Friday Finds #158: The Spirit of Christmas

December 13, 2019
by Amy
2 Comments

Can I tell you guys how much I enjoy writing these weekly finds? I don’t know why, but it often feels like therapy. Perhaps because it’s almost a way of recapping my own week – things I’ve found interesting, cooked, and discovered?

I was really dragging last night and this morning so, I decided to go out of my normal routine, stay in my P.J.’s a little longer, drink coffee, and write my weekly finds. The coffee in my cup is generally black, but a twit of cream felt like what my soul needed this morning – and it did.

Sometimes just a little change of routine or rest is all we need to give us the energy to do the next task. I’m ready.

 

1

One of my students gifted me with a bag of Cookie Butter Muddy Buddies (Bake Me Some Sugar). That night, I emailed the mom and asked for the recipe – it was that good. #bestpuppychowever

Here are her notes to me:

I always use rice Chex and white chocolate chips, but think cinnamon Chex and/or cinnamon chips would be good, too. It says to shake in a ziploc bag and dry it on a cookie sheet, but I always just do it all in a big bowl and it works just fine. I tossed in some broken up biscoff cookies for something extra, but that’s not necessary. And I’ve tried the generic brand of cookie butter and it doesn’t taste quite as good, in my opinion.

The addition of the biscoff cookies was brilliant and reeeaaaally tasty.

 

2

So, I had a dream two nights ago that included a few colleagues from the piano pedagogy world coming to my house for dinner…

 

3

Shopping local and supporting your local small business? This touching video by a family-owned hardware store says it all. #bestillmyheart (CNN)

 

4

Keeping up with “The Spirit of Christmas” is this one minute peek into this year’s White House Christmas decorations. (American Military News) Beautiful!

 

5

Add this Cranberry Mulled Wine to your holiday recipe list. (I haven’t made it yet myself, but I’m looking forward to it!) (Gimme Some Oven)

 

6

I’m generally assigned the meat for any of my family’s holiday dinners. We like to do turkey for Thanksgiving and ham for Christmas.

If you have a fresh ham, I like Paula Dean’s simple recipe.

If you have a cooked spiral-sliced bone-in ham, I like Cook’s Country’s Maple-Glazed Ham

 

7

I haven’t answered my phone in years. My voicemail states that I do not answer due to spam. Yes, I’m on our state’s do-not-call list, but it doesn’t make a difference. It’s not just me: How Robocalls Became America’s Most Prevalent Crime (The Week)

 

8

Recent winning recipes from my table to yours:

Ground Beef Taco Casserole (The Kitchn)

I would call this the best recipe I found this month! We used it on top of romaine lettuce as a taco salad and it was absolutely delicious. I will never make taco salad again simply using taco-seasoned ground beef. The pinto beans in this recipe really add a nice thick and creamy texture. It would be good as a hot dip as well!

Maple-Mustard Chicken (Mother Thyme)

Two tips: First, I would just mix together the chicken marinade then toss the chicken it rather than putting the chicken on top of the veggies then pouring the marinade it on top and turning to coat. Also, I would cut the potatoes into smaller sizes – like a 1/2 inch dice. They were still a little crunchy by the time the chicken was done.

Baked Chicken Thighs with Brussels and Sweet Potato (Skinny Taste)

The Best Energy Bites (Mel’s Kitchen Cafe)

 

9

The tile work is finishing up in our master bathroom so we’re getting ready to finally move out of a basement bedroom and into our master suite!

I’ve been on a heavy lookout for decorations and furnishings for the house in general (finally, the fun stuff!) and am loving these websites:

Overstock.com – Duvet Cover

Hayneedle.com – Card Display Holder

HobbyLobby.com – Gray Wire-Lined Basket Set

Wayfair.com (has several sites under its umbrella):

Joss&Main.com
BirchLane.com – Peachy Queen Upholstered Standard Bed
AllModern.com

 

Please note that Piano Pantry is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Simply put, being an associate allows me to make a small percentage from Amazon on items to which I link at no extra cost to you.

Friday Finds #157

December 6, 2019
by Amy
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Another week of goodies from one fellow piano teacher to another!

