because if the people who made decisions about education actually knew anything...there wouldn't be such a thing as a part-time Art teacher.
end of rant.
:)
Wednesday, November 07, 2012
decisions about education
because if the people who made decisions about education actually knew anything...there wouldn't be such a thing as a part-time Art teacher.
end of rant.
:)
Tuesday, November 06, 2012
glitter, glitter, everywhere!
it's late (9:30...yup, that's late for me now...) so just a quick photo that I took today...
for some reason, I thought it would be fun to take some pictures using glitter...throwing it in the air, etc...so now that I am still covered in glitter...and probably will for a couple of days...here was my favorite one from today...this would definitely be a two person photo shoot...if only I wasn't so impatient :p
happy Tuesday everyone :)
for some reason, I thought it would be fun to take some pictures using glitter...throwing it in the air, etc...so now that I am still covered in glitter...and probably will for a couple of days...here was my favorite one from today...this would definitely be a two person photo shoot...if only I wasn't so impatient :p
happy Tuesday everyone :)
perfect baked buffalo wings
I don't throw the word perfect around lightly...but these wings are simply perfection.
the quest to make wings started a few months back, when our go-to delivery place was taken over by people who don't know squat about running a restaurant.
so after pouting for a while, I decided that making them myself could be a healthier and more economical solution to our Sunday football dinners...
thus began the trial and error...some were undercooked...some stuck to the pan...some were too greasy...
then it was like the skies opened up...and the light shone down on me...and I heard angels singing...
put the wings on a cookie rack, on top of the tray!
it is a really simple recipe...and I have to say, I probably won't call for takeout wings ever again :)
**just a disclaimer- I really don't measure when I make these...so for those of you who need measurements, I'm sort of just estimating what I think I do :)
you'll need:
Chicken Wings
Butter
Wing Sauce
Salt
Pepper
directions:
pre-heat your oven to 425 degrees
in a mixing bowl, melt about 2 tablespoons of butter
to the butter mixture, add in the chicken wings, sprinkle with salt and pepper- as much as you prefer- and toss
add in 1-2 cups of wing sauce- just enough to coat them
I usually let this sit for 20-30 minutes, but the longer they sit, the more they'll marinate :)
bake for 45 minutes
all the extra grease drips off- it looks a little burnt in the picture...this was a time I put the heat too high...but the wings still tasted great :)
voila! eat and enjoy! serve with celery and carrot sticks and Ranch- blue cheese is just gross ;)
okay- before I offend any blue cheese lovers here...when I worked in a restaurant in college I dropped a vat- yes it was like a 3-gallon jug of blue cheese all over myself...haven't been able to look at it since :p
so go my pretties...make wings and enjoy!
the quest to make wings started a few months back, when our go-to delivery place was taken over by people who don't know squat about running a restaurant.
so after pouting for a while, I decided that making them myself could be a healthier and more economical solution to our Sunday football dinners...
thus began the trial and error...some were undercooked...some stuck to the pan...some were too greasy...
then it was like the skies opened up...and the light shone down on me...and I heard angels singing...
put the wings on a cookie rack, on top of the tray!
it is a really simple recipe...and I have to say, I probably won't call for takeout wings ever again :)
**just a disclaimer- I really don't measure when I make these...so for those of you who need measurements, I'm sort of just estimating what I think I do :)
you'll need:
Chicken Wings
Butter
Wing Sauce
Salt
Pepper
directions:
pre-heat your oven to 425 degrees
in a mixing bowl, melt about 2 tablespoons of butter
to the butter mixture, add in the chicken wings, sprinkle with salt and pepper- as much as you prefer- and toss
add in 1-2 cups of wing sauce- just enough to coat them
I usually let this sit for 20-30 minutes, but the longer they sit, the more they'll marinate :)
bake for 45 minutes
all the extra grease drips off- it looks a little burnt in the picture...this was a time I put the heat too high...but the wings still tasted great :)
voila! eat and enjoy! serve with celery and carrot sticks and Ranch- blue cheese is just gross ;)
okay- before I offend any blue cheese lovers here...when I worked in a restaurant in college I dropped a vat- yes it was like a 3-gallon jug of blue cheese all over myself...haven't been able to look at it since :p
so go my pretties...make wings and enjoy!
