Every year at work we do a whole staff costume. This year we decided to switch it up and divide into groups of 3 or 4 and then compete against each other. Some of us are VERY competitive –so it should be interesting. Our group decided on GUESS WHO characters. We has Claire, Maria & Robert!
Cut the center out of a heavy weight poster board; to make the “frame”
2. Use a projector to trace the “Guess Who” logo at the top with blue and red markers AND the names on the bottom
3. If your character is female; buy a red shirt and if your character is male; buy a buy shirt.
4. Use a Cricut to apply a large white question mark to the front of each
5. Source character features from places like Amazon and Dollarama
-I got a knit hat (Amazon) and used a glue gun to apply ribbon and flowers (Dollarama)…
My other “Claire Essentials” include: -Blush -Red lipstick -Pearl earrings -Cat eye glasses -Red curly wig
If you stick these four party planning basics you’ll ensure that your “summer kick off party” a crowd pleaser…
Sipping on Summer Rather than having your guests dig through an old beat up cooler; elevate the party experience by setting up a ‘bar’ this can feature pre-made concoctions (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) or those in which some assembly is required by guests. To beat the heat I suggest: “fancy water” (fruit/herb infused), iced tea, lemonades and fizzy drinks.
Summer Snacks No one wants to eat a heavy meal in this heat! Base your menu around SNACKS, people get a chance to mingle more while they graze on your delicious offerings all night. This informal approach to the menu is much more relaxed and suitable for the season. Guests appreciate both variety and volume. Be mindful of budget and palate by sticking to what is in season.
Summer Shenanigans Make the most of the weather; don’t sit around be ACTIVE! Playing games is good for the soul –it generates lots of laughs and memories. I can’t tell you how many parties I have been to where we just sit around and talk; which is great but nothing beats a game of badminton, croquette, volleyball, ladder golf. Set up a few game stations and to sweeten the pot; buy a few silly prizes to give to the winners!
Serving Up Summer Ditch the paper plates and plastic cups and utensils. There are a ton of excellent summer soiree servingware. Little touches like this really up your party game!
Summer is all about kicking back. I love music and creating playlists for myself and sharing them with friends. This is one that I made for summer featuring hits from all ages.
1. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini by Brian Hyland 2. Surfin’ U.S.A by The Beach Boys 3. School’s Out For Summer by Alice Cooper 4. Walking on Sunshine by Katrina & The Waves 5. Livin’ La Vida Loca by Ricky Martin 6. Don’t Stop the Music by Rhianna 7. Summer by Calvin Harris 8. Dance the Night by Dua Lipa 9. Under the Boardwalk by The Drifters 10. Kokomo by The Beach Boys 11. Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac 12. Eye of the Tiger by Survivor 13. Fly Away by Lenny Kravitz 14. Like A G6 by Far East Movement, The Cataracs & DEV 15. Club Can’t Handle Me by Flo-Rida (Feat. David Guetta) 16. Karma by Taylor Swift 17. Sugar, Sugar by The Archies 18. Do You Believe in Magic by The Lovin’ Spoonful 19. Waterloo by ABBA 20. Paradise City by Guns N’ Roses 21. Genie in a Bottle by Christina Aguilera 22. California Gurls by Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg 23. Where Them Girls At by David Guetta, Flo-Rida & Nicki Minaj 24. Havana by Camila Cabello (Feat. Young Thug) 25. Can’t Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake
Public opinion is divided on fidgets in the classroom; but it makes my kids happy and they follow the ‘rules’ associated with their use in my classroom; ultimately –don’t throw them, don’t hit other kids with them, no fighting over them and put them away when finished.
Fidgets aren’t cheap; however, if you wait for sales, conventions or buy multi-packs, its not so bad. Also, lets face it, we are teachers we will spend whatever if it helps our kids. And, we’re well aware of and used to funding our classrooms with our own money.
It had been MONTHS since my best friend and I were reunited. We work opposite schedules and this year she was planning on spending Christmas abroad. We decided to have our “Best Friend Christmas” early.
