Little Bits of Randomness

Thanksgiving Dinner

2010-11-24T19:20:00.000-08:00

So, this year I made my first Thanksgiving Dinner on my own and it turned out really well. My turkey was moist, stuffing was tasty, and my scalloped corn turned out just right. :) I figure I should blog about roasting the turkey to help those who might need it since I had to look at various websites myself. Here's what I did:

1. Thaw turkey in refrigerator for about 3 days- I think most recommend 1-3 days, but my turkey took 3 days.
2. Preheat the oven to 325°
3. Remove the neck and package of giblets.
4. Rinse the outside and inside of the turkey with cold water.
5. Rub vegetable or olive oil on the skin. I used vegetable oil.
6. Make sure you place it in the roaster breast side up.
7. Put salt and pepper inside and out of turkey- to your taste, not too much.
8. Pour 1/2 cup of water into roaster.
9. Cook in oven on lowest rack for 15-20 minutes per pound (I did 20 minutes).
10. Watch skin of turkey- if it gets really dark before the temperature of turkey reaches 175° and you still have a while to go, place aluminum foil loosely over top of turkey.
11. Once turkey reaches at least 175° it is done!
12. Enjoy! :)

I had roughly a 12 lb turkey and it took 4hrs for it to cook all the way. I covered it with aluminum foil about two hours into the cooking because I did not want it too dark. It turned out really moist and came apart very easily- the hubby was happy!

Videos in the Classroom

2010-11-20T20:14:00.000-08:00

Here is a video I made in Educational Technology at UNI. It's the first video I ever made (obviously). It ties into the thematic unit I used, oceans. This video focuses on the ocean layers and some of the creatures that live in each of those layers. It can be used as a tool for learning in the classroom or as a model for students who are making a video. I think videos can be used in the classroom as a tool for learning, but I do not think they should be used all the time. I think this video is not a good example of one that should be used in the classroom, but it is a start. I especially think that if it is used for elementary students that there should be someone speaking in the video instead of requiring the students to read the text. It is especially true in younger students that there is a variety of reading skills, so this video can be frustrating for those students who are not as good at reading as their peers.

WebQuest: Dive Right In and Discover the Ocean

2010-11-20T19:07:00.000-08:00

I was looking through the materials I have created so far while attending UNI. One of the items I came across was the WebQuest I made in my Ed. Technology class. Basically I created a WebQuest that requires students (5th grade or higher) to work in groups and research a major ocean. Each group member is given the task to research an ocean level and the animals that live there. They must then come up with an idea of an exhibit to present to the city council (their classmates).

I think WebQuests are a great resource for teachers to use in their classroom. Not only is it something fun that varies from normal instruction, but it also allows students to get familiar with technology. I am a firm believer that learning should be more hands on and this WebQuest does just that. This activity also gives the students a chance to socialize and work on time management.

Click Here for WebQuest

My Life List

2010-10-17T14:44:00.001-07:00

So, I have been putting together a bucket list for awhile. Some of things I have completed since I made the list. I figure if I make a list of things I want to do throughout my life I will be more likely to actually do it. :) Some of it might sound silly, but here goes my list...

1. Run a half marathon
2. Dye my hair
3. Get a tattoo
4. Run a 5K
5. Run a 10K
6. Participate in Ragbrai
7. Write a story
8. Make a quilt
9. Take a class for fun
10. Get a professional camera
11. Write out a will
12. Visit New York City
13. Read the entire Bible
14. Visit all 50 states
15. Visit Germany
16. Go on at least one mission trip
17. Learn a second language
18. Graduate from UNI
19. Find a teaching job
20. Drop 20lbs
21. Pray more often
22. Pick a political party
23. Create a board game
24. Witness a solar eclipse
25. See the northern lights
26. Volunteer at a homeless shelter
27. Water ski
28. Go camping
29. Go hiking
30. Learn sign language
31. Start a business
32. Go to Disney World
33. Go to Mount Rushmore
34. Go to the Grand Canyon
35. Go on a cruise
36. See a 3D movie
37. See the Statue of Liberty
38. Get picture put in the paper
39. Donate blood
40. Keep a blog
41. Pet a dolphin
42. Go sledding
43. Learn how to play the guitar
44. Learn how to play the piano
45. Create my own website (maybe two)- have one that documents my bucket list adventures :)
46. Rollerblade
47. Learn a new dance
48. Go scuba diving
49. Take up photography
50. Fly a kite
51. Make a model car
52. Create a piece of jewelry
53. Read 100 books (school required doesn't count)
54. Have a happiness project
55. Make a difference in a person's life
56. Start own family traditions
57. Have a big family
58. Foster/adopt a child
59. Donate items to the local women's shelter
60. Build something out of wood
61. Take up yoga
62. Go to a play
63. Take Eli to the Macy's Day Parade
64. Go to a NFL game
65. Plant a tree
66. Send a message in a bottle
67. Scream at the top of my lungs
68. Pay for someone else's groceries
69. Find my own version of "the beach"
70. Have me time
71. Experience weightlessness
72. Make a video
73. Get my picture taken with someone famous
74. Establish a nice amount in savings
75. Make a time capsule
76. Take an unplanned trip
77. Take a plane somewhere
78. Take a train somewhere
79. Take a bus somewhere
80. Stand in two places at once
81. Write my own song
82. Go fishing
83. Try snowboarding
84. Find a good day care
85. Run the Dam to Dam
86. Visit Camp Elijah
87. Attend a Bible study at least once a month
88. Use a planner regularly
89. Take family pictures at least once a year
90. Learn Photoshop
91. Buy an iPad
92. Make an extra house payment
93. Make an extra car payment
94. Pick an NFL team
95. Leave the country
96. Karaoke
97. Go to a drive-in movie
98. Go to a concert
99. Take a cake decorating class
100. Drive an expensive sports car once (test drive)
101. Go golfing
102. Stay at a bed and breakfast
103. Go ice skating
104. Go to the Iowa State Fair
105. Go to a hockey game
106. Go to a baseball game
107. Buy a record player
108. Play BINGO

