Saw this on pinterest and had to give it a share - I think it's an amazing idea and I can't wait to try it!
http://thishumblehome.com/lovely-lyrics/
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Friday, December 30, 2011
Chocolate Marshmallow Deliciousness!
My best friend sent me this recipe and I tried it out last night.... DELICIOUS and SO EASY!!!!
Here is a picture of how mine looked and the recipe!
Here is a picture of how mine looked and the recipe!
 |
| Of course I had to add in these cookies.... these are just absolutely delicious and cute. (and they were on sale after Christmas ha) |
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
I've always been one to make some sort of resolution for the New Year, and it usually lasts about 2 weeks. I'm also one to try to give up something for lent, but then about 2 weeks in I realize I'm not Catholic so I really don't have to do it. I hate looking back on this and knowing that I haven't been able to get through these things, due to my own mental weakness. But I truly am a firm believer that anything and anyone can change.
So, I decided that I am going to try really hard to make a change this year - I am putting my resolutions out there and I am going to make a conscious effort at these...
2012 Resolutions
Run 1 mile/Run 5 miles/Run 13.1 miles
Financial responsibility
more specifically, saving of money
Donate 6 pints of blood
Continue to discover my faith
Simplify my belongings
Stop texting and driving
Read more - at least one book a month
So, I decided that I am going to try really hard to make a change this year - I am putting my resolutions out there and I am going to make a conscious effort at these...
2012 Resolutions
Run 1 mile/Run 5 miles/Run 13.1 miles
Financial responsibility
more specifically, saving of money
Donate 6 pints of blood
Continue to discover my faith
Simplify my belongings
Stop texting and driving
Read more - at least one book a month
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Christmas gifts made with love :)
In order to be a bit more financially responsible this holiday season, I decided to construct some Christmas presents for the ladies in my life. I found some ideas through various blogs as well as with some ideas I have seen on www.pinterest.com. I wanted to share some of them as they were fun to do and turned out great!
I really enjoying creating gifts for people for Christmas, and I have a tendency to do something like this every year. I usually learn a lot (especially about my patience!) People tend to enjoy these gifts and it also helps my bank account.
Chalkboard Wine Glasses
Total cost:
$9.99 wine glasses
$14.99 paint
+ $1.49 brush
$26.47
Used for 6 different people: $26.47/6 = $4.41/person
Funky Coasters
Total cost:
$13.60 tiles (and I have some left over)
$8.99 Mod Podge (from Michael's)
$1.89 wide paint brush (from Lowe's)
+ $17.98 bumpers (from Walmart)
$42.46
While $42.26 isn't "cheap"... I used these for gifts for 12 people making the average cost per gift $3.52... not too shabby!!!
side note: if you are reading this - and a recepient of these gifts - don't pay attention to the cost, it was the love that went into the process that really matters :)
I really enjoying creating gifts for people for Christmas, and I have a tendency to do something like this every year. I usually learn a lot (especially about my patience!) People tend to enjoy these gifts and it also helps my bank account.
ENJOY!
