Well the Holiday Season has officially kicked off. I trust each of you ate enough turkey to stuff yourself and make you think about changing into maternity pants like Joey on Friends. Jarred and I's Thanksgiving weekend was full of time well spent with family, Black Friday shopping, and of course one or two adventures/ near disasters (I use these terms interchangeably, of course) ...about par for the course I'd say! Here's how it all started:
We were riding the 40ish minute T ride to the airport to catch our afternoon flight home. Because of how hectic the airport can be the day before Thanksgiving, we made sure to leave a little earlier than normal and therefore made it safely to the airport without incident, bopping merrily along. However, it was at precisely this moment, when things were running far too smoothly, I realized I left our train tickets at home. Yes that's right, TRAIN tickets. No, no, not for the ride down...that was a plane, but for the ride back up to Boston. Sunday flights after Thanksgiving are outrageously expensive and quite out of our price range. Thus we chose the next logical choice, a train. Back in the spring I tried a similar Amtrak adventure which turned into a bus riding catastrophe, leaving me with a $115 Amtrak credit and thankful to be alive. Although I nearly swore off the idea of trying Amtrak again, $115 goes a long way in helping us see our families for Thanksgiving. Except that the tickets I bought with said credit and which could not be reproduced were now back at the apartment with the busy airport and ticking clock staring me in the face! I threw Jarred his plane ticket, told him to wish me luck, and made a run for it. Visions of Home Alone and Supermarket Sweep blurred together in my head. I quickly found a taxi with a Russian mobster to drive me home, got home, ransacked the house for the tickets (leaving it in quite the dizzying disarray for when we came back), got back in the taxi and told the mobster to step on it. Praise the Lord I made it back to the airport with time to spare, a security line that was non-existent...shocking for Thanksgiving weekend, and a phone that had not been called by my mother...who quite possibly would not have made it through had she known what was happening in the previous hour. It was what some might call, A Thanksgiving Miracle!
P.S.
I'd also like to report that when the Amtrak leg of our journey arrived, it was quite a pleasant experience!! I highly recommend it with a friend, sleeping eye mask, computer and a few Redbox movies! Just ride it all the way to your destination, don't try to stop and change to a bus...totally not worth the money. But that story, my friend, will have to wait for another day.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
The Night the Lights went out in Boston...
We'll it didn't take long for me to have another embroidery mishap! My 2nd favorite Reba song has come back to haunt me. However, the lights didn't go out metaphorically for me, they went out literally! Last night, mid-embroidery, the room went dark! NOOOOOoooooo!! Apparently the TV, plus lights, plus computers plugged in, plus space heater roaring, plus embroidery machine equals a little too much for the fuse box. Needless to say, the embroidery project was ruined!!! Good thing I had a back up apron. Overly dramatic pictures were soon to follow. Gotta make up for this disaster somehow! : )
Luckily, as I said, I had a back up apron. So all is well in the embroidery world again. And now I have a Christmas present for a sweet teacher friend, Miss Bartlett, who loves to bake for her class of 2nd graders. Oh how I miss being the beneficiary of her baking fun!
Luckily, as I said, I had a back up apron. So all is well in the embroidery world again. And now I have a Christmas present for a sweet teacher friend, Miss Bartlett, who loves to bake for her class of 2nd graders. Oh how I miss being the beneficiary of her baking fun!
Monday, November 22, 2010
A Southern Girl + MIT + Brain Research
Warning: I'm going all smart-like on you in this post. My adventures tend to be made up of 50% random childlike behaviors (i.e. rollerblading, baton twirling, etc.), 30% craftiness (i.e. sewing and embroidery), and 20% nerdiness (i.e. this post). Watch out and prepare to learn some cool facts!! I promise you'll come away smarter and teachers will especially enjoy!
What does a southern girl + MIT + brain research equal...a super excited ME who is a lifelong learner and simply must share the cool things she's learned. Yes, it's true...many who know me know that I'm one of those nerds who loves school. I was completely distraught why my masters degree program ended. I LOVE soaking up every bit of knowledge I can to make me a better teacher. My latest teaching job is with a program called Arrowsmith. In a nutshell, our program uses the concept of neuroplasticity to increase the learning capacity of our students. Now don't freak out, I know that was a big word, neuroplasticity, but all it means is this: our brains can change. We are not "stuck" with whatever intelligence we are born with. People's "IQ" can actually be altered. It may sound crazy, but it's quite true and really provides a lot of hope for struggling students out there. Kids at our school do cognitive exercises to strengthen the parts of their brains that are weaker...ultimately leading them to become capable of learning more.
