Knitting Zeal

End of the school year: Teacher's Gifts

My son has one day left of preschool this year!  I can't believe it's almost over.  Back in September he looked like this:    I have to remember to take a photo of him in this spot on Friday.  He had a blast this year at school!  It was the right place to send him and he really discovered so many new things and made some great friends.  I know he had a good year when he told me how sad he'll be when school is over on Friday. 

He had great teachers this year and together we picked out thank you gifts for them.  He really helped with the idea and even made the choice of what kind of gift card to give them (Starbucks, he knows how much coffee is appreciated!)  My idea for their gift was inspired by a picture I saw on Pinterest.  I took the idea a step further by adding a gift card and thank you note that my son helped write.

We bought each teacher a straw cup and added some lemonade packets and an instant iced coffee packet.  Then we added Starbucks gift cards.  I like how they turned out and I hope the teachers enjoy them!  

Teacher's Gifts

Friday is the end of year program where all the kids sing songs to the parents.  I'll be the one crying behind the camera, from the cuteness of it all!  Summer is right around the corner.  Let the fun begin!

Wordless Wednesday

Ready for the beach

Scuba boy!

My summer reading list

After reading a few great books recently, I decided I needed to make a book list for myself for summer reading.  I have several books in a pile that I want to read, but I'm always finding others that I add to me "to-read" list on Goodreads.  So I don't have to buy any books this summer, I made a list of books that I either already own or that are available from the library.  

In no particular order, here is my summer reading list:

• The House of Velvet and Glass by Katherine Howe
• The Lost Wife by Alyson Richman
• Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery (I never read this as a child!)
• The Passage by Justin Cronin
• One Thousand White Women. The Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus
• The Provence Cure for the Brokenhearted by Bridget Asher
• Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris (#3 of the food trilogy.  I loved the movie Chocolat, and need to read the #2 book, Blackberry Wine too!)
• Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum
• Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

I've already finished two books last week that I consider to be part of my summer reads.  Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay was a book that I couldn't put down.  It was the tale of what occurred in France during the Holocaust and the Vel’ d’Hiv' roundup, the day when the French police rounded up all the French Jews, including over 4,000 French children, and sent them to their death in Auschwitz. It was horrifying, and I was surprised that with all of the books I've read over the years about the Holocaust that I had never heard of this tragedy.  The other book I read last week was the book selection for the online book club through Great Thoughts.  The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain was the story of three friends, one who mysteriously commits suicide, and the survivors search for why.  Overall I really enjoyed this book, except the mystery was rather predictable.  I definitely would read the other books this author has written.  

What's on your summer reading list?

Life Well Lived, Getting Happy

This week's Life Well Lived, Getting Happy question asks, "what are your favorite relaxation techniques? And what benefits do you see from practicing them?"  My first thought about this was to laugh.  Relax?  That has always been a challenge for me.  My brain is constantly on.  I had an incredible professor in Grad school who was an expert at meditaion and taught me his technique.  I used to be able to tune out and just breath.  Yoga was even really helpful.  

Lately, I can't seem to make those techniques work for me, but there are some other ways I work on relaxation:

• Going to the local spa for a facial.  I've only gone twice, as it is expensive, but I had no idea how good it would feel to have someone focus on my face.  A face, head and arm massage is very relaxing and rejuvenating.
• Going to the Y to exercise.  I still don't love exercising, but it is time that is focused on just me, no one talking to me, no one asking for a snack or a drink or why. It lets me tune out and just focus on the moment.  I even tried a yoga class again after many years of a hiatus.  That was hard, not all that relaxing, but there is potential there!  
• Knitting with my knitting group.  I don't always get to go, but when I do it is such a nice way to turn off life and be with like minded crafters.

Someday, I'd love to incorporate meditation back into my life.  I did download an app that has timed guided meditations, but I've only used it once.  I do have a relaxation playlist on my iPod that I listen to at night when I can't sleep. It usually helps.  

How do you relax?  What works for you?

Check out BlogHer.com's Dr. Amyee for techniques on how to relax and mediate.  Be sure to enter the Life Well Lived Moments Sweepstakes for a chance to win an iPod touch!

 

Menu plan Monday for the week of May 28, 2012

Unofficially, it's summer!  This means that menu planning will incorporate our CSA produce for the summer.  Our first pick up was last Friday and we now have an abundance of lettuce, salad turnips, bok choy and strawberries.  I know how I'll use up the berries and the lettuce, but those turnips are questionable.  I did slice one up and throw it in a salad on Friday night, but I have at least six more to use up!  I will be researching a way to use them this week.

As for the bok choy, I found a recipe online that sautes it with garlic and ginger, so I'm going to incorporate that recipe into a chicken stir fry meal.

I'm really looking forward to trying new recipes and produce this summer from the CSA.  We are splitting a half share with our friend's family, so that it won't be so overwhelming.  My son had fun checking out the farm twice last week, once at an open house/tour and then also at our pickup.  We had the chance to chat with a beekeeper while there and even tasted honey from the honeycomb.  The honey was delicious!  

