just one problem. <strong>You're broke. </strong>I get it. It's rough in these streets. But never fear! Peyton is here! And I have 3 great ways of starting out as a musician that cost little to no money. </p>
<p><strong>1. Research</strong></p>
<p>This first one is crucial. Not doing it is like getting in your car and driving without a GPS when you know you have no idea where you're going. Research those that have gone before you and are successful musicians. See how they got started, learn from their mistakes, and plan accordingly. Find resources - like this article - for musicians that are just starting out and see what the common denominator is. </p>
<p><strong>2. Online Networking</strong></p>
<p>Introverts might be hissing and cringing at this suggestion while the extroverts rejoice, but this is a great thing to do even when you're an established artist. Build those connections. Find other likeminded artists and see how you can help each other succeed. As cliché as it is, teamwork makes the dream work, right? We all have strengths and weaknesses. Those that we meet online or in-person (when the pandemic ends) can make up for what you lack. </p>
<p><strong>3. Livestreaming</strong></p>
<p><a contents="Facebook Live" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.facebook.com" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a contents="Twitch" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.twitch.tv" target="_blank">Twitch</a>, <a contents="Periscope" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.twitter.com" target="_blank">Periscope</a>, <a contents="Instagram Live" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, and <a contents="YouTube Live" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.youtube.com" target="_blank">YouTube</a> are all great platforms to showcase your talent and skills. And they're all FREE! All you've got to do is have an account. (Out of all these, Twitch is my favorite for livestreaming, but that's just me.) Livestreaming is such a great way to put your name out there and start building a following. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Which of these steps seem like they might help you? Comment below! </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Much Love,</p>
<p>Peyton</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/65359212021-02-01T14:00:00-06:002022-06-23T19:07:05-05:00How to Know if a Music Career is Right For You<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/cbbf50b915a724e807a12c1c5de5ed4a87f0760b/original/career.jpeg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Hey, friend! Do you feel lost as to whether or not to pursue a music career? How do you know if it's for you? I have 3 easy ways to figure that out. </p>
<p><strong>1. You can't stop talking about music</strong></p>
<p>Music is your passion. If you had to talk about one topic for the rest of your life, it would be music. You can't get enough of it. You love sharing with your friends and family new music that you've listened to, played, or wrote. You're obsessed!</p>
<p><strong>2.</strong> <strong>People stop and stare when you play or sing</strong></p>
<p>You give people a transformational experience - big or small - when you're playing or singing. People love to hear you in your element. They can't get enough of your musical skills. Maybe you even bring people to tears. Whatever you do, people want more.</p>
<p><strong>3. You don't know when to quit</strong></p>
<p>This might be the biggest way to determine whether or not a music career is right for you. A career in this field is not for the faint of heart. You need moxie, chutzpah, and a resiliency towards rejection. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>If you got a terrible gut feeling when reading these 3 ways, then a music career might not be in God's plan for you. And that's okay! Don't beat yourself up. There are tons of other careers out there. If you got excited and yelled, "These are all me!" in your heart or maybe even out loud, then a music career is where you should head. Go for it! Pursue your dreams! Don't let anything diminish your flames.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Keep pursuing your dreams!</p>
<p>Love,</p>
<p>Peyton</p>
<p> </p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/64950032020-12-08T22:40:05-06:002020-12-08T22:44:03-06:00My Gear<p>Hello, friends! I've been wanting to do this since forever. Here's my gear that I use for my streams and such!</p>
<p>DISCLAIMER: I didn't buy this equipment all at once and some of this equipment was given to me for my birthday and Christmas. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><a contents="Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920, Widescreen Video Calling and Recording, 1080p Camera, Desktop or Laptop Webcam" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006JH8T3S?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details" target="_blank">Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920, Widescreen Video Calling and Recording, 1080p Camera, Desktop or Laptop Webcam</a></p>
<p><a contents="Ring Light 10 Inches - Gemwon O Ring Lights with Phone Holder, 3 Dimmable Color 10 Brightness Levels, LED Lighting for Phone/Streaming/YouTube Video/Photography/Makeup" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JN2HC3T/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Ring Light 10 Inches - Gemwon O Ring Lights with Phone Holder, 3 Dimmable Color 10 Brightness Levels, LED Lighting for Phone/Streaming/YouTube Video/Photography/Makeup</a></p>
<p><a contents='Neewer 75"/6 Feet/190CM Photography Light Stands for Relfectors, Softboxes, Lights, Umbrellas, Backgrounds' data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K69A0QY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Neewer 75"/6 Feet/190CM Photography Light Stands for Relfectors, Softboxes, Lights, Umbrellas, Backgrounds</a></p>
<p><a contents="Tascam TH-02 Closed Back Studio Headphones, Black" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B1N06PO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Tascam TH-02 Closed Back Studio Headphones, Black</a></p>
<p><a contents="Lightweight Mini Webcam Tripod for Smartphone, Logitech Webcam C920 C922 Small Camera Desk Tripod Mount Cell Phone Holder Table Stand (Black)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076SHC6RN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Lightweight Mini Webcam Tripod for Smartphone, Logitech Webcam C920 C922 Small Camera Desk Tripod Mount Cell Phone Holder Table Stand (Black)</a></p>
<p><a contents="USB MIDI Cable Interface, Upgrade Professional MIDI to USB IN-OUT Cable Converter For PC/Mac/Laptop 2M(6.5FT) (BLACK)(PLS STEP WITH RIGHT WAY)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BFV7Z48/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">USB MIDI Cable Interface, Upgrade Professional MIDI to USB IN-OUT Cable Converter For PC/Mac/Laptop 2M(6.5FT) (BLACK)(PLS STEP WITH RIGHT WAY)</a></p>
<p><a contents="Sabrent 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub with Individual LED Power Switches | 2 Ft Cable | Slim & Portable | for Mac & PC (HB-UM43)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JX1ZS5O/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Sabrent 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub with Individual LED Power Switches | 2 Ft Cable | Slim & Portable | for Mac & PC (HB-UM43)</a></p>
<p><a contents="Blue Spark Blackout SL XLR Condenser Mic for Pro Recording and Streaming (137)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074379C7Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Blue Spark Blackout SL XLR Condenser Mic for Pro Recording and Streaming (137)</a></p>
<p><a contents="EJT Upgraded Microphone Pop Filter Mask Shield for Blue Yeti and Other Mic, 6 Inch Dual Layered Pop Wind Screen with Enhanced Flexible 360°Gooseneck Clip Stabilization Arm" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QLYKVQR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">EJT Upgraded Microphone Pop Filter Mask Shield for Blue Yeti and Other Mic, 6 Inch Dual Layered Pop Wind Screen with Enhanced Flexible 360°Gooseneck Clip Stabilization Arm</a></p>
<p><a contents="Crucial RAM 16GB DDR4 2400 MHz CL17 Laptop Memory CT16G4SFD824A" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019FRBHZ0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Crucial RAM 16GB DDR4 2400 MHz CL17 Laptop Memory CT16G4SFD824A</a></p>
<p><a contents="BestOffice PC Gaming Chair Ergonomic Office Chair Desk Chair with Lumbar Support Flip Up Arms Headrest PU Leather Executive High Back Computer Chair for Adults Women Men, Black and White" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ICHJIM8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">BestOffice PC Gaming Chair Ergonomic Office Chair Desk Chair with Lumbar Support Flip Up Arms Headrest PU Leather Executive High Back Computer Chair for Adults Women Men, Black and White</a></p>