Monday, November 05, 2012
what would it take for you to give me $60?
that was the question posed to me today by one of my favorite students. turns out he wanted to buy something, and it was $60.
sadly, my answer to him was, for someone to give me $60 I didn't need.
part of me was a little weirded out...I mean, I never would have asked anyone in my family, let alone my teacher for money- even $1 would have felt weird...
I guess I should feel good, that my students feel comfortable enough to ask me for something that important to them...but it also makes me feel bad that they have needs that aren't being met...obviously, the money he wanted wasn't for something that was a necessity, but still, feeling that desperate to ask...makes me wish I could do more for them.
but, today I finalized the details for starting up our Art Club...so I am excited to start that, and be able to reward the kids who are really talented with extra projects...
I also wish I had taken pictures before I left school today...some really awesome art is coming your way soon!
until then...here's a happy little picture to motivate you on this chilly Monday- oh and dark...daylight savings is throwing me for a loop!
sadly, my answer to him was, for someone to give me $60 I didn't need.
part of me was a little weirded out...I mean, I never would have asked anyone in my family, let alone my teacher for money- even $1 would have felt weird...
I guess I should feel good, that my students feel comfortable enough to ask me for something that important to them...but it also makes me feel bad that they have needs that aren't being met...obviously, the money he wanted wasn't for something that was a necessity, but still, feeling that desperate to ask...makes me wish I could do more for them.
but, today I finalized the details for starting up our Art Club...so I am excited to start that, and be able to reward the kids who are really talented with extra projects...
I also wish I had taken pictures before I left school today...some really awesome art is coming your way soon!
until then...here's a happy little picture to motivate you on this chilly Monday- oh and dark...daylight savings is throwing me for a loop!
Sunday, November 04, 2012
holy productivity Batman!
so, Sunday night, we meet again.
of course, last Sunday we were bracing for the unknown of Hurricane Sandy, and while the storm has come and gone...the sky has been gray and ominous ever since...I don't think the sun has made more then a slight cameo appearance in over a week...and add to that the daylight savings hour we "gained" last night- which I promptly celebrated by sleeping for 11 hours- it is 5:30 and pitch dark outside.
we are into winter people. I know it's not technically until the 21st (ish) of December...but it feels like it...today the temperature didn't get above 45...and the high for the next week is only 57...
but I do love winter...so I'm not terribly upset...I do feel a little jipped on Fall though...
the cats have gotten more clingy...guess we are keeping each other warm...this is pretty much where the three of us spent the weekend...
once I got back from class on Saturday afternoon, I made the decision to start taking charge of my business, and purchased some blog ads on two blogs that I just love reading...so I figured it was time to take the plunge and give JerseyGirlDesign the time and attention it deserves :)
it's so easy to just say, oh, I'll do it when I've had time to build up inventory, or stock my shop...but you know what? without a deadline or some pressure...I will never do it.
I need deadlines. personal ultimatiums.
so I did it. and I saw my ad on Kym's blog yesterday...and it was awesome :)
So make sure to visit with Kym and Erin, and go by my shop to see the new goodies I have added...here are a few to tempt you :)
of course, last Sunday we were bracing for the unknown of Hurricane Sandy, and while the storm has come and gone...the sky has been gray and ominous ever since...I don't think the sun has made more then a slight cameo appearance in over a week...and add to that the daylight savings hour we "gained" last night- which I promptly celebrated by sleeping for 11 hours- it is 5:30 and pitch dark outside.