 

1

A music theory parody on the “The Christmas Song” (a.k.a. Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire).

 

2

Get some winter-themed Japanese erasers to use as manipulatives over the next few months in your studio!

Kids go crazy over any kind of Japanese eraser. (Plus, they think you’re the coolest when you have fun little things like this!)

3

Those awesome erasers are just one of several items on my “minimalist list” of piano teacher must-haves. (Amy Chaplin | Piano Pantry)

 

4

Felt mistletoe on Etsy. So cute!

 

5

Generally, our tree and decorations go up the weekend after Thanksgiving, but this year due to various reasons, we’re delayed in the decorating festivities.

When Mr. Evergreen finally makes it into our living room though, I’m going to utilize these tips on How to Decorate a Christmas Tree Like a Pro (Williams Sonoma).

 

6

Let’s work to stay healthy over the holidays so we can enjoy it!

Germ-Alert: A Studio Teachers Guide to Staying Healthy (Amy Chaplin | Piano Pantry)

 

7

Here’s what I made with our Thanksgiving leftovers this year.

Potato Cakes: Mix 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes, with one egg (beaten), salt & pepper, 1/2 c. shredded parmesan or cheddar, and minced chives or scallions. Using 1/3 cup serving, form into a ball then flatten into a patty. Fry in a cast-iron skillet until golden. Serve with a dollop of sour cream.

Turkey Noodles: Bring 2 quarts leftover turkey broth (made by simmering the turkey bones in water) to a boil, add one large bag of noodles, 1 t. salt and 1/2 t. pepper. Bring back to a boil then simmer for 20 minutes or until the noodles are done and the broth has reduced. Add leftover turkey, chopped. Simmer for 10 minutes to heat through.

 

8

A fun Instagram account to follow: NYT Cooking Comments.

 

9

The Dark Cloud of December (Sara E. Westfall)

 

10

December Fun: Christmas Games and Activities for Your Studio (Amy Chaplin | Piano Panty)

 

11

Hershey knows how to do it. #holidaylove

Which one is your favorite?

 

Please note that Piano Pantry is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Simply put, being an associate allows me to make a small percentage from Amazon on items to which I link at no extra cost to you.

December Fun: Christmas Games and Activities for Your Studio

December 5, 2019
by Amy
2 Comments

Are you looking for ideas on fun “off-bench” activities to use in this Christmas season? Look no further! Today, I’m going to share some of my favorite games and resources that I return to year after year, along with tips for each one.

First, let me briefly share how I store my holiday games. We have to stay organized, right?

Storing Games (Both Hard-Copy and Digital)

Inspired by Nicola Canton I’ve started storing my holiday-themed games in these clear plastic document folders.

(P.S. The A4 size is nice because if you laminate a letter-size sheet, the lamination makes it larger.)

It’s not a cheap way to store games as they’re almost $1 apiece, so I’m currently only storing my holiday-themed games in these. The rest of my games are stored in hanging files in a file drawer. (I’ll write a post on that another day!)

The digital files are stored in my cloud file manager.

From there, I name files for what they are. This allows me to see how many games, for example, I have, how many worksheets, etc.

Favorite Christmas-Themed Activities

In no particular order…

Holiday Rhythm Cups from Wendy Stevens at Compose Create.

This is a great way to have fun with rhythm in a unique and collaborative way. The set includes three songs in three levels: Deck the Halls, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and Joy to the World.

Check out a clip of my students having fun with “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.”

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Giving Tuesday: 10 Music-Based Organizations to Consider

November 30, 2019
by Amy
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In light of the upcoming global cause called #GivingTuesday, I thought I would share with you a list of 10 organizations that we as music teachers could consider supporting as we approach the end of the year.

First of all, I was curious and did a little research on this initiative and wanted to share some fun facts:

  • It is held the Tuesday following the U.S. Thanksgiving.
  • Giving Tuesday was started in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation.
  • The movement was a response to the rise in commercialization and consumerism during the post-Thanksgiving season (a.k.a. Black Friday and Cyber Monday).
  • The hash-tag (#) makes it empowering via social media.
  • There’s a whole website dedicated to #GivingTuesday!
  • It’s not just about donating money but about encouraging people to find a way to give back – whether that’s monetarily or simply of your time.