<p><a contents='Alphasonik 15" Powered 2800W PRO DJ Amplified Loud Speaker Bluetooth USB SD Card AUX MP3 FM Radio PA System LED Ring Karaoke Feature Mic (Main Monitor, Band, Church, Party, Guitar Amp) w/ Tripod Stand' data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/Alphasonik-Powered-Amplified-Speaker-Bluetooth/dp/B01BZ4PUS6/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2OLRAXMD49XIO&dchild=1&keywords=alphasonik+speaker&qid=1607487812&sprefix=alphasoni%2Cgarden%2C272&sr=8-3" target="_blank">Alphasonik 15" Powered 2800W PRO DJ Amplified Loud Speaker Bluetooth USB SD Card AUX MP3 FM Radio PA System LED Ring Karaoke Feature Mic (Main Monitor, Band, Church, Party, Guitar Amp) w/ Tripod Stand</a></p>
<p><a contents="Kasonic Microphone Stand, Heavy Duty Adjustable Collapsible Tripod Boom Mic Stands with 2 Mic Clip Holders for Performance, Karaoke Singing, Speech, Wedding, Stage and Outdoor Activity - Black" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/Microphone-Adjustable-Collapsible-Performance-Activity/dp/B07WLWSY52/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=mic+stand+tripod&qid=1607488104&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-8" target="_blank">Kasonic Microphone Stand, Heavy Duty Adjustable Collapsible Tripod Boom Mic Stands with 2 Mic Clip Holders for Performance, Karaoke Singing, Speech, Wedding, Stage and Outdoor Activity - Black</a></p>
<p><a contents="Cable Matters 2-Pack 1/4 Inch TS to TS Electric Guitar Cable (1/4 Cable) 6 Feet" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-2-Pack-Straight-Instrument/dp/B073RMQKYG/ref=sr_1_14_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=hosa+guitar+cable+5ft&qid=1607488425&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-14-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzVE85QUcxRUw3TUZCJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDg1MTYzMkYwVFM2UDBYNE1COSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzY3MTE2MjE1SFFHNkdDVERMMyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX210ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=" target="_blank">Cable Matters 2-Pack 1/4 Inch TS to TS Electric Guitar Cable (1/4 Cable) 6 Feet</a> (***Not exactly the one I have but it's close***)</p>
<p><a contents="Behringer U-PHORIA UMC202HD, 2-Channel" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-U-PHORIA-UMC202HD-U-Phoria/dp/B00SAV0VP0/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3VR41QEDOOW8F&dchild=1&keywords=umc202hd+behringer+interface&qid=1607488546&s=musical-instruments&sprefix=umc202%2Cmi%2C198&sr=1-2" target="_blank">Behringer U-PHORIA UMC202HD, 2-Channel</a></p>
<p><a contents="Yamaha P-45 Digital Piano - Black Bundle with Adjustable Stand, Bench, Instructional Book, Austin Bazaar Instructional DVD, Online Lessons, and Polishing Cloth" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-P-45-Digital-Piano-Instructional/dp/B00UOEBTO8/ref=sr_1_3_sspa?crid=17J7Z0X86DJNP&dchild=1&keywords=yamaha+digital+piano+88+key+weighted&qid=1607488970&sprefix=yamaha+digital+piano+88%2Caps%2C212&sr=8-3-spons&psc=1&smid=A3C1OYEM4FMOSU&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExRFBUWktWUE9VMkVKJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTE4MzI3NEE2SDhPRlVQUERaJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA5MTI1NDgxUVNFU1A4SEY3SFgwJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==" target="_blank">Yamaha P-45 Digital Piano - Black Bundle with Adjustable Stand, Bench, Instructional Book, Austin Bazaar Instructional DVD, Online Lessons, and Polishing Cloth</a> (***Not my exact keyboard, but it's pretty close***)</p>
<p><a contents="Pro Tools" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://shop.avid.com/ccrz__ProductDetails?viewState=DetailView&isCSRFlow=true&sku=DYNA20000&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=protools&utm_term=pro%20tools&Adid=473285380555&Matchtype=e&Addisttype=g&&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5bz-BRD-ARIsABjT4nhJfBaoUiy6du_EkMyfBwvdHG1qDhaTs_fjf9OVIv-H1KKyD_94XDwaAl_SEALw_wcB" target="_blank">Pro Tools</a> (***This is a subscription***)</p>
<p><a contents="OBS Studio" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://obsproject.com/download" target="_blank">OBS Studio</a> (***This is free***)</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>As you can see, a lot goes into what I do. Lol. That's putting it lightly. I hope that even one of these can help you pursue your dreams and passions. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions. Love ya!</p>
<p>~Peyton</p>
<p> </p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/64874362020-11-28T09:39:17-06:002020-11-28T09:39:17-06:00Post Thanksgiving Update<p>Hey, friends! It's Peyton. Hope you're doing well. Life has been so interesting lately I felt I just had to update you all.</p>
<p><strong>1. I'm dating now.</strong> </p>
<p>I just love my boyfriend. He's literally the best. We've been dating for a little over a month now. He's incredibly patient and supportive. I don't know what I'd do without him. He's exactly the kind of guy that I need in my life. Praise God!</p>
<p><strong>2. I'm looking to release some more music.</strong></p>
<p>I have two songs that I'd like to release by the end of the year. I'm so excited to share my music with you all.</p>
<p><strong>3. I still plan on releasing The Mutates: The Creation.</strong></p>
<p>I haven't forgotten about my sci-fi novel. Life has been getting in the way of doing what I want to do, but I'm hopeful that I'll release the book in 2021.</p>
<p><strong>4. I'm looking for a full-time job.</strong></p>
<p>Y'all. Looking for a job can be such a drag. Why is adulting so difficult?? Lol. But yeah, I'm looking for work. If you know anybody looking for an editor, proofreader, assistant, or musician... hit me up. Please. </p>
<p><strong>5. My goal for next year is to FINALLY get my BA in English.</strong></p>
<p>I know, I know. I don't have a BA yet, but I plan on getting it. Life isn't a race after all, right? If it was, I'd be losing big time lolol. Please pray for me. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>How are you all doing? Let me know in the comments. I miss you guys. I'll be streaming tomorrow if you want to come hang out with me.</p>
<p>https://www.twitch.tv/peytona432</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I hope to hear from you! Let me know how I can be praying for you too. <3</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/64186382020-08-29T12:25:00-05:002022-06-23T19:08:04-05:00My Life Lately<p>Hey, friends. Hope you're well. I realize I've been holding out about things that are happening in my life so I wanted to take the time to talk about that in this post. You already know about <em>The Mutates</em> campaign and how I plan on self-publishing on Amazon. I'm so excited about that. I've been working on this book for 10 years now. I can't wait to share it with you guys.</p>
<p>I'm actively pursuing a career in acting. I got some headshots done on Monday. I can't wait to show them to you. It was soooo much fun having my pictures taken. Shout out to Ryan Waneka for his awesome skills!</p>
<p>I'm currently working on the Lyme song. I hope to have that released by the end of this year. We'll see what God does. I have some beautiful things that I'm adding to it. I hope you like it when you hear it. Shout out to Donald Robinson for being such an amazing producer and coach!</p>
<p>Finally - and this is my favorite update of all - I met someone. That's right, folks. This little lady will be off the market very soon. I'm over the moon happy. His name is Rob. I met him on my church's dating website on November 16th. He's so incredible, so gentle, so loving. And, most of all, he's so accepting of me. I love him dearly. We've been building a friendship this past year and it's been such a joy and a honor to know him. He renders me speechless often. He's so amazing. I met him in person at the beginning of August and I feel like that just cemented the direction of our relationship. We're really good together. He's so healthy for me. I compare him to clean air and vegetables. He makes me so happy. He's one of my best friends. I'm going to see him in October. I can hardly wait to see him again. And I'm floored that he feels the same way. He's so refreshing to my soul. </p>
<p>Well. Enough about me. How are you doing? Any prayer requests? Just post in the comments on my Facebook page: Peyton Naomi Leonard or just post in the comments directly on this blog. I love you guys. God bless!</p>
<p><3</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/63115552020-05-10T18:10:26-05:002020-05-11T16:24:17-05:00Reflection<p>Hey, beautiful people. Hope you're well. I have been so swamped with work that I'm falling behind on posting and so many other things. I have to be honest. I've been a little obsessive with work to the point where it's been detrimental to my health. It's addicting to work when you enjoy it. And lately, I've been enjoying it a lot. I've been streaming regularly on Twitch, doing concerts on Saturdays, meeting with my music producer weekly, etc. It's been quite exciting and fun.</p>
