News for today's 2018

A Giveaway!

4:50 PM Tukiyooo 0

Well friends, in honor of my recent "20+ pounds removed" weight loss goal, I've decided to host a giveaway in its honor, and in yours as well. <br /><br />Now, normally I like to keep the giveaway value in line with the total weight lost - <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/09/starbucks-giftcard-giveaway.html">last time</a> it was a $10 giftcard for reaching the 10 pounds removed goal.  This time it should be $20 right?  Consistency can be fun.<br /><br />You might remember how I was complaining about feeling guilty for <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/12/weekend-recap-1-day-late.html">spending so much money</a> on myself?  Well, it's time to pay it forward!  What better time than <i>now </i>to spread the holiday cheer.<br /><br />But first - allow me to give credit where credit is due.<br /><br />Thank you all SO MUCH for your support throughout these last several months.  It's shocking to me that I even have regular readers.  I mean, seriously, look at how long (on the left) it took me to make some real progress around here!  It's amazing that you've even stuck around.  I'm supposed to be a weight <i>loss </i>blogger, not weight-maintaining-but-really-need-to-lose-it-blogger.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thekrazycouponlady.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/target-Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://thekrazycouponlady.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/target-Logo.png" /></a></div><br /><br /><i>Promise me</i> that if you win the <b>$40 Target Giftcard</b> that you will spend it on yourself!  You deserve it, I'm sure of it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.</i></b> - <i><b>Deuteronomy 16:17</b></i></div><br />Here are the conditions for winning (U.S. & Canadian residents only please):<br /><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">1. Leave a comment here telling me what you're most excited about this Christmas season.  It can be a gift you hope you receive, something you're thankful for, the opportunity to travel to see family/friends, etc, etc. <i>This counts as 1 entry.</i><br /><br />2. Like The Big Weight Facebook page & comment on the page letting me know you've done so (handy dandy button on the right to do so).  <i>This counts as 1 entry.</i><br /><br />3. Post about this giveaway on your blog!  Then come back here and leave a comment with the link to your blog entry. <i>This counts as 1 entry.</i></blockquote><br />A winner will be randomly chosen on Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 9 AM - so please hurry :).<br /><br /><i>**While I did contact Target last week about sponsoring a giveaway, they have yet to get back to me.  So, this $40 giftcard has been purchased using my own money, and also because I feel like at this point it is more meaningful for me to provide the card myself than to receive it from Target.</i> <i>I still love you Tar-jay, I just can't wait around forever :).  </i>

giveaways A Giveaway!

Well friends, in honor of my recent "20+ pounds removed" weight loss goal, I've decided to host a giveaway in its honor, and i...

Weekend Recap (1 Day Late)

4:47 PM Tukiyooo 0

Boy those weekends come and go before ya know it!<br /><br />Friday night after work, I ran over to the <a href="http://www.nationalharbor.com/">National Harbor</a> to pick up my new Pandora charm.  I went with a glass bead, though the other one will be a purchase in the near future no doubt.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJuclzn2nFYhAitRyc2axfb_rWMtlUWNCe6zTewXXvjjkBbVPvsunLTzhQ48fSnY7xrD1OYoT8o61nrz3xS5tdYxRIAniMakBCy0PpgGWq3u56zgXYAfSu_qTJ_Faq4pPpGnxmu_xv8s/s1600/Christmas+Card+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJuclzn2nFYhAitRyc2axfb_rWMtlUWNCe6zTewXXvjjkBbVPvsunLTzhQ48fSnY7xrD1OYoT8o61nrz3xS5tdYxRIAniMakBCy0PpgGWq3u56zgXYAfSu_qTJ_Faq4pPpGnxmu_xv8s/s400/Christmas+Card+003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />I have yet to purchase the VB bag.  I feel guilty dropping so much money on myself this time of year, when I should be getting Christmas gifts for others.  And then there's that little old wedding I have to pay for too. <br /><br />Speaking of weddings, we checked out a venue on Saturday in St Mary's City, MD.  It's on the campus of <a href="http://www.smcm.edu/">St Mary's College</a>.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkqo1GdNNIMS6O6Z3oa-lVUi2vIL0tNXLROGRSV-1eqmhsBsoRVc-4NvSnQKKcP7jU3ZH9coJKR_e9FSDi1G3BKhwYyU1MW2tZhiQfiFzv097wIvUGvgNqAC7jnfkGej5dgj9OPKXW8ED/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkqo1GdNNIMS6O6Z3oa-lVUi2vIL0tNXLROGRSV-1eqmhsBsoRVc-4NvSnQKKcP7jU3ZH9coJKR_e9FSDi1G3BKhwYyU1MW2tZhiQfiFzv097wIvUGvgNqAC7jnfkGej5dgj9OPKXW8ED/s400/016.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">State House</td></tr></tbody></table>The place doesn't have a great website to show you pictures, but it's really nice if you can use your imagination.  The State House will be where the cocktail hour and cake will most likely take place.  Guests will enter the ceremony site through this building.  It's rather rustic inside.  Outside, directly in front of the building, will be where the ceremony will take place.  It overlooks the St Mary's River, which ultimately dumps into the Chesapeake Bay.  The reception will be held outdoors in a tent to the right of the building.  We have penciled in the State House as our venue (pending responses from other venues).  The date is tentatively October 6, 2012!  Unbelievable, still, for me to imagine that by this time next year I will be married!!  I really think this is the place!<br /><br />After wedding venue shopping, I wanted to get our pictures taken for our Christmas card.  <br /><br />It was absolutely freezing cold along the water... and VERY windy!  This shot is along Piscataway Creek in Joel's hometown in Maryland.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8t4XwNvwQZerVJEU_fZ9OtaF0Y1chIAvSLPDmB3jtKtivRl7ydTHqMgjCg4eN62KMDI2oOMY-jqjqxGaAIoLazQ2zONdYSnM4eYUEzai008VfACxT4_S3SQj1krP3IkUzfaUmCaYtOU/s1600/christmas+card+edit+1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8t4XwNvwQZerVJEU_fZ9OtaF0Y1chIAvSLPDmB3jtKtivRl7ydTHqMgjCg4eN62KMDI2oOMY-jqjqxGaAIoLazQ2zONdYSnM4eYUEzai008VfACxT4_S3SQj1krP3IkUzfaUmCaYtOU/s400/christmas+card+edit+1+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some people in this picture were not pleased with the cheesiness that was the handmade heart.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWU5fwI7qPi30VZ6fKdFbcf3EjEcX4SZj0BR7JwubmxX_RhX38R0pUw3xWXcsoeCQmuaQUF54pmV3vxyRAFFg61Wtiqh5Gdbr_VuyzbOWS5L8LbLU1MwccSHLYQubJGLPKcV5Oo69vWg/s1600/christmas+card+edit+2+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWU5fwI7qPi30VZ6fKdFbcf3EjEcX4SZj0BR7JwubmxX_RhX38R0pUw3xWXcsoeCQmuaQUF54pmV3vxyRAFFg61Wtiqh5Gdbr_VuyzbOWS5L8LbLU1MwccSHLYQubJGLPKcV5Oo69vWg/s400/christmas+card+edit+2+copy.jpg" width="338" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Then we crossed the river back in to Virginia to try out the park near our condo.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaKur0GGrmtFvRq8OowB4yJagCls6l0NNRNdWonRjR3MdxfM6BR3vXtfLvSPmroK0fhPso7bk4KObcp1efF0_ZvABcUWLa0kScQj5wsMJ80Gxv03mfFsz5e1Wwl-7vkLli6m4UlOWx-4/s1600/christmas+card+edit+3+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwaKur0GGrmtFvRq8OowB4yJagCls6l0NNRNdWonRjR3MdxfM6BR3vXtfLvSPmroK0fhPso7bk4KObcp1efF0_ZvABcUWLa0kScQj5wsMJ80Gxv03mfFsz5e1Wwl-7vkLli6m4UlOWx-4/s400/christmas+card+edit+3+copy.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><br />It was so much warmer over there with the trees shrouding our picture taking frenzy.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZ86GK1YCkC7B0qkG3cQN1fX3nGb9E6uZ99Qn_2ux_Y1M0jwwRT9hxo2LVVy-CtJITk94ntNcMQluAmo21Xa940F99Ge_XZDSZqfUD-bmJEERNLfeoTPqi07J4TJLCo0mcq2rJFwPj3o/s1600/christmas+card+edit+4+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoZ86GK1YCkC7B0qkG3cQN1fX3nGb9E6uZ99Qn_2ux_Y1M0jwwRT9hxo2LVVy-CtJITk94ntNcMQluAmo21Xa940F99Ge_XZDSZqfUD-bmJEERNLfeoTPqi07J4TJLCo0mcq2rJFwPj3o/s400/christmas+card+edit+4+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />I'm such an amateur photographer, but it's something I really like doing and want to do more of.  I love capturing a perfect moment of a human being - I'm not so much about landscapes.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_mCWKVKol9NaBRWzfrzoJYnUkfdN_WDU9BBLeH0cuaRCxZhhCJypiyq_WMxCT-GN3t_LW6VENtSEnWDzmrUjMNRRqNiPdYjAhLmhtS-wpzkCgWveUidW7hTFko_1YtJbCTYP3_NDv2Q/s1600/christmas+card+edit+6+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis_mCWKVKol9NaBRWzfrzoJYnUkfdN_WDU9BBLeH0cuaRCxZhhCJypiyq_WMxCT-GN3t_LW6VENtSEnWDzmrUjMNRRqNiPdYjAhLmhtS-wpzkCgWveUidW7hTFko_1YtJbCTYP3_NDv2Q/s400/christmas+card+edit+6+copy.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><br />We ended our lovely weekend with a Sunday road trip to Fredericksburg, VA to pick up a case of Joel's much loved wine, Rappahannock Red from <a href="http://www.hartwoodwinery.com/">Hartwood Winery</a>.  I love wine so much - it really helps ease the tension of a day at work.<br /><br />I've been doing MUCH BETTER at staying On Plan this week than last.  Despite all the travels we did this weekend, I've still stayed within my daily target two days so far and have not surpassed my Weekly Points+ allowance yet (and it's Tuesday!).  Usually by now I would have blown through the WP.  I currently have a balance of 15 - which is great considering I'm only allowing myself 39 this week, instead of 49.  So I technically have more left but I'm going to forget I even typed that ;).  I've also hit the gym twice this week, earning 8 of the planned 14 Activity Points.  So far, I'm setting myself up for what should be a successful week.  <br /><br />How was your weekend?  How has your "healthy eating" week been progressing so far?<br /><br />

