momnivore's dilemma

Creative Juice {74)

2012-05-23T16:33:00.000-07:00

The blogging world seems a bit quieter to me lately, perhaps the end of the school year, beginning of summer, and the impending holiday weekend are to blame? Or just awesome weather? Now, before you all pack your bags or host those BBQs... {meanwhile, I'll be at an autism conference instead of the former}...it's time for another edition of Creative Juice. Did you miss the awesome

when he speaks for the first time

2012-05-23T08:59:00.001-07:00

more inchstones have been reached. by way of Moosey's speech therapist, a first sentence. which of course, was related to food: "I want pretzels." behold, the power of gluten-free snack treats, able to evoke the first subject and predicate from my son's soul. i wish i could have heard it but the look on Ms. Emily's face was worth every penny of therapy to me, this is more

featured from creative juice {73}

2012-05-21T18:23:00.001-07:00

This week's features showcase a newfound love of mine in home decor: white. Up until the past 6 months, I detested white. As a former art teacher, color is mandatory in my home. But lately, I crave white everywhere... Life has become so loud, that white is a whisper. Clean. A blank canvas. All the things I crave... Well, quiet mostly. If you are featured, please grab some bling

smile file 5.18

2012-05-18T22:08:00.000-07:00

Just a few things, posts, insights, and pins that have made my... From The Department of Aching Nostalgia: My Pinterest board: Viva La 80s always cheers me up when the kids are driving me mad. Which this week was often... Here's few of my favorite pins from that board: Source: imremembering.com via momnivore's

creative juice {72}

2012-05-16T17:45:00.001-07:00

hey everyone! hope you all are having a wonderful week thus far. it's time again for another... in case you've been enjoying the weather and having been away from the blogging world... the classroom creative is now open for all your educational and crafty needs. i have finally started crafting again after a long hiatus, so stay tuned for a few new and useful projects. i

we don't need no education {i'm guest posting today}

2012-05-15T07:59:00.000-07:00

I'm teaching today over at my friend Sarah's site. Come stop by and see what I'm up to!

Features from Creative Juice #71

2012-05-14T21:33:00.004-07:00

I have gardening on my mind this week, as Chicago's last frost date is tomorrow, May 15th. It's so hard to find organic plants in this city. I went to six stores today, only to score one Roma tomato plant. So this week's features from Creative Juice #71 reflect my preoccupation with gardening, backyard parties, and the great outdoors... If you are featured, please grab some bling here.

Meet The Classroom Creative: A Site is Born

2012-05-13T20:51:00.002-07:00

Wow. It's finished. It's Mother's Day. All the glitches, bugs, and programming nightmares are over. Building this site from scratch wouldn't have been possible with countless hours of babysitting from our familiies, coffee, Angry Birds on the iPad for Monkey, the creative genius of Renee Deming from Studio Bold, and... this is starting to feel like an Oscar acceptance speech. A site is born

creative juice #71

2012-05-09T17:53:00.000-07:00

hey everyone! welcome back to another edition of creative juice...you know you are dying to see who i featured, so head over here if you missed out. {THE ANTI-RULES AND REGULATIONS} -seriously, don't follow me. i would write anyway even if i had 2 readers. hi, mom! -don't visit any other links.-don't leave a snarky comment. or say hi. whatever. -only link things you are selling on etsy

WIWW: Outfit: Bringing back the 80s. Pink Meets Grey

2012-05-08T21:04:00.004-07:00

I'm tired of being the SAHM {well WAHM now}in the uniform. Yoga pants. Pumas. Tired ass tee-shirts. Unwashed hair in a bun. I'll be joining in the WIWW world weekly now. But, the hair will remain unwashed. {Tip: It gets less greasy, and is easier to style} So, taking inspiration from a few of my favorite fashion/style bloggers: Lisa @ Stilettos & Diaper Bags, Lilly @ Lilly's Style, and

the dirty-faced angels on the playground

2012-05-08T10:58:00.001-07:00

after we dropped moose off at school, with his PECS book, pull-ups, change of clothes and his gluten-dairy-soy free snack packed away... monkey and i headed to the park after some much needed sunshine lately, chicago has felt like the setting for a charles dickens novel he is still 2, just starting to touch 3, a bit apprehensive as the older 4 and 5 year olds swarm. and some of those 4 and

features from last week's creative juice #70

2012-05-07T19:59:00.001-07:00

here's a few posts to inspire you from last week's creative juice. if you've been featured and want some bling for your site, head over here and pick up your shiny prize. i'll also be sharing your work at my ever-growing pinterest. it's my social media of choice. from domestic imperfection: penny countertop what a statement. just wow. from stars & sunshine: a shower gift love the

smile file

2012-05-06T21:02:00.000-07:00

here's a few things that have made my week: reading this post by rebecca wolf @ girls gone child. her son archer and my little moose have much in common regarding words... {via} next up, rethinking the weekend as a sacred space. this post by meg @ a barefoot day made slow down...i'm learning to say no, thank you to the overbooked life: parties and plans and running to and fro. i need

