Happy New Year's Eve!

It’s my tradition here on the blog to share a year-in-review post on December 31—a look back on the highlights and the things we learned, made, and experienced during the year.

2023 was a challenging year in a lot of ways, but also a year of personal and professional growth. We are grateful for all that we have, all that we learned, and all that we carry with us into 2024.

Here's a look back on our year:

*Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

In January, my Georgia Bulldogs won the National Championship for the second year in a row! Also, my article, "Stella the Steinway's 100th Birthday" was published in Piano Magazine. I did some sketching with my new Blackwing pencils, baked lemon-rosemary-olive oil shortbread, and introduced Rhythm Keeper, Vol. I into my studio (listen to Ep. 055 and Ep. 059 for more). We updated the Tax Basics for Musicpreneurs class and launched two new resources in the Musician & Co. Resource Library.

In February, we took a family ski trip to Northern Italy. It was terrible. After a great first day in Innsbruck, a scenic drive through the Dolomites to Cortina, and two fun days of skiing, Steve's dad tested positive for COVID (incidentally, right after we arrived at our new destination, Hotel Hell in Ortisei). Steve and I ended up changing our flights and coming home a day early. We both got sick (for the first time since the pandemic!) but had different symptoms and never tested positive.

In March, it snowed more than January and February. Steve struggled with weeks of fatigue after being sick, but made a little progress on our pantry makeover. I got back to painting for the first time since December and baked, lemon-white chocolate cookies, taralli, and Italian “S” cookies. We also heard Stephen Hough perform Brahms Concerto No. 1 with the RPO.

In April, we finished the pantry renovation(!) and started seeds for the garden. I did an interview for the Piano Pantry podcast and Steve traveled to Reno, NV for a residency and research for a commission he's writing for them next year. I also signed up to participate in an 8-week research study on mindfulness for people with voice disorders and launched the Musician & Co. Template Shop.

In May, we hosted our first social hour for our neighborhood on Cinco de Mayo. We also attended a practice round of the PGA Championship at Oak Hill here in Rochester and had the best day! It was incredible to see professionals such as Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, and Justin Thomas up close. We were so inspired, we went out and bought used clubs and went to the driving range together. We took Rory out for ice cream from the new place down the street, al fresco weekend dining, a pup cup from the place near the canal, and a trip to the beach on Memorial Day weekend.

In June, I hosted my studio recital and celebrated 10 years of teaching at the Harley School. We had our first golf lesson and hosted our second social hour of the summer and 40 people attended! I also presented two sessions at the online NCKP conference and did an interview for the Loud & Clear podcast.

In July, we watched our potted tomato plants grow to 7' tall. We visited our favorite farm stand in the Finger Lakes with a stop at Spotted Duck, a new-to-use winery, and Canandaigua Lake. We hosted another social hour in our neighborhood and traveled to GA to visit my family for a few days (the first time we were all in one place since 2018!). And yes, we brought peaches back in our carry-on luggage!

In August, we spent a week at a lake in the Adirondacks where I experimented with pastel paintings for the first time. (Unfortunately, we found mice in the kitchen on the second day, so it wasn’t as relaxing as we hoped!) I submitted my curriculum unit to Growing in Grace, did a lot of planning for my studio this year, and relaunched the Musicpreneur Model.

In September, we hosted Steve's parents for a long weekend. We did a tour on the Sam Patch boat on the Erie Canal, played bocce in the backyard, visited Oak + Apple Cidery, and went for a walk on the Secret Sidewalk along Lake Ontario. Steve and I also saw a local theater production of The Wizard of Oz.

In October, we celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary with a ride on the Rail Bikes in the Finger Lakes. We also found a brass greyhound at an antique store (I’ve been looking for one!), attended a few concerts during Meliora Weekend at Eastman, and hosted a neighborhood Social Hour + red sauce tasting with neighbors. We dressed up as The Wizard of Oz for Halloween!

In November, we made pumpkin biscuits for our final Social Hour of the year, celebrated both our birthdays, and spent a few fun days in NYC. We loved seeing “Some Like It Hot,” visiting the AKC Museum of the Dog (highly recommend!) and the Museum of Natural History, seeing the Rockettes, and walking around Central Park (read more about our Buddy-the-Elf moments in NYC here). Steve even got a piece of the Rockefeller Christmas Tree! We also explored Irvington/Tarrytown and toured the famous Armour-Stiner Octagon House. After our NYC adventure, we drove up to Vermont to spend Thanksgiving with Steve's family.

In December, we attended two neighborhood holiday parties, participated in our street’s annual cookie swap, led caroling around the neighborhood, and helped with Christmas Eve preparations. Steve attended the premier of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” in Wisconsin at the beginning of the month and the Midwest Clinic right before Christmas where, unfortunately, he picked up COVID. We’re grateful we didn’t have plans to travel, as we spent a merry Christmas Eve/Day and week in quarantine!

During that time, I finished reading my 29th book of the year! See my top seven books here.

As always, I’m grateful for what has been, happy to put COVID behind us (after almost four years!), and hopeful for all that is to come. Cheers to 2024!

Previously:

2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022