Boy those weekends come and go before ya know it! Friday night after work, I ran over to the National Harbor to pick up my new Pandora char...

RESURRECCIÓN DE UN CONTINENTE

2:40 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span lang="ES" style="font-size: large;">Spanish version of article posted on 05 Dec 2011</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES" style="font-size: large;"> <span class="hps"> </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span lang="ES" style="font-size: large;"><span class="hps">América Latina</span> <span class="hps">se une en</span> <span class="hps">bloque</span> <span class="hps">nuevo</span>, <span class="hps">no es EE.UU.</span> <span class="hps">invitado</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"><span lang="ES" style="line-height: 115%;">Treinta y tres líderes de América Latina se han unido y formado un bloque regional nuevo, prometiendo estrechar lazos económicos y políticos. La Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños (CELAC) deliberadamente excluye los EE.UU. y Canadá.<br />En el segundo día de una cumbre en la capital venezolana, Caracas, todos los líderes de América Latina, tanto de  derecha y de izquierda, firmaron oficialmente la formación del bloque CELAC. La fundación del bloque ha sido elogiada como la realización de la idea de dos siglos de edad de América Latina "independencia"  prevista por Simón Bolívar.<br /><br />Analistas consideran a la CELAC como una alternativa a la Organización DE LOS ESTADOS AMERICANOS (OEA) con sede en Washington y como un intento de los países de América Latina para  reducir la influencia de EE.UU. en la región.<br />Sin embargo Washington no ve a CELAC como un reemplazo de la OEA. El Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos dijo Mark Toner portavoz de los EE.UU. seguirá "trabajando a través de la OEA como organismo multilateral por excelencia, en representación del hemisferio".<br /><br />Los analistas políticos opinan que los EE.UU. ven  CELAC como una amenaza potencial a su hegemonía en la región.<br /><br /><br />Los 33 líderes se comprometieron a resistir la crisis financiera que ha golpeado a Europa y otros países desarrollados.<br />Dilma Rousseff BRASIL hizo hincapié en que los países latinoamericanos tendrían que depender más de sus vecinos en medio de la turbulencia económica mundial.<br />"La crisis económica, financiera debe estar en el centro de nuestras preocupaciones", dijo Rousseff. Ella dijo que América Latina debe "darse cuenta de que para garantizar su actual ciclo de desarrollo a pesar de la turbulencia económica internacional, esto significa que todos los políticos deben ser conscientes de que cada uno necesita de los demás."<br /><br />Presidente chileno Sebastián Piñera, quien asumió la presidencia rotatoria inicial en CELAC, expresó la esperanza de que el bloque podría ayudar a fomentar la cooperación regional a pesar de las diferencias entre algunos de los 33 Estados miembros.<br /><br />Los líderes también discutieron la cooperación en el ámbito del tráfico de drogas y el cambio climático.<br />CELAC debe ser una "unión política para construir un centro de gran potencia del siglo 21", dijo el presidente de Venezuela, haciendo hincapié en el crecimiento regional fuerte como muchos países de la región de estrechar los lazos con Asia o Europa y reducir su tradicional dependencia de los EE.UU..<br /><br />La formación de la CELAC fue recibido calurosamente por el creciente poder global, China. Hu se comprometió a profundizar la cooperación con la CELAC, y subrayó que en el siglo 21 las relaciones entre China y América Latina han experimentado un desarrollo integral y rápida con la expansión de la cooperación de beneficio mutuo, de acuerdo con la agencia de noticias Xinhua.<br /><br />Los países de la CELAC tienen una población combinada de casi 600 millones de personas y un PBI combinado de alrededor de 6 billones de dólares EE.UU. - aproximadamente un tercio de la producción combinada de los EE.UU. y Canadá.</span></span><span lang="ES-AR" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>

RESURRECCIÓN DE UN CONTINENTE

Spanish version of article posted on 05 Dec 2011 América Latina se une en bloque nuevo , no es EE.UU. invitado Treinta y tres líderes...

December is for the Birds

6:37 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>From guest author, Mary Warren, Naturalist at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area and the Sportsman's Migratory Bird Center, Oak Harbor, Ohio</em> </div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://levahnbros.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/cardinal-in-the-snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" id="il_fi" src="http://levahnbros.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/cardinal-in-the-snow.jpg" style="padding-bottom: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px;" width="200" /></a>While you are out dashing around looking for the perfect gift, many folks will be outside counting birds. The National Audubon Society will sponsor the 112th Christmas Bird Count from December 14th to January 5th this year. While it’s not a<br /> BIG YEAR (did you get to see the movie The Big Year? Very funny!), it will be a big event. <br /><br /><br />On any day during that period, people will be out with binoculars and field guides in hand counting every bird, recording how many and what species, and where they are seeing them. Thousands of volunteers across the Americas will take part in this adventure that has been a tradition for years. You don’t have to be an expert to participate in the Christmas Bird Count (CBC). All eyes and ears are welcome. The data that is collected during these weeks is used to guide conservation actions for bird populations. This tradition began in 1900, making the CBC one of America's longest running wildlife census projects. And you can be a very important part of this fun citizen science project.<br /><br />Most CBC’s are run through local Audubon chapters. You can go <a href="http://www.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count" target="_blank">online</a> to find a chapter near you. There are also informal CBC4Kids events sprouting up around the country. First introduced in 2007 in Sonoma Valley, California, this event is specifically for kids and families and encourages enjoyment and respect for nature together. For more info you can check it out at <a href="http://www.sonomabirding.com/">http://www.sonomabirding.com/</a> <br /><br />If you are in Northwest Ohio, there will be a CBC4Kids at Magee Marsh on January 14th, 2012. There will be lots of fun activities planned that day. For more info, you can email <a href="mailto:mary.warren@dnr.state.oh.us">mary.warren@dnr.state.oh.us</a> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="rg_hi" data-height="192" data-width="262" height="192" id="rg_hi" 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" style="cursor: move; height: 192px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 262px;" unselectable="on" width="262" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From g2goutside.com<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />We hope that you will consider starting a new tradition this year by getting OUTSIDE to count the birds in your area and to take time to enjoy the beauty of our natural world!<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>

December is for the Birds

From guest author, Mary Warren, Naturalist at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area and the Sportsman's Migratory Bird Center, Oak Harbor, Ohio Wh...

