Art Gallery Graduation Party-Centerpieces

Learned something about my friends when I put out an all call for

wine bottles.

I know some SERIOUS wine drinkers...WOW!!

I am totally kidding here....there was no one person that had more than any other.

Thanks people, keep 'em coming.

Any who, I decided to transform a few into a sample centerpiece.

As stated in a previous post, I am really bad at before pictures.

I forgot to take pictures with labels on.

So this is mid-project:

I included the all important bottle of GOO GONE because it was integral to the process.

I soaked all the bottles in hot soapy water.

Not all labels are created equal...some came off super easy while others were not ready to let go.

This was the most difficult part..involved scraping, layers of goo gone, more scraping, repeat.

I emptied a few more wine bottles in the process...not really but I was close.

After many hours the colored bottles were ready for paint and the clear for a chalkboard label.

Two coats of paint and a chalk setting glaze later, here is a sample of what we are going for:

Obviously, my mini-table is not nearly the size of table we will be using at graduation,

but it's just a preview, people!

Butcher block will ground our centerpiece and also act as a doodle pad for anyone choosing to dabble with the art supplies in the mason jars. 
Pearl colored tissue balls will offset the wine bottles.

These are just plain white tissue paper, but its just January.  Lots of time to buy the right tissue paper.

No.

We won't be serving alcohol at a high school graduation party.

Geesh!!!

Each bottle will be holding a different type of flavored lemonade.

Good stuff...I'm not telling what kind.

There have to be some surprises.

I don't have all the needed supplies for the photo trees so those will also be a surprise.

They will be intermixed with the craft jars.

Mom's are amassing large quantities of embarrassing pictures of the graduates to proudly

display on said trees.

Friday....Saturday is coming!

A cup of Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate is my companion as I construct this entry.

Proceeding this tasty beverage, I consumed PB chocolate pudding, a bowl of chips, and a Coke Zero.

(The good news is that, while I have eared 0 diet quarters

I have earned all of the goal quarters for exercise.)

Yep, been one of those days.

It just looks cold, doesn't it? (photo by Andy Gael)

Started with -30 windchill and ended with more snow,

lots more fun stuff in between.

Nothing earth shattering, just winter blues stuff that appears

-at first glance-bigger than it really is



Trapped in a Winter Wonderland (photo by Andy Gael)



There is a crumb dust under my 'N' key.

So, if there are some words missing the 'N' you know why.

Have NO IDEA how that got there....I never eat at the computer.

(That's sarcasm, folks.)

The real point of this blog is to report some GOOD news!

Chalkboard labels came in the mail today.

I will be whipping up a sample graduation centerpiece this weekend for your viewing pleasure.

This is also a warning.

If you are the kind of person who prefers to see things for the first time-in person (ie. at the graduation party), don't check out my blog titled

"Graduation Centerpieces".

Lifesavers and Other Stories from the Icelands

This was my FB post this morning:

Today's Goal: STAY WARM.

Forget fashion or even business casual.

This is a wool sock, mulit-layer, puffy sweater day.

Yes, I look like a walking pack of lifesavers (my warmest sweater has bold, horizontal stripes of color), but I will survive the cold car-cold air-cold room-cold air-cold car-cold air routine of the day.

AND if any child decides to resort to violence today, I am well protected.

My job is to travel from school to school in a three county area to work with preschoolers who have behavior challenges.  This is a fun and interesting job, EXCEPT when the windchill is below zero. 

Then traveling is just wrong.

First let me explain my attire. 

I am sporting a wool, 3/4 sleeve, kimono style sweater with horizontal stripes.

Each stripe is a jewel tone (I know-the 80's want their sweater back) topped with a cowel neck.

I have mulitple layers beneath this lovely sweater and no, I'm not taking a picture....this sweater may become a pillow in another blog.

I truly look like a roll of lifesavers. 

Not the trim, original package, but the gummy style...including rolls and loose packaging.

Apparently, the ongoing cold weather makes small children as grouchy as their adult counterparts.

I spent some full-contact time with a three year old in the quiet area.

He clocked me a few times. I am usually more adept at warding off blows.

I blame the layers...they slowed my Ninja reflexes.

Fortunately, I was well insulated.