<p>But I can feel it weighing heavily on my mind. Having Lyme is hard. Having mental illnesses on top of that is even harder. I have to remember to pace myself and not go on my own strength. I'm such a doer. I love doing things and feeling productive. But at what cost? I'm trying to not make work an idol. It's a challenge though. I notice that I can put my identity on how well I perform. I struggle to believe that I have intrinsic value. </p>
<p>What are some things you've been struggling with? </p>
<p>Even now, I'm tired. But I want to keep working. I'm glad it's Mother's Day. I decided not to stream today because of it. I got to spend quality time with my mom. It was really nice.</p>
<p>I signed up for two courses that I'm anxious to work on. One is Ari's Take Academy and the other is Stream Coach Academy. I'm excited to start them and work hard at them. I think they'll help me grow my brand and help more people hear my music. I'm excited about that. </p>
<p>God has been so good to me. I feel so unworthy. He's been so gracious and generous with His blessings. </p>
<p>How have you seen God bless you lately? I'd love to hear from you. Post in the comments.</p>
<p>I just got my logo and some banners done for my social media profiles. I think they look pretty amazing. I'm very grateful for companies like Fiverr. I'll post them below for you to see them. <br>I feel wired and yet so tired. It was a beautiful Sunday. I hope it was beautiful and encouraging for you too. </p>
<p>Shout out to all the mothers and mother figures out there!</p>
<p>Much love.</p>
<p><3</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/cba7bfc06046a628b5b7ea15e392446d424b0a62/original/logo-jepg-peytona432.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/09e5a4c8adebf72dd881e4adafd9e100f0f5471d/original/twitter-peytona432-2.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/62653832020-03-28T23:49:54-05:002020-05-06T08:53:40-05:00Midnight Musings<p>Hey. Sorry it's been so long since I've said anything. It's been really challenging trying to balance everything. I can't sleep because my mind is racing. I feel inspired all over again, I guess. It feels like it's been a long time since I've felt this motivated. You could say I've had a wake up call. I've realized that my passion for music has been muted. I barely sing anymore or play piano like I used to. I barely compose. Sometimes it feels like I've run out of passion or creativity. I mean, I still listen to music. It's still a part of me, but it feels like I'm losing it. I think there are many factors to why this has happened. There's a lot going on. I think I've been depressed more than usual because of those things. I could use your prayers.</p>
<p>How have you been? I'd love to hear from you. How are you handling this pandemic? What's helped you cope? </p>
<p>Lately, I've been playing and singing again, which is nice. Maybe it's God telling me that I need to pursue music again. I've been so distracted by so many things. I did speak with my producer this evening. It was encouraging and helpful to talk to him. He gave me some great insights and support. He recommended a book on the new music industry and how to navigate through it. I'm learning so much. I feel inspired to work hard for my passions. I've been neglecting my music. I know, I just made an EP, but I haven't really been promoting it like I should. I've been so quiet on my social media. I apologize for that. I'm gonna do my best to be more interactive on the platforms that I'm on. </p>
<p>I'm grateful for your support through all this. Thank you for reading this post. </p>
<p>I think I might have a literary agent. I'm pretty excited about that. I've been trying to get <em>The Mutates: The Creation </em>published for so long. I made some drastic cuts to the story. Maybe I can share what I've done through my website. Would you be interested in taking a look at my book? I'll get your input on that and see what you say.</p>
<p>I'm gonna really work hard to be consistent. I want to share my life with you all. It's just hard when life is painful. I had bronchitis not too long ago. That stunk. Hopefully you're staying healthy and safe. </p>
<p>I'm thinking about doing a live concert every week. Maybe on Saturdays? I'm still thinking it through. We'll see.</p>
<p>I'm excited to see how God will bless my efforts. I really want to get better at being more consistent and less lazy. I think that's my problem. With life being so painful lately, all I want to do is seek out comfort. I can't afford to be comfortable. I have to push myself a little. It's just so hard trying to balance my mental and physical health challenges. Ugh, Lyme is such a killjoy. But I won't give up. I want to share my skills with you. I want to keep growing. </p>
<p>What are some ways that you see God growing you? </p>
<p>If you leave me a comment, I'll be sure to pray for you. Stay strong. Don't let your passions die. Be happy. It's gonna be alright. </p>
<p>Much love.</p>
<p><3</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/58481002019-08-20T11:01:50-05:002019-08-20T11:01:50-05:00A Journey With God<p>Hello, beautiful people, it's Peytona! Happy Tuesday! I have some pretty exciting news: I recorded my EP on Sunday!!! I'm so thrilled. Below are some pictures from my recording session. Thank you for all your support, prayers, and love. I am very grateful. It was a lot of work, but it was awesome and fun. "I Say Yes" was a trouble child though. It was frustrating trying to get the piano part down, but I made it work - praise God! I give all the glory to Him.</p>
<p>Also, it was my spiritual birthday August 5th!!! I turned 9 in the Lord. I am very grateful for another year with Jesus. He's so amazing. I wouldn't be recording this EP without Him. </p>
<p>In the pictures, the man sitting next to me is my amazing music producer, Donald Robinson. He was so patient and supportive of me. Google him and check out his discography. He's legit! </p>
<p>I'll write again some time soon. Love you much!</p>
<p>Smooches! <3<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/613f914696fa3b9572ef481ffad2bd6ff006dbc4/original/peyton-leonard6.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/b4a5b6f4e983980361e5d542d31aca96e948261b/original/peyton-leonard2.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/ee76f168d95f8fa362bd8611405b2bade0873a01/original/peyton-leonard3.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/a345624cb53a69182007f927c77b70131ca903cc/original/peyton-leonard4.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/302191/c1de82afff3d650b5dff3850b3f5f3979aa7f08f/original/peyton-leonard5.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/58301842019-07-19T17:08:24-05:002019-07-19T17:08:24-05:00Elisabeth<p>Hello, beautiful people, it's Peytona! Sorry again for not writing consistently. It's been busy. I hope you're doing well. I've been okay. I'm trying to grow in self-acceptance and trust in myself. It can be a struggle at times, but I think I'm seeing good results.</p>
<p>I wanted to introduce you to my new laptop, Elisabeth! I bought her on Monday. I love her a bunch. She's a HP with Windows 10 and touchscreen capabilities. I feel so blessed that I make enough to save up for a laptop. I really needed a new one.</p>
<p>What's new with you? Post in the comments. I'd love to hear from you.</p>
<p>TouchPoint finally got back to me. They wanted me to fix a few issues in The Mutates: The Creation. I fixed it and sent it back to them so now I'm waiting all over again. They didn't say no, which was encouraging. I'm hoping that this time around that they'll give me a contract. Please pray for me. </p>
<p>My fundraiser went well. It ended July 12th. I managed to raise $620. I'm grateful to all those that donated. I've been going back and forth with my producer over when I should go to Philly to record my EP. We finally picked a date today! I'll be recording the weekend of the 17th of August. This is really happening, you guys. I'm so excited! I'm not gonna lie. I feel a tad nervous. I've never done this before. Pray for me.</p>
<p>Lyrically Lyme - my show - is going well. I just had an amazing interview with Lisa Mattasa. She's a famous country singer. We had a lot in common, which was really cool. My radio producer has some paid opportunities for me so I'm working for him now. It's been a busy few days, but I'm enjoying myself. </p>
<p>All in all I feel encouraged by God. I hope and pray that you are and will be encouraged by Him too. I love you guys. </p>
<p>I'll try to be consistent with blogging, but I make no promises. I've been going nonstop so it's been hard to sit and reflect enough to write like this. The only time I really write/journal is when I'm having my time with God. Other than that, I'm busy, busy, busy! Pray for me. Lol.</p>
<p>Post in the comments if you need prayer. I'll be sure to pray for you.</p>
<p>Much love.</p>