good enough to eat

3:24 PM Anonymous 0

I crafted! And no one cried or threw up (a measuring stick for all disasters in our family).<br /><br />We always get fresh boxwood wreaths to hang on the french doors in our dinning room. But this year, I thought I would try something a bit more fun and something that would last (knock on wood) from year to year. Namely this...<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9VWJemuDgU8S22g3Ssl_yNvlUbErZnAb_jXvyoaUQtLCHriyiqKDybVsFeDFt9o2NKPkVMpgHJXOtxj_yZqXuquh6fHOtbgMVmsXz6W_2TMI55vPYSjd3n1Ftdz6TZ89haQLeSSJKd-y/s1600/PeppermintWreath-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9VWJemuDgU8S22g3Ssl_yNvlUbErZnAb_jXvyoaUQtLCHriyiqKDybVsFeDFt9o2NKPkVMpgHJXOtxj_yZqXuquh6fHOtbgMVmsXz6W_2TMI55vPYSjd3n1Ftdz6TZ89haQLeSSJKd-y/s320/PeppermintWreath-1.jpg" width="319" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/115615915403449762/" target="_blank">via Pinterest</a></td></tr></tbody></table>I read a few tutorials and thought it sounded so easy that I could out smart the foam wreath and go with a cheaper wire wreath. I got my supplies, plugged in my glue gun and started wrapping my wreath.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHNxLEL76kCu8Y7Ut1VjPgt_0RYeN2aW2rWYOlHVLnOiGP79gZpgo34wPH-ka8BL5DHL_l8MaKXV3TpfnAS0j1tAcF6vV_TQvxnT9aLdnTCQJBkP5EEi7jhlUdx_TGtz2B5V_FnqpsOBB/s1600/PB291611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHNxLEL76kCu8Y7Ut1VjPgt_0RYeN2aW2rWYOlHVLnOiGP79gZpgo34wPH-ka8BL5DHL_l8MaKXV3TpfnAS0j1tAcF6vV_TQvxnT9aLdnTCQJBkP5EEi7jhlUdx_TGtz2B5V_FnqpsOBB/s320/PB291611.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Wrapping the wire form in duck tape, I got about one row of peppermints on before I proved my crafting ignorance. You silly crafting fool. It was ugly, mis-shapen and the wire wasn't holding up as those little candies were getting heavy. Bust.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICGJuncNPnRPVx6yFgRbq7pKrxjqaqebtzm3bhvJGN7PkonKh22gulO3DeLWcRAWEZK4qwv5avloLJLtG4v0GByOxbv3Hnh89Tmct_qFRPGTbeDp87YjDExvoziB4jcd4Zzvbxk0n2mWW/s1600/PB291612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiICGJuncNPnRPVx6yFgRbq7pKrxjqaqebtzm3bhvJGN7PkonKh22gulO3DeLWcRAWEZK4qwv5avloLJLtG4v0GByOxbv3Hnh89Tmct_qFRPGTbeDp87YjDExvoziB4jcd4Zzvbxk0n2mWW/s320/PB291612.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took off my sad first row in disgust before I got a picture taken</td></tr></tbody></table><br />So, I printed off a Michael's coupon, sucked it up and bought foam wreaths (I believe they were 16"). The tape went on a lot better and I had a more stable, flat surface to work on. After that it <i>was</i> easy. As long as you have several episodes of RHOBH or Sarah's House DVR'd and a crafting partner you are in good shape.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin74z3HtfGJjci2JU60b8ZZXEIjXE5Y3hCGoT5KDOHiLcUNfO4-gvXf6vdCI3fMBzR1fGpx5LYMjTyZWL1uzwa3qQnugpD0gV9X6ekHOlzY0a03z_icP3wuiWjZYCbiQwzG6mjjRlBtB7i/s1600/PB301620.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin74z3HtfGJjci2JU60b8ZZXEIjXE5Y3hCGoT5KDOHiLcUNfO4-gvXf6vdCI3fMBzR1fGpx5LYMjTyZWL1uzwa3qQnugpD0gV9X6ekHOlzY0a03z_icP3wuiWjZYCbiQwzG6mjjRlBtB7i/s320/PB301620.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My crafting partner</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Several hours later...ta-dah! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RfXg_9MwOg5EFdLDqYwim1mysH23lEiBd3vkrSkP97GdsiFIsUt4ZQS9MWnDTnrUPMfgPEFupf9MT9xDJDi8Uz35yF7vpKKkmafNkWyqtokMSG4gI_UmUrUxl5cNt-K2LUFFBfusBDiv/s1600/PC111889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RfXg_9MwOg5EFdLDqYwim1mysH23lEiBd3vkrSkP97GdsiFIsUt4ZQS9MWnDTnrUPMfgPEFupf9MT9xDJDi8Uz35yF7vpKKkmafNkWyqtokMSG4gI_UmUrUxl5cNt-K2LUFFBfusBDiv/s320/PC111889.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br /><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm thrilled. It was easy, relatively cheap and looks great. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRwXmFfPkRxeeGsjL8nkAuq6HHqOftq8eMdTWUBvCXNi8c3xqqfm-UdZ0SDGQgM0jppyXMXTECfJsN1Rc57cZOpEpNZOO3Qim9GG7ZNaQQgw2teLQYlXUswG1lRucKl8_WB31mN0sqa4x/s1600/PC051681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRwXmFfPkRxeeGsjL8nkAuq6HHqOftq8eMdTWUBvCXNi8c3xqqfm-UdZ0SDGQgM0jppyXMXTECfJsN1Rc57cZOpEpNZOO3Qim9GG7ZNaQQgw2teLQYlXUswG1lRucKl8_WB31mN0sqa4x/s320/PC051681.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I will say I highly recommend covering the wreath with duct tape first. Some tutorials glued the peppermint directly onto the foam. You will have gaps between the candies and the red background looks more finished. And the glue holds onto the tape a lot better as well. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTNpt00iUdgPQmbcxP3bahQgSUw7cwYRMmwDoF6FDpwCc2PronTFp6rxY5zHz3sjvufnEY6eSG1W2CW0Roht29fpm6TPlkrorXLeKRvW94B0Y0DWk7paAMxj6LJrNjaCi-wA9tJAFDQxU/s1600/PC051679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTNpt00iUdgPQmbcxP3bahQgSUw7cwYRMmwDoF6FDpwCc2PronTFp6rxY5zHz3sjvufnEY6eSG1W2CW0Roht29fpm6TPlkrorXLeKRvW94B0Y0DWk7paAMxj6LJrNjaCi-wA9tJAFDQxU/s320/PC051679.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Also worth noting, this project uses a LOT of peppermints. Thank god I have a dollar store down the street as I had to use 7 bags for 2 wreaths.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdZe2LXWdK-_QC1BtXudbc4z0FJDJtaWsYY3SWzejfhjnwMQ3XU7S44eBIftfdGQ8nuAch-zxDaCetRVfbhycB9V6bAVv7kf_3IkHUNJgdKAoVDMkx-lmBNyrdCYhMNmS4qNyf7_InRiW/s1600/PC071748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjdZe2LXWdK-_QC1BtXudbc4z0FJDJtaWsYY3SWzejfhjnwMQ3XU7S44eBIftfdGQ8nuAch-zxDaCetRVfbhycB9V6bAVv7kf_3IkHUNJgdKAoVDMkx-lmBNyrdCYhMNmS4qNyf7_InRiW/s320/PC071748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFJLdCrxHMTlDzKOvUM9Pq9nvQQyTlxlcAe2ocwrn3s9oRm8DYWuL6Hj1h8h7JFI73toAVHDRRBpMK9dYbu7NKDVu-zE70SmQkZT_n80mIil37qbXJoONtQXRDW3ZYnTFDRdByJkeyutu/s1600/PC111893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsFJLdCrxHMTlDzKOvUM9Pq9nvQQyTlxlcAe2ocwrn3s9oRm8DYWuL6Hj1h8h7JFI73toAVHDRRBpMK9dYbu7NKDVu-zE70SmQkZT_n80mIil37qbXJoONtQXRDW3ZYnTFDRdByJkeyutu/s320/PC111893.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />So for less than $20 bucks I've got two wreaths I can pull out year after year (and they smell minty fresh). Have you tried any new projects lately? Holiday or otherwise? Share!

good enough to eat

I crafted! And no one cried or threw up (a measuring stick for all disasters in our family). We always get fresh boxwood wreaths to hang on ...

