1
I’ve always kept a small handheld vacuum in my studio to be able to sweep little things quickly (especially eraser junk off the music rack!). Our old Shark, though, got re-assigned to our camper since it had a beater blade on it we can use to sweep the rug.
I tried going without one but really missed it, so I finally went on the hunt.
What was I especially interested in?
- Small and lightweight
- Easy to clean
- A stand it could be stored on
- Minimal attachments – only really useful ones
- Replacement filter so after I wash one, I can replace it while the other one dries.
- Under $50
Here’s the one I went with. It charges on USB and has a little brush attachment that’s useful for gently cleaning around a keyboard or the tuning pins of the grand piano. There’s a tiny little brush intended to help you clean the mini filter, but I used it to brush junk from around the tuning pins so I could sweep better. Right now, it’s on sale for 40% off at a nice $29 price point!
2
Speaking of cleaning the piano, these Guardsman Dusting Cloths (tack-cloths) are great for dusting the piano case.
3
I have always liked keeping track of the repertoire students study for various reasons, but mostly because it’s easy to forget how far you’ve come and all students have done. I recently updated my repertoire tracking sheet and am even happier with the results than before. Sometimes, small changes make a big difference!
4
At the start of the school year, I texted my friend Janna Williamson to ask her advice on the Keith Snell Repertoire Series. I’m happy to announce that she just published a comprehensive video review of the series! I love hearing her thoughts.
5
As you think about your recital(s) for this year, consider some alternative ideas. Chrissy Ricker shares 5 of them in this post: 5 Alternatives to a Formal Piano Recital.
One idea she highlights is a coffeehouse recital. If this interests you, you might find this blog post useful, where I share my experience putting on a coffeehouse recital.
6
Amazon Prime Days is coming up, be sure and check my favorites page for recommended products.
I will highlight one perfectly fitting item as we move into the cooler months.
Twenty years ago, I didn’t know what an electric water kettle was. Now, it’s a staple in my kitchen. The OXO brand one is wonderful! If you’re in a hurry, use it for boiling water (more quickly than on a stovetop). I frequently use it to whip up a cup of stock quickly using bouillon cubs (I use Better than Boullion. Boil water, put a teaspoon of BTB in a 1-cup measure, pour the hot water on top to get the paste off the measuring spoon, and stir!)
7
When you’re feeling the sniffles, start filling that tea cup! Throat coat tea is one of my favorites, especially when I have a sore throat.
8
A podcast episode a recently enjoyed: Decodign Gen-Z slang and Grammar and Pet Peeves with Linguist Anne Curzan. (Rethinking with Adam Grant)
9
Welcome to Autumn!
A playlist for you to enjoy on those crisp walks while working out, cooking dinner, driving the kiddos around, or whoever you enjoy listening to music.
10
A sad update on the availability of Nintendo-themed video game music (Chrissy Ricker).
11
Another podcast episode recommendation: Walking the Creative Path with Emily P. Freeman (Artists for Joy podcast)
12
What is Furikake? (The Kitchn)
I first learned about it when I made my first Sushi Cake (pieced together from a couple of different recipes) for our good friend’s daughter’s graduation back in May.
I had also seen it listed as an optional ingredient for topping Chili Crisp Fried Eggs which has been one of our lunch staples for a good year now. LOL.
P.S. It’s a Japanese seasoning – you can see it sprinkled on the top in the photo.
13
The hurricane weather effect has me gearing up with soups and baking!
Drew’s cousin just had a baby, so I made them Skillet Chicken, Zucchini, and Cheesy Rice (reheats great), Spiced Pumpkin Raisin Cookies (Giada de Laurentis), and Zucchini bread for breakfast the next day. The Zucchini bread recipe from King Arthur Flour is my go-to!
14
My reading list had All the Light We Cannot See on by Anthony Doerr on it for a long time. I really enjoyed his book Four Seasons in Rome and was looking forward to others by him. I’m sad to admit that I could not get into the former book. I think it was just a little too slow of a read for me. I thought the story line was really interesting though and found a lot more enjoyment of the plot by watching the movie on Netflix.
15
10 Things You Think You Need to Organize, but Should Minimize Instead (Becoming Minimalist)
Drew and I have been busy cleaning out our storage rooms so this one hits home! We spend 4 hours one night pulling out everything, going through tubs thoroughly, cleaning the storage space and putting everything back. A week later we did the other have of the storage room which took about 3 hours.
We got rid of a lot of school memorabilia, antiques we purchased on a whim but have no where in our new house to use, and shifted things around on the shelves in a way that better utilized the space.
The entire back of my Jeep was stuffed full of recycling and we had at least two bags of trash on top of that. It felt so good!
Next up is what we call the “work” room behind my studio.
I would share before and afters but as I’ve admitted many times in the past – I’m terrible at remembering to get the before!
