Farewell Montessori

Two weeks ago, I was blinded by fury. I’m no longer mad, and can again see the benefits of the Montessori school system.
 
Our daughters have been on a waiting list for a local, celebrated academy. Montessori also receives high accolades for teaching and socializing children, but they have a hefty tuition whereas the academy is free. While on the wait list, we placed our children in Montessori. Our oldest daughter attended kindergarten through first grade while our youngest attended pre-K in the spring of 2010.
 
This past June, we received the call from the academy that our youngest had been accepted to start kindergarten. We were overjoyed! This bumped our oldest from the middle of the second page, to a prime slot on the first page of the wait list.
 
When I phoned the owner/teacher of Montessori, I was told since both daughters were not attending, our oldest daughter was not welcome. She feared the discussions our daughter would have with the other students, and talks we would have with the other parents. Our good fortune of attending the free academy could poison the waters of her private school.
 
A child who had done nothing wrong was being punished, leaving her friends and curriculum behind.
 
Thus our oldest was thrust into the public school system. To say my stomach was in knots would be an understatement. Her new campus was immense, complete with gym, cafeteria, media room, playgrounds, multiple grade levels, and even a school nurse. Montessori, in comparison, was a 2-room schoolhouse, intermingling grade levels from pre-K to 3rd, sharing one playground, one certified teacher and a few aides (parents).
 
Now that we have two weeks under our belts, I can safely say that Montessori did teach both of our daughters sound reading, math and social skills. This solid foundation will carry them well into their future. They love their new schools, are eager to learn, and have adapted well.
 
Things Montessori did NOT teach my children:
1) How to navigate a large campus.
2) How to establish a hot lunch account, and enter their 4-digit pin to pay for meals.
3) How to bring home school books.
4) How to do homework.
5) How to share food with your friends.
6) How to take a bus.
7) How to borrow books from the school library.
8) How to use a backpack.
9) How to hunt for ghosts in the school bathrooms.
 
Speaking of #9, I can’t believe Bloody Mary is still around! Who perpetuates that rumor?
 
• If you were a ghost, would you hang around a smelly, school bathroom?
• Have your children surprised you by adapting so well to a situation?
• Do you adjust well to change?

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FaceBook Fan Pages

• Do you have a FaceBook Fan Page?
• Do you have any tips for making the most out of a fan page?
• What are some of your favorite pages?
 
Some of my favorite pages are:

 

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A FaceBook Fan Page allows you to update and interact with “fans” while keeping your personal profile private.
 
CREATE
When you are ready to create a Fan Page, visit FaceBook’s Create A Page.
 

 
Complete the fields.
 
PICTURE
Your Fan Page picture can safely be 200 pixels wide by 600 pixels long.
 
THUMBNAIL
Once uploaded, set your thumbnail pic by selecting the pencil icon on the upper right corner of your main page photo.
 

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OPTIONAL STEP:
Fan Pages can have a landing page. A landing page is the first page visitors see.
 
To insert jpgs and/or links on your landing page, you will need to install Static FBML. This FB application allows html to work on your page(s).
 
From your main fan page, choose, “Edit Page”. Scroll down to, “More Applications”, and click, “Choose More”. Search the Apps for Static FBML. Here is the direct link: Static FBML. Click, “Add To Page”.
 
Your fan page will now have a new tab titled, “FMBL+”. From your main fan page, again select, “Edit Page”. Static FBML will now have it’s own place under Apps.
 

 
Choose, “edit” to rename the tab and insert your html.
 
I named my tab, “Welcome”, and created a landing page jpg that is 757 pixels x 522 pixels. I chose not to link it to my website so I would not redirect potential fans as soon as they had found my page.
 
As an added note, when I hosted my landing page jpg at Photobucket, the html did not work, and my image was a broken link. After much frustration, I uploaded the jpg to my wordpress site (under Media), and the link did work.
 

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WALL SETTINGS
Return once again to the main page of your fan page, and select, “Edit Page”. Time to edit your wall settings. Here you can choose your landing page, and select whether fans can post videos, photos or links.
 

 
PROMOTE
Now you are ready to promote your fan page. From your main fan page, you can share the link to your personal profile, or suggest to friends.
 
