Who Are We?

When I'm looking for bulletin board ideas for my classroom I often get frustrated.  I teach dance and theatre and those subjects aren't often taught on an elementary level.  Most of the board ideas I see are for boards outside classrooms that display the classroom demographic and names of all the students. 

I've been looking for ideas for the bulletin boards in my classroom and this is one that I came up with!

This board is a display of some of the work my theatre students are doing.  One of the first days of class I let each student pick out  one prop or costume piece and I took their picture.  The next day their journal entry was to create a character, different from themselves, who was in the picture.  Students had to write the name of their character, how old they were, what they like to do, what they did for a living, and any other details they wanted to add.

This was a great assignment for a theatre class because it allowed them to create their very own characters, but this assignment could be tweaked to fit any English Language class.  Not everyone has a prop box or closet of costume pieces to choose from but not to fear! 

Students could bring in a costume piece or favorite piece of clothing from home.  Instead of one writing assignment it could become two.  The first would explain why the student chose that particular item, for the second the student would take their picture and create another person (or animal) to write about. Another option would be for students to swap items.  Students could explain why they love what they brought and see how it can be transformed.

For the actual bulletin board I wanted to create something dynamic.  The walls in my classroom are really white, and there is a lot of white space right now.  I love the way teal and red look together, and I was lucky enough to find these matching speech bubbles at my local education store. (A tip from me to you, laminate everything in your classroom!)

Stay tuned with some more ideas to bring the arts into your classroom!

Trick or Treat

I was inspired by a post on Woman's Day for this Halloween craft.

Supplies

Newspaper
Black construction paper/scrapbook paper
Glue
Twine
Silver Paint
Stencil
Paintbrush
Ruler

Directions

Cut the newspaper into large strips 4"x8 1/2"

Fold the newspaper into halves longways and glue the edges together.  Make sure that you don't glue all the way to the fold or you won't be able to string the twine through.    I used krazy glue because I'm hoping these will last for a few Halloween's past this one.  You could easily use regular glue or tape instead.

Cut the black scrapbook paper into pieces a little smaller than the folded newspaper.

Glue the black scrapbook paper onto the newspaper pieces.

Trace the letters to spell 'Trick Or Treat' onto the paper.

Paint the letters!  I did three coats, but you may need more depending on your paint.

Coat with clear coat to make it waterproof.  I did three coats on each side, letting each side dry before I would flip it to coat the other side. 

String up and hang on your porch!

Pictorial Directions



Strips of Newspaper





Fold and Glue Newspaper





Glue Paper to Newspaper









Trace Letters onto Scrapbook Paper

Paint the Traced Letters

String and Hang



Parfait Please

It's fall y'all!  I love fall, it is my favorite holiday!  However, it is still quite warm down south. 

What's a southern girl to do?  I need my fall flavor fix, but it is far too hot for squash casseroles, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin  pie every day.

The answer! Make pumpkin parfaits for breakfast!

This recipe was inspired by Budget Bytes pumpkin yogurt parfaits.  Beth's parfaits were created as a dessert item, however I decided to turn mine around and make them a breakfast item.

Ingredients

Granola
Greek Yogurt
Unsweetened Pumpkin Puree
Cinnamon
Pumpkin Pie Spice

I don't have any ingredient amounts because I just eyeballed the ingredients based on my taste.  I used a dash of each spice, every time I used it.  For the filling I used about 1 1/2 tblsp each as I layered.

Directions

Layer each of the ingredients in whatever order you choose. 
I layered:  pumpkin
                cinnamon
                granola
                greek yogurt
                pumpkin pie spice
                granola
                pumpkin
                cinnamon
                granola
                greek yogurt
                cinnamon
                pumpkin pie spice

Next time I make this breakfast (probably tomorrow) I'll use less layers.   I got very full about 3/4 of the way through the parfait.



A note about granola.  In my grocery store there is a great bulk bin section with an amazing granola selection.  I don't eat a lot of granola, so I like to buy a cup or two at a time from the bulk bin so it won't go stale.  Much to my surprise, what did I see when I was trying to decide what sort of granola to get? Pumpkin Spiced Granola! Perfection!

