tannerlyn

On the Water

2011-05-05T19:40:00.001-04:00

Our weekend in Jupiter, Florida was relaxing and refreshing from the tense atmosphere at work and all the stress with school. We went and stayed with Justin’s buddy Mike who took us out deep sea fishing and boy were we lucky to catch some big ones, which brightened up Justin’s day (he was smiling from ear to ear). There is something about being born and raised on the water. . . you don’t realize how much you miss it until you have not been to the beach in six months.

We were only on the water for thirty minutes before the boys were hollering that their rods were hooked on this fella. Since, I have absolutely no upper body strength, I was on camera duty for the day while the guys were sweating trying to bring in dinner.

Look at those farmer’s tans and fighting faces. I had a fun time watching them attempt to pull up some keepers!

The Part-Time Vegan by: Cherise Grifoni

2011-04-18T11:48:00.001-04:00

The cookbook The Part-Time Vegan by: Cherise Grifoni is a wonderful beginner book to veganism. The book provides a great introduction to understanding the beliefs of veganism and how to implement them into your daily life. Grifoni offers two-hundred and one yummy recipes that you can tweak to fit your lifestyle. With recipes high in protein, fiber and quick to fix, all levels of veganism can use this book to adjust their diet for every daily routine.

“Veganism is the exclusion of all animal and animal based products from your diet. This includes meat, eggs, diary, and gelatin, and it can even extend to some types of sugar and honey. . . When I first became a vegetarian many years ago, I stopped eating meat cold turkey. I was never a big meat eater, so giving up meat was nothing that caused me any inner strife.” -pg. 1 and 2

Although I am not a vegan, I still found recipes that were great and that I could substitute other ingredients into. I tried several of the recipes (including the Sesame Soy Asparagus and Mushrooms on page 80 and the Pumpkin Cream Pasta on page 109) and the easy to read layout and great Part-Time tips at the bottom are wonderful for understanding why those ingredients are used, other ways to cook the ingredients, and how beginner vegans can adjust the recipe to enhance their diets.

Disclosure: BookSneeze® has provided me with a complimentary copy of The Part Time Vegan. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

Island Bake Sale

2011-04-07T17:15:00.001-04:00

photo via Great American Bake Sale

I have been diligently working on the first ever Island Bake Sale. We will be supporting the Great American Bake Sale (GABS) in their efforts to end childhood hunger by 2015.

Did you know that 1 in 4 children in America faces hunger? -GABS

Sponsored by Little Lilly’s Island Deli @ the Pine Island Center we will be selling bars, breads, brownies, cakes, cookies, cupcakes, muffins, pies, popcorn, pretzels and more. All proceeds from the event will go to the No Kid Hungry program.

Come out on May 14th, 2011 from 9:00am to 3:00pm to buy some great homemade desserts and baked goods to help end childhood hunger in the community. Entrance & Parking is free for all. There will be raffle prize baskets; tickets $1.00 each. Come to Little Lilly’s Island Deli @ the Pine Island Center to bid on a chance to win a specialty cake. . .Cake Auction begins @ 1:00pm.

Every cookie sold and every dollar donated can make a huge impact.

Here are some examples:
$1 can help provide a hungry child with 10 healthy meals.
$4 can help provide a child facing hunger with a backpack full of healthy food over a weekend when school meals are not available.
$9 can help connect a child with healthy lunches during summer when school is out.
$35 can help a child care center provide free after-school snacks and suppers to at-risk children all year long.
$65 can provide a grab-n-go breakfast cart to an elementary school so that every student starts every school day with a healthy meal.

If you are unable to attend the event, you can make a financial donation right HERE.

Doing Virtuous Business by: Theodore Roosevelt Malloch

2011-04-05T08:00:00.000-04:00

Theodore Malloch writes about the virtues faced in a free economy through a Christian perspective based hard and soft virtues expressed by faith, hope, and skepticism. This is a book about modeling balance and purpose in the “real world” of mainstream corporate America. Social capitalism is addressed along with views towards an ever changing global economy.

“The Greeks saw chastity as a part of temperance-but were non too clear as to what it required in men. We now make no distinction between men and women, and require the same restraint, while allowing the same permission, to both. Hence it is all the more important, in business as in other fields, to maintain the king of boundaries that enable people to enjoy just and charitable relations that are protected from sexual invasion.”-pg. 40

Although, the book is based in Christian morals there is not a ton of evidence to support the religious viewpoints. The book highlights various corporations that have instilled these virtues mentioned in the book, but there is no real example of Christian values within the companies. I found the book to be quite difficult to continue reading because of the lack of support for addressing the issue of small businesses. I would recommend this book to a person in the corporate field with their own company. I enjoyed the basic concepts of the book, but felt there needed to be more biblical references to support the Christian viewpoint.

Doing Virtuous Business: The Remarkable Success of Spiritual Enterprise

By: Theodore Roosevelt Malloch

Disclosure: BookSneeze® has provided me with a complimentary copy of Doing Virtuous Business: The Remarkable Success of Spiritual Enterprise. The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

New Recipes @ Slab2626

2011-03-31T10:20:00.001-04:00

	You have to try these. . . Layered Delights! It’s brownie and cupcake mix combined in a heavenly bite. A great recipe for beginners and so simple it only takes 30 minutes to make. Check out the recipe HERE.
Layered Delights
	Oh, and these. . . Cotton Candy Cupcakes! Vanilla Cupcakes with Fluffy white icing and strawberry flavored cotton candy on top. Learn how to bake it HERE.
Cotton Candy Cupcakes
	Are you a big Mac & Cheese fan like me? Try this new recipe for a New York Style Mac & Cheese that you can make right in the slow cooker using Extra Sharp Cheddar New York Cheese! Get the recipe HERE.
New York Style Mac & Cheese

To find more family recipes and cooking tips visit Slab 2626, my online collection of home-cooked recipes, kitchen tools I love, and my favorite memories of being in the kitchen.

Verot Vikings

2011-03-29T19:02:00.001-04:00

With my sister still being in high school, as I am away in Orlando, it’s hard to see her grow up and get to experience the same things that I did while I was in high school. Getting to spend time together is rather difficult with our “big” social lives and all. . .So, we packed up our black and yellow gear and headed to the baseball fields.

Let’s Go Bishop Verot!

