"Finishing races is important, but racing is more important." -Dale Earnhardt As I wrote about in "Candle Countdown", I am a bit of a quitter. My brain thrives in the land of ideas, yet I sometimes lose my excitement in bringing something full circle. Thus, one of my items on my life list was to finish a 30 (or 31) day challenge. You know them--they are all over Facebook and the Web. Be grateful for 30 days or do the Whole 30 or 30 Days of pretending to be perfect. I have tried SO many of these challenges, have come close, but have not finished many (or really any). Digital scrapbooking used to be one of my favorite pastimes, but over the past few years, I had lost my mojo. So, when The Lilypad Announced their Month of Challenges, I though this might be the perfect challenge for me to take on. It would help me to practice self discipline (which I obviously could use since I don't finish things) as well as help me fall back love in with my creative outlet. Each day through out the month, a new challenge was posted and away I went to scrap. Now, it would have been easy to quit. I owned very little from The Lilypad store so had to make an investment in scrapping supplies. I got a MASSIVE cold in the middle of the month which had me sidelined. Yet, I felt a pull to finish this. To fall back in love with my hobby as well as prove to myself that I was worth finishing something. So, here are the results. How do I feel? Amazing, proud, creative, and accomplished. I learned several new techniques including how to justify font in Photoshop elements and how to create a geometric mosaic from a photograph. I fell back in love with creating art as well as telling our stories. Now I am excited to scrap for fun and to start working on finishing my scrapbooks which I have fallen desperately behind on.
Here is to a great January and all my beautiful layouts! Hope you enjoy.
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"The Beatles saved the world from boredom." -George Harrison Why can't we make a band in my generation that is the Beatles for Gen X or Y? They are simply the best band out there in my humble opinion and this compilation reminded me of why.
Their songs form a tapestry of the background of modern pop culture. "A little help from my friends" and I was instantly transported to childhood watching Kevin and Winnie on "The Wonder Years." A few songs later, "All you Need is Love" brought back all the smiles of my favorite Christmas movie "Love Actually." No matter where you turn, the Beatles are there. "Here comes the Sun" makes me think of my beloved friend Jenny and the sunshine she brings to her students every year when they sing this song at Red Rocks on the main stage. "Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da" transported me back to watching "Life Goes On" with my dad on Sunday nights. Every song triggered some sort of a recollection! A few surprises on the album still--the weird ending to "Strawberry fields"--I think they forgot to turn off the recording as they jammed. Why were the Beatles obsessed with weird animals? "Octopus's Garden" and "I am the Walrus" made me ask this question (along with what drug was their favorite.) My favorite song of this album still has to be "Let it Be." It is so easy in life to get hung up on what is wrong, but we have to let it go and let it be. The beautiful vocals remind me to take a breath and keep on going. Life will be good again--just turn on this album and it will remind you of that! "I hope life treats you kind And I hope you have all you've dreamed of And I wish to you joy and happiness But above all this, I wish you love" Lyrics from I will Always Love You (Sung by Whitney Houston, Written by Dolly Parton) 1992. 7th Grade. A defining time for any girl and my favorite thing was music. Whether listening to my CD collection courtesy of Columbia House, playing in band, going to piano lessons, or singing in church, music made my heart happy. This CD was a staple during this formative time and as soon as I turned it on, the memories came flooding back. I was an incredibly awkward middle school student. I was smart but felt like that was what made me special and such an outsider. I desperately wanted friends--often at the cost of being a descent human or being true to my self. This soundtrack reminded me of dances, getting ready for those dances with my friends, and my first realizations that I loved clothes. This disc brought it all back.