The Real Mothers of Autism: Meet Mary

2012-05-04T08:49:00.002-07:00

Hello, everyone. Since we had our last post, the new autism numbers were released. 1 in 54 boys in this country now have autism, but what the media fails to report, is that this figure represents 8 year olds from 2008. Not today's children in 2012. Meet Mary. My name is Mary Therriault and this is the story of my son Logan. They are my heart soul and the purpose in everything I

creative juice #70

2012-05-02T19:23:00.000-07:00

hey everyone! welcome back to another edition of creative juice... you know you are dying to see who i featured, so head over here if you missed out. {THE ANTI-RULES AND REGULATIONS} -seriously, don't follow me. i would write anyway even if i had 2 readers. hi, mom! -don't visit any other links. -don't leave a snarky comment. or say hi. whatever. -only link things you are

counting blessings and inchstones

2012-05-01T15:16:00.001-07:00

and real communication is starting. long ago, i've stopped reading milestone charts. with autism, progress is slow. it's in inchstones... "Moose, where are we going after the field trip?" "Home." "Moose, what do you want to eat?" "Pasta." "Pizza." "Toast." our conversations are small black and white and for the first time, at age four and a half, moose is now putting on his socks

features from creative juice #69

2012-04-30T21:26:00.003-07:00

hey all! this is going up a little late today, as moosepie is one sick little boy. :( mama's pulling the second shift here. thanks to all who linked up...here's the bloggers i am featuring this week. if you were featured and want a "freshly featured" button...please grab one here. if you pin, please do so from the original site! from it all started with paint: drop cloth throw pillowLinda,

smile file #2

2012-04-29T21:58:00.002-07:00

here are some of the blogs-tidbits-things-books-etc. that I've fallen for this week: from the style/fashion section: as a stay-at-home mom, it's far too easy to schlep about in yoga pants and sneakers. this next blog has inspired me to dress up again. if only, for my own amusement. lisa's style is both playful, practical, and real. and i'm lucky to have her as as "

ryan gosling memes for autism {4/27}

2012-04-27T14:29:00.001-07:00

it's that time of the week, when all special needs parents of the internet unite for a much needed laugh over at sunday's blog adventures in extreme parenthood: for me, it's been that kind of week. just long. exhausting. kids on the sidewalk refusing to walk. weird poop is back again. sleep schedules have been off. and the cherry on top? i started the dreaded appeal to the insurance letter

creative juice #69 {link-up)

2012-04-25T15:08:00.001-07:00

hey everyone...welcome back to another edition of creative juice. my week has been hectic. theclassroomcreative.com is 3 weeks behind schedule due to a programming oops, and should be up next week. hopefully, next week at this time i will be introducing it to you... last week's features are located here: and there's some great eyecandy. stop by and see who was highlighted this week. {

Donald Trump, can you hear me? Meet we pick up the pieces.org

2012-04-24T22:14:00.001-07:00

So, here's the seedling. My daydream. My hope. It must be serious, as I am writing in uppercase. My autism action if you will. This will be years in the making. My goal in life was to be a writer, but now, truly, it's this. I bought the dot.org. Even if it just helps a few families in Chicago {mine included}...it will be worth it. Here's the very rough draft. Maybe one day, I can hire a

how to help a family dealing with autism

2012-04-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

after you have a baby, family comes knocking, friends come bearing gifts, and well-wishers loaded your facebook wall with he looks just like you! after your family member is diagnosed with cancer or another terminal illness, family comes with meals, friends send plants, and well-wishes load your facebook wall with you're in our prayers. after moose was diagnosed with autism last year

features from creative juice #68

2012-04-23T08:24:00.000-07:00

hey all. too many links to love from this past week's creative juice. thanks to all who linked up...here's the bloggers i am featuring this week. {if you'd like a featured button, please grab one from here} from the food category: from permanent kisses: lunches... from will cook for smiles: a dessert "BLT" {now to find a gf pound cake recipe. haven't had pound cake in 2 years!}

the smile file: take #1 {my favorites online}

2012-04-21T08:37:00.001-07:00

back when i was a young ingenue getting my feet wet in teaching, a parent mentioned to me to always keep a smile file. it was one of those pieces of advice in passing that has stuck with me all these years... so amid my tax papers and bank statements rests a bland manila folder with bits of happiness from my former students {now oddly grown in college and such} and life in general. why not have

ryan gosling {special needs edition}

2012-04-20T19:50:00.000-07:00

time to lighten things up around here with a little ryan gosling meme action. only if this were true. it's the last thing on my to-do list for the week, and oops, it's friday. or if anyone has an extra $2000 they don't need, we can just avoid the whole appeal and call it a wash? i know they will reject it anyway. but if i want weight watchers or viagra, it's covered. health