Quincy and Makenzie

Quincy and Makenzie enjoyed their cherry & blue raspberry ICEE’s as we watched the last inning as the Bishop Verot Vikings beat the Westerly Bobcats.

DIY: Chick-a-Doo Easter Card

2011-03-21T10:30:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone, I am so excited that Easter is right around the corner. Easter has always been one of my favorite holidays growing up. Our family had a huge egg hunt with all the cousins, we decorated dozens of eggs, ate great home-cooked food, and played a ton of games. So, instead of sending out a tons of chocolate Easter bunnies, I decided to make cute homemade gifts this year for the holiday and to celebrate Spring. The first was a stack of cards to mail to friends and family that I usually do not get to see on Easter.

To start you will need. . .

8 sheets of textured/patterned paper in a range of colors (I used checkerboard cobalt blue, baby blue, tea green, green, and checkerboard green, mellow yellow, orange, and burnt brown)

1 sheet regular computer paper

1 bottle of Tacky Glue or the equivalent

A pair of scissors

2 small squiggly eyes

2 bright colored buttons

1 black felt tip pen

1 orange sparkly gel pen

To begin, draw a rough sketch of a bird on the piece of computer paper (you can make him tall, skinny, fat, short, egg shaped, etc.) Be sure to include wings and hair if you would like, or you add them later.

You also need to draw a template for the two eggs that will be stacked on top of each other.

Once you have the templates cut out, trace them onto the yellow (bird), checkered blue and checkered green (for the eggs). Then cut out. Add swirls to each wing with the orange gel pen to add some design. Glue on squiggly eyes and let dry for 5 minutes.

You will also need to cut out a small orange triangle for the bird’s nose as well as two skinny rectangles for the bird’s legs. To make the flowers, simply cut a small ruffled circle shaped from the baby blue and large petals from the yellow.

Cut 4 small teardrop shapes from the tea green and two long curved stem from the green paper.

After tracing and cutting out all the pieces, lay them out where you want them to be. Fold you burnt brown paper in half like a card and begin assembling. After gluing down all of your paper pieces, add colored buttons to the center of each flower and let dry overnight.

*Optional: If you want your bird to be 3D, you can add a small 3D dot to the back and then glue down.

Orlando Spring Shopping

2011-03-07T08:45:00.001-05:00

This spring I am looking forward to cotton dresses and cute accessories. After receiving five free coupons for various department stores for promotional spring campaigns, a trip to Francesca's in Waterford Lakes Town Center in Orlando was a must. I was surprised to see their new spring palate for trends this season. . .my favorites! NEUTRALS.

My aunt recently gave me this flowy brown shirt that is great to match with a pair of skinny jeans. I also love the detailed stitching on the top of this green bubble tank top. The design was precious and reminded me of spring flowers.

Belts and beads are going to be a great touch to add to cotton dresses. I matched this khaki belt with a dark brown ruffle dress (right) and this gold metal bead necklace to a light tan dress (left).

Did you notice this hunter green belt? It was only $2.00 at Target! It was on the clearance rack and I had to have it since it worked so well with my Spring color scheme.

A Conversation with God

2011-03-03T11:44:00.001-05:00

Alton Gansky writes this book with the perspective of Biblical leaders and with a viewpoint from God. A Conversation with God asks questions of “How do we know the Bible is accurate?” and “Why are some people rich and others poor?” through a Christian interpretation using Biblical passages of support. This book hinges on the Christian values and the revelation of how faith, suffering, salvation, and the world are influenced by Christ.

As a Christian, the passages in this book were not necessarily eye-opening, but they pushed for a deeper searching of Biblical influence within my life. Each section provides numerous verses and examples of how God was present in times of suffering, pain, uncertainty and what the future holds for believers and non-believers of the Christian faith. I found the book to be motivational and inspiring to want to research more about religion and what that means for society as a whole. The book influences Christians to open up their Bibles and connect with God through reading and prayer rather than just praise and worship at Church.

“It is at the heart of most churches, quoted countless times every Sunday, studied by children and adults alike, and continues to move and challenge minds today. Everyday people turn to it to look for comfort, wisdom, guidance, and teaching about how God has worked in human history.” page 41 of ‘A Conversation with God’

I enjoyed how Gansky relates each historical event to a modern interpretation as is God was walking next to us today in these terms. The back of the book also provides great resources for further reading into the Bible and explains some of the historical significance of Biblical people mentioned throughout the book such as Moses, Jonah, and Mary Magdalene.

A Conversation with God:
If You Could Ask God Anything What Would It Be?
by Alton Gansky
Thomas Nelson Publishers
15 March 2011

Disclosure: BookSneeze® has provided me with a complimentary copy of A Conversation with God: If You Could Ask God Anything What Would It Be? The opinions I have given are mine and may differ from others but were not influenced by the company or the free product provided.

Foggy Morning with a touch of Sunshine

2011-02-23T08:03:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone! I decided that I needed to update everyone on what’s going on here in Orlando and what is new in this students life.

Melanoma: I recently went to the Health Center on the UCF campus was had a body check up with the doctor about my melanoma. As many of you know I was going to a skin cancer specialist in North Carolina, but since moving to Orlando I have not officially found a dermatologist or cancer specialist that I will be seeing on a regular basis. My mom and I decided that I still needed to see someone to make sure anything new is controlled and what further steps I need to be taking.

It started when I woke up with a small rash on the left side of my back, which now I know what to look for so I hesitated and thought…okay this could be a ton of things! My appointment went very well. They found no new spots the rash was just that--a RASH. I had switched my laundry detergent and it caused my skin to react different so needless to say I was relieved. Thanks for all the prayers and e-mails. It is wonderful to know I have such a strong support system.

Work: In August I started a part-time job at Monarch Children’s Academy in Stoneybrook. I am officially an afternoon teacher working with the Kindergarten class. It is great to be working with kids again. Even though I have been busy trying to balance work and school, I am head first in learning the ropes of how a school is run and the daily activities that consume my every thought, from creating lesson plans to organizing sports equipment, to grading “papers” (kindergarten has more than you think) and checking out books for reading at the library.