Create your Fan Page Badge to display on your website. From your main page/edit page, “Promote With FaceBook” badge is in the right column. Insert the html on your website.
 
UPDATES
Use the Networked Blogs app. to automatically post links to your latest blog.
 
URL
Once you have 25 fans, you can change the url of your page to something more personalized. Find that setting here; scroll to the bottom, and Set A User Name for your pages.

Fiverr Review

Fiverr is a new site where you can offer or purchase services for $5.00. Fiverr makes money by keeping $1 of every sale. There is no fee to open an account, and no fee for placing an ad.
 
Offering your services is simple. Just fill in the blank.
 

 
S E L L I N G
 
Within 24 hours of placing my ad for photoshop services, I received four job offers.
 
• Job One ~ Create a banner for a website.
This client was easy to work with. He provided a sample, dimensions, favorite colors, and a vision for his end product. I created his banner and allowed for two revisions. He liked both samples, and asked if he could hire me to create an entirely different look for $5.00. I declined, but he contacted me a week later, saying he liked my work the best, and hired me for one more revision.
 
• Job Two ~ Create a button for a website.
It was a little trickier understanding what this client needed. He directed me to two “iffy” websites. One site had multiple pop-up windows, and the other was a blank template. He finally sent me a jpg of what he wanted, which I easily recreated. This is a good time to note that Fiverr is not responsible for any viruses you may download.
 
• Job Three ~ Photoshop a sign.
The client provided one of his real estate listings, asking me to change the business signage. I didn’t feel I could do so believably, so I turned down this offer.
 
• Job Four ~ Create 5 banners.
This client wanted 5 banners in various sizes for her gecko related website. She really expected more than what I was offering, so I turned her down.
 

 
B U Y I N G
 
One year ago, I paid CartoonMe $5.11 to cartoon me, and to be frank, it stunk. (Original post here.)
 
I thought I’d try my luck at Fiverr.
 
I browsed the ads, found an artist, placed my order, and paid through Paypal.

 
The artist’s ad promised completion of work within 4 days. She contacted me immediately and shared that she was extremely busy. Five days after placing my order, she claimed her Paypal account was frozen, and canceled my job.
 
My second artist offered to transform me into a Spongebob character. One day later, well under the deadline date, Beck sent me this work of art.
 

 
I love it!
 
If you want to hire Beck, click here. For all the ins and outs of Fiverr, check out their website here.
 
• Can you see yourself using Fiverr?
• Can you see yourself as a Spongebob character?

GoDaddy Bites

I’m so used to sharing advice, tips and tricks, but this time I’ve hit a wall. I’ve been dabbling in switching from wordpress.com to wordpress.org. Everything I’ve read says how easy it is. Just export your files here, and import there. It isn’t that easy though. I purchased a domain name and three months of WP hosting from godaddy, but the import failed due to my Videopress files.
 
Godaddy customer service is no help at all, suggesting I post questions at the wp.org forum. I posted, and am waiting.
 
Meanwhile, I tested some wp.org features. On the up side, they have a ton of templates! On the down side, you need a plugin for practically everything! Your dashboard doesn’t show stats. You need a plugin for that. You can only add one box of text to your sidebar, unless you stall a text widget. Askimet, the spam blocker, is a plugin. Here area few others: Top Comments, Search This Blog, Feedburner, and Contact Form. Features we take for granted at wp.com.
 
To end on a positive note, I do want to tell you about a great blogging community, Blog Frog. It’s fun to sign in and see the What’s Happening Now topics scrolling as members post comments. If you sign up, befriend me over there, would ya?

 

Big American Breasts

Once upon a time, I wanted to have big American breasts. By the time I reached twenty-one, I felt ready to provide myself with what genetics had overlooked. A particularly buxom acquaintance recommended her plastic surgeon.
 
I scheduled my appointment, paid the consultation fee, and met with the doctor. Silicone implants in varying sizes lined his desk, and volumes of black binders filled with “before & after” photos adorned his shelves. I was on the precipice of my dream!
 
