Favorite Childhood Memories

What are your favorite childhood memories?  

Here are a few of mine.

1. Growing up with Betsy and Tacy
I envied Betsy's friends (singing around the piano, bonfires and church socials) and her family's traditions (Sunday night lunch), I craved her imagination (riding on a magical milk cart, floating on feathers over the town), and I longed for simpler times (5 cent soda shops).

Random Pet Peeve

Ok, I've been reading a lot of blogs lately that have been doing this one thing that annoys me...  

(Well, actually, a lot of blogs say things annoy me, such as misusing your and you're, than and then, it and it's, etc.)

Whatever age you are turning on your birthday - that is the number of years you have completed.  

So if I am turning 26 (which I am, in August, because I'm old), then I have finished my 26th year.  If I now say, "I'm really looking forward to my 26th year," I would be WRONG.  I should now say, "I'm really looking forward to my 27th year." 

So now you know and can avoid the mistake of so many others.

:)

(This does not apply to certain Asian countries who label you as "1" when you are born rather than when you have lived 1 year.)

Update on Running - Two Weeks

Two Weeks of "Running" 

(Original post here)

Some Observations

1.  I am already halfway into Week 3.  But I am still in Week 2 training mode.  I lost a couple of days last week and so I don't feel ready to transition into 1:1

2.  It doesn't seem like anything has happened... is running worth it???

3.  I don't have a scale, so I have no way to tell if I have lost any weight, however my clothes still fit me the same (still tight), so...

4.  I am hungry all the time, but trying not to eat more than usual, as that will just defeat the purpose.

5.  I feel taller (why?) and more confident when I run every day.

6.  I am hoping this is going to be worth it, because I'm not particularly enjoying it.

7.  I don't hate it, but I still don't love it.

8.  I'm going to start adding sit-ups before and after the run.

9.  It is way more fun to exercise when you have someone to do it with.  I am more motivated to run when I know that Peter is coming with me.

10.  Swimming is better.

Life Update - June 2013

1.  Wedding is in 27 days

Whatever happens, it will be better than this:

From

or this:

From

2.  Peter and I are driving to Brawley this Friday (and Saturday)!  

We are taking CPH (Hwy 1) because it's so pretty and we want to stop and take pictures.  But it will add several hours to our trip...  Will let you know if it was worth it, but I can guess it probably will be!!!  Big Sur is beautiful and I'm so excited for Peter to experience it!

From

3.  We are both unemployed and broke, so we will be crashing at my parents' house until, and possibly after, the wedding.  

We have no idea how long it will be until we find jobs, which means we have no idea how long it will be until we can afford to rent.  After the wedding we will probably stay at my parents' or my sisters' house until we have enough money to rent our own place.  We would love to come back to the Bay Area, but the cost of living is so expensive that, realistically, we probably own't be able to.  This is a bummer because I have 8 wonderful students that I am sad to leave.

From

4.  This year was awesome.

I am so glad that Peter convinced me to finish my Master's degree.  I met some amazing people that have become best friends.  I am so glad that I got to study with Dr. Benson.  I learned so much from him.  I rediscovered my passion for music, and I am finally a Master!

From

5.  Peter and I will both be looking for jobs in the Imperial Valley for the time being.

We will also keep applying everywhere else.  We are willing to relocate.  We would love to live in San Diego.  We would both love to move to Brazil.  I am really hoping a job in Rio opens up.

From

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So that is my life right now.  Trying not to stress... trying to think of it as an "exciting adventure" (as everyone keeps telling me it is), but it's very difficult to think about starting a marriage broke and living in your sister's spare bedroom... 

Oh yes, before I forget... We have come to realize that finding a job is all about who you know.  Therefore I will tell you what kinds of jobs we want and you will let me know if you hear of anything! :)

Julie

Desired Job: Professor of Music at a Community College, or Music Teacher at a private k-12 school, or Director of Community Choir, or Director of Church Music

Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Music Education, Master's Degree in Choral Conducting, much experience

Peter

Desired Job: Editor of a publication of some sort, Communications staff at a church, Web and Graphic Designer for a church, freelance web and graphic design

Qualifications:  Bachelor's degree in Technical Writing, experience

Let me know if you have any questions or advice.  As always, thanks for reading!

Do you like the new look?

