Random Tid Bits

1. Earlier it was like spring - in the 70s, last night there was a winter thunderstorm, and now it's snowing. The wind is supposed to get bad. 

Below are pictures of the rain outside my car's windows. No worries, I was stopped at a long light. I don't text, or photography anything, while I drive.








2. Because of the weather - elementary, middle and high schools were called off today. Travis was annoyed because when the boys are home on his days off he gets little done.
   
   I told him to have it be a learning experience for the boys. Mica's close to the age where he can babysit. Why not have him practice like it's the real deal? Mica can't interrupt Dad unless it's an emergency. He'll be downstairs working.


3. We kind of banned Mica from the library, while the Spelling Bee and Read to Succeed were going on. He had a lot on his plate during that time, and we didn't want to add reading books to that already full plate.
   
   He got super excited to go to the library once again. I've never experienced a kid that loves books as much as Mica does. We've been there twice in two weeks. He picked up a stack of small books, and two really long books.
   
   One book is called, What is Woodstock?
   
   

   

   Source

   Kind of an odd book for a kid, but it is a children's book. Mica, "So Mom what was Woodstock like when you went there?" I said, "Mica I wasn't even born when Woodstock was in existence. The first real one anyhow. It was about 10 years before I was born. Even if I was around when it happened I wouldn't have gone. There was a lot of people walking around naked, doing drugs. It's not really my thing." His eyes were all wide, "Really? People were naked?" I said, "Yep." The next day he asked Travis, "How was Woodstock when you went Dad?" Travis said, "I wasn't even born yet." Travis is only a year older than I am. If I was too young for it, how would Travis be old enough for it?


4. Isaak is a maker. He made this outfit for his stuffed dog some time ago. I don't think I've posted it. He made it with paper, and staples. Not the most comfortable outfit ;), but super creative.





5. I registered Isaak for a spring basket ball, and Mica for soccer. Mica's never played a ball sport, but he claims that he loves playing soccer at recess. We're giving it a go. Isaak continues to love basketball, so he's staying on. I looked at my online receipt and it had both of them registered for soccer. On the phone I went to fix that mess up. 

Did you get into sports when you were a kid?

What's something random in your week?

Space Maintainer

Isaak recently got a Space Maintainer. For a few weeks he's had to go into the orthodontist to get spacers to make room for his Space Maintainer. Isaak was born with too small of a jaw for his adult teeth. Last year he had I think 4 baby teeth removed to make room for teeth coming in. 

Isaak couldn't eat very well that first night. I didn't even think to make soft things to eat. He didn't seem to be in any pain until it was time to eat.

Travis has never had any appliance in his mouth what so ever. Me on the other hand...I had a retainer, spacers, and braces. Travis kept saying, "Isaak you're fine. Quit milking it!" I sent Travis and Mica away to go to the bookstore, and to pick up Motrin. 

Isaak let out all his tears after Travis left. I said, "Go take a bath with bubbles to relax yourself. I'll have a drink with ginger in it when you're done. Ginger helps with pain." He seemed ok, but cried a little more when he tried to finish his dinner. 

He said, "Mom when Dad gets home please don't tell him I cried." I had already texted him that, but I said, "Ok." 

I think people that have been in pain with certain things have more empathy when it comes to others. What do you think? I'm not saying Travis is cold hearted; the understanding isn't there. It's hard to get things that you haven't experienced before. 

Did you have a mouth appliance at one point in your life?

1 Night Movie Giveaway

I do enjoy a romantic comedy every once in awhile. It seems that by having boys I tend to watch mostly action flicks these days. Level 33 has a new film 1 Night. It has romance, comedy, and drama. I loved watching something different for once.

Starring-

1 Night stars Pitch Perfect’s Anna Camp along with Justin Chatwin (Shameless):

It also stars Isabelle Fuhrman (The Hunger Games) and Kyle Allen (The Path):

It also starred Kelli Berglund, Roshon Fegan, and Evan Hofer

Written and Directed By: Minhal Baig

Produced By: Kerry Barden, Han S Canosa and Marius A Markeviciusi

About-

1 Night discusses relationships. They are not always easy because you have to work at them. It is about rekindling that passion and love as well as finding it for the first time, by following two couples at different stages of their romance.

30 something Elizabeth (Anna Camp) must decide whether to salvage her relationship with Drew (Justin Chatwin) after much personal disappointment.

Meanwhile, Bea (Isabelle Fuhrman), a worrisome teenager, reconnects with her introverted childhood friend, Andy (Kyle Allen) to overcome their difference in high school status following their prom.

Past and present collide as two couples explore love over the course of one night at a hotel.

It’s perfect for Valentine’s Day and after all isn’t February the month of love?

Watch 1 Night. It's on demand, and in a theater near you.

What I Thought-

1 Night is a sweet movie. I forgot how difficult dating really is. It was neat how they had 2 stories going on, and them coming together.

Giveaway-

One of my readers is going to win 1 Night. You will win a digital or dvd - the sponsor will choose, but try to accommodate what you'd prefer. The giveaway is open to residents of the US, 18+, and will run through 3/1. Winner will have 24 hours to respond to the email before a new winner is selected.

No PO Boxes. Open to the US.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received 1 Night to assist with this review. I wrote this post, and was not influenced at all with an opinion. I only review things that I find interesting, or that would benefit my readers or family. This was provided to me from Level 33 and Tether Group.

WW: Read to Succeed {Linky}

After Mica's adventure of the Spelling Bee his teacher came up to us and said, "Well Mica you may not of won this, but you have Read to Succeed to look forward too." I sort of knew what Read to Succeed was about. I know that Mica could have participated in it last year, but chose not to.

Mica was talking about reading 6 books for it. All he needed to read was 4 books.