 

Presented in alphabetical order, here are ten organizations working for the betterment of our musical world. (In order to give you the most accurate description of each of these organizations, the descriptions have been taken directly from their website.)

Disclaimer: This list is simply based on research. I am not being paid by any of these organizations nor do not have experience donating to all of these organizations. Always do further research so you know where your investment is going!

 

#1 Give A Note Foundation

Give A Note Foundation was created to bring awareness to the importance of music education and to nurture, grow, and strengthen music education opportunities—for every student, every school, and every community. Because music not only offers students the chance to develop creativity and self-expression, but also builds skills such as communication, collaboration, and critical thinking that are necessary for success.

#MusicEdMatters

Visit: giveanote.org

 

#2 Hungry for Music

At Hungry for Music, our mission is putting quality musical instruments into hungry hands. We serve children who demonstrate a desire to learn music, as well as teachers who have students willing to learn.

In 25 years, we’ve delivered more than 13,000 instruments to children in 49 states and 30 countries.

Visit: HungryforMusic.org

 

#3 MTNA Foundation Fund

The Music Teachers National Association uses the Foundation Fund to expand its mission through a variety of grants and awards to deserving music teachers and their students.

More than $150,000 in grants and awards each year for:

  • Competition Prizes for the winners of the MTNA Student Competitions
  • Collegiate Grants for the professional development of Collegiate members
  • Program Development Grants for music organizations to use as seed money in their quest for larger-scale funding
  • Community Engagement Grants for programs and projects designed to be used by affiliates to engage the local community in musical events
  • Teacher Enrichment Grants for MTNA members to pursue needed professional development opportunities
  • Affiliate Enrichment Grants for local and state MTNA affiliates to develop educational and professional development projects and programs
  • Composer Commissioning Program for MTNA state affiliates to commission new music to be featured at the state conferences

Visit: mtnafoundation.org

 

#4 Music Link Foundation

Our Mission: Any child who has musical potential deserves the opportunity to nurture this talent to its full extent. Many children lack the chance to receive music lessons due to financial need. The MusicLink Foundation reaches out to low-income families by linking these students with professional music teachers willing to reduce their fees to make the lessons more affordable for the child.

Note: The MusicLink Foundation does not reimburse teachers for this scholarship donation, but supports them in a variety of ways.

Visit: www.musiclinkfoundation.org

 

#5 Music Unites

Music Unites is the leading non-profit charity organization supporting music education around the world. Music Unites partners with music stars, celebrity ambassadors and music sponsors to promote music projects and events at local schools – educating kids through music. Music Unites is a music foundation that empowers children through donations from individuals, foundation partners, organization events and music education projects. Along with our music partners, musicunites.org features news, events, video and press of the organization. Special charity partners have supported the Music Unites Foundation while guiding youth towards planning achievable goals for the future. Music Unites feature workshops with ambassadors such as Swizz Beats, John Forte, Sting, Gary Clark Jr., and more.

Visit: https://www.facebook.com/MusicUnitesOrg/

 

#6 The NAMM Foundation

The NAMM Foundation advances active participation in music-making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and public service programs.

A supporting organization of NAMM, the National Association of Music Merchants, the NAMM Foundation is funded through trade association activities and donations.

Visit: nammfoundation.org

 

#7 National Association for Music Education

National Association for Music Education (NAfME), among the world’s largest arts education organizations, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. NAfME advocates at the local, state, and national levels; provides resources for teachers, parents, and administrators; hosts professional development events; and offers a variety of opportunities for students and teachers. The Association orchestrates success for millions of students nationwide and has supported music educators at all teaching levels for more than a century

Visit: nafme.org/

 

#8 Pianos For Education

Pianos for Education supports piano education by loaning quality pianos to institutions…

…In pursuit of that goal, we have over time expanded our programs to seek out deserving institutions and organizations that lack the financial resources to acquire and maintain adequate inventories of quality pianos for their music-education curriculums. We also accept applications from private piano teachers and studios in need of piano loans for their students’ studies. All of our loan programs include regular service and maintenance throughout the term of the loan.