This is what I have for now; I might add more as they come up.

The Apple iPad

2010-09-30T19:53:00.000-07:00

I purchased an iPad at the beginning of September and I am very impressed. Even more so, my husband who is usually anti-apple products even likes it!
I find that it is worth the cost when it comes to textbooks. I was able to find all, but one textbook. I love that I can get books using Nook, Amazon Kindle, eTextbooks, and iBooks. Having at least 1 1/2 left of school it will definitely pay for itself.
There are so many apps that are free and useful. The two I mainly use are Flipboard and Fitness. Flipboard combines your social media into a newspaper style- it's pretty sweet. Fitness gives you exercises, tells you what it works, and step by step instructions of how to perform them. It also allows you to create your own workouts and if you don't feel like that it gives you already created workout plans. The free games are fun, too. :)
The sleekness of the product is amazing. It is so thin and lightweight I actually carry it with me where ever I go unlike with the net book I had.
There are things that disappoint me with the iPad. There is no usb port so I am not able to save anything I do onto a flash-drive or upload anything from it. Another thing that bothers me is that it does not have a camera. It would be pretty sweet to not only use it to take pictures, but also to chat especially for those who use Skype or something similar. I am not so fond of typing on it either, but my aunt bought me a pen for it and I think it works better (the hubby doesn't think so though).
Overall, I am pleased with my purchase and I hope it continues to be to be as helpful as it is now.

*Picture from: http://michaelhyatt.com/the-ipad-an-elegant-solution-in-search-of-a-problem.html

Taking Guitar Lessons!

2010-04-06T20:12:00.001-07:00

I super excited because I have a black Yamaha 500 guitar that I got a couple of weeks ago and I had my first lesson today. The guitar is an acoustic, but is also an electric guitar. It also has a built in tuner which seems to work pretty well. I haven't used the electric portion of it- Tyler's the one who wanted me to get that kind. I've only been taught a couple of scales and a few chords, but I think that is pretty good considering I've only had one 1/2hr lesson. I am pretty pumped right now- I'm just hoping I stay pumped up. I am pretty impressed with the price- most people are charging $20 a lesson, but he is only charging $16. I'm going through West Music for my lessons, they were really helpful when I looked at guitars- and I get a free years supply of strings, too. I have lessons every Tuesday and I'm hoping that by the end of the summer I can play some if not all of the songs from the Christian music book I got awhile back. Wish me luck! : )

Blackberry Tour

2010-03-31T17:43:00.000-07:00

So I got a Blackberry Tour sometime in December, but didn't really want to blog about it until I knew whether or not I liked it. Well... I love it! At least as much as a person can love a phone. I love that I get emails right away, it's especially handy since I'm going to school. I also like that it has blackberry app world, where I can get free applications to put on my phone. I haven't had any problems with the trackball which was one of the major concerns I had when I purchased it. It is also pretty tough because my 11 month old son has definitely handled it quite a few times and it is still almost like new. :)

Books!

2009-11-04T19:27:00.001-08:00

So, I am an elementary education major with minors in literacy and social studies and being in the education department I know how important reading is. I was at the World's Largest Garage Sale in my hometown when I ran into a consultant for Usborne Books which deals with children's books. I had never heard of them, but after looking at the books and buying one I was interested. Now I am trying out the consultant thing. I bought a kit and now I'm working at parties. The last one I made $54 and got $85 in free books. I love the different kinds of books they have. They have Kane/Miller books which come from countries outside the U.S. Some of the books, like the ones that deal with math and the world ways, are books that I could use even in college. I am not good with getting people to buy stuff- I'm not pushy so I hope this works out. If it doesn't at least I got some free books and earned some extra cash along the way! : )

www.ubah.com/F3109

My First Blog

2009-04-01T17:27:00.000-07:00

This is my first blog that I'm using at the University of Northern Iowa.