Sunday, July 31, 2011

Can I Get a Flip Flop?

Remember how I talked about my flip flop dilemma here and here?  Well, the solution is finally 100% complete!  I added little ribbon jackets to the hangers I created using the tutorial I found.  They went from drab:


to FAB:


Please ignore the fact that I just said that.  Please. I gathered all of my materials from Michael's.  Officially the best store ever!


 I loved the springy-green feeling of this ribbon!


And although the tutorial originally used big buttons, I found these beauties at Michael's and couldn't resist.  Plus, in my control-Type-A-paranoid-perfect organized world, I could use a little randomness... but not too much:

 

After folding the ribbon around the hanger and fastening it with the ever-amazing glue dots...


...I cut off the excess and hot glue-ed the little buttons on.


 Ta-da!!!


I am quite pleased with the final product!


FYI--I have a feeling that this blog is going to turn into a home decoration kind of thing for a while, as I am really excited to be making our house a home... over time.  It's mostly so our families (and friends) can see the progress of our house from afar.  Enjoy :-)

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Closet Update #1

Remember when I said that I was going to remodel/re-do my closet before any other rooms?  Well, here is the before picture:



It's looking much better...
 ta-daaaa!

Phew.  I feel better already!  Pants on the bottom with rainbow-order hangers.  Shirts on top with white hangers, but still in rainbow-order.  Shoes neatly organized on the back left and front right and the kicker... flip flops on hangers!!!
In rainbow-order, of course...
...and the rest of them!
Remember how I was all worried about the huge mound of flip flops that I had?

Well, I did some research online and found this post by another blogger who had the same concern for all of her mismatched flip flops.  I wanted to get wire hangers and spray paint them white, like she did.  But when I got to good ol' Wal-Mart, I found them in white! One step already eliminated!



I used these enormous bolt cutters to cut the bottoms off of the hangers.  I literally had to go buy a larger set of bolt cutters because the tiny wire cutters just weren't cutting it. (haha, get it?)



Using the cutters, pliers, and my bare hands, I managed to make them all into the same hang-y shape:



 

And there you have it.  Flip flop hangers.  I will probably add the ribbon "jacket" on there soon like in the tutorial I found.  But for now, I am happy!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

MultiliteracyRevolution!!!

Okay, guys.  I am officially a nerd.  I have been more excited about my group project for grad school lately than anything else in my entire life!  In all of my online classes, the final project has been a group project.  They are all different.


In the first class which was titled, "Globalization and Education Policy", our group project was to be in groups of 4 people and to write a 30-35 page paper and do a  to the class on the transformation of education policy in any country of our choosing.  My group chose Chile.  It was a LONG and boring, tedious, tiring project.  But I learned a lot about research.  And how to communicate with 5 other people that you will never meet about something that you have to be intimately involved with.  That was a process.


In my second class titled "Global Issues in Learning" (I know, what a vague title), our group/final project was just a presentation to our class.  It could literally be on anything as long as it involved education, globalization, and culture to some degree.  My group chose to do a presentation on University Rankings Systems.  You know, the US News and World Report "US Best Colleges of 2010"?  I actually really enjoyed this project.  I learned a lot and liked the topic, so it worked out.  It was a lot of work, but not as much as the first class.


The project that I am currently working on is the one I have spent the most time on... by far.  But I am enjoying it so much that it doesn't even matter!  Hey teacher friends, have you heard of "multiliteracies"?  That's what my project is on.  The class is called "Technology and Education Reform".  "The final project for this class is a team activity in which you will cooperate to produce a technology-based, multimedia project (a video, a web site, etc) that addresses one of the central themes of the course."... according to my professor.  My group decided to write a blog as a resource for teachers and students on the topic of multiliteracies.  Are you interested?  Well, I am not going to give it all away.  But I am very proud of the progress.  By the way, the project isn't due for another two weeks...  Here it is:



Let me know what you think!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Coming Out of the Closet

Since I currently have no money and I am dying to decorate my home, I decided to tackle my closet first.  I am a Type-A personality and I have a strong desire to have all things organized.  With little money and only time to spare, my closet in the master bathroom was the first thing to get a re-design.  It is very large and can most certainly handle all of my shoes clothes.  I am in love with reading craft and organization blogs lately, so I got some ideas online.  I will cite them when needed.

