Book Review: The Tao of Photography Seeing Beyond Seeing

Book Review: The Tao of Photography Seeing Beyond Seeing

by Sarah Ganly

This book discusses the similarities of the Taoist beliefs and photography. It has been very useful to me because before reading this book I did not know anything about photography, and I feel the incorporation of Taoist ideas has helped me understand the ideas of photography easier than book only about photography.

I believe this book has also helped me learn to appreciate timing better. A photograph is such a small fraction of time, and to get the perfect photo you have to be patient but also ready. I enjoyed the patience required, and I also appreciate the idea of readiness and the need to be constantly aware and prepared. This book has helped me pay attention to details by being calmy aware, and I believe the Taoist aspect of this book has helped to stress this point.

I also think this book was very important to me because it helped me develop a greater respect for photography. I think this book helped me understand why people enjoy photography so much; I never truly understood before that "taking pictures is savoring life intensely, every hundredth of a second" (Gross & Shapiro, 2001). This book has helped me learn to enjoy photography. I have come to realize that "looking is a gift and seeing is a power" (Gross & Shapiro, 2001).

This book also helped me use photography as a way of meditation that I didn't realize I would enjoy. I enjoyed the author's ideas on the principles of Taoist photography very much and found them inspiring. Some of the principles described in the book are "freedom from the sense of self, receptivity", nonattachment and spontaneity "acceptance and resourcefulness", and "free and easy wandering" (Gross & Shapiro, 2001).

This book was inspiring to me because it helped me become comfortable with the idea of wandering "without a goal, at random" and to "move forward without hurrying" (Gross & Shapiro, 2001). I found this idea exciting, and photographers that create work this way are known as flanur photographers. This idea is motivating to me and some flanur photographers that are "famous for their compelling street photography are... Edouard Boubat, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Doisneau, and Marc Riboud" (Gross & Shapiro, 2004).

I feel the author of this book is a good resource for information on photography because he is a professional photographer, and he has many of his photos in the book. I enjoyed many of the photographs in this book and felt they illustrated the ideas of the authors very well. I believe the ideas represented in this book are useful to photographers of all skill levels; I also think that someone who has not tried photography would also be interested in this book because it incorporates Taoist principles into its teachings and adds a philosophical approach to photography which makes it less intimidating.

Book Review: Traci Bautista's Collage Unleashed

Book Review: Traci Bautista's Collage Unleashed

By Sarah Ganly

Bautista's book was fun to read and gave me a lot of good ideas. This book described in detail many different methods of making collages; it also gave detailed examples of artwork. This book had many exercises and projects that I found inspiring.

One of my favorite ideas in this book is the use of paper towels to create interesting and beautiful paper. This book describes different methods of adding color to paper towels and using them for collage. I have used similar techniques in the past with loose leaf, but I like the use of paper towels because it is a cheap and accessible way for many people to make there own fun paper.

Another idea that Bautista's book covered that I really enjoyed was the use of doodles. In her book she showed how doodles can be used to develop different types of writing, and to explore different styles of drawing. I also think it was interesting to see the use of space on a page differs from regular drawing when one doodling. This book offers many doodling exercise such as creating girl faces when doodling I especially like the use of writing when doodling and appreciated her ideas of making the writing interesting. The author suggests overlapping words, using multiple lines when writing, writing inside lines, and adding patterns to letters. I think these suggestions make doodle writing more fun, creative, and personal. I also thought the use fo a white out pen when doodling is a good idea that I have yet to try. Overall Bautista's ideas on doodling make mindless scribble become an important part of a piece of artwork.

The technique included wetting the paper and drizzling it with different color paints that have been watered down. You can also use the paint to make patterns and designs. This was fun because the colors blend in beautiful patterns, and this was interesting to me because it tied in with the ideas on color that I have been reading about in the other books I have been studying for this project. This exercise created awesome paper that I have used in my collages, and it helped me study different color combinations. This project was also informative because it helped me see how white creates an interesting tint to different colors.

This book is very informative in many ways, and it has helped me develop creatively in several ways. This book presents ideas about creating artwork that is simple and inexpensive. I also enjoy the methods presented in this book because they are very expressive and allow the artist to creative in a very natural and unrestrained way.

Book Review: Molly Bang's Picture This: Perception and Composition

 by Sarah Ganly

Molly Bang's book covers many of the basic ideas involved in creating an aesthetically pleasing work of art. The ideas presented in this book involve the use of shape, color, composition, depth, size, negative and positive space. It also examines in detail the communication and association of emotion through visual work.

The author of this book has written and illustrated many books for young readers, and is knowledgeable of the use of visual imagery to convey ideas and concepts. The author has also taken art classes, taught children art, and researched the connection between psychology and art. (Bang, 1991) I believe that this author has a very sufficient background for writing this book, and I believe her background helps make this book readable and comprehensive.

I believe that this book may be intended for a younger audience because the author writes for younger audiences, but I think that this book is useful to anyone trying to understand the basic concepts of artistic composition and picture structure.

