Threes days back from break and I've got the ball rollin'

3rd Gade clay snowman faces! 

Okay so techincally these weren't created in one class period, my 6th graders started these right before Christmas Break and had the chance to finish them up today in a catch up class.

I started this new Gustav Klimt inspired lesson with my 4th graders. They are loving using GOLD paint! Haha!

Stay tuned! More to come! 

The Bachelor--Juan Pablo

Holy guacamole! 

So purely based on "first impressions" these are my top picks for Juan Pablo!

My first pick was Christy. (Okay, I may have just picked her simply because I LOVED her hair with the pretty sparkly headband she rocked)

Next up, 

I'd pick Clare (the girl who faked being pregnant)

(My hubby picks Clare just from first impressions right out of the limo)

Alexis is my next pick

And Ali Fed's look alike aka Nikki is my final pick. 


I have to admit I never thought he'd give the first impression rose to those most stand-offish girl aka the opera singer!

Yikes! Anyone else think he'll keep her around or no?

Blackfish vs SeaWorld

I watched Blackfish on Netflix a week ago and I have to admit, it haunts me. I find myself thinking about it constantly and have even watched 2 more documentaries about whales since seeing it. 

I watched "The Whale" which talked all about Luna, the whale that befriended a community living off of Vancouver Island. It's narrator was Ryan Reynolds. Great film. Highly recommend anyone to watch it. I had no idea a real wild whale wanted so much to be loved by humans. This one will break your heart watching. No violence occurs just heartbreak watching this film. 

The second was called "Killer Whales" and this one also touches on SeaWorld. 
We all remember Free Willy right? 1993 it was the first film to really raise awareness about the issue of capitivity of whales in theme parks. Well as time went on, I have to admit I kind of forgot there was an issue, and went to SeaWorld back in I think it was 2005 for the first time. This was 5 years before the trainer Dawn was killed at SeaWorld. Before there were any reports on the "dangerous" whale Tilikum. 

My initial thoughts and feelings after seeing this film was, "I'm never going to a seaworld ever again!" Which then led me to think about Zoos. Are Zoos wrong just like seaworld? Keeping animals in small closed areas, no freedom no chance to "kill" for themselves? I mean at least at zoos they don't "force" wild animals to perform for us folk that flock to see them. Granted if whales had NO interaction with people, they'd probably all die of pure loneliness since they have been stripped of their families. 

So who's side are you on? I think I've read every possible side of the argument at hand about this film. 

Sifting through the comments this is the one that really stands out to me as to why we need to be careful as to where we stand on this issue:

"As disturbing as parts of the movie are, I do not trust ANY MEDIA; whether it is a news organization (CNN, NBC, NY Times, etc..) or the movie / documentary makers. Everyone is trying to get THEIR point of view across, and To do that they WILL Twist facts or omit other facts so that their ‘story’ will fit their point of view. Michael Moore did that with his ‘Fahrenheit’ movie, which was later proven to have more than 95 critical & distorted ‘facts’ in it. The film makers will edit everything, so you don’t know where what part came from … also, my problem is that I wonder if I trust the experts they put forth… do the ‘ex-employees’ have an axe to grind for being fired, or do they really care about the truth? The problem is we just do not know what is a fact, and what is fiction! What they tell us, may be true, but it may also be a big lie. Who do we trust? Let’s face it, with Media, (print or TV) the news is strictly filler for selling ads; and ask yourself, did Michael Moore profit from the sensationalism he called ‘documentaries? Can we really trust Hollywood? 

Also, I have to ask myself, can I really overlook all the wonderful work that SeaWorld has done with rehabilitating so much endangered and rescued ill wild life, as well as the educational benefits they have provided? 

Removing and capturing the whales from the wild is wrong in most all cases, no one can argue that, but there must be a better way to work with SeaWorld to make some changes."

How do we know who to believe or what to believe when there is so much twisted lies and truths out there? In my heart, I truly believe it is wrong for them to capture and put whales in tanks. PERIOD. They are social creatures who need their families to survive. However, when an animal is on the brink of extinction, I do feel humans need to step in and do whatever we can to save that species. After all, we the humans are ALWAYS the reason as to why we are losing certian animals to become extinct. 

SeaWorld's response to Blackfish? You can see their "Letter" here. 