A lovely South African site with free downloadable worksheets in several subjects

1:18 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Isn’t it great when right here, in South Africa, you come across a site with lovely, free, downloadable worksheets in : <strong><a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/resources/mathematics/">Mathematics</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/resources/english/">English</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/resources/science/">Science</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/resources/environment/">Environment</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/resources/health-nutrition/">Health</a>, <a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/resources/health-nutrition/">Nutrition</a>, <a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/resources/health-nutrition/">Hygiene</a></strong>, <strong><a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/resources/art-crafts/">Arts</a>, <a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/resources/art-crafts/">Crafts</a></strong> and <strong><a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/resources/art-crafts/">Colouring</a></strong>.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This site is called the e-learning classroom  and it can be located at:<br /><a href="http://e-classroom.co.za/">http://e-classroom.co.za/</a></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4WpBCuAmNUIRNwqR28Hayz_f_0mf_kpy5ofemOyxrQd5opajQJ8ohfEL2goEIRb4Rn0nJYnge2ni8uMq29YDpCqS-_eeKHzlHRSiRc3ZXwavSi0hjT-FBbmus7YK9x-M0JbYThCQMK8/s1600-h/image%25255B3%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfJQs-1PswrlvZeJ993qrs5oMbdHLAm5l_pKEJs1lQf0L0x7Q-U1XhiCkKNn1eVtD2kRdLmRmlkF_3w3cWgfLvBtFdLP8I8se0qNSCGpoEtW3lhDO8nhzYMju4XzGA_GKI89cJVvN4cc/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When you explore the site you find so many excellent worksheets and other classroom aids.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JLkOfPjoP_8vrqZ87m05cM3eoVGSIwUM5sThExpY87vojMxAZNoVSLbXcO2TXwnSWnbWJ61oz1GTOKAS9DQmHMGHbrOgXSawtoVgpSEYxfZ4REo91O2p0ZAadEEMjMmxt_uQ1jtsX2U/s1600-h/image%25255B8%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmTjktq9j0yikVqY4Jo2vRWAKyt4s37IMxweKVAkrfBdCsRkz7Tb1jwMQ8mQyigvVAtqKyD_vi5pN-CGTjLklAHu7y_9r2Igb1KwfaGvaeNUaH5-3VRrm4rMj64572xtkv4MjeS4c998/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Take a look. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!</span></div>

Lesson plans Website reviews A lovely South African site with free downloadable worksheets in several subjects

Isn’t it great when right here, in South Africa, you come across a site with lovely, free, downloadable worksheets in : Mathematics , Engli...

Adding videos to blog or wiki posts

1:04 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I have recently been exploring several different ways of putting video on to a blog or wiki; and when a friend asked me for some ideas on how to do this I thought it would be a good opportunity for me to summarise what I have tried up to now and what I plan to try in the future and use it as a blog post! So here goes...</span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1. SHORT VIDEOS</span></strong> <br /><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This is something I learned through someone else – isn’t it amazing how we learn from one another all the time! In <strong><em>Blogge</em>r</strong> and <strong><em>Edublogs</em></strong> you can easily add video if it is not too big in size. The problem comes in how your video camera saves files. The files (I think) need to be .wmv to be uploaded. This is where <em>YouTube Downloader </em>comes in handy. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Use YouTube Downloader to convert files</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><strong><br /></strong></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This is a free downloadable programme that can convert movies to different formats. You need to select the second option 'Convert <em>video (previously downloaded) from file'</em>. It works with any video. However Edublogs and Blogger show these videos differently as I will show you now. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Showing videos in Edublogs and Blogger</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><strong><br /></strong></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">a) <strong><u>Edublogs</u></strong>: Last year the Grade 3s used Photostory 3 (with narration) to make videos about Fish Hoek. This is how Edublogs shows the video: <a href="http://fionabeal.edublogs.org/files/2011/05/Fish-Hoek-25m9qo4.wmv">Fish Hoek</a> (Edublogs says about their video approach, <em>"It doesn’t embed your file in an actual video or audio player in your post; it only inserts a link to the file. When readers click on the link it opens another page where the audio file is played or it downloads the video onto their computer").</em></span> <br /><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></em><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">b) <strong><u>Blogger</u></strong>: This is how Blogger shows the same video. It actually embeds the video. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><a href="http://grade4fishhoekprimary.blogspot.com/2011/05/learning-about-fish-hoek.html">http://grade4fishhoekprimary.blogspot.com/2011/05/learning-about-fish-hoek.html</a> I<br /><a href="http://grade4fishhoekprimary.blogspot.com/2011/05/learning-about-fish-hoek.html"><img alt="image" border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXZnCsCFvOzpndwrrwikeIZk7-_7yCwdQFYKYJBvK3CaJtY0bToiZNFEnkf_hKXdTqu4Dr2exLqOwDuHBxcjVFlvkeYsvoUDWw4VaSJ5D53fCizsNTewG3UJvJpGCdr0JgviiXYeNItY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I have to say that I really prefer the Blogger approach with ordinary video clips. Unfortunately Wikispaces only allows embedded video which is what I will discuss next. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Short embedded videos using One True Media</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The video application I have tried to date is <em><em>One True Media</em></em>. A teacher from the USA visited us and the class spontaneously broke into song so I captured it on my camera and put it into <em>OneTrueMedia</em></span> <br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><em><br /></em></span><br /><div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" height="310" width="312"><param name="flashvars" value="&p=961b3d088977924c6b479b&skin_id=801&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" /><param name="src" value="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=961b3d088977924c6b479b" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="312" height="310" src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=961b3d088977924c6b479b" quality="high" wmode="transparent" flashvars="&p=961b3d088977924c6b479b&skin_id=801&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com"></embed></object> <br /><div style="font: 12px/20px verdana,arial,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; text-align: center; width: 312px;"><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt2" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Photo and video editing at <span style="text-decoration: underline;">www.OneTrueMedia.com</span></a></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">We linked with Miss Ale in Argentina for a collaborative-writing project and she made this video using OneTrueMedia:</span>  <br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div></div><div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" height="310" width="312"><param name="name" value="FLVPlayer" /><param name="flashvars" value="&p=90bed68a2a9f5080778f09&skin_id=801&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" /><param name="src" value="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=90bed68a2a9f5080778f09" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="312" height="310" src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=90bed68a2a9f5080778f09" quality="high" wmode="transparent" flashvars="&p=90bed68a2a9f5080778f09&skin_id=801&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" name="FLVPlayer"></embed></object> <br /><div style="font: 12px/20px verdana,arial,sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 15px; text-align: center; width: 312px;"><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_player_link?p=90bed68a2a9f5080778f09&skin_id=801&source=emplay" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_player_link_image/90bed68a2a9f5080778f09/801.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px;" width="312" /></a> <a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt1" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Make an on-line slide show at <span style="text-decoration: underline;">www.OneTrueMedia.com</span></a></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Another teacher I linked with in Canada, Mr Millward, did his class graduation using <em>OneTrueMedia</em>. As you can see the programme is very creative. </span><br /><a href="http://millwardb.edublogs.org/2010/06/23/graduation/"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-small;">http://millwardb.edublogs.org/2010/06/23/graduation/</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-small;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJjjGSwwYoR0WuuQd6MpNwO627Ej82PDa_VyPw8uDp7lbDWHzA29TPSvNvGXpSyqzQ7XX69KbxtgTk53ZNt17EjcqvScPwkSiOFZtxpWTGcfxMbROh9YmRaj-WZiHciLY_C4647jix4dc/s1600-h/image%25255B9%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotaTCQCY2b53MIDHZKYxcbNxR_pLMfskc9pG-5-utwTRx-HiPAKOBe2bs5CGW1EqZJX3-NH8at1o1pKuiNjB0gAECQr12RgArvrMZQBzro_8h1wvYAFpfwHG8SEaI53VWZOwhWRpGM40/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="387" /></a></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><br /></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Short videos using Animoto</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">With Animoto you are only allowed short videos of 30 seconds free but there is an Animoto Educators account which I have applied for and received. This entitles me to myself and 50 of my students having the Plus account in which we can upload full length videos (maximum 200MB). Last year one of the Grade 5 classes participated in the ‘Monster project’ and many of the teachers around the world used Animoto to show everyone where they were at. Here is a sample from a Grade 2 class (Miss Hariju) in the USA:</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /> <object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" height="240" id="vp1Q74VC" width="432"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://static.animoto.com/swf/w.swf?w=swf/vp1&e=1306570895&f=Q74VCBGAESE2hM6pQ0rXdg&d=83&m=a&r=240p&volume=&i=m&options=" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed id="vp1Q74VC" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="432" height="240" src="http://static.animoto.com/swf/w.swf?w=swf/vp1&e=1306570895&f=Q74VCBGAESE2hM6pQ0rXdg&d=83&m=a&r=240p&volume=&i=m&options=" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object><br /><strong></strong> <br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2. SCHOOL TUBE VIDEOS</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I must say that I love School Tube and it is my first choice since it is all about school! I learned about it from another of my PLN friends from America, Bob Greenwood, with whom I was involved in a project. He teaches Grade 2 and he has his own channel on School Tube. He makes so many amazing videos. Take a look: </span><a href="http://www1.schooltube.com/Organization/OrganizationHome.aspx?oid=129695">http://www1.schooltube.com/Organization/OrganizationHome.aspx?oid=129695</a> <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2XSCamXrk0hHHRVRnePEHkOkMWAvkLyaJCbKzB_ZiQP13CVDD7tqwp26LSZE85MNb-uX8GbYRTty3sLUGcf8WZp1-gNZ8L8q9tPENZw2fSSXczlauk83-gpfXl0Qdw476FO6Kkk2kOwI/s1600-h/image%25255B15%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpfUIK_XAjp9UJQs8XXYXYCAGirZtMSZ7fRQdlq0SF8wWvxYecBv3H0RsFzcuWmmjJKxuzbkWOPW-b1i5tFyH0qsDLaJ_rHM1gA1A_b5UA4a6DIxf2_BsApJRi7aT-M6yF7Z8wOdU61u4/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="492" /></a><br /><br />So that is what I did. I applied  to become a moderator on School Tube and I was given a school channel. Any movie uploaded there gives me an embedding code and I put the code in my blogs and in my wikis. Our 2011 Adobe Youth Voices project is uploaded there. <br /><br /><a href="http://got.im/0JTE">http://got.im/0JTE</a> <br /><iframe frameborder="0" height="375" src="http://www.schooltube.com/embed/52f79fed0b3ac508cf91" width="500"></iframe><br /><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3. YOU TUBE VIDEOS</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I also like using YouTube and I have a channel there as well for all my school videos. Once you have posted a video it gives you a code which you can embed into any blog or wiki. This makes it very easy. Often with school videos I make them private so that they can only be seen by whoever has the YouTube address link. When we were on a video swap project with Denmark (Grade 6) we used YouTube’s private code for this. I sometimes think that parents will be happier with the use of School Tube because it is mainly for teachers. I believe there is now a YouTube ‘Teacher Tube’ channel which is an even better option. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4. FOR THE FUTURE</span></strong> <br /><strong><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I would like to try out video sites recommended in blogposts: <br />a) <em>Vimeo</em> <br /><br />b) Explore more with <em>Animoto</em> <br /><a href="http://edupln.ning.com/profiles/blogs/animoto-in-the-classroom">http://edupln.ning.com/profiles/blogs/animoto-in-the-classroom</a> </span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">c) <em>Other recommended sites <br /></em>(<a href="http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2010/03/30/not-the-best-but-a-list-of-online-video-editors/">http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2010/03/30/not-the-best-but-a-list-of-online-video-editors/</a>) <br /><br />My <strong>BIG</strong> question at the moment is - how do you compress large .avi files of say 1.8GB in order to upload them easily? (Later...okay, I have just found the answer to this. You put the whole .avi file into Windows Movie Maker and it reduces it amazingly with little loss of quality. It really works...yay!)</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5. A GREAT PUBLICATION ON MAKING VIDEOS FROM RICHARD BYRNE</span><br /></strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-small;"></span><br /><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></strong><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I love Richard Byrne’s site called <a href="http://www.freetech4teachers.com/">Free Technology for Teachers</a>. One of the books he so freely shared is about making videos on the web. He allows others to embed his documents so I am going to embed the video book here.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br /><div><object style="height: 272px; width: 420px;"><param name="movie" value="http://static.issuu.com/webembed/viewers/style1/v1/IssuuViewer.swf?mode=embed&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Flight%2Flayout.xml&showFlipBtn=true&documentId=110404114820-0ae8536c667a414bbbc8fa3ea8572a28&docName=making_videos_on_the_web&username=richardbyrne&loadingInfoText=Making%20Videos%20on%20the%20Web&et=1323723064420&er=25" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><embed src="http://static.issuu.com/webembed/viewers/style1/v1/IssuuViewer.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" menu="false" style="width:420px;height:272px" flashvars="mode=embed&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Flight%2Flayout.xml&showFlipBtn=true&documentId=110404114820-0ae8536c667a414bbbc8fa3ea8572a28&docName=making_videos_on_the_web&username=richardbyrne&loadingInfoText=Making%20Videos%20on%20the%20Web&et=1323723064420&er=25" /></object> <br /><div style="text-align: left; width: 420px;"><a href="http://issuu.com/richardbyrne/docs/making_videos_on_the_web?mode=embed&layout=http%3A%2F%2Fskin.issuu.com%2Fv%2Flight%2Flayout.xml&showFlipBtn=true" target="_blank">Open publication</a> - Free <a href="http://issuu.com/" target="_blank">publishing</a> - <a href="http://issuu.com/search?q=education" target="_blank">More education</a></div></div></div>

