A hairstyle again! YIPPEEE!!!! I don't regret living without a style, it was for a good cause.
And now my hair is being combined with both of my daughter's hair donations and we're sending our bundles to Locks of Love!
Friday, August 8, 2008
Donation Time!
I've been waiting to do this for a while now. Actually, 5 years to be exact! Today was THE day to get the job done!
A hairstyle again! YIPPEEE!!!! I don't regret living without a style, it was for a good cause.
And now my hair is being combined with both of my daughter's hair donations and we're sending our bundles to Locks of Love!
A hairstyle again! YIPPEEE!!!! I don't regret living without a style, it was for a good cause.
And now my hair is being combined with both of my daughter's hair donations and we're sending our bundles to Locks of Love!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Are These Not the Cutest!!!
Ok, I will apologize now for slipping into the obsessive first Grandma syndrome. I bought these cute booties as soon as I knew DD was pregnant. I love to crochet, but booties I don't do! Thankfully I stumbled upon a great Estian who does ~ Krafty Lady Kreations. I'm a repeat customer, and most definitely will visit her again when I have need of a baby gift. These booties make great tie ons for the top of gifts! She offers a top quality product with speedy delivery.
Well, of course I had to buy boy and girl booties because I don't know what she's going to have!
Well, of course I had to buy boy and girl booties because I don't know what she's going to have!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Back to School Anticipation
Back to School holds different meaning to me these days. When my kids were little we would share an entire summer of freedom from the normal routine, lots of fun in the sun, not to mention less stringent rules about bedtime. With the start of school it meant my own personal freedom, and a return of peace and quiet during the day.
Fast forward several years and I now find myself anticipating the start of the new school year not only as a parent but also as a school employee. You see, I am a School Food Service Manager. I spend countless hours in the weeks prior to the new school year beginning making sure the computer system is set up, menu planning, food orders, overseeing/scheduling kitchen & equipment maintenance. Most every year I am asked to cater special events at the beginning of the year for both the school and the district. I don't mind, as I enjoy cooking.
The first day of school marks the busiest weeks of the school year for me as I wade through the mountains of free/reduced paperwork that ends up on my desk for approval. With the economy the way it is, the number of applicants keeps increasing.
School Food Service workers are under appreciated. The work environment is extremely fast paced. Often schools cut food service staffing to save a few dollars, whereby increasing the work load of the remaining staff. When I took over the program four years ago I had six employees, I now have four. Working in a school kitchen has nothing to do with opening a can of food and heating it. We have evolved into nutrition specialists and attend ongoing training to keep up to date on new regulations and federal requirements.
In these four years, the amount of federally unfunded mandates and paperwork that the USDA requires us to complete on a daily basis has increased. Food Safety is at the forefront of our job, which has also added an incredible amount of time and paperwork to complete each day. There is increased pressure from the USDA and locally by parents to feed more fresh produce and whole grains to students (items that cost more to put on the plate)...and all to be done on a very tight shoestring budget. Where can you get a balanced meal that is low in fat, sugar, and sodium that includes fresh produce & whole grains (and pay for maintenance/repair/replacement of equipment, staff wages & benefits) for less than $2.75 per meal? School food service workers are asked to do just that each and every day.
Lest you misunderstand, I do love my job. The staff, the students, and their parents are all fun aspects of my job. I zero in on the Kindergarten students because they are the prime target for change to healthier eating habits. Changes I'm implementing today won't be widespread and visible for at least ten years.
The job holds many challenges...difficult students, parents, staff. But the job can also be very rewarding. The stress levels of this job can be quite high at times, as is the case with most fast paced jobs. On stressful days it is a relief to come home and bury myself in fun projects like soapmaking and crochet ~ my extremely fun job!
August 18 Etsybloggers Blog Carnival
Choose one of the 2 topics to write about:
1. "Back to School" What does it mean to you?
2. "Tools of the Trade" Tell of your favorite tool or a tool you use in your craft.
Fast forward several years and I now find myself anticipating the start of the new school year not only as a parent but also as a school employee. You see, I am a School Food Service Manager. I spend countless hours in the weeks prior to the new school year beginning making sure the computer system is set up, menu planning, food orders, overseeing/scheduling kitchen & equipment maintenance. Most every year I am asked to cater special events at the beginning of the year for both the school and the district. I don't mind, as I enjoy cooking.
The first day of school marks the busiest weeks of the school year for me as I wade through the mountains of free/reduced paperwork that ends up on my desk for approval. With the economy the way it is, the number of applicants keeps increasing.
School Food Service workers are under appreciated. The work environment is extremely fast paced. Often schools cut food service staffing to save a few dollars, whereby increasing the work load of the remaining staff. When I took over the program four years ago I had six employees, I now have four. Working in a school kitchen has nothing to do with opening a can of food and heating it. We have evolved into nutrition specialists and attend ongoing training to keep up to date on new regulations and federal requirements.
In these four years, the amount of federally unfunded mandates and paperwork that the USDA requires us to complete on a daily basis has increased. Food Safety is at the forefront of our job, which has also added an incredible amount of time and paperwork to complete each day. There is increased pressure from the USDA and locally by parents to feed more fresh produce and whole grains to students (items that cost more to put on the plate)...and all to be done on a very tight shoestring budget. Where can you get a balanced meal that is low in fat, sugar, and sodium that includes fresh produce & whole grains (and pay for maintenance/repair/replacement of equipment, staff wages & benefits) for less than $2.75 per meal? School food service workers are asked to do just that each and every day.