Here is my closet when I moved in:
bare and very white

Here is the closet after I moved all of my junk clothes in:
random stuff everywhere

On the left are shelves with shoes, on the floor are more sandals and to the right in the tan  thing are my tennis shoes...

oh! and these shoes, too...

here is my mound of flip flops.  you could say I have an obsession...

As you can see, I have a lot of extra space.  It does not look organized or clean.  I have an overwhelming amount of flip flops that I have no idea what to do with.  And looking at it like this gives me a headache.  So my first mission in house decorating and organization is my closet.  I know that may seem ridiculous considering I am the only one who will see it.  But that's precisely why I am sharing it with you!  Updates to come...

Friday, July 22, 2011

Book Club and Book Store

I am sitting in Barnes and Noble at the coffee shop.  Josh and I ditched our house for the day so our air conditioner didn't have to kill itself trying to keep the house cool.  The heat index today is 117.  Seriously!

So, I am doing some grad school work here.  And I am currently taking a break.  It is about 65 degrees in here, which is cold.  But I really don't want to complain considering I could be outside having a heat stroke right now. I have been doing a very large amount of work on our group project for school and I am excited to share it soon!

In other news, I was invited by some ladies at my school to be in their book club.  I am really, really, really excited!  I love stuff like that and I have never been a part of a book club before!  The closest I have ever come is being in a bible study group and it was awesome.  I really enjoy having a goal and then having meaningful and thoughtful discussions with other adults... especially when it doesn't have to do with work or education... I get enough of that at school.  They are currently reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  I have been wanting to read this book for a while and now I have a good reason to do it:
Have you read it?  What did you think?

Another development has recently taken place.  We had a meeting at school this week to discuss our upcoming school year.  A lot of changes have been going on at my school and in my county lately.  First of all, our school didn't make AYP this year.  If you don't know what that is, Google it.  I would tell you, but it makes me too frustrated to talk about it.  By the way, we lost it because of two students and six total questions on a test.  Second of all, we are no longer a Title I school.  This is very bad.  For many reasons.  The main ones being that because of this, we will lose a number of services, a ton of finances and financial resources, and a lot of personnel.  Google Title I if you don't know about it.  Because of this, my principal is forcing me to spend 45 minutes per day in 4th or 5th grade classrooms working with small groups to teach reading and math.  This is something that Title I teachers or assistants would typically do, but since we no longer have them...  it's up to the music and P.E. teachers.  Seriously.  

I understand that our kids now need these services, so I am a little torn about the whole situation.  I feel bad complaining about it, but if we ever want to meet AYP, I might need to help in this area.  But, it's definitely not my job, I'm definitely not qualified for it, and it's taking away time from my schedule to teach our 650 kids some awesome music.  Also, and most importantly, I DON'T WANT TO DO IT!  It's sad that I have to do this just so we can "pass a test".  Having their music teacher teach them music would be way more beneficial for them, but that's the way of the education world lately.  It's very sad.

On a happy note, G is coming in the morning and I am super excited to see her and do some cool Ocean City stuff.  Have a great (and cool) weekend!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Lately...

...we have been the opposite of busy.  Remember how I said that even though it's summer, we have been just as busy as during the school year?  Yeah, well, that changed lately.  We are so bored.  Next summer we are definitely supplementing our income with summer jobs for sure.  I will admit, though, that I have been consistently busy with grad school work.

I could probably get by with doing less grad school work.  But, as you probably know if you are reading this, I am a perfectionist and cannot do anything "just a little".  If I stick to something, I will do my best.  So that has actually been nice because I am enjoying the work I am doing and I am doing great work for school and my future and I am keeping myself busy!  I am currently working on a very serious and large-scale project with a group of people in my program which I will explain at a later date.  I definitely want to show it off after we get some more work done.