UCF: It’s official, I will be ending my last semester shortly. With only taking two of my formal education classes this semester, I am beginning to study for my teacher entrance exams. I am starting to freak out a little, but I am starting with full confidence that they will be a breeze. The test is separated into 5 sections and an ESOL/ESE certification level exam. Each section contains a written essay, 300 multiple choice, and one teacher recommendation form. Talk about stressful. I am scheduled to take parts 1-3 at the end of April, parts 4 & 5 in May, and the ESOL/ESE during my summer class schedule where I will be taking the last portion of my student teaching internship before graduating. I have to pass every part with a score of 450 or higher or I have to retake that section.

I also received a letter from the Dean congratulating me on making an Academic Achievement in the College of Education with a 3.8 GPA. Although, I am not taking honors classes, as a transfer you have to hold a certain level of success in your first year at UCF.

Along with studying like a mad women, I have been spending time with Uphill tutoring where I am currently tutoring a young fourth grade girl in English. On the weekends, you can usually find me working with Volunteer UCF an on campus service organization that connects students with other community service organizations in Orlando. As of now, I hold a Gold level, which means I will graduate with over 300 hours of college service to the community and surrounding areas.

Many of you may have heard that Florida has put a ban on hiring new incoming teachers, which means that finding a job after graduation is going to be harder than I thought, leaving my future really undecided (who knows I might be heading out of state again, but hopefully not!)

Church: Since being in Orlando, it has been a little difficult finding a church with a small town feel and family atmosphere. At Appalachian, I was blessed to have been part of the Appalachian Wesley Foundation where I was part of their missions team, prayer & praise night, and women’s bible study. I found a great family in my fellow students so finding a support system like that in Orlando has been rather challenging to compare. However, I am going to New Life Methodist Church in Waterford. I also am a member of their college mission team which works with the Orlando community. We have cleaned houses, dug up lawns, picked up trash, and organized the Christmas Toy Drive for the area. It has been a blast getting to know some great people.

I hope this post was not too long!

Blessings,

Montanna

Orlando Bagels

2011-02-17T10:06:00.001-05:00

That past couple of weeks have been a bustle of writing lesson plans, adjusting to new work schedules, and compiling ideas for group projects in my education classes. Needless to say, late night coffee runs and group study halls have lead to the infamous runs for bagels--yes, I said it, BAGELS!

Our marathon bagel run begins with the. . .

Honey Whole Wheat Bagel @ Einstein Brothers

University of Central Florida West Campus

4400 Central Florida Boulevard

407.823.2651

Sesame Bagel @ Davis Bakery & Company

Davis Bakery Store

12001 Avalon Lake Drive Suite G

407.207.0205

Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon Crunch, and Blueberry Bagel @ Panera Bread

Waterford Lakes Town Center

473 North Alafaya Trail

407.737.3011

Asiago & Plain Bagel @ Starbucks

Independent Plaza

457 Avalon Park North Boulevard

407.273.6919

Everything Bagel @ Bagel-Bagel Café

University Commons:

4498 North Alafaya Trail

321.235.1000

Cinnamon Raisin Bagel @ Too Jay’s Gourmet Deli

Waterford Lakes Town Center

715 North Alafaya Trail

407.249.9475

So, what’s your favorite bagel. . .leave me a comment!

Book One: “One Child”

2011-01-20T12:58:00.001-05:00

I often read books for my literature classes or my Elementary Education English and Language Arts classes, but since I finished the last requirement of those classes last semester, I have found myself not really reading anything. No newspapers, no magazines, and definitely no novels for fun. Well, it did not really work for the first couple of weeks and classes have started again and I find my brain wondering during class breaks and daydreaming during lunch, so it’s official, tannerlyn has started her very own book club right here on this blog! Each month, or whenever I finish a book, I am going to blog about it. . . depending on how long the book is.

“It has been a long time since you have read a book with the sheer emotional impact of One Child.” -New York Times

“Page after page proves again the power of love and the resiliency of life.” -Los Angeles Times

Since I am an education major here at the University, I decided that my first book would relate somewhat to that, since my entire life is consumed by it and I find the topic rather interesting. The first book I picked, is an older novel based on a true story of a teacher’s passion, kindness, and love helped a desperate girl in need of guidance, patience, and understanding.

“”Torey Hayden deserves the kind of respect I can’t give many people. She isn’t just valuable, she’s incredible. The world needs more like Torey Hayden.” -Boston Globe

Written by Torey Hayden, the best selling author of Beautiful Child, has written an inspiring story of how a young child’s violence and rage turns to a world of knowledge, love, and compassion. The book includes great resources and an understanding for child psychology and child abuse.

Torey Hayden has been an educational psychologist and a special education teacher since 1979.

A Photographers Review

2011-01-12T15:08:00.000-05:00

As many of you know, I am an avid photographer. It is my number one hobby even though I am still in the process of saving for my dream camera. Recently, I have been browsing some of my favorite photography websites and blogs that have inspired me to keep taking photographs. Not only are these sites amazing, but behind each one is an awesome photographer who empowers the people around them to love photography.

Amanda Pair (left) is a whimsical lifestyle photographer specializing in wedding photography. Located in Birmingham, Alabama, Pair has an eye for the magical.

Amy Karp (middle) is a vibrant and well known wedding photographer in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. When away from photo shoots, Karp spends time with husband Jon.

Amy Wenzel (right) is a lifestyles photographer located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Wenzel is an accomplished photographer and has even started her own design site for other photographers called Swiss Miss Designs. After finding out her husband David had inoperable brain cancer, Wenzel expresses her deepest desires, hopes, dreams, and prayers in her newest blog, Through The Fire.

Angela Crutcher (left) is a children’s photographer with whimsy passion and candid emotions. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Crutcher specialized in black and white film which she considers to be her “roots.” Living with her husband and two children, her new blog Find The Art In Life is a striking look into a beautiful passion for photography.

Angie Arthur (middle) is located in Northeast, Ohio where she specializes in Senior Portraits and is a brilliant natural light photographer. When not pursuing in the field, Arthur spends time with her four children.

Audrey Woulard (right) offers photography workshops while growing her own passion for the art. Specializing in children’s portraits, Woulard is a natural light photographer in downtown Chicago.

Bakerella (left) is an amazing site that showcases food photographer at its finest.

Becky Earl (middle) of Be Art is a lifestyles photographer who has become a wild sensation of beautiful images.

