Change of Plans

 -  Blogmas  Day   Seven  . Normal  Work  Day  .   Shopping  Small  Biz  -

Hi everyone! Blogmas day seven isn't exactly going to be as exciting or festive as I originally was expecting it to be. Originally, this evening was supposed to be my Church small group's Christmas party. I was looking forward to preparing food for it and sharing pictures of this evening's event with you all but unfortunately, the party has been postponed due to illness of the host. So, ill be praying for the host in the meantime and you all can just look forward to a post in the future regarding our Christmas party.
It ended up being a fairly normal day. I worked- taught two private lessons, and then a ballet technique class, followed by a short pre-pointe class at Cavod's Manheim location. With only a week and a half left until Christmas break for the kids, it is always a fun time of the year to be teaching. I feel at ease with my lesson planning mostly all set, up until the final day before break, The kids are buzzing with excitement in anticipation of Christmas vacation, and while we haven't quite gotten there yet, Christmas music rings through the studios and halls of our school. Who can't help getting caught up in the Christmas cheer in that kind of setting!
I headed to Manheim early today so before teaching, I stopped by one of my FAVORITE local small businesses, Prussian Street Arcade! It is a super cute artisan craft market featuring the most one-of-a-kind, high quality, beautiful homemade crafts, home decor, as well as fashion boutique and antique items! They have a little something for everyone. I love coming here to shop but also to just walk around and be inspired! Today I sauntered through just to get some ideas on what I want to do for some last minute Christmas gifts I still need to get. I suppose it is not too last minute yet... The rest of this blog entry will feature pictures I snapped of certain vendor booths and items that stood out to me. Enjoy!

"I wish life wasn't so expensive, and dogs lived longer, and leftover french fries 
still tasted good heated up"

I spotted these cute little guys at Sweet Arrows Co.'s Booth.

...maybe someday I will have a booth of my own. 💭 #dreaming

Though I am sad our Christmas party got canceled, I must admit, it is extremely nice having a quiet Wednesday evening home early this week; Actually getting to eat dinner at a normal hour! (Whereas usually I teach lessons right through dinner time and eat once I get home, OR have church small group on Wednesdays). I have been in great need of a "Selah". With all of the engagements, Christmas preparations, and general holiday bustling that has kept me busy the past couple of weeks, I think this might be the first time in a WHILE that I get to actually pause, read a good book, and wind down early tonight. I am praising the Lord for this unexpected unplanned evening of relaxation! I hope your able to get some soon too! All the best,
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Blogmas Day Four In Snapshots

  You know it has been a long day when my blog entries consist of more photos than text. After a long day (and weekend!), sometimes just doing a photo dump and going to bed early is what is best! I began my day with church, then attended and helped host a graduation party for a close friend. following that, I attended a neat show done by Piercing Word called "The Advent of Christmas". Piercing Word is a really neat Theatrical Ministry in Lancaster PA that puts on musicals with scripts consisting of only all memorized biblical scripture. It is pretty interesting and impressive. Before ending my day at home composing this blog entry and winding down for the night, I ended my day out back at church for our annual tree lighting event, in which I volunteered to help the kids make ornaments for it! Now I'm pooped, and ready to turn in for the night. Peace and Blessings.

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A little quiet time to start the day before I hit the ground running...

Happy Blogmas !

-Signing out!
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• December Bucketlist
• It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas- Day Two
• Crazy Blogmas Day Three

“Balance” is for the Birds...

Hello Friends! I'm back! Please excuse the dust and cobwebs that have accumulated here while I've been gone. I have truly dropped the ball with posting regularly for you all, and while I have really been desiring to just hop on here and post something, I have just been SO busy! I can't tell you how many times I've "written" this blog post in my brain, but simply wasn't able to find the time to sit down in front of a computer and get it published. And now, so much has happened since we last met together, I don't even know where to start with sharing it all. 