<p><3</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/57509612019-05-11T08:46:14-05:002019-05-11T08:46:14-05:00A Looong Update<p>Hello, beautiful people, it's Peytona! I owe you all a BIG apology. I had a post I planned on doing for Christmas last year and I completely forgot to finish it! ???? Shame on me, right? And then life happened. So many crazy stuff has happened these past several months. As a way to say I'm sorry. I'll go back and talk about some key things that happened since December. Bear with me. ❤</p>
<p>December - Dad and I travelled to Dallas to see my aunt and uncle. It was so much fun! We celebrated Christmas beforehand as a family (my parents, my brother, and I). I got some cute clothes and body spray. When we were in Dallas, my aunt and uncle got me a fancy razor. I find it to be super useful. I got to hang out with some Christians from our sister church down there and made some new friends. It was a lot of fun. We had a great time. We took two days to get there, stopping in Nashville, TN as a midpoint. We had a good time travelling. On the way back we stayed in Nashville for a day and explored downtown. I wish I had taken pictures. It's all good. We saw the TN Titans football stadium. That was pretty cool and in Dallas, my aunt and uncle showed me the Cowboys football stadium. It was uber shiny. All in all it was a good trip. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.</p>
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<p>January - This month was all about sharing The Mutates: The Creation with publishers and agents as well as starting my new podcast called Lyrically Lyme! Have I told you guys about Neil Haley? He's my radio producer. I met him on Twitter actually. He followed me and I emailed him for an interview on his show. He took a liking to me and wanted to help me reach a bigger audience. We established a bartering agreement that if I would help him edit videos and post on his social media, he would then cohost a show with me and help me find guests. It was a win-win situation! So my first guest on the show was my buddy Olivia Maxwell. She's my first celebrity friend. Her father, Ron Maxwell, directed the famous movie "Gettysburg." Pretty cool, huh? I met her through LinkedIn. So I had that going for me and was playing the waiting game with agents and publishers. I was mostly getting nos, but finally on January 31st - after praying to God about wanting one - I finally got my yes. It all started with posting on Facebook that people pray for me as I submit The Mutates to publishers and agents. A friend of mine named Glen recommended TouchPoint because he published with them in the past. I gave it a shot, sent my query letter and everything, and they said they were interested in The Mutates. Isn't that exciting??? I'm so pumped!! I felt like that was a big kiss from my Abba. ?</p>
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<p>February - This month was all about dating and finding work. I was still feeling myself after getting my first yes from TouchPoint and Valentine's was coming up - why not give love a shot? My church movement has its own dating website called DT Heart & Soul so I signed up for that again (I had done it for a month or two the year before) and I met some cool guys there. No sparks were flying or anything like that, but it was fun to meet new people. While I was still working for my dad as his editor and assistant, my income was pretty low so I wanted to find more employment. I was working for mom too as her assistant and social media manager, but I had no consistent pay besides what I was getting from dad. Lyrically Lyme wasn't bringing in money yet either (still hasn't yet, but I'm hopeful!) so I decided to try my hand at LinkedIn job hunting. I brushed up my resume and started sending it out there. Not much was going on there so I tried Indeed. I really like Indeed; it's simple to use and a fun way to apply for jobs. I got some hits but nothing too promising. February was also the time in school that I started working on College Algebra. I know. Fun, right? Not really. Let's move on.</p>
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<p>March - I was still looking for work when mom stumbled across this company called LionBridge. They're a technology company that has different kinds of services. I applied for the job and started the process of filling out applications and doing background checks. It was exciting. Around this time, mom and I were preparing for the women's service that would be taking place on April 7th. It was a busy month. I got the job with LionBridge as a Social Media Evaluator and started training for that. I was so happy to have another job. I hadn't heard back from TouchPoint to see if they were interested in The Mutates still so I sent them an email this month asking if they were. I was so relieved when they got back to me saying they were still interested. Yayy!! The weather started improvin this month so that was also very exciting. </p>
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<p>April - Another busy month this one. I started writing articles for dad and he started paying me extra, which was amazing! The women's service was a hit. I sang one of my originals. People were impacted. LionBridge was taking their sweet time placing me in their system so I looked for more work in the meantime. I had a birthday party on the 20th, even though my birthday was on the 28th. I was going out of town for my birthday weekend. Easter was impactful and great. I had a blast going away with mom for my birthday. We went to Massachussetts. It snowed, which was insane but it was beautiful. I had a great birthday. We went to visit the sister church in Albany, NY and they sang to me. I then went exploring Albany with mom and had dinner at P.F. Chang's. It was delicious! Oh! I also started a fundraiser for my album. This time, I used Facebook instead of Kickstarter. So far I've raised over $500!! I'm so encouraged. PSA: If you'd like to help me bring comfort and healing to the suffering through music, check out my fundraiser on Facebook. It's the album name: 12 Songs of Faith. I've done some live streams of me singing snippets from the album. Be sure to check it out! PSA over. </p>
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<p>May - So far it's been a pretty good month. I met some cool peeps from this group called Single Disciples Connections or SDC. It's a group with nearly 4500 Christians from our movement of churches - the ICOC (International Churches of Christ). I'm still hoping to date this year. We'll see what happens. LionBridge finally added me to their system! I started officially working for them on Thursday. I'm pretty excited. The fundraiser is doing well. I'm at $620 raised. I just talked with my music producer last night. He told me I can start recording with the funds I've raised!!!! I'm so stinkin' excited! I can finally work on my music. It's a dream come true. Thanks again to all those that donated. It means the world to me. So I'm thinking of doing five songs of just me playing and singing. I plan on doing a live stream today to share with people on Facebook and ask which songs I should record on this EP. AHHH!!! SO EXCITED!!! I emailed TouchPoint again to see how things are going with reviewing The Mutates. I'm praying that they send me a contract soon. I'm over the moon excited, you guys. Please keep me in your prayers. </p>
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<p>Yeah, so that's what's been going on with me. How are you doing? Post in the comments. I'd love to hear from you. I'll try to make Saturdays my day to update my blog. *Fingers crossed* God has been so good to me. I'm so encouraged. Don't give up on your dreams, you guys. God placed them on your heart for a reason. Don't quit! I love you all. Have a great Saturday and if you haven't already, check out my Facebook page - Peyton Naomi Leonard.</p>
<p>Smooches! Xoxo ?❤????????</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/55557602018-12-15T16:02:26-06:002018-12-15T16:02:26-06:0010 Days Till Christmas<p>Hello, beautiful people, it's Peytona! Happy Saturday! How are you? I'm okay. Feeling kind of tired. I had a movie night with some friends from church. We watched the Grinch - the Jim Carrey version. It was so funny. Jim is hilarious. Have you seen it? I highly recommend it. </p>
<p>Ten days till Christmas!!! ? I'm stoked! Dad and I are going to my aunt and uncle's in Dallas. What are your Christmas plans? Post in the comments! </p>
<p>I'm not sure if I'll be able to write a blog post next Saturday. Dad and I will be on the road. I might be too tired. </p>
<p>I'm gonna run. Sorry this post is so short. I'm watching a Christmas movie with momma. I'll talk to you guys later!</p>
<p>Bye! ❤?????????????</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/55456592018-12-08T14:04:48-06:002018-12-08T14:04:48-06:00Lyrically Lyme<p>Hello, beautiful people, it's Peytona! Happy Saturday! I just had a sleepover with some friends from church. It was super fun. We talked and laughed last night. It was really nice. </p>