Visit: pianosforeducation.org

 

#9 Pianos for Peace

This program gives talented but disadvantaged young people the opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge to actively contribute to the development of their communities…

…We encourage and support students to become “Ambassadors for Peace” to build bridges and heal communities through creative, educational and cultural exchange programs. Target groups include children, students, refugees, and deserving academic institutions.

At Pianos For Peace, we are achieving peace starting with the individual, to the community and the world.

Visit: pianosforpeace.org

 

#10 Pianos for People

Pianos for People inspires successful futures by providing free access to the transformational power of the piano.   For families and individuals with limited resources, we break down financial barriers and leverage the piano as a gateway to empowerment, community, and self-esteem. In an environment of support, inclusiveness, and equality, we do this four ways:

Inspiration:  Free Pianos
Education:  Free Lessons and Workshops
Community:  Free Special Events
Enrichment:  Free Summer Music Camps

Visit: pianosforpeople.org

 

I’m sure there are many, many more organizations out there that would benefit from our generosity on #GivingTuesday. If you know of any other organizations that work to support music education, please feel free to share in the comments!

 

Friday Finds #156

November 29, 2019
by Amy
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Hello, my friends!

How are you feeling? Are you bursting at the belt? Feeling lethargic? Sleepy because you got up at 2 am to go Black Friday shopping?

No matter what state you’re in today, let’s welcome the day for what it is and take a moment to focus on gratitude.

 

1

“Gratitude is where every positive attitude starts.” -Michael Hyatt and Daniel Harkavy

“It is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” -Dietrich Bonhoffer

 

2

A beautiful rendition of “Give Thanks” by Philipp Keveren & David Angell (Spotify)

 

3

Make Your Life Better by Saying Thank You in These 7 Situations (James Clear)

 

4

The Gift of Today – Lessons from a Monk (Michael Hyatt)

 

5

How a 17-Year Old is Helping to Feed 12,000 Homeless People

 

6

Life lessons: Man in Wheelchair Takes Head Coaching Job with “Let Me Run”

 

7

Is it Time for Us to Rethink How We Give Gifts? (Joshua Becker | Becoming Minimalist)

 

8

“Remember, the holidays are like a magnifying glass. Everything feels bigger during this season.” (Mary Carver | Incourage.me)

 

9

Advent, the Birth of Christ is Too Big for One Day (Ed Stetzer | Christianity Today)

 

10

Five Holiday Movies Worth Bingeing This Season

We always manage to watch White Christmas at least once (usually while wrapping presents). I generally catch at least one or two Hallmark Christmas moves.

Share some of your favorite Christmas movies in the comments!

~Amy

 

Please note that Piano Pantry is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Simply put, being an associate allows me to make a small percentage from Amazon on items to which I link at no extra cost to you.

Email Madness: Three Tips for Managing Your Inbox

November 26, 2019
by Amy
2 Comments

You know who you are.

As soon as you read the title of this post you thought: “Busted!”

As independent teachers, not only do we get daily correspondence both personally and for our studios, but you likely get weekly emails from multiple professional organizations and website subscriptions.

Does your email Inbox have a big fat red number kind of like this (give or take a few thousand)? 🙂

Some of you may be nodding your head in agreement, raising your hand in confession, and some of you may be having anxiety seeing such a large number because you are already on a path of email management called “Inbox zero.” If you’re the latter, then kudos to you!

There are three major tips that I want to share with you today on how to manage your email and the first begins with the modern productivity term “Inbox zero.”

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Friday Finds #155

November 22, 2019
by Amy
3 Comments

Turkey day is just around the corner!

We have more than 25 days to enjoy our next holiday. Can we vow to put aside the excitement for what’s to come and give the next few days to the important celebration at hand? Hope so. 🙂

Have a great holiday week, everyone!

 

1

I’ve been working on a Thanksgiving playlist on Spotify this week.

