tales from the schoolyard

• School started yesterday and I am wiped out! This always happens the first week of school. I nearly fell asleep at my desk after school grading papers today. 
• My feet hurt because of new shoes.
• The kids got blisters from their new shoes.
• Cute new shoes can be a rough deal ~ but oh, so cute.
• The kids were so excited to start school. The excitement is not waning.
• Stephanie is a pro now at this middle school gig. 7th grade. Wow!
• Heather is in 4th grade. Like me. But not in my class. Her teacher is on maternity leave until October. Heather is not happy about that, although she does like the sub.
• Moving back to 4th grade has been a positive experience so far.
• They get my jokes and twisty sense of humor.
• My class seems sweet and so far they are behaved. Good behavior will continue because it's what I expect.
• The one child whom I was most afraid of having in my class just may turn out to be a favorite. Go figure.
• Students from last year have the good sense to come say hi to me and tell me they miss me. 
• There are first day pictures of the kids. So adorable. I'll post them this weekend.

what's black & white and cute all over?

I've made a few of these pouches lately with either red or yellow ruffled flowers. Recently I was asked to make a pair and she said any color flower. So I took myself down the the store and found this cute pink and black polka dot. While I was making hers, I made an extra set.

I couldn't stop. I made a checkbook cover.

And another checkbook cover.

Then I went upstairs and made a black & white card with a little spot of color. The pink was a coincidence.

And one more card.

There's something really striking about black and white with an accent color. I may not be done with this theme.

Here's a little sneak peek at what's going on inside my classroom. Uh, it appears to be black and white. Maybe I've been thinking of my classroom all along as I crafted. Hmmm.

I'm sure you can guess what the theme is this year, right? I took some before pictures and will take loads of after pictures for you. I'm having lots of fun making a cute environment for the kids.

The pouches, checkbook covers, and cards have been listed in the shop. Do you want a pouch with a different color ruffle? Let me know.

 

lettuce wraps

For several years now, the teachers in the 2nd grade have taken turns bringing lunches on Fridays. So each teacher had a turn every six weeks. It made for a happier morning every Friday knowing that I didn't have to worry about what to pack for lunch. I will miss these lunches!

Anyway, Helene would bring lettuce wraps every once in a while. We'd ask her how to make them and she'd him & haw around a little and tell us the basic ingredients. She didn't really use a recipe, so she had a hard time telling us how to make them. 

I tried them a couple of times and finally came up with a combination that suits us. We tried hamburger, ground chicken, and ground turkey. We liked the ground turkey the best. 

Be forewarned, like Helene & much to the dismay of my husband, I don't measure with this recipe. I just go with it until it seems right.

You will need:

• 1 lb ground turkey
• mushrooms (5-10 mushrooms)
• water chestnuts (I use about 1/2 to 2/3 of the can)
• cilantro
• garlic (can be fresh or jarred)
• onion powder
• teryaki sauce
• soy sauce
• potsticker sauce
• lettuce (iceberg or romaine hearts)

Chop the vegetables. I like to chop the mushrooms quite small so they blend in well for those family members who seem to think they don't like mushrooms. I give the cilantro just a rough chop.

Spray a skillet with non-stick spray and start browning the meat along with the mushrooms.

When the meat is mostly cooked, add about 1/2 a teaspoon onion powder, the equivalent of a clove or two of garlic, and the water chestnuts. You want the water chestnuts to stay slightly crunchy, but you do want them to soak up all the flavors that are about to come to the party.

I like the pieces of meat to be pretty small. For years I wondered how to accomplish this until one day it dawned on me to use the potato masher. Brilliant! I didn't need to use it this particular time, but I use it frequently on ground beef. 

After several experimental batches of lettuce wraps, this is the sauce trifecta for me! Start by adding about 2 tablespoons teryaki sauce and one tablespoon each of the potsticker and soy sauces. Then? You'll just have to taste it and add more of what you feel it needs. I almost always add more of each one. Let the sauces hang out with the meat for a bit, you know, everyone getting to know each other.

