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!

:)

A Little Me: A to Z

Here's a little more about me!

A. Age: 25

B. Bed size: twin

C. Chore you hate: washing the dishes

D. Dogs: Pepper and Shelby

E. Essential start to your day: coffee

F. Favorite color: purple

G. Gold or silver: silver

H. Height: 5'5"

I. Instruments you play: violin, piano, mandolin, pennywhistle, guitar

J. Job title: strings teacher

K. Kids: none

L. Live: Greenville, SC

M. Mom's name: Teresa

N. Nicknames: Em, Emma, Emmaline, Emmy

O. Overnight hospital stays: the ICU for a few days when I was an infant

P: Pet peeve: when people I don't know invade my personal space

Q: Quote from a movie: "You have bewitched me body and soul." ~Pride and Prejudice

R. Righty or Lefty: lefty

S. Siblings: younger sister, Elizabeth

T. Time you wake up: around seven

U. Underwear: um, I wear it

V. Vegetables you dislike: cabbage, collard greens, cooked carrots

W. What makes you run late: oversleeping

X. X-rays you've had: teeth, spine

Y. Yummy food you make: blueberry pie, poppyseed chicken, coffee cake

Z. Zoo animal favorite: penguins

I Think It's Odd That Kansas City Is In Two States

Back in March, I traveled to Kansas City for the first time.

(Yes, I know this post is long overdue.)

I went for a few days for the American String Teachers' Association National Conference. (Say that really fast.) The conference is always a fantastic time to catch up with friends who are now spread out across the country and gain extremely valuable string teaching skills and ideas.

It's also a fun time to explore new cities. The conference last year was held in Santa Clara, California, and I had the opportunity to visit San Francisco and the west coast for the first time. The day we got there a friend and I checked out the Power and Light district with its cute coffee shops and adorable boutiques. (Yes, I did a little shopping. Oops!)

Our trip coincided with St. Patrick's Day, so we found an Irish Pub that night in the Power and Light district. I, of course, ordered fish and chips and a Guinness. It was all delicious!

On the way back to our hotel, we stopped in a huge grocery store, and I of course managed to find the bakery. And a very large selection of chocolates. And if you know me at all, you know that I purchased one (ahem, quite of few) of these...

Now, knowing that Sandy of Sandy a la Mode lives in Kansas City, I asked her for some suggestions for places to eat. She suggested Oklahoma Joe's Barbecue. So we all piled in a cab and made our way there. Y'all. It's basically in a gas station. So when we drove up I was a little apprehensive. Surely Sandy wouldn't steer us wrong, right?

We go inside, however, and I run into this sign.

Ok. Good. In the end it was some of the best barbecue I've ever had in my life. You can see that by the time we left, the line was out the door!

So yummy!

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.

:)

MKE. Brew City. The Wauk.

Yep, I'm heading to Milwaukee today!

(Milwaukee At Night) 

Although when I get there it will probably look more like this...a little frozen over.

(Milwaukee)

I've had my fair share of cold and snow this week, and I'm hoping that I can get out of the South without too many problems!

I'm going up until Monday to visit Daniel, and I am so excited!!! We haven't seen each other in over a month now!

We have plans to see Lake Michigan, drink coffee, travel to Chicago, visit the Milwaukee Art Museum, go on a brewery tour, and go ice skating.

But tonight when I get there, we're going to see Itzhak Perlman, one of my favorite violinists, play with the Milwaukee Symphony!

(Itzhak Perlman)

What to wear to said concert in frigid temperatures and still manage to look cute is a bit of a head scratcher, but I'll figure it out. I'll be sure to post pictures when I get back!

Have a great day everyone!

:)