<p>How are you doing today? Are you having a nice weekend? My singles ministry had a Christmas party last night. It was fun. We played games, sang Christmas songs, and ate sweets. </p>
<p>17 days till Christmas!! I'm so excited!! What're your plans for the holidays? Post in the comments! I'm planning on going to Texas with my dad to see my aunt and uncle. I'm looking forward to it. </p>
<p>I had my first show on Thursday night. I'm so happy. It's called Lyrically Lyme (hence the title of this post). I'll be having guests with Lyme disease on my show and musical guests that deal with health issues. I'm so stoked. I think LL will be a cool platform for me to share my faith with celebrities and share my music as well as my story. </p>
<p>Stay tuned for the link for the podcast. I have my producer working on it for me. My radio producer named Neil. He's awesome. </p>
<p>Well, I better get going. I'm going to a going away party for a friend from church around 4:30. I'll see you on Tuesday for another chapter of <em>The Mutates</em>.</p>
<p>Bye! <3</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/55350922018-12-01T12:36:05-06:002018-12-01T12:36:05-06:00New Prospects<p>Hello, beautiful people, it's Peytona! Happy Saturday!! How are you? I'm doing well. I have a lot of cool stuff happening right now. I'm going to have my own podcast!! I'm so excited! I'm partnering with this awesome guy named Neil Haley. He has his own radio show and everything. I'm so pumped. He interviews celebrities. I'm going to have celebrities on my show talking about their experiences with Lyme disease. It's gonna be so cool!</p>
<p>My Kickstarter campaign has reached $1,081!! I'm so excited. I'm hoping to reach my goal of $6,000 soon. We'll see what happens. I'm encouraged either way. God's will be done. </p>
<p>I might be looking at applying for individual grants and seeking sponsorships from organizations for Lyme disease. I'm excited. I know a few people in my church that can help me with that. </p>
<p>I'm still waiting for DAW and some literary agents to get back to me. I'm hopeful that one of them will take on <i>The Mutates</i>. I hope you guys have been enjoying the excerpts I've been sharing. It means a lot to me that you guys have been reading them.</p>
<p>What're your plans for today? Post in the comments! I'm doing my blog post, practicing my music, writing a bit, and visualizing my successes. I hope your day is relaxing and at the same time, productive.</p>
<p>Love you! I'll see you next Tuesday for another excerpt! </p>
<p><3 </p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/55263592018-11-24T14:35:35-06:002018-11-24T14:35:35-06:00Rainy Days<p>Hello, beautiful people, it's Peytona! Happy Saturday! How are you doing? I'm doing really well. God has been so good to me. I feel very blessed. It's raining here in Maryland. What's the weather like where you live? Post in the comments!</p>
<p>I didn't sleep too well last night. I woke up at 5 in the morning, fretting about my campaign on Kickstarter. I really want to be fully funded. I'm praying that I'll exceed $6,000 and reach my stretch goal of $15,097. That would be so sweet! I'd have enough money to make two albums instead of one. That would be cool.</p>
<p>Shameless plug: Please check out my campaign if you haven't already and pledge. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/peytona432/peyton-leonards-first-album?ref=user_menu</p>
<p>Okay, I'm done. For today. I dunno about next Tuesday. Lol. </p>
<p>Did you go shopping for Black Friday? I didn't. I'm broke. If you did go, how was it? Did you find what you were looking for? Post in the comments!</p>
<p>My Saturday's going really well. I had breakfast with one of my spiritual aunties and we practiced "Pie Jesu." We're doing the duet tomorrow for church. I'm also singing "Silent Night." I'm excited. I love singing classically when I have the opportunity. I've always wanted to sing "Pie Jesu" with my auntie. She trained me growing up in classical singing. She's an amazing opera singer. I'm so honored to have her in my life. Do you have someone like this in your life that you look up to? Post in the comments!</p>
<p>It's so cold here. I'm sitting in my purple robe as I type. It's keeping me warm. Dad was down in Florida for Thanksgiving visiting his side of the family. Lucky duck. He said it was in the 80's down there. I'm so jealous. I need that kind of weather in my life. What kind of weather do you like? Hot or cold? Since having Lyme disease and all that implies, I'm more inclined to warmer weather, but I do like snuggling up in blankets when it's cold. I dunno. I guess I could go both ways, but I prefer warm weather. It's easier on my joints.</p>
<p>Shifting gears a bit, I just finished up this plan on the YouVersion bible app about growing in your intimacy with God. It was super encouraging. I'm also reading Hebrews right now. It's been good thus far. I feel like God's really been blessing my intimacy with Him. That's something I want to grow in as the new year comes in. I've been working on praying more and fasting once a month. I've been asking God to bless the work of my hands and help me find favors in His eyes and the eyes of man. What have you been reading in your times with God? What have you been praying about? Post in the comments if you need prayer. I'd be happy to pray for you. I care about you. <3</p>
<p>I might stop here and work on visualizing my successes. That's something I've been trying to get more consistent with. Pray for me. Pray for my campaign as well. Thanks so much for your support and for reading my blog posts every week. It means a lot to me. Enjoy your Saturday and I'll see you for another excerpt on Tuesday!</p>
<p>Bye! <3 xoxo</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/55180902018-11-17T14:00:32-06:002018-11-17T14:00:32-06:00Saturday Goodness<p>Hello, beautiful people. it's Peytona! Happy Saturday! How are you doing? I'm doing really well. I went to an outreach activity with my church this morning. We're doing a Christmas series for the holidays. It was a lot of fun. I just did a video about me singing snippets from my album. I'm so excited about the album and the kickstarter campaign. I have 9 backers already. I'm confident the campaign will be a success. </p>
<p>Quantum Leap was awesome. I had an interview on Wednesday that was super encouraging. Jack Canfield gave me a lot to think about. I've been working on practicing and singing again. It's been cool. </p>
<p>Oh! Guess what?? I'm gonna be a CEO!!! The company is called Leonard Music Productions. I'm beyond excited and nervous at the same time. It should be an educational experience. I hope all goes well. Pray for me.</p>
<p>Do you have any prayer requests? Post in the comments and I'll be sure to pray for you. I'm working on having deeper intimacy with God. I feel like He's really blessing my efforts. I've been asking Him to bless the work of my hands and to help me find favor in His eyes and the eyes of man. I think He's answering in the positive. I feel so encouraged by Him. </p>
<p>What are your plans for Thanksgiving? We might hang out with some friends from church. I'm excited. I love Thanksgiving. What's your favorite holiday? Post in the comments. =)</p>
<p>I'm gonna get going. I have to go to Redbox for momma. But I love you and I hope you have a great weekend. Stay warm and dry. See you on Tuesday!</p>
<p><3</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/55078422018-11-10T10:29:44-06:002018-11-12T04:04:03-06:00Kickstarter Campaign<p>Hello, beautiful people, it's Peytona! Happy Saturday!! How are you doing? I'm so excited to announce that I'll be launching my kickstarter campaign this weekend! I'm so pumped! I'll post the link to the preview at the bottom of this post.</p>
<p>How's your weekend going so far? Mine has been good. I went to Olive Garden and Coldstone with my dad and brother last night. It was super fun. I woke up early this morning all excited. I'm recording a video for my campaign today. Dad's gonna help me set everything up. I really feel good about this campaign. I think it'll be a great success. I'm praying that it will be and I'm confident that God will bless it. Even if He doesn't, this is such a cool experience. I've never done anything like this before, but I'm hopeful I'll grow my fan base from this. </p>
<p>I've been doing much better overall. I feel like my head is in the right space. God's really allowed me to experience His peace and freedom. I've been working on that for the past few weeks. My mouth feels better too. I'm still in pain, but it's not nearly as bad as it was in the beginning. I can eat real food now, which makes me very happy. Have you ever had your wisdom teeth pulled? What was that experience like for you? Post in the comments below. </p>
<p>I might take a walk today. It's nice out for a change. It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is around the bend already. It's one of my favorite holidays. Which one is yours? I love spending time with family and eating good food. I love my momma's stuffing. </p>