I posed for my “before” photo, filled out paperwork and prepared to set the date. That is when the doctor informed me of a “perk” that was the deal breaker. Post-surgery, I would be chauffeured home in a limousine for all the neighbors and lookie-loos to see. Driven through town, heads turning, necks snapping, to see who, in this tiny town of 19,000 was riding in a limo. It seemed utterly mortifying! I wanted a side of dignity and a heaping helping of privacy when I brought my new hooters home.
 
There would be no implants for me, but things have a way of working themselves out. With time, age and pregnancies, my cups runneth over.
 
• Has a limo altered your path?
• Did you grow up in a small town?
• Has a doctor ever said/done anything that made you rethink surgery?

Where Glee Lost Me

Glee is back, but I’m holding my applause.
 
The season opener was all over the place! Rachel and Finn’s on again/off again romance made me woozy. Combined with Counselor Emma & Teacher Will’s relationship woes, I was ready for a Dramamine. Insert Finn being quasi-seduced by the Cheerios, and my head exploded.
 
Week two promised The Power of Madonna. Once again, I suspended belief as
– Emma wrestled with her virginity,
– the Cheerios performed on stilts,
– Rachel lusted after wannabe tough-guy/singer (gag me), Jesse St. James.
 

 
But I could not believe my eyes when I saw a McKinley student saunter the school halls in an evening gown, gloves, and diamonique. Surely this violated McKinley’s dress code. Come on! I can only accept so much!
 
Why did I find this unacceptable? Because I, too, have experienced the power of Madonna. Back in the early 80’s when Madonna hit the scene, she influenced music and fashion. My girlfriends and I gobbled up both. Fishnet stockings, colorful belts, vintage pumps, thrift-store fashion finds, we wore it all. But as much as we adored her, we would never have impersonated her.
 
And that is where Glee lost me.
 

 
• Are you a Gleek?
• Have you experienced the power of Madonna?
• Which celebrity has influenced your sense of style?

The Update Blog

All Nighter At The Sleep Lab: After waking with a severe headache and numbness in my upper lip, I decided to visit the The Tri-State Neurological & Sleep Disorder Center. Bloodwork was done the day of my initial appointment, and an EEG was performed the following day. Prior to my MRI and my evening at the Sleep Lab, Tri-State Respiratory phoned to say I was approved for a C-PAP machine. Now that all of the tests are complete, I have the results. I’m completely normal. I couldn’t believe it either. No C-PAP, and no apnea diagnosis. I cited my exhaustion, and my husband’s complaints of my snoring and moments of not breathing. Dr. Nayer said it falls within the normal range to stop breathing for as long as 10 seconds ten times an hour. He also said that at no time was my oxygen saturation below 91%. (Ninety percent and above are healthy levels.)
 
Dr. Nayer gave me three options: 1) remove my uvula with a laser to stop my snoring; 2) take the sleep lab test again; and/or 3) be prescribed “peppy” pills for more daytime energy. He forgot about option number 4: do nothing. As he stretched back in his office chair, he said, “I cannot recommend you try an over the counter, herbal remedy called SnoreStop.” My bottle of SnoreStop arrived yesterday, and last night hubby and I enjoyed a peaceful night’s sleep.
 
 
Refrigerator Art: After so many positive comments on the girls’ art, I submitted two of Natalie’s drawings to Greeting Card Universe. They were approved! Here are Dancers and Love at First Sight in original and negative image.
 

 
Greeting Card Universe prints 7″ x 5″ high-quality cards. The good thing is I don’t have to invest in inventory. Plus the girls get 56 cents of every sale.
 
While we’re on the subject of updating, I thought it would be fun to post some of my earlier blogs with updated details. Would you be interested in hearing what happened after the carpenter failed to complete our entertainment center project, or what unfolded after Tom gave “Jesus” and his cross a ride to Laughlin, Nevada?
 

• Why do you think I was approved for a C-PAP only to be denied later?
• Do you have any blogs that need a follow-up story?

