Got a Trimmin’

Posted on | April 16, 2011 | 6 Comments

I hate not going places when on break because I feel like we’re wasting precious vacation time. I did have plans on going to different locations but our other car broke down. BUT, I think I’ll have my car back next week and hope to catch up. If not, we’ll still go but it’ll just take a bit longer to get there because for some reason there’s no bus stop in front of the two train stations I want to use.

I did get a hair trim today though. Actually it was a hair butchering session. Just imagine a year’s worth of hair on the floor. I had a hairdresser that I always went to in Missouri and after seeing her for years and years it was a bit nerve wreaking to try and find a new person. If I had M’s hair, I’d be less picky but my hair is thick and corse. It sucks to have my hair. I have to be selective in my styling because if it’s too short I’d look like a hamster and if it’s too long I’d look like the Wicked Witch of the West <– what I looked like before the trim. So after many months of procrastinating I just went to the local village hair lady. Although I think she might have gone to happy on the thinning part it’s not that bad for a first cut and I definitely look a lot better than when I woke up this morning.

I have a little project to share too. A card using Waltzingmouse’s sketch for this week. When I saw the sketch I immediately thought of my hearts Waltzingmouse stamps. I’ve had this stamp set for ages but I barely use them. So not only do the stamps fit the sketch, it also fit my goal of using old stamps more.

Have a great one and enjoy your weekend!

A Lighter Post

Posted on | April 15, 2011 | 10 Comments

After the last post I thought I’d make this one light and short. Just to emphasize learning while playing, M’s in her uniform, sitting on the floor (it’s our pretend outdoors classroom) working on her math workbook while I post this. We’re playing school and just got done with French. Emma’s the kind who gets bored easily (takes after me) and so I can’t make activities long for her. Kind of odd since she could go to all day crops and be nice throughout the whole deal since she was three!! It’s probably because she doesn’t sit and craft all the time. There were always plenty for her to do. Jovie copied a few French words, “merci” being the best said, scattered buttons all over the floor (great for learning colors + shapes) and now “reading” a book quietly.

Anyhow, I have a little card based on Dawn’s Color Cue: Turquoise, Red, Kraft and Brown (with white as my neutralizer). I had fun making this and the card came together quickly. Right now I have a personal goal of using old stamps. Unless it’s for a DT gig you’ll be seeing lots of oldies but goodies. I love all my stamps but sometimes I just get too into the new things or just have time for DT stuff that I neglect the old lovelies.

Do check out what the other girls did!! They’re all lovely!

Dawn Woleslagle
Elise Durenberger
Hannah Craner
Jinny Newlin
Kerrianne Gwin
Lea Lawson
Paulina Nakamura (our April Guest Designer)

Have a great one!

Early Childhood Education

Posted on | April 15, 2011 | 4 Comments

First of all I’m no early child hood education expert. While my educational background was in child psychology and education I was never trained or have ever worked with little children. But, after having two of my own I must have done something right because I’ve had a few moms ask me for advice on how to help their little ones learn. I owe a few people some long emails about this and since I’ve been an email slacker lately I am just going to post here. Since I am an educator at heart I hope that this little post of mine can help or inspire other parents to work with their children, even if it’s just a few minutes a day.

Before I continue, keep in mind that all children were not born equally. My methods might not work for every little person and his/her parent(s). Also, I’ve been blessed with two healthy and intelligent kids. I didn’t have to beat them with a cane or bribe them with a lot of chocolates for them to do what they did.

Swimming Fun

Posted on | April 13, 2011 | 1 Comment

Been having some fun busy the last few days and some miraculous happenings too! M went swimming!!!!

Alright, so to many this isn’t a big deal but to us it is because this was a girl who thought any pool/water higher than her knees was too deep. We’ve paid numerous time (and pool fees in the US aren’t cheap) because she said she wanted to go swimming but would always end up with her on the sideline. We’d be lucky if she got her swimming suit wet sometimes!! Our last summer in Missouri hubby even filled a big plastic bowl with water, got two sets of goggles and asked M to get her face wet (with goggles on) by dipping her face into the bowl. She wasn’t having that despite the fact that she really was wanting to do it. I think I have a video of it. I can’t remember…

After some persuading Emma agreed to a private swimming lesson. Before the lesson there’s toddler swimming and I got M to get in. I wasn’t sure what it was but that girl ran around (.78 meters deep) chasing balls and toys for Jovie. The biggest happening: M put her face in the water during her swim lesson!! OMG! Ever since then she’s been a new girl and the pool is not her best friend. Today we were there again and that girl didn’t want to leave. We were in for a good two hours and I was a raisin when got out (thank goodness the fire alarm went off – they were just testing it but I didn’t waste time dragging her out).

I felt so relieved because I really want her to learn how to swim. For safety reasons mostly. I was scared of water too when I was growing up but wished that I had lessons. When I was in third grade all the kids went to swimming lessons but I couldn’t. I can still remember watching all my friends learning though. I couldn’t go because my permission slip didn’t get signed. I couldn’t do a lot of things back then (that’s why I always encourage M to do a lot) because my parents were overly protective. They were afraid I’d drown (instructor not giving enough attention to all the students), get kidnapped, get lost in the forest, get lost in the mountains, get into an accident, etc. etc. etc. While their intentions were good I missed out on a lot of experiences.

So starting next week M will be in a group swimming lesson. I did the private one so that the instructor could give M all the attention. Now that she’s more comfortable with the water her instructor and I felt like she’ll do just great in a group session. Very happy!!

I have a little layout for you. I used March’s Scarlet Lime kit for this. I’ll be sharing some April kits too and let me tell you: FUN!!! I love both kits but my favorite this April is the Frugal Fab on. For $20, a steal!! Christy has lots of really fun pieces in her store so do check that out too!