Random Tid Bits

1. I'm back to being sick with something. I'm just a snot bucket, with a sore throat. I really could use some energy to get things done. 


2. Mica's been selected for many things at school lately. That's positive.
   
   At home he just sits in his room and listens to music. He doesn't even read as much as he used to.
   
   I went to his room and said, "Can you be my water boy by filling up glasses of water for dinner?" He said, "Ok. I'll do that." 5 minutes went by...no Mica. I finally started to yell at him. When he came into the kitchen I said, "Listen! Kids and husbands say that Moms yell and nag too much. If you don't want me to yell or nag, than do what I say the first time." After that I gave him jobs to do. It usually takes him 3 times to get the dishes washed right. He's learning.
   
   
   
   
   


3. It usually takes Travis 2 times to get a load of laundry done right, so maybe Mica gets this having to do chores over and over again from his Dad. ;) Travis left 1/2 the pile of laundry on the floor, and wondered why the load was so small. Maybe I'll give him the chore of making laundry soap the next time that needs to be done. ;)


4. Isaak has in his mind that he wants to make a really cool coffee pot Valentine box. I've never made crazy cool Valentine boxes with my kids. I've done cool Valentines. I aways feel like the box is just going to go in the trash. At least with Halloween costumes they are worn more than once. Isaak says he wants to use it for a few years. Travis is helping him make a coffee pot Valentine box. What's the coolest Valentine's or Valentine Box that you've made?


5. My first year students are so with it that I've had to come up with more material for them for lectures. I don't find myself repeating as much as previous years. They just get things. :)

WW: Science Fair {Linky}

Mica worked really hard on his Science Fair Project: Stacking Vegetarianism Against Fast Food. 

He kept a food journal for 4 weeks. 

2 weeks he had doughnuts for breakfast, a sugary smoothie, and a Whopper meal from Burger King for dinner. We couldn't control lunch as much. He gained 10 pounds, felt awful, was moody, was gassy, and sluggish. He even had to apologize to a girl in his math class because he kept tooting her way. This is unlike Mica. 

2 weeks following he ate a vegetarian diet, with low carbs. Lots of salads with homemade dressing. He lost 12 pounds, felt "on top of the world" his words - not mine, was not moody, and more alert. We really couldn't believe the difference just 2 weeks made!

It's been awhile, and the school finally announced the winners! This is with all 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Mica won! It's a pretty big honor considering that it's a Science Magnet school. 

He got a special breakfast that Travis (Dad) attended. I wish I could have gone, but I taught that day.

What to Expect in Your First Year as a Nurse

One thing I haven't talked about on my blog very much is how many nurses we have had in our family! We have more nurses than we do artists! They are all on my mom's side of the family: my grandma, my mom, 3 aunts, my sister Terra, a cousin, and a cousin's wife.

My Mom, My Sister Terra when she graduated nursing school, and my Grandma - All Nurses

My Mom (bottom right), Aunts, and Grandma

Growing up the artists were the odd ones out of the family. The nurses still rule!

Studying for a nursing degree at top names such as Rutgers University Online is the first step into an exciting career in this field. Nursing is a highly dynamic field with plenty of opportunities to grow and a lot of challenges to overcome. After finishing school, the next big hurdle to overcome is your first year as a nurse.

What should you expect in your first year as a nurse? To help you prepare for a career in this field, here are some of the challenges you will face – and how to overcome them effectively.

Packed Schedules

Nurses are used to busy schedules and packed working hours. Working long hours and providing patients with the best care are part of the job. That said, there are standards that healthcare institutions must maintain to ensure high quality treatments are delivered; these standards include allowing nurses to have enough break between shifts.

Nevertheless, the packed schedules may be surprising for those in their first year as a nurse, even with the training and preparation universities like Rutgers Online provide as part of their nursing courses. It’s okay, you just need to get used to the tight schedule.

There is one thing that will help you survive your busy days, and that is the ability to rely on those around you. Nurses and doctors are a team and they will cover for each other to maintain the smooth operations of that team. You know you have great people you can count on working alongside you.

Communication Matters

Another big challenge that often catches new nurses off guard is communication. Nurses are required to communicate well, not just with each other, but also with patients and their families. Your first time dealing with the delivery of bad news will be a tough one to handle for sure.

Once again, count on those around you for support. As soon as you start your first day, you have a new family supporting you every step of the way. Build relationships with members of the team, maintain good communication with them, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

It doesn’t take long for you to master how to communicate (on the job) as a nurse. Combine experience with theories you study at Rutgers or any other university to become the best at what you do.

It’s Rewarding

Being a nurse is challenging, but at the end of the day, you have plenty to drive you forward. The smile of patients, the laughter you share with coworkers, and that look of gratitude in the eye of families you help are priceless.