Cheryl Muhr (right) is a child photographer in Austin, Texas where she gives life to amazing photographers of little tots.

Christina Grissett (left) is located in Morristown, New Jersey and is a well pronounced boutique photographer.

Heather Ward (middle) specializes in weddings and portraits in the Calgary Area. Her eclectic style is beautiful and elegant.

Jasmine Star (right) is a well acclaimed wedding photographer how happens to be a huge Lakers fan. While traveling internationally with her husband JD, Star’s style is contemporary and bold.

Justin & Mary Marantz (left) is a husband and wife photography team specializing in international destination photos but they call New England their home.

Kelly Monroe (middle) is a natural light photographer specializing in lifestyles photography. Monroe brings her “out the the box” style to the couples of downtown Syracuse.

Leah Lund (right) specializes in engagement photography in New York. Lund spends time taking photos and relaxing with newlywed husband Simeon.

Maggie Farrington (left) of Farrington Photography & Design is the wife of a campus minister in the heart of Appalachia. Farrington serves her talent through custom photography specializing in maternity and children. As a full-time mom, she raises daughter Macyn and her newborn son, whiling balancing a career in photography.

Maggie Holmes (middle) located in Gilbert, Arizona is a lifestyles and newborn photographer who loves blogging about daughter Emily Jane.

Marianne Drenthe (right) of Marmalade Photography is a children’s and natural light photographer in Chicago.

Megan Rogers (left) of Trees & Bees Photography in Topeka, Kansas is a natural light photographer specializing in candid images. Rogers has a photojournalistic style that creates warm and inviting photographs.

Nicole Livingston (middle) of NML Photography is a natural light photographer specializing in pet photography. Located in Austin, Texas, Nicole lives with her husband John, dog Ella (pictured above), and cat Tuna.

Pattie Schmidt (right) has an eye for smiles since she is a children’s photographer located in New Jersey. Her portraits reflect the little moments in each child’s life from laughter, tears, and those adorable grins.

Rebekah Hood (left) of Kallima Photography in South Florida, specializes in wedding & engagement photography. Her style is modern with a colorful twist. Hood lives with her husband Ben and dog Oliver.

Rebekah Westover (middle) is a wedding and portrait photographer in the Utah area. Specializing in modern and stylish photographs for young brides.

Sarah Long (right) of Joyful Photography in Topeka, Kansas specializes in children’s photography and Long is a natural light photographer. When not taking photos, Long loves to play with daughter Zoey.

Shana Rae (left) is an up and coming artist designing floral prints and canvases in her new Florabella Collection. Rae also offers textures and actions for new photographers on her site.

Tara Whitney (middle) of Just Be Blogged is a lifestyles photographer in Orange County, California. Here attention to detail and beautiful talent create a unique masterpiece of images.

Tracy Clark (right) has 15 years of experience in the photography business. She is a well accomplished writer and photographer and the founder of Shutter Sisters, an online photography community. While not behind the camera or conducting a tutorial photography class, Clark spends time with her two children.

Did you notice that all of these lovely photographers are women? I wanted to showcase some of the amazing women across the country who have uplifted me through their talent and success either directly or simply those whose written words I find comforting in their personal blogs. Each one is truly an inspiration to all.

And my top picks would have to be. . .

Angie Monson (left) of Simplicity Photography is a portrait photographer in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Jennifer Nguyen (center: photo via Snails & Pigtails) of Snails & Pigtails Photography is a natural light photographer specializing in maternity in southern California. When not behind the lens, Nguyen spends time with children, Nyah, Talisa, Brayden, and Dante.

Tara Staton (right: photo via Tara Staton) is a portrait and fine art photographer located in Sequim, Washington. Staton lives with husband, son and dog Harley.

Apple IPad: Why I Want One

2011-01-11T14:57:00.001-05:00

It’s the first week of class for the Spring semester and I am completely organized and ready for the hustle and bustle of late afternoon studying and late night writer’s block for all those “research” papers. Over Christmas, my aunt showed me her new iPad that she got and let’s just say, I was amazed. You can do anything with this gadget from checking e-mails, browsing the internet, watching videos, scanning photos and there are a ton of other features you can download to build up your Apple App collection for your iPad.

Photo via Apple

The Apple iPad is a must have now that I have seen one in action. Why do I want an iPad? Because, I am a college student who has about a million and three things to do in a semester’s time. From tutoring schedules, work times, classes, study breaks, and the ever needed Spring Break planning guide, this is a great tool for any student.

LED Backlit IPS Display: The iPad has a high resolution screen that is programmed with an In-Pane Switching tool for excellent color, easy browsing and beautiful contrast. Did I mention it’s also touch screen? Making it easy to zoom in and out of photos and great for sending e-mail.

Thin & Light: The Apple designed the iPad for go-getters. The entire thing only weighs 1.5 pounds and has a 9.7 inch screen that allows you to take it almost anywhere without even breaking a sweat, unlike bulky laptop computers and their chargers.

Wireless: With the iPad being able to connect to any Wi-Fi network, it’s the ideal appliance for college students. It also includes Bluetooth 2.1

Battery Life: The amazing people at Apple, Inc. have taken to the streets and created the long lasting 10 hour battery that helps you watch videos longer, listen to music longer, browse your favorite photos longer, and even has a 3G data network built in.

Accessories: The Apple, Inc. provides buyers with a wide variety of kits and apps that can be added to the iPad. It even allows photography hobbyists, like me, to connect to my digital camera with the SD Connection Kit.

So, Why do I want an iPad? I just gave like 5 really cool reasons and why would I not want one. You can even take notes in class and then print later!

Buy It: You can purchase the Apple iPad for $499.99 (prices vary) at Apple.

*The entirety of this review is based solely on the opinion of tannerlyn (blog) and does not reflect against Apple, Inc. No monetary exchange took place.

Photo Shoot with Kenzie

2011-01-10T14:50:00.001-05:00

Over Christmas break, I had a little photo shoot with my sister for her new fashion blog. After reviewing the images, I decided to share a few and introduce her new site right here on my blog.

Meet Makenzie! My sister started Kollections, an online fashion blog. After attending a Fashion Merchandising class at The Art Institute in Tampa, her fashion knowledge spread like wildfire and soon her very opinionated style was unleashed.