<p>Sidenote: Had mushroom ravioli for dinner last night. So. Good. </p>
<p>Okay, I'm gonna to get going. I have a busy day ahead. Post in the comments what you're doing today. I'd love to hear from you.</p>
<p>Here's the link to my campaign:</p>
<p>https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/peytona432/peyton-leonards-first-album?ref=user_menu</p>
<p>Besos! Smooches! Love you all! xoxo <3</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/54987462018-11-03T21:45:35-05:002018-11-03T21:45:35-05:00Recovery Mode<p>Hello, beautiful people, it's Peytona! Happy Saturday!! How are you? I'm doing okay. Still recovering from my surgery. My weekend has been busy. I had a singles devotional today and then went to the movies to see Venom. It was really good. We're having a harvest party tomorrow after church. That should be a lot of fun. My jaws still hurt but the meds are helping. I'm slowly but surely healing. It's a slow process. </p>
<p>I'm getting sleepy. ? I'll probably head to bed soon. </p>
<p>Have you ever heard of Kickstarter? I'm thinking about doing a campaign on their website. My campaign would be centered around music. I would launch my first album that way. I'm reading a book on Kickstarter in the hopes that I'll do a project on there. I'm excited. I'm also still waiting for the publisher and agent to get back to me. We'll see if they do or not. Please keep praying for me. I appreciate you. </p>
<p>Well, I think I'm gonna turn in for the night. Have pleasant dreams and I'll see you on Tuesday. Xoxo ??❤</p>
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<p> </p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/54899322018-10-28T15:53:50-05:002018-10-28T15:53:50-05:00Toxic Shame<p>Hello, beautiful people, it's Peytona! Sorry for the delay. I planned on writing yesterday, but I got distracted. I've been watching anime and gameplays. Lol. </p>
<p>Anyways, how are you doing? Happy Sunday! Did you have a good weekend? Post in the comments and tell me what you did. I went to bible talk with my small group. That was a lotta fun. Oh! Guess what? I had another radio interview on Thursday. It was so much fun! This guy was broadcasting from Pittsburgh. He seemed really nice and he's gonna help me get connected with some celebs! I'm so excited! I also went to Celebrate Recovery with a friend and had a blast. Have you heard of it? It's a cool program on helping people with their addictions and mental illnesses. We had a lesson on toxic shame (hence the title of this post). I found it to be really helpful. It reminded me that I need to keep being proactive in my recovery from toxic shame. Do you struggle with it too? What have you done to help you fight against it? I find prayer helps me and looking at God's word. Seeing the truth about myself in the Bible helps me love myself better. </p>
<p>I just read Psalm 139 today. Do you know what it means to be fearfully and wonderfully made? I googled it. Lol. And I learned a lot from that. Fearfully means with great reverence, heartfelt interest, and respect. Wonderfully means unique, set apart, and marvelous. Isn't that awesome??? To know that the God of the universe respects us and reveres us? That's mindblowing to me! I don't deserve His respect or reverence. I'm so thankful to God for His love! If you haven't read Psalm 139 I encourage you to do so. And my all time favorite scripture, Psalm 103. Both psalms are amazing. </p>
<p>Are you into anime? I'm watching so many different shows right now. I just got into Inuyasha and One Punch Man. I love the plot lines. I'm also watching Boruto, Fairy Tail, JoJo's Bizarre Adventures, and One Piece. I'm a big shounen fan. What shows are you into right now? Post in the comments!</p>
<p>Well, I'm probably gonna go. Pray for me. I have surgery on Tuesday. I have to get my wisdom teeth extracted. Yikes. But I'm hoping it'll go smoothly. Please pray that it does. Thanks guys! Love you all. I'll (*fingers crossed*) see you on Tuesday for another excerpt. We'll see how I'm feeling. ?????????</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/54785842018-10-20T18:57:15-05:002022-05-13T04:01:02-05:00Trials<p>Hey, beautiful people, it's Peytona! Happy Saturday!! How are you? How's your weekend going? Post in the comments!</p>
<p>I have to be honest... I've been having a hard week. I've been struggling a lot. I'm just at a place where I'm sick and tired of mental illnesses. I just want Jesus to come back. I want Him to make all things new already. Please pray for me. I could use the support. I'm having a hard time loving myself. Do you struggle with that too? What helps you in times like this? I took a walk and prayed. I think that helped some. I'm also listening to happy music. But I don't know... I'm still kind of down. I got friendzoned the other day. It was sad. I want to believe that no one will ever love me back. I know that it's all in God's hands, but yeah... I just feel ugly and unwanted. </p>
<p>Thanks for listening to me. It does help to share my feelings. I might go and pray some more. Sorry this post is so short. I'm still having a hard time. Let me know what I can be praying for for you. Love you guys.</p>
<p>Bye. </p>
<p> </p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/54687602018-10-13T20:13:16-05:002018-10-13T20:13:16-05:00Under the Weather<p>Hello, beautiful people, it's Peytona! I'm not feeling so hot (hence the title of this post). I think I might be getting sick. My throat and head hurt, my nostrils are clogged, and I have chills. But I wanted to make sure I did my blog post for the day. I love you guys and want you to know about my life. I'm in VA beach right now at the ACR (American commonwealth region) conference for my group of churches. It's been a blast! I got to help with worship and sing in front of hundreds of people. It was so much fun. I just wish I wasn't feeling so badly. I went to two classes while at the conference. One class was about mental and emotional health while the other was about when God says no. I enjoyed them a lot. </p>
<p>I'm going to get going. I just took a benadryl. I need to rest. Pray for me. Love you. Xoxo ❤?????</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/54577782018-10-06T12:40:25-05:002018-10-06T12:40:25-05:00Coping Skills<p>Hello, beautiful people, it's Peytona! Happy Saturday! Hope your day is going well. Mine has been okay so far. It's mom's birthday today!!! My brother and I made her breakfast in bed. She was really encouraged. I love my mom. She's one of my best friends. How's your relationship with your mom? Are you guys close? </p>
<p>I was diagnosed with anxiety and dissociative identity disorder on Tuesday. I'm taking this medication called Buspar to help with the anxiety. I think it's helping. I hate being so anxious all the time. It really is stressful. Do you struggle with anxiety? What coping skills help you? Prayer helps me a ton as well as mindfulness, breathing deeply, and talking about it with someone. </p>
<p>I went to the doctor's on Wednesday. I got the green light from my doc to have the oral surgery. I'm scheduled to have the operation on the 30th. Please keep me in your prayers. I could really use them. Do you have any prayer requests? Post in the comments your requests and I'll be sure to pray for you. ?</p>
<p>I need to grow in trusting God more. I was feeling ugly and damaged today. But I was encouraged by my time with God this morning. He really encouraged me to be still and trust that He will deliver me from all my troubles. As scripture says, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." God is so amazing! </p>
<p>What are your plans for the day? I'm gonna learn how to reverse park today. I'm getting closer and closer to getting my license. I'm pretty excited. </p>
<p>Well, I'm gonna get going. I might take a walk around the neighborhood and pray. I'll see you on Tuesday! Love you! Xoxo ??❤</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/54486242018-09-29T11:09:49-05:002023-12-10T13:49:22-06:00Troas Night<p>Hello, beautiful people, it's Peytona! Happy Saturday! How's your weekend going so far? Post in the comments! My weekend is going really well. God has been blessing the work of my hands and my relationships with my sisters in Christ. I feel so loved by Him. I was on the radio this Wednesday. It was an incredible experience. I'm looking forward to my other two interviews. It should be a lot of fun. </p>
<p>I'm going to a sleepover this evening! I'm really excited about that. I haven't had a sleepover in a while. We're gonna be dog sitting for a family in the church. I love doggies. I have one named Harley. He's a cockapoo. I love him a lot. I've had him since he was a little puppy. Do you like dogs? What's your favorite breed or are you more of a cat person? I love cats too. Mammals are my favorite in general. They're so fuzzy. </p>