... I never imagined that this new season of life would be as busy as it is, but I guess that is my fault. My transition from Mississippi to Pennsylvania- from a life of touring and performing professionally as a ballet dancer with Ballet Magnificat, to now doing life as a ballet teacher, has been going rather smoothly. But where I was expecting for my workload to be lightened this season, I am now realizing it isn't going to happen, at least not until the school year that I'm locked into is over. Upon arriving in Lancaster PA this past August, I hit the ground running with my various teaching jobs, which luckily, were opportunities lined up for me prior to me even moving. Within only weeks of being back in Lancaster, I was able to land myself into this affordable and adorable little loft apartment of mine, which I still need to share pictures of with you!

I absolutely LOVE my jobs at Silver Spring Dance Conservatory and the Cavod Academy of the Arts. I teach five days a week in the evenings and alternate every other day at each school. I have fallen in love with ALL of my students and can only hope they feel the same way about me! On top of all the teaching I do in the evenings, I have acquired a morning job too, to help ends meet, a prayer request answered from a previous blog post. Thank you to all those of you that joined me in prayer over the matter! I am proud to share, in the mornings I am the front desk receptionist for the Inn at Kitchen Kettle Village and cross-train in housekeeping, a most ideal morning job offering the exact hours I was praying for and conveniently located not far from where I live! And working there is SO FUN! I am so pleased with things! Life is good, and God truly has supplied all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Phil.4:19)

If you are local or just passing through, Kitchen Kettle Village is a must-stop tourist attraction, self described as "showcasing all that Lancaster County has to offer — homemade baked goods, jams and relishes, good food with unexpected touches and charming one-of-a-kind overnight lodging in a picturesque countryside. Also famous for our unique shopping experience, featuring 40 distinct merchants offering everything from locally-made art, pottery and PA Dutch quilts to name-brand favorites like Brighton, PANDORA Jewelry, UGG and Minnetonka moccasins. Spend the day and/or night. With plenty of things to do in the Village and around PA Dutch County, Kitchen Kettle make it easy to plan a great trip to Lancaster, PA."

One prayer request that has not yet been met is my desire to find balance- balance in my working vs. resting, pouring out vs. making time for being filled... but as of late I've been starting to believe that this is a prayer request not meant to be met. After listening to this sermon by Church of the City New York, I've been convinced that the idea of balance in life is simply an unattainable social construct, and that seeking after balance in our day is NOT as crucial as just seeking the Lord and what his will is for our day, and then following through. BUT, maybe it would be helpful for you to know what I was defining balance as. To me, a perfectly balanced life would be perfectly predictable, consistent, manageable, controlled days where work is complimented perfectly by an equivalent amount of rest. I've come to realize that just isn't realistic. That is just not how life works. And when I think about it, it certainly would not be an accurate description of the life of Jesus, which is the life we all model our own after, isn't it? 

My problem is that I am a workaholic, and changing locations from one state to another is not going to change that. Balance is not the answer either. I can and should be more strategic with how I spend my time and more intentional with scheduling margins and periods of rest into my days and weeks (I could prepare a whole spiel on what I'm learning about why rest is so important but that is a topic for another day), but ultimately, I'm learning that, going about my day, I simply need to be more yielding to the Holy Spirit, and then whatever the state-of-being is that I am seeking, will come. 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

 ~ Matthew 11:28-30

Give the sermon a listen! I would love to know what you think about this? Feel free to let us know in the comment section down below because I know fellow readers and I would love to know your thoughts! Let's start discussion! 

With that being said, Anywho anyhow, 😏 I have no regrets making the move! I surprisingly don't miss dancing professionally much at all. Teaching ballet keeps me enough in the realm of physical activity, music, and creating, it helps with the transition. Not to mention, after more than an exhausting decade of striving to be good enough in dance (so worth it but...), I am ready to pass the baton. No longer a "missionary/starving artist", I have never been more financially independent and not rich but stable, in all my life, not that money is everything, but I am enjoying it- this blessing from the Lord. I have also been attending Crossway Church of Millersville which I am excited to become a member of. I enjoy their scripture based teaching, and hospitable welcoming atmosphere. 