Chalkboard Wine Glasses
 |
| $9.99 for 12 glasses from Bed Bath and Beyond (don't forget about the 20% off coupon!) |
 |
| A bit of a shorter stem than what I wanted, but they worked out great! |
 |
| Chalkboard paint - $14.99 at Lowe's. A little more $$ than expected, but I am sure I can find somewhere around the house to use the rest of it! :) |
 |
| I added scotch tape at the base to give a cut off point. I'm sure painting tape would work well too. *note: make sure to flag the tape so it's easy to peel off. It was difficult to get the paint to lay smoothly on the glass. I had to make the paint relatively thick to do so. |
 |
| Finished product... didn't have a picture of the brush I used, but it was a 1" standard brush $1.49 from Lowe's. |
 |
| Drying on 2 pieces of skinny wood so they wouldn't stick to the newspaper. |
$9.99 wine glasses
$14.99 paint
+ $1.49 brush
$26.47
Used for 6 different people: $26.47/6 = $4.41/person
I also used chalk to write 'Merry Christmas' on each of them and was going to include a piece of chalk with each glass... that is until my lovely dog decided to eat the chalk. (Non-toxic, I looked it up - thankfully she didn't have any reactions)
Funky Coasters
 |
| 4x4 white bathroom tiles purchased at Lowe's. $.17 each - so naturally I bought a box of 80. $13.60 total |
 |
| I used Mod Podge ($8.99 at Michael's) and this Polycrylic finish (free from Mike's neighbor). I purchased a can of clear enamel spray paint to cover them, but didn't like the finish it left. I'd recommend this finish. |
 |
| I purchased (and already owned) a variety of scrapbook paper - it's super cheap! I cut the paper into 4x4 and 3x3 squares. *I experiemented with the 1in. strips but didn't like how they looked! |
 |
| I applied a light coat of Mod Podge to the back of the paper square and the top of the tile to allow them to adhere. (Using a thick brush purchased at Lowe's for $1.89) I gently placed the paper onto the tile and then added another light coat of Mod Podge to the top of the paper. *This is where I came into some complications: This is the first time I have worked with Mod Podge before and it was a bit more challenging than I anticipated. This is what I learned: - It will look thick and not clear, but it dries clear - It is very important to smooth out all the bubbles that form - If you're getting bubbles, it's probably because you applied too much - Mod Podge dries VERY quickly... so make sure there is no dust (and especially dog hair) on the paper |
 |
| This is a picture of what they looked like after the Mod Podge was applied. |
 |
| And then came the lonnnggggggg drying process! While the Mod Podge dries pretty quickly, they needed to be firm before applying the Polycrylic sealer. |
 |
| I repeated this picture because I then covered each of them with this finish. Like the Mod Podge, this appears a frosty color, but it will dry clear. I put a moderate coat over each of the tiles. *The good thing about this finish is that there is almost no odor to it, so I was able to complete this in the house. I tried the enamel spray and had to do this outside in the garage - which was a daunting task in the 32 degree rainy/windy day. |
 |
| Yet again.... the drying process!!!! These took a long time to dry. I let them dry for a full 24 hours (some on the ground, some on newspaper, and some on the wood racks you saw with the wine glasses) |
 |
| Finished product! I bought 2 packages of bumpers from Walmart ($8.99/package) and added them to the bottom 4 corners. I also added a little orange square in the bottom as my "signature" :)
I found this to be a really fun, challenging project! I liked that I could personalize the coasters for each person's taste. I made packages of 4 for most people, but made some individual ones for people to bring to work if desired. (bandaid coasters for my co-workers, grass coasters for my brother who designs turf fields...)
|
$13.60 tiles (and I have some left over)
$8.99 Mod Podge (from Michael's)
$1.89 wide paint brush (from Lowe's)
+ $17.98 bumpers (from Walmart)
$42.46
While $42.26 isn't "cheap"... I used these for gifts for 12 people making the average cost per gift $3.52... not too shabby!!!
side note: if you are reading this - and a recepient of these gifts - don't pay attention to the cost, it was the love that went into the process that really matters :)
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Hyperacusis? Photophobia?
Conern:
How many concussions go diagnosed?
Thought:
So, we have all this "new" technology that is supposed to be in place to help our athletes "prevent" a concussion. Well, wouldn't decreasing hits help decrease concussions? What about those individuals who get in a car accident during their season and have a closed head injury? Or get scared by their roommate and hit their head on their wooden bed in the dorm? How many of these kinds of incidents happen and nothing gets said?
Reality:
What can we do? Does reporting it really make that big of a deal? The sports medicine world is very (mostly/typically) all educated about the possiblity and severity of second impact syndrome and intercranial hemmoraging that can result from unadiagnosed concussions... but, is the rest of the population?
I watch football week by week (not always by choice/job ;) ) and I am blown away by the number of "unbelievable" hits... the ones that throw someone to the ground, helmet to helmet hits or the ones that knock the helmet right off an athlete. Do each of these result in mini concussions leading to the brain-injured retirees? Check out this concussion!