Ever since I could remember, Kenzie has always been a fashion critic. From what not to wear and how to fashion tips, my family’s outlook on fashion shifted over the years. I have never been one to really focus on what are the new trends. . . I go for comfort, but every now and then it’s nice to see what styles work best and how each is different from outfit to outfit.

During Christmas, my dad came out in a Columbia fishing shirt and asked my sister, “So, this okay?” I smiled, since when had my dad ever asked about fashion? It was funny, my sister laughed and then said, “Um. . . the teal shirt with khaki pants and nice shoes, the brown ones.” My dad immediately turned around and went back to his closet.

I never thought about how fashion or dressing could be such an important part in someone’s life. My sister is genuinely excited about knowing what people wear, why they wear it, and how important it is to dress in a way that shows everyone’s unique personalities.

Click HERE to visit Kenzie’s new fashion blog!

Baby Boots and Blue Beads

2011-01-06T10:47:00.001-05:00

Photo Courtesy of Infusion

I attended a baby shower for one of my cousins a few months back and it got me thinking about my family. I am very lucky, both sets of my grandparents are still living and I cherish the times we share together. My father’s side of the family is rather large, with his eight brothers and sisters. I have been blessed with growing up with a handful of cousins. As my cousin welcomed a new baby girl, Lexi Renee, into the family I realized that my grandparents have twenty-eight grandchildren, each one unique in their own way. As we gather together for holidays and birthdays, I am reminded that one day, I hope to have a family as big and loving as the one I grew up with. What a better way to celebrate another addition into the family… a great tutorial for Baby Booties!

As I was researching, I found some great sites that have really cute ETSY sites for homemade baby shoes. The first, Infusion Fibers makes baby booties for all sizes and offers a wide array of materials, colors, and designs. Each design is carefully drawn out and the fibers used in each designs are from natural materials. These booties are great for babies on the go and are washer/dryer safe.

The second site I fell in love with was The Purl Bee which are hand knit baby booties.

Above Baby Booties (pictured on left) are made from the following materials (pictured on right):

Natural White 500, Natural Light Tan 504, Natural Copper 502, Scarlet 518, and Capri 539

Click HERE for the tutorial from The Purl Bee.

Tutorial: Merry Christmas Paper Garland

2010-12-15T08:11:00.002-05:00

I was thinking about a way to showcase a cute way to spruce up the bathroom for Christmas. Here is a fun tutorial that only takes about ten minutes to do and it looks great anywhere you hang it. This Merry Christmas Paper Garland looks great hanging above my mirror.

First, collect some of the basic supplies needed for the project from around the house:

One pair of scissors

A Hole Punch

Creative Memories Photo Punch (rounded corners)

One bottle of Tacky Glue

One bottle of Mod Podge (optional)

After collecting the basic supplies, find four to five different colors of paper. I used plain paper with some texture for it, but you can use patterned paper, basic paper, or crepe paper in a variety of Christmas colors.

Cut paper into squares about 2.5 by 3 inches.and punch two holes at the top of each square.Don’t place ribbon through the holes until you finish with Mod Podge or laminator.

For the lettering stencils, I used my Sizzix Machine (The little die-cutter that makes a big difference). My mom has been collecting stencils for this machine for years and she recently upgraded to a Cricut, so I ended up with the punch out machine. For this particular project, I used the Fun Serif UPPERCASE Alphabet Set.

Place each piece of paper over the letter and place in Sizzix Machine to cut. Then alternating colors or patterns, do the next letter and so on until you spell out “Merry Christmas” or the quote that you are writing.

After cutting out all the letters, glue each letter to an opposing color. Then, put each square with letter glued down into a laminator or used Mod Podge to seal and create a shiny covering over each one. Let try and cut any excess lamination sheet or Mod Podge sealer. Use a piece of ribbon to weave in and out of the letters and knot at each end.

Attach to Evergreen garland on the fireplace or under the garland hanging above a bathroom mirror. Enjoy!

My Christmas Collection

2010-12-02T09:52:00.001-05:00

As many of you know, It’s officially December which means the rustle of shopping carts in every store, the laughter of children filling the streets, and a rush of cooler weather and winter breezes. I headed out the door this morning with the smell of pine needles in the air and a hot cup of cinnamon vanilla coffee in search of Christmas decorations. This year, I decided instead of spending a fortune on décor that is only put up once a year, I would find collections that were more crafty and frankly a lot cheaper and let me tell you….I found quite a handful of great deals and buys and ended up with tons of bags and a few more dollars in my pocket. Check out my finds:

These homemade stockings are a great gift for kids and are super unique, each one looks totally different than the next. Did you notice the stitching on the Christmas Tree one? I LOVE how it is so imperfect, it makes me smile.

I picked up some cute craft ideas from JoAnn Fabrics. The snowflake garland in the center was only few bucks and I added some personal touches with a few rustic jingle bells and small iron rusted snowflakes. The garland was about 9 feet, so I placed it along the bookshelf and above the mirror in my bathroom. The rustic garland makes me think of my parent’s house at Christmas. My mom has a very southern style and our house would always be filled with huge red ribbons, Yankee Candles that smelled like cranberries, and a crackle coming from the stone fireplace.

I had to make something to sit next to my bed and was not going to be dramatically huge for my nightstand. I had bought this pumpkin made out of twigs for Thanksgiving and never really used so, I tied a red ribbon that I had laying around the house and placed it on my nightstand. Every morning when I wake up, I am reminded about how blessed I am during this holiday season. So where can you find adorable holiday décor for less?

Homemade Stockings @ Target: $2.00 each

Snowman @ TJ Maxx: $6.00

Rustic Garland @ Jo Ann Fabrics: $3.00 (9ft.)

Candy Cane Ornaments @ Jo Ann Fabrics: $2.00 (4pk)

Pumpkin @ Target: $1.00

* Christmas Ribbon& Buttons: Free(already had)

Total Cost of Christmas Collection: $16.00

Pumpkins, Parents and Peppermint Patties

2010-10-12T07:42:00.002-04:00

It’s that time of year again! The time for pumpkin carving, fall fashions and cool weather. Fall is finally here, so I am giving a great tutorial about how I get into the autumn spirit with home decor, amazing recipes, and low-cost crafts for the whole family.