we are into winter people. I know it's not technically until the 21st (ish) of December...but it feels like it...today the temperature didn't get above 45...and the high for the next week is only 57...
but I do love winter...so I'm not terribly upset...I do feel a little jipped on Fall though...
the cats have gotten more clingy...guess we are keeping each other warm...this is pretty much where the three of us spent the weekend...
once I got back from class on Saturday afternoon, I made the decision to start taking charge of my business, and purchased some blog ads on two blogs that I just love reading...so I figured it was time to take the plunge and give JerseyGirlDesign the time and attention it deserves :)
it's so easy to just say, oh, I'll do it when I've had time to build up inventory, or stock my shop...but you know what? without a deadline or some pressure...I will never do it.
I need deadlines. personal ultimatiums.
so I did it. and I saw my ad on Kym's blog yesterday...and it was awesome :)
So make sure to visit with Kym and Erin, and go by my shop to see the new goodies I have added...here are a few to tempt you :)
Saturday, November 03, 2012
yield is the worst street sign...
because no one knows what they really mean...
if you see a YIELD sign...it does not mean, speed up and wedge yourself into traffic...it actually means, wait until there is room for you to merge without almost killing someone.
also, I always thought that yield signs were yellow...but now I'm noticing they are red...which means STOP even more! gah!
That is all.
:) happy saturday everyone!! it is FREEEEEEEZING here!
if you see a YIELD sign...it does not mean, speed up and wedge yourself into traffic...it actually means, wait until there is room for you to merge without almost killing someone.
also, I always thought that yield signs were yellow...but now I'm noticing they are red...which means STOP even more! gah!
That is all.
:) happy saturday everyone!! it is FREEEEEEEZING here!
Friday, November 02, 2012
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
the girl behind the blog
whew! I have never done one of these Vlog things before...basically, a video blog...and this one is for a link-up that Erin and Ashley are hosting...
I typically try not to record my voice since I think it sounds ridiculous on tape...maybe in person too...eek! but this seemed like too much fun not to join in...so here goes! also, it forced me to take a shower...thanks hurricane for lack of motivation to shower :)
a little about me...and 3 things I can't get through the day without!
also, this was my first and only take...I am a bit of a perfectionist, so if I kept re-doing it...you'd never see it...it was much harder then I thought it would be to get the right angle so my makeup didn't look weird...which I still think it did...but whatever :) I only have two ends of the house with windows...so the light is always weird...I deal with it, so you can too ;)
link-up here! (or on either one of their blogs!)
I typically try not to record my voice since I think it sounds ridiculous on tape...maybe in person too...eek! but this seemed like too much fun not to join in...so here goes! also, it forced me to take a shower...thanks hurricane for lack of motivation to shower :)
a little about me...and 3 things I can't get through the day without!
also, this was my first and only take...I am a bit of a perfectionist, so if I kept re-doing it...you'd never see it...it was much harder then I thought it would be to get the right angle so my makeup didn't look weird...which I still think it did...but whatever :) I only have two ends of the house with windows...so the light is always weird...I deal with it, so you can too ;)
link-up here! (or on either one of their blogs!)
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Sandy's aftermath
wow. what a 72 hours it has been...between the gray and cloudy skies on Sunday to the torrential rains on Monday, to waking up to a basement full of water...I am so ready to be done with all the hurricane/tropical storm madness...
and I know that we got away with so much less than many people, the power only flickered once or twice...I still have heat, and the ability to make myself food and take a shower (oh yeah, I should take a shower...)
also...I have an intact house, car and even though I am so tired of being in the house...perhaps tomorrow I will venture out to get a few groceries, if there are any left in the stores...
and, even though it looks like a nuclear bomb exploded in there, I am making progress organizing my office...a task I have been at for, let's face it, like 4 years...I certainly will be more productive once I know where everything is...I hope! right now you can't see the floor...as it is covered in lots of little piles- I've been told that people who are creative make piles...so it must be true!