Delicious Diet Foods + bonus

Psssst! Come here. Yes, you. Let me let you in on a little secret. I don’t like to diet. Diet foods taste awful! It’s my self-appointed mission to find delicious healthy foods. They’ve got to be out there. This week I’m 2 lbs. lighter and giving 2 thumbs up to:
 

Yoplait Delights in Creme Caramel. I AM delighted! These delicious parfaits have only 100 calories per serving. Come to mama!
 
 
 
Slim-Fast Blueberry Muffin Bar. Full of flavor and only 140 calories. Is that oatmeal? Are those blueberries? Sign me up!

 
 
 
Dole’s Hearty Italian Salad Kit. Knock me over with a feather. This isn’t your typical bag o’salad. This mix has leafy greens, garlic croutons, cracked peppercorn, chunks of aged parmesan, diced salami, and a Chianti vinaigrette. ::: slurp! ::: Fava beans not included. A slimming 180 calories per flavorful serving.
 
 
 
Just so I don’t completely bore those of you not dieting, here’s a blast from my past. My Dad made my big noggin out of a punch ball and paper mache. Crafty guy, huh?
 
 
 
• What are you eating that’s surprisingly delicious and low-cal?
• When’s the last time you paper mache’d?
• Are you ready for Halloween?

Slim-Fast

I’m getting back on my Slim-Fast wagon. I’d like to lose 7 pounds. This is the game my body plays. I eat healthy and exercise, then relax into my old eating habits. I yoyo between 145 and 152 lbs. Between size 10 and 12. Between “You’ve lost weight!” and “When is your baby due?”

Slim-Fast used to be about drinking 2 shakes and eating a sensible dinner. It has really come a long way! You can actually eat 3 healthy meals plus 3 healthy snacks. This doesn’t come naturally to me. Santa Claus used to bring me fruit once a year. That’s a blog for another day.

Slim-Fast’s interactive website is free. No trial membership. No limited time offer. Just free.

They even have a Vegan meal plan. Seriously. Vegan.

You don’t even have to drink their chalky shakes.

Register and your menu for the entire week (and future weeks) is at your fingertips. You can swap out anything that doesn’t sound appealing and exchange it for another healthy item.

Today I’ve enjoyed a blueberry muffin bar and some vanilla yogurt. Lunch will be a large spinach salad with fresh sliced mushrooms and juicy mandarin orange slices. I’ll snack on dried cranberries before my delicious dinner of Hearty Chili. This is my favorite chili recipe! Even when I’m not dieting, I prepare it.

FYI: Slim-fast doesn’t endorse that dollop of sour cream.

The Slim-Fast site also provides you with activities, tools, support and a community. Did I mention it was free? Yes, all free!

So, wish me luck, and if you are dieting, I wish you luck as well!

• Do you have a favorite weight loss program?
• Does your body yoyo or is it more like a slinky?
• What did Santa stuff in your stocking?

Project Runway ~ Let The (drinking) Games Begin!

Last night was the premier of Project Runway. What a virtual PR sandwich with it’s 2-hour All Star Challenge lead-in and it’s Models of Project Runway post show. Three and a half hours of juicy goodness!

During the show I paused the program so my girls could sketch the models.

It’s hard to give your full attention to a show, even one you adore, for 3.5 hours. We made it about 75 minutes before the first melt-down. Pearl ran out of paper, and *borrowed* Natalie’s stack, which made Nat inconsolable.

Adding in intermissions to:
1. order pizza;
2. let the pizza man in;
3. watch Tom do a slow-motion dance in front of the big screen;
4. let the kids change clothes;
5. watch the kids model
made for a very long evening indeed!

At night’s end, Heidi wished me auf vidersein, while Tom and the kids snoozed.

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For adult viewers, it’s time for the
Season 6 Drinking Game!

Last year’s words included the classic Suede, Leatha and Holla atcha boy!

It’s early in the game, so let’s start with Tim Gunn saying, Designers. I’ll update the list as the season progresses. No doubt we’ll be tossing back a full beer or glass of wine by the finale!

• What word(s) would you add to the drinking game?
• What did you think of this silver honeycomb dress?
• If you weren’t watching Project Runway, what were you doing?

Thanks for reading!

Sip When They Say:
• Designers
• Make it work!
• Carry on.

Bonus Round:
• Sob story / tears – 2 shots!