I feel that this book has been very helpful to me, and I am really interested in the ideas it presents about the connection between emotion and visual imagery. I also enjoyed the author's ideas about the use of lines and shapes, and how these tools effect the observer's emotions and reactions to a picture. This book illustrates its ideas vividly by showing the use of jagged lines and explaining that it invokes fear and anxiety (Bang, 1991). Bang also helps examine the use of color to produce emotions; an example of this is the use red eyes for a scary wolf as opposed to white eyes. The white eyes produce a much more intimidating effect. I believe this book has also been useful to me because it helped me learn some of the basic ideas of composition and the correct terms associated with them.

The ideas in this book about art composition in the book are presented in a format that tells the story of "Little Red Riding Hood." I enjoyed the use of story to demonstrate these ideas, and I felt that it helped to get the reader involved. I feel the use of a fairytale also helps the reader to become comfortable learning something they may not already be familiar with. The simple use of construction paper to create the illustrations is also inspiring. This book is great because it is simple enough to convey the ideas of the author while not being confusing or distracting from the content provided.

Spooky Halloween Dinner Party Ideas

I love Halloween, and I have thrown many a Halloween party, and here is a list of my favorite Halloween recipes that you are guaranteed to love!

The first thing you need for your Halloween dinner party is something deliciously creepy to drink, and I suggest making a huge bowl of punch to save you time. All you will need for this recipe is 6 cups of cranberry juice, 5 cups of apple juice, ½ cup of corn syrup, and 1 cup of water. Mix all of these liquids together, and serve in a punch bowl with fake wax teeth in them, and your bloody punch will be a hit.

You will also need some appetizers for your guests, and I suggest this monster brain recipe. For this treat you will need the following ingredients; salsa, sour cream, 2 avocados, finely chopped cilantro, lemon juice, a can of mashed chic peas, a pinch of salt and pepper, various chips or vegetables, and 3 different gourds or squashes. First and most important part is to hollow out the three gourds. Now carve evil, funny, or weird monster faces into the gourds with a paring knife. You can also use half toothpicks to stick different vegetables into the gourds to add facial features. I like to use olives as eyes. Now fill 2 of these gourds with salsa and sour cream. Mix the remaining ingredients and put it into the last gourd. Place the heads on a dish with the chips and veggies and you will be set.

A quick and fun entrée idea is mummy pizzas, and it can be made only using English muffins, black olives, shredded mozzarella, and tomato sauce. Cut the English muffins in half and spread sauce on them. Now cut the olives in half and lay them on the pizza like eyes. Now place the shredded mozzarella on the pizza, but make sure to have it going mostly in the same direction in order to simulate the wrapping of a mummy. Bake until cheese is melted at 350 degrees, and you will have a delicious treat.

Finally you will need a great dessert for your Halloween party. These gravestone cookies are classic and can be altered to suit your guests! To make the cookie base you will need 2 cups of butter, 2 cups of sugar, 3 eggs, 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, and 6 cups of flour. Mix butter and sugar together until soft; next mix the flour and vanilla into the concoction. Finally add the eggs one at a time until mixed, and finally add the flour until it is just combined. Roll the dough out and cut it into rectangles. You can round the tops to make them look more like grave stones. Bake at 350 degrees until the edges are golden. After the cookies have cooled you can frost them with white icing, and if you like you can write them names of your guests on them with black frosting. These cookies will be a great creepy end to your party.

All of these recipes are tasty and simple, and they will help make any Halloween party a success!

How to Create Miniature Dollhouse Cupcakes Using Polymer Clay

by Sarah Ganly 

If you have ever owned a dollhouse or even seen some miniature dollhouse items I am sure you can agree that these tiny items are amazing and precious. These minuscule items can be very detailed and lifelike, and they can also be fairly simple to make and a lot of fun! Here is a user-friendly guide to making dollhouse size cupcakes that you will enjoy for years to come.

First you need a few simple tools; one tool I find very hand is a putty knife or any solid item that can be used for cutting. Next I find it helpful to have a pin or a small pen, but remember you don't want ink on your art so use the pen that doesn't work. The final necessary item is polymer clay. It may seem challenging to choose which colors you like, but my basic rule of thumb is choose colors that would make a cupcake that you would like to eat. I usually choose an off white, pink, and 2 or 3 colors for sprinkles, but remember sprinkles are optional.

Now that you have your materials you are ready to start the fun part. Take the base color, in my case the white, and roll it into a ball; then shape the ball into a cylinder by flattening 2 opposite sides of the ball. This piece will make the bottom of your cupcake. Next I like to put this piece of clay in the refrigerator or somewhere colder to make the clay a harder consistency.

While this clay is getting hard take the icing color and roll it into a long tube or strand. You cam taper one end if you like, but it is not necessary. Now roll the tube into a spiral until it is the width of the bottom of your cupcake. When the spiral has reached the right width, start to spiral up on top of the original spiral to form a nice peak. At this point you can leave the peak or give it a little pinch and twist to add detail.

By the time you are done with this the cupcake base should be nice and hard. You should now use your cutting tool press lines into your base to give the idea of a crinkle edge. These vertical lines will add detail and depth to your cupcake. Finally connect the base with the top of the cupcake, and you should be delighted with the results.