Blogging videos Adding videos to blog or wiki posts

I have recently been exploring several different ways of putting video on to a blog or wiki; and when a friend asked me for some ideas on ho...

...More About "A Month of VERTIGO"

12:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-qOgAh7hhS_mkXDIpXuKKcSKKLomPVCXZMc6_ZPWJ3jQ62EGLaKAcLuNOmASlRcGXnfhIfGHcaeCskNwt2B_gK9df5ntKz95AXbTJjFQIcEnQ1znPKg0HMk4aurCGLVI5j5zum59bRAN/s1600/scottie+and+madeleine+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-qOgAh7hhS_mkXDIpXuKKcSKKLomPVCXZMc6_ZPWJ3jQ62EGLaKAcLuNOmASlRcGXnfhIfGHcaeCskNwt2B_gK9df5ntKz95AXbTJjFQIcEnQ1znPKg0HMk4aurCGLVI5j5zum59bRAN/s1600/scottie+and+madeleine+3.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Not long ago I sat down with the 1956 British translation of Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac's <u>D'Entre Les Morts </u>(1954). The book is now published under the title <u>Vertigo</u> (it was originally called 'The Living and the Dead') owing to the legend that is the 1958 Alfred Hitchcock film based on Boileau/Narcejac's novel. When I finished reading, I wanted to blog about <i>Vertigo</i> and decided to try to do it "with a little help from my friends." One of these friends (Brandon Goco) even created a 'teaser' for what turned into the project we're calling <i>A Month of VERTIGO</i>:</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KyZfpNb1ilc" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>A Month of VERTIGO </i>will begin January 1 and run through the month (and into early February) - with ten bloggers (including me) and one 'vlogger' (video blogger) contemplating <i>Vertigo </i>from a variety of perspectives. More details will appear soon about <i>Reel Life</i>'s first major blog event.<br /><br /></div>

A Month of Vertigo Alfred Hitchcock The Lady Eve (author) Vertigo ...More About "A Month of VERTIGO"

Not long ago I sat down with the 1956 British translation of Pierre Boileau and Thomas Narcejac's D'Entre Les Morts (1954). The book...

