letterboxing adventure #1

{hopefully to be followed by adventure #2}

let me just begin this post by explaining what letterboxing is {if you don't already know}

it's awesome!

i like to describe it as scavengerhunts for grown-ups {or even not-so-grown-ups}

it's easy, and all you need is a notebook, a stamp and a good sense of adventure.

{it's a hobby i started and cultivated with my bestie}

so anyway, onto today's letterboxing hunt with my summertime kiddos!

 {we started at the lookout to see where we're going: down there by "tuddle puddle"}

the second clue led us down to the "bison" {you know, kansas art}

{ok, i actually think they're pretty cool}

the box is somewhere in this old wall...

 found it!

the best part- you put your stamp in their notebook, and their stamp in your notebook. make sense?

{my notebook and stamp, with the found letterbox and hand-carved bison stamp inside}

we had fun. and it's a great way to explore outdoor spaces you wouldn't necessarily go otherwise.
now go look and see if there are any letterboxes near you! {or just to read more about it} you'll be hooked.

good things come in 3's

thanks everyone for all the warm wishes and congratulations! it's nice to come home to a warm reception.

anyway, while i was away, bestie sarah tagged me for this little game "3 about me", and now i'm playing along {i hope you do too!} 

3 names i go by:

angelina 

la dawn 

tomato 

{yes, i really get called these. in multiple combinations}

hubby always calls me "babe"

3 places i have been (or, the three places that have been influential in my life):

{leila josefowicz}

3 favorite drinks:

coffee (with lots of flavored creamer)

mojitos

orange juice

3 jobs i have had:

teacher (of violin)

teacher (of child with autism)

program director for childcare program (my current job, which i love)

3 tv shows i watch:

30 rock 

the office

 arrested development {no it's not still on tv, and yes i still watch it}

3 places i would like to visit:

australia

india

matsumoto, japan

3 fave retro tv shows:

{i'm gonna go ahead and call this retro}

3 favorite dishes:

butter chicken {indian}

pad thai

homemade guacamole {yeah, it's a dish at my house}

3 places I have lived:

kansas city, missouri

 grand rapids, michigan

manhattan, kansas {where i am now!}

3 things i am looking forward to:

moving some place new {only a year away!}

the next harry potter movie

my 4th wedding anniversary {only a month away!}

3 people i am tagging:

lauren {my pen pal!} from her silent musings 

abbie from abbiebabble

brandi from not your average ordinary

whew!

wow.
was i only gone for 8 days? if feels more like 3 weeks. and i think i learned enough to fill that three weeks! {and how cute is this year's logo?}

i did three hours of observation a day, another five hours of class, and then an (optional) 2-3 hours of concerts on top of it all! {most of which i attended} 2 papers, and one presentation, 41 pages of observation notes, 17 repertoire sheets, and more than half a notebook full of notes. seriously, i have a huge new callus from my pen. i just hope it all makes sense when i read over it later this week...

and while all that sounds like {and was} a lot, i've come to the realization that i have so much more to learn! but i really can't possibly explain how much i learned, and what it has meant to me. i came back a better teacher, a better person, and then i remember this: i'm a suzuki certified teacher now! wow. it's a pretty amazing thing and just hasn't really sunk in yet.

{me, attending the institute as a child}

it's pretty cool to do teacher training at the same summer institute i attended as a child, but on top of that, i also got to see 2 of my former teachers {who were there teaching for the week} they are both hugely influential people in my life and it was so exciting to catch up. really, i was running around all week like a kid in a candy store.

{

{accompanist velma, little sister, teacher jean, and me- after a recital way back in 2001}

{

{jean and i now}

{teacher carl, me, little sister {holding my beautiful violin} with fellow student and friend josh}

{carl and i now}

and a new person to add to my "influential people" list- my teacher for the week, nancy. quite an inspiration. and she's aweeeesome!

 it really was an amazing week, surrounded by amazing people. {and lots of little kids running around with violins, cellos and maybe even a viola or two...}

i hope all of you have been well also. i'm happy to be home and catching up with you all!

suzuki time at last!

on sunday morning i'm leaving town for the week to start my suzuki training at the ottawa suzuki strings institute. i'm so excited and i've been looking forward to this for months {or longer}! this is the next step for me, in a series of several certifications, so i can become an official suzuki teacher, and grow up to have my very own studio where i can teach wee ones how to play the violin.

really, i couldn't be more thrilled about the whole thing.

i hope you all are well and enjoy your week. i'll be coming back a much more intelligent teacher, violinist, and person, and {hopefully} be back online at home where i can come visit you {i'm confined to the computer at work, which doesn't allow for much leisurely blog surfing}

pendant from papersparrow on etsy

i'm also thinking i may need to reward myself with some violin-themed jewels when i return. sensable, no?

singing the blue(s grass)

i'm related to someone famous.
yup.

and you'll probably never guess who, but she's a famous, award-winning blue-grass singer {and picker} and just a couple years ago i started listening to her. {she's my mom's cousin, so i guess we're second cousins}

i've never {ever ever} been a fan of country music, but i actually have a lot of family background in country/blue grass music. so i guess somehow it runs in my genes. but i'm a classically trained singer and violinist. i've played a lot of fiddle tunes, but it's not what comes naturally. and i definitely don't have that blue grass "twang" when i sing.

but sometimes, just for fun, i play my rhonda vincent real loud in the car {on the way to and from work, way out in the kansan country} and sing even louder. i've mentioned my love of harmony, so i learn all the parts and switch harmonies on every verse {and let me just take a second here to acknowledge that i'm aware that this is super nerdy behavior}

and i've always wanted to play the mandolin. i'm sure i could teach myself the basics, but i can't teach myself how to play blue grass, and until i find a teacher for that, i'll just have to indulge this fantasy through rhonda's backup band.