A Halloween celebration calls for eerie decorations, like bewitching pumpkins and wickedly elegant recipes. Looking for a creepy display? Bugs are always a good bet, or try black cats and owls.

First I have to start out by saying that there is a great tutorial for Glittered Fall Pumpkins at Kevin & Amanda. Be sure to check it out. So cute!

Then after making those super cute pumpkins be sure to head to the kitchen and try this amazingly tasty recipe Mummy Munch from Picky Palate.

Ingredients:	Directions:
4 cups Honey Chex Cereal 16 ounce package vanilla candy melts 1 cup Autumn mix (candy corn, little pumpkins) 1 cup dry roasted peanuts 2 cups mini pretzels *Make about 8 cups, contains peanut products.	Place cereal, autumn mix, peanuts, and pretzels into a large owl. Mix to combine. Melt vanilla candy melts according to package directions then pour into cereal mixture. Gently stir until well coated then pour onto wax paper or a silpat lined baking sheet to dry. Once dried, break into pieces and put into cute Halloween cupcake liners or into little bags.

Original Recipe Credit: Picky Palate

3 New Ideas for Halloween Candy

Mix 2 chopped York Peppermint Patties into a cup of hot chocolate or coffee and presto, an easy minty drink to keep you warm.

Fold in a handful of candy corn into rice cereal for sweeter, more colorful Rice Krispies Treats.

For a fun cookie pie, spread contents of a 16 1/2 ounce refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough tube onto a greased 12 inch pizza pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 18 minutes. When cool, spread with 1/2 cup strawberry jelly, then scatter M&M’s and chopped mini Hershey’s bars on top.

Shocktail Hour By: Martha Stewart

Hosting a ghoulishly stylish affair this Halloween?

Martha Stewart Crafts vampire and mad scientist beverage labels easily transform libations into wickedly tempting poisons and elixirs. Add a few more gory details with crafting supplies, invitations and food embellishments.

Wondering what moms think about Halloween? Here’s what Motherboard members say:

19% love it so much they practically turn their home into a haunted mansion.

54% believe teenagers ages 16 and over are too old for trick-or treating.

48% wear a costume and got to a party or two.

49% let their kids start trick-or-treating on their own between ages 12 and 13.

7% don’t partake in Halloween festivities at all.

15% think the day is just okay, but hand out candy and might watch a movie.

Did you know that 90% of parents steal from their kids trick-or-treat stash. Source: National Confectioners Association.

Enjoy this fall season and safe wishes to all those trick-or-treaters.

Give a Helping Hand

2010-10-09T10:38:00.000-04:00

Have you though about the fact that Thanksgiving is only 7 weeks away? 7 weeks that will pass right before our eyes. With this in mind, we think of those families that have been hurt by the current economic conditions and look fro help from out local charities. At this time the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida are collecting critical and much needed non-perishable items. These items include but are not limited to:

Meals in a Can	Nonfat dry milk	Oatmeal
Canned meats	Evaporated milk	Drinks
Canned Tuna	Peanut Butter	Nutritional drinks
Dry Beans	Canned Vegetables	Canned soups
Pasta/Macaroni	Beef stew	Diapers
Rice	Baby food

Help the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida for those in our community that are unable to provide for their families this Holiday Season. Please drop off food items to any local bank in the area or certain location listed on the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida website by November 10th, 2010.

* Sponsored by Equity Residential and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

Cutest Thing On The Block

2010-09-22T12:43:00.001-04:00

Okay Ladies, I have to share with you my crazy encounter with the cutest little shop in Orlando. . . and the best part is that it is proudly owned by a University of Central Florida alumni! Go Knights!

Boutique Twenty Two was founded by Samantha Naumann-Baker who created the shop to provide a woman’s clothing boutique for the area. Boutique 22 offers unique, trendy and affordable clothing to young fashion seeking women. Not only is the store located in the heart of a college town, Naumann-Baker provides opportunities for women all over the country to purchase merchandise through social networking (she blogs!) The store features items from: 7 for all Mankind, BCBG Generation, Free People, Lucy Love, Kensie, Paige Jeans, Miss Me, and many other clothing fashion designer brands. Samantha Naumann-Baker, an upcoming stylist, and Boutique 22 have been featured in Back/Slash, a college lifestyle magazines provided free to University students and the main reason I decided to check it out.

I walked in to the store and saw this gorgeous lamp filled with crystals, I was amazed at the atmosphere of the store. . . relaxing and quite romantic.

Do you see the little cross on the left hand side? It totally made this necklace a keeper. So, cute!They even had adorable make-up kits for your purse and even a contacts case, super chic.

The store has tons of bracelets, earrings, purses and more, but I loved the rings especially the coral flowered one, definitely a key item on my wish list.

And I’m not done yet! I got tips on cool end of the summer styles personally from Boutique Twenty Two’s very own stylist Sam Naumann-Baker. Here is what she said,

“Nude Lips:Use nude tones for a sun-kissed au naturel look. Color: Stick with bright, youthful shades, to help your skin tone shine. Go Strapless: Show off tanned shoulders and cute accessories day and night. Keep it Short: Don’t hesitate to show off some skin. Bold Accessories: Mix and match beaded necklaces, stunning hoop earrings, and thin bangles. Empire Waist: High waistlines draw attention to the smallest part of you midsection. Girly-Girl Prints: Accentuate your femininity with pretty floral patterns.”

You can visit Boutique Twenty Two at 4498 Alafaya Trail Suite 218 Orlando 32826 in University Commons or call 407.273.3818 for more information.

*The review of the store is the opinion of tannerlyn blog and does not reflect on Boutique Twenty Two or Back/Slash. Boutique Twenty Two and Samantha Naumann-Baker were published in Back/Slash Volume 3 Issue 1 (September-October) Back/Slash Magazine is published by Backslash, Inc., a Florida Corporation. Materials are ©2010 Backslash, Inc.

What’s your view?

2010-09-10T06:00:00.000-04:00

Hola! Since, beginning my Diverse Learners (ESOL) class in August I have found myself reading tons of articles about different teaching styles and how cultural, racial, and ethnic differences can have a positive and negative effect in the classroom.

As an educator, I have read tons of material on the different methodologies and practices about how to teach children ranging in all ages, but when it comes to the views on how cultural diversity should be addressed in the classroom, if at all, there are conflicting opinions from all generations of parents, teachers, and students.