HCG PROTOCOL MEDICAL EXPERT REVIEWS WEIGHT-LOSS APOCALYPSE

10:48 AM Tukiyooo 0

<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’d like to start by letting you know I did not write the book I am about to suggest, I have no financial investment in this book, and if you choose to use this book in your clinic, I do not profit from its sales. However, because I own an hCG protocol clinic, I believe the more people who read this book, the more credible the hCG protocol will be, which would benefit all medical hCG clinics. With that said, I would strongly encourage every medical professional and hCG protocol patient to read <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Weight-Loss Apocalypse</i>. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was first introduced to the hCG protocol at a medical symposium 5 years ago. After listening to a short seminar about the protocol (which didn’t provide any information that I couldn’t find myself in Dr. Simeons’ manuscript), I decided to do the hCG protocol myself. After having an incredible experience, I’ve been prescribing for others, ever since.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve read just about every hCG protocol book available. All of them explain the hCG protocol in the same manner: repeating Dr. Simeons’ theories of three types of fat, “unlocking” the hypothalamus, etc. As a doctor, I’ve always known this explanation was insufficient, but no other explanation exists. Because of my own success and the success of my patients, I continued to prescribe− convinced Dr. Simeons’ theories must be correct. Until now.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When Robin Woodall asked me to read and review her manuscript of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Weight-Loss Apocalypse</i>, I really didn’t want to be bothered to read another hCG protocol book. I figured there couldn’t be anything in the book that I didn’t already know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>But because of the sub-title<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> (Emotional Eating Rehab Through the HCG Protocol</i>) I was intrigued to read what Robin was presenting. The biggest difficulty with patients is emotional eating, and even though the protocol gives an undeniable weight loss opportunity, people cheat all the time. If this manuscript was giving suggestions for how to deal with this, it would be worth my time to read and review. I accepted the manuscript and committed to reading it and giving Robin my honest review.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was not prepared for and could not have imagined, what I was about to read. As Robin explained the science of hunger, starvation, energy homeostasis, and the relationship between low dose hCG and leptin, my excitement grew. The manuscript not only gave a credible scientific hypothesis that explained why hCG prevents starvation, but it also provided great insight that would hold accountable the conflict patients have with emotional eating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span>I was floored by the intelligence, integrity, and passion Robin put into her book. I’ve read the medical references used to create the hypothesis and I’ve also read her manuscript another 5 times. My conclusion: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Weight-Loss Apocalypse</i> will revolutionize the entire weight loss industry as a whole, it legitimizes the hCG protocol as a hormonal therapy that reduces diseases associated to obesity, and presents a meaningful approach that holds accountable the cause of the problem: eating without hunger. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now that the book is published, each patient that goes through our program gets a copy of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Weight-Loss Apocalypse</i> and we’ve added the Mind:Body Method to our program. Cheating occurs less often, patients don’t complain about weight anymore, and the new approach has been described as a “life-altering” experience. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We continue to receive emails and messages from patients, thanking us for giving them Robin’s book, expressing how much it has helped them and has permanently changed the way they eat. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needless to say, reading Robin’s manuscript was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Here is my review:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">“</span></i><span class="messagebody"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">I've been prescribing hCG for weight loss for over four years, and nothing I've read comes close to having this level of expertise. Without questions, this is the most informative and enlightening book about Dr. Simeons' hCG protocol available." <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></span></span></div><span class="messagebody"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">−Dr. Ed Hagen, OBGyn and HCG Protocol Medical Expert</span></span></span>

HCG PROTOCOL MEDICAL EXPERT REVIEWS WEIGHT-LOSS APOCALYPSE

I’d like to start by letting you know I did not write the book I am about to suggest, I have no financial investment in this book, and if yo...

Get involved in blogging projects

9:22 PM Tukiyooo 0

Blogging Project-based learning Get involved in blogging projects

Even if you have only one computer in your classroom, you can make a start in integrating technology into your curriculum by getting your cl...

Looking for a project to get involved in in 2012?

1:35 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">IEARN has some interesting new projects for you to consider. If I can urge you to do one thing in 2012 it is to get your class involved in global projects. It is really worth it and will be really exciting for your learners. </span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>1. Learning Circles</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://www.iearn.org/circles/" title="http://www.iearn.org/circles/">http://www.iearn.org/circles/</a></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAD0HwUDt5A8EsPgyutgsGE26Jwy_PzJOq_jPOaFWrf6w9pgnJ7d1rpAqqwCAzwLi-xUP0rWwQKWFitCAI-5p76JrTZb5ILnZMDztwmKh9KCic0TdJfmWOXN7uR_0QU5WDJhu5qIpxWo/s1600-h/image%25255B4%25255D.png"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-small;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFylEi0KXMCZbl1qlgytN_Ogh_5U4HPR-x9yJ-rxCS0ReF63UaKWwXmMC0Wq6aS1aRc6ENRMaOl9WZWmtiggCXd_Nvt2zJozCwKANMx2pyHSnvd0msL6qLh3W2M7FJVfcg8hkiRd3lB8k/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></span></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>2. Special Places project</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://media.iearn.org/projects/specialplaces" title="http://media.iearn.org/projects/specialplaces">http://media.iearn.org/projects/specialplaces</a></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85_WPxq3wmki4rwiYWam559WAJmjzQvA8ktgcHIvCk6ZGAMqY1rcAO3kQaiI44Hce51-7XvLQM9MmS8qnGzkbPmyJDbbwh8lIreUcjHSvffDco5mMSUW76Ccu4b4ZT5mZKNOp7SXS6Lw/s1600-h/image%25255B9%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCI4a1FokxuOENTy3mZJo3gw7E70E060qPypV60Vx6xI6IdTn9fSDrii5RCd-ylqTrx07Zkli42jCJSufQKMm1IaGZ8z7wknRluEly1CmCoeYK-T2Oj2zS44Waoqv4U0-F9nG8hUq9a_E/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>3. Future Citizens project</b></span> <a href="http://media.iearn.org/projects/futurecitizen" title="http://media.iearn.org/projects/futurecitizen">http://media.iearn.org/projects/futurecitizen</a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSNm1PDTTioh0Av4DryNlCfuS75s8EVfy53m5qNKpzJcooRDOjPAR86S7QNJqCcIXzcWHalsYDV4svvuOKOBdZIBQTEfY_bGk7mD6guSEZIzwTyQmL1VPWovmPIV-uV4o4LEH9NcgsLA/s1600-h/image%25255B15%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpiJweZk2RaZNJdXKp2In9ubCrjq8cQlP30NhlTrXZ3fF3Z_oTx61SNtYfey056BJUJE1V8EUd_xGOyyaBq5Tgc87rSdj5BdRGM-WZPmfOiquf76a3V9MnrkbOgk_Qs1hSCQ6Rtj4QIs/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>4. Special Moon Observation</b></span><a href="http://media.iearn.org/projects/moon" title="http://media.iearn.org/projects/moon">http://media.iearn.org/projects/moon</a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSj8Vl_0gkJG-KV7k5ySvtJMguPzQRwTF6_gMzY-vc5g8OITk1Yitd1NoyfbUlScZ4qTx0yFlfv_oglGaACZkfwbkYuKUMvjkkWWW_03u29EcH3DcCGC1AnTaKwUEj1vUniFe6cMhO3A/s1600-h/image%25255B21%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZWu0ho2_qOr3X0wRUfEvda34gfIt9KjpEv8xAJLNhzuy1lJJORn36lxkWFOEcj_XFUbuht1ZfOWHCveGPMBgR4dtUW7hpLnT5FTFbNNQp2WsSGZnAzIy7OmFxXo5GV307zpUP6oVKKw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>4. Resources, Contests, websites and announcements</b></span> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://us.iearn.org/projects/curriculum-integration-toolkit" title="http://us.iearn.org/projects/curriculum-integration-toolkit">http://us.iearn.org/projects/curriculum-integration-toolkit</a><br /></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMJMpmNDLE56FyjNkjAyNWSM-S0yEdHYozBa2m8V8fHU9XdUb10LN-zRSvw3xm_W-7_PJspglXukscpk6bp1DthhybENZaz11NbrrpEULk0WKvwCbk0YBIHeo4rEo8HxVK3XQWgaf08k/s1600-h/image%25255B32%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCkT1w9Kvs78CLvXP21Lwi-sWiFOKpeve56OLCLlY3sFsFR6G4EA-fL00mjD_Px5SUUT_E16AHlpiWfGrtMMKOKMBGME9U263fmYOQsAU7tRqO4V_QDLdLf1mm54_AclIcBhfEMwFkYSo/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>5. Global conference recordings available</b></span> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><a href="http://us.iearn.org/events/detail/2011-global-education-conferenace" title="http://us.iearn.org/events/detail/2011-global-education-conferenace">http://us.iearn.org/events/detail/2011-global-education-conferenace</a></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxvTFCneGHJDzj0dyQh6bNj9CwIKoz9qLD0qG4C1bmio8eNKr2s9U5dtwX1e-UhdpFwG9tFZVaRQPFlRRRNkyUCR2RKiDW9NKWjSojHgyiZRCMq18A8eqgO7dvVQtl2Lgvh455aSH-6c/s1600-h/image%25255B37%25255D.png"><img alt="image" border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qPg0QUEEM15SvRbMk9tsGB1XIZIE6OMMBoTXEt2iW3ciDfMspQdo0Y7C290VwKZXzYN71yrAke3f773LFRP2qs9kDsuu-7Y_0L44z-0sZF2ljNyIshsVCQeTAAnItnU9_OMXD0rx_Vw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div>

Project-based learning Looking for a project to get involved in in 2012?