Some of my favorites on the playlist include:

  • All Meat and No Potatoes (Louis Armstrong)
  • Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie (Jay & The Techniques)
  • Everybody Eats When They Come to My House (Cab Calloway)
  • Let’s Turkey Trot (Little Eva)
  • Mashed Potato Trot (Dee Dee Sharp)
  • Simple Living (Keith & Kristyn Getty)

Oh, who am I kidding…I love them all!! You’ll just have to listen and be delighted. 🙂

2

Watch 2018 National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman Perform her Thanksgiving Poem (CBS This Morning)

 

3

The Thanksgiving Reader for your gathering. (Seth Godin)

 

4

Feed Yourself: On diets, Bingeing and Abundance (Addie Zierman)

My favorite snippet from this article:

What does my body actually need – and is it the same as what your body needs? Is it possible for the soul to require chocolate or chicken soup even if the body itself doesn’t?…

What about joy? What about taste and texture and beauty and decadence? What about the way that food is all knotted around memories and emotions and nostalgia and fear?

What about lemonade bought from the neighbor kids on the way home from work? What about the pancakes served by the community Lion’s club or the Jell-O salad served by the church ladies or family pizza night?

To refuse these foods may save you calories, but does it cost you something else, something more precious, something more sustaining even than the food itself?

 

5

Just for fun, here are a few music-themed Thanksgiving jokes.

  • What’s the musical part of the turkey? The Drumstick
  • What kind of music did Pilgrim teenagers like? Plymouth Rock
  • What key do composers never write music in? Tur-key
  • What were the piano teacher’s two favorite foods at the Thanksgiving dinner? TurKEY and KEY lime pie!

 

6

Overcoming Envy (Joshua Becker | Becoming Minimalist)

 

7

After Receiving a Touching Piece of Fan Mail, Author Asks Teen to Collaborate on a Book (The Week)

 

8

These Nature Valley Breakfast Biscuits are the bomb! I try to not keep too many pre-packaged things like this around but these are soooo hard to resist! They also have a peanut butter version but they’re not half as good as the almond butter ones!

 

9

Put your order in this week for your advent calendar! Oh, so many to choose from.

I don’t normally purchase advent calendars like this but decided to have a little fun this year and decided to splurge on #7, Williams Sonoma’s Peppermint Bark Advent Calendar. I looovvveee their peppermint bark.

 

10

What about Advent Reading? Every year I have intentions to do advent reading but it never happens as I want. This year, I’m determined it will be different.

I’ve had this link saved in my Evernote account to help me decide on a book: 5 books for Advent Reading. They all sound incredibly good, but the first one made it into my Amazon cart for this year. I’m still keeping it bookmarked for years to come!

 

Do you do an advent calendar or reading each year? If so, what are your favorites? Share in the comments!

~Amy

 

Please note that Piano Pantry is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Simply put, being an associate allows me to make a small percentage from Amazon on items to which I link at no extra cost to you.

Friday Finds #154

November 15, 2019
by Amy
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We’re not quite to Thanksgiving yet, but if it’s not already on your mind you might be scrambling!

Over the next week, I plan on finalizing all my plans for Thanksgiving dinner. I’ll look forward to sharing a list of what makes it onto our table!

As far as my studio goes, Thanksgiving week used to be group week but now I’m using it as a week “off” with only Monday students scheduled as a make-up for not having a lesson on Labor Day.

On Tuesday of that week, I’m excited to try something new! I offered an open “monitored” practice hour. I have four keyboards, so four students will come for one hour and I will rotate between them every five minutes or so. Four session times were made available to families: 3:00, 4:00, 5:00, 6:00.

If this goes well, I think this would be an excellent thing to do a few times a year and am looking forward to feedback from parents and students on whether they would like having more of these available.

Do you teach the week of Thanksgiving, take off, or hold group classes? If the latter, this week’s list is kicked off with a few Thanksgiving-themed items to get you started!

 

1

Two games from Susan Paradis: Chasing the Turkey and Save the Turkey

From Wendy Stevens: Melodic dictation of Thanksgiving tunes and Pumpkin pie listening thermometers

 

2

Thanksgiving sheet music for piano:

Now Thank We All Our God arranged by Leila Viss is currently on sale. Get is for single-use or as a studio license.