On the plan for dinners this week:

Monday: Memorial Day...if it doesn't rain, we will have a BBQ with hot dogs and sausage, beans, chips, salad.  

Tuesday: Grilled chicken over salad greens

Wednesday:  Stir fry chicken, including our bok choy and rice

Thursday: Buffalo Bleu Chicken pasta salad (See my recipe below!)

Friday: Homemade pizza, salad

Weekend: TBD

 

I used to link to a recipe for a great Buffalo chicken pasta salad that I discovered online that is really yummy.  When I just checked it to link it here, I got a blocked virus attack notification from that website, so I will not link it here again.  I know that I modified the recipe, so here is how I make a buffalo bleu chicken pasta salad:

• Cook 8 oz of bowtie (or other shape) pasta till al dente.  Set aside. Chop up or shred one or two cooked chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces.  Toss chicken with Frank's hot sauce, to taste.  Chop up two ribs of celery into tiny bits.  Add to chicken mixture.  Add 2-4 cups of baby lettuces or baby spinach to the pasta.  Add a few tablespoons of bleu cheese dressing and toss with the pasta and lettuce mixture.  Then top with the chicken mixture and combine.  Sprinkle some blue cheese on top and serve!  Add more hot sauce or dressing to taste.  

What's on your menu plan this week?  I'm linking up to Organizing Junkie. 

Hexipuff

See that little hexagon of yarn? That is the first of many hexipuffs that I'll be knitting for the next two years or so. In assessing the quantity of beautiful sock yarns that I've stashed (hoarded) I realized that I'll never have time to use all of them. I also have some sock yarn leftovers that needed a purpose.

I discovered the beekeeper's quilt a few months ago when another knitter from our group started working on it. The idea of using all of that beautiful yarn up kept pestering me to want to try knitting it. Since I already have the yarn it is not an expensive project. So, for my birthday I bought the pattern and went to work.

When I finish it the quilt will be wonderful. I imagine it will be great to use in the winter when I'm really old! It might take me that long to finish!

Preschoolers Madagascar party fun

As part of the Children's Claritin Moms Crew I had the opportunity to host a Madagascar 3 Party for my son and his preschool buddies.  I received an awesome party kit, complete with the first two Madagascar movies on DVD and some fun giveaways for the kiddos.  It was a great way to get the kids together before the end of the school year.  My son loves the Madagascar movies and is really looking forward to seeing Madagascar 3 when it is released in theatres on June 8th.  It is rare that an appropriate movie for preschoolers is in the theatres, so we are really excited about this summer movie!  

To get ready for the party, we made chocolate banana cupcakes with chocolate icing and popped lots of popcorn to share.  My son loved having popcorn boxes to share with his friends.  I also made up little goodie bags for each kid with a candy stick, Madagascar 3 stickers and pretzels. We decorated the table with animal themed plates, animal figures and my favorite cupcake stand, making the cupcakes the centerpiece.  (The kids ended up having so much fun playing they never ate the cupcakes, so each got to take some home!)  

While the movies were playing, some kids watched for a bit, some played, and the moms had a chance to catch up and chat.  It was great being able to talk with the moms for more than the five minutes we usually get at pick up time!  We discussed everything, including how rotten this allergy season has been for all of us.  Most of my son's friends seem to have asthma issues, along with seasonal allergies.  I know my allergies have been terrible this spring, thanks to the mild winter we had this past season. 

The kids had a blast playing together and enjoying their snacks.  At one point we caught some of the kids composing music notes together, maybe writing the next movie score?  They were so cute!  

Overall, our Madagascar movie party was a hit, even if the movies didn't get much of a viewing!  On the next rainy day we might have to host another movie get together so the kids can actually sit down and watch!  

 

As a member of the Children’s Claritin Mom Crew, I receive product samples and promotional items to share and use as I see fit.  No monetary compensation has taken place and any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience.

Wordless Wednesday

birthday blooms

Menu plan Monday for the week of May 21, 2012

Monday: Flatbread pizza

Tuesday: My birthday!!  Not sure what we'll do, but the kiddo and I will have Big Plans!  :-)

Wednesday: Breakfast for dinner, probably waffles with strawberries and bacon

Thursday: chicken parm, 360 style, with pasta

Friday: chicken and broccoli stir fry with rice

Weekend: TBD

 

For my birthday my son wants to make vanilla cupcakes.  Not my personal favorite, but his, so we may do it.  Depends if I can conquer my latest sinus issues.  For my birthday I was hoping to go to Longwood Gardens, but it's threatening to rain, so we'll save that trip for another day.  I am also hoping to make some strawberry ice cream, as we went strawberry picking last week and I have a bag of berries waiting to become something yummy...the other bag we've been snacking on all weekend long!

I'm linking up with Organizer Junkie for this menu plan.  

Wordless Wednesday

Dinner