Upon doing some research for this post, I looked up some concussion articles on espn.com and came across this linke - http://espn.go.com/nfl/topics/_/page/concussions
I was interested to see this new "rule" instituted by the NHL and I think it's phenomenal. The line before it is what interests me the most, "The NFL currently requires players who show concussion symptoms to sit out the rest of a game or practice and be analyzed by a neurologist before returning."
Well, the individual who wrote this little law probably hasn't played or worked with collegiate football. It is unbelievable the amount of times individuals suffer a concussion and don't say anything. It isn't until they are on the field and looking confused - or that ((uncommon)) time a teammate comes up to the athletic trainer or coach and reports that someone is acting different. So, in the NFL do they really sit for the duration of the game/practice? Or do they just not say anything, predisposing themselves to second impact syndrome.
The rest of the link from ESPN is actually quite interesting... it sort of breaks down each sports concussion protocol. Which brings up another thought... why do they have to be different? Why can't it just be universal? If a person is showing signs and symptoms of a concussion (i.e. headache, dizzy, nausea, blurred vision, "spacey", ringing in ears, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, etc.) why should they finish playing?
Reality is that if this was instituted, no one would want to report a concussion... therefore the number of second impact syndromes, aka death, increases immensely.
This brings me back to a personal example - my "big kid job"... away from school completely, on my own and responsible for making return to play decisions (well, underneath a physician's discretion, of course). I was working a Division 2 collegiate football game with a coworker of mine and a defensive tackle suffered a concussion early in the 2nd quarter. The individual was disoriented, dizzy, nauseous - among other things. I, responsibly, removed him from the game and monitored his symptoms.
Reportedly, his symptoms cleared up in 10 minutes. However, despite the yelling, throwing, and cursing that ensued, I removed him from the duration of the game. Not a pretty site.
At the end of the game, my coworker (who had been employed as an ATC for 7+ years) asked for my explanation for why I didn't allow him to return to play once his symptoms decreased as he just "got his bell rung". My response included: how do we know the symptoms haven't gone away? Isn't a "bell ringing" a concussion? Hasn't he had concussions in the past?
My co-worker completely supported my decision to not allow him to return to play, but did question it... I mean, why should someone be allowed to subject themself to more hits following an obvious concussion?
Side note: the athlete approached me a few days later and apologized for being so abrasive and also admitted that he shouldn't have gone back into the game.
I often think back to this example when I am treating concussions with other individuals. I know that I did the right thing in this case, as well as several others that I have dealt with. However, I have been wrong too and cleared individuals too early. That's the tricky thing about treating concussions - you can't feel the damage, you can't see the swelling/bleeding, you can't fully objectively examine them.
Question:
How do we know the right decision is being made? How can we make sure the right decision is being made?
Answer:
RESEARCH. research typically requires a CHANGE.
How many concussions go diagnosed?
Thought:
So, we have all this "new" technology that is supposed to be in place to help our athletes "prevent" a concussion. Well, wouldn't decreasing hits help decrease concussions? What about those individuals who get in a car accident during their season and have a closed head injury? Or get scared by their roommate and hit their head on their wooden bed in the dorm? How many of these kinds of incidents happen and nothing gets said?
Reality:
What can we do? Does reporting it really make that big of a deal? The sports medicine world is very (mostly/typically) all educated about the possiblity and severity of second impact syndrome and intercranial hemmoraging that can result from unadiagnosed concussions... but, is the rest of the population?
I watch football week by week (not always by choice/job ;) ) and I am blown away by the number of "unbelievable" hits... the ones that throw someone to the ground, helmet to helmet hits or the ones that knock the helmet right off an athlete. Do each of these result in mini concussions leading to the brain-injured retirees? Check out this concussion!
Upon doing some research for this post, I looked up some concussion articles on espn.com and came across this linke - http://espn.go.com/nfl/topics/_/page/concussions
I was interested to see this new "rule" instituted by the NHL and I think it's phenomenal. The line before it is what interests me the most, "The NFL currently requires players who show concussion symptoms to sit out the rest of a game or practice and be analyzed by a neurologist before returning."
