Saturday, September 14, 2013

Polka Dots for Days


Fun Outfit to wear out shopping or hanging out near the beach!  
Polka Dot Sheer Shirt - Macy's: $19.99
Teal High Waisted Shorts - Macy's Ralph Lauren: Sale price: $24.99
Brown Sandals - Payless: $12
Rose Gold Necklace - Forever 21: $5.99

Friday, September 13, 2013

Montessori Training Week 1: The Start of It All!

Just a little update on my life...  I have mentioned before that I am in the process of completing my Montessori Certificate.  I have finished my curriculum portion of the training.  So I have all of my albums for Practical Life, Sensorial, Math, and Language completed. YAY!  I am very proud of them.  Right now I am still in school to finish my Bachelor's degree in Child and Adolescent Development. Consequently, I cannot start my practicum portion of the training until January. However, I am attending weekly classes on the Montessori Philosophy, Classroom Leadership, and Cultural Subjects.  I thought I would give some weekly updates so I can share what I am learning with you.  I have such a passion for the Montessori philosophy and I can't think of a better way to share the Montessori Method.


Maria Montessori was an Italian woman who grew up with a strong desire to become well educated.  She was the first woman to attend and graduate from Medical School.  The two most influential philosophers in her life were Jean Itard and Edward Segund.  From Jean Itard she took the idea about the different sensitive periods of the child, which is the idea that a child is more receptive to learning something at very crucial times in his or her development.  Edward Segund was the first to believe that mentally challenged children had some sort of illness in their nervous sytem.  He believed certain organs in the child were not communicating with the nervous system properly, and in order to wake them up, the children needed to have stimulation through their senses.  Montessori took both ideas, the sensitive periods and the sensory stimulation, and put them together to develop her philosophy.  This is what is so crazy to me.  Everything in the child development world concerning special needs children is about sensory integration.
Montessori got it so long ago!  She was an amazing thinker.

Montessori spent the first part of her career working at a psychiatric hospital in Rome.  There she carefully observed children with special needs.  She observed these children taking notes and writing down everything that she saw.

Beautifully prepared environment!
Maria Montessori opened her first Children's House, called Casa Dei Bambini, for underprivileged children in Italy. She had developed materials for the classroom when she was working with children with special needs.  She thought she would try how typical children would handle these materials.  She would set up the classroom and observe what choices the children made. Taking notes about what the children liked and what the children did not like.  If something needed to be fixed or changed, she would adjust it.  This is where the Montessori Classroom became so crucial.  The "prepared environment" within in the classroom becomes the teacher.  The children learn not through the teacher, but through their environment which their teacher has set up for them.  A true Montessori classroom should be set up in such a way that the children can function and learn without any help from the teacher.  The teacher is there for guidance and scaffolding, but the environment is the true teacher.

Through observation Montessori realized that the children were industrious.  They liked to sweep, to clean, to do work.  They were happy to do it.  They began to take pride over their environment.  The children looked after one another and worked as one social group.  Another observation Montessori made was that the children began to repeat an exercise over and over.  She noted that they enjoyed doing it.  It was not the end product that they sought, but the process of completion was what attracted them to the exercise again and again.  An example I like to use is when an adult is at the beach.  When he digs a hole, he digs it as fast as he can, because he wants to be able to say he completed the task.  A child, however, when digging the same hole will take their time, enjoying the sand, the shovel, maybe even some water that comes into the hole.  As soon as the child is done with that hole, they will start to dig another.  It is amazing how children love to repeat things.  Montessori believed that they would keep choosing an exercise because they have not learned everything they possibly could yet from that exercise.  They will keep making that choice until one day they are done with it.  They will have gotten everything they can from that exercise, and then they will be ready to move on to something new.

After Montessori started Casa Dei Bambini she travelled the world teaching the Montessori Method and educating those who were interested in hearing.  Throughout Europe, Montessori was highly appreciated.  However, in the USA her movement didn't catch on.  Montessori was actually highly frowned upon until the 1960s or so when Nancy Rambusch began the American Montessori Society.  It is unlike any other early education philosophy and I look forward to share more of what I learning during my training with you!




Thursday, September 12, 2013

21st Birthday Look

This is the outfit I wore for Emily's 21st Birthday.  It was perfect for any type of party really. I got the top and skirt from Nordstrom.  Something I love about Nordstrom that most people don't utilize much is their customer service.  They take pride in their customer service.  So if you have an awesome shirt or some unique bottoms that you aren't quite sure how to wear, bring them with you when you shop at Nordstrom.  Their fashion consultants are there to help you!  They work partly off of commission so they want to help you!!!   Also, they offer a completely free service that I don't think most people take advantage of. If you call Nordstrom ahead of time you can make a free styling appointment.  They will ask you some basic questions to figure out what price range you are interested in spending and what you are looking to buy.  Then you come into the store at an appointed time and you will get a completely FREE personal shopper and stylist.  Nordstrom is your friend!