Some scientists have classified this issue of dealing with diversity according to the DMIS continuum. Check out the following stages. . . where will you classify yourself on the issues of cultural awareness?

Denial: The inability to see cultural differences an is evident when individuals isolate or separate themselves in homogenous groups. Individuals tend to ignore the reality of diversity and are often characterized by well-meant, but ignorant, stereotyping and superficial statements of tolerance.

Defense: The recognition of cultural difference coupled with negative evaluations of those whose culture is different from one’s own. A narrow focus on a small, typically elite sample of a society. Such people defend their way as the one best way.

Minimization: Discovery of commonality. People begin to recognize and accept superficial cultural differences such as eating customs, money, etc. Commonality of basic values almost as if “they are like me.”

Acceptance: An individuals ability to recognize and appreciate cultural difference in terms of both people’s values and their behavior. Acceptance of cultural differences is seen as understanding that there are viable alternative solutions to the way people organize their existence and experience. Ability to interpret phenomena within a cultural context and to analyze complex interactions in culture-contrast terms.

Adaptation: People begin to see cultural categories as more flexible and become more competent in their ability to communicate across cultures. Individuals are able to use empathy effectively, shift frames of reference, and are better able to understand others and be understood across cultural boundaries.

Integration: Individuals who have multiple frames of reference and can identify and move freely within more than one cultural group. Tend to become cultural mediators or cultural bridges.

So which category would you fall in about your opinions of cultural diversity, share with me!

SPARK Review

2010-09-08T19:59:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! I finally received the Sports, Play & Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) binder, which includes physical education activities for grades K-2. As a soon to be full-time teacher, the SPARK binder helps instructors who are teaching at schools with no physical education programs installed school wide. In schools like these, teachers are solely given the task to educate their students on the importance of health y eating, personal fitness, and extracurricular activities. The SPARK binder was created for PE specialists and classroom teachers and aligns with National Standards for public schools. With active and fun warm-ups to core subject integration tips SPARK gives teachers an authentic assessment tool to help students become more physically active.

I took a Children’s Wellness class last spring and was alarmed at the child obesity rate in our country, and decided to fully begin to research how I could help within the classroom on an everyday basic level with my students. So. . .

Welcome to Spark Physical Education

The original SPARK study was funded in 1989, by the Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, to help reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors (e.g. obesity, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle) that often begin in childhood. Project SPARK, the successful research trial, evolved into the SPRAK Programs, an organization dedicated to improving the quantity and quality of physical education for teachers and children everywhere. SPARK educators and researchers have been disseminating the SPARK programs (Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, and High School PE, After School, and Coordinated School Health), created during and after the initial 5 year study, to schools throughout the world since 1994. For more information on SPARK programs, research, dissemination, and support services visit www.sparkpe.org

*The above paragraph is taken from the cover sheet of the SPARK binder and is NOT property of Chalkdust Wishes. The review is the reflection of Chalkdust Wishes and the personal use of Chalkdust Wishes team members, NOT of San Diego State University Foundation.

SPARK Programs believe in additional teaching strategies called the BASICS that should be present in every physical education class.

B (Boundaries and Routines) A (Activity From the Get-Go) S (Start and Stop Signals) I (Involvement by all) C (Concise instructional cues) S (Supervision and Feedback)

The binder includes tons of great physical fitness vocabulary, movement basics such as locomotive skills, concepts, academic integration for most activities, wellness tips, and sample unit plans. I highly recommend this binder to any classroom teacher in the state of North Carolina. The SPARK Program is a great resource for helping your students become more successful in physical education, health, and self ability.

What’s Up Wednesday

2010-09-08T11:00:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone, I am checking in with some updated information on the week, but before I forget, be sure to check out the amazing photography give away over at Kevin and Amanda. So, here is a little recap of my week so far.

Who have I been thinking of? Recently, I found out that my dad went in for a doctor’s appointment because he was not feeling well and came to realize that there is a suspicious spot on his lungs. I have to be honest with you, I sort of thought this would come a little sooner. You see for as long as I can remember, my dad has been a smoker and for year my sister and I have been trying help him stop by constantly nagging him about the harmful affects and hinting that we, one day, will want our dad to walk us down the aisle. However, for some reason our father has continued to smoke and it has consumed his entire life. Now, I praying that whatever this spot is, that God can heal it quickly and provide the realization to my father that smoking is going to harm him and could even kill him. Anyway, he has been in my thoughts and prayers this week. . .cause I love you daddy!

What am I currently obsessed with? Okay, I have to admit that I am currently addicted to this coffee shop called Grounded located on campus. It reminds me of home because it has some cute little seaside pictures of the beach and huge “fake”palm trees surrounding the entire lounge area. I often visit it like 3 times a day in between my classes and it takes some of the stress and pressure off and is quite the relaxation place, plus they make great coffee!

Where do I spend my weeknights? I spend most weeknights either working or doing homework on campus. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays: I am working with 12 pre-schoolers in the afternoon with reading, writing, and spelling, which is very funny by the way. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I spend time completing all my homework for the week and I usually start any projects due for the following week.

When do I have time to nap? The answer is NEVER! With a teaching internship. work, and 5 other classes plus 15 hours of service learning for the semester, let’s just say I am one busy lady. I am loving the face pace of Orlando even though it is much different than the atmosphere of Appalachian State.

Why am I inhaling cough drops? Although, I had a relaxing weekend due to Labor Day, I was feeling a little under the weather because of all the rain last week and ended up with a slight cold. . .my answer. . .cough drops. I think however, my taste buds are in fact in love with the taste because I can’t seem to stop eating them. I lost my voice yesterday and hopefully it will come back for work cause my kids need a little bit of instruction.

A look into cultural identity

2010-09-07T12:21:00.001-04:00

Last Friday, began the Labor Day weekend for many, but I stayed on campus to get a jump start on some homework before starting my relaxing weekend of no work and no school. As I started the homework, I started thinking about the discussion we had in my Diverse Learners class earlier. We had talked about how teachers are now facing a wide range of controversial cultural differences among children in their classrooms. Many parents don’t realize that their children might actually be considered as a cultural minority-majority and not the majority anymore. With tons of immigration plans and teachers now having to incorporate different language lesson into their curriculum, America is facing a great depression within its schools. We looked at how American schools average scores and teaching styles differ against other countries and America is slowly slipping through the cracks with low proficiency and learning techniques are children are falling behind. Children in many other countries are bilingual and even trilingual or are fluent with the languages that surround their region, but children born in America usually only speak one language. . . English! Did you also know that China is the number one English speaking nation in the world, not the United States? So, where does culture come into play? We read over some profiles from Beechland Heights and realized preserving culture and heritage is everything to most children coming from other countries into the United States school system.