So my latest adventure, this past weekend, was attending a conference called "Learning and the Brain" at MIT. It was a conference in the new field of Mind, Brain and Education which marries neuroscience to education so we can be more effective teachers! HOORAY!! Here's some of the interesting tidbits I learned or had reinforced...I think you'll find them very interesting too! If not, humor me!
Tidbit #1: A person's intelligence is NOT fixed (obviously this was not new to me from the conference because of my job, but the following benefit of it is). Studies show that students who think their intelligence can't change tend to give up on tasks and in school. If its tough, they think it will always be tough and there is no hope for school to get better. However, if kids do understand that their brain can change and they aren't just stuck with what they've got, they tend to persevere and work harder . It can make a huge difference in behavior and performance. So if your a teacher or a parent, make sure your kids know their brain can change!!
Tidbit #2: The reason there are more boys than girls with learning disabilities:
Think back to good 'ol high school biology (shoutout to Mrs. Pam Williams), boys become boys because the have an X and a Y chromosome. Girl become girls because they have two X chromosomes. As it turns out, many learning disabilities are located on the X chromosome. Since girls have two X's, if one has a mutation for a learning disability, the other X can sort of override the issue. Unfortunately for boys, they don't have two X's...so if the one X they have has a mutation for learning disability, they are most likely going to have the disability. It's also the reason more men than women are color blind as well as is responsible for "male pattern baldness." Sorry guys, gotta hate that Y-chromosome.
Tidbit #4: Ever heard that we only use 10% of our brains?? I know I have. But it's completely untrue. People don't use only 10% of their brains...they use all of it!! I learned this when I started work with the Arrowsmith program, but I fear that many people still hold this misconception. It lingers from a misquote or misinterpretation of research from way back when.
And finally, Tidbit #5: Labeling people as right-brained or left-brained is a little out of control. While the two different sides of the brain have some different functions, the brain is quite connected and interdependent. Brain imaging technology shows that most processes such as language processing or spatial ability have factors in both hemispheres of the brain.
If you're a nerd and/or teacher and actually like reading this stuff, keep reading below. If not...I promise I'll be back to acting childish and embroidering for my next post! : )
One of the presenters, David A. Sousa, an author and consultant in Educational Neuroscience, talked about 6 factors that produce ADHD-like behavior...but aren't really ADHD. As you probably know, more and more kids are getting misdiagnosed for this. Here are his 6 factors that produce hyperactive behavior:
1) Diet. 3 things in particular that cause problems: caffeine, aspartame (which is actually snuck into some children's vitamins to make them taste better), and food preservatives. The hyperactivity from caffeine can also ultimately lead to depression. Sad.
2) Sleep Deprivation: The average high school kids gets only 5-6 hours a night. The lack of sleep leads to irritability as well as hyperactivity. It also reduces the amount of REM time...which if you read the tidbits...you know is bad for long term memory! Eeek!
3) Stress. Stress releases a hormone called Cortisol, this results in hyperactive behavior.
4) "Pain in the butt syndrome"...now this theory of his isn't so scientific, but true. Some kids are simply not taught the rules of behavior. These days, many kids spend far more time with technology than they do with their families. In fact, one recent survey found kids spend 18 times more time connecting to the outside world than they do connecting with their parents and families. On average, the survey found kids spent only 47 minutes a week engaging in meaningful conversation with family. These days we don't spend time around the dinner table, we're too busy! But the consequences are grave.
5) School induced ADHD (he was running out of time so he didn't go through this much...but I think he meant that kids get so bored they freak out)
6) Environmental Factors (drugs, heavy metals, etc) and actual physical disorders such as OCD, dyslexia, etc.
Goodness gracious. That's about all I have to say at this point!! I also heard some controversial new information about why teachers shouldn't waste time teaching to "learning styles"...but that will simply have to wait for another day.
What does a southern girl + MIT + brain research equal...a super excited ME who is a lifelong learner and simply must share the cool things she's learned. Yes, it's true...many who know me know that I'm one of those nerds who loves school. I was completely distraught why my masters degree program ended. I LOVE soaking up every bit of knowledge I can to make me a better teacher. My latest teaching job is with a program called Arrowsmith. In a nutshell, our program uses the concept of neuroplasticity to increase the learning capacity of our students. Now don't freak out, I know that was a big word, neuroplasticity, but all it means is this: our brains can change. We are not "stuck" with whatever intelligence we are born with. People's "IQ" can actually be altered. It may sound crazy, but it's quite true and really provides a lot of hope for struggling students out there. Kids at our school do cognitive exercises to strengthen the parts of their brains that are weaker...ultimately leading them to become capable of learning more.
