Life Isn't Always Peachy

Well, hi.

To say I fell off the blogging bandwagon would be an understatement. It's been almost a year since my last post. I've missed you guys. And I've missed sharing my adventures with you.

But this past year has been one crazy, busy, not-always-great adventure. There have been some major ups and downs.

I finished my first year of teaching. It was rough. Don't get me wrong - I loved most of it, but I was put into a few situations that caused emotional stress almost every day. I was exhausted by the end of the year. But the students make it all worth it. Nothing compares to giving a great concert with my high schoolers or a hug from a still-thinks-you-are-awesome sixth grader.

Next year is looking up, and I'm excited about my new teaching positions.

Along with my full time job, I was also teaching eleven private violin and viola students, helping with an after school orchestra, and playing with four different orchestras. Needless to say, I haven't had much time to focus on my blog or Etsy shop.

A major up happened in December: Daniel and I got engaged!!!

(AHHHHHH!!!)

Story coming soon!

(I still stare at my ring. No shame.)

We're getting married one year from today!

So, life isn't always peachy - sometimes it's downright not fun - but sometimes it's fabulous!

And speaking of peaches, I've got a peach pie recipe for you!

Check back later!

:)

Psst...I'm Back.

Hello there, my long lost friends.

I have a secret to share - I got a job teaching strings!

That is why I have been oh-so-absent around here.

I'll be back with more fun posts soon.

I promise.

What I Do When I'm Not Blogging

If you're new around here, you probably don't know that I'm a violinist.

I just finished my Masters Degree in violin, and I'm now looking for jobs as a strings teacher in the public schools...with no luck yet.

Anyhow, before graduation I had to give an hour long solo recital. Just me. 60 minutes. I enjoyed it, but I was also really glad when it was over!

I was, however, in love with my recital dress!

(It was my younger sister's last prom dress, and I stole it from her...)

The best part of a recital (besides playing beautiful music, of course)? Enjoying the reception!

Afterwards, Daniel, my friend Stephanie, my sister Elizabeth, and I went to Stellar, a wine bar in downtown Greenville, and enjoyed drinks and dark chocolate fondue!

:)

I'm Back!

I'll just go ahead and apologize now for my extremely prolonged absence.

I've missed you guys!

The last month and a half has consisted of pull-out-your-hair-and-cry-all-the-time craziness, including written comprehensive exams in music history and music theory, lessons, homework, teaching, my graduate recital, an oral exam in violin history, a jury, projects, and finals.

And graduation. Thank goodness.

Whew. And then it was all over.

Our masters' robes had this weird extra material hanging from the arms, which we decided to turn into puppets. We even considered shaking the president's hand like this. The thought sent the three of us into inappropriate, unstoppable giggles during the extremely long ceremony.

I'm showing off my hood in this picture. Pink is the academic regalia color for music. How awesome is that?

Dexter Edgar Converse, who founded Converse College (and whose parents obviously had great fun in naming their child), loved strawberries and cream. Therefore, generations of Converse students have reaped the benefits of his favorite food. Thanks Dexter Edgar.

Hangin' out in the hood.

(Haha, get it? ...Don't ever ask me to tell a joke.)

{Dress: Target} {Shoes: Target} {Watch: Fossil} {Pearls: From my Mama - the real deal, ya'll}

{Nail polish: OPI Lucky Lavender}

Here I'm modeling my manicure from my day at the spa! And I'm still sportin' my hood. I definitely wore it all day. To Chilis. And Verizon. And all the way home.

You may call me Master Emily.

;)

What did I miss while I was gone?

The Onyx Trio

Remember the Brahms post I did awhile ago?

Well - my piano trio, The Onyx Trio, gave our graduate chamber recital on Friday night! While I was nervous, I also had a lot of fun!

Of course there was some pre-recital backstage silliness...

...and some post-recital trio goofiness...

...and a bit of seriousness.

Well, only a little bit...

Before the recital, Julie Anna and I decided to make our own dresses - the one-shouldered ones! Now, despite receiving a sewing machine for Christmas, I was reluctant to do any of the actual sewing. I'll admit it - I was scared. So Julie did the sewing, and I think she did a fabulous job!

I did, however, make a pretty group of satin rosettes to sew on to the waistband of my dress...

...and a cute bunting sign thanking our professors for working with us.