Well, the individual who wrote this little law probably hasn't played or worked with collegiate football. It is unbelievable the amount of times individuals suffer a concussion and don't say anything. It isn't until they are on the field and looking confused - or that ((uncommon)) time a teammate comes up to the athletic trainer or coach and reports that someone is acting different. So, in the NFL do they really sit for the duration of the game/practice? Or do they just not say anything, predisposing themselves to second impact syndrome.
The rest of the link from ESPN is actually quite interesting... it sort of breaks down each sports concussion protocol. Which brings up another thought... why do they have to be different? Why can't it just be universal? If a person is showing signs and symptoms of a concussion (i.e. headache, dizzy, nausea, blurred vision, "spacey", ringing in ears, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, etc.) why should they finish playing?
Reality is that if this was instituted, no one would want to report a concussion... therefore the number of second impact syndromes, aka death, increases immensely.
This brings me back to a personal example - my "big kid job"... away from school completely, on my own and responsible for making return to play decisions (well, underneath a physician's discretion, of course). I was working a Division 2 collegiate football game with a coworker of mine and a defensive tackle suffered a concussion early in the 2nd quarter. The individual was disoriented, dizzy, nauseous - among other things. I, responsibly, removed him from the game and monitored his symptoms.
Reportedly, his symptoms cleared up in 10 minutes. However, despite the yelling, throwing, and cursing that ensued, I removed him from the duration of the game. Not a pretty site.
At the end of the game, my coworker (who had been employed as an ATC for 7+ years) asked for my explanation for why I didn't allow him to return to play once his symptoms decreased as he just "got his bell rung". My response included: how do we know the symptoms haven't gone away? Isn't a "bell ringing" a concussion? Hasn't he had concussions in the past?
My co-worker completely supported my decision to not allow him to return to play, but did question it... I mean, why should someone be allowed to subject themself to more hits following an obvious concussion?
Side note: the athlete approached me a few days later and apologized for being so abrasive and also admitted that he shouldn't have gone back into the game.
I often think back to this example when I am treating concussions with other individuals. I know that I did the right thing in this case, as well as several others that I have dealt with. However, I have been wrong too and cleared individuals too early. That's the tricky thing about treating concussions - you can't feel the damage, you can't see the swelling/bleeding, you can't fully objectively examine them.
Question:
How do we know the right decision is being made? How can we make sure the right decision is being made?
Answer:
RESEARCH. research typically requires a CHANGE.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
just plain tired of "those" meetings
I just left my 2nd serious/negative talk...2 in 2 days = 2 too many. whoa.
While I know that I am not that far removed from today's generation of college students, I feel a world away. It just doesn't seem so long ago that I was sitting in the same chair of my students, in the same class that I am teaching...and yet, it seems so long ago.
There seems to be a lack of common sense, respect, self-pride, drive and most importantly self-worth.
Example 1 - I recently required my class to create a paper and a presentation on a particular injury that I designated to each of them. One student created a great presentation and seemed very knowledgeable and I was almost looking forward to reading the associated paper. Stupid Jenny. The grade crumbled due to a combination of atrocious grammar, spelling errors, and a lack of any knowledge of proper sentence structure. Mind you, this isn't the first time I have encountered the same repulsive issues with this student. I don't know why I thought this time would be any different.
With my mind telling me one thing - and my heart telling me another, I returned the paper with some additional requirements: Obtain help from the ever-so-popular writing center and re-do and resubmit in one week. Looking back, I wish I would have submitted a post at that point in time - here I sit, after reading the "redone" paper and I am still shaking my head. How in the world is this remotely an improvement?
With some help (and much humor) from my sidekicks and colleagues, I devised a plan. I would sit and go over each sentence and each paragraph with the student and try to make some sense of it. 45 minutes (for a 1.5page paper) and about 15 Kleenexes later (for the student, not for me) we finished. At the end of the harshest session (that I have had to date of being in a "professor" role) the plan magically came into action, although no where how I had planned. Here are the options I gave:
The easy thing to do would be to give some points and move on my merry way. But isn't my job to put in effort to improve the problem at hand? As an athletic trainer and a professor...