Just a few minutes before you are ready to serve it, add the cilantro. I would have never thought to use cilantro in an Asian dish ~ it just screams Mexican food to me. But it adds a bright layer of flavor that cannot be left out.

Serve with either iceberg leaves (like that very famous restaurant) or on hearts of romaine (like Helene does). I like the romaine & Greg likes the iceberg.

You can experiment with this meal so it better suits your tastes. You can add different vegetables, like shredded carrots. Or how about a little bit of chopped peanuts. Sesame seeds? Get daring & make it your  own!

And there you have a satisfying meal that is figure friendly and health conscious. Your stomach will thank you and your hips will not betray you.

Linking to:

   

menu plan monday ~ august 8

I went grocery shopping today, after I spent a few hours at school in what seemed like an unairconditioned room. I was hot and hungry by the time I got to the grocery store. That may have explained how the almond M&Ms ended up in the cart. And possibly how I let Heather talk me into the onion bagels with onion & chive cream cheese that weren't on the list. Dang!

In ended up going $22 over our grocery budget today. But while I was checking out the cashier asked if I'd do her grocery shopping cuz when she spends that much she only has three bags. I'll take that as a compliment.

Part of the reason I am able to stay anywhere near the grocery budget is the fact that I do have a list and a plan. I gave in to the bagels, but when Heather asked to have Chinese chicken salad for dinner this week I was strong and told her next week because I already have a plan.

This week we're having:

• orange crumbed baked chicken (new) with mashed potatoes & gravy
• chicken pot pie
• vegetable soup
• chicken quesadillas with corn salad
• sour cream chicken enchiladas
• pork chops & grilled corn 

What's on your menu? I'm linking up with orgjunkie.com. Head on over to see what everyone else is cooking this week.

Tomorrow, I'll have a recipe for you.

   

overheard conversations

Yesterday, I was reclining on the couch reading a book. The kids and their neighbor buddy were at the kitchen table having a snack when I hear these snippets of a conversation:

• She's always reading a book.
• She makes reading goals...and makes them.

Clearly, Austin asked about my reading habits and the girls were happy to supply him with information.

And I managed to completely avoid a h.u.g.e. project I'm working on by starting and finishing a book in a mere 20-hour period.

   

you know you're a teacher when...

You know you're a teacher when going to the teacher supply store and walking out with new bulletin board trim makes you feel a little giddy inside. 

How could this not be the start of a great year?

I've been to school twice this week ~ moving furniture and organizing my library. Moving grades and moving rooms this year means I have extra work to do. But really, there's something about that August 1st trigger that starts all the teachers thinking and itching. A little furniture shoving and bulletin board decorating is truly the only way to settle the nerves.

But I am conflicted because I'm not really ready for summer to be over. I'm enjoying the lazy days of sleeping in, hanging with the kids, dollar movies, and spontaneously visiting friends who've just had sweet babies who need a special Auntie cuddle.

Here's to just a little more summer!

 

you've got to read this!

I might have a little bit of a crush on this man!

Oh, it's okay. Greg knows all about it.

Plus, it's purely educational.

His previous two books are truly motivational and so quick to read.  This one is no exception. I saw The End of Molasses Classes on Amazon a few months ago and pre-ordered it right then and there.

This has been a perfect book to read just before the beginning of a new school year and the beginning of my new-again 4th grade experience. Even though the summer has done an amazing job of refreshing and reenergizing my spirit, reading a back-to-school book helped really get me in the mood for teaching. It reminded me of why I chose teaching as a profession in the first place ~ because let's be honest, it wasn't about the prestige and the money!

Ron Clark's approach to education is grounded, yet unconventional. He may bust a move on the tops of desks and have an amazing electric blue tube slide in the middle of his school, but he demands respect and hard work from his students. And they are glad to give it to him.