Indian Fix

I LOVE Indian food.  It is a great culture to experiment with culinary wise for vegetarians.  The basis of most dishes are legumes which contain tons of protein and other healthy stuff we miss by not eating meat.  Tonight I made a Simple Lentil recipe from Anupy Singla's cookbook The Indian Slow Cooker.  It was delicious and one of the easiest dishes I've made in a long time.  If you love Indian food but don't always have the time to cook it, this cookbook is for you. 

In addition to my slow cooked lentils I made spicy roasted cauliflower.  This recipe is inspired by a curry cauliflower dish that I get at Whole Foods.

Spicy Cauliflower

Ingredients

1 head of cauliflower (broken into 1in florets)
1/2 red onion (diced)
1 1/2 tsp cayenne
1 tbls chili powder
1/2 tbls cumin
3/4 tsp garam marsala
3 tbls olive oil
1 tbls minced garlic
1/2 cup veggie stock
salt and pepper

Directions

Heat the oil, cayenne, chili powder,salt, pepper, and cumin over medium heat for about 2 minutes (or until you can smell the spices).
Add the red onion and garlic to the oil and saute for about 2 more minutes.  You want the onion to start to break down, it will begin to get translucent and soften.  Stir often to make sure the spices don't burn.
Once the onion has become fragrant add the veggie stock and cauliflower.  I added some salt and pepper to this step as well.  You want to continue to stir the cauliflower to make sure that the cauliflower gets coated with the onion/stock/spice mixture. 
Saute the cauliflower for about 3 minutes.  Once the cauliflower has started to soften mix in the garam marsala. 


In true Southern fashion I enjoy spicy food.  My Yankee family may think something they have made is spicy enough and I reach for the hot sauce.  These spicy cauliflower may be too spicy for you, or may not be spicy enough.  Adjust the seasoning to your liking!  The cayenne and chili powder give them a bit of heat, the cumin adds a little depth, and the garam marsala finishes everything off with a nice smokey flavor.

Take one of your favorite store bought recipes and recreate it at home! You can make everything according to your taste preferences and save a bunch of money along the way!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween Everyone! October is here and it is time to start decorating for a fun indulgant holiday!  October to me is Halloween month, so this month I'll be working on some crafts to celebrate Halloween! 

Pumpkin Painting

The first thing I wanted to do was get my pumpkins out front.

This year I decided to paint my pumpkins instead of carving them.  If you carve your pumpking you have to worry about it rotting through before Halloween arrives.  However, if you decide to paint your pumpkins they will keep through the fall. 

I went with a black/purple/silver motif.  As I continue to make or purchase Halloween decorations for my house I plan to stay in this color motif.  When I decorate I like to have a consistent color pallete.  If you keep the colors consistent you can play with texture and pattern.  I had one striped, one polka dotted, and two chunky striped pumpkins; I kept the same colors but chose different ways of decorating.  By keeping your colors consistent your decorations will look more cohesive and have a stronger impact.

To paint the pumpkins I used some acrylic paint I had left over from other projects and a 3/4 inch brush.  I used the natural lines on the pumpkin for the stripes on the last three pumpkins.  I used the cap of a small spray paint can to trace the polka dots on the first pumpkin.  I then went back and painted in the traced polka dot.  I also painted the stems of the pumpkin silver for a little extra sparkle. 

Pumpkin Shopping

I bought my pumpkins at local church's Pumpkin Patch.  They may be a little pricier than your grocery store counterpart, but to me the experience was well worth the extra cash.  Picture the following:

A chilly fall morning; the sun in shining, the wind is blowing, you are wearing boots for the first time this fall.

You walk up to a cute church green space that is covered with pumpkins!  There are kids playing, people mingling, and all shapes and sizes of pumpkins.

You puruse the field of pumpkins, people come to ask if they can help you and they actually know what you are looking for!

When you go home you not only have adorable pumpkins to decorate but you know that money you spent is staying in the community. 

One of the reasons why I wanted to get my pumpkins from a local patch vs the grocery store is where the money goes.  I like knowing that the church will use the money to fund local educational programs, services for the poor, and support for the homeless. 

Another reason I enjoy pumpkin patches over store bought pumpkins is the experience.  Getting a pumpkin is the kickoff of fall and I want an experience I can remember.  Three fourths of the fun comes from hunting for the perfect pumpkin in the crisp fall air, walking up and down the aisles, hugging your sweater to you for warmth. 