IEARN has some interesting new projects for you to consider. If I can urge you to do one thing in 2012 it is to get your class involved in g...

BREAKFAST ISN'T AS IMPORTANT AS WE THOUGHT

6:27 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The diet industry has continued to neglect the value of hunger. Unfortunately, this has continued dysfunctional eating by focusing on rules and boundaries that have very little to do with feedback from the body. A perfect example is using caloric expenditure to determine how much a person should eat.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Science describes that our body is fueled by stored substrates (fat, muscle, glycogen, blood/cellular glucose), which is regulated hormonally. Using calories to quantify daily food intake, assumes the food you eat is immediately digested into these molecular forms, which are converted into human fuel and used the same day you eat it. If you eat strait sugar, this is accurate. But if you eat anything complex, this couldn’t be further from the truth. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Using calories to determine how much you should eat also neglects to include that your body already has stored fuel that has completed the digestive process and is ready to be used. Food is complex and must be digested and distributed among the four fueling substrates before it can be used. So there are hormones that eating stimulates that regulate the release of fuel from already stored substrates, while food is digesting. This is a cycle that ensures the body is fueled adequately, even though the food you are eating is no where close to being in a molecular substrate.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">What regulates the hormones that control this fuel release? The answer is complex and requires a finite balance between other hormones, expenditure rate, oxygen, and hormonal stimulants, such as food. All food stimulates your fat to release hormones and how much hormones you get is relative to how many fat cells you have, the size of your fat cells, and the potency of the food you ate. An easy way for you to understand if you have enough of these hormones is through hunger. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you’re not hungry, you don’t need to stimulate more of these hormones. Leptin is the hormone your fat creates that also removes the physical irritation and urgency to eat. So if you’re not hungry, your blood leptin levels are elevated, and you do not need to eat, otherwise you’ll release more leptin, which not only has over-fueling ramifications, but can cause a host of hormonal imbalances elsewhere in the endocrine system.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When made aware of the hormonal regulation of hunger and the link to fueling mechanisms, it makes sense why people who have more fat experience less hunger. They have more fat cells that create more leptin, which releases more fuel from fat, so they need weaker stimulus− less often, and they also have less need to “restock” fuel from food. The more fat you have, the less food you need! (Refer to why skinny b*tches eat more and don’t get fat.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here is a prime example of how messed up the diet industry is. When you wake up in the morning, are you legitimately hungry for breakfast? Probably not. The more fat you have, the less likely you are to experience hunger after you wake in the morning.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How many of you have been demanded to eat breakfast, even though you have very little hunger? I was taught at the university level that breakfast starts your metabolism. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was described by the “thermic effect of food” which would start the calorie-burning process. That was in the year 2000. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">At that point science wasn’t readily available to explain that by eating breakfast all of your fat cells would be stimulated to create the hormone leptin, which would as a reaction, release fuel into your body. If you’re not hungry and your leptin levels are already elevated (which indicates that your body is already adequately fueled by your fat) do you need to stimulate more? No! Chances are those calories you burned through the thermic effect of food didn't come close to the over fueling  from fat that causes a host of problems.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you’re not hungry you already have enough leptin, you’re already receiving fuel from your fat and by eating anyways, you’ll be causing an over production of leptin and an over-fueling situation. In short, wait until you are hungry to eat breakfast.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 150%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">BUY THE BOOK: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>www.weightlossapocalypse.com</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></div>

BREAKFAST ISN'T AS IMPORTANT AS WE THOUGHT

The diet industry has continued to neglect the value of hunger. Unfortunately, this has continued dysfunctional eating by focusing on rules ...

Gold, the savior of Europe?

4:39 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">17 Euro Countries are sitting on 10 000 tons of GOLD reserves </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is Gold the savior of Europe? </span></div><div id="navpages" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8Fmcly_20ftT2uBdo8_VD4opfYWBGKet2hpY6GqP9v9Zmv0Ls12-YbfzCAFeSmc6HWimtyN_c9XaFoXF_Eb9za5-Q572VX-WBBPNgx2OIWA9gFsTF898bgYYNhiZ70vQ7STtIQbL6KJx/s1600/gold-reserves.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8Fmcly_20ftT2uBdo8_VD4opfYWBGKet2hpY6GqP9v9Zmv0Ls12-YbfzCAFeSmc6HWimtyN_c9XaFoXF_Eb9za5-Q572VX-WBBPNgx2OIWA9gFsTF898bgYYNhiZ70vQ7STtIQbL6KJx/s320/gold-reserves.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">        </div><h1 class="singlePageTitle" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gold Shares Rise, IAG Hikes Dividend 25% </span>                       </h1><div class="sponsorpagetimestamp"><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">     </div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Friday, December 9, 2011, 12:19pm EST Written by GoldAlert Staff.</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> <a href="http://www.goldalert.com/2011/12/gold-shares-rise-iag-hikes-dividend-25/">http://www.goldalert.com/2011/12/gold-shares-rise-iag-hikes-dividend-25/</a></i></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EidKjIPyus8?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Form your own opinion about this interview.</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>genuine or propaganda?</i></span></div><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div></div>

Gold, the savior of Europe?

17 Euro Countries are sitting on 10 000 tons of GOLD reserves Is Gold the savior of Europe? Gold Shares Rise, IAG Hikes Dividend 25...

NEW HYPOTHESIS FOR WHY HCG PREVENTS STARVATION DURING THE HCG PROTOCOL

8:10 PM Tukiyooo 0

<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> "<em>I have never had an opportunity of conducting the laboratory investigations which are so necessary for a theoretical understanding of clinical observations, and I can only hope that those more fortunately placed will in time be able to fill this gap.”</em></span><br /><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" style="text-align: left;">Dr. ATW Simeons, <em>Pounds & Inches</em> -privately published in 1967<br /><br />Laboratory investigation requires first, that there be a hypothesis that is testabl<span class="text_exposed_show">e in a scientific laboratory to observe the finite mechanisms that explain molecular physiology. In the recently published book, <em>Weight-Loss Apocalypse</em>, Robin Woodall has composed a new hypothesis that describes why Dr. Simeons observed his clinical observations. This hypothesis will open the doors immediately for laboratory investigation. <br /><br />If you, in any way, would like the hCG protocol to have credibility as a hormonal therapy, I suggest you read the book, understand the new hypothesis, and change the way you market your hCG business as well as how you explain why the hCG protocol works. Using measurements of weight to prove (or disprove) the protocol is not only naïve, but is insufficient data that directs the public towards old and outdated research that discredited Simeons' observations, with and without hCG. <br /><br />The FDA continues to devalue the protocol based on this outdated research which compared double-blind studies based on weight lost, perceived hunger, and circumference measurements− all of which didn't show a statistical significance. However, to disprove or prove that hCG prevents starvation there must be laboratory investigation studying the hormone hCG and how it may influence the hormonal regulation of starvation when administered in low doses (125 iu) daily, when food is significantly reduced for weeks at a time. This laboratory research is what Dr. Simeons did not do, thus he wrote the quote at the top of this post. <br /><br />Recently (2009), there has been a defined negative feedback loop between hCG and the hormone that controls energy homeostasis; leptin. Leptin is a fat derived hormone that was discovered in 1994. This very recent discovery between hCG and leptin could very well explain why Dr. Simeons observed the miracles he couldn't fully explain (nor prove) during his very low calorie protocol.<br /><br />Today, we are the "more fortunately placed" and it's time to fill the scientific gap. We need to put the new hypothesis to the test and hope laboratory evidence proves we’re not all crazy and the hCG protocol isn’t too good to be true.</span></div><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed"><span class="text_exposed_show"><br />BUY THE BOOK <a href="http://www.mindbodyhcg.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3b5998;">www.mindbodyhcg.com</span></a></span></div>

NEW HYPOTHESIS FOR WHY HCG PREVENTS STARVATION DURING THE HCG PROTOCOL

" I have never had an opportunity of conducting the laboratory investigations which are so necessary for a theoretical understanding o...