The challenges are there for you to solve, and the first year is when you need to solve them. You’ll get used to the long hours, packed schedules, the communication challenges, complex workflows, and even the security measures. All of this learning and adapting to the new work environment is worth going through when you consider the rewards – and experience – you get in return.

Discloser: This is a guest post.

#NovaNutsPoppySeeds Taste Great in Lemon Blueberry Muffins

Nova Nuts Poppy Seeds tasted great in our Lemon Blueberry Muffins this morning. 

About Nova Nuts Poppy Seeds:

• They are imported from Spain.

• They are unwashed. That's both good and bad. Good because they are more fresh, full of flavor, and more crunchy compared to other seeds. Bad because you have to wash them before using them. 

• You can get them on Amazon: http://bit.ly/Poppy-Seeds in 2 different sizes - 1 lb and 4 lb bags

Nova Nuts Poppy Seeds are Packed With Nutrients:

• Just 3 Tablespoons of Nova Nuts Poppy Seeds provide about 1/2 your daily mineral needs! 

• Calcium (65%)

• Iron (34%)

• Magnesium (45%)

• Manganese (49%)

• Phosphorus (55%) 

• Zinc (34%)

• Rich in Fiber

Lemon Blueberry Muffins - Recipe:

Blueberry Lemon Muffins by AlissaSpiehs-Apel on Scribd

You Can Switch a Few Things Out if Needed: 

• Coconut Oil instead of Butter

• Sour Cream or Low Fat Plain Yogurt instead of Greek Yogurt

• Brown or White Sugar instead of Coconut Sugar

• Bread Flour or Costco's Gluten Free All Purpose Flour instead of All Purpose Flour

• Chia Seeds instead of Poppy Seeds - The review was for Poppy Seeds, so of course I used Poppy Seeds instead of Chia Seeds. 

What's your favorite kind of muffin?

Disclaimer: We got this product in exchange for our opinion on them. The company in no way told me what to write, or influenced me in any way.

#Magnetic #Putty Making Kit Review

I know slime was, and maybe still is super popular, but putty is pretty cool too! I loved Silly Putty when I was a kid!

We got Crazy Ceezer's Hand Putty to review. The best part is that it's magnetic. The second best part is that it comes in all kinds of fun colors!

It Comes With:

• The Putty
• A Carrot for a Nose
• Two Googly Eyes
• A Small Square Magnet 
• A Cute Tin to Store Everything in

The magnet really digs into the putty after awhile because it's magnetic. It's fun to play with for sure!

Colors:

• Blue (the color we got to review)
• Gold (Isaak's favorite color)
• Purple
• Green
• Silver
• Black

It would be fun if they added red and orange. I don't know why, but those 2 colors came to mind. The gold isn't super sparkly, so I'm not sure if it would be Isaak's favorite color. It's pretty cool though!

It’s a Great Stress Reliever!

Isaak's my kid that says, "I'm bored!" a lot. He's also the same kid that makes toys out of nothing practically. I handed him this putty to review. He made a penguin right away. The kid has to be stimulated all the time it seems. I think this is a great toy for him.

No Bad Additives

There's nothing in the putty that would effect the skin allergy wise. I'm glad they put that on Amazon. We have a lot of allergy issues, so this is an important fact to me.

Get this on Amazon Prime: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0782KMRQR for $12.69.

Do you like playing with slime, or putty? What color would you choose?

Disclaimer: We got this product in exchange for our opinion on them. The company in no way told me what to write, or influenced me in any way.

#NutraEdge #Probiotics Review

One thing I’ve been putting in our smoothies is NutraEdge Probiotcs. 

We've all been sick, except for Isaak *fingers crossed Isaak stays well. I've been doing everything in my power to keep him well.

Tips for Wellness:

• Wash you hands a lot
• Keep surfaces like door handles, switches, and remotes clean
• Have a well balanced diet
• Ditch the sugary snacks, soda and juice
• Up the greens
• Up probiotics
• Up the H2O
• Sleep more

About NutraEdge Probiotics:

• They are Vegan 
• They are Non-GMO
• They are made in the US
• They are FDA Approved
• There are 60 pills in the bottle 
• They have 15 Strains
• They are Kosher
• There are 60 pills in a bottle
• They are for both men and women
• They have a delayed release, so they work all throughout the day

You can get them here:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N5K54KM for $20.99 on Amazon Prime. If you're a Prime member you get free shipping. They did ship out right away. They came in a box, padded envelope, and the lid was sealed both with foil and plastic around the lip.

What's a health and wellness tip you have?

Disclaimer: We got this product in exchange for our opinion on them. The company in no way told me what to write, or influenced me in any way.

Organinka Cacao Powder Review

Cacao Powder is amazing!

It has a chocolate taste, but it's not super strong. It's just right to fit into any smoothie, and it can be added to many recipes. I think it's a great add on for breads and desserts.