As an adult my favorite track on this was Whitney Houston's beautiful rendition of Jesus Loves Me. A staple growing up, this song reminds me that the same God who though we needed to have beautiful glaxies, intricate strands of DNA, and nearly 8 billion people thought the world needed me. It also made me think of my Grandma who LOVED this song which instantly brings a smile to my face. I also still love "I will always love you." It is a classic and the words are so meaningful when I think of my husband and dear sweet boys. To know this deep of love is the meaning of life and I am so greatly blessed to have it in my life each day. The best part of listening to this album was the kick ass playlist that played on spotify as soon as it finished. Marey Carey, Boys II Men, Cyndi Lauper, Bon Jovi, and many other favorites of my formative years played. As each song came on, a new memory came flooding back to me. I smiled, I danced, and I realized that I have to make a 90s play list for when I am in a mood! "If you try to do something new and it expect it to go right, you have mental problems."-Alice Keeler Twitter has become one of my favorite places to improve my teaching practice. I follow a ton of gurus who have amazing skills, tricks, and tips. Several times a week I scroll through my tweets to see what is new in the world of education and what other amazing teachers are doing to engage their learners. Thus, I added "Take a professional development from one of the people I follow on Twitter" to my life list. There were several people I was considering--the amazing George Couros (@gcouros), Neil DeGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson), Alice Keeler (@alicekeeler), Lisa Bejarano (@lisabej_manitou) and Aubrey Yeh (@Ms_A_Yeh) were some of my choices. Then, the opportunity to spend Saturday with Alice Keeler feel into my lap thanks to our school's partnership with Mindspark Learning and I couldn't so no.
This was a FAST paced training that made my laugh so hard I nearly peed my pants at once point close to morning break. The mom of 5 and a math teacher, Alice has spent years learning to use Google Classroom to help students learn in the most efficient way possible. Within the first hour of the training, I had learned several new tools (Quizziz was my favorite) and I was already figuring out how to fix problems I had been fighting for years. My favorite take away from the day was that we need to work smarter, not harder. When making instructional decisions, we need to ask what will help students learn and make it top priority. By the end of the day, I had a new lesson set to use in my classroom on Monday and a plan for my next unit to try badging and gasification. It filled my bucket and energized me to get to be a learner for the day! I am SO glad I put this item on my list--It may just have to go back on it for another round. "We're taught to be ashamed of confusion, anger, fear, and sadness, and to me they're of equal value to happiness, excitement, and inspiration." -Alanis Morrissette What a perfect quote to share my thoughts about my experience listening to "Jagged Little Pill" as a grown up. This album listening turned into a strange rambling stream of consciousness as I listens. Here you go--a peek into my mind as I listened.
As I'm looking for the album on Spotify I instantly flashed back to being an fiercely independent girl in the late 90s. I liked science, sports, and cussing more than were probably socially acceptable. When "Jagged Little Pill" came out it captured me spirit and made it ok to not be a "girly girl." So would this album still strike me as amazing? Fast forward to this listen and here are some thoughts:
At the end of the day, I still like this album, but the nostalgic memories of the OMG awesomeness were definitely colored by my youth and my perceptions. The message of fierce independence still clearly spoke to my soul, but my realization throughout is that we each own our story and can change it through hard work and mindfulness. Ironically, at the end, the remastered version of "You Ought to Know" did come on while I had a group of students working in my room and I had to flip it off before I had to explain what going down in a theater was all about. Oops! "The musicals that leave us staggering on our feet are the ones that really reach a lot." Lin Manuel-Miranda When it was announced over a year ago that Hamilton was coming to Denver, I got so excited. My students that year were SUPER into musicals and we had been listening to portions of the soundtrack for months. I loved how Lin Manuel Miranda made this story relevant with great music and kids were getting excited for history! I couldn't wait to have the opportunity to take Blake to see it! (He is still mad at me for taking him to see his girlfriend in "The Nutcracker" years ago--maybe this will stop his hate of the arts!)
The Denver Center for Performing Arts kept introducing new "packages" to buy that would guarantee you the opportunity to buy Hamilton tickets. As tempting as they were, money (and my desire to have a new kitchen) kept me from buying a guaranteed option to see this show. So today "public" tickets went on sale and wow--what an adventure. Everyone logged in prior to 10 am to be put in the line and at 10 am we received our "numbers" in line. Mine? 141,322! There was no chance of tickets then. Ouch. Luckily our other spot in line was at 6555! There might be a chance of tickets after all. At 12:30, my number finally came up and SUCCESS!!! Tickets for the matinee on April 1st! Easter will be super sweet this year as we go see this show. When I got home, I realized just how lucky we truly were. Here are some stories about others experiences that did not go so well: The Know (Denver Post). I got on stub hub to see what our tickets were going for--we paid $165 but similar tickets are now selling for more than $500. Hamilton tickets are definitely the hottest in town and we get to go! So excited I am going to be able to check this item off our list! "Hey- I didn't make a big deal out of Hotel California. The 18 million people who bought it did." -Glenn Frey of the Eagles Meh! That is the word that comes to mind after listening to the album most synonymous with The Eagles. Although most of the songs are familiar, none of them got me overly excited. The best memories triggered by this album where of Desperado playing when my aunt Roxy lived with us growing up. I remember her love of country music and how many songs such as this played throughout the years she stayed with us. Otherwise, this record was a bust for me. Oh well--not every experience is amazing, but at least it was still an experience.