Looking back on this past semester, I know I have lots to thank the Lord for. I have so much room for growth as a ballet teacher but I know that will come with time. I am really looking forward to the opportunities coming up next semester, such as choreographing and master class teaching which I know will only help with the growing process. Though this Occupied Optimist has kept rather busy these past couple of months with my other jobs, my sewing business has managed to stay afloat! Despite the busy schedule, I feel like I have a better handle on things now. I hope to give a bit more attention to Lilly's Creations again, and blogging! I have so many good recipes I've been wanting to share with you since I have more time to cook now as well as fun stories, and things God has been teaching me that I want to share with you so stay tuned! 

  

If you're new to my blog welcome!!! And if you're not, well then welcome back!!! Thank you for stopping by my blog today and sticking around to  reach the end of this post! Let me know down below what you enjoyed about it and what you would like to hear more about! Things are just getting  restarted/revamped around here! Make sure to stick around. The fun has just begun!
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10 Things to do this Summer

With a two-week vacation before me and the whole month of June before the Ballet Magnificat summer camp gets rolling, there is a lot of things I would like to do, get done, and accomplish!

Places to go, people to see, fun to be had!

#1 Explore Lancaster. Being that I am from Lancaster, PA, I have never really done the touristy things and have not taken advantage of all the sights that there are to see. I want to explore all that Lancaster has to offer so that when people ask me what all is cool in Lancaster, I will actually be prepared to provide a good answer, backed up with real personal experience!

#2 Visit old friends. while back in my hometown for two weeks, I want to make an effort to catch up with some good ole' friends from high school. 

#3 Swimming. I don't care when or where, but I need to set aside time to soak up some sun and go swimming! I don't see myself making a trip to the coast anytime soon so, anybody got a pool?

#4 Knockout my summer reading list. With all the time I have on this two-week break, I should be able to at least finish the one book I've started in January. Check out my summer reading list HERE.

#5 Continue in my studies of Spanish.  Many of you may or may not know that I am really enthusiastic about learning the language of Spanish. It is a life long goal to be able to speak Espanol fluently. I have been using an awesome program online provided by SpanishDictonary.com called 'Fluencia'. Sometime I would like to make a blog post featuring all the different online tools I like to use for learning Spanish. I had to slow down with my studies because life got pretty busy, but now that Summer is here, I should be able to pick it back up again! 

#6 Make smores. Before things get too muggy and buggy in Mississippi, I would love to roast marshmallows in the backyard and make smores! 

#7 Visit Le Fleur's Bluff State Park. This is a park in Mississippi that I would like to visit that is not far from where I live. Mississippistateparks.reserveamerica.com describes LeFleur's Bluff State Park as a lush green spot in the heart of urban Jackson, stating that in addition to camping, fishing, picnic spots and nature trails, the 305-acre park features a nine-hole golf course and a driving range. There is a 50 cent entry fee, but the group of friends I have who have been there before and recommended me going, said that it was beautiful and worth paying for!

#8 Sewing. There are a few sewing projects I have pinned on Pinterest that I would really love to try this summer. Not to mention that I have a few skirts laying around that I have been dying to transform into ballet skirts when I've got the time! 



#9 Design new earrings. I've been planning some new designs for my signature soda tab earrings. I have ordered some new charms and have some fun new colors in for summer. Now I just need to sit down and take time to paint, assemble, and create them! Keep your eyes peeled for some new arrivals in my Shop. I will most likely also be selling them at Belhaven again this summer; from the Gillespie Dorms during the first session, and Caldwell the second session.

#10 Coloring. Now you know you have some time on your hands when you can sit down and pause for some coloring! I love coloring! It is as mindlessly creative as one can get. Relaxing and therapeutic, I am not talking about coloring in those new-aged, intricate, adult coloring books, but what I love coloring in are the good ole' fashioned books with the bold lines; the Disney princess coloring books, Hello Kitty, or Barbie; using the fat crayons! You have to use the fat crayons! There is one new coloring book I am interested purchasing. It is called Color Me Cluttered. This book contains pictures of objects and scenes from the home that I think I would enjoy coloring. The pictures seem rather stimulating, considering that there are many hidden objects to be found lost in the details of each scene, almost serving as 'I Spy'!

Happy  Summer!  

Thanks for reading friends,

What summer ideas do you have in mind? Please Share!

comment, follow, subscribe, and don't be shy! 

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