Remember this project is up to you so make any type of cupcake you want. You can also add sprinkles by taking tiny multicolored pieces of clay and lightly tapping them onto the cupcake. Just bake and you are ready for a dollhouse birthday party!

My Favorite Easter Sunday Dinner Ham

by Sarah Ganly

My favorite part of Easter as a kid was of course the candy and the toys, but my second favorite part of Easter Sunday was the ham we had for dinner. As I got older it became my job to make the ham, and I liked it so much that I made it on many other occasions instead of just Easter. Here is my recipe for Easter Sunday ham.

The ingredients you will need are a canned ham, a cup of brown sugar, half a cup of maple syrup or honey, and a can of sliced pineapple. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees, and score your ham in a diamond pattern. Each score should be between a quarter inch and a half inch deep. This is important to help the flavors get into the meat. Now put your ham in a deep baking dish and cover it with the maple syrup. Next pat the brown sugar onto the ham, and make sure to get it on all sides. It will fall of as it cooks, but it is okay. Now pour the juice from the can of pineapples into the baking dish along with the other ingredients. You can mix the concoction up if you like.

Place the ham in the oven and keep basting it. The ham will have to cook for an hour and a half to two hours and a half depending on the size of the ham. Use a thermometer to check the temperature every so often. You want the ham to be heated to 140 degrees all the way through. When the ham has reached this temperature, place the sliced pineapple on top and bake for another fifteen minutes.

Finally your Easter ham will be done and delicious. If you like you can add baby carrots or potatoes to the dish when it is about a half an hour before it is ready. This will give the vegetables a sweet taste as well. Slice your ham and serve with whatever sides your family enjoys. This recipe is one of my oldest favorites, and I know you will enjoy it on Easter and any other day!

Fun and Easy Easter Bunny Cake

by Sarah Ganly

It is fun and easy to make an Easter bunny cake. This project is so fun and easy that it is perfect for sharing with children. All you need is some basic ingredients, a little imagination, and a sweet tooth.

First you will need cake mix and all of the ingredients that are required to make enough cake to fill to medium round cake pans; you can use what ever flavor cake you like, but carrot cake is always fun for Easter. Next you will need white frosting; you can use vanilla, cream cheese, or butter cream it doesn't matter. A bag of coconut, red food coloring, assorted candy such as jelly beans and or gum drops, and licorice. A handful of green Easter basket grass and a 20 inch piece of card board or platter add a festive touch to the presentation of this cake.

Now bake the cake according to the directions on the package in two medium round cake pans. Once the cakes have cooled place one of the cake rounds at the middle and bottom of the cardboard. Then cut the other cake in half right down the middle. Next place the halves sticking out of the top of the circle like ears. Now ice the entire cake. Mix some of the red dye with the icing and full in the inside shape of the ears with it. Next use the candy to create a face The licorice works as excellent whiskers, and the jelly beans are a great nose. After all of the candy is in place sprinkle coconut over the cake and press it lightly into the frosting.

The final touch is to place the grass round the cake, and sprinkle with some of the jelly beans and gum drops. This will give the cake a very Festive Easter look. This cake is fun and easy and should be enjoyed every year.

Garden Party Tips on Decorating and Recipes

by Sarah Ganly

Garden Parties are a fun and easy way to get together with friends and celebrate spring. It may seem that throwing a garden party may be overwhelming, but here are some tips to help your party go smoothly and pleasantly.

The décor should obviously suggest spring, and flowers should be abundant. If the party is an evening party set up white lights in the trees or bushes by the table to create ambiance. If the party is scheduled for the day make sure the table is set under a tree in order to provide shade for your guests. Another way to set a terrific mood for this party would e to float some flowers in a big glass bowl filled with water. It is also quite enchanting to set some tea lights around the table.

Food and drinks are an important part of any party, and your garden party is not different. The food at a garden party should be light so start off with a salad. My favorite summertime salad is a cucumber onion salad. It is easy and simple to make; all you will need is about 3 large onions, 4 large cucumbers, and a bottle of red wine vinaigrette. Slice the cucumbers and onions thick and put them in a bowl. Pour most of the oil out of the salad dressing, and coat the onion cucumber mix with the rest. Let this mixture sit overnight and serve chilled.

Another delicious garden party treat is tomato, prosciutto, mozzarella wraps. Simply slice the tomato thinly and layer it with the prosciutto and the cheese inside of a wrap. Drizzle with a light oil and vinegar mix, and serve on a wrap or a pita. This sandwich is also delicious if fresh spinach and basil is added. A delicious desert for garden parties can be a fruit salad soaked in honey and orange juice, or some fruit flavored sorbet.

Garden parties are a great way to celebrate the end of winter and enjoy the outside, and now that you have some of these garden party tips, your party should be as fun as possible.

Not so Split Pea Soup Recipe

Not so Split Pea Soup Recipe

by Sarah Ganly

I never tried split pea soup as a kid; actually I thought it looked like puke, and I was pretty sure it probably tasted like snot. I never even considered trying it until one day when I was at a friend's house and his mother offered it to me. It still looked gross, but his mom was so nice that I couldn't say no. I put the first spoon to my mouth with a cautious thought, and swallowed it quickly, but to my surprise I discovered that split pea soup is awesome especially with the little pieces of ham in it. I have loved split pea soup since then, and I have developed my own personal not so split pea soup recipe that I think all of those out there who are cautious when it comes to this soup should try.

