Wow, I can't believe it's August already! It's been a very hot summer, I hope it will cool down some this month, now that we're approaching fall!
So, a quick little update on what I've been up to... if you saw my ONE other post this year (haha, my poor little blog is so neglected!) you know that my work goals were:
- Have my annual Spring recital for my studio - CHECK!
- Create a more professional studio policy for managing payments, cancellations, etc. - CHECK!
- Perform my solo recital as soon as possible (hopefully by summer at the latest) - CHECK!!!!!
- Finish the tuning course by the end of the year
- Get my second piano in shape so my older intermediate students can begin concerti
We had a nice, quite successful and very well-attended Spring recital at the end of April. I'm very excited about the improvements I've made to my studio policy and how it's helped teaching to flow more smoothly. I added a policy about late-notice cancellations (I was getting quite a few of those, and it can really mess up a schedule!), began using a online scheduling calendar that I absolutely love (https://acuityscheduling.com) and finally got up the nerve to raise my rates, after 10 years of teaching for the exact same fee!
I also performed my solo recital at the end of June!
Thanks to my dear friend Katherine for this "action" shot, which was staged after the recital. ;)
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| My boyfriend Matt and me after my solo recital was (FINALLY!) done! |
Not to blame him or anything, but this amazing guy is part of the reason I sort of abandoned my blog. We've been dating almost 9 months! He has been such an encouragement to me, always willing to listen and advise when I was trying to decide how to approach my adjustments to my studio policy and so supportive during both my students' recital and my solo recital.
We met at a contra dance in September 2015, and he asked me out in November. It's been so much fun getting to know him this year. He's a strong, godly man and has been encouraging me in my walk with God. He eats healthy food and we did Whole30 together in January, plus several "Whole7's" since then as a short little reboot. He likes Pride and Prejudice 1995 and watched it with me when we'd only been dating 2 months! (He also appropriately disdains the P&P05 atrocity. *wink*) He enjoys classical music, and likes to read... the number of things we have in common is so neat!
It's been an incredible blessing having him be such an important part of my life this year. We've spent a lot of time together doing all sorts of fun things, way too many to list. Building Legos, reading together and sharing our favorite TV shows are just a few. Whether having fun, just relaxing, or working on a project, he is always fun to be around. I'm so thankful God brought us together!
I'm going to work on writing blog posts more frequently, at Matt's encouragement. I'm planning on continuing to write them quickly, and not do much editing though, as I used to spend SO much time tweaking little things that probably no one but me would even notice! I'm trying to relax on my perfectionist tendencies.
And with that, I'm going to close this post with just a few pictures of my post recent chalk paint projects. This is Primer Red, with dark wax on some pieces of furniture in our den/TV room.
Happy August everyone!
How sweet to meet at a dance!
ReplyDeleteOne thing I do to blog easily is write a bunch of posts up and schedule them. I do like to have drafts and then review them for grammar, clarity, etc. but because I usually have a ton of idea, because blogging takes so long, and because I sicken of subjects if I do not finished them, I like to spend a long time for a week or so, and then I have a couple months of posts. That is what has worked for me the past several months. Of course I can still post in the moment too.
I am looking forward to your new posts. It seems so many grown-ups don't post as often as the teens, so I like when people my age blog more.
That's a great idea, Livia! I will have to try that. I really need to get faster at writing posts though, this one took me almost an hour, and it's really not that long! It's definitely been harder for me to find the time with the increased load of students I had this past year, plus spending most of my free time with Matt. ;) I'm looking forward to getting back to blogging though, and keeping up with your posts! Thanks for commenting!
DeleteVery happy for you Lizzie. Sounds like a wonderful relationship.
ReplyDeleteLizzie, congrats! Sounds like you've had an amazing year so far, and found a wonderful relationship. So happy for you. Though I understand the importance of your absence, it's always a pleasure to see you blogging. :)
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