About Cacao Powder:

• It’s Raw
• It's Organic
• It's Non-GMO
• It's a Superfood
• It's a herbaceous plant native to the high Andean Mountains of Peru, mainly in the regions of Junin and Pasco
• It stabilizes and controls blood pressure
• Known to relieve insomnia
• Helps reduce stress and tiredness
• It provides energy and mental clarity

Today's Smoothie: 

• Spinach Leaves
• Frozen Bananas
• 2 Probiotics
• 2 Scoops of Protein Powder
• Unsweetened Almond Milk
• Mint
• Cacao Powder

You can get 16 ounces of Organinka Cacao Powder on Amazon for $12.99 on Prime! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076DCRQDY

A little bit goes a long way! I do have to say that I wish the bag was smaller. The amount of powder is way less than the bag size. I like as little packaging as possible.

The taste is wonderful! What would you use Organinka Cacao Powder for?

Disclaimer: We got this product in exchange for our opinion on them. The company in no way told me what to write, or influenced me in any way.

Organinka Maca Powder Review

I love breakfast time! It's my favorite meal of the day! 

I try to make it semi healthy. We always have something green on our plates, some form of protein, a carb, and a smoothie with more greens, more protein, and fruit.

I put Maca Powder in our chocolate chip waffles this morning. It has more calcium than milk does. It's nice to know that this meal will fill up our boy's bellies. Isaak has basketball games on Saturdays, so he needs more protein added to his diet.

Waffles:

• 2 Cups of Whole Wheat, All Purpose, or Bread Flour

• 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon

• 1/2 Teaspoon Salt

• 1 Tablespoon Baking Powder

• 1 Tablespoon Maca Powder

• 2 Tablespoons Coconut Sugar or Brown Sugar

• 2 Mashed Bananas

• 1 1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla

• 6 Tablespoons Coconut Oil (Melted)

• 1 2/3 Cup Unsweetened Almond Milk, Cashew Milk, or Cow's Milk

• 2 Large Eggs

• 1/2 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips

The waffles were so good! Actually the whole meal was great! I was only bummed that I had to wait to eat because I needed to take pictures and a video. ;)

About Organinka Maca Powder:

• It's organic!
• It's non GMO!
• It's a superfood!
• It's from a herbaceous plant native to the high Andean Mountains of Peru.
• Because it's from a plant I was expecting it to be green, but the powder is actually a tan color.
• It's comes with 16 ounces in the bag. I do wish the bag was a bit smaller to reduce packaging. The bag is bigger than the powder it holds. 
• It's $12.99, which is a great price.
• It's versatile! You can add it to any bread product, smoothie,  hot or cold cereal, and many desserts. 
• It's on Amazon Prime, so if you're a Prime Member you get free shipping: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076B2NY6M.

Have you tried Maca Powder before?

Disclaimer: We got this product in exchange for our opinion on them. The company in no way told me what to write, or influenced me in any way.

Random Tid Bits

1. It's been an odd few weeks. I'm still so tired from different people in my family getting sick. This back and forth weather doesn't help. Classes started up again a few weeks ago, my first year students actually do much more work than expected, so I've pumped up my lectures more.


2. It has been rough with emotions. I found out that a student tried to commit suicide. This student is so nice, so in tuned with what I'm teaching, empathetic towards others, and I've been worried about her. It's not about school, it's the fact that she lives with an ex. Don't let teens live with their boyfriends. I've seen over and over again break-ups happen, and then disaster strikes. 


3. Yesterday I thought we were triple booked. Nope! Mica's school had an Open House. I was excited to see what he's been up to. We got there, and one of Mica's teacher's said, "Hi! You guys look familiar. Mica congrats on the award you got! So you guys just looking at this middle school for your other one?" I said, "Yes." Then I understood that it was a recruiting Open House, not an Open House to see the classrooms. I asked Isaak if he wants a tour. He didn't, so we left. Off to a library to wait for basketball practice to start, since it too is in the same part of town. 


4. At the library I spotted a book one of my friends wrote and illustrated. Kind of cool! It's the Time Shifters one.





5. I also saw that one of my past students did this hilarious video. Note it's much funnier with the sound up! Yes there's butts in it, so if you're not ok with that then don't watch it. It got so many hits, that someone wrote about it here. I was laughing so hard with the boys when we watched it! Are you just as immature as me, and think this video is funny?

WW: Light {Linky}

We went to the KANEKO Light exhibit a few weeks back. I may go again because their mirror room was being repaired. I wanted to see that so bad.

I kept wondering why I only took phone photos. Then it dawned on me that they mentioned that's all I could take. Kind of odd considering that the new Apple phone is supposed to take excellent shots. I don't have the newest, and greatest. I still like the photos I got.

Their big light board that reminded me of Lite-Brite:

 A light fort:

Light Bars:

Have you ever been to a light exhibit?