The ingredients you will need are simple; you will need a can of peas, a tomato, between a fourth of a cup and an eighth of a cup of cheese (depending on how cheesy you want it to be) ,a sixth of a cup of milk, and a tablespoon of butter.

Chop the tomato into cubes and set them aside. Heat the milk and butter on a low temperature. After the butter has melted, slowly add the cheese. Remember to constantly stir the concoction until the cheese melts completely and the mixture becomes a cheesy sauce. Next stir the peas in, and cook until the entire mixture is heated. When the entire mixture is evenly heated, remove from heat, and stir the chopped up tomato into the pea soup. The soup is now ready to serve.

For those of you who like meat, or just specifically like the little pieces of ham in pea soup don't worry I love them too! If you want to add meat a cheap way of doing it is by buying the ham ends from your local supermarket; this is usually much cheaper, and the meat is thicker which is perfect for this meal. If you can not get ham ends you can use left over pieces of a cooked ham, or you can use sliced ham. No matter what ham you have cut it into cubes, add it in the beginning of the recipe. It is best to add the ham when you are heating the milk and butter to get it thoroughly heated and to add flavor to the mixture.

This recipe can be served as a soup, a side dish, or an entrée, but no matter how you serve it this not so split pea soup is excellent!

Banana Strawberry Bread: The Best Use for Old Bananas

by Sarah Ganly

If you are like me you buy fruit with the intentions to eat all of it, but a week or so goes by and the fruit starts to get old. The banana has turned brown and the strawberries are a little too soft, but there are ways of putting that old fruit to good use.

I recently tried this recipe when I had a bunch of old strawberries and a very old banana. The interesting part of this recipe is that the older the banana the better because it will become sweeter with time. Here is my new favorite banana strawberry bread recipe; it is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

First the ingredients you will need are one and half cup of flour, half a cup of white sugar, one third cup of brown sugar, one egg, one and a half teaspoons of baking powder, a teaspoon of lemon juice, a very old banana, about 10 strawberries (they can be old as well as long as they are not moldy), one fourth a cup of oil, a handful of granola or cereal, and one fourth a cup of water.

Now that you have all of your ingredients you are ready to create this delicious dessert. Combine all ingredients in a bowl except for the banana, strawberries, and granola. I like to chop up the strawberries and mush the banana, but you can put them in a food processor if you like. Fold in the bananas and strawberries making sure to mix it well. The concoction will be a little lumpy but that is good. Next you will pour the mixture into a pan that has been greased and floured. Sprinkle the granola on the top of the mix. Finally bake the fruity treat in a preheated oven for 35 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean. The oven should be preheated at 350 degrees.

For a twist on this bread recipe add some almonds or some pineapple chunks. If you are going to add pineapple chunks make sure to add less water to your mix. This bread is sweet and delicious, and the granola adds a tasty crunch to the end.

You can serve this bread warm with butter or ice cream, but no matter what you do this bread will be scrumptious. So next time you see that old brown banana sitting in your fridge don't throw it away! Turn that unwanted banana into a treat that you and your family can enjoy.

Princess Castle Birthday Cake Made Easy

by Sarah Ganly

Birthdays are a very special time of year for everyone, and one of the most cherished birthday tradition is the birthday cake. Kids' birthday parties are always special events, and many of them have themes. If you have a little girl in you life who is having a princess party this cake recipe is perfect for you!

This recipe is very simple and does not require much knowledge of baking. The construction of this cake is the important part. You will need the following ingredients:

3 boxes of packaged cake mix (choose whichever flavor your little girl likes) and the ingredients needed to prepare it
4 cans of white icing
Food coloring (red is good color, but yellow also looks nice)
A couple of toothpicks
A sheet construction paper
A chocolate bar (Hershey is preferred because it has blocks)
Assorted candy
Assorted cake pans and 1 cupcake pan

In order to make this awesome castle cake prepare the cake batter according to the directions on the box. Now in order to construct this cake I use a three 10"x12" cake pans, 2 square pans, and a cupcake pan, but you can vary the cake pans you need in order to construct the castle to your own personal preference.

Once you bake the cakes and they have cooled you can assemble the castle. On a large piece of cardboard lay the first piece of the biggest cake and ice it all around. Lay down the next two of the big pieces and ice it all like a normal cake. Next lay the smaller square pieces in the middle of the biggest piece and ice them in between and all around. Finally it is time for the cupcakes. Take one cupcake and cut the top off, lay it upside down in the middle of the smaller cake and lay the cut off type on top of the cupcake while it is upside down. This acts like a turret on the castle; feel free to add more turrets anywhere on your castle. You can put a turret in each corner of the bigger layer of cake.

Make sure to ice all of the layers together, and if the cake is dry do to coats to make sure you have an even solid white finish. Now mix the white icing with the food coloring and add some streamers to your castle. I go around the edges in loops to make it look nice. Attach little flags cut from the paper to the toothpicks and stick them in your turrets. Add the assorted candy for decoration and your cake castle is ready for the big day!