<p>Have you been enjoying my excerpts on Tuesdays and Thursdays? I hope so. I reached out to a publisher and an agent recently. I hope they take on <em>The Mutates.</em> That would make me year. We'll see how things go. I'm optimistic that God will bless it. </p>
<p>What else can I share? Hmmm.... My anxiety and paranoia have been dwindling a little bit. I'm not sure if I talked about them with you. It can be exhausting to be so paranoid and fearful all the time. I'm working on trusting God more, no matter what happens. It's not easy, but I gotta do what I gotta do. Depression has been okay, I think. I'm managing better than I have in the past. I've learned a lot of coping skills from therapy. Having physical and mental illnesses can be tough. However, I am grateful to God that He makes me strong through my weaknesses. I was just reading 2 Corinthians 12 that talked about boasting in your weaknesses today. It was encouraging.</p>
<p>Oh! Duh. My church had a Troas Night last night (hence the title of this post). We stayed up until midnight, learning about the Holy Spirit. It was really encouraging and enlightening. Troas was a city that Paul went to and preached all night long. I don't think we would have survived if we stayed up till dawn. Lol. But it was really cool to spend time with my brothers and sisters. </p>
<p>Do you go to church? Do you read the Bible? What is something God has been teaching you? He's been teaching me to trust in Him and stand firm in His promises. I've been using this Bible app called YouVersion. It's been super helpful. </p>
<p>I'm also having surgery soon. Pray for me. I have to get my wisdom teeth extracted. I'm not too excited about that. I have to be knocked out for the surgery. Never been through that before so I'm a little nervous. Please keep me in your prayers. I have to see my primary care physician on Wednesday about my heart. Lyme has infected it and caused irregular heartbeats and palpitations. The oral surgeon wants me to check to make sure my heart won't do anything crazy when they put me under. It should be interesting. Lol. Wish me luck! </p>
<p>Well, that's all I have to share today. I'll see you guys on Tuesday! Much love!</p>
<p>Bye! <3</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/54397332018-09-22T15:42:21-05:002018-09-22T15:42:21-05:00Update<p>Hey, beautiful people, it's Peytona! Happy Saturday! How was your week? Mine was busy, but productive. I went to a professional's workshop this morning. It was very enlightening and encouraging. A lot of what he said I was already doing. That made me happy. </p>
<p>I'm so excited for this season! Happy first day of Fall btw!! I'm doing three radio interviews, I renewed my permit so I can get my driver's license, I'm hopefully gonna be recording two songs, and I've got <em>The Mutates</em> coming out. I'm thinking about publishing in November. I'm so happy with how things are going. What are you looking forward to this season? Post in the comments below. It's hard to believe that Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are literally around the corner. I personally love Thanksgiving. What's your favorite holiday?</p>
<p>My small group went out on Friday asking people if they needed prayer. It was a really cool experience. It felt like doing what Jesus did. That made me happy too.I</p>
<p>Speaking of prayer, can you let me know if you need prayer in the comments? That would be awesome. </p>
<p>I have a date tonight via Facebook or Skype. I'm looking forward to it. I think this guy I've been talking to is really neat. ??</p>
<p>Have you guys been enjoying the excerpts? I hope so. This series is only just beginning. I'm so excited.</p>
<p>Thanks for reading my blog posts. It means a lot. I hope as time goes on that more and more of you will interact with me. I love you, beautiful people! </p>
<p>I should get going. I'm hungry and need to prepare for this date tonight. Pray that all goes well. Love you all. I'll see you on Tuesday for another excerpt of <em>The Mutates. </em>xoxo ❤????????</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/54300712018-09-15T12:37:55-05:002018-09-15T12:37:55-05:00Switching It Up!<p>Hello, beautiful people, it's Peytona! Happy Saturday!!! I know I don't usually post on Saturdays, but I figured I'd switch things up a bit. I'm planning on changing a few things.</p>
<p>Here's a preview of how things are gonna go from now on.</p>
<p>Tuesday: Excerpt from <em>The Mutates</em></p>
<p>Thursday: Excerpt from <em>The Mutates</em></p>
<p>Saturday: Update on Me</p>
<p>How does that look? Would that be okay? I just want to hash out these excerpts as quickly as possible and then I also want to keep you guys in the loop on things going on in my life. </p>
<p>I'm so tired today, you guys. I thought I had an exam this morning and it turns out that that plan fell through. I am trying not to feel bummed out about it. I just finished watching "Emperor's New Groove". That's one of my favorite movies. What's yours? Post in the comments.</p>
<p>Have a great Saturday, y'all!! I'll see you on Tuesday. xoxo <3</p>
<p>Bye!</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/54247612018-09-11T18:12:24-05:002018-09-11T18:12:24-05:00Melancholy<p>Hey, beautiful people, it's Peytona! I don't know why but I feel a bit melancholy today (hence the title of this post.) I wonder if it's because it's rainy outside. It's been that way since last Friday. I don't know. My head kind of hurts. I think I ate too many jelly beans. </p>
<p>How are you today? I hope you're not feeling down too. Is it rainy where you are? Post in the comments what the weather is looking like in your area. I'm curious. </p>
<p>I started reaching out to radio stations to get some free press for my books. I'm hoping for some interviews in the near future. Pray for me. I could use the support. I have an exam on Saturday, if the weather permits. Hurricane Florence is coming. I hear it's a category 4 storm. Sounds scary. I hope everyone remains safe. </p>
<p>Recording is being pushed back till October. Sorry for the delay. We're trying to get finances in order. We're working with my producer. I wish I could just record already, but it's kind of out of my hands. Please be patient. I'll hopefully have two songs to share with you by the end of the year. Stay tuned. </p>
<p>Thanks for reading my blog posts and supporting me the way you have. It means a lot to me. I thank God for you. <3</p>
<p>Stay dry, okay? The fourth excerpt of <em>The Mutates: The Creation</em><em> </em>will be posted on Thursday. I hope you guys are enjoying what I'm sharing. I think I'll share excerpts up to a certain point and then publish the novel. It has 30 chapters in all, so it would take too long to share every thing. I'll think it over some more and get back to you. Cool? Cool. ;)</p>
<p>Love you. I'll see you on Thursday. </p>
<p>Bye, friends! <3</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/54116872018-09-04T19:28:12-05:002018-09-04T19:28:12-05:00Keisha<p>Hello, beautiful people, it's Peytona! I'm so excited to announce I have a new bluetooth keyboard!!! I've named her Keisha (hence the title of this post). I'm typing with her right now and I love the feel of her. She's wonderful. Now I can work on my stories and stuff without using my clunky laptop. I'm over the moon happy.</p>
<p>Happy belated Labor Day!! Did you have a good one? I spent the day hanging out with a friend. She's awesome. What did you do? Post in the comments and let me know. I'd love to hear from you.</p>
<p>Today was exhausting. I had two appointments and then I went to the library to do some work. It was so hot today. It was a little over 100 degrees! The heat totally sapped me. I took a much needed nap earlier. I hope you guys are staying cool in this summer heat. Drink lots of water, okay?</p>
<p>I'm looking forward to sharing more of my book with y'all. I have a special treat for you when I finish sharing those excerpts. I won't spoil it, but please stay tuned. It's going to be awesome!</p>
<p>I love you, guys. Post in the comments how your week is going and I'll see you on Excerpt Thursday. xoxo <3</p>
<p>Bye!</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/54061792018-08-29T11:32:09-05:002018-09-07T16:09:13-05:00Delayed Reaction<p>Hey, beautiful people, it's Peytona! Sorry I'm blogging on a Wednesday and not yesterday. It totally slipped my mind to do it before bed last night. I was in a great deal of pain from Lyme. </p>
<p>How's it going? What did you think of the first excerpt of <em>The Mutates</em>? Did you like it? Let me know! =)</p>
<p>I just had a really productive talk with my producer and my dad. We're working on establishing a budget for recording music. I'm excited. I just want to start recording already. I want to record "To Lyme, From Us" and "Whispers" this September. I'm so impatient. I've been feeling antsy all week. I just want to go and do things. Hehehe like the Joker from "The Dark Knight." I love that movie. RIP Heath Ledger. ='(</p>
<p>Anyways, I'm having a good week overall. It's been productive. Finally feel motivated about school again. Praise God. My goal is to graduate by the summer of 2019. Fingers crossed there. </p>
