This is the Title of an Uncreative Violinist.:)

I'm in Nashville right now w/ my parents.  We'll be here until the end of the week.  This past weekend was spent in Lexington, KY where I met a third cousin for the first time.  I love meeting relatives I never knew about before! We had excellent hosts in Lexington; my cousin's husband planned our entire Saturday w/ a trip to a Bourbon distillery, tons of horse farms and rolling hills w/ the never-ending fences, and drive-bys of relevant sites in the city.  Loved it. Now we're spending some time w/ old friends of the family who just moved to Nashville to be closer to their daughter--my childhood best friend--who recently married. So far, just a lot of lounging and relaxing.  Lots of chatting and catching up.  So perfect.  We'll probably go into the city at some point.  We're taking our time and I'm enjoying reading through a book I always wanted to finish (since high school...ugh!).  Reminds me I should make the time to read books more often. I have pi

Here I am-- all packed, dogs bathed, parents arrived, iced coffee in hand:  be back in a week!!

Today, I opened up my laptop to catch up on my blog reading, and came across Puttin' On the G.R.I.T.S' blog with pictures of her Aspen trip...and it totally reminded me that in just about two weeks or so, I'll be GOING TO ASPEN!!!!  Can't believe how close it's getting.  Ryan and I have been patiently anticipating this trip since January.  Poor Ry, he needs to get away so badly.  New position = new stresses. But before that, I'll be going to Lexington, KY and Nashville, TN w/ my parents and two doggies.  Lexington is first to meet a 2nd (or 3rd?) cousin that I've never met before on my grandfather's side.  This is exciting for me b/c I never got to meet my grandfather as he died 2 months before I was born. After that, we'll be moving on to Nashville to see some old family friends.  We'll be there for most of the week, so I think I may take my violin with me as it'll be two retired couples + me.  I suspect there will lots of down time.  I

It's funny how things tend to work themselves out.  I try to take control of it by stressing and worrying and in the end, it resolves itself without any doing on my part.  I have a very small life, but when those weird things happen, I thank God for giving me that slap in the face that I needed.  I'm not really in control, even when I like to think that I am. Okay, so I mentioned that I was in a "slump" this past week.  A couple things had happened, but the main thing was I was stressed over how to handle a long-time student of mine.  I've written many times before about how I hate to lose students--especially when they've been with me for at least two years--but I know it will happen; but I also dread the part where a little piece of me dies when they leave for whatever reasons, good or bad.  Anyway, this particular student had hit a wall.  He actually had hit it quite awhile ago, and when it happened, his mother and I continually discussed how to motivate

It's Friday (finally), and even though it's supposed to technically be my day off, I'm going in today to teach three makeup lessons because I had to cancel earlier this week b/c I was feeling so bad.  Teaching is just one of those things you can't daze through.  If I had a desk job, I could probably pop a few tylenol, close my eyes and take a few minutes to let the waves of pain go by--or even take bathroom breaks w/out feeling too guilty.  With teaching, if I zone out for a few minutes, I'd have to answer to quizzical looks from both child and parent. SO.  I decided it was better to call off lessons and suffer in the comfort of my own home.  Some people couldn't make it today, hence only 3 lessons. An extremely violent and disturbing nightmare I was having woke me up this morning--and it was just as well, because I have quite a bit to do before my parents arrive this evening.  Cleaning is always the first thing on the list.  Does anyone else's mom commen

Inspired by a couple of my fellow bloggers like Hannahviolin and kath --among others--I've fallen for the 'overnight oats' craze and have tried it for the past few days.  The first time, I used steel cut oats w/ greek yogurt and 1% milk.  Second time, I tried regular quick oats; they're different, but I like them both.  I added chia seeds to both and decided that I prefer the blueberry Greek yogurt flavor mixed in. Steel cut oats w/ blueberries and bananas, chia and flax seeds Quick oats w/ just blueberries Still addicted to my morning coffee:/ Ryan and I were browsing Trader Joe's the other day and tried a sample of a chickpea salad.  The ingredients were simple, but it was so delicious.  So I tried to re-create it at home.  It was pretty darn close!  I used chickpeas, black beans, red onion, squeezed lemon and olive oil, and chopped parsley.  I think next time, I should add grape tomatoes: I rowed a bit this morning, did some weights and push-up

Some things that I'm loving...and NOT so loving: LOVE: A lighter schedule during the summer for R&R, hanging w/ friends and fam, and doing basically anything I want. DON'T LOVE: A lighter schedule due to losing students, and thus, slight stress and worry that comes b/c of it, both financially and psychologically ("Am I a good enough teacher?", "Maybe I'm not bubbly enough" or "Maybe I should have just become a tax auditor instead of a musician...") LOVE:   Running outside, just being alone with my thoughts.  Love the feeling I have afterwards, sweaty and tired in a good way. DON'T LOVE: How the hardest part of running is getting my butt off the couch, lacing up my shoes and going out the door.  I always have excuses.  Funny how the days that are filled with more excuses and less activity are my more depressing days (NOT that I suffer from depression, but don't we all have good and bad days?). WHAT ELSE I LOVE: - M

Make coffee    Eat a chocolate croissant Laze around and stalk other people's blogs Go grocery shopping Make mid-day snack of chickpeas, red onion, black bean and parsley salad. YUM. (May also snack on TJ's mango greek yogurt) Buy new plants Go for a run/ row Make a beef + snow peas + tofu + pea shoot stir fry for dinner Make cookies--any kind--just make cookies, please!! Sit down w/ hubby to watch the season finale of Game of Thrones and Mad Men. Conclude the weekend by turning in.   How was your weekend?  This was my quintessential weekend: running errands, eating, relaxing w/ the hubby and snuggling w/ my pups.  Just how I like it!