Lest you misunderstand, I do love my job. The staff, the students, and their parents are all fun aspects of my job. I zero in on the Kindergarten students because they are the prime target for change to healthier eating habits. Changes I'm implementing today won't be widespread and visible for at least ten years.
The job holds many challenges...difficult students, parents, staff. But the job can also be very rewarding. The stress levels of this job can be quite high at times, as is the case with most fast paced jobs. On stressful days it is a relief to come home and bury myself in fun projects like soapmaking and crochet ~ my extremely fun job!
August 18 Etsybloggers Blog Carnival
Choose one of the 2 topics to write about:
1. "Back to School" What does it mean to you?
2. "Tools of the Trade" Tell of your favorite tool or a tool you use in your craft.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Lily from Tulip's Treasure Box ~ Featured Etsyblogger of Month ~ August 2008
Not only was Lily from Tulips Treasure Box selected to be the Featured Etsyblogger this Month, but TODAY is her Birthday!
I can't think of anyone any more deserving to be the featured member this month. Very soon after becoming a member of the Etsyblogger Team, Lily and her great sense of humor and joking lured me right in. We share a lot of fun both on the Etsy forums and on the team forum as well. Aside from all of the fun and joking, Lily is always there with an encouraging word to everyone and a true team player that is well deserving of a place of honor this month.
I admire the beauty of all the beading projects Lily creates. She must have the patience of Job to sit for hours on end and just bead away. I know I couldn't do it! Please do visit her blog and be sure to check out her Etsy Shop as well!
I can't think of anyone any more deserving to be the featured member this month. Very soon after becoming a member of the Etsyblogger Team, Lily and her great sense of humor and joking lured me right in. We share a lot of fun both on the Etsy forums and on the team forum as well. Aside from all of the fun and joking, Lily is always there with an encouraging word to everyone and a true team player that is well deserving of a place of honor this month.
I admire the beauty of all the beading projects Lily creates. She must have the patience of Job to sit for hours on end and just bead away. I know I couldn't do it! Please do visit her blog and be sure to check out her Etsy Shop as well!
Etsybloggers Blog Carnival ~ August 4, 2008 Edition
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(¸.·´ (¸.·`¤~♥ Welcome to the August 4, 2008 edition of etsybloggers Blog Carnival. As host of this carnival I asked participants to choose one of these 2 topics to write about:
1. Favorite Grill Food Recipes or if you are not a grilling enthusiast, a recipe for your favorite picnic food will be fine.
- OR -
2. Book Review...with all of the talk about Shelfari, I thought it would be great if we could get some book reviews....What are you currently reading? Tell us the title, author and give us a short review of the book. Would you recommend others to read the book, or not.
joeyandaleethea presents
nurture your creativity posted at J o e y & A l e e t h e a.
Rainy presents
Book Review Blog Carnival posted at RainyDayArt.
shellmitchell presents
Easy Grilled Chicken Secret posted at Shell Mitchell Accessories and Design.
Frances presents
Do you have Grey Poupon? posted at Home Made Originals.
Rose Works Jewelry presents
A Jewelry Makers Book Review posted at A Peek into the Magic of Creating.
Ellen Behm presents
All About Knitting? posted at Down the Street Creations.
Connie H. presents
Blog Carnival: Picnic Grub posted at Dirty Footprints.
Ametista presents
World's Greatest Marinade...really! posted at Ametista's Etsy Shop - Artistic Offerings Inspired by You
PalleikoDesigns presents
August 4th Blog Carnival: Chilled Strawberry Soup posted at Heather's Kitchen.
Shannon Saylor presents
My favorite picnic recipe posted at ShannonSaylor.Etsy.com.
Dayna Williamson presents
I love to cook on the grill.... posted at Scottie Acres.
Nancy McCarroll presents
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck: Book Review posted at Nancy's Arts, Crafts and Favorites
hadesigns presents
a l-a-z-y afternoon & bookmark delight posted at ha! designs.
curiousmess presents
Blog Carnival Post posted at Curious Mess.
Bonny Jewelry presents
It's Grilling Season! posted at Blogger Carnival - Poetry.
Linda Wheelock presents
Jamaican Jerk Chicken posted at Spotted Cow Soaps.
miesmama presents
the creative family posted at miesmama.
Lily Wrey presents
etsyBloggers Team August 4 BLOG CARNIVAL Hosted by: posted at TuLips Talking.
dizzydragonflies presents
knitting dragonflies: Inspirational book: Intertwined by Lexi Boeger posted at dizzydragonflies.
Erika presents
FAT TUESDAYS--Grilling Recipe and Weight Management posted at TOTE-N-TOTS.
Athena Workman presents
August 1st Blog Carnival: Yummy! posted at the weblog of artist athena workman.
Two Zany Zebras presents
Summer Lovin’ Sweet Salmon posted at Two Zany Zebras.
storybeader presents
etsyblogger Aug 4th carnival - a book review posted at Stroll Through Storyland.
A Keeper's Jackpot presents
Summer Picnic Hope for Mayonnaise Haters posted at A Keeper's Jackpot.
eileen presents
Grilling Yams or Sweet Potatoes... posted at Dorset Hill Beads.
Kelly King presents
Blog Carnival - Tales of a Female Nomad posted at Colorfuldayz.
Nora Demirjian presents
Emma posted at Nora's Blog.
This concludes the August4, 2008 edition of the Etsybloggers Blog Carnival. Submit your blog article to the next edition of etsybloggers using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Technorati tags: etsybloggers, blog carnival.
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(¸.·´ (¸.·`¤~♥ A Big group hug to all my Etsyblogger Friends and lots of love to all who participated in this very fun Blog Carnival!
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