Weigh In & Weekly Goals

8:53 AM Tukiyooo 0

I just have to blurt this out because I can hardly contain the excitement I have for this week's weight in!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>I lost 1.7 lbs, bringing me down to 242.7!!!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">242.7 is a record low weight since I've started this journey in March 2011.  Not only <i>that</i>, BUT I have now removed 21.1 pounds of weight.  AND, now that I've met another 10 pound goal, a giveaway is fast approaching!  AND, now that I've met another <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/p/goals.html">smaller goal</a>, I get to buy my VB bag & Pandora Charm.  Stay tuned :).  </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">These are the potential charm choices:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIpkgjUnJVr6fPQsYiIFc9TUspJaf0Rf7aPoguYLh2osKEjpNjq1MUA26QxN1hNtsXpJ_5JbeOOBjlI_PWtFZ100-Sk9PmyoDPqGGbz1odZYoT_M-iHFWpvxASpDJrMbiBX0PTSSJApY/s1600/charm+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrIpkgjUnJVr6fPQsYiIFc9TUspJaf0Rf7aPoguYLh2osKEjpNjq1MUA26QxN1hNtsXpJ_5JbeOOBjlI_PWtFZ100-Sk9PmyoDPqGGbz1odZYoT_M-iHFWpvxASpDJrMbiBX0PTSSJApY/s1600/charm+2.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Inner Strength</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNqlcnvmBqanmTwqiHOwMLnypoN5V1V3RAO3QEyBTxgAqsb9D4xa5G4EBFMgawrF6jvBDCc_68MbX_rUxC3JmAN9EvSsc4nOOrKAz3cc5Yyw1FUhIk1gbT4HT1LW12_lfztDHNCFOnj4/s1600/bead+pink+flowers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNqlcnvmBqanmTwqiHOwMLnypoN5V1V3RAO3QEyBTxgAqsb9D4xa5G4EBFMgawrF6jvBDCc_68MbX_rUxC3JmAN9EvSsc4nOOrKAz3cc5Yyw1FUhIk1gbT4HT1LW12_lfztDHNCFOnj4/s1600/bead+pink+flowers.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink Flowers Bead</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNJCZOShxSL3r_pHaIelIB5aYQVTcwK0voFwkcBfQkXHcXSfdLT-Pj4zhpgWQRxzZ2qsnJhmZOR9CTxs_xY_FPCpnZ8MN25sdlA0Bs2WnZjnyuD1c9K-OXGSPoxYcYhN0tcMo3dpEM4o/s1600/bead+pink+polka+dots.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNJCZOShxSL3r_pHaIelIB5aYQVTcwK0voFwkcBfQkXHcXSfdLT-Pj4zhpgWQRxzZ2qsnJhmZOR9CTxs_xY_FPCpnZ8MN25sdlA0Bs2WnZjnyuD1c9K-OXGSPoxYcYhN0tcMo3dpEM4o/s1600/bead+pink+polka+dots.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink Polka Dots</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEDC5CN3_uUu9I2wzKQ6olkSxecaivoe7HxbFw-SCe_epeqKytz_HCDTOuOgx_NFJ5Nlcs07SCCQFNRq9BVkGjlsBAP5t1QzCCZj7Pe4w5V9flwGsRHst4baQrruIV8jOUUvY2rQVZxU/s1600/lavender+murano.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEDC5CN3_uUu9I2wzKQ6olkSxecaivoe7HxbFw-SCe_epeqKytz_HCDTOuOgx_NFJ5Nlcs07SCCQFNRq9BVkGjlsBAP5t1QzCCZj7Pe4w5V9flwGsRHst4baQrruIV8jOUUvY2rQVZxU/s200/lavender+murano.JPG" width="143" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lavender Candy Stripe</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">I'd like to add some color to my bracelet, so that is why I am so heavy on the glass beads.  Your thoughts?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is the bag I'm looking at:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeHVLVfqDsjvcki8eM4D2JvbtruqkAzbQeJzahaNDMfaonWq4lypfrb1cOVx-2e4bPG6iK1citWP_uT1_yQvbVgqYKYF_vMzjxtJl1iwQ5CTGsYYhxnLHl6aUaflT6H6_7NCAT628WJY/s1600/side+by+side+tote.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeHVLVfqDsjvcki8eM4D2JvbtruqkAzbQeJzahaNDMfaonWq4lypfrb1cOVx-2e4bPG6iK1citWP_uT1_yQvbVgqYKYF_vMzjxtJl1iwQ5CTGsYYhxnLHl6aUaflT6H6_7NCAT628WJY/s320/side+by+side+tote.JPG" width="248" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side by Side Tote - Rhythm & Blues</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm so incredibly proud of myself, especially after <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/12/weekend-recap.html">this week's events</a>.  After the cookie meltdown, I tried hard to stay within my 39 Points+ this week, and did really well on both Wednesday and Thursday, not evening consuming all 39.  That's okay though, because I definitely went over my Weekly Points+ again despite the <a href="http://the-big-weight.blogspot.com/2011/12/weigh-in-results.html">goals</a> I set.  </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's what happened with last week's weekly goals:</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Goals for the week:</span></b><br />Stay within daily Points+ allowance for 5 of the 7 days. - <b><i>I achieved 2 of the 7 days.  Not superb.</i></b><br /><br /><b style="color: blue;">Potential Challenges + Solutions:</b></div><ol><li>Weekend lunch date with the ladies.  <b><i>I was proud of how I did with this, eating only half the sandwich and a few fries.</i></b></li><li>Cookie Madness.  <i><b>I definitely indulged not only that night, but one other night later this week.  </b><b>*Sigh*  Moving on...</b></i></li></ol><b style="color: blue;">Planned Activity: </b><br /><i><b>I went to the gym on Wednesday and did 37  minutes on the elliptical.  I'll take it!  I earned 4 Activity Points+ and was pleased with that effort, even if I didn't meet my goal of 2 days (though totally doable, someone is just l-a-z-y!).</b></i></blockquote><br /><br />Here are my new goals for the week.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPHHXZcGayhBxS9vC7YcoFq6_ZHzGYSWuOo-BlOdbMWpof09vHPM20Oa2UQfXqzy0bmBTUxveiaJW5X_APpzAfF_nB2GxclJGudMWazU-Mg7SUXmA6CUvvFRcVYsiloZLUl2ZEVaEQ0A/s1600/weight-watchers-diet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPHHXZcGayhBxS9vC7YcoFq6_ZHzGYSWuOo-BlOdbMWpof09vHPM20Oa2UQfXqzy0bmBTUxveiaJW5X_APpzAfF_nB2GxclJGudMWazU-Mg7SUXmA6CUvvFRcVYsiloZLUl2ZEVaEQ0A/s1600/weight-watchers-diet.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><span style="color: blue;">Goals for the week:</span></b><br />Stay within daily Points+ allowance for 5 of the 7 days. If I have to delve in to the Weekly Points+ allowance, I want to use no more than 39 of them, leaving a balance of 10.   <br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b style="color: blue;">Potential Challenges + Solutions:</b></div><ol><li><b>Office Holiday Happy Hour:</b> There will be drinking and eating.  Thankfully most of the food being served  I don't like.  To combat this I plan to eat my lunch before the HH (it starts at 12).  I will definitely want to have a drink, but will try to limit it to no more than 2-3.</li><li><b>Going over daily Points+ allowance:</b>  I struggle with this every week.  Rarely am I ever able to achieve a perfect week of staying within my daily Points+.  You know why?  Poor planning.  As they say, without a plan, plan to fail.  What I need to do to stay on track is make sure my breakfasts/lunches are packed the night before.  Also, I need to make sure I have plenty of healthful snacks, including 0 Points+ fruits/vegetables to snack on when I have cravings and 0 Points+ left for the day.   </li></ol><b style="color: blue;">Planned Activity: </b><br />I wrote up an activity schedule for the week, but realizing that I have to reacclimate myself to getting back to the gym, I'm going to aim for 2 days of the gym this week again.  If I do more, then it will be a bonus.  Also, I tried out that new feature on eTools where it gives you a weekly Activity Points+ to work toward, and mine is 14.  I'm going to try to reach that this week in whatever way I can.<br /><br />What are your weekend plans?  I still need to get some Christmas shopping done.  Joel and I are going to check out a wedding venue on Saturday, and we're going to take our Christmas card picture as well.  I'm so behind this year :(.  It's making me crazy!

Success Weekly Weight Watchers Goals Weight Loss Weight Loss Challenges Weight Watchers Weigh In & Weekly Goals

I just have to blurt this out because I can hardly contain the excitement I have for this week's weight in! I lost 1.7 lbs, bringing me ...