Anyone watch WhaleWars religiously like I do? This is their rebuttal against SeaWorld's so called "explaination letter." Read here

Wanna know who else is on the side of being against capitivity? Richard O'Barry.

 Most will never know that name without someone explaining that the beautiful dolphin used in Flipper was the one he trained. She died in his arms. You can read more about that here.
He was also shown in one of the documentaries I watched explaining how she died.

Remember, whales in captivity CAN be re released into the wild and survive. Keiko, the "star" whale in Free Willy was proof of that. 

He lived back in the Wild for 5 years on his own before he died of pneumonia. Yes apparently even whales can die of pneumonia. 

Thoughts?

Show Addiction: House of Cards

The last television series I wanted from start to finish was Breaking Bad. That show started off so graphic and bloody with the shootings and drug deals I wasn't sure I'd take to the show. Not to mention that it showcased a teacher selling drugs. I'm glad people told me to keep watching because it was a great show!

My husband and I also love watching Homeland starring Claire Danes. Which leads me to my new found love for House of Cards.

We just finished watching Season 1 and OMG this has to be my new favorite show! I never thought a show based on Presidents and politics would ever hold my attention. Boy was I wrong! 

The downside to the show is that if you don't have netflix, you can't watch it. I think Netflix is super smart for this marketing move! :) 

The cast for this show is OUTSTANDING. I mean I've never seen such great acting. Ever. 

And Robin Wright (Formerly Robin Wright Penn who split with longtime hubby Sean Pean) is SUPERB. She looks AMAZING for her age and her wardrobe in the show has me taking notes for when I am older! That's how I want to look! 

And what is it with Kate Mara always getting to play the "other woman?" She was the young mistress on American Horror Story before not being in the last few seasons. I remember her from being in We Are Marshall

What are your must watch shows/series? 

I've seen/watched the following series from start to finish:

Dawson's Creek
The O.C.
Friday Night Lights
 The Sopranos
The Wonder Years
Breaking Bad
Prison Break

There's probably more I just can't think of them right now! 

What I read over break

This is the sequel to The Edge of Never which I loved. I wish I could say the same thing for the second installment of the story between Camryn and Andrew but it just wasn't there for me. 

Here's what Goodreads says about it:

"Camryn Bennett has never been happier. Five months after meeting on a Greyhound bus, she and her soul mate Andrew Parrish are engaged—and a wedding isn’t the only special event in their future. Nervous but excited, Camryn can’t wait to begin the rest of her life with Andrew – a man she knows in her heart will love her always. They have so much to look forward to—until tragedy blindsides them.

Andrew doesn’t understand how this could happen to them. He’s trying to move on, and thought Camryn was doing the same. But when Andrew discovers Camryn is secretly harboring a mountain of pain and attempting to numb it in damaging ways, there is nothing he won’t do to bring her back to life. Determined to prove that their love can survive anything, Andrew decides to take Camryn on a new journey filled with hope and passion. If only he can convince her to come along for the ride…"

I say skip it, it wasn't really a good read for me so to speak. 

Next I read "Driven". 

This was also not a great read for me. It was EXACTLY like reading 50 Shades of Gray or the knock off books by Sylvia Day. I can only take so much bondage and kinky sex in books with a rich powerful guy and a poor mousey leading lady. Blah! 

Lastly, I just read "Waking up Married." Incidentally, the underlying plot of this book starts off like the movie Waking up in Vegas starring Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher. That was enough for me to get hooked.

I liked this book the best out of the 3 I read. It was light hearted, romantic but not over done with sex sex sex. Just enough to get you hooked and ended happy. For me, that was a nice refesher to read a happy ending for once! 

I signed up for the Goodreads challenge, although I am fairly certain that I won't reach my 50 books in one year mark. I may have set that bar a little to high! 

Day 2 of 2014

Hope everyone had a safe and happy new years eve! I didn't take to many pictures at the gathering I went to simply because I ended up leaving early to head home early! I must be getting old.

Or I simply just don't feel the need or see the point in being up past 2am anymore.

The theme of the NYE party I was invited to was "comfy or pajama party." The reason being was that my friends. the hosts of the party, had just flown in from IL to AZ that morning so they wanted to be comfortable as well, esp in their own home! 

This is what I came up with as my "comfy" but cute outfit

My lacedhair extensions made their second debut out for the special holiday!