A Thanksgiving Prayer (elementary solo) by Wendy Stevens

 

3

As you’re making your own plans for the upcoming holidays, check out my holiday favorites list of favorite recipes, tools, Christmas albums, and more!

 

4

If we were lucky enough to have a Trader Joe’s near us, I would be all over these mini Almond Florentine Cones filled with a creamy cheesecake filling. (The Kitchn)

 

5

A new culture term: Self-Partnered: The Sudden, Surprising Rise of the Single Positivity Movement (The Guardian)

 

6

Piano Safari just released their Older Student Level 3 books.

 

7

Amazon’s early holiday deals for the home kitchen.

The best thing on that list in my opinion is
#5 Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Food Storage Container 4.7 Cup (4-pack). Normally $23 on sale for $18.

I have one of the 9.6 cup containers as well and LOVE it. They have a three-pack of these on sale – normally $30 cut down to $23.

 

8

Yep, I’m a part of this so-named “micro-generation.” (Jorrie Varnie | Sammiches & Psych Meds)

 

9

Music Learning Theory basics made EASY. (Robin Giebelhausen)

 

10

Home cooking rocks. Consider making one of these in your kitchen.

Helen Corbitt’s Neiman Marcus Chicken Salad (Saveur)

I’m very picky about my chicken salads. This one is a favorite. My other favorite is this Avocado Chicken Salad from Simply Recipes.

Soba Noodle Salad (Giada de Laurentiis)

Delicious but a little spicier than I would like. Next time I’ll only use one teaspoon of wasabi paste instead of two. Also, I thought it was a little to saucy so maybe start with 2/3-3/4 of the sauce and add more if you think it needs it. I also added some cubed cold shrimp.

Spiced Pumpkin-Raisin Cookies (Giada de Laurentiis)

These cookies pack a slight yummy crunch as they use sugar in the raw instead of white or brown sugar. They’re a staple in my fall cookie repertoire! P.S. They’re vegan!

 

Please note that Piano Pantry is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Simply put, being an associate allows me to make a small percentage from Amazon on items to which I link at no extra cost to you.

Friday Finds #153

November 8, 2019
by Amy
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My piano tuner finally got in this morning to tune my “new” Yamaha C2 grand piano I bought back in August. The word new is in quotes of course because it was manufactured in 1993 – but it looks like new and is new to me!

We got our wires crossed on the day and while I was sitting on the spa chair getting my toes ready for winter boots (a.k.a. a pedicure), he calls.

“Uh-oh,” I tell my pedicurist, “it’s my piano tuner.” I’ll bet he’s at my house waiting on me.

Sure enough…

Luckily, out in the country, we leave our doors unlocked so I told him to just go on in and leave me the bill. I confessed however that I was disappointed I wouldn’t get to talk to him because I wanted to see what he thought of my new piano. Minutes later I got this text:

“I like it already. Very powerful in octaves five and six where we have trouble with most pianos tone quality. Good tone and feel all the way around, nice purchase!”

Yea! My piano tuner approves! LOL.

Hold your tuner dear to your heart.

 

1

Reflecting on Nearly 3 Decades of Teaching: What Has Worked (Laura Lowe | The Piano Studio)

 

2

My favorite cutting boards: OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Cutting Board Set. Only $19.99 on Amazon.

If you haven’t replaced your cutting boards in several years. Consider doing so – they get so yucky!

 

3

After Five Decades of Pushing Bachelors Degrees, U.S. Needs More Trades People (PBS)

Surprise, surprise.

 

4

How to Steal a Website (Janna Carlson | StudioRocketWebDesign.com)

Something we all need to hear.

 

5

My favorite furniture polish: The Original Bee’s Wax Old World Formula Furniture Polish

Keep a bottle under your kitchen sink and under each bathroom cabinet for easy access to wipe down/clean wood cabinets. Keep an old cotton rag with it so cleaning feels quick and easy!

 

6

In France, Elder Care Comes With the Mail: Carriers for La Poste Have a New Job: Checking in on the Aged (The New Yorker)

Hmmm…very interesting!

 

7

“What’s the difference between Late Elementary and Early Intermediate? What the heck is Big Note anyway, and why is Easy Piano NOT easy??”