:)

Red Velvet Cupcakes

I want to thank you all for the birthday wishes! They really made my day!

There isn't much you can do on my birthday, but I did enjoy getting a new camera, playing in the candlelight Christmas Eve service, and eating the red velvet cupcakes my mom made for me.

See Exhibit A:

Mmmm, yes, please. I should definitely mention that she made these from scratch. Not out of a box. From scratch - icing and all.

Also over the holidays, I was nominated  for a couple of awards.

The first is a Stylish Blogger Award from both Mindy of In the Loop and Nichelle of Vintage Wanna Bee. Thanks ladies!

I'm supposed to tell you seven things about myself. Ok, here goes.

1. I really, really like chocolate milk. I, however, did not like it until recently, which is strange, considering my chocoholic tendencies. I drink it almost every night before bed, and I specifically like Publix's chocolate milk. I'm not sure if I could live in a place without a Publix. I wonder if they would ship it to me?

2. I'm a violinist, and I will be graduating on May 14th with my Masters in Violin Performance. (It's already written in my planner. I'm ready.)

3. I want to be a strings teacher, and I am hoping and praying to find a job for next year.

4. My mom and I were talking the other night, and she told me that when I was in kindergarten I said, "The only boy I like to play with is my Daddy." Sorry Daniel.

5. I'm pretty sure my first celebrity crush was Jonathan Taylor Thomas. Ha, 90s anyone?

6. One of my favorite children's books is Goodnight Moon. I was always concerned that the mouse was too close to the fire and was going to get burnt.

7. I don't have a southern accent despite living in the south for my entire life. The rest of my family does. Weird, I know.

I'm supposed to pass along the award to more lovely bloggers, so here they are:

A Hasty Life

moonbeamwishes

much love, illy

{good times never seem sew good...}

The Sweetest Petunia

The second is a Trendy Blog Award from Lulu in Los Angeles. I'm so honored!

 I also get to pass this award along: {meg's musings}Sandy a la ModeNice Girl NotesNella DesignsHiya Luv Go check out these lovely ladies' blogs!

Oh hello, December.

Whew, I survived to the end of school and got my 2322843 papers written.

Writing papers for me is like pulling teeth. It was not fun times.

Anyhow, they're done, and I'm loving Christmas break and all of my holiday gigs! I just got back from a weekend of playing with the Symphony Orchestra Augusta in Augusta, Georgia. I made some new friends, and we enjoyed playing our holiday pops concert!

My stand partner and I decided to turn bowties into headbands. :)

I'll have to tell you about the guy in the picture above a little later... ;)

Now. In case you haven't heard - Mandy over at Mandipidy is hosting a whole day of giveaway goodness for her birthday! Happy Birthday Mandy!

You can win lovely items from 17 different shops including Emerging Em!

Go check it out!

School. Ack.

My life has reached epic proportions of busyness.

This was quite possibly the most insane first week of school ever. Thus, my absence, once again, from the blogging world. However, despite the fact that I might not sleep until December, this semester should be a fun one. I'm looking forward to playing the Brahms Piano Quintet for my graduate chamber recital (If you don't know it, go listen - right now.), teaching my eleven (!) private violin students, and getting in lots of practice time.

This week has been extra busy because I'm playing with the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra. Although rehearsals have required a lot of driving, most of the trips have been through the Blue Ridge Mountains at sunset, which makes my heart happy. This concert has been a lot fun because we're playing all Rodgers and Hammerstein. It has brought back a lot of memories - mainly the fact that I wanted (still want?) Anna's dress from The King and I.

(source)

Um, yeah - still want.

One Rodgers and Hammerstein concert down, one to go.

To bring a bit more calm into my life, I'm going to remember a bit of Silver Bay and show you the last of my pictures. Here are some of my favorite places to sit around the bay.

Sigh...

As much as I miss Silver Bay, though, I was delighted to return home to this...

...the necklace I won from Mandy at Mandy's Yellow Corner! It made me smile!

I know I haven't been blogging about crafting much recently, but I hope my photos count as one of my artsy adventures. It is something I've been wanting to work on, and I'm glad I had such a beautiful place to practice.

In Etsy news - I've had two sales in my shop! (One was my mom. Shh, don't tell.)

I also have one new necklace in my Etsy shop:

I decided to add my tatting to a necklace.

What do you think?