Teachers ~ I challenge you to get this book now and read it before school starts! Even if you come away with only one idea you can integrate into your classroom, it will have been worth the money for the book and the time to read it. You will not be sorry. I'm pretty certain, though, that you will come away with more than one idea.

Parents ~ This is a good book for you as well. Right in the middle, Ron Clark addresses some of your concerns and ways you can help your child be more successful in school.

I'm looking forward to more *Tales from the Schoolyard* posts, are you?

     

learn to sew

It's on the kids' summer list.

Two Christmases ago, we bought Stephanie and Heather this teeny sewing machine because I had the bright idea to teach them how to sew.

Then I got scared. There might be fighting. Crying. Not listening.

So the box sat under my sewing table. Until now.

Yesterday, I pulled up my big girl panties and got the machine out for them.

The air was electric and giddy as I set up the machine and figured out how this little guy worked. We started with a very simple project (tissue cozy) to get used to the idea of ironing, seam allowance, backstitching, etc.

They were both very patient as they waited their turn. Heather ironed first, so Stephanie sewed first.

When she finished the last stitch, Stephanie was pretty proud of herself.

They are learning that sewing takes patience, concentration, and good eye-hand coordination.

This machine is rinky dink, I tell you. I almost marched it right out to the trash can before we even started. It was difficult for me to work with. When I texted Greg with my frustrations, he might have called me a sewing machine snob. Hmpf!

So what if I am?

Since the kids have no prior experience on a machine, they did not find it as frustrating as I did, however. At one point Stephanie even said, "This is easy!" The little machine can stick around a little bit. Maybe they can work up to a more legit machine by Christmas.

Heather was very surprised at one point during her stitching.

And found herself introduced to the seam ripper. Twice.

And we have a finished product. They were so proud of their cozies and so was their mama. We had a great time getting to the finish!

When we were all done, Heather said, "What are we sewing tomorrow?"

  

this is the story of a stool

I got this stool for my classroom as I started my first year of teaching & she's been with me all along. This past school year marked my 15th year!

My friend and I each got one at an unfinished wood shop. We decided to paint the legs and rungs red, yellow, green, and blue. Hello, Bob Marley. We didn't do a great job at all. In fact, if I remember correctly we lost interest in finishing the job {happy hour was calling our name} and her father finished them for us.

During my second year of teaching, Greg made me a cool paint rack for my craft room, which he spray painted a pretty shade of blue. Bored of the rasta look, I asked him to spray my stool tool.

And so it has stayed that color since then. It started to show signs of wear. Just a little bit at first, then it got out of hand. I kept saying I was going to redo the seat. I even brought it home over a few long weekends only to take it back to school in the same shape. Last year I didn't even bother bringing it back to school because I was a little ashamed of how it looked. I went an entire year without her. I sure did miss her.

One of my missions this summer was to repaint her and give her a new seat.

Greg asked me if I was going to sand it down to the wood and start all over. "Why would I do that?" I asked him. Silly boy, too much work.

Oh, all right. But only part of the way down to the wood. I figured the surfaced needed to be a little bit prepared for repainting. You can see all the lovely colors it was painted the first time around.  You can also see how Greg neatly taped off the seat when he sprayed it for me.

Next, I painted two coats of Antique Ivory.

It wasn't necessary to have the ivory coat be perfect because that is the underneath color that will show when the stool is distressed in the end. The main color of the stool will be black.

Rub a bent-because-it-was-in-the-heat candle where normal distressing might occur over time or any place you will want to sand the black away to reveal the ivory underneath. The candle wax acts as a resist so sanding to distress takes minimal effort. Remember, I didn't take it down to the natural wood and don't really want any of the primary colors showing though which could happen with too much elbow grease put into sanding later.

Of course, with any project, snacks are always nice. It's a good thing I have kids so there are occasionally Cheetos in the house!

Paint a coat of black. After the first coat of black, I pulled the vinyl seat cover and the batting off. This was pretty easy because it was really only held on by a few of the staples after all the years of wear. The foam was still in good condition, so I used it again in the recovering process later. I did decide to leave all the staples where they were.