The weekend was full of fun, movies and belly-laughs. I had had a really difficult week; the death of a beloved pet, battling an illness and then the death of a family member. I was 100% in need of time with her. The weather was super cold so we decided to stay put!
We started by setting up the Christmas tree and decorations while sharing some delicious Strait & Narrow gin beverages and catching up on all the recent gossip. We tried out the latest Instagram hack of stringing the lights vertically rather than wrapping them horizontally around the tree. I was skeptical but I’m not going to lie, it looks so much better and is sooo much easier! Once the tree was fully decked out in all its glory we sat beneath it and exchanged our gifts. For her a pair of cozy reading socks and a book (101 Essays That Will Change The Way You Think). For me a pair of Sparkle Ball earrings from Hillberg & Berk. We feasted on Chinese food while we watched Blood, Sex and Royalty on Netflix.
You’d think on the weekend we’d sleep in! But, no, we tend to get up super early to maximize our limited time together. My best friend introduced me to Wayne Gretzky Salted Caramel Cream; we added it to our coffees. We sipped probably one too many coffees while we watched Lady Chatterley’s Lover on Netflix. And, like always we have our avocado toast for breakfast and I introduced her to National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Cooking is an activity that we absolutely LOVE to do together, what better way to spend a Saturday than making sugar cookies! While they cooled we watched Falling for Christmas and A Castle for Christmas on Netflix and made use of her Sephora masks (eye, face, hand & foot).
Lunch consisted of delicious croissant-sandwiches. We thought we needed even more Christmas cheer so we made a festive cocktail, put on Spotify‘s Xmas 2022 Playlist and danced around the kitchen as we decorated the sugar cookies. Our decorating skills were slightly impaired but at least they were yummy. A classic meal we always shared at university was chicken fingers and Caesar salad, so that was a must for dinner.
Still feeling pangs of nostalgia we decided to watch Mrs. Doubtfire on Amazon Prime. Which seems like an odd choice based on all of our other activities this past weekend. But, when we were doing our Bubbling Face mask, we bust out into fits of laughter because it felt and looked like we both had taken a pie to the face. Which of course caused us to simultaneously reminisce about and imitate the scene in which the late, great Robin Williams sticks his face in frosting to hide his identity from the court appointed liasion, Mrs. Sellner. We couldn’t not watch it after that!! That moment between us, really goes to show how connected we are, how similar we are and how we just “get each other.”
Sunday mornings are always tough for us, because we have to say good-bye. We always ALWAYS have Kraft Dinner for breakfast. We spent the rest of the day binge-watching The Big Brunch on Crave.
In honour of this day; which I have no idea was even a day to be celebrated; I figured it was time for a photo dump. A photo dump of all my favourite pics!
Next weekend, a friend and I are hosting a Baby Sprinkle! We have relished very much in the planning of it, so I thought I would share what we have in store in case you need or want some inspiration.
I have been busy learning through Coursera… since my last “round-up” I have completed the following…
Magic in the Middle Ages “In this course we will introduce you to the Middle Ages through a wide conception of magic. Students will have an approach to medieval culture, beliefs and practices from the perspective of History and History of Science. Popular magic, as well as learned magic (alchemy, geomancy and necromancy and astrology) will be addressed. Moreover, we will also deal with how eastern practices and texts influenced western culture.Magic in the Middle Ages offers a captivating overview of medieval society and promotes reflection about certain stereotypes associated with this period,” (Coursera).
Modern World Part 1 1760-1910 “This is a survey of modern history from a global perspective. Part One begins with the political and economic revolutions of the late 1700s and tracks the transformation of the world during the 1800s. Part One concludes as these bewildering changes seem to be running beyond the capacity of older institutions to handle them. Throughout the course we try to grasp what is happening and ask: Why? And the answers often turn on very human choices,” (Coursera).
