should have been practicing

Yep, for the last 10+ years I should have been practicing my violin. It isn't that I haven't PLAYED my violin in all that time. I just haven't practiced. I would occasionally play my violin in church, for a family function and sometimes I would play for the kids at school.
But I didn't practice. Ever.

I would always think "Oh, I am not letting my skills/talents go to waste, I am still playing. I am teaching lessons. I conduct the school orchestra."
I was just playing.
Little kids play. Not adults.

I am done playing the violin. From now on, when people comment on how I PLAY the violin I am going to remind them that I don't play I practice.

Practicing as defined by Webster states:
1 a : carry out; apply
b : to do or perform often, customarily, or habitually

2 a : to perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient
b : to train by repeated exercises

At least practicing is my goal. I have been taking a Suzuki certification class, and I am more than a little bit nervous about passing the required audition to become officially certified after hours and hour of class-time, reading and observation.
(For those of you who are not familiar with the Suzuki method it is all serious business -- no messing around there)

Sadly, I can't even play songs that I played when I was a Sophmore in High School. . . . and that was a long time ago.

So, I have started taking lessons again -- in hopes that I can pass my audition and put these expensive Suzuki classes to use. Oh, and to make sure that it wasn't a waste of my parent's money to have me take lessons all those years.

Also, my dad always told me that a girl who played the violin was prettier. I believed him. It kept me practicing for a lot of years. I might have to fall back on that again to keep me practicing.

In a few years maybe I'll put on a recital and you will all say "Wow, you play really well" and I will remind you that actually I practice in hopes that someday I can just play again. I want to be proficient (as stated in the definition above) and I guess if that means that I go back and re-learn Go Tell Aunt Rhody that is what I will do.

Oh and I am going to start saving my money so I can buy a new violin. Right now I am spending all my money on lessons so that I can justify purchasing a new instrument.

has been thinking. . . . .

Welcome to My Closet. . . . . . .

Really, if you closet looks like mine it is time to just admit that you have a problem and go to therapy or something.

I have way more clothes than anyone should ever have.

Yes, the summer clothes are put away. These are just the fall and winter ones.
Yes, there is a whole separate closet for "jackets"
Yes, I have a dresser drawer with a few other clothing items
Yes, there are clothes that are currently being laundered so they are not pictured
Yes, I organize my closet by color
Yes, I sort through it regularly (much to my sisters delight when they get all my rejects)
Yes, I have read confessions of a shop-a-holic. . . for sure I am not that bad.
Yes, I will admit I need to get some "help" for this somewhat ridiculous obsession.



No, I haven't counted to see how many skirts I own.
No, the shoes aren't pictured (for good reason)
No, I don't "fit" into everything pictured. Some things are too big, but you never know when you might want them. . . you know?
No, I don't really wear everything I own.
No, I haven't ever bought the same shirt or pair of pants twice on accident.
No, I don't have credit card debt. . . I own all of these beauties fair and square.
No, I usually do not pay full price for something (unless of course it makes my heart race and then I have to buy it)

How?
you ask yourself, does a girl obtain so many clothes. Here it is in my estimation:

#1 -- I have lived with roommates for over 13 years of my life: When you don't have a date what do you do with the girls? Shop.
#2 -- Even when I don't/didn't live with roommates I would get phone calls from my mom or sisters saying things like "I need to find a black sweater" or "I am taking a trip and must have a swimsuit that fits" So, like every good daughter would. . . I went shopping with them.
#3 -- I am single (which brings up a whole extra set of "reasons")
#3a. Plain old "I am single" and maybe a new outfit would change that? hoping.
#3b. If you have a date with someone new you want to feel great so, you buy a new
shirt or accessory or something in that category.
#3c. Said new date (as listed in 3b) doesn't ever call you back. This is a good reason to
go out and buy something new. You know, to prove to yourself that the reason he
didn't call you back is definitely not because you aren't cute.
#3d. Family Function is coming up and all of your relatives are going to ask you "so are
you dating anyone" (which you never answer honestly anyway), but you want to
look your best and be sure that you don't wear the same sweater that you
wore last year to the Thanksgiving dinner. New sweater purchased.

#4 -- I teach school. Every school year I need new school clothes too, right?
#5 -- I wear a size that is often on sale or clearance so I can get it for close to nothing.

#6 -- Banana Republic sends me reward cards. . . . can't let them go to waste.

(This month was especially great, because it was my birthday so I got an extra $15 gift certificate -- not that you can buy even a pair of socks for $15 at banana republic)

#7 -- I am in control of my own finances. Enough Said.

In conclusion. I need to stop shopping. I probably won't.

thinks Fall should stay around a litlte bit longer

You know that it is Fall in Utah when the mountains look like

ThIs

And you have "toys" out like this one pictures below

Yes . . . in case you are wondering that is a Barbie, but not just any Barbie. This is. . . .

"Halloween Hip" Barbie

She only comes out in the fall. My dad bought her for me a few years ago. . . he thought the kids at school would like her. They did, and so did Emma who I was babysitting this afternoon. She comes in handy often.
(Confession: I kind of like her denim skirt and tall black boots)




And you can use words to describe your house like:

Warm, inviting, harvest, orange, brown, pumpkiny (I made that one up) etc. . . .

(that is my new scentsy smell in the burner. . . . I am pretty sure I don't ever need to leave the kitchen again if it can always smell like cranberry spice)

The famous "Halloween Tree" is finally out.

Pumpkin Spice Hershey Kisses and other non-essential treats are in the pumpkin dish.
Yes, it is definitely fall.

You can also be sure that it is fall when my hair color changes from the sun-bleached somewhat brown color back to its darker self. . . . .

(Picture Pending)

Happy Fall. . . .
Lets just hope it stays around a little bit longer.

Misses having friends

Just want to say that I miss the
"circle of friends"

I miss the agenda
I miss the late nights (okay kind of)
I miss the casual kisser (not pictured)
I miss going swimming (wherever we could find a pool)
I miss trips to the Phillips'

Mostly

I miss being able to walk "down the sidewalk" or "up the stairs" to have a friend.

p.s. we need to take a "real picture" next time. . .

has less than 30 days. . .

True

Less than 30 days.
In fact 21 days to be exact.
3 weeks to the day.

Until. . . .

I am 30 years old.

Not exactly sure how to feel about it.
Not exactly where I thought I would be in my life.
Not going to let it get to me.

I think that 30 is going to be my year.

When you look this good it is hard to believe that you are turning 30 in less than 30 days and still single.

I think that in and of itself is a miracle. Who says that getting married is a miracle? I think being as cute as I am and still being single is a miracle. Doesn't happen every day - that makes it a miracle.

(Not to mention I took all of these pictures of myself with the "photo-booth" feature on my MacBook - I'm talented for sure)