I am sad to report that tomorrow's forecast includes a morning windchill around -30.

I am not sure a human can survive in such temperatures, but apparently bad behavior can . 

So off to work I will go....

Do remember when you were a kid and moon boots were in style and full body snow suits?

Remember how you could put your arms down to your side and if you tried they bounce back like a spring due to all the insulation in your suit? 

Remember how your scarf would smother your face but your mom had tied it in the back of your head and you couldn't move it because of the limited range of motion in your arms?

Remember the icicles that formed at each nostril?

How about the hat that rested on your eyes so you could see only the lower half of your surroundings?

How about falling down? All you could do is thrash around like an overturned bug until someone came and pulled you up by your zipper toggle?

 And you came up in one complete piece, like a board because your moon boots did not allow your legs to bend and your coat was so stiff with insulation that your arms didn't move?

Well...now imagine a nearly 40 year old woman doing traveling consultations in -30 windchill weather. 

So, if you see a LARGE, puffy grey mass rolling down the highway don't let it alarm you.

It will just be me traveling to my next school.

See, I won't be able to bend to sit in my vehicle so I'll just have Tony give me a kick in the general direction of Cedar county and hope my roll carries me to my desired destination.

This is me in Alaska-in January-a few years back. It was warmer there than in Iowa :(

People think that because I hail from Minnesota I should find it balmy in Iowa.

I understand that my 75% Scandinavian heritage should give me some special protection from the cold.

I realize that my general appearance would support a northern climate.

Yes, my skin is SOOOO white I make zombies jealous.

I realize my intolerance of heat and sun which results in heat exhaustion and bed rest would make you think I long for the cold.

But.....I abhor winter in Iowa.

The shoveling, de-icing, cold, heat bills, scraping windows, waiting for car heaters to warm up, etc.

Barnacles and Other Crustations

I love working with young children.  For the past 10 years or so I have been working as an Early Intervention Director, Family Service Coordinator, Early Childhood Director and now as a Child Care Specialist (read Behavior Consultant for early childhood programs).  Kids who struggle with fitting in are my favorite.  This makes for a lot of funny situations.

Today let's focus on barnacles, etc.

Barnacles I

Once upon a time, I was consulting in a school district preschool regarding a very, VERY active four year old kiddo.  One morning we were focused on transitions, specifically from center time to circle time.  Said child was working with the dry erase boards.  It is important to note that preschool teachers know how to save money. Often tube socks are used as erasers for dry erase boards, as was true here.  When the teacher announced that it was clean up time, dear child dropped the board and ran around the room laughing hysterically as teachers gave chase.  He had a sock up to his armpit on his left hand and a red dry erase pen in his right hand.  They were waving feverishly in the air.  I suggested that the chasing stop (I don't chase children unless its for fun.)

When it was obvious that no one was going to chase him, the boy managed to wedge himself between the 4-drawer file cabinet and the desk.  He began waving his arms (with sock and dry erase pen still in place) ....which was all we could see at this point.  From the file cabinet we began to hear shouting "Barnacles! You're all Barnacles! Barnacles, I say!"  It truly looked like a sock puppet was waging a cu de tah. 

(He did eventually join circle time, but I have to admit that rather than getting mad, I laughed and laughed and laughed.)

Barnacles 2

In a strange turn of events I had a second barnacle event recently, which brought on flashbacks to the cu waging sock puppet.  I was observing another fellow.  Well, he was quite excited about the quality of work he had done sorting gingerbread men.  "Dang!" he declared "Dang, I'm good!"  "Dang!"  Which was followed by this conversation:

Child:  "Ms....., is 'dang' a bad word."

Teacher:  "It's not a bad word, but it isn't a word we use at preschool."

Child:  "Dang, now what am I going to say?"

Teacher:  "How about 'rats'?"

Child: "nah"

Teacher: "Here's a good one, how about 'barnacle'?"

Child:  "Barnacle?! Barnacle! Yeah, that's good."

Child:  "Barnacle, I'm good!"

Other Crustations

Warning: I work with small children who have behavior issues.  Sometimes we get a little gross.

