A New Blog

Recently, Adam and I have been getting life organized (budget, clean house, dejunking etc) and now that the crazy season of various festivals and competitions is coming to a close, it's much easier to handle life.  Between school festivals, region festivals, choir auditions, NATS competitions, and a spattering of other concerts, it feels like we've barely been home.

Our life clearly revolves around Music just a little bit.  And then we got to thinking, "Hey!  We've got all this experience and knowledge in the music world, wouldn't it be nice if we could impart our wisdom on other struggling music world nerds?"

So we are happy to introduce you to our new music blog:
Voice Your Experience

I'd love for my "many" readers to go to the new blog and take a look and give some feedback!

Thanks!  I promise that new and exciting posts (with pictures) will come soon.

So It's January Now...

Somehow I haven't blogged in...well, a long time.  And lots and lots of things have happened since then.

For example, I got married.  That was pretty cool.  Adam proposed in Disneyland in September.  I'll do a whole post on that eventually.  And then we got married on November 27th.  Again, I'll do a separate post on that later.

And we just got back from our belated Honeymoon to...of course... DISNEYLAND!!! 

Now we're back and with my pass expiring on February 4th (I'll be crying that day), we're trying to find some fun and exciting things to do around Utah.  If you have any suggestions, we're open to them!

In the mean time, Adam is working super hard at the school.  He has a fundraising concert this weekend for the music program and then he jumps right in to Festival and Solo/Ensemble season.  He's even lucky enough to get to host his Region Solo/Ensemble.  I'm pretty sure that's some kind of hazing ritual.  Poor guy.  It's been really stressful, but I'm proud of him for how he's handled things.

I'm still at IMC in the infusion clinic.  It's a really great job and I'm blessed to have it.  I've also started teaching piano and voice lessons again.  I really do love teaching.  I have 3 students right now and am looking to increase that number.  So if you know of anyone who wants to drive to my house in Sandy for lessons, give them my info! 

We've had, what feels like, more than our fair share of illnesses and fatigue the last few months.  But I think we're finally coming out of that.  You know, except that we live in the Salt Lake Valley and, like everyone else, we're getting the smokers cough that comes with the icky air quality this time of year.  I miss California.

Our new ward is great and we're looking forward to new opportunities and callings here. 

With the new year we're attempting to be healthier, just like everyone else.  We got a Wii Fit from Amazon the other day and we're really excited to add that to our other health plans.  Thanks to Pinterest, I'm working on meal planning.  And Adam wants to learn how to cook more.  He's training to be my sous chef.  Hopefully someday we'll have a kitchen that is big enough that both of us can be in there without me getting irritable. 

We're also working on a few personal goals.  I got Adam a midi keyboard for Christmas and he's been really excited about getting some of his compositions published.  Hopefully we can get a piano solo book done by the end of the summer.  He's just so talented and I'm so amazed at his focus. 

That's kind of our life in a nutshell. We don't know what the future might hold for us, but for now, we're doing the best that we can with what we're given.

5 Months

So 5 months ago, yesterday(it was a really busy day yesterday), I got picked up by a really handsome man who took me to Paradise Cafe and then the Aquarium, where we saw awesome animals like the Black Crappy and a very inappropriately named fish in the Super Hero section.  But the Otters were my favorite.  I kind of want an Otter at my house.

And the rest, as they say, is history.  The last 5 months have been the happiest I can remember.  Everyday I find new things to love about him.  And even though sometimes he dresses like this...

I'm just glad that he's so happy.  

And then sometimes I get to see him do things like this...

Right?  

Yep.  I'm a very blessed and very happy girl.  And in two weeks, I get to go experience Disneyland with him.  It's going to be Epic!

And I can't wait to see what the next 5 months have in store for us!

UPDATE: My Favorite Things

I'm not gonna lie, I like the "My Favorite Things" posts I do.  Hopefully someone out there likes them too.

1. My new cleanser

I went to Sephora a few weeks ago.  I've been having breakout AND wrinkle problems.  It was time to get some professional help.  This cleanser smells awesome!  My skin is still adjusting completely.  It takes 6 weeks for your skin to cycle and adjust to changes.  Good story, huh?