Hi friends,

As you know, I'm working on developing alonewithmytea.com.  I shared a sneak peek here, though since then I've made a lot of changes.  I'm still working on it, and it's coming together beautifully.  I have about 12 blog posts all ready to roll out.  However, I still can't afford to buy the domain name.  So at this point the site is pretty much ready, just sitting there, waiting.  I hope that I will be able to launch it in the next month, possibly after my wedding, once Peter and I both find jobs.

In the meantime, I was getting sick of having such a plain blog.  So I tweaked a few things here and there.  What do you think?  Do you like the new look (even though it's temporary)?  

STAY TUNED: Life Update coming soon!

Wish List - My Future Disposable Income

I often find myself making wish lists.  Some are gifts I want to receive from Peter, some are items for my future house.  And sometimes I just make them so I won't forget later.  Then again, I suppose if I forget about it that easily I must not have really wanted it...

Anyhow, today I am making a wish list for when (if ever, but not likely) I have a disposable income.  I also wanted to try this free collage making software I found online.  

1. Kate Spade Earrings 2. Jade Mountain Resort 3. May Lindstrom Skincare 4. (I wish I had the funds to decorate my house any way that I please)

What's on your wishlist?

As always, thanks for reading!  Don't forget to subscribe!

No more google reader :( - follow with bloglovin!

Hi friends,

Google Reader is going away.  I suggest that you follow my blog through bloglovin.  I just joined bloglovin and it is as addicting as Pinterest!!!

Click on the bloglovin icon below to join and follow my blog.




Thank you to my faithful readers!  I can't wait to transition to the real website, which will hopefully be up sometime next month.  I have a lot of ideas planned for future posts!  In the meantime, subscribe via email, bookmark the page, like on facebook or follow with bloglovin so you can stay updated on my posts!

-Julie

Thoughts 'n' Things: Music, Art, and Classical Sculptures

Thoughts:

I was doing some "summer reading" of late.  Well, trying to anyway.  And I stumbled upon this quote.  It spoke to me, so I thought I'd share it here.

"Works of art and the work of artists did not exist in a protected vacuum; they were part of the fabric of life, and life is a mixed-up mes that gives us incredible richness and beauty and lovingkindness but also Dachau and Golgotha."

I read the above quote in  Choral Masterworks: A Listener's Guide by Michael Steinberg.  This appears in a passage where he is discussing Bach.  How does a devout Jew appreciate Bach?  Bach - whose Lutheranism was his entire being...  Steinberg realizes that, as a Jew, he can't chose to separate Christianity from Bach.  He chooses instead to notice the other, very human themes that appear in this music - such as Judas' betrayal and Peter's denial.

Steinberg says, "I don't believe there is a single person who has ever heard one of Bach's Passions who has not at some time committed some act of betrayal, great or small, and felt remorse for it, even lifelong remorse.  This is music addressed to all of us.  And have we not all known love, sacrifice, compassion, awe, transcendence, and the other facets of experience we encounter in the Passion story?  The great works of sacred art are not exclusive.  In that sense, too, they are transcendent."


Things:

I want to make this

(From HERE)

and these

(From HERE)

You should read this

(From HERE)

I have a confession to make...

I have a confession to make... These are words I thought I'd never say:  I started running.  And, what's crazier?  I don't hate it!  Just for a little bit of context - I'm the girl who has always said, "If I had to run for my life I wouldn't even try..."  Yes, I'd rather die than run for my life...   

Well, I recently stumbled upon this running guide via Pinterest.  And I was intrigued.  Plus I've been feeling guilty about not working out.  I mean, I do yoga regularly, but I have been ignoring cardio.  Plus, with my wedding coming up, I figured I should start "freaking out" about getting in shape.  I don't want to lose weight, but I do want to tone up the butt and thigh area...  

So I started this "Running for Beginners" and I actually like it.  Granted, I'm still in Week 1 and I'm only actually running for a total of 5 minutes, but it's better than nothing, right?

What do you do to exercise?  Do you like it?  Will you give running a try?  

Found HERE

I must point out some mathematical errors with this running guide.  The total times are wrong.  For example, on Week 1, if you want the total time to equal 22 minute then it should say "5 reps total" NOT "repeat 5 times."  

Thoughts 'n' Things - DO YOU DIY?