After the second coat of black was applied and the underside of the seat was painted, I used this sanding pad to lightly sand the legs and rungs along the areas where I had applied the candle wax. I ran it lightly over most of the areas to add to the distressed look and give the wood a final smoothing.

Then I applied a brown antinquing gel over all surfaces so the ivory wasn't so stark. I started using a brush to apply, then wiping it off with a rag like I do when the entire surface is a lighter color. I ended up just applying it with the rag and rubbing it in a little.

Let that dry well overnight and apply a varnish of some sort. I used a satin finish applied with a brush, but you can find it in spray form as well.

Now for recovering the cushion. I traced the wood seat onto the back of my fabric. I picked a heavier weight fabric since it will see lots of action. I prewashed the fabric as well.

Then I added half an inch marks all the way around the circle for a seam allowance.

Carefully connect the dots to create the outer circle which is the cut line.

Cut out the circle.

I decided to get all fancy and add piping to my cushion. Cut strips of fabric on the bias to make bias tape to encase the piping cording. I needed to cut mine 1.25 inches based on the cording I had on hand. I used this tutorial to determine how wide my bias strips needed to be. You will need a finished product that is several inches longer than the circumference of the stool seat.

To attach your strips to make one long one, place them right sides together at a right angle with pointy parts hanging over a bit.

Stitch together using a 1/4" seam allowance. When you have enough strips sewn together, press the seams open and trim off the little triangles.

Place the cording inside the bias tape, wrong sides facing, and stitch as close to the cording as you can get using the zipper foot.

On the right side of the circle, pin your newly made piping, matching raw edges. Stitch, following the line of the stitching on the piping as closely as possible, still using the zipper foot. The same tutorial also shows two different methods for finishing the piping since this is a continuous loop.

For the band that goes around the side of the cushion, cut a strip that is the circumference of the stool top, plus one inch. For the width, measure your foam (mine was 2") and add 2.25" to 2.5" for seam allowances and room for it to tuck under the seat. That made mine 4.25" wide.

On one of the short sides of the band, make a mark at 1/2" and then 3/4" from the first mark. The 3/4" section will be left open for the casing. With right sides together stitch the 1/2" section and the longer section as shown. You are creating a tube.

Press the seams of the tube open. Then on the long side with the unsewn portion, fold and press at 1/2", then again at 3/4".

The section you left open for the casing should be on the wrong side of the tube at this point.

Stitch close to the edge, completing the casing.

Pin the tube to the circle, right sides together. Use plenty of pins. Stitch using a 1/2" seam allowance, using the regular foot at this point.

This should be the result. We are almost done! Snip the seam allowance every inch or so all the way around the circle.

For the drawstring, I wanted something that was thinner than the cording I used for the piping, but without a shiny finish so it would stay tied. This decorative trim I found at Hobby Lobby was the right size and the right finish. I cut a piece that was about 18" longer than the circumference so it would be easier to tie.

Using a safety pin, thread the drawstring through the casing.

Turn the cover right side out. Place the foam on the seat and then fit the cover over it. Pull the drawstring tight, making sure the cover reaches to the underside of the seat. Tie in a bow and tuck it all under the cover to hide the strings. I did end up cutting the length of the drawstring a little once it was tied.

All done. Isn't she pretty? A little bit fancy and a little bit distressed.

Here you can see where I tucked the drawstring back underneath the cover.

The best part about this cover is that if it gets dirty, I can take it off and wash it real quick. I can also make more covers easily without redoing the whole stool again. Maybe one for Halloween? Christmas?

One of the reasons I decided to distress the stool now is so when any wear happens from my feet resting on the rungs or from it getting jostled about in class, it won't look out of place. It will look like it was meant to be.

Here she is all gussied up with her first day of school outfit on!

I'm linking to:

• Somewhat Simple
• Sisters Stuff
• The Girl Creative
• Thirty Handmade Days