Example 2 - Sometimes students just don't "get it". We talk a lot in our athletic training program about the "get it factor". Athletic training is a unique profession that combines education, personality, and most importantly (although sometimes forgotten), common sense. The common sense factor is AMAZING - you'd be surprised. When we have students interested in our program and they just "don't get it", it's like pulling teeth to try to get them to not want to be a part of our major. And I know all about getting teeth pulled and replaced, not fun.
Had a 45 minute conversation with a student and a few others about why they should not be a part of our program. I find it truly amazing that character flaws such as lying, disrespect and laziness are thought of as desired attributes. It should part of our program requirements, I need to make a note to amend that section.
Perhaps this is merely a reflection on the type of person I am and the type of people I choose to surround myself with... I don't like to boast about myself at all, so I am not going to now. I blame these students, their families, and society. Oh yes, and technology. Stupid Facebook and texting - the demise of any student's ability to write. I think it would be against some type of Act to post some of the work on this site, although I am itching to do so. It's incredible. What's happening with state sanctioned funds for education?
While I know that I am not that far removed from today's generation of college students, I feel a world away. It just doesn't seem so long ago that I was sitting in the same chair of my students, in the same class that I am teaching...and yet, it seems so long ago.
There seems to be a lack of common sense, respect, self-pride, drive and most importantly self-worth.
Example 1 - I recently required my class to create a paper and a presentation on a particular injury that I designated to each of them. One student created a great presentation and seemed very knowledgeable and I was almost looking forward to reading the associated paper. Stupid Jenny. The grade crumbled due to a combination of atrocious grammar, spelling errors, and a lack of any knowledge of proper sentence structure. Mind you, this isn't the first time I have encountered the same repulsive issues with this student. I don't know why I thought this time would be any different.
With my mind telling me one thing - and my heart telling me another, I returned the paper with some additional requirements: Obtain help from the ever-so-popular writing center and re-do and resubmit in one week. Looking back, I wish I would have submitted a post at that point in time - here I sit, after reading the "redone" paper and I am still shaking my head. How in the world is this remotely an improvement?
With some help (and much humor) from my sidekicks and colleagues, I devised a plan. I would sit and go over each sentence and each paragraph with the student and try to make some sense of it. 45 minutes (for a 1.5page paper) and about 15 Kleenexes later (for the student, not for me) we finished. At the end of the harshest session (that I have had to date of being in a "professor" role) the plan magically came into action, although no where how I had planned. Here are the options I gave:
- Take an incomplete for the semester and redo the work to my (and society's) standards
- Redo the assignment with all new references (and a new topic - harsh, I know), obtain help from the writing center, and resubmit to me in a week and a half
- Do nothing and accept the 52% on the assignment
The easy thing to do would be to give some points and move on my merry way. But isn't my job to put in effort to improve the problem at hand? As an athletic trainer and a professor...
Example 2 - Sometimes students just don't "get it". We talk a lot in our athletic training program about the "get it factor". Athletic training is a unique profession that combines education, personality, and most importantly (although sometimes forgotten), common sense. The common sense factor is AMAZING - you'd be surprised. When we have students interested in our program and they just "don't get it", it's like pulling teeth to try to get them to not want to be a part of our major. And I know all about getting teeth pulled and replaced, not fun.
Had a 45 minute conversation with a student and a few others about why they should not be a part of our program. I find it truly amazing that character flaws such as lying, disrespect and laziness are thought of as desired attributes. It should part of our program requirements, I need to make a note to amend that section.
Perhaps this is merely a reflection on the type of person I am and the type of people I choose to surround myself with... I don't like to boast about myself at all, so I am not going to now. I blame these students, their families, and society. Oh yes, and technology. Stupid Facebook and texting - the demise of any student's ability to write. I think it would be against some type of Act to post some of the work on this site, although I am itching to do so. It's incredible. What's happening with state sanctioned funds for education?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)