and even though it's only 9pm...I am tucked safely in bed, cats all around me...several blankets on...with yet another day off tomorrow...and tomorrow is Halloween!
and I know that we got away with so much less than many people, the power only flickered once or twice...I still have heat, and the ability to make myself food and take a shower (oh yeah, I should take a shower...)
also...I have an intact house, car and even though I am so tired of being in the house...perhaps tomorrow I will venture out to get a few groceries, if there are any left in the stores...
and just look...how much rain we have gotten! it's no wonder that I have a small pond in my basement...
and, even though it looks like a nuclear bomb exploded in there, I am making progress organizing my office...a task I have been at for, let's face it, like 4 years...I certainly will be more productive once I know where everything is...I hope! right now you can't see the floor...as it is covered in lots of little piles- I've been told that people who are creative make piles...so it must be true!
and even though it's only 9pm...I am tucked safely in bed, cats all around me...several blankets on...with yet another day off tomorrow...and tomorrow is Halloween!
cat traps
I stumbled across this photo on Pinterest today...because let's face it...being stuck indoors for 4 days now, I've had plenty of time to search the interwebs for *very* important stuff...
ahh, cats and boxes...if I put one on the floor, there is a cat in it in under 10 seconds...usually Jack, and then I make the awesome joke:
"Hey, it's a JACK in a box"
teehee...crack myself up.
hope everyone is hanging in there from all the hurricane effects...
ahh, cats and boxes...if I put one on the floor, there is a cat in it in under 10 seconds...usually Jack, and then I make the awesome joke:
"Hey, it's a JACK in a box"
teehee...crack myself up.
hope everyone is hanging in there from all the hurricane effects...
Monday, October 29, 2012
hurricane-hermiting day 1
whew...almost 24 hours into the rain from Hurricane Sandy, and it is still coming down in buckets! Right now my dishwasher is running, and I can still hear the rain over the noise...oh sorry, just was informed by the news that it's Tropical Storm Sandy...80mph instead of 92...still scary to me either way...
thankfully I had plenty of food to eat on hand, because roads are shut down except for emergency and police vehicles...along with the airport, and most of the bridges...
I also learned that over 100,000 people in Maryland are without power...so I have to count myself lucky that I still have electricity, and have been able to be productive today...but I am obsessively checking the basement for water, the ceiling for leaks, and the tree out back to make sure it's still standing...
here is a video from earlier today...before the conditions worsened...
and I am facing this natural disaster all alone...well me and the cats...but I keep getting messages from my neighbor down the street...think that B asked him to check in on me since he is away for work...how sweet :D
thankfully I had plenty of food to eat on hand, because roads are shut down except for emergency and police vehicles...along with the airport, and most of the bridges...
I also learned that over 100,000 people in Maryland are without power...so I have to count myself lucky that I still have electricity, and have been able to be productive today...but I am obsessively checking the basement for water, the ceiling for leaks, and the tree out back to make sure it's still standing...
here is a video from earlier today...before the conditions worsened...
and I am facing this natural disaster all alone...well me and the cats...but I keep getting messages from my neighbor down the street...think that B asked him to check in on me since he is away for work...how sweet :D
Sunday, October 28, 2012
here comes Sandy
well a happy Sunday indeed...aside from the impending doom that is a hurricane, and the unknown of power outages, flooding, and wind damage that come with it...I get the day off tomorrow :)
yes, I do like teaching and going to school, but I was just getting to that "run down" feeling that hits around the end of the first marking period...so the timing is perfect...
that feels weird to say...
and while I hope the power stays on, and that there isn't too much destruction by this hurricane we call Sandy, I am going to do my very best to actually relax and enjoy having an unexpected day off.
now, on to more important things...Halloween costumes. Yup, I am 30 and still dressing up for Halloween...this year the idea was all B's- he was so enthusiastic about it, I couldn't help but get into it...so we got amazing hats from my BEST team member Cindy, who runs the shop Anime hat mania- make sure you check out her fab work!