Take a look now, at five 16 year old high school students who live in Beechland Heights. What cultural conversations do you think have meaning for them?

Michael Williams is an African American young man who has lived his entire life with his grandmother and grandfather (retired at home), his mother (an assembly line worker at the light bulb factory), his aunt (who works evenings cleaning at the museum), two brother, and a sister in a house on the northeast side of the city. He doesn’t know who or where his father is. His older brother never went to college after he graduated from high school, and works in the local factory- although he is thinking about joining the army. The family regularly attends the local Baptist church. As a child, Michael played basketball at the community house near his home and continues to help out there with younger children. He attends the public high school and is in the college prep academic program, where he earns excellent grades. He has a steady girlfriend; is a member of the high school golf team, which practices at the local golf course; is on the school newspaper staff, which is advised by an editor of the Beechland Heights newspaper; and works after school and weekends at the golf course.

Dinorah Rodriguez lives in a pleasant, but small ranch house on a cul-de-sac on the south side of town. She is the youngest of a large, extended Mexican family; her parents having come to the United States initially as migrant workers before she was born. Although she attended Catholic parochial school through the eighth grade, she currently attends the public high school, where she is taking business-related subjects and is planning to become a secretary- perhaps in one of the local banks. Her family has always been very involved in the local Mexican community as well as in the church, and Dinorah gained a considerable amount of attention (not all positive) when she became the first altar girl at St. Mary’s. Her family keeps in close contact via e-mail with the extended family members who remain in Mexico, and still sends money to support one of her aunts who is a nun. At home, the family speaks a fair amount of Spanish, something that Dinorah finds rather embarrassing when her friends are around. In school, she earns reasonably good grades, is on the cheerleading squad, and is a scorekeeper for the wrestling team. She dates a number of boys, mostly athletes, and works on weekends at a department stare in a local shopping mall.

Steven Wong lives in a large, comfortable house on The Hill, on the west side of town, with his parents and a younger sister. His father is a successful businessman, and his mother, an artist, is in charge of the adult volunteers (called docents) at the museum where Steve sometimes works as a guide for especial exhibits. His family does not belong to any religious group. He attends a private high school located in a neighboring community, where he struggles a bit for average grades, and is a member of the tennis and debate teams. As a child, Steve played Little League baseball, belonged to the Boy Scouts, and travelled extensively in the United States and to Hong Kong to visit family. He doesn’t date much, and when he does it is usually with non-Asian girls who are children of his parents’ friends. He is not certain he wants to go to college, much to his parent’s dismay.

Jacob Goldsmith lives with both of his parents in the same neighborhood as Steven Wong on The Hill. When Jacob was younger, he attended the one small Jewish day school that drew children from Beechland Heights as well as three or four other communities. Jacob’s father is a pediatrician with a fairly successful practice in town. His mother is a professor of English literature and teaches at a private college located about half an hour away. Jacob is an avid reader, plays tennis and golf on the school teams, and one day hopes to be a doctor like his father. His family is affiliated with Temple Israel, a reform synagogue near the school, but is not highly observant. For Jacob’s Bar Mitzvah, his family took him on his first international trip- a two week trip to Israel. Since then he has remained active with a small group of Jewish high school students that meet Wednesday afternoons at the Temple. He hopes to return to Israel one day- perhaps to study for a year during college.

Shameka Collins is living in one of only three African American families on her street, which is on the south side of town. Shameka lives with her parents, an African American mother who works as a bookkeeper for a local department store, and a European American father, who spends much of his time working out of state. She sees him only occasionally-perhaps once or twice a month. Shameka is the only biracial student in her school, although most other students are not aware that her father is white. She has an older brother who is stationed on a nuclear submarine presently on duty in the Persian Gulf. As a child, Shameka was a Girl Scout for a while but dropped out. She has gone to Sunday school at the local Presbyterian church all her life. After school and on Saturdays she works at the main branch of the public library downtown, saving most of the money she makes for college. She does not have either the time or the inclination to date much, but she does find tome to go to all exhibitions at the museum and to all the local community theater productions. Once she even had a small part in a play there. Since Shameka and her mother are generally alone, they spend as much time together as possible. Her mother has taught her to sew, and she makes almost all her own clothes. She worries about leaving home when she goes to college and is trying to decide whether to attend the local community college for 2 years before actually leaving home. Because she takes advanced placement courses in high school, she will be eligible for courses at the college in her senior year and will probably become a student there. She thinks perhaps she will become a doctor.

Each of these students, lifelong residents of Beechland Heights, participates in a particular pattern of educational life, out of which has emerged a cultural identity. The cultural knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and values of these students, like those of most Americans, are multiple-non identifies with a single cultural group. Yet their cultural and educational patterns are different and sometimes surprising. How do you see their various cultural influences affecting their lives? What aspects of their upbringing do you think influences them most today? In what ways are they similar or different to you? Can you put yourself in Beechland Heights?

As a class, we discussed how each of these students can struggle with peer pressure, mistaken cultural identity, and the everyday struggle of trying to fit into the social norm of high school. As I finished up my homework I realized that cultural identity in high school is so clearly labeled for you, but in college people begin to realize that they have to embrace people who are different from them in order to actually fit into this world and be successful in what their life goals are.

Although, I am part Cherokee Indian, does that mean I am Native American even if I have light skin and blonde hair? After studying this chapter, you can really start to understand what children face each and everyday in the classroom. and it makes teachers think that their students values and goals can come from a much different place than their own childhood.

* The above stories were taken from our classroom textbook: “Human Diversity in Education: An Integrative Approach,” by: Kenneth Cushner, Averil McClelland, and Philip Safford. 6th Edition McGraw-Hill Higher Education Printing from Kent State University and Case Western Reserve University Copyright © 2009.