<p>I'm looking forward to tomorrow's blog post. Another excerpt will be coming your way. Stay tuned! I'm so excited to share my book with you. I hope you like it. Thanks for persevering with me and reading these posts. It means so much to me. Now if I can just get you to comment... lol. </p>
<p>I love you, guys. I hope you're having a great week. Any prayer requests? I'm open to praying for you for whatever you need. Let me know what I can be praying for. I'll see you guys tomorrow. xoxo <3</p>
<p>Bye!</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/53961862018-08-21T18:59:44-05:002022-05-10T02:36:45-05:00Tabitha<p>Hello, beautiful people, it's Peytona! Since I posted last, I've had quite a busy weekend. My parents went up to PA for a leader's retreat and I was home alone. I bought a tablet (I've named her Tabitha - hence the title of this post) and I'm loving her. She's a fire kindle 8. I'm so happy. It made my Saturday when she arrived. </p>
<p>How are you today? I'd love to hear from you. I'm having a pretty good day myself. I watched the movie "Room" with my mom. Have you guys seen it? It felt like it went on for a long time but it was okay. I love movies, don't you? What's your favorite movie? One of mine is "Man of Steel." </p>
<p> Anyways I don't have much to report musically. The plan is to record music in September. Writing wise I'm working on finishing up my sci-fi novel and doing a publicity campaign for the fall. I'm pretty stoked. Stay tuned, okay? I'm going to be sharing some excerpts from my book in this blog.</p>
<p>I'm gonna go, but I hope you have a great Wednesday. See you on Thursday! Xoxo ??❤</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/53903252018-08-16T15:20:52-05:002018-08-16T15:20:52-05:00Inspiration Strikes<p>Hey, beautiful people, it's Peytona! I'm so sorry I didn't post last Thursday or this Tuesday. I was not in the best place in all regards. But inspiration has me buzzing today. I've been working on my book, The Mutates: The Creation, and starting to work on the second book in the series. I don't know where all this energy is coming from, but I'm not gonna waste all this goodness. I'm working on a campaign for the first book of the series. I'm totally stoked. My fingers are flying across the keyboard today. I'm loving it!</p>
<p>How are you doing? Post in the comments below how your week is going! I'd love to hear from you! xoxo <3</p>
<p>I need to do more research when it comes to science fiction novels out there. There are some really great ones. I've been meaning to read some more this summer, but I keep forgetting. I'm considering reading Dune by Frank Herbert.</p>
<p>What are you reading these days? Post in the comments and let me know!</p>
<p>Sorry. I know I shouldn't pressure you to comment, but I really want to get to know you guys better. I want our relationship to be a two-way street, ya know? </p>
<p>Anyways, I'm looking forward to this weekend. I just bought a tablet! I'm so excited!! I've never had one of my own before. I've been dreaming about it lately and so I'm happy to make that one dream come true.</p>
<p>It's a beautiful day out. There's just something about August that is just lovely. The fact that my spiritual birthday is also in August (August 5th) adds to its loveliness.</p>
<p>I feel like I drank coffee, but I didn't. I'm so hyper. What is going on with me? Lol. I dunno. </p>
<p>How's your health? Mine is okay. I've been very stiff lately. Oh! I just started watching The Office. I know I'm soooo late, but it's super funny. Steve Carrell is hysterical. Anyways - back to health - I'm switching medications and that has been tough. My brain gets so disoriented from the chemicals. I'm hoping this new medication will help me lose some weight. The Lord knows I could lose a few pounds.</p>
<p>I should probably get going. I have a meeting soon. I love you and I appreciate you reading my blogs. Comment if you'd like. No pressure. I promise. (O.O) lol just kidding.</p>
<p>Bye! <3</p>
<p> </p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/53783262018-08-07T16:56:48-05:002018-08-07T16:56:48-05:00Limbo Land<p>Hey, beautiful people, it's Peytona! Hope your weekend was relaxing and fun. Mine was sort of. I was at a Bible discussion on Friday, did nothing on Saturday, and had church and then a rehearsal on Sunday. A few friends and I are planning on doing a special song or two for church. It should be pretty exciting and hopefully encouraging. </p>
<p>How are you today? I feel like I'm in Limbo Land. Not really feeling terrible, but not feeling too good either. I think Lyme and my meds are causing some nightmares. It's been rough trying to get some good sleep lately. I hope your dreams are pleasant and peaceful. </p>
<p>I probably won't write as much today as I did last week. There's not too much to report, except that I had group and individual therapy. It was nice to reconnect with the folks in the group on Monday and I had a productive session with my therapist today. We're working through a book called Love Is A Choice. Have you heard of it? It's a great read for those that struggle with codependency. I highly recommend it and the accompanying workbook. It's made me realize I really need to work on my relationships. I have a hard time connecting with others, even though I'm surrounded by people all the time. Thankfully, I'll be working on making new friends with my therapist soon. </p>
<p>How about you? How are your friendships? Do you feel connected to people? What helps you stay connected? Comment below please. I'd love to glean from your wisdom. </p>
<p>I think I'm going to chill now. I'm pretty sleepy. I hope you have a lovely evening. I'll see you on Thursday! <3</p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/53708472018-08-01T14:03:54-05:002018-08-01T14:03:54-05:00Thoughts on a Wednesday<p>Hey, beautiful people, it's Peytona! Sorry I haven't been as consistent as expected. It's been a busy few weeks. Exciting news! I spoke with my producer on Friday and we plan on recording some music on the 17th!!!! I am literally counting down the days till then. Does anybody know what EP stands for? I'm making one and a single. Apparently, EP stands for extended player. It's a short album consisting of 3-5 songs. I can't wait to share my music with you all. I hope you like it.</p>
<p>How are you doing today? I'm really struggling physically. I did a lot of walking yesterday and now I'm suffering for it. A group of us from my church went out to share our faith last night in Silver Spring, MD. It was a lotta fun, but super tiring. My back and joints are killing me today. Thank God I have this device called Quell Relief that helps my brain produce dopamine. It eases the pain. I might take a bath before church this evening. </p>
<p>I can't believe it's August already! This summer is flying by, don't you think? What have you been up to this summer? Comment below and tell me all about it. My summer has been pretty busy. Been working on music, hanging out with friends, working in general (making that $$$ - lol), working on my relationships with people and with God, etc. It's been fun. </p>
<p>My aim is to blog on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Hopefully, I won't forget to blog next week. I've been forgetting a lot lately. Lyme brain is no bueno. Speaking of Lyme, please - PLEASE - make sure to check for ticks daily. I don't want any of you to get sick. I would be so sad. Lyme is so debilitating at times. Even now, I'm really tempted to take a nap and not do anything today. But, I'm gonna try to be productive. I'm reading this book right now on publicity. It's really cool. It's written by Susan Harrow. She's been giving me a lot to think about and chew on. I might not publish my sci-fi novel this summer. I may do a campaign and publish it this fall. We'll see. </p>
<p>Welp, I think I've said all I wanted to today. Thanks for listening. Remember to comment below and tell me about your summer. Tell me about your day. Tell me about your life. (O.O) I want to know it all. Lol. Jk. Love you, guys. Have a great week and I'll talk to ya on Tuesday! Xoxo <3 </p>Peyton Naomi Leonardtag:peytonnaomileonard.com,2005:Post/53420612018-07-11T17:32:50-05:002018-07-12T15:55:27-05:00Busy Bee<p>As I sit and write this, I'm exhausted. It's only hump day and I've had a long week. I created this website, recorded some music for my producer to hear, I added some snipbits of my music to SoundCloud, the list goes on and on. Normally, this wouldn't tire me out so much, but having Lyme disease (a parasitic infection that damages the brain, heart, joints, muscles, etc.) can make even the smallest tasks difficult. I have church this evening. My sinful nature would rather stay home and rest. But I'm gonna go. It should be fun. I enjoy being with fellow disciples. </p>
<p>Looks like my time is up. I gotta get ready to go. Thanks for reading! I'll post again soon. <3</p>Peyton Naomi Leonard