here we are as Finn and Fiona from Adventure Time!
and here were our Halloween partners in crime, Mr & Mrs Potato Head :)
now I'm off to make dinner, and tie down the deck furniture, charge all my electronics, and make a pile of ALL the batteries and candles I have...just in case...
yes, I do like teaching and going to school, but I was just getting to that "run down" feeling that hits around the end of the first marking period...so the timing is perfect...
that feels weird to say...
and while I hope the power stays on, and that there isn't too much destruction by this hurricane we call Sandy, I am going to do my very best to actually relax and enjoy having an unexpected day off.
now, on to more important things...Halloween costumes. Yup, I am 30 and still dressing up for Halloween...this year the idea was all B's- he was so enthusiastic about it, I couldn't help but get into it...so we got amazing hats from my BEST team member Cindy, who runs the shop Anime hat mania- make sure you check out her fab work!
here we are as Finn and Fiona from Adventure Time!
and here were our Halloween partners in crime, Mr & Mrs Potato Head :)
now I'm off to make dinner, and tie down the deck furniture, charge all my electronics, and make a pile of ALL the batteries and candles I have...just in case...
Saturday, October 27, 2012
photo Saturday
Friday, October 26, 2012
Friday Funny
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
student work!
yup, it's almost November...so I suppose I should post what my students have been doing in the Art room this year...
I know any veteran teacher will agree with this statement...but year two has been so much better than year one...so much more organization, order, and just productivity...
so in the spirit of that...here are a few of the things my kiddoes have done this year...I am definitely thinking of creating a second blog that would just be for Art teaching related things...but until then...enjoy!!
Pre-K pumpkins
Kindergarten Ghosts
1st Grade pumpkin patches
2nd Grade Candy Corn
3rd Grade Starry Night Pumpkin patch
4th Grade Secondary Color Spider Webs
5th Grade Cursive Name Skeletons
I know any veteran teacher will agree with this statement...but year two has been so much better than year one...so much more organization, order, and just productivity...
so in the spirit of that...here are a few of the things my kiddoes have done this year...I am definitely thinking of creating a second blog that would just be for Art teaching related things...but until then...enjoy!!
Pre-K pumpkins
Kindergarten Ghosts
1st Grade pumpkin patches
2nd Grade Candy Corn
3rd Grade Starry Night Pumpkin patch
4th Grade Secondary Color Spider Webs
5th Grade Cursive Name Skeletons
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Do the Time Warp? Okay, let's.
let me preface this post by saying: MY PARENTS ARE AWESOME.
and I never would have turned out to be the awesome person that I am if it weren't for them...
so feel free to send cards, flowers, candies to them to say thanks ;)
in the spirit of Halloween...I made them this awesome video card on JibJab...to the tune of the Time Warp...from one of my Dad's favorite movies...The Rocky Horror Picture Show *starting to see why they are awesome, right?*
if you know our family, you'll know just how amazing this is...I can't figure out how to embed it yet...so just click this link if you need a little (okay a HUGE) laugh :)
and I never would have turned out to be the awesome person that I am if it weren't for them...
so feel free to send cards, flowers, candies to them to say thanks ;)
in the spirit of Halloween...I made them this awesome video card on JibJab...to the tune of the Time Warp...from one of my Dad's favorite movies...The Rocky Horror Picture Show *starting to see why they are awesome, right?*
if you know our family, you'll know just how amazing this is...I can't figure out how to embed it yet...so just click this link if you need a little (okay a HUGE) laugh :)
Friday, October 19, 2012
fun times at the MAEA
woohoo! conference!