Modern World Part 2 Global History Since 1910 “This is a survey of modern history from a global perspective. Part Two begins early in the twentieth century, as older ways of doing things and habits of thought give way. What follows is an era of cataclysmic struggles over what ideas and institutions will take their place. The course concludes in the present day, as communities everywhere are transitioning into a new era of world history. Again we work hard to grasp what is happening and ask: Why? Again we are drawn to pivotal choices made at key moments by individuals and communities,” (Coursera).
Intro to Ancient Egypt & its Civilization “Colossal pyramids, imposing temples, golden treasures, enigmatic hieroglyphs, powerful pharaohs, strange gods, and mysterious mummies are features of Ancient Egyptian culture that have fascinated people over the millennia. The Bible refers to its gods, rulers, and pyramids. Neighboring cultures in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean wrote about its god-like kings and its seemingly endless supply of gold. The Greeks and Romans describe aspects of Egypt’s culture and history. Join Dr. David Silverman, Professor of Egyptology at Penn, Curator in Charge of the Egyptian Section of the Penn Museum, and curator of the Tutankhamun exhibitions on a guided tour of the mysteries and wonders of this ancient land,” (Coursera).
Greek & Roman Mythology “Myths are traditional stories that have endured over a long time. Some of them have to do with events of great importance. Others tell the stories of great heroes and heroines and their exploits and courage in the face of adversity. Still others are simple tales about otherwise unremarkable people who get into trouble or do some great deed. This course will focus on the myths of ancient Greece and Rome, as a way of exploring the nature of myth and the function it plays for individuals, societies, and nations. We will also pay some attention to the way the Greeks and Romans themselves understood their own myths. This course will investigate these questions regarding myth through a variety of topics, including the creation of the universe, the relationship between gods and mortals, human nature, religion, the family, sex, love, madness, and death,” (Coursera).
Cultural Competence “This course explores some of the key themes and capabilities of cultural competence by exploring Aboriginal experiences and narratives of Sydney; from when it was ‘claimed’ for the British Crown in 1770, by Captain James Cook, and the invasion which began in earnest when the First Fleet of British arrived in 1788 and established a penal colony in Sydney. As a consequence Sydney is a city rich in diverse pre-colonial, colonial and contemporary sites of significance to Aboriginal peoples. Too often though our perceptions about Aboriginal peoples consign them to an ancient past or perpetuates stereotypical imaginations that Aboriginal peoples live in remote communities,” (Coursera).
Russian History: From Lenin to Putin “In this course, Peter Kenez, Professor Emeritus at UC Santa Cruz, explains the events of modern Russian history and introduces its most significant actors—from Vladimir Lenin to Vladimir Putin,” (Coursera).
Aboriginal Worldviews & History “Intended for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal learners, this course will explore indigenous ways of knowing and how they can benefit all students. Topics include historical, social, and political issues in Aboriginal education; terminology; cultural, spiritual and philosophical themes in Aboriginal worldviews; and how Aboriginal worldviews can inform professional programs and practices, including but not limited to the field of education,” (Coursera).
Paradoxes of War “The Paradoxes of War teaches us to understand that war is not only a normal part of human existence, but is arguably one of the most important factors in making us who we are. Through this course, you will come to appreciate that war is both a natural expression of common human emotions and interactions and a constitutive part of how we cohere as groups. That is, war is paradoxically an expression of our basest animal nature and the exemplar of our most vaunted and valued civilized virtues. You will learn some basic military history and sociology in this course as a lens for the more important purpose of seeing the broader social themes and issues related to war,” (Coursera).
I also took the Four Seasons of Reconciliation course from the First Nations University of Canada although it isn’t a Coursera course; it is a “must take!”
Netflix David A. Arnold (2022) Whitney Cummings: Jokes Uncoupled (2022) Persuasion (2022) God’s Favourite Idiot (2022) Man Vs Bee (2022) Hard Cell (2022) Carrie Pilby (2022)
Amazon Prime Murder on the Nile (2022) The Northman (2022) Backstage with Katherine Ryan (2022) Upload (2020)