Okay enough praising Nordstrom. For this outfit I wore a sheer black tank.  It was from the TopShop Department in Nordstrom.  I purchased it on sale for $12.  The skirt I wore is a black body con skirt that is accented with gold chevron print. It is also from Nordstrom, BP, $34. I wore a gold necklace and a black cuff bracelet.  My heels are black suede peep toe from Charolette Russe, $10.



21st Birthday Party - Peacock Theme



For Emily's 21st Birthday we wanted to throw a fun, classy, (cheap), party.  We were able to host the party at our friend's beach house.  The party theme was peacock.  We decided that this would be a classy (not trashy) 21st birthday, so we kept the decorations simple and the food classic. Here is how we threw this party!  


For the main decorations, we used the colors hot pink, teal, and black.  Not your usual peacock inspired colors, but it went so cute together. I went to Hobby Lobby for most of the party decorations. I used their coupon code online to buy a lot of the items for a discounted price.  Hobby Lobby is the place to go for cheap crafts.  They always have a coupon online and they rotate their sales in store weekly.  



I got peacock feathers and two daisy flowers, making a little bouquet in a mason jar (is there any other way to make a flower arrangement??) I wrapped a little bit of lace around the jar and tied it with a teal ribbon.  

To really make the decorations cute, but affordable, I made a banner.  It reads, "Happy 21st Birthday Emily."  For the flag banner, I cut triangles out of black paper.  Then I used a peacock design paper to cut out the letters.  I also drew a couple of peacock feathers to jazz it up a bit.  To attach the flags to the twine, I used a hole puncher and strung the flags through the twine.  Helpful hint: tape the flags to the twine so they don't move around in transport or when they are hanging!  


For the food, we had a veggie platter and spinach dip with sourdough bread. The bread was from Boudin's which is Emily's favorite place for bread! People ate it up!





Lastly, the CAKE!  You cannot have a birthday party without the cake.  Kelsey, our dear friend, had this idea and was in charge of the cake.  It is called a Trashed Barbie Cake.  They are all over Pinterest.  But basically you take a barbie/doll and destroy her clothes/hair/makeup and place her on the cake.  It is perfect for a 21st Birthday Party!  



I would like to take this time to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY!  I hope you enjoyed your party!  It was classic Emily: sophisticated, flirty, and fabulous!  Please share if you have any good 21st birthday party ideas!  










Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Birthday Specials

My (Emily) Birthday is tomorrow 9/5, and this past month I have been searching far and wide for "Birthday Specials" which give either free items or coupons to the special birthday girl (or boy). Here are my top 4 favorite Birthday Specials!

Victoria Secret
  • When you register for PINK NATION you receive a $10 off coupon to use during your birthday month. 
    I bought 2 bra's for $49.99 so with this coupon I only spent $42 with tax!
  • PINK Nation 
Sephora
  • When you register for Sephora's Beauty Insider you recieve a free gift which you can pick up two weeks before or two weeks after your birthday. This years gift: 
I recommend the WHAT'S UP stick to EVERYONE it is amazing

Coco's
  • This Birthday Special gives you a free slice of pie! Just register for Coco's eclub. 
YUM! Lemon Meringue!
Starbucks
  • Well...I am a coffee addict so this Birthday Special is my FAVORITE ! When you register a gift card and start receiving My Starbucks Rewards you will receive a free beverage of your choice on your birthday!
I don't usually get Frap's but...it's my birthday so I can do what I want!



First Last Day of School. EVER. Outfit




Today was my last first day of school.  Yes I made the cheesy facebook and instagram post.  I was just too excited not too!  This year I am living off campus (I'll be posting on my new apartment soon).  It was such a different feeling to drive to campus today, instead of walking to my class from my dorm room.  Here was my outfit!  Please share if you have any ideas of the perfect back to school attire!


White lace dress - Lauren Conrad from Kohl's: $34
Cheetah print backpack - Target: $29.99
Teal Beaded Necklace - Forever 21: $9.99
Brown Sandals - Payless: $9.99
Silver Ring - Kohl's: $9.99

Monday, September 2, 2013

Nicole's Maxi Dress Outfit


Black Maxi Dress $50 Nordstrom (One of my most favorite items of clothing I own!)
Chambray Ombre Long Sleeve with Studded Collar $19.99 Forever 21
Long Chained Necklace $10 Forever 21 
Steve Madden Black Sandals $40 Off Broadway


Nicole's Wedding Look


Rachel Roy Hot Coral Dress $14.95 Macy's
Tan Heels $19.99 Charolette Russe
Gold Dangling Earrings $5 Charming Charlie's
Bag (not in picture) $9 Charming Charlie's

Amazing Party Dress Find

A while ago I had a wedding to go to.  Emily and I decided to hit up the mall, but agreed that we wouldn't try on anything that was over $20. Challenge accepted.  We began digging through the sales racks at Macy's.  Emily found this absolutely gorgeous dress.  It was marked down to $40.  However, I made an exception to the rule, because it was truly amazing.  

We did a price check and it was marked down to $14.95original price you might ask? $120!  I tried it on and it fit perfectly!  One of the best deals that I have ever found.  See post about this outfit on our Outfit Inspiration Board.