You've been forwarned.  I was asked to observe a three year old who was unusually grouchy this particular day.  The teachers were really frustrated.  After watching him wander around shoving people and crying intermittenly, I decided to engage the child in a conversation and see where it led.  If only I had known:

Me: "____, you seem a little frustrated today.  Do  you want to talk about it?"

Child:  "Yeah, I got a problem"

Me: "What's the matter buddy?"

Child (with tears streaming down his face):  "Ms. Nickie, my butt itches.  Can you fix it?"

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm................is this a multiple choice question?

I swiftly sent the child and a teacher to the bathroom with a box of wipes. 

Poopy Heads

I have been called many names over the years, including some pretty colorful profanity with amazingly quality voice inflection and enunciation for a four year old.  But, my all time favorite is "poopyhead".  I had just started one of my many jobs in EC.  I was typing a report in my office and could here the teacher and child coming down the hallway and knew I was in for a dosy.  It was a three year old yelling "poopyhead" over and over and over and over and over. ..only interrupted by hysterical giggling (not from the teacher.)

He was deposited in my office and I informed him that we could start talking when he was using kind words.  In an effort to get me to chase him, he began running around my office.  I calmly walked to the door and closed it.  He took this moment to dart under my desk and yell, "You ca-an't get me, poopyhead."  I repeated my conversation offer, sat in my chair and continued my work.  He continued to yell "poopyhead" from under my desk.  I had several staff scheduled to meet with me.  I managed to conduct several meetings all with a three year old yelling "poopyhead".  He eventually got tired and rejoined his classroom.

The really funny part of the story is that my very conservative parents found these stories so amusing that they have adopted a new phrase for people that frustrate them: "Poopyheaded barnacles."  I hear this often when I visit them.

Gosh, I love what I do.  I really do.

Random Tuesday Thoughts

Holiday decorating makes me itchy. 

See I am this strange blend of Type A and artsy. 

I like my surroundings to be beautiful expressions of life but I don't have time to be switching things out all the time.

That and the mess and organization of said decorations.

So, here is my contribution to Valentine's Day. 

Dollar aisle at Target.

Do you think the Gael men will appreciate this? 

Better question:  will they notice?

(I carefully placed these items under the televsion in an attempt to secure notice.)

Vases from Target/Votives from PartyLite

I started this blog at request of some relatives who where very entertained by my work stories.

I am collecting them and will make a regular Early Childhood Entry.

Just so you know.  Funny kid stories coming.



We are over halfway through January so I though maybe I should look at my goals for the year.

Amongst them are completing 3-4 graduate courses. 

Surviving the first child leaving home.

Enjoy graduation.

Help Alex get his permit/school permit.

Turn 40.

Celebrate my 20th anniversary.

Live a balanced life (this will be on here until I die.)

Then there is the perpetual weight loss/healthy living goal. 

I like food.  Actually, I LOVE food.

Especially baked goods like cookies, cake, muffins, etc.

Exercise.

Not so much.



Piggy Bank from Target

So, the piggy bank is my newest attempt at marrying extrinsic and intrinsic motiviation for optimum success.

Here is the plan:

$0.50/day I exercise (cardio or strength)

$0.50/day I stay within the caloric intake goal

$1.00/lb. lost (has to be a new pound not one I've already lost and regained)

When I reach my goal I will take the money and do something fun.

Holding Life Loosely

No crafts or funny stories this time...just warning you! 

Those that say they follow Christ are great at touting rhetoric, but putting it into action is a bigger challenge.  Letting your children live it is the BIGGEST challenge.  I am having an emotional struggle with the evening news.  See this is my son doing what he loves most in a place he wants to spend a good portion of his life:

 Andy would like to help run an orphanage in Haiti.  We always had a feeling things would go this way.  This is not something that we take credit for or believe is a higher calling than, say taking care of your neighbor.  It does, however, require us to let Andy go.  He told me he would not go if we did not support it because it would be dishonoring.  In the year since Andy Haiti as his destination after high school graduation there has been a devastating earthquake, a cholera outbreak, and an election riot.  These I could deal with only mild trepidation.

The news of Duvalier's return to Haiti, however, has unnerved me.  I don't know why this particular event is the trigger, but it is.  I am left to ponder.....



is the safety and life of this boy.....

 

 more important than

 the life and safety of this boy?