who has ever said that? well...I guess there are some situations that conferences can be fun...and this was actually one of them! even if it meant getting up earlier then I usually would on a Friday- considering it's one of my days off from school each week...but I gladly got up after only 5 hours of sleep...and drove down to the Maryland Art Education Association's fall conference in Silver Spring, to a really nice High School and along with at least 500 other teachers got our Professional Development on!
our keynote speaker was Olivia Gude, and I went to mini workshops on how to get students to create creative visual journals with the Journal Fodder Junkies, and one about how to not feel so alone as the only Art teacher in your building, in a great workshop by the lovely Kristen Dudley- who's blog I already was a follower of! that and her Pinterest boards...so it was so so nice to put a (real) face- not just a photograph- to her name!
and on top of all of that...the AMAZING work that was posted by students all over the state
not so bad for what was supposed to be a day off :)
who has ever said that? well...I guess there are some situations that conferences can be fun...and this was actually one of them! even if it meant getting up earlier then I usually would on a Friday- considering it's one of my days off from school each week...but I gladly got up after only 5 hours of sleep...and drove down to the Maryland Art Education Association's fall conference in Silver Spring, to a really nice High School and along with at least 500 other teachers got our Professional Development on!
our keynote speaker was Olivia Gude, and I went to mini workshops on how to get students to create creative visual journals with the Journal Fodder Junkies, and one about how to not feel so alone as the only Art teacher in your building, in a great workshop by the lovely Kristen Dudley- who's blog I already was a follower of! that and her Pinterest boards...so it was so so nice to put a (real) face- not just a photograph- to her name!
and on top of all of that...the AMAZING work that was posted by students all over the state
not so bad for what was supposed to be a day off :)
Sunday, October 14, 2012
North Carolina X3
so this is apparently the year where I go to North Carolina. a LOT.
for the third time in 4 months I drove down to North Carolina- this time to Charlotte- for my college room mate Kate's wedding...
I guess as you get older driving in the car for multiple hours gets less and less fun...well this drive felt like an eternity...but I was really excited to see everyone, so that counteracted it a bit
Friday night we got to see everyone after the rehearsal dinner at a fun restaurant in downtown Charlotte...which was actually in a movie theater! and as I usually do...I traded shoes with the bride...gave her my flats and took her heels...seriously, am I a great friend, or what? ;)
Saturday morning I ventured out around my hotel- which was really nice by the way- and found a Target to get some snacks, and picked up lunch at Zaxby's, which is one of B's favorite "in the south only" restaurants...and got ready for the wedding
the reception was at the Mint Museum, also downtown...with an amazing view of the city!
and check out the adorable cake bites! I had a few of the flavors...okay, I had all of them...maybe more then once...but they were so cute and tiny! I love this idea so much more then a big cake! less waste!
thank goodness for my GPS on my phone...I used it more this weekend then anything else!
the only thing I did not enjoy, was my 3am alarm I set to get up on the road and home before the Raven's game on Sunday...and then I got to have lunch with my brother :D
another weekend, flew by...hope it was a good one kiddoes!
for the third time in 4 months I drove down to North Carolina- this time to Charlotte- for my college room mate Kate's wedding...
I guess as you get older driving in the car for multiple hours gets less and less fun...well this drive felt like an eternity...but I was really excited to see everyone, so that counteracted it a bit
Saturday morning I ventured out around my hotel- which was really nice by the way- and found a Target to get some snacks, and picked up lunch at Zaxby's, which is one of B's favorite "in the south only" restaurants...and got ready for the wedding
the reception was at the Mint Museum, also downtown...with an amazing view of the city!
and check out the adorable cake bites! I had a few of the flavors...okay, I had all of them...maybe more then once...but they were so cute and tiny! I love this idea so much more then a big cake! less waste!
thank goodness for my GPS on my phone...I used it more this weekend then anything else!
the only thing I did not enjoy, was my 3am alarm I set to get up on the road and home before the Raven's game on Sunday...and then I got to have lunch with my brother :D
another weekend, flew by...hope it was a good one kiddoes!
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