Sample Love Letter

To the one who can always make me smile,

I am writing this letter to tell you how simply amazing you are, and how your presence in my life makes everyday a little better. I just want you to know that you are truly an amazing person, and I love you so much I don't know how it is possible to feel this much love.

When I see you it is like the first time I have seen the sunrise reflected upon the ocean; it is miraculously beautiful. When you touch me it is electric; it is always like the first time. When you are with me I have no doubt that everything is going to be okay.

You are the person who adds the fire to my soul, and you are the person who is my shelter when this world gets too terrifying. You are the sunshine that breaks through the clouds when I am a thunderstorm.

I love you so much that my words are nothing compared to your breathe on my neck when we fall asleep. I love you so much that my heart dances at the thought of you. I love you so much that I would rather kiss you only once than never kiss you again.

You are my love, and my life; you are my heart and my soul; you are the reason I wake up and smile, and life with is more than a sweet dream.

With ever endearing love, 

Quick, Simple, and Easy No Bake Cookie Recipe

Quick, Simple, and Easy No Bake Cookie Recipe
By Sarah Ganly

Everyone loves cookies, but not everyone has time to bake. With increasing job demands, travel time, bringing the kids back and forth from school and extracurricular activities there is not always enough time to wait for your cookies to bake in the oven. I have compiled a couple of easy, quick, no bake cookie recipes for all of those of you out there who love to make cookies but don't have enough time to bake.

The first recipe is for butterscotch oatmeal cookies. You will need one small package of butterscotch instant pudding mix; you can substitute this with chocolate, vanilla, or any of your other favorite flavors of pudding to mix it up a bit. You will also need 2 cups of white sugar, 5/8 cup of butter,2 and a 1/3 cup of instant oats or oatmeal, and 5 ounces of evaporated milk. All you have to do is bring all of the ingredients except for the oats to a boil; then you will stir in the oats. Finally you will line a cookie sheet with wax paper and drop small amounts of the mixture onto the wax paper. Refrigerate for an hour and the cookies are ready to eat!

Another quick and easy cookie recipe that does not require baking is for chocolate peanut clusters, and all you will need for this recipe is 2 cups of chocolate chips, 1 and a half cup of peanuts, 1 and ¾ cups of butterscotch chips, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, and 2 cups of chow mien noodles. In a double boiler melt the butterscotch and the chocolate chips. When all of the chips are melted remove from heat and mix the rest of the ingredients into the melted mix. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper and refrigerate until hardened.

These recipes are simple, quick and require no baking time whatsoever, so everyone out there can keep up with their busy schedules and still be able to enjoy delicious homemade cookies!

Remedies for Poison Ivy You Can Find in Your Kitchen

by Sarah Ganly

So you have been waiting all winter for spring to finally arrive so you can get in your garden, but after a long day of playing in the dirt you end up with a red blistery rash. Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are a huge kill-joy in the winter, but with a few household remedies you can be rid of the rash in no time.

1. Baking soda and vinegar can be mixed together into a paste. The paste should be applied to the infected area. A dry washcloth should be used to scrub the area thoroughly. When the paste dries rinse it off with cool water.

2. Oatmeal can be put in a bath in order to sooth the itch from the rash. It can also be mixed with hot water and used as a mask for the affected area. It will dry out the area as it dries.

3. Banana peels can be smeared on the infected area. The inside of the peel can be scraped and used, or the whole peel can be rubbed on the wound.

4. Dish detergent is another way to treat this nasty rash. Its degreasing properties rid your skin of the oils that are produced by the rash. This method also helps stop the spreading of the rash. Apply the dish detergent directly on the rash, let sit a few minutes, and rinse with cool water.

5. Watermelon is delicious and helps get rid of poison ivy. Take an entire piece rind and meat and rub it lightly over the rash. Let is air dry and the rash will lessen in a day.

6. Tofu may not be in everyone's refrigerator, but it can help heal poison ivy quickly. Just rub lightly over rash and let dry by air. The rash should be noticeably less the next day.

7. Regular table salt can also help with poison ivy. Add a little water to the salt and rub it on the rash. If the itching remains use the salt again. This may seem like it will sting, but it actually has a relieving feeling.

Poison ivy is the dreaded enemy of spring time gardening enthusiasts and nature lovers alike, but the terrible rash it causes can be stopped short with these simple home remedies. All of these cures can be found in most homes, and can be a great relief for those who have been subjected to poison ivy.

Tips on How to Make Inexpensive Homemade Wedding Favors

Weddings are that special day where everything from the flowers to your shoes has to be just right, and all of the little details can start to add up to a number a lot higher than your budget. Are many things one can do in order to lessen the cost of their wedding. Here is a list of inexpensive wedding favors you can make in the comfort of your own home.

Chocolate dipped marshmallows are another budget friendly option for your wedding. Simply melt some chocolate chips in a microwave for a few sections and stir to make smooth. Stick marshmallows on lollipop sticks and dip and roll in the chocolate. Then roll the marshmallow in sprinkles or cookie crumbles. Allow to dry and put in small cellophane bags tied with ribbon. 