So my latest adventure, this past weekend, was attending a conference called "Learning and the Brain" at MIT. It was a conference in the new field of Mind, Brain and Education which marries neuroscience to education so we can be more effective teachers! HOORAY!! Here's some of the interesting tidbits I learned or had reinforced...I think you'll find them very interesting too! If not, humor me!
Tidbit #1: A person's intelligence is NOT fixed (obviously this was not new to me from the conference because of my job, but the following benefit of it is). Studies show that students who think their intelligence can't change tend to give up on tasks and in school. If its tough, they think it will always be tough and there is no hope for school to get better. However, if kids do understand that their brain can change and they aren't just stuck with what they've got, they tend to persevere and work harder . It can make a huge difference in behavior and performance. So if your a teacher or a parent, make sure your kids know their brain can change!!
Tidbit #2: The reason there are more boys than girls with learning disabilities:
Think back to good 'ol high school biology (shoutout to Mrs. Pam Williams), boys become boys because the have an X and a Y chromosome. Girl become girls because they have two X chromosomes. As it turns out, many learning disabilities are located on the X chromosome. Since girls have two X's, if one has a mutation for a learning disability, the other X can sort of override the issue. Unfortunately for boys, they don't have two X's...so if the one X they have has a mutation for learning disability, they are most likely going to have the disability. It's also the reason more men than women are color blind as well as is responsible for "male pattern baldness." Sorry guys, gotta hate that Y-chromosome.
**It should also be noted that there is a disproportionately large percentage of boys in remedial reading classes. They tend to be overly-identified because of issues other than true disability like behavior or high energy. In that same breath it should be noted that girls are under-identified and sometimes don't receive the services they need because they are compliant and often read fluently...hiding real comprehension issues.**
Tidbit #3: Have you ever wondered why REM sleep is such a big deal?? We hear about how we miss out on it if we don't have enough hours of sleep, but who really cares, right? No dreams for the night but that's no biggie. Well, it's actually kind of a big deal, especially for students who don't get enough sleep to have REM cycles. During that REM time, our memory is consolidating or coding information learned during the day from our working memory to long term memory. So when it students don't get enough sleep, it's hard for their brains to store the information they've learned. Scary!!Tidbit #4: Ever heard that we only use 10% of our brains?? I know I have. But it's completely untrue. People don't use only 10% of their brains...they use all of it!! I learned this when I started work with the Arrowsmith program, but I fear that many people still hold this misconception. It lingers from a misquote or misinterpretation of research from way back when.
And finally, Tidbit #5: Labeling people as right-brained or left-brained is a little out of control. While the two different sides of the brain have some different functions, the brain is quite connected and interdependent. Brain imaging technology shows that most processes such as language processing or spatial ability have factors in both hemispheres of the brain.
If you're a nerd and/or teacher and actually like reading this stuff, keep reading below. If not...I promise I'll be back to acting childish and embroidering for my next post! : )
One of the presenters, David A. Sousa, an author and consultant in Educational Neuroscience, talked about 6 factors that produce ADHD-like behavior...but aren't really ADHD. As you probably know, more and more kids are getting misdiagnosed for this. Here are his 6 factors that produce hyperactive behavior:
1) Diet. 3 things in particular that cause problems: caffeine, aspartame (which is actually snuck into some children's vitamins to make them taste better), and food preservatives. The hyperactivity from caffeine can also ultimately lead to depression. Sad.
2) Sleep Deprivation: The average high school kids gets only 5-6 hours a night. The lack of sleep leads to irritability as well as hyperactivity. It also reduces the amount of REM time...which if you read the tidbits...you know is bad for long term memory! Eeek!
3) Stress. Stress releases a hormone called Cortisol, this results in hyperactive behavior.
4) "Pain in the butt syndrome"...now this theory of his isn't so scientific, but true. Some kids are simply not taught the rules of behavior. These days, many kids spend far more time with technology than they do with their families. In fact, one recent survey found kids spend 18 times more time connecting to the outside world than they do connecting with their parents and families. On average, the survey found kids spent only 47 minutes a week engaging in meaningful conversation with family. These days we don't spend time around the dinner table, we're too busy! But the consequences are grave.