THOUGHTS
DIY is the big trend right now.  Do It Yourself.  Save money.  But is it worth it?  Here's what I ask myself before starting a DIY project:

1.  How much do each of the materials required cost?

2.  How many items can you make with each set of materials?

3.  How much time will it take to make?

If the materials themselves are more expensive than just buying the product already made, then it's not worth it to DIY.  If the ingredients are super cheap but it's going to take hours and hours of precious time, then it might not be worth it.

HOWEVER, if it's something you LOVE doing and it's a product that you will love and cherish forever, then investing some time and money into it might not be a bad idea.

I often find myself wanting to try a DIY project but never getting around to it.  These days I can't afford to purchase any crafting items I may not already have, and I don't have a bunch on hand.

THINGS
Here are a few CHEAP INEXPENSIVE DIY projects that I want to give a try as soon as Peter and I are settled in our new place (who knows when that will be!!!):

STRAPPY FLIP FLOP INSTRUCTIONS HERE

"GILDED PATTERN VOTIVE HOLDERS AND BUD VASES" INSTRUCTIONS HERE

DECOUPAGED VINTAGE APOTHECARY JARS FREE PRINTABLES AND INSTRUCTIONS HERE

NAUTICAL ROPE VASE INSTRUCTIONS HERE

Do you DIY?  What types of projects do you complete?

Macaroon? Macaron?

Hi friends, 

I had a professor tell us over and over again something along the lines of, "Ignorance is only a problem if it's a choice."  

In other words, if you are ignorant about something (uneducated, untrained, unknowledgeable, uninformed, etc.), but you want to learn more, then you should ask, google, search, find it out!  

If you know you are ignorant about something but refuse to find answers, then you are being dumb foolish.  

Don't judge someone for asking a "stupid" question if they are sincerely trying to remedy their ignorance.  

And don't be ignorant about something and purposefully continue in your ignorance once you have realized your ignorance.  

Does that make sense?  

Well, here I am today, ready to remedy your ignorance about a certain topic: Macarons!!!  

This photo comes from www.dearbabyg.com and click *here* to read all about the differences between a macaron and a macaroon.

Both taste amazing with a nice cup of cappuccino tea.  :)

Thanks for reading!

Thoughts 'n' Things - Ageism

"AGEISM"

/ˈājˌizəm/

Noun Prejudice or discrimination on the basis of a person's age.

Peter and I went to Safeway today.  We planned out our shared meals for the next 6 or so days, made a list, and went.  As we were done checking out, the cashier looked at the receipt and said, "You kids just saved $40 dollars today."  Kids?  KIDS... 

Now, I understand that I look young for my age.  And there was no way for her to know that I have a Master's degree, have been living independently for 8 years, and am getting married in 44 days.  BUT she did know that Peter and I were shopping together, we (Peter) have our own Safeway card, and we (I) paid with a 100 dollar bill.  

I don't know, maybe I'm overreacting, but this is something that has always bothered me.  To me, using the term "kid" to apply to anyone younger than you is condescending and rude.  Do I really look that young?  Or are people just not thinking before they speak?  

Actually, I had a friend, who is my same age, call me "kiddo" once.  Wha-? Why?  I don't get it.  Was I supposed to then refer to her as "mama?"  

When I took choral methods in Undergrad, my professor told us we should never call our students "kids."  We should address them as "Ladies and Gentlemen" and refer to them as "students."  This institutes a level of professionalism and respect that will be likewise reciprocated.  I found this to be insightful.  Thinking back, even when I was in middle school I hated being talked down to, segregated from the adults, or generally lumped into the "little kid" category.  

So the moral of the story is this - If you're old, don't demean your younger compatriots by referring to them in terms of condescension and/or superciliousness.  And besides, shouldn't we be encouraging independence, maturity, responsibility, and sophistication in our children/nieces/ nephews/students/friends?

Life - Post Grad School

Life post Grad School has been slightly boring.  We took a tiny trip to Capitola last weekend with some friends.  The weather was overcast and cold, but we had fun with our friends.  I took a couple of pics:

I attempted stamp making:

I started a project for my wedding, more details soon.  Hint, we won't be having a traditional guest book:

Now we are at my brother's farm, trying to take a real "vacation" while listening to the goats constantly complaining about something.  Remind me to never have goats...