Sam's Day 04/21/2012
 
Love ya!
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Living Life 04/21/2012
 
I am busy getting back to normal.  "I remixed a remix, it was back to normal." (Mitch Hedberg) I've  been busy with spring time events, school field trips, art shows, award banquets, & much more.

WATCH: http://www.wimp.com/penstory/

My school TA (teacher assisted) student found this video and shared it with me.  I loved it and thought of my blog and my message of memories.  I like how it is stop motion because some time you feel like life is like a stop motion.  Going slow at times and super fast other times.  I know we all wish sometimes we could just rewind to that amazing moments or  fast forward through the rocky times.  Having watched the video, I realized it all the moments that make one's life.  Like the song said,          " Just keep on moving, it such a wonderful world out there. Deep down way inside we all just stay the same.  Do the things you want to do."
Share early, share often! Liz
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Happy Easter 04/07/2012
 
Hope everyone has a great Easter!
Used Live Type to create the above clip.
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Picking a floor...
Original floor.
Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
Option 4
What do you think? Leave a comment.
Counter top in the processing stage.
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A great day. 04/07/2012
 
Day was filled of fun and learning.
First, a trip to the library for story time.
Lunch at McDonald.
Then attended a Park District Educational Program called Wonderful Wiggly Worms, nature walk.   
My 2 little naturalists.
This what we learned about worms.  Did you know worms are hermaphrodites?
Another thing going on around here is working on digging and add a new tile in the field.  Sam loves it, I find him walking in field out to his daddy.
"Share early, share often." {liz}
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Something new 04/06/2012
 
It always exciting to get something new.
I got...NEW iPhone cover, that I designed.
I gather some of my favorite things.  I love the kids hand prints and Isabella drawing. Then took a picture of it. Upload to the site, Uncommon and wait for it to come in the mail. 
The kids got... New Lanterns.
They love them.  Turning them on and off is so much fun. Only $3.00 at Menards (by flash lights display).   May just even hunt for Easter eggs at night.  "Flashlight Egg Hunt," how fun. 
I used the site Uncommon to get my design print on my iPhone. I got 2 - 20% of gift cards  from Uncommon and I would love to give them away.  If interested leave a comment below and I will random pick two people to share them with. 
"Share early, share often." {liz}
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Easter Wreath 04/05/2012
 
The season changed, so does my wreath.  Here what my Easter/Spring wreath looks like.
How to..
Draw a template. Find something round; Large and medium size circles.  I used 5 gallon bucket lid and smaller lid.
Then cut a zig zag, triangle shapes, all the way around the outside and inside.
Then used hemp (could use string, rope, etc.) Then tied it on one side.
Finally begin to weave in the string, ribbon, etc.
Add embellishments, make it yours. 
"Share early, share often." {Liz}
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What getting ready for Easter 2012 looked like...
I decided I was going to make the kids Easter baskets.  I found this project about a year ago. The level said easy and only would take 3 hours.  It took me 3 weeks.  Isabella even suggest I could just buy baskets at the store. It was a learning curve, but  I didn't give up.  One of my high school student encouraged me by saying "Thomas Edison had to fail millions of times first, before he had one success, a light bulb."  How could I stop at one basket.
Here is how I did it.
Step 1. Long strip of paper.  Could use old poster, wrapping paper, old paper, newspaper, or even a map would be neat. Cut in to 2.5 inch strips. Make it as long as you can, mine was 36inches. Then fold over both sides, till the meet in the middle. Then fold again, should be one even and crisp strip.
Step 2. Begin to weave it together. Might help by saying; over, under,over, under... 
Step 3.  Weave in to a square base. Mark the base by twining around the edges.
Step 4. Weave the sides, working one side at time. Divide the weavers on one side in half and weave the halves together.
Step 5. Join the diamonds by weaving them together.  Continue weaving as long as you'd like your basket to be tall.  You'll notice that if you follow one weaver, it travels from one side of basket to the other.
Step 6. Finish the edge. To make a pointy edge, take two weavers and cross at the edge and fold one over the other and down into the weaving on the inside. Repeat.  (I stapled my top and handle on to give it more strength, knowing my kid will be using them.)
Inspiration: Woven Map Basket
Fun times playing balance the eggs on a spoon and place it in the baskets.  I broke a hold carton of eggs before the game even started.  
"Share early, share often!" {Liz}
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Warmth of March 04/03/2012
 
What March looked like....
Unusual seasonal warmth was a delight.
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Break Time.... 03/31/2012
 
"Breaks are the best part of working." Sometimes we look forward to breaks more than we even want to admit.  Easter break in fast approach and I can't wait to re-energize and refocus myself.  Running forward!

Break Time... Shoveling is hard work.
As mother and teacher, however, it seems there is never truly a break.  Always something waiting to get done or wanting my attention.   That why when I was reading a article called, "Never Waste Your Prep Period Again," from my Arts & Activities, I was inspired.   So, below are  6 pointers,  I thought to share.

1. RACE YOURSELF.

To make things more fun, treat your work like a game. Set a timer when you have a task to complete.  This will assist you in not getting sidetracked by other things and help you focus on only the task at hand. Even if only 10 minutes, you surely able to accomplish something in that time frame.

2. MAKE A SMARTER LISTS

I am a list maker.  I sometime enjoy writing things on a list just to cross it off.  I keep a notebook/sketchbook with a larger list of everything I can think of that I like to do.  I have smaller list I make each day- Call it my "goal of the day" If I don't get something done I roll it over to next day. 

3. STAY OFF THE COMPUTER

This is something I have given up for lent.  I can't believe everything I get done.  Guilty as charged.

4. DON'T BE A LURKER

Get in and get out fast!  That how I feel when I am at the grocery store.  Keep long converstation short is something I need to work on.  I like to talk.

5. NEVER SAY "LATER"

"I'll put that away later."  The energy you take thinking about it is time you should be using to put it away.  Act immediately! You may find more time to do thing you want to do.

6. PLAN OUT YOUR TIME

I trouble at this.  I always having to plan this or plan that.  That's why I try to avoid planning.  Put I going to give it a try.  Something I am going to try is a grading plan, which is one my least favorite responsibility  to do as teacher.  For example, Monday, I grade Commercial Art assignments.  Tuesday, is Video Tech. Wednesday, TU class etc. 
"Do you know what time it is,"  that what the janitor say to me at 4:00 0'clock each day at school.  I say yes.. "Time to go home and be with my family".  That what I going to do, "slide" away.  Good luck with your time!  
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