Another easy and inexpensive wedding favor can be made right in your kitchen. The ingredients you will need are Jordan almonds, dried fruit such as apricots and cranberries, a couple yards of netting, and ribbons with the couples names and wedding date printed on them. Mix the ingredients together and cut the tool into squares. Fill the squares, bunch up the netting and tie it with the ribbons. You can add candies or chocolates to these favors, and you can also tie little flowers around the favors if you like.

A very unique and inexpensive favor can be made for weddings happening in the spring or fall. For fall weddings all you need is some flower bulbs, ribbon, fake flowers, and squares of netting. Place a couple of bulbs in the squares of netting and tie them up with the ribbons and flowers. Another good idea is filling the netting squares with flower seed packets. These favors are frugal, and when planted your wedding will be remembered for a long time to come.

Weddings are wonderful events that should be cherished for years to come, and it can be celebrated in a way that is not expensive but still perfect with these little tips!

written by Sarah Ganly

How to Plan Age-Appropriate Math Lessons Using Classroom Items

Math is one of the subjects a person either loves or hates when they are in school. Math classes can be really boring or really interesting. It is important to make math classes interactive and fun if you want your students to find math interesting. It is also important to take the age level of a student into consideration when designing instructional lesson plans for math classes. If both of these factors are taken into consideration math classes can be exciting and educational.

Teaching strategies and instructional methods in the mathematics classroom should be age appropriate. In order to teach the mathematical concept of measurement to students in a lower elementary grade there are
certain methods that should be used.

The concept of measurement in lower grades can be explained by using wooden blocks. Kids can be asked to compare the blocks to see the difference in sizes. They can figure out which are bigger or smaller. They can also observe the height differences and the differences in width.

Rulers are also necessary tools for children in lower elementary grades, and they can be used in many mathematical lesson plans. The kids can use the ruler to measure the amount of a difference between the blocks. Students do not have to be limited to using the blocks and the ruler.

It would also be fun to use other objects found around the classroom in order to complete this assignment. Students can look around and pick different toys and objects in the classroom that can be compared and measured. Any objects the student find they can measure, and that helps get the students involved.

In middle school measurement is more complex, but rulers are still an essential. As students move into middle school they can learn about measuring as well. Now that they already understand size differences they can learn how to add and subtract measurements as well. As a project that illustrates this point the kids can all pick different items and measure them.

The students can than practice adding the lengths together; they can also subtract them apart as well. This lesson can help work students into learning about volume and mass which is an important lesson for middle school children. Letting the students use their own abilities to determine the size, volume, and mass of objects can keep the students involved and interested.

When teaching mathematical concepts to children in is key to keep in mind the education level of the students. It is also important to construct activities that help get the students to participate. Using simple tools that you can find around the classroom is easy and beneficial and should be applied to all math classes.

written by Sarah Ganly

The Mold Terrarium: Perfect Fourth-Grade Scientific Experiment

The mold terrarium is an awesome scientific experiment for fourth-grade students. This experiment is excellent for a class that is discussing the scientific topic of how food is degraded into nutrients into the soil. The mold terrarium is a great project that is not only fun, but it is also easy.

In order to create a mold terrarium I would need container that is clear, has a lid, and can be thrown away after the experiment is over. Water and adhesive tape are also necessary to complete this experiment. Some leftover food is the final ingredient needed and can be brought from home by the students. The food should vary, but fish, poultry, and meat should not be used because they will start to smell badly.

In order to be safe make sure to let students know that the terrarium should not be opened. The entire project must be thrown away after the experiment is over. It is important to let the students know that it is bad for people to breathe in mold, and it may make students sick. It is important to stress that the jar not be opened. It is also important to emphasize that the lid will be taped so that it cannot be opened. The jar should also be placed in a safe spot where it will not get broken.

In order to complete this experiment; students must bring in pieces of food from their homes. All of the food items should be cut into 1-inch pieces, unless they are already smaller than an inch. If you are using a jar lay it on its side so there is more surface area to cover with food. Take the food pieces and dip them in water. Next lay them in the glass jar so that they are close to each other, but not touching. Close the lid on the container and tape it shut. Label your mold terrarium and put a sign on it that says do not open. Students can check the mold terrarium everyday for about 2 weeks, and they will see the various changes in the food. They will see how mold grows, and how food decomposes.

In order to monitor student performance, I can have them keep a journal about their thoughts on the mold terrarium. Through this journal I can observe if the student has accurately observed the concept, if the student has theorized about the cause and effect of this experiment, and I can judge if the student is trying to collect data on this assignment. I can also have the student make a drawing of one piece of food in the terrarium every couple of days in order to help visualize the concept of how mold grows. These ideas will not only help reflect the student's performance, but they will create opportunities for cross-disciplinary learning as well.

In order to assess this lesson I will question whether or not the students enjoyed the lesson and participated in it. I will also assess whether or not students seemed to grasp the concept of this lesson, and whether or not the experiment helped. I will also assess the use of journals, and have the students do oral presentations in order to see what they have learned. I will also assess whether or not all of my safety precautions were enough or not.