The church members who ran the pumpkin patch knew their wares.  They helped me find exactly the shape and size that I wanted. 

Pumpkin Presentation

I don't have a large porch or stoop area to display decorations.  This year I've decided to use my pumpkins as a door stop for my screened door.  You can stack your pumpkins on one top of the other, use pumpkins on either side of your doorway, down front porch steps, or wherever else you can find in your front yard! 

I'll keep you updated with other Halloween projects I create as the season continues!

Make It Work

Sometimes you don't want to go to the store.

Sometimes you don't have any food in your refrigerator.

This is when you have to make it work.

Tonight I made a delicious baked pasta with the leftover ingredients from past made meals.

I may or may not have eaten half of this tonight.  It was that good!

Ingredients

8oz pasta
2 cups ricotta low fat cheese
1 1/2 cups marinara
2 tsp basil
salt and pepper
2 tsp Italian herbs
2 tsp dried oregano
1 zucchini
Mozzarella cheese

Directions

Cook the pasta in salted boiling water for around 9 minutes, or until the pasta is still a little bit chewy.

While the past is cooking preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Mix all the rest of the ingredients together.  Adjust the seasoning to your liking. 

Once the past has cooked, mix it in with the sauce/cheese mixture. 

Pour the saucy pasta in a 8x8 baking dish and sprinkle with mozzarella.  Put the baking dish into the oven and bake for about 20 minutes.


I don't have any other pictures because I really wasn't expecting this dish to be so delicious!  When I made it I was just trying to clean out the fridge and avoid going to the store.  Who knew throwing these ingredients together would be so good!

Clean out your fridge and see what you can create tonight!

Fake Expo

In case you haven't heard recently, teachers tend to be underfunded, underpaid, and overworked. 

Well I have a little tip to help the teachers out there just the tiniest bit.

I am fortunate to have several white boards in my classroom.  White boards are great, but they are quite difficult to keep white.  I tend to be a little anal about keeping my classroom clean and looking nice.  The fact that there was an odd blue film on the boards even when I cleaned them really started to burn my biscuits. 

I inherited expo board wipes and expo spray cleaner.  These are wonderful tools, however replacing them when they run out can be quite pricey.  I'm not a huge fan of pricey so I did a little experimenting and now I have my own white board cleaner that works wonderfully!

Ingredients

12oz spray bottle
5oz water
5oz isopropyl alcohol 70
Few drops of your favorite essential oil

Directions

Combine all ingredients in spray bottle.  Shake to mix.  Spray and clean!


I've been using this mixture in my class for about a week and I absolutely love it!  The equal parts of alcohol  and water cleans all my writing off the white board.  I used eucalyptus oil which not only has antibacterial properties but keeps my room smelling nice (and not like children's feet).

I use a rag when I clean my board, I've found that the expo erasers are not very effective in cleaning the board after the first few uses.  I try not to use paper towels because they create extra waste that is unnecessary when I can just use an old rag from home.  I take the rag home on the weekend and wash it with another load of laundry.

Upcycle Fan

If you are like me, you shop online or go through magazines often. When you do, you sigh heavily over things you love but can't afford.  So when I find an opportunity to upcycle something I already have, or can buy cheaply, and make it look expensive I'm all for it. 

My apartment does not have central AC, we have window units and box fans.  My window units aren't the most effective; they blow out cool air but can't properly ventilate the room.  Enter bedside fan.

In the somewhat oppressive New Orleans heat, I find it essential to have moving air while I sleep.




(so I forgot to take a before picture, please use this picture as an example of what my fan looked like before I painted it)



This fan is fine and all, but doesn't have a lot of pizazz.  I like pizazz. 

Enter Pinterest and a tutorial by Starr Family Blog.

Now my fan looks like this!


After!


Look how much pizazz it has now!

This is super basic to accomplish.

Steps

1. Find a spray paint color that you love that will enhance the color palette already in your room.
2. Take apart your fan.  All the components should unscrew without any extra tools.  I had 6 pieces in total (front grate, cap for fan blade, fan blade, cap for back grate, back grate, base).
3. Wrap your cord in painters tape to protect it.
4. Lay out your newspaper/drop cloth and place your fan pieces on it.
5. Get to spray painting! At least two coats on each side.

