A Change in Me...

I feel like it's been a while since I have posted anything, and it really has been a while.  I was going to post my current project when it was finished, but it is taking too long.  So I figured, in the meantime, I would do a music post.  Since the live action "Beauty and the Beast" recently came out, I wanted to do a song from the musical version you would see on stage, "A Change in Me."  The title of this post is actually fitting because technically, this was just a warm-up recording so that I could hear myself and correct a few things, but I thought it was okay enough to share.  This was just working on one specific effect of warming up my sound when I sing because I have a tendency to sing very bright.  It definitely helps to listen to yourself when you practice.  I thank God every day for the talents that He has blessed me with, and I am so grateful for the ability to share them with others.  I hope you all do the same, whether it be music, food, languages, compassion, service, crafts, sewing, or anything else that you're good at.  Just remember who gave you those gifts and use them for good!  Here is the link to A Change in Me

Valentine's Day!

I've never been a huge fan of Valentine's Day.  Part of the reason is that I never have a "special someone" to share it with.  This year, however, I have had such fun making cards for the kiddos I help teach at the school I work at.  They are very similar to cards that I have made for kids I have looked after before and they loved them!  As did these kids.  All you really need to make one of these cards is two pieces of card stock and a piece of colored construction paper. The first thing you do is fold the piece of construction paper in half hamburger style.  Do the same for one of the pieces of card stock.  Then on the folded card stock, measuring about an inch from the side, cut two slits about half an inch long, one on either side.  Next, take the cut card stock and flip the middle section inside out and crease it so that it stays.  Put this page inside the folded construction paper and glue down the edges, pushing out the center portion so that it pops out.  With the second piece of card stock, design and cut out whatever you want to "pop" up and then glue it to the front of the "popped out" piece.  Once this is done you can decorate the card however you like.  I wrote a little note to each of my kids in these.  I usually seal the cards with a sticker, since they tend to be a little big for regular envelopes.

Two Weeks Off... What To Do?

Having two weeks off for Winter Break gave me a lot of time between semesters to do something fun, so I made a quilt!  In cleaning out the garage and putting away holiday decorations I came across my old T-shirts from high school that I have kept for several years with the intention of one day making them into a quilt.  I finally took the time to sit down over the last few days and make it!  I think it turned out pretty good.  Check it out!

'Tis the Season... to be Singing!

It's that time of year again!  There's a chill in the air, snow on the ground (except for Southern Arizona), and everyone is ready for sleigh rides, hot cocoa and cuddle buddies.  It is also the exciting time of the year when musicians are at their busiest, because everyone wants their Christmas music at their holiday-themed parties.  Most of my holiday season consists of concerts, recitals and various other performances, and one such performance is my winter recital.  This year was particularly great in the sense that I didn't get my yearly cold until AFTER I sang this year.  The two songs I sang were "Sleigh Ride" and "Chi Voul La Zingarella." Check them out here at Chi Voul La Zingarella and Sleigh Ride

Post Halloween Decor

Just a little side note: This Halloween was a fun one to decorate the outside and leave everything else.

Flashback to the 20s-Halloween

One of my main projects every year is my Halloween costume.  I like to make it myself as much as possible instead of going out and buying a pre-made something, because that usually costs a lot of money and it's never authentic-looking.  This year I decided that I wanted to reprise my role as the 1920s flapper for Halloween and put my own spin on it.  I wanted things a little more flashy and less classy.  I wanted to make it look like I was headed for the local speakeasy instead of a dinner party.  The last time I was a flapper was back in 2007 when I was a flapper at school for our "Great Gatsby" party.  That was a little more elegant and toned down for school.  This time I went all out!

2007 "Great Gatsby" party look:

This year's more gaudy flapper:

Backyard Shenanigans!

This summer I had a project that was supposed to take a month and which ended up taking two-and-a-half months.  This was only because when I wasn't sick or out of town, I had to be careful of what I did because I was going to physical therapy for my shoulder that was always in pain.  The project that I did was my backyard.  The photo below that looks somewhat like the desert we live in was what it looked like before, and the other pictures are what it looked like after I was finished.  Pulling the weeds, cutting the grass, putting in a fire pit, edging the yard with brick and river rock, putting up the lighting and the picnic table and the patio furniture, and tilling and preparing the lawn to grow grass was all worth it.  Our backyard looks fantastic and it is ready for parties!


Before:

After: