Random Tid Bits

1. I've been what Travis called Splissy. My nickname is Lissy from Alissa. I happened to spill a lot. I spilled tea in my classroom, and a huge think of water in the back end of the Subaru. Do you ever have moments of spilling a lot?



2. It's snowed a few times this week. By my work is a hill. I tend to go down the hill, so I don't have problems with me sliding, or someone sliding into me. Well as I was stopped someone turned into me. BANG! It's not bad, but there is a panel that is dented in. Whenever I open my door I feel my car's pain. All the guy that hit me saw was the scrape on my door. That scrape is really nothing compared to the dented in panel, and the part behind the wheel will need to be fixed as well. 





3. The trouble is, is that my car needs an oil change, my car will need gas, and now my car needs to be fixed. I haven't gotten it in for an oil change because the owner's at my husband's work are out of town. Whenever this happens he stays at work longer. It snowed, so I wasn't about to do anything extra during those snow storms. Then I have a field trip for my class, and a doctor's appointment coming all. All situations where I need a car. We rushed it in for an oil change this morning. We'll just have to deal. At least I'll get a rental car when it's being fixed.


4. Isaak signed up for an art club with his Leadership Camp. He's doing that this Friday and next. The boy is pretty excited about it. I think they decided to have an art club just because of Isaak's interest. 


5. I finally found out who the Baby Bandit is. I walked into the classroom and said, "Oh there's no Baby Bandit clue out this morning." The only girl that was in there said, "Don't tell, but it's me. I have the staff member put up clues for me when I'm not here." She's the older one that's going through Chemo. There's nothing that girl can't do!

A Plethora of Empathy

Story Time:

I may have already told this story, so if you've heard it before skip on ahead.

Once upon a time when I was in 5th or 6th grade my Dad mentioned that the school he worked for was having a skating party. My younger sister and I liked to skate. We were happy to go.

One of my Dad's students decided to use my Dad to stop themselves. I really doubt she tried to make him fall. My Dad wasn't too happy with her when he did fall. He threw his arms out, and broke both elbows at once.

Instead of having a staff member drive him home, or ask to use a photo to call a friend or family member to take him to the hospital, he decided to drive home.

On the way home I had to help make turns. The whole time he pounded out cuss words. Every turn, every bump it was, "Fu**!"

I think I only roller skated a few times after that. When I first had to drive I wasn't all that excited.

That happened right before Christmas. My Dad finished painting a painting for my Grandpa he had started with his mouth. Whenever someone complains that they can't paint I think of this story.

Fast Forward to Today:

There's been a few times where the boys wanted to go to skate parties with their elementary school. I've always hated going. I picture one of my kiddos falling like my Dad did on both elbows.

You'd think they'd catch on how to skate, but Mica lacks coordination. He looks a bit like Gumby. Yep made of clay, and barely moves. The poor boy happened to see 4 or more people from his elementary class, and they can skate good.

Gumby was found here.

Isaak's gone skating more than Mica, but is rocky at first. After 10 minutes he's going pretty good.

A Plethora of Empathy:

One thing Isaak was born with is lots of empathy.

He was always around his brother and cousins (because Travis, my sister and mom and dad took turns watching them). Since Isaak was the youngest he was treated unfairly. Once Isaak was big enough to defend himself - he wouldn't put up with unfairness. He'd stand up for himself. There were some people in my family that saw Isaak as the trouble maker. I didn't see it this way though. Isaak was so sweet, but if anyone crossed him watch out! He just stood up for himself.

This carried on into school. Kids that befriend him, and his friends are treated with such respect. Isaak's the best friend anyone could have. If anyone crosses him, or his friends watch out! He's been in 3 small fights this year alone. The crazy thing is, is that I'm not worried about it. I find out what the fight was about, and it's justified. Some kid pushed Isaak or one of his friends, and Isaak pushed back. No one has gotten hurt. Isaak won't let bullies, bully him or his friends around.

To be honest I wish I had more Isaak in me. He's my sweet and sour kid. I wish everyone would have more Isaak in them! We'd have a world full of empathy, and fairness.

A little girl showed up to the skate rink that has never skated before. She's had medical issues her entire life. An NG tube, a G button, lots of meds, and hospital stays. I don't know the extent of her medical conditions. I don't even know her family situation. I've seen a lady come to conferences for her. She has 3 other kids that have special needs with her. Something tells me that she's a foster child. I have no clue.

Once she was taking off her coat, and her shirt pulled up. A punk that Isaak has gotten in a fight with said, "Ewww gross! Your stomach is the nastiest thing I've ever seen!" Isaak was pissed!

Isaak befriended this girl. She is nice. They both love to write. So much so, that they were bombing writing class. Not because their work wasn't good, but because they took so long to do it. They both add in lots of details in their writing! No worries we got Isaak up to an A by having him work on writing at home.

Isaak said, "Oh my friend is here. She's never skated before Mom. I'm going to make sure she's ok, and skate with her." I nearly started crying when I saw them together. The little girl said to Isaak, "Isaak my sister may make fun of me if she sees you skating with me." Isaak said, "Don't worry about it. You need help, so I'm here for you."

They aren't the BEST pictures, but I love them!

I didn't mind seeing the boys skate that night. It was like a breath of fresh air. 

Do you think we need more empathy in the world? 

Countertop Appliances Every Home Must Have

6 Countertop Appliances Every Home Must Have:

It goes without saying that every home should have an electric can opener and a coffee maker, but what about all those nice little countertop appliances that enable you to prepare the most spectacular meals, snacks, and beverages? Whether you are just setting up a household having recently been married or are thinking about ways to fix more meals at home instead of eating out so much, here are six countertop appliances every home should have.

1. Microwave Oven

While microwave ovens were never really meant to be used to cook in, they are a must in the kitchens of busy households. The reason everyone should have a microwave is that you can cook casseroles and big meals one night and quickly heat up the leftovers the next night in the microwave. They also work well for defrosting foods you forgot to take out of the freezer in the morning before going to work.

You can live without a microwave, but it sure does make life a whole lot easier to have one.

2. Convection Oven

Sometimes you can do away with a microwave if you get a countertop convection oven that also has a microwave function. These are more versatile than a microwave and you can cook foods in them on the convection setting because you are using those top and bottom heating elements, but with the added benefit of a fan that keeps the heat evenly distributed. Check out indreviews to see what kind of convection toaster oven would work in your kitchen. There are all types of styles and sizes.

3. Stand Mixer with Attachments

Every home should have a KitchenAid stand mixer with all the attachments. Not only can you knead bread dough with the dough hook, but you can whip cream, grind meats, make pasta (with the pasta attachment) and so much more. Why bother with that little hand mixer when you can get a stand mixer that does so much more?

I have to say that I've used the Stand Mixer more than I thought I would. I didn't have one on my registry list, and my aunt made me add it. I'm glad I did. I have made all kinds of cookies and breads with it!

4. Juicer

What home would be complete without a juicer? There is nothing quite like fresh juice as far as health benefits go. While fresh fruits can be a bit expensive off-season, you can also juice carrots and vegetables to make absolutely delicious (and nutritious!) beverages.

I use a blender more than a juicer, so either or both are great to have! Drinking real fruit and veggies is so much better than store bought fruit.

Having a juicer really beats having to squeeze the life out of fruit by hand.

With a juicer you can sneak in fruits and veggies that your family needs!

5. Food Processor

Many hobbyist gourmet cooks use their food processors in ways many of us wouldn’t have ever guessed was possible. For example, do you know how easy it is to make the perfect pie crust in a food processor? All you need is flour, a pinch of salt, butter, and a tablespoon or so of water. Let the blender cut the butter into the flour, place it in a bag, refrigerate for a couple hours and voila! The perfect pie crust with minimum effort and very little mess.

If you need bead crumbs in a snap, a food processor is the answer! I also use it to make homemade peanut butter. It really cuts things up.

6. Electric Pressure Cooker

You probably expected countertop appliance number six to be a slow cooker, didn’t you? Actually, you aren’t far off the mark! Today’s electric pressure cookers dub as slow cookers and so you can get two appliances in one – just like the microwave/convection oven combo. However, be careful which programmable pressure cooker you buy because some only allow a four-hour maximum for cooking, so your food wouldn’t really be soft or warm enough when you get home after an eight-hour shift at work. Make sure you can set the time for the length you need.

There you have six countertop appliances every kitchen should have. There are more, but these are good for a start, and with these six, there’s little you can’t do.

Disclaimer: This is a guest post.

WW: The Baby Bandit {Linky}

A few weeks ago I discovered that there were little plastic babies on everyone's desk in my student's classroom. Working at an art college odd things happen from time to time.

I thought that would be the last I heard, or saw the babies. The students all though I was the Baby Bandit.

I had those plastic babies when Isaak was preschool aged. He's now in 4th grade. I got them from a baby shower. Isaak loved those things. I got rid of them a few years ago.

The Baby Bandit now reveals clues every single day on the board. There's a baby to be found when clue is answered. This happens daily. I have to admit I'm caught up in trying to figure out who the Baby Bandit is. I've even stayed after class to see if I could catch them in the act. Nope! When I go out in the morning the clue is already on the board. 

The students created this profile on the board:

Here I am:

I don't know what I enjoy the most: 

• The fact that I love pranks, but don't have to go through the work.
• The fact that this got the quietest girl in the class talking. In fact she made the profile board.
• The fact that I can't figure out who's doing it. Literally the full time staff here is so lame. Maybe the one I least expect is the Baby Bandit. 

Do you enjoy pranks and mysteries?

Women's Real Natural Filigree Leaf Long Pendant Necklace & Earring Set Review

These Natural Filigree Leaf Gold-Tone Necklace and Earring Set is so pretty! 

I know I'm especially going to love it when it's fall time.

Buying Options:

It comes in 20 different buying options.

Some options include the same set just different colors: Gold, Rose Gold, Silver, Antique Cooper, and Iridescent

Other options include different types of leaves: Aspen, Bodhi, Ginkgo, and Maple

I really love the Aspen and Ginkgo!

Pick Your Set Up Here: 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LW40723 for $14.99. They are on Amazon Prime, so shipping is free. They did ship to me really fast! If you need to get something for Valentines Day, this is a great option.

Not all the prices are the same because they offer different things.

Earrings:

They are bigger than I imagined, but super light weight! Around 1 1/2" long.

Pendent or Necklace:

I call everything around my neck a necklace. What do you call it?

The chain is 20" long, so it hangs down quite a ways.

 I do like that it's a fun bohemian style.

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.

Zevrez Women's Long Sleeve Striped Cross {Review}

Zevrez makes this cute long sleeve dress. 

V Neck

The dress has a V neck. I like this because it's not super low cut. I have earrings that are triangular to match the cut.

Dressy of Casual

I like that it can be worn for dressy or casual occasions. I mainly will wear this dress at work, but I can turn around to wear it to gallery openings as well.

It can be worn without tights, or with tights. I wore the dress with tights just because it has been cold in Nebraska!

I do have long, lanky arms, and it seems like the sleeves fit just fine.

Material

It’s super comfortable - polyester and cotton fabric.

Where to Get This Dress:

You can buy it on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07539PYYG. It's not expensive at all. Plus it's on Amazon Prime. To me that's a perk because I get free shipping.

Sizes:

Small is $6.88

Medium is $18.88

Large is $18.88

Extra Large is $18.88

Extra Extra Large is $18.88

It does fit well. Although it cuts up between my legs when I walk. I wish it didn't do this.

Do you like dresses? Wearing them, or seeing women and girls in them? 

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. 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.