5) School induced ADHD (he was running out of time so he didn't go through this much...but I think he meant that kids get so bored they freak out)
6) Environmental Factors (drugs, heavy metals, etc) and actual physical disorders such as OCD, dyslexia, etc.
Goodness gracious. That's about all I have to say at this point!! I also heard some controversial new information about why teachers shouldn't waste time teaching to "learning styles"...but that will simply have to wait for another day.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
The Great Stocking Search of 2010
On Sunday night I posted a facebook album of items for sale. There are only a couple of items in the album so far, but one picture is of three super cute stockings I made for my friend Brandi...see below:
Under the picture I wrote..."If you're interested in stockings, let me know. I'm not sure if I can find these exact ones again, but we could certainly probably find some that you'd like." Well...there was some interest (because let's face it...they're super cute), but unfortunately I can't find any more of them...ANYWHERE. They were originally bought at TJ Maxx...but when I went back, they were gone. I have since combed every TJ Maxx and Marshalls in the state of Massachusetts!! Well not every one, but practically. And zilch, zippo, notta. Thus The Great Stocking Search of 2010 commenced...
About 15 stores and 11 stockings later...I have options, and a girl needs options! But I still haven't quite found exactly what I'm looking for. But take heart friends! I haven't lost hope yet. There's still 49 more states, about 1,000 more TJ Maxx locations, and in the words of the late, great Scarlet O'Hara, "tomorrow is another day!!"
Under the picture I wrote..."If you're interested in stockings, let me know. I'm not sure if I can find these exact ones again, but we could certainly probably find some that you'd like." Well...there was some interest (because let's face it...they're super cute), but unfortunately I can't find any more of them...ANYWHERE. They were originally bought at TJ Maxx...but when I went back, they were gone. I have since combed every TJ Maxx and Marshalls in the state of Massachusetts!! Well not every one, but practically. And zilch, zippo, notta. Thus The Great Stocking Search of 2010 commenced...
About 15 stores and 11 stockings later...I have options, and a girl needs options! But I still haven't quite found exactly what I'm looking for. But take heart friends! I haven't lost hope yet. There's still 49 more states, about 1,000 more TJ Maxx locations, and in the words of the late, great Scarlet O'Hara, "tomorrow is another day!!"
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Gift Options
I've spoken to the wonderful staff at the pregnancy resource center, and we're ready to begin! (If you're currently thinking to yourself...Huh?...check the last post, and it'll help you out!) Normally, I'll get an email at the first of the month with the initial and/or first name of any babies due in the coming month. Then I'll make a few of the items listed below and deliver the gifts to the center in time for the births. Currently there are 4 precious little babies who were just born and need a little something special!! So for these babies, and the future babies, here are the gift options you can choose from if you feel led to sponsor a baby or a few items:
Blue and pink blankets for $17 each
If you'd like to help out, email me at maryellen.callura@gmail.com, and I'll send you my address. Simply send a check for whatever items you'd like to make possible for a special little one. Accompanying each gift will be a hand written card letting the mom know that both she and her baby have been prayed for. If you'd like to write your own note, include it in the mail with your check, and I'll add it to your gift.
You'll never know how much it means to me that so many of you have reached out and offered to help me in this ministry. It's so close to my heart, and I truly hope each and every gift will bring a smile to these struggling mothers' faces. Who knows what one gift and a few prayers from someone who loves Jesus will do.
Burp Cloths $4 each
Diaper Covers $4
(Obviously I didn't take this picture, but I've ordered these diaper covers online from a wholesaler)
(Obviously I didn't take this picture, but I've ordered these diaper covers online from a wholesaler)
If you'd like to help out, email me at maryellen.callura@gmail.com, and I'll send you my address. Simply send a check for whatever items you'd like to make possible for a special little one. Accompanying each gift will be a hand written card letting the mom know that both she and her baby have been prayed for. If you'd like to write your own note, include it in the mail with your check, and I'll add it to your gift.