SUNmer woes

yesterday we spent 3 hours at the pool.

that's 3 hours in direct sun.

and the last thing a sixth-grade girl wants is her babysitter floating around her and her other friends. so needless to say, i spent most of the time on the sidelines, reading, and trying not to turn into a little sizzling piece of bacon.

my solution? buy a big, white, floppy sunhat with a black ribbon {to match my black, pointy-bra, ruched side, '50's esc bathing suit} and channel these images:

i'm not melting away, i'm fabulous...

 i'm not melting away, i'm fabulous... 

 i'm not melting away, i'm fabulous...

 {and maybe a little zooey, too}

all i need is the umbrella! {and sand...and waves...and spray....and the right lighting...}

vintage fairy tale treats

a few weeks ago i left my parents' house with a wonderful treasure. 

some years ago, in the midst of a move, my mom came across a few volumes of berle's self culture- a book series for children printed in 1926.

in a fit of de-cluttering, she didn't want to keep the set, but flipped through the pages and saw these wonderful illustrations and knew they were too good to throw out. so she went through the volume and ripped them all out. and years later she gave them to me {i'm such a lucky girl!}

i had 3 empty frames and the perfect wall space to hang some. choosing which ones to hang was the hard part.

i finally chose these:

 "little bo-ppep has lost her sheep"

"in a wee gilded chariot the king appeared"

 
"mary, mary, quite contrary"

i will definitely be sharing the other pretty pictures too. and while my mom didn't save this volume {i think it must have been literature and fine art because there are several prints of paintings as well} she did save another one: "manners morals and civics". that should be interesting, huh? 

summer means...

painted toes

friendship bracelets 

freckled cheeks

and lots of sunscreen!

  

what does summer mean to you?

envelope project and other mails

i joined the envelope project over at meet me at mike's. 

it's such a cool idea and i can't wait to see what everyone has done. i just wanted to go with something fun and simple, so i didn't go too overboard. i think my envelope turned out kind cute {if i do say so myself!}

i filled it with some trim, and other vintage goodies:

i just sent off my package for tillie's simply delightful package swap,

but i'm keeping the contents quiet until my partner gets hers.

i also finally joined postcrossing! yay! {after thinking about it for months} and just received my first post cards. i love them all:

from verena in germany- she grew up in this town!

from victoria in england

from steve in cali- the title of this piece is "marriage a la mode: a visit to the quack doctor" love it!

from suvi in finland

and have you noticed? i put up a new summer layout <3

paper and design love

i wanted to post a couple adorable new items i've gotten recently.

 first is the sukie iron-on book {from my mom} technically i got it for christmas, but she temporarily lost it until a couple weeks ago when she finally gave it to me. 

 a notepad style book with 30 iron-on transfer pages by british design studio sukie.

 

such cute designs! i've got so many projects planned, i'm excited to get started.

i bought myself this stationary set yesterday. because i decided i needed a treat. 
and it has cupcakes and mustachios- how cute is that?! 
plus, i always stock up on {and make} cards and such, but i don't have any plan ol' stationary so i've had my eye out for something irresistible.

designed Blanca Gòmez. you can see her other {very cool} work at her web site Cosas Mínimas 

 i can't wait to send out some of these cuties!

frog collection: miniature edition

i've mentioned a couple times that i collect frogs {mainly vintage frogs} it's something i've done since i was a little kid. and now i'm finally getting around to showing off my little nerdy collection. these are just the small ones, stashed all over my apartment. {i may have missed a few...} 
large to small

vintage ceramic frog- this year's birthday present from mom 

silver pin- birthday present from mom, way back in high school

 definitely the prettiest {although it's tarnished right now}
it's on display when i'm not wearing it

h

hand-carved wooden frog- christmas present from a childhood friend, way back in middle school. i don't know how i've kept this tiny guy for over 10 years, but i love his red tongue

  hand-crafted silver charm- bought by me from a bazaar in santa fe, way back in high school

one of my all-time favorites. he plays the violin! and i just love all the detailing

silver used-to-be-an-earring tiny frog. i have his brother floating around here too, but he still has the post attached. i wore these everyday my sophomore year of high school

and all together, for a little size reference

i

i've had more over the years, but i only keep the ones i truly adore. 

i feel like i just let my dork out a little. do you collect anything? or am i all alone here...