2. Ponds Cream

So in the process of summer AND trying to get some of my breakout issues under control, I have some dry spots on my face.  Ponds changed my life last week when I picked it up.  It's the only thing that has halted the scales on my cheeks.  And it was less than $5 for a big jar.

3. Sushi

I. Love. Sushi.  Seriously, I could eat it all the time.  And it's really pretty good for you.  So at least it's not like "I could eat cheesecake all the time."  Granted, I could probably do that too.

4. Sara Bareilles

I really love her music a lot.  And this is her newest album.  I'm listening to it right now.  It's good.

5. This Guy.

He's my MOST favorite thing.

UPDATE: Thoughts

Stop your freaking whining!

I am not even sort of kidding.  Everyone has problems.  Everyone has hurts.  And while I would never trivialize someone else's problems, I think it's important to keep a big picture view.

And on that note, I'd like to introduce you to a new blog...
http://timeinthevineyard.blogspot.com/
This blog is written by one of my best friends.  She's always Always ALWAYS been such a huge example to me.  She's had her trials, some doozies, if you ask me, but she not only endures, but she endures with such a positive attitude.  She'll be the first to contradict me and say that she hasn't always felt she endures so well (in fact, I think she mentions it on her blog), but she is still amazing!  And I love her to death!  And she says things in a much more tactful way than I ever would.  I am so blessed to have her in my life, even if it is at a distance these days.

I was thinking back and thinking about what a rough 2 years it has been.  And then I thought really it's been a rough several years.  I look back and I'm seriously amazed that I've managed to emerge from the avalanche that was my life for a while mostly intact.  And I know I have all of you amazing friends and family to thank.  I'm so grateful for each and every one of you!

But seriously, stop reading my blog and go read something worthwhile on my friend's blog.

UPDATE: Everything Else

I think this category is the most major!  Let's see...where to start?

Well, in May, my roommate and I decided to move to Salt Lake to be closer to all the "action".  Ok.  We're not really "action" people, but now that she has a new job at IMC too, we have a lovely under 10 minute drive to work.  We're on the top floor of an apartment complex.  I took a solemn oath after the move that I would never move to a top floor apartment again.  I take the oath very seriously because my brothers, brother-in-law, dad, uncle and boyfriend (WHAT? Yes you read that right.) were troopers and hefted all the heavy things up the stairs in one night.  They're so great.

Next...Hm....I don't think anything else has changed.



JUST KIDDING.  So one of my best friends, Cecily, set me up on a blind date.  She had judged a music festival and her co-judge was the little brother of one of her favorite theater folk. And she decided a date needed to take place.  Bless her for making it happen.  I think we'll owe her for a while.

Anyway, his name is Adam.  And yes that's a little confusing since I have a nephew Adam.  But for now, we distinguish with Big Adam and Little Adam.  It's pretty cute when my nieces ask if Big Adam is coming to something.  He's definitely got their stamp of approval, which is a good thing because that would have been a deal breaker.

He just graduated from the University of Utah (phew!  Grandma Susie can be happy about that) and is going to be the new Choir Teacher at Alta High School.  He's a tenor.  He's amazingly talented.  His whole family is.  I get a little intimidated, not gonna lie.

We've been dating for almost 5 months now.  It's good.  I'm happy.

Stay Tuned...

UPDATE: Family

How am I so lucky to have these adorable little people in my life?  They love me absolutely.  They give me hugs and treat me like I'm their favorite person in the world (don't tell me if it's not true, I'll die a little).  I can't believe how big they're all getting!  My babies are 1 and my big girls are 3 going on 4!  I love their faces so much!

As an extension, I'm so grateful for their parents, who are more than willing to let me borrow them from time to time.  And they understand that when I talk about stealing them and running to the border, I wouldn't actually do that.  But would you blame me?  They're so stinkin' cute!

I'm so lucky to have such an amazing family that takes such good care of me!