Ooh La La - Pink Paislee

As soon as I found out I was having a girl, people asked if I'd put her in dance class. My answer was always yes, if she'd like to dance. I didn't want her to dance just because Mommy did; however, I knew she'd be influenced. In her little life she has gone to many dance competitions and performances. She has stopped by the studio, she has played during private lessons, and she loves to get together with Mommy's dancers at our parties. She has seen Mommy work on choreography at home and she loves to watch dance videos on YouTube, Facebook and IG. 

Addie loved getting ballet shoes. I have to hide them or else she'd wear them 24/7.

I just knew she was a dancer when I taught her "I'm a Little Teapot". The way she pops her hip when she does the "handle" action and the way her jazzy little hand shoots out in the air when she does the "spout" action told me that yes, this girl is a dancer (and probably a jazz dancer like her Mom!). Put her in class! 

Practicing a bun. We usually let her curls do their wild thing. Can't get away with that for ballet class!

So, she joined my tiny tots class for 2 and 3-year-olds at Northern California Dance Conservatory (NCDC). I don't know how long this will last. Part of me hopes forever, and part of me - who knows all the not so fun stuff about dance - wouldn't mind getting caught up in different hobbies or sports or passions. But, she loves to dance, and I love to dance, and I'm going to love sharing that passion with her as long as she wants it to be that way.

She wouldn't stop staring at herself in the mirror long enough to smile for me ;).

The new C'est La Vie collection by Pink Paislee was perfect for documenting this incredibly special moment in her - who am I kidding? - our lives. You can read more about the gorgeous products in the line and my process on the Pink Paislee blog today. 

I've also got tips in the post for what you don't want to miss when documenting dance class milestones like this.

I LOVE the mirror stickers and the gold glittered cork stickers and the ephemera and...all of it, really. It's a great collection for dance layouts and much, much more.

Thank you for stopping by today! Tessa

Hello February! Totally Random Tuesday

Yes, I realize that February has been around for a couple of weeks, but I'm just now coming up for air! Here's a "totally random Tuesday" update for you:

I still can't believe that I see myself up there! The design team is getting all settled and I'll start sharing Pink Paislee projects soon :). If you don't already, feel free to connect with Pink Paislee here: Facebook / Blog / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Twitter

This is the time of year that dance really ramps up. Our first competition was last weekend, and I am really happy about how things went. My 7-8 year olds took 1st overall and my 5-6 year olds (all first time competitors!) took 4th overall. The soloists all made the top ten, with one taking home 1st overall and the title. More importantly, everyone had fun and enjoyed the experience. It was really a great weekend and I am excited to get back to rehearsal to improve upon our performances.

I'm also about to start a HUGE project with a local elementary school - their first dance festival. I will choreograph, direct, write the script, and probably a million other things ;). PTO and teachers are on board, and I have a wonderful partner in the music teacher, so I'm sure it will be a success and a lot of fun!

A few people have reached out about the status of my Etsy shop, Precocious Paper. You may have noticed that I emptied my shelves at the end of 2014. I am not closing my virtual doors, but I am taking time off. When I started my Etsy shop, it was just for fun. A year later, Precocious Paper was my creative outlet, having just moved to a new state and taken time off from teaching dance. Now, my circumstances are much different and I am blessed with several creative opportunities. In order to strike the right balance, I am using this hiatus to step back from Etsy, re-charge and re-direct. I have a tentative re-opening date in mind and will share when those plans are more solid :).

As always, instead of waiting on blog updates, you can keep up with me on Facebook and more so on Instagram. I hope you are having a great week! Thanks for stopping by :). Tessa

Attitude of Gratitude Begins

Hello, November. I'm excited about another year of dedicating this month to recognizing my blessings, expressing gratitude, and acting on that thankfulness :).

Day 1: I am grateful to have a job that I love. This year, I only teach one day a week, but that day is filled with technique classes and rehearsals for the two youngest jazz troupes at the studio, as well as coaching several soloists.

Here I am, teaching the 6-8 year olds their lyrical piece. I love teaching this age because so much of what I teach them is a brand new. I have the privilege (and responsibility) of laying a foundation for these girls that will take them wherever their hearts desire to go in dance. Yes, next week we will be working on our turnout and hip placement, but we will also improvise on the floor, pretending we forgot how to stand up. We will wave ribbon wands as we dance like clouds and then like waves. We will snap our spots, pull up in releve, and hopefully nail that double pirouette. We will stretch, build strength, and most of all - build confidence in ourselves. And I will love my time in the studio, love the girls, and be oh-so-grateful that I get to do this every week.

I'll be back tomorrow with the first of three special Attitude of Gratitude SMASH Sunday posts :). See you then! Tessa

Seeking catharsis...

There are a few things in my life that I am absolutely passionate about.  Without these things the quality of my life is diminished.  Besides my family and my faith, dance has been my biggest passion.  I've been a dancer since I was a small child and a teacher for the past 15 years.  I've never known a job outside of dance, whether performing, teaching, or choreographing.  When other people complain about their jobs, I've always been able to say that I honestly LOVE my work.  I've even heard many fellow dance teachers say things like "I can't wait to go home", "I hate this class", "I don't want to be here."  Even in challenging classes and situations, being able to reach out to students and share my love of dance with them has brought me nothing but joy.  When my family moved to Wyoming and I became a full-time stay-at-home-mom, the hardest part of that transition was not teaching.  I literally ached to be in the classroom again.  I couldn't listen to music.  I couldn't watch So You Think You Can Dance or look at photos of my students.  It hurt to not dance.  Then, when we made the decision to move back to California and I was looking into teaching again, I was thrilled.  My first few weeks back in class were wonderful.  I felt alive again (out of shape, but alive).  But now, I'm wondering if it's time to permanently say goodbye.  The situation is such that I may not have the opportunity to teach anymore.  This economy, my poor timing in starting classes because of our move, the lack of help advertising my classes, and all the not-fun political crap that all dance studios deal with is bringing me to a place where teaching isn't possible.  Part of me wants to just walk away, give up, forget dancing all together.  Another part of me wants to wait and see - maybe other opportunities are on the horizon?  Are these odds that are stacked against me a sign of some sort?  Should I be hearing "you've had your fun, move on" or is this just another challenge to overcome?  I never dreamed that I would not be able to dance, but that is the looming reality.  Do I move on to other things or fight to hold on?  Ugh, I don't normally share such personal things here on this blog, but I had a feeling that I should.  What do you think?  Have you been in a similar situation?  What did/would you do?

Happy...

♥ that I finally finished the Teacher gifts I've been working on.  Four paper bag albums, one for each of my boys' teachers, one for Carson's student teacher, and one for a special friend who is a teacher.

♥ that I won the June Guest Design Team spot over at Sketchy Thursdays! Thank you to everyone who voted for me!  It was a close race - the other ladies are so talented!

♥ that my "Iron Man" layout is a fave this week at Sketchy Thursdays :).

♥ that I have plans in the works for some new features and blog posts here at Perfectly Precocious.  If you are a Facebook fan, you know that I asked for suggestions for future blog posts and you delivered.  I loved all the ideas!

♥ that summer is coming, which means DANCE CAMPS!  It was agonizing to not do dance camps last summer after our big move, but now that we are more settled, I am bringing my Dance Discovery program to Riverton, WY and cannot be more excited!  This weekend I am busting out the boxes of props, costumes, games, crafts....  So fun!

♥ that I have a healthy, happy family, good friends online and off, and many blessings that I am grateful for :).

What is making you happy today?  Tessa