This project is fun for children, and it is hands on so I think it will help to get students involved. It presents cross-disciplinary opportunities and allows for students to watch how something grows. Overall I think a mold terrarium is an interesting and fun science project that has much learning potential.

written by Sarah Ganly

The Value of Assessment in the Classroom

Assessment is the process and procedures used to gather data, utilizing a variety of factors, about student performance.

Assessment is a very important factor in education. An educational professional must be able to effectively evaluate and assess the students progress and knowledge of the subjects being taught. A teacher must also be able to assess how a student learns and if the methods the teacher is using is effective.

In order to assess a student's classroom success many processes and procedures must be used to gather data (Lemlech, 2006). This data can be used to evaluate the performance of the student and determine the students grade in the classroom. There are many ways to assess a student's progress in the classroom, and there are many factors that reflect a student's progress in the classroom.

Assessment is a necessary tool in a classroom that all teachers must master. Performance assessment and grading rubrics are both means of assessing a students performance, and they are effective for use in a classroom.

Performance assessment is a very common and effective method of evaluating the progress of a student. This method of evaluating a student's performance does not rely only on tests grades so that students who are not always good at tests can reflect their understanding of the material. "The use of performance assessment helps teachers gain insight that informs curricular and pedagogical decisions" (Lemlech, 2006, p.166).

There are many strategies that are used in performance assessment, and the performance of a student can be assessed during many classroom activities. Group work, oral presentations, tests, artwork, and student made projects are all tools that can be used to to assess the performance of students. An important part of performance assessment is that students have the means of showing the teacher how well they have retained the knowledge in the classroom.

Grading rubrics are also important means of assessing the retention of a child's knowledge of the classroom work. Grading rubrics are not only useful for the teacher, but they can be useful for the student as well. With grading rubrics a child is aware of exactly what a teacher is looking for in an assignment, and a teacher can easily judge an assignment by comparing it to the standards set in the grading rubrics.

As a teacher it is important to be aware of a student's performance in the classroom for many reasons. If a teacher is accurately able to assess a students progress the teacher will know if the teaching methods are working, and if and where the students need help. Assessment is a necessary factor in the educational system, and all teachers should be aware of the many means and methods of assessing.

Reference:
Lemlech, J.K. (2006). Curriculum and instructional methods for the elementary and middle school. [University of Phoenix Custom Edition e-Text]. , : Prentice-Hall/Merrill. Retrieved November 4, 2007, from University of Phoenix, rEsource, Classroom Instruction Web site.

written by Sarah Ganly

Home, School and Society Affect Educational Goals

Educational goals and standards are directly affected by the goals and standards of the society in which the school exists. Home, society and schools play many similar and different roles in the educational systems of today, and educational professionals have to use these relationships to benefit the students.

Home plays a huge role in education because students come into the classroom with thoughts and situations that they have acquired from their homes. Some students have preconceived notions of values and morals that they learn from home (Lamlech, 2006). Some of these ideas can be positive and some can be negative, but the teacher has to figure out how to use these ideas and views to bring the class together instead of apart. Some students do not have stable homes, and this can cause many problems in the child's ability to be educated. The teacher must get to know each child and establish a healthy relationship (Lamlech, 2006). If this occurs than the student will be able to talk to the teacher and look for help. The home lays the foundation for the child's educational experience.

Society also plays a role in a child's educational goals and standards because it also provides students with a sense of values and beliefs. Society provides children with a picture of how they are suppose to act. Society also sets standards in which students and the American population are suppose to be educated (Lamlech, 2006). Because of societal views the government has passed many laws establishing standards for students, and educational institutes are supposed to meet these requirements (Lamlech, 2006) . As a teacher I would take advantage of the government programs that help with the education of society, and I would inform my students of them because there are many programs such as financial aid, that can help increase a student's ability to learn.

School plays a role in educational standards and goals as well. Schools directly implement the standards and goals of a student (Lamlech, 2006). Schools provide programs for students such as tutoring and math clubs, and these programs help promote education. Teachers must take full advantage of these programs, help create and volunteer for these programs, and inform the children of these programs in order to truly benefit from them.

There are many levels that influence the standards of students, and they should all be optimized in order to optimize the educational level of today's classrooms.

References:

Lamlech, J. K. (2006). Curriculum and instructional methods for the elementary and middle school (6h ed.). , : Prentice-Hall/Merrit.

by Sarah Ganly

No Egg Pie Crust

I am the type person who always wants to cook, but I never have the right ingredients. Its like I will have peanut butter but no jelly, or I will be trying to make bread pudding, but I will have no milk or cream. This happens to me all the time, so I have started to develop recipes that can be made without the obvious ingredients. This recipe is for no egg pie crust because sometimes you have all the fruit and delicious treats for the filling, but you have no eggs to make a crust!

First of all you will need your ingredients, but there are only four ingredients so do not get worried! The ingredients needed are two and a third cups of flour, a teaspoon of salt, half of a cup of vegetable oil, and half a cup of milk. The milk can be substituted for cream or buttermilk, but in those cases add a little less oil!