"Every woman should have a purse of her own." -Susan B Anthony ![]() A real purse. This was one of my most frivolous items on the life list (at least so far). For years, each time I visit with girl friends, I am always amazed at the purses they carry and how much they spend to have a Coach or Michael Kors hanging on their shoulder. They have joked with my husband for years that someday he would have to get me one and I always defered thinking that I didn't really want one.
I actually never carried a purse until I had kids and got used to the luxury of having everything at my finger tips after carrying a diaper bag. As the boys grew, I started buying a new purse each season when they appeared on Targets rack in beautiful hues of bright colors. However, I soon realized, you get what you pay for. Just before Christmas I went through my purses and realize that most, if not all, were showing significant wear and tear. I decided that with 40 rapidly approaching, it might be time to spend some money and get a "real" purse. During the holiday sales, Kate Spade sent out a 75% sale to my phone and I forwarded it on to Luke. I told him there as a red purse I had my eye on, but the $600 price tag was an awful lot to stomach. But with the coupon, it was suddenly affordable! I sent a text and hoped the hint was received (which obviously it was since I am writing about it). So now, I am the proud owner of a great Red Should Bag. It is big enough to hold a book or my small laptop for a meeting or a conference. It is small enough that it won't break my back when I carry it during the summer. Most of all, it is pretty and bright and I can't wait to have it become my new constant companion. Thanks Luke for making me a big girl--with a real purse! "It takes a long time to grow an old friend." -John Leonard Turning on this album was like catching up with a great friend that you haven't seen in a while. As soon as the first bars of "Hannah Jane" kick off, I was instantly transported back to my Junior and Senior year of high school. Memories of the Columbia Music Club flyers coming in the mail to pick out the next cool tunes I would own for mere pennies (except when you forgot to mail in the skip the month card!).
This album was the soundtrack of many nights doing homework, living in Boston for the summer to go to RSI '96 and filing out college applications. It played at nearly every college party I attend and makes me think of Cairn who followed the band before they made it big. This album is gold from start to finish--and it made my heart smile. I have to admit, I have now actually listened to this album 4 times this week and each time new memories flood back. I am so grateful that this project reminded me just how much I liked it. As for my favorite songs, I would have to say it still has to be "Only Wanna Be with You" and "Hold My Hand." Although not original, they do make me nostalgic for my youth which makes me feel alive--the whole point of my life list! "You'd have to be daft as a brush to say you didn't like Pink Floyd." -John Lydon Led Zeppelin--an iconic rock band that is everywhere in pop culture. But I have a confession--prior to listening to this album, I had never really listened to them. It was a totally new adventure.
I sat down yesterday for the first time to try to listen to this album, and it didn't do anything for me. (Maybe it was the 90 degree temperatures in my classroom or the dull headache that I had.) Today though was a different story--I sat down and enjoyed it a lot while scrapping (and later cleaning). Night flight was a wonderful treat--I loved the great guitar riffs and the beat that made me just smile as it played. I also was a big fan of the honky tonk feel of Black Country Woman. I felt like I belonged in a dive beer hanging out with friends laughing and sharing a good time. Although probably not an every day listen, I am glad I added this to my repertoire. I will definitely listen again and smile. I finally get why Led Zeppelin is so iconic--not sure why it took me so long to get on the band wagon but I am sure glad I did. |
AuthorAlmost 40 and tired of the treadmill, I am going to LIVE each day as a new adventure while finishing todo items on my life list. Mom, wife, teacher, geek! Archives
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