I have also been working out really hard.  Mainly because I'm bored, but also because I am enjoying it and wanting to make some muscles :-)  My last Spring goal was to run a half marathon, which I did.  This Spring I would really like to try a sprint triathlon.  I really think I can do it, physically.  I will need lots of practice swimming, though, because I lack form and speed in that area.  In fact, if I had to do it today, I would certainly not drown, but I would definitely be doggy-paddling.  The only real concern I have is that this year is going to be a trying year in the financial department until we get used to making mortgage payments and budgeting other things.  In order to do a sprint triathlon, I would need a lot of "gear".  The most expensive being a bike!

This weekend my college roommate G is coming to visit and stay the weekend.  We only see each other once or twice per year, so obviously I am really excited to hang out with her :-)

Last thing: I have made a decision to eat at least one serving of fruit or vegetables with every single meal.  And I am going to drink more water and tea and less soda and beer/wine.  So far so good!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Perspective

If you ever have 55 minutes and 34 seconds free, it will be worth your while to watch this video.  I had to watch it today for one of my grad school classes and something as arbitrary as a really long YouTube video turned into one of the most passionate online experiences I have ever been a part of.  An Anthropological Introduction to YouTube:

Friday, July 15, 2011

My First Attempt at Working in the Garden

Yikes.  It was scary beforehand.  Here is what it looked like in the front of our house just a few short days ago:

eww.
It was supposed to look pretty...
...but it doesn't.
...it's very overgrown...
...and is full of fungus.
 So, I gave Josh a list of stuff to get at the hardware store that looked like this:  Get stuff for the garden.

Yep, I had no idea what I was doing.

I took these things (big scissors, shears, trimmers???  WHAT DO YOU CALL THEM?) and trimmed up the overgrown bushes to make them look more circular.
Doesn't look too bad...
...but they are all different sizes still.  At least they aren't overgrown.
Now that my back hurts like h*ll...

This mess presented itself... 
...and after removing all this... 
...it turned into this.
After a few more HOURS of weeding, trimming, and not really knowing what I was doing, here is the final product:
Still not too pleased with the overall look of our front garden...

...but it's definitely an improvement.
Next year, after some research, I plan to take out most of the flowers in the front garden that I don't like and replace them with stuff I do like.  I also want to make the bushes smaller, re-mulch, and make it look more spiffy in general.

I also took some hydrangeas from our bushes and brought fresh flowers inside!



 Now....

...what to do with all of this?

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Awesome Blossom

That^ title was both inspired by Michael Scott's  love for Chili's Awesome Blossom, and the topper that went on my wedding gift for my best friend's recent nuptials.

Something I will confess:  I am not a particularly crafty person.  I love and appreciate all things "craft", but I have never been interested or motivated to dive into that world.  Until I had an idea for L's wedding gift!

This is foolproof, easy, and can be inexpensive.  You should definitely do it the next time you need to gift someone, whether it be wedding, birthday, bridal shower, baby shower, etc.  Buy the towels from their registry, design them to look like a tiered cake, and decorate with the theme colors!  TA-DA:


It is easier than it looks, I promise!  Watch:

1.  Gather all of your materials.  You will need towels, ribbon, decorations, tape, thick floral wire, and maybe a glue gun.


2.  Now, before you go and ruin the towels you are about to give to someone for their new home, test a little bit of scotch tape on a tiny area just to make sure that it doesn't rip the towel apart when you pull it off.  Mine were safe!  Fold and roll the largest towel to your desired size VERY tightly and tape it together so that you are sure it won't fall apart.  I used the trial and error method on this one to get the size just right.




3. Bend the floral wire in half and slide both ends through the bottom of the bottom tier.


4. Follow Steps 2 and 3 for the second and third tiers.  I found that twisting the wire tight helped to keep everything in place.



5.  Add ribbon of your choice.  L's wedding colors were cornflower and gold-ish, so I chose these ribbons and taped them in the back.


6. Decorate!  Be careful if you need to glue anything.  Make sure it's dry before you put it on the towels!





7.  I found this awesome bouquet of silk flowers at Michael's (you can see them in the top pic) and tore the bottom stems off.  I just shoved the floral wire into the Styrofoam ball that was holding the flowers and VOILA!



It's true that both the bride and groom professed that it was the best gift on the gift table... That's all I'm sayin'...