Free Ebook: 31 Days to Clean!

From Sarah Mae:

"From RIGHT NOW until midnight tonight (EST) you can get 31 Days to Clean – Having a Martha House the Mary Way FREE just by using the hashtag #31daystoclean in a tweet and linking to 31daystoclean.com OR by blogging about the ebook! Once you do one of these two things, email me (or DM me @sarahmaewrites) with your email address and I’ll send you a download link! Ready? GO!!!!!!!!!!!! :) And thank you so much for spreading the word!"


Visit Sarah Mae's site from more information!

Lemon Drop Cookies

I would not call myself a baker but I love to bake. My creations (usually) turn out very yummy but often do not turn out looking like the beautiful pictures that accompany the recipe. Lemon drop cookies are the exception. They turned out beautifully and they taste even better! They are chewy and crunchy at the same time (thanks to the crushed lemon drop candies) and the glaze is heavenly. I think I have a new favorite cookie!



Lemon Drop Cookies (From See Jane Cook)

2 c. sugar
1 1/2 cup butter flavored shortening
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. lemon extract
4 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp. salt
Finely chopped zest of one lemon
1 (6-oz) package lemon drops (sometimes these are tricky to find, I usually keep two or three bags in my pantry)
2 c. powdered sugar
juice of two lemons



Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In mixing bowl, cream sugar, shortening, and eggs; add flavorings. Stir in dry ingredients, lemon zest, and crushed lemon drops (I crush them in my blender). Roll into balls, flatten slightly, and bake on parchment lined (if you don't use parchment, cookies will stick to pan) baking sheet for 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool slightly on pan for a couple of minutes. Make a glaze by mixing powdered sugar with lemon juice. Brush glaze over cookie tops. Let cookies cool completely.

Makes 4 to 5 dozen cookies(...really!)

Earth Day and Spring Cleaning...for Kids!

With spring well underway, many of us are doing some spring cleaning and getting rid of the clutter collected during the winter months.

Why not get the kids involved in the spring cleaning activities? Here is a great Earth Day/spring activity: host a toy exchange! Have your child pick out several toys that he would like to exchange, invite a few buddies over and do a toy swap. Any toys that remain can be donated to children's shelters, Goodwill or other non-profit organizations.

Baseball and Sousa

(Sousa's 1902 baseball team with Sousa sitting in the front-middle)

John Philip Sousa's band covered more than a million train track miles during a 39-year period. They performed almost every day and traveled a great deal. The bandsmen spent most of their time together and enjoyed playing sports. The band actually had a baseball team and Sousa was the pitcher occasionally.

"The National Game" was written by Sousa in 1925 in honor of the National League's 50th anniversary. Here is a YouTube video including the march.

The Dream Rocket

I discovered an interesting website this past weekend!

The Dream Rocket is a collaborative effort from people across the country and around the world. Using the idea of dreams, artists are invited to submit artwork which will be used to cover a 37 story Saturn V Moon rocket.

I plan on participating with my band students by tying it into our semester composer project.

Snowmageddon 2011

We only had one day of school this week due to snow. At my house, the snow was seven inches deep...in Arkansas! It was beautiful.



I had lots of time to clean closets, vacuum under beds and get ready for a massive yard sale that will be held this spring.

Book: Music Advocacy and Student Leadership

This was the book I read during January. Music Advocacy and Student Leadership, by Tim Lautzenheiser, is a great read for music educators and students about to enter the field. The chapters are short and informative without being preachy or boring. Dr. Tim discusses how to select and develop student leaders, being a leader as the band director as well as advocacy for music programs.

Goals for 2011: January

I have successfully completed one of my goals for 2011. However, I will strive to continue the goal for the rest of the year.

Which goal do I speak of? "Take my lunch to work more often."

During January, I have taken my lunch to work every day except two days! School lunches are $3 for teachers so I saved $54 this month alone.

I also read a book. I will discuss that later this week!

*Make homemade noodles
*Plant a garden
*Can/freeze vegetables and fruits
*Host a Christmas cookie exchange
*Read more books (at least one per month)
*Finally put together a photo album/scrapbook
*Learn to play the guitar
*Perform in a recital for my students
*Make my grandmother's yeast bread
*Volunteer more in the community
Take my lunch to work more often
*Reconnect with old friends

Did You Know...Daycares in Arkansas

I am sure that other states have similar web sites but I will stick with Arkansas for the moment.

Child care centers and family child care homes are reviewed for following licensing regulations every 3-6 months (not often enough in my opinion...but that is another post for another time).

The reviews are posted online. Simply go to the DHS Child Care and Childhood Education website, type in at least a zip code and click "search". Select the center in which you are interested, then click "view facility visits". If there are any deficiencies, they will be listed here.

Pork Chops

Jealous yet?

My husband has become a king of the charcoal. Pork chops are his newest dish and he has already mastered the recipe!

Here's what he uses:

Pork chops
Olive oil
Strawberry's Seasoning

Rub some olive oil on the pork chops, sprinkle both sides with Strawberry's Seasoning and throw the chops on the grill!

Yum!

My Favorite Toy from 2010: Sing-a-ma-jigs!

I am in love with Sing-a-ma-jigs!

During a Christmas shopping trip with my sister, I discovered Sing-a-ma-jigs. They are cute dolls that sing when their bellies are squeezed. That sounds like old news, right? Sing-a-ma-jigs have put a new spin on singing dolls though. When one squeezes multiple dolls at the same time, chords are heard! Plus, the singing fades out (as if the doll was running out of breath). The dolls also have a "chatter" sound (still singing but sounds like different vowel sounds) and a song function. Each doll has a different song. The person playing with the doll is required to squeeze the doll's stomach on each syllable of the lyrics.

These dolls are more than just play things. They introduce children to rhythm, harmony, music listening and literacy skills.

Learning through play...again, a great concept!


Check them out at singamajigs.com. I also found them at Target and Wal-Mart!