Tips

Try to spray paint when there is little to no moisture in the air.  The more humid the atmosphere the longer it will take to dry, the gummier the paint will be, and the paint will be much more likely to clump.
If you live somewhere like I do, you just have to hedge your bets, keep an eye on the weather, and try to wait until a dry spell happens.

Keep an eye out for the crevices.  There are sneaky little areas you might forget about: the edges of the blades, the pivot spaces on the base, and the edges of the grates.

My paint did clump a little on the front grate, but I kind of like it.  It gives it a bit of texture.  If you really hate it you can cut a cover out of scrapbook paper, fabric, or sand it down and start over again!


I haven't had any problems with the gears gunking up, the fan not rotating properly, or a weird smell.
Good luck with spray painting and upcycling your own fans!

We Make Bread

or, The Little Things

I'm a big fan of happiness. I think everyone should be happy and that you can always find a reason for happiness. 

Happy people just don't kill their husbands. (teeheehee, if you don't get it YouTube that phrase with 'legally blonde')

Everyone has those little things that make us smile inside.  One of my things is making bread.  It is the perfect thing to get out my aggression after a long day or to savor some time to myself after being with small people all day.  And you get such a tasty, simple, and amazing product at the end of it.

I don't have a bread maker or a dough hook on en electric mixer.  I make all my bread from hand and that's the way I like it.  Making bread is usually a long process, at least two hours.  It's nice to take a break from the day and set some time aside for yourself. 

If you think you don't have time to make bread I tell you

WRONG

True, you do need some time to make bread.  But it's not hours spent in the kitchen working and kneading dough.  The actual hands-on time when making most bread is about 20 minutes, total time about 3 hours.  I do laundry, clean the house, plan lessons.  I like to pool all the things I have to get done during the rise time, that way when the bread is done all I have to do is enjoy it.

Basic Bread Recipe

This is a combination of several recipes I have used to make bread.  It's basic and super delicious.

2 TBLS butter

4 TBLS sugar

2 tsp salt

2 TBLS active dry yeast

1 1/2 cup hot water

5 cups + all purpose flour

Add all the ingredients except the flour in a small bowl, mix, and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes.  This allows the yeast to start to ferment.  You'll know it's ready when there is a blooming of different colored stuff in the middle of the bowl.

After the yeast has started to ferment, you will start adding the flour in.  Add around 3 cups first, stir it all together and then slowly start adding more flour about 1/2 cup at a time.  Soon you won't be able stir it with a spoon and now it's time to get your hands dirty. 

Wash your hands then have at it!  Generously flour your counter, plop the dough onto the counter, flour your hands, then start to knead the dough.  Keep adding flour until the dough isn't sticky anymore.  You'll need to knead the dough for around 10 minutes, until it reaches a non-sticky doughy state. 

Once you are done kneading the dough; grease a large bowl and put the dough in it.  Allow the dough to rise for about two hours or until it has doubled in size.  Punch it down, then separate it into two balls.  Round each ball and place it on a cookie sheet.  If you want to, you can cut fun designs into your bread at this point.  Allow the dough to rise for another 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours. 

 

(At this point, if I were you, I would preheat the oven)

The bread should rise to about half the size you want them after they bake.  If you want to rush this process you can set your oven on around 175 degrees and allow the bread to rise in the heating oven.

Once your dough has risen to the height you want it paint it with an egg wash (egg whites and water mixture).  You can also add spices to your bread at this point.  My favorites are kosher salt and fresh rosemary. 

(If you are going to use fresh herbs, make sure you press them into the bread so they don't fall off when you start cutting into your delicious treat)

After you top your bread with extra specialness, pop it into a 400 degree oven for around 30 minutes.  I don't want to tell you specifics because every oven is different..  Adjust the degree and time based on your oven particularities.

You know your bread is done when it starts to brown around the edges and on top.  You should also be able to smell it while it cooks at this point.  Let it cool for about 15 minutes on a wire rack, then behold your marvelous baking prowess!

Serve with favorite soups, salads, or eat it on it's own!  I usually just eat it on it's own, it's almost too good to dunk into other flavor profiles. 

Eat and Enjoy!  I hope making bread brings you as much peace, joy, and fulfillment as it does me!