Get this awesome free leveling chart, courtesy of Carol Matz!

 

8

Now, THIS is kind of fun! 🙂

4 Kathleen Kelly Looks with 9 Key You’ve Got Mail Wardrobe Pieces (Kelle Hampton)

 

9

A great big hearty congratulations go out to Tim Topham as he re-brands TimTopham.com to TopMusicCo to reach an even wider musical community!

 

10

Good news in the world.

Songs for Kids: A Prescription for Healing (CBS News)

 

11

It’s that time of year my freezer was ready to stock with some homemade goodness – chicken stock, that is!

Ina Garten’s is my favorite. Last Saturday our house smelled soooo good!

Frittata with Tuna and Tomatoes (Giada de Laurentiis | Giada’s Feel Good Food)

I never thought about making a frittata with tuna in it! What a nice and different way to get more seafood in your diet! I served an arugula salad on the side tossed in a light mustard vinaigrette and parmesan cheese.

Best Yogurt Parfait Ever (Ree Drummond | Pioneer Woman)

The ladies at my husband’s work always request this when they have a carry-in.

Turkey, Kale, and Brown Rice Soup (Giada de Laurentiis | Giada’s Feel Good Food)

One of my absolute favorites and a great way to get some greens in your diet! Drew likes soups that are less “soupy” and more “stewy” so I doubled the ground turkey and brown rice and it made a nice thick soup.

 

Tell me, what’s the winning find for you from this week?

~Amy

 

Please note that Piano Pantry is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Simply put, being an associate allows me to make a small percentage from Amazon on items to which I link at no extra cost to you.

Friday Finds #152

November 1, 2019
by Amy
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1

Important!

10 Safety Protocols for the Independent Music Teacher (Jennifer Foxx | Music Educator Resources)

Why You Need a Piano Studio Child Protection Policy and Plan (Rebekah Maxner)

 

2

James Clear’s hit book “Atomic Habits” is now on sale on Amazon for 40% off!

 

 

3

How Much Should My Child Practice? (Samantha Coates | BlitzBooks)

 

4

Short and Funny (Seth Godin | Seth’s Blog)

It’s literally two sentences. Read it. We all need a little more of this simple logic in our lives.

 

5

Lance Crackers: Gluten-Free-Baked-Original.

Best. Crackers. Ever. They don’t need a topper – they’re good just on their own. I don’t eat them for the sake of gluten-free but for the sake of yumminess!

Thanks to Joy Morin for introducing these to me!

6

Why You Never See Your Friends Anymore: Our unpredictable and overburdened schedules are taking a dire toll on American society. (The Atlantic)

 

7

Just this past week, I started receiving my Amazon orders using what’s called “Amazon Day”. This is a new Prime-member service that allows you to schedule your deliveries to come on the same day of the week to help minimize shipments and thus waste. (Business Insider)

 

8

How Tobasco Sauce is Made (Insider)

 

9

My Favorite Christmas Resources for Piano Teachers (Tracy Selle)

 

10

A Season of Excess (Joshua Becker | Becoming Minimalist)

 

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A few items we dined on this past week:

Apple, Pecan, and Blue Cheese Salad (Ree Drummond Pioneer Woman)

Psst…we used the really stinky Roquefort blue cheese! Yum!

Farfalle (a.k.a. bowtie pasta) with Chicken, Mushrooms, and Swiss Chard (Giada de Laurentiis)

I used the recipe out of her cookbook Feel Good Food. It calls for 1 lb. sliced cremini mushrooms which I would prefer over dried porcini’s as the linked recipe uses. You basically would just skip step 1 in the linked recipe if you use fresh mushrooms and sautee them with the shallots before adding the liquid to make the sauce.

*This is so, so good! It has great flavor. Like anything, it’s even better if you use homemade chicken stock instead of store-bought.

Cauliflower Gratin (Ina Garten | Barefoot Contessa)

If I were to make this again, I would completely forego the nutmeg. Yuck. It’s just not my thing in savory dishes.

Blueberry Lime Oatmeal Muffins (Lisa Fain | Homesick Texan)

 

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