Romans 12:1-5 (NIV)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

The Holy Spirit is challenging me to stop praying that his trip be detoured to a safer country.  What am I really asking of God? Or maybe I should be wondering what is He asking of me?

Andy may or may not end up in Haiti, but that is not really the point.  God is asking me to hold my son's life loosely.  I have surrendered myself to Him, but can I surrender my sons to him.  Will my heart allow, without resentment or overriding fear, Andy and Alex to follow the paths God has set out for them?  Can I accept that they are actually more His than mine and He loves them more than I do?

God gave barren Elizabeth a son in her old age, only to have him sacrifice his life declaring His Truth.  Mary was called blessed but watched her son die on a cross for all of humanity. Hannah gave up Samuel shortly after he was born to keep her promise to God.  Do I want to love God as passionately and sacrificially as these women did?  Do I trust Him?

I need to let my children go where God calls them, regardless of the danger, the risk, the potential rejection or hurt. It is better to hold them loosely than to have them pried from my fingers...because there is much more at stake than just my children.

"For love to be real, it must cost—it must hurt—it must empty us of self."
— Mother Teresa

An Art Gallery Graduation: Post 1

When did this....

...become this?!?!



High school graduation. *sigh*   The celebration that marks my eldest son leaving the nest.  Simply leaving the nest is not enough for my son.  He feels the need to fly the coop and land in Haiti to stay for the next couple of years.  While I am satisfied that he is doing what God has planned for him there is a little separation anxiety on my side.  So, to cope I am starting the party planning early.  We like a good party and I like to organize (control) stuff. It puts me in my happy place which makes everyone in my life more comfortable.

My son is having a joint graduation party with a friend.   The graduates are both artists and want an art gallery feel to their party with their original art work highlighted.  Both are fairly non-traditional and don't want a lot of graduation thematic elements which opens up the party to a lot of creativity.

There are a few things to keep in mind as I share these plans over the coming months:

1. We live in a tiny town in rural Iowa.  High school graduation parties are EVENTS and highly attended.
2. The graduates want a brunch...with a New York art gallery feel....serving humus...in a small town...in rural Iowa. (We did talk them out of humus .)

 The other mom and I got together over the Christmas break and started to make our plan.  Have I mentioned that I LOVE to throw a good party?  (I'll have to blog about the birthday parties we threw when the boys were younger)  Oh, I also have a Lion personality which I work daily or hourly to keep under control...but that's another blog. Fortunately, the other mom is a wonderful person and humors me a lot.  The graduates approved the plan so we are ready to start our collecting of mason jars, wine bottles, and clothes pins....

This is a sneak peak of some of the decorative elements.  Future blog posts will be dedicated to menu, decorations, etc.

Alex's Hot Chocolate Station

This was a last minute "extra" Christmas present for Alex, our freshman.  He loves hot chocolate and getting gifts.  I really wanted a set of apothecary jars like this:

But, since one "economically" priced jar runs about $30-40 I had to rethink my plan.  So, my modified apothecary hot chocolate station is made up of three jars from Target, three mismatched large candlesticks, and brushed silver spraypaint.  Unfortunately, I am a fairly impatient person who rarely remembers to stop and take before pictures. So here are the un-illustrated steps:

1. Spray paint candlesticks and jar lids (after a light sanding if you remember...which I did not)
2. Let items dry COMPLETELY (I include this becuase I tend to forget this important step)
3. Carefully glue candlestick base to jars, being mindful to center jars on the candlesticks.
4. Let glue dry COMPLETELY (See above note)
5. Fill your jars and enjoy!

Here is the cost breakdown:

• Jars: $5.97/jar x 3=$17.91
• Candlesticks:          $  6.95
•                               $  5.95
•                               $  4.95
• Spray Paint:            $  2.99

          TOTAL                  $38.75

If you chose to follow this Blog you will come to understand my short set of strengths and even longer set of weaknesses including impatience.  One of the re-occuring themes will be graduation party planning for our eldest son and one of his friends along with funny stories about my escapades with the infant through five year old crowd.  Occassionally you will also be treated to a tirade about graduate school, but this is an area in which I hope to grow more mature this year. 

Enjoy and stop by for some hot chocolate some time!