Now that you have all your ingredients gathered up mix the milk and vegetable oil together. Get a good blend into them so they mix well. Now sift the flour and mix the salt into the flour; remember to mix the dry ingredients separately. Add the liquid concoction you just made to the dry ingredients all at once. Mix all of the ingredients well.

The dough might seem a little strange at first, but it will taste delicious. The texture may be a little crumbly, but if this is the case add a little more oil until the dough will form and stay in a ball. The next step is to wrap the dough in plastic wrap, or if you are like me and never have everything you need you can use wax paper. Refrigerate the dough ball for about fifteen minutes.

After the ball is removed from the refrigerator it is ready to form a pie crust. Since there are no eggs in this recipe the dough will be harder to roll, so I suggest starting with a flattened ball and pressing the dough into the pie plate. The pie dish will not have to be greased because the dough has enough oil in it! You can try to roll the dough if you like, and if you do recommend rolling it in between two pieces of wax paper.

Now that you have your pie crust you can go ahead and start baking. You can bake the shell alone for cold pies like chocolate mouse, or you can fill it and bake it like you would any other pie crust!

By Sarah Ganly

Best Practices for Teaching Diverse Learners

The classrooms of today are extremely diverse. There are many teachers who do not take into consideration the diversity of the students they teach. There are many types of diverse learning groups, such as gender, cultural and linguistic. Students all come from different backgrounds, have different interests and have different learning structures that they are accustomed to. It is important to use the best methods of teaching a diverse student population as possible in order to be an effective teacher.

In order to effectively teach students of different genders it is important to encourage equal participation in all classes. If one gender is called on more often than anther there may be confidence issues. It is also beneficial to make sure presentations are done by both sexes in all different subjects, and to not expect certain genders to focus on certain subjects. When planning lesson plans it is valuable to present men and women in roles that are not stereotypical; this will help enforce the idea that gender is not a restriction. It is also a good practice to encourage males and females to pursue careers in non stereotypical roles; this will help students use their talents and skills in areas they are interested in. All of these methods are beneficial ways to help break down fears and stereotypes associated with gender. When these walls are broken down students will be more capable to learn and achieve.

It is important to take into account the diversity of cultures in a classroom in order to be the best teacher you can possibly be. When in a classroom it is very helpful to create a friendly environment in the classroom and encourage all students to participate. If there is a friendly environment where everyone is respected for their differences instead of feared or ridiculed real learning can be achieved. If the classroom environment is a friendly environment than students will be more excited to learn; they will also be less shy and afraid to contribute their own ideas to the class. In the case of English Language Learners and students who are not familiar with American culture it is important to use many concrete examples such as pictures to help teach the lessons. It is also beneficial to assign learning partners to help assist the learning process in culturally diverse classrooms.

Encouraging all students to participate can be applied to both types of learner identified. Interaction is the best method of learning. When a student participates in the classroom they are not only hearing or seeing the lesson be explained; they are interacting and learning the lesson through their own involvement. This has a much stronger impact on a child and leaves a much longer lasting effect on the child. I feel this single strategy can be effective for all learners because interaction is the best method of learning, and when a student is encouraged to participate they will have more confidence in themselves. I think confidence will help a student be capable of learning.

All of these ideas are important when teaching in a diverse classroom environment, and should be taken advantage of when trying to become the best teacher you can possibly be.

By Sarah Ganly

Physical Developments of Young Children and Adolescents

Children grow up so quickly, but they grow differently at every age group. Different skills are obtained, and different interests occur. Physical development is a natural occurrence in youth, and they can be categorized by different age groups. The progression of infancy to adulthood is important to study when teaching children and dealing with children on a constant basis. It is also important to know about the physical changes in children and when they occur if you are a parent. From early childhood to adolescence, it is important to understand how a child develops physically.

Early childhood is a developmental age groups that includes children from the age of two to six years old. Early childhood is characterized by physical developments. During early childhood children change physically because they loss their baby features. Their features become less soft and their limbs get longer and become more in proportion to their bodies. At the early childhood level children have large amounts of energy and enjoy "running, hopping, tumbling, climbing, and swinging" (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2004, p. 106). Fine motor skills are developing and the need for afternoon naps are decreasing during this age group.

Adolescence is a developmental age group that encompasses children from the age of ten to eighteen. Early adolescence includes children from the age of ten to fourteen and these children grow rapidly, and this is also the time when puberty begins. Children of this age have more "risk taking behavior", and they are "self- conscious of resulting physical developments" (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2004, p. 107). Late adolescence is the age group that includes fourteen to eighteen year olds. During this age girls "complete their growth spurts" and attain their "mature heights" (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2004, p. 107). Boys are likely to increase in size as well during this age. Both sexes will have extreme appetite increases and increases in sexual activity. Late adolescences are more prone to making risky decisions such as unprotected sex, drug use, and eating disorders during this period of time.

All children are different. All children have their own personalities and grow at their own rates, but there are basic age groups that children can be identified by. These age groups are characterized by certain physical developments. It is important to recognize and understand these developments.

References:

McDevitt, T., & Ormrod, J. (2004). Child Development: Educating and Working with Children and Adolescents (2nd ed.). : Prentice Hall

by Sarah Ganly