He was in a group with 3 other students that also read 4 or 5 books. His group was against 39 other groups. They were asked questions about the books. Their teacher thinks that they got all the questions right. Out of the 40 groups, only 15 received a gold medal. Mica's group was one of those 15.

Their group competes again against the other gold winners in April for a trophy.

I'm proud of him because last year I got on him about not participating in extra things. He let a lot of opportunities pass him by.

This year he joined band, did the Spelling Bee and won at school, Read to Succeed and won a gold medal, Chess and was 1 of 3 that won a gift card to go to a movie, and Student Council. It may sound like a lot. They were all active at different times, so it worked out. He's happy, successful, and had fun. I'm not all about pushing him if I didn't think he could handle it. He's the type that could easily get bored in school. Very much the opposite to how I was in school. I had to work for my grades! Even then I struggled a lot.

Here's his Read to Succeed Medal:

Have you ever been a bookworm?

Is the US the BEST Place to Live?

When I went to grad school in Savannah, Georgia I got into a conversation with a mix of people. One thing I loved about Savannah College of Art and Design is that they recruit from all over the place. I quickly learned that not all of my friends thought the US was the best place to live. It was just a place to live. Savannah is beautiful. I wonder what they'd think of the midwest?!

I watched a show this weekend that made me think about that conversation I had many moons ago with friends from all over once again. In the show many countries were interviewed about their thoughts on the US. Many said that if we could just get past the fact that we think we're so great, open our eyes to other countries and what they're doing; we'd do better. I could see their point.

I was discussing the movie I saw with a group of people. The majority of the people I work with are fairly closed minded. They know what they know, and they don't want to talk about it. Very opposite to most artist types. A few of them told me that the US is the best place to live. Keep in mind that they've never been outside the US, except for one that I know of; she lived on a military base as a child.

I believe that there is yin and yang everywhere. Even here. Where there's good - there's also bad. There is no perfect place. I'm not saying that the US is bad. I just don't believe that it's the BEST place. In my mind there isn't a BEST place. I believe that every place has it's ups and downs. When you go up a slide you have to go down one somehow.

The Washington Post - if you want to call that real news had an article about Germany being the best place to live. The US was ranked 4th. Again I feel like most places have their ups and downs.

What are your thoughts? Do you think the US is the best place to live? Do you think we have ups and downs just like everywhere else?

Spring is Coming

I never know if I should listen to the groundhog on Groundhog Day. It's seriously the silliest holiday. If he sees his shadow spring is early, and if he doesn't winter is longer. I think that's how it goes. Schools have every kid in the surrounding area believing in it. Ha! Isaak even bought the whole put your pjs on inside out and backwards for a snow day.

Maybe because of Groundhog Day silliness it's the reason that they made the movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray.

We seem to be done with ice storms.

Ice on Branches:

Living in Nebraska anything can happen. Spring like weather could be faking me out, and we could have ice in a few weeks. Here we have 4 true seasons.

We had 70 degree weather Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Today it's raining a spring like rain. 

Our dwarf Magnolia tree in the front has buds forming on the tips of the branches.

Yet Another Sign of Spring:

Spring never happens as early as mid February here in the center of the US. Omaha is smack dab in the center of the US. Counting Crows has a song called, Omaha. One lyric, "Omaha, somewhere in the middle of America. Get right to the heart of matters. It's the heart that matters more."

Nebraska is now a zone warmer. We now match Kansas City, which is 2 1/2 to 3 hours south. 

Readers what do you think about spring happening so early? Lately the weather for a few years has been so crazy! Is it just a shift of weather pattern? Is it global warming? Is it chance? What do you think? 

Acrylic Color Set Review

I love reviewing art supplies! I recently got an Acrylic Paint Set.

Who Can Use These Paints?

It can be used for beginners, pros and anyone in between. It's for kids and adults. These paints are non-toxic. Kids will need help opening up the paints. They have a metal that needs to be punched with each tube. Luckily the cap has a point on one side that is meant to punch the tube.

24 Colors!

I love the variety of colors! You wouldn't NEED this many colors, but having them is awesome. They are in smaller tubes. If you do nothing, but acrylic paintings you'll run out of paint fast. I do a lot of mixed media pieces, so I don't mind the smaller tubes. I look at this this way - if they are small tubes they won't dry out like bigger tubes. I can never use all the paint fast enough with the bigger tubes.

Colors includes: Zinc White, Titanium White, Lemon Yellow, Yellow Mid, Orange Yellow, Scarlet Lake, Vermilion, Orange, Crimson, Ultramarine Blue, Phthalo Blue, Cobalt Blue, Cerulean Blue, Green Light, Emerald Green, Viridian, Sap Green, Raw Sienna, Yellow Ochre, Red Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Vandyke Brown, Black

Benefits: 

• Images will be vivid
• Sharp colors
• Lots of colors to choose from
• Can be used on different surfaces
• Can be used for arts, and crafts 

Cost:

$31.97, it was knocked down to $27.97 and again to $17.97

What I Used Them For:

I started a mixed media piece. It's not done yet! It took a bit to get it done enough to put up on this review. It's a girl with a hoop skirt. Inside the skirt is going to be a bird cage with a mocking bird in it. On the wall there will be a cuckoo clock. It's a piece about captivity.

I did a transfer technique for the wallpaper, glue for the ground/molding with acrylics and colored pencil lines, paint and fabric for the girl. Her hair has a lot of sewing lines in it. I'll take better and more pictures of it when I'm done.

What would you paint if you had these acrylics?

Disclaimer: I received this acrylic set to assist with this review. I wrote this post, and was not influenced at all with an opinion. I only review things that I find interesting, or that would benefit my readers or family.