You'll never know how much it means to me that so many of you have reached out and offered to help me in this ministry. It's so close to my heart, and I truly hope each and every gift will bring a smile to these struggling mothers' faces. Who knows what one gift and a few prayers from someone who loves Jesus will do.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
A Little Something Special
Since taking on my fun new embroidery hobby, I've often thought about ways I can use my new machine as a ministry. I know that making things for people brightens my day, but I also wanted to figure out how I could serve the Lord with my skills (minimal as they are). As I considered options, my thoughts drifted to the smallest, most special people in all the world and the scared moms who are giving birth to them, the women who find themselves unexpectedly pregnant and terrified by their options. I decided to approach a local crisis pregnancy center with an idea. It was a long shot that they would respond favoribly, but to my delight and surprise they did! So here's the deal:
I'm partnering with a local Pregnancy Resource Center here in Boston to make special gifts for the moms and new babies they serve. The women who seek out help from this center are often scared and confused. It's likely that many of them feel alone, are quite scared about their future, and perhaps have little money. These moms have many physical needs, and the resource center does their best to help them. But they also need to know that they are loved. All babies are miracles and gifts from the Lord, but these babies in particular. When their moms were faced with a tough and scary decision, they chose life. Because of the law, they were presented information about abortion and could have ended their pregnancy before their babies even had a chance to live, but instead they choose to give their baby a chance. To support these women and help celebrate their new little one, I'll be making personalized burp cloths, blankets, and more for them. It's just a little something special to help them feel loved.
The reason I'm sharing this with you is, I'd love for you to join me in loving these moms and babies if you feel led. Because of confidentiality we'll never meet these moms, know their names or know anything about them. All I'll be given is the first name or initials of each new little miracle. Then I'll embroider something special and drop it off at the resource center. You can help in two ways if you'd like. 1)You could sponser a baby. In the coming days, I'll post example pictures of the receiving blankets, burp cloths, bibs, etc. that you could help give. I'll post the price of materials for each item, and you can email me if you'd like to donate the money to sponser an item for a baby. We are talking from $2-$20ish depending on the item. AND/OR 2) Pray for the moms and babies who will receive these special gifts. They likely have a tough road ahead of them and prayer is powerful!
I can't wait to begin this journey...pictures and more info to come soon!!
I'm partnering with a local Pregnancy Resource Center here in Boston to make special gifts for the moms and new babies they serve. The women who seek out help from this center are often scared and confused. It's likely that many of them feel alone, are quite scared about their future, and perhaps have little money. These moms have many physical needs, and the resource center does their best to help them. But they also need to know that they are loved. All babies are miracles and gifts from the Lord, but these babies in particular. When their moms were faced with a tough and scary decision, they chose life. Because of the law, they were presented information about abortion and could have ended their pregnancy before their babies even had a chance to live, but instead they choose to give their baby a chance. To support these women and help celebrate their new little one, I'll be making personalized burp cloths, blankets, and more for them. It's just a little something special to help them feel loved.
The reason I'm sharing this with you is, I'd love for you to join me in loving these moms and babies if you feel led. Because of confidentiality we'll never meet these moms, know their names or know anything about them. All I'll be given is the first name or initials of each new little miracle. Then I'll embroider something special and drop it off at the resource center. You can help in two ways if you'd like. 1)You could sponser a baby. In the coming days, I'll post example pictures of the receiving blankets, burp cloths, bibs, etc. that you could help give. I'll post the price of materials for each item, and you can email me if you'd like to donate the money to sponser an item for a baby. We are talking from $2-$20ish depending on the item. AND/OR 2) Pray for the moms and babies who will receive these special gifts. They likely have a tough road ahead of them and prayer is powerful!
I can't wait to begin this journey...pictures and more info to come soon!!
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Megabus...Mega Adventure
Today's whirlwind day trip started at a quite dark 4:30 am. While I usually reserve the honor of being awake at this ridiculous hour for one special day a year, Black Friday, my lifelong desire to being in a tv audience warranted such a wake up. By 5:30 Jarred and I were at the bus station to catch the MegaBus to NYC. In the northeast we have lots of cheap and fabulous bus options for traveling between Boston, NYC, Philly, D.C., etc. Today we took the double decker MegaBus complete with WiFi to make the 4 hour bus ride slightly less miserable. Below are a few pics and some commentary from our journey:
Well this one isn't technically from our journey, but is an example of the megabus.
Found the studios!
First in line...Jarred was not happy about this at first. He is quoted as saying we looked like "bumpkins" getting there that early. Haha
Tickets in hand! #1 and #2!
No cameras were allowed in the studio so the next pictures were taken afterwards. On the show they featured a Southern cookbook called, "Dadgum, That's Good!" After the show, we got to taste all the yumminess...and it was truly quite yummy! Low Country Boil, Fried Turkey and my very first fried Oreos!
It's was truly an amazing experience. We loved every part of seeing how a tv show runs. And to top the day off, Bass Pro Shops had a mini Santa's workshop outside of the studios. Free pic with Santa!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)