Everyone was asked to bring a dessert or appetizer, and every year I bring the same thing since these are such a hit with guests. Cheesecake stuffed strawberries.

It was my first time playing Cards Against Humanity. Which if you've ever played Apples to Apples, it's the same thing only the X rated version of the game. 
We had fun. I don't know which game I like more, this one, or the Apples to Apples.

I hda to take a picture of my friend's cute little new year sign. :) 

As much fun as it's been being home to relax, I am glad that work resumes on Monday, as I miss my routine and have so much to dive into once school starts back up. Big art show in February will be here before I know it, and I have to get my students crackin' on their projects!

How was your NYE spent? Stay at home? Go out? 

Cheers!

Hope everyone had a safe and exciting New Years Eve. May the best be yet to come in the upcoming new year!

THINGS I DON’T DO

This post is completely inspired by and taken from Wrangling chaos blog written by blogger mom Jess. You can read it here :) 

Here's what I started with when I commented on Jess' post on her page:

I don’t do parents at my school who think they know everything that goes on in my class by conversing with their child first, rather than asking me. Those are phone calls I’ll never return on purpose. They care that much, they can hunt me down face to face.

I don’t do winter. Living in AZ has been a dream for the last 9 years. Snow is my nemesis.

I don’t do (hang with or am around) anyone who smokes. Frankly I find the smell repulsing. As well as smokers breath and yellow teeth.

I don’t do generic macaroni and cheese. just can’t and just won’t. Has to be velveeta or 

Kraft.

I don't do new years resolutions. Quite frankly I find them to be like a promise you just can't keep. 

I don't cook. Or bake. Thank goodness for a husband that does both! Whew! Would you want someone to cook your dinner who burns pop corn? I don't think so! 

I don't watch the news. Ever. They never say anything positive or happy on the news, and when they do, its like for a whole 30 seconds which then gets trumped by all the "bad" news. Forget it. 

I don't let others borrow my hair brush or anything lip related. Working in a school and getting the 411 on head lice will do that to a person. haha :) 

I don't do friends who just had kids and blow you off because they are "busy" thing well. If you have time to piss on the toilet and instagram a photo of your kid, then you have time to reply to an email or a text. Just sayin. 

Got any " I don't do's" of your own? 

Hallelujah! Joyeux Noel!

I spent all morning on YOUTUBE learning out how to properly put in my new hair extensions!

How did I do?!

I never ever thought I'd be "that girl" with fake hair but I have to admit, I LOVE them! This was a christmas present to myself, as hair is not a cheap thing to purchase!

I asked a ton of people, watched reviews online and decided I'd go with LacedHairExtensions. The lovely Aubrey Kinch was the first person I knew to actually get them, and try them out. I asked her if picking up her old extensions from Sallys was just as good. She told me she'd never go back and that was that! As soon as she uttered those words I decided it was a done deal.

I've always been that girl who could never grow her hair out past the boob area. I am a natural blonde, who has never dyed my hair or permed it or anything of the sorts, so it's always been strange to me that even with the best of care, I could never get my hair to grow long!

I think I've tried every product under the sun and have just come to terms that some people, myself included, just can't grow their hair a certain length!

Here's the website to LacedHairExtensions

I purchased the 18/22 highlight lowlight mix (top seller)
and am happy I did. A lot of people think I am a straight up bleach blonde, when in fact my hair is quite dirty blonde (what us blondes call "dark" underneath!)

The shipping was uber fast too! Total win in my book! 

Here's a little before and after...please excuse the sans makeup and PJ pants! 

Progression of curling the hair in progress...still no make up eeek!

 Ta-dah! 

I am sorry for posting such a vain post on hair of all things on Christmas eve, but sadly it's the most exciting thing that has happened to me in a long while! LOL 

Merry Christmas Eve, Eve

It's hard to fully get into the Christmas spirit with no snow here in warm AZ!

Which got me thinking of some of my all time favorite Christmas commericals as a kid. 

This one isn't that old, but I still love it!

There you have it friends! 

I've written so many awesome christmas posts, I find it hard to top them! 

I wrote all about Christmas Trees and the White House you can read that here

All about the famous Chicago Home Alone house here

All about the movie The Holiday